NorthStar Flags

I’ve always been fascinated with children, since they project a sense of honest joy, of pure innocence, latent helplessness, an aura that shows when you are around them. I really have a soft heart when it comes to children, because I feel that being small they must be cared for considering that they still could not communicate.

When my girlfriend of four years got pregnant, I immediately proposed and got married because I refuse to envision my child growing alone without a father. To show my commitment to my wife’s pregnancy, I would go with her to the OB for pre-natal check-ups

As the week of her dday, that is delivery came, I filed a 15day paternity leave so I will be beside my wife. When the day came, I volunteered to be at the labor/delivery room, coaching my wife on how to follow the instructions of the doctor. I guess I felt fine at the start, but when things started to turn messy and blood starts to come out, I turned pale and collapsed.

Later, the nursing staff informed me that I had a 7-pound baby boy and that my wife is well and recovering. I could not contain my excitement, I went to the nursery and there I saw my flesh and blood for the first time.

To cover up for my debacle at the delivery room, I brought dozens of balloons, clusters of flowers and baby flags to decorate the private room of the hospital. And when my wife was finally wheeled in, she was so elated for the extra effort.

The feeling is really different, it’s great to be a father.

As I was going through my office files, an envelope fell – a decade old letter from a friend and a really close buddy. I was about to open it, when my phone rang. What greeted me from the other end of the line was sad, news that my friend had died from combat duty in Afghanistan.

I just stood for a moment, stunned as if cold water has been poured all over me. You see we were actually cousins – his father being my mom’s brother and not just buddies. My friend was only 4 months older than I am and we grew up together. We shared everything, from toothpaste to socks, food and toys, we went to school together, we lived on the same dormitory and at one time we shared the same girlfriend – that is we dated identical twins and we had a hard time distinguishing one from the other.

And now he is dead, dead from a war he truly believed in. This letter was his last from the post because his succeeding messages were from e-mails (I introduced him to the wonders of Internet) and we do communicate almost weekly particularly when he was stationed in the military base in Germany.

So, I flew hastily to the American base where his remains will come in, to see my friend for the last time and comfort his widow and two kids. And when finally his casket came into view, it was carried by six military personnel probably also his war buddies and draped by an imposing American Flag.

The sight brought back memories, but I’m comforted by the fact that he died a hero in the service of our country.

One time while watching CNN on TV, a special footage came into view. Clearly the film shows a male crewmember of a fishing vessel standing ready on the prow with hands clasping the trigger of the explosive harpoon on board. The ship was actually going after a large Minke Whale and the person with the harpoon was just preparing to shoot, when suddenly two smaller boats with yellow “green peace” letters and sporting a large and yellow custom boat flag crossed the path of the ship.

So, naturally with them (small boats) distracting the line of sight of the harpoon, the crewmember could not shoot because he might hit the boats instead. I found this really very dangerous for the crews of the boat, putting their own lives at stake to save the lives of the whales. Eventually, the crewmember with the harpoon tagged the whale on the head and it screamed like a woman in pain.

The experience gave a disturbing effect, particularly with the crews of the boat jumping into the back of the dying whale and offering a form of protection that becomes too little and too late. I was misty-eyed looking at the scene and with the cameras focused on the message of the yellow custom flags “save the whales,” I pondered for a moment – how could we do such a thing?

I opened my laptop and scanned the story about whaling and found out that the Minke
Whale I saw slaughtered in the high seas was not part of the endangered species, but by the way we hunt these behemoths they will be extinct in a few decades.

Well, I further found out that whale meat is a delicacy in Japan, Norway and the rest hunting the mammal.

With barely a week prior to the opening of the Olympic games, Beijing announced today that thick smog that has shrouded the city for the past several months has finally cleared. Thanks in part to the strong winds that hit the city Monday.

Fresh footage from the games venue has indeed shown improved conditions, particularly areas around the Bird’s Nest National Stadium. Flags around the stadium are now fully installed hoisted and flying, authorities have completed the erection of custom street pole banners on the main thoroughfare that should greet visitors as they alight from their planes. The city is now teeming with life, with activities already lined once visitor’s starts to flood in.

