No Classes

Classes Suspended Today. Sadly, I had this news from Inq7.net just now:

Arroyo: Classes resume in all levels in Metro, Regions 3, 4 Still suspended in Regions 1, 2, and CAR By Joel Guinto INQ7.net Last updated 04:09pm (Mla time) 07/13/2006

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has announced theresumption of classes at all levels in Metro Manila, and in Regions 3 and 4 on Friday but said those in Regions 1 and 2 and at the Cordillera Administrative Region would remain suspended.The President made the announcement Thursday during her visit at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo. Classes in all levels were suspended in these areas following heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm “Florita.”“Florita,” which became a typhoon as it headed towards Taiwan, left at least seven people dead and three missing.

Ang bad trip naman. Come on, why don't you just apply the Sandwich System that people had waaaaay back Marcos' time? Bitin naman eh. And, think about the teachers. We have teachers who live in flooded areas like Marikina, and Bulacan. Not all teachers have cars, hello. Kawawa naman sila. Ano ba, mag Sandwich na kasi. Naman oh.Bitin eh. We need rest. Haha. :D Teachers also need rest, come on. Ano ba sila, I mean kami, robot? Anyway, I took some pictures this morning, when it was raining hard. It's still raining at this time pero di na ganun kalakas.



who would think that this one's taken at 8am a while ago? Pwera nalang 'yung tinted kong bintana pero it's really dark.

This one's taken at around 11am, when it was raining hard and the wind was very strong. Nakakatangay. I opened my window para makita na basa talaga.

Waaah. SONA's on the 24th of July. So that means na wala munang Endurance Test. Don't tell me that we would still have classes on the 24th. No, read this:

SONA security biggest in recent history
14,000 cops, troops to be deployedBy Joel Guinto INQ7.net Last updated 04:15pm (Mla time) 07/13/2006

(UPDATE) SOME 14,000 policemen and soldiers, the biggest security detail in recent history, will secure the Philippine capital when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers her state of the nation address (SONA) before the joint session of Congress on July 24, officials said Thursday.

Security for the SONA was doubled from the original 8,000-troop deployment despite earlier pronouncements by officials that the arrest of six mutinous military officers had foiled "Oplan Trident," an alleged plot to seize the Batasang Pambansa, where the House of Representatives hold session and where Arroyo will deliver her address, and hold lawmakers hostage to force the President’s ouster.

But National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Vidal Querol said that aside from the alleged plot to seize the Batasan, police have also received intelligence reports that communist rebels were planning to throw grenades at anti-government protests that traditionally coincide with the SONA. "This [deployment] is the all-time high," Metro Manila police chief Director Vidal Querol told a news conference in Camp Aguinaldo following a security conference with Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) Chief Brigadier General Juanito Gomez and other security officials. "We made the adjustments because of Oplan Trident and intelligence reports that the CPP-NPA [Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army] will take advantage of the situation," he said.

Querol said they are fielding 12,000 policemen, including commando forces from the Special Action Force (SAF) and 2,000 anti-riot troops from the NCRCom.
The NCRPO chief refused to say how many of the 14,000 would be stationed in the vicinity of the Batasan Complex.

Earlier, House of Representatives Sergeant-at-Arms Bayani Fabic said at least a thousand congressional security personnel would be deployed inside the Batasan complex.
Asked if the large security detail was overkill, Querol said: "When you talk of security, you come up with something that you are comfortable with."

"The worst case scenario is when you are surrounded by (several) fires and you don't know which one to put out first," he added.

Querol reminded protesters that stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City from the Saint Peter's Church to the Commission on Audit (COA) building would be off-limits to protests.
He said pro-government rallyists would be allowed only up to the COA building while anti-government protesters would be allowed only up to the Saint Peter's Church.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said 20,000 anti-government rallyists are expected to march to Commonwealth Avenue during the SONA.
"Arroyo seems afraid of the 20,000 hecklers and protesters. She has to surround herself with 12,000 cops and turn the Batasan into a fortress," Reyesa said in a text message.
Military and police officials claim "Oplan Trident" was detailed by documents seized from the six rebel soldiers - Army Captain Nathaniel Rabonza, Army First Lieutenants Patricio Bumidang Jr. and Sonny Sarmiento, Army Second Lieutenants Angelbert Gay and Aldrin Baldonado, and Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiram Sadava - who were arrested in Quezon City last Friday. Authorities said earlier that explosives and blueprints of the Batasan found in the mutineers’ hideout, which is near the Batasan, indicated military rebels were planning to disrupt the SONA.

Also arrested with the group were two civilians, lawyer Jose Christopher Belmonte and Michael Yangzon. Belmonte was released last Wednesday after posting bail on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said the opposition would stage a rally during the President’s state of the nation address.

"We are still planning it, but definitely there will be a mass action.It will be a venue for the people to raise the issue about the killings and abductions," said Binay in a press briefing Wednesday.

Binay, president of the United Opposition (UNO), said the protests would carry UNO's strong condemnation of the unsolved murders of activists and abductions of individuals from organizations identified as anti-administration, as in the case of two University of the Philippines (UP) students who recently went missing. With a report from Tarra Quismundo, Inquirer

I live near Batasan. Actually in Batasan. Very very near the Magdalo group's hideout. Walking distance. And, everybody in school does live near Commonwealth and Batasan. The school is near Commonwealth and Batasan. So, papapasukin niyo pa ba kami tulad noong sophomores kami? Wag na. Wag na. Wag na. Hindi naman kasi alam ng mga madre ang sitwasyon sa labas dahil in the 1st place, hindi sila palaging lumalabas. Not all people know the burden of rallies like this when you live in the area. 'Di niyo alam kung gaano ka-traffic at katagal umuwi kapag may mga ganito, kahit nga simpleng rally lang yan eh. Kahit na sabihin mo pang bus rider o kaya private. It's hard to get out and to get in. Kaya, no classes on the 24th. Kahit na 30-minutes lang ang SONA ni Gloria, may mga tao sa labas and, 14000 cops. Hellow.

Haha. Lahat na sinabi eh, para lang walang pasok. Eh kasi naman. I really do not know why the school is so strict regarding this matter. Kulang nalang eh, sagarin buong taon namin. We go to school the earliest and finish it the latest. 205 school days to be completed. Sus. Exceptionally good schools just like Ateneo do not follow that rule naman.

Bad trip talaga. May pasok bukas parang tanga. Rrrrr. Sana bumagyo pa nang malakas pero wag na sanang may mga mamatay at masalanta.

Let us pray for the people who are victims of this calamity, especially the ones in Baguio. Let us also pray for the 2 children who are still missing. Pati na rin dun sa families na nasa evacuation centers pa rin hanggang ngayon. :)