But it was not an overnight effort that transformed the city. First it had to shut down the operation of the giant steel mill responsible for the pollution of the city, then vehicles were required to stay put and only make limited runs, while the city government made effort to introduce greeneries – trees, plants, carpet grass on all landscaped areas. The different parks were rehabilitated and new one’s were added to revive the once desolate place and make it into a garden metropolis.

Well, the efforts have paid so well because carbon dioxide emission had been drastically reduced, vegetation on the parks and playgrounds are now robust and healthy, man made ponds and waterways are now home to aquatic life. In fact the different plants have started to blossom, with flowers expected in time for the games.

If conditions at the games venue continue, then expect a successful staging of the summer spectacle.

Then what are we waiting for, lets start our trek to the games!

The last decade had been tough for the residents of California because of experts warning that the next big earthquake would hit the state. It is projected that the next big one should strike the plains of California at a magnitude of over seven in the Richter’s Scale.

Translated into devastation that should be unequalled in the history, even if structures had been reinforced and a “New Building Code” had been in effect, still only those constructed from the 90’s onwards stands the chance of survival. And since the majority of the structures were constructed before the “New Building Code” took effect, then expect a major catastrophe in our midst.

Thus when an earthquake of 5.4 magnitude struck downtown Los Angeles, it revived the fear of residents, although seismologists described it as only moderate. No equipment to date can predict when an earthquake strikes, so residents can never be warned in advance of the impending danger and never given the time to take cover.

We can only observe precautions, like what the residents of Los Angeles did. Office workers, factory technicians, students scrambled out of buildings, factories, schools and stayed on the open field but still out of the way of tall single structures – communication towers, electric posts, custom flags and flagpoles, because when the tremor is excessive it could topple these structures.

The Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a hasty news conference that California was indeed lucky for now, with no reported major structural damage on structures – buildings, bridges, freeway and elevated thoroughfares.

The jolt maybe moderate, but the effect could be felt up to San Diego, to Las Vegas to the east and even up to Tijuana in Mexico.

I’m always looking forward for Friday nights alone in my condo because I like to catch-up on my movies. I purposely brought a 46inch LCD TV and blu-ray DVD simply for the thrill of seeing the most important movies come alive in cool colors and seemingly striking contrasts.

Just a few minutes ago, I went into the Blockbuster video shop to look for movies that should accompany me for the weekend. But going into a video store is no joke, because you are privy to thousands of movie titles in its shelves. As I don’t like romantic movies, I went straight to hardcore action movies, had a peep on something patriotic, one light comedy and finally cartoons.

But as I have said, selecting the type of movie is not as easy as it seems because when I was at the stalls for action, my eye caught on a message flag with the American flag of the “Flags of our Fathers,” and ended up getting one. Then as I moved to the corner, the Old Glory with Harrison Ford on the poster of “Air Force One,” a reprint no less but I had to take as part of my collection.

Then my stomach started grumbling and I have to get a bite, luckily a KFC food chain was just across the street and I took my dinner there. Since I only had two movies in my position so far, I did come back for more.

Entering the video store once again, the large poster of “General Patton” with the American flag strikes you, though this has been a movie of the 70’s, it generated a lot of attention that its reissues are selling like hotcakes.

A State of the Union Address is the president’s avenue by which he can defend his actions, gloat about his programs that define the lives of his constituents and mostly propose new laws or amendments to ease further the burden inflicted on the citizenry. In, short this is the president’s report card – passed or failed.

Normally, we Americans only look at it in somber reflection. We stare at the TV screens blankly where the more visible image is the American flag; listen to the address keenly, not a whimper could be heard, for we reserve a time for protests.

Compare this with the state of the nation address (SONA) of the president of the Philippines it is clear that she does not have the support of the people. Her annual SONA was greeted by thousands of protesters from all sectors of society that trooped to the streets, carrying red banners demanding her resignation because of alleged corruption, blotched land reform program, mismanaged economy and unsound economic policies.

But what is clear from the TV footage, that the poor folks dominated the crowd, who vent their anger towards high prices of goods and commodities. Recent surveys reveal that the populace had given a negative rating for her performance and her popularity rating had plummeted to an all time low.

Isn’t it time to reconsider?

The first time I was in New York City, my mom brought me to Rockefeller Center to view the Christmas tree with its 30,000 lights and also did some shopping. Since it was the season of advent, the trip had a magical meaning for it struck me as the most beautiful place on earth.

The experience had a lasting effect for it brought me back as a College student. I selected New York out of the many Universities available then, simply because of the single visit that kept me mesmerized and forever etched in my memory.

I used to frequent the Rockefeller Center together with my girlfriend then, particularly during the Christmas Season because it seems to strengthen our relationship and brought us to a new level. In fact when I proposed marriage, I did it down on my knees holding the ring at the center of the ice skating rink. Unmindful of the stares of those around us, but reinforced by the presence of the giant Christmas tree and the various world flags and seasonal flags of the GE Building as backdrop.

With the golden statue “Prometheus” by Paul Manship as witness, we sealed our engagement. Then we proceeded to the magnetic outdoor plaza and had cocktails to celebrate the occasion.

After a year, we got married and again we had New York City for our honeymoon. We splurge in supreme luxury at the rainbow rooms at the very top looking out over the city.

On rare occasions, we still visit the big apple, revive memories and dance the night out at the top of one of the highest skyscraper in the city.

The presidential election comes just a little over 100 days and expect heated fireworks from candidates both from the Republicans and Democrats. The popularity of a presidential candidate is not a guarantee, but almost always the debate decides the outcome of the contest.

The candidate that can clearly define his stand on issues that affects the majority of Americans, whether it comes as tax incentives, health care, foreign policy, question on immigrants, economic goals, labor relations and the country’s security blanket, will certainly get the nod of the voters. This has always been the gist of presidential campaigns, “who clearly wins the debate, gets the presidency.”

I’ve read a clipping about the Kennedy – Nixon debate of the 60’s was a classic match between antagonists – a David and Goliath tussle. Nixon was heavily favored by the polls to annex the presidency, but that was before the debate. Kennedy thwarted Nixon’s advance by the way he expounded on his policies, his programs, his foreign policy platform and together with his boyish charms stole the presidency.

This change in fortunes could also be seen in the last Bush – Gore debate. Some analysts were in the opinion that after the debate, Gore’s chances just reeled-off and he lost the presidency. Besides, it was a time when terrorism and uncertainty, still fresh from memory that it became apparent that inland security was the primary consideration, and many voters believed that Bush could deliver.

The venue for the clash is always adorned with patriotic colors; sometimes United States pennants are placed; and usually a large American flag is use as backdrop, stand as mute witness to the struggle of both candidates to provide the platform that will serve the best interests of Americans.

The presidential election comes just a little over 100 days and expect heated fireworks from candidates both from the Republicans and Democrats. The popularity of a presidential candidate is not a guarantee, but almost always the debate decides the outcome of the contest.

The candidate that can clearly define his stand on issues that affects the majority of Americans, whether it comes as tax incentives, health care, foreign policy, question on immigrants, economic goals, labor relations and the country’s security blanket, will certainly get the nod of the voters. This has always been the gist of presidential campaigns, “who clearly wins the debate, gets the presidency.”

I’ve read a clipping about the Kennedy – Nixon debate of the 60’s was a classic match between antagonists – a David and Goliath tussle. Nixon was heavily favored by the polls to annex the presidency, but that was before the debate. Kennedy thwarted Nixon’s advance by the way he expounded on his policies, his programs, his foreign policy platform and together with his boyish charms stole the presidency.

This change in fortunes could also be seen in the last Bush – Gore debate. Some analysts were in the opinion that after the debate, Gore’s chances just reeled-off and he lost the presidency. Besides, it was a time when terrorism and uncertainty, still fresh from memory that it became apparent that inland security was the primary consideration, and many voters believed that Bush could deliver.

The venue for the clash is always adorned with patriotic colors; sometimes United States pennants are placed; and usually a large American flag is use as backdrop, stand as mute witness to the struggle of both candidates to provide the platform that will serve the best interests of Americans.