Thursday, October 28, 2010

Offending Religious Feelings

I did not know that the Philippines a law that punishes people for offending religious feelings. This is such a ridiculous law if there is one . Religious people are offended by a lot of things, women wearing revealing clothing, gays making out, the sight of condoms offends them for fucks sake.

It's a good thing we still think of ourselves as a secular society or more of this kind of suits will be brought up. Maybe Mr. Celdran is correct, maybe we are still living in the time of DAMASO.

update 10/30/2010

GMA News provided the specific provision (Article 133) in the Revised Penal code. Article 133 states that
"Offending the religious feelings. — The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon anyone who, in a place devoted to religious worship or during the celebration of any religious ceremony shall perform acts notoriously offensive to the feelings of the faithful."
The provision of the article itself makes me conclude (although IANAL) that it is a reasonable law. In a country the promises freedom of religion, religious rituals should be protected from interference.

But if you go back 1 article in the Penal code Article 132 is against interruption of religious worship
"Interruption of religious worship. — The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any public officer or employee who shall prevent or disturb the ceremonies or manifestations of any religion.

If the crime shall have been committed with violence or threats, the penalty shall be prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods."
It seems the ones charging Mr. Celdran is trying convict him on a harsher charge when a lower charge "interruption of religious worship" is available and more appropriate. I say more appropriate because Mr. Celdran actually did only interrupt a religious service.

edited 10/20/2010 to include youtube video of Mr. Celdran's actions



Maybe this is the Catholic Church's way of honoring Jesus famous admonition to the faithful
"But I say to you, That you resist not evil: but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." - Matthew 5:39

Moral Relativism

I like this quote, the whole article is worth reading too.

Aisha and Humanity - Kemstone - Open Salon:
"I once considered myself a moral relativist, but not anymore. Just because something is accepted in another culture does not make it right. There is a certain amount of happiness and suffering brought about by every action, and certain actions cause a degree of suffering so great that the scale could never be balanced. Aisha’s death was so horrible that no amount of satisfaction on the part of the executioners or spectators who felt that justice had been served could outweigh it. This is as black-and-white as it comes. No matter what culture or time period you’re talking about, this kind of thing is plain wrong."

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Free E-Books, With a Catch -- Advertising

Libre libro basta may Advertisement?

Ok lang! Nakakapanood ako ng libreng TV shows at pelikula dahil sa advertising. Nakakabasa ko ng balita at kung ano ano pa sa internet dahil sa advertising. Magbabasa ko ng libreng libro maski may advertising. Sanay na ko sa advertising, di ko na napapansin halos yung mga yon.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Agatha Christie was sick of Poirot—grandson

Agatha Christie was sick of Poirot—grandson - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
"Christie considered the diminutive, stiff-moustached gastronome as her "bread and butter" but would grumble about having to churn out "yet another Poirot," Mathew Pritchard told Radio Times magazine.

"She was never short of ideas for books but some of these ideas were inappropriate for Poirot, so she was very keen to exorcise herself of him by writing different stories with new characters," he said.

"But her agents and publishers, who were in charge of the pounds and pence, were very keen on Poirot – he was her most popular character.""
I've read a lot of Agatha Christie's books most of them when I was in high school, Poirot is still my favorite. I can imagine her being sick of the man but I am glad she still wrote those books.

xkcd: The Economic Argument

Monday, October 18, 2010

Balat Sibuyas

Di ko masyadong nasubaybayan itong balitang ito, pero ayon dito sa Inquirer, nag hain ng resolusyon ang House of Representatives para mag bitiw sa Tungkulin si Sec. Ging Deles bilang OPAPP head dahil nainsulto niya si Congressman Dimaporo. At paano niya naisnulto si Congressman Dimaporo?
"In a letter addressed to Minority Leader and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and read by Loong to the chamber last Friday, the neophyte Dimaporo said that she was “insulted” by Deles when, during a break at the budget debate last Wednesday, she approached the OPAPP head to ask about the peace process.

Dimaporo said Deles told her to “read up on her (Deles’s) background,” and “to read her (Deles’s) books.”"
Pinayuhan ni Secretary Deles si Congressman Dimaporo na magbasa ng kaunti tungkol sa background niya at tungkol sa kanyang mga sinulat tungkol prosesong pangkapayapaan nainsulto na siya at gusto na niyang nag bitiw sa tungkulin si Sec. Deles?

Tama lang sa aking palagay ang ginawa ni Pangulong Aquino, kung pagbibigyan niya ang resolusyon ng kongreso sa ganito kaliit na bagay, lalo lang siyang iipitin ng Kongreso.

Friday, October 01, 2010

Catholic Bishops trying to hold non Catholics Hostage

From CBCP reminds Aquino about excommunication - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

The CBCP is threatening to excommunicate President Aquino for his position that "Filipino couples who choose to use artificial contraceptives should be allowed to do so."

Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag, Surigao del Sur, the current CBCP president even has the gall to remind the President that"...being the President of all, you must consider the position of the Catholic Church because we are approaching these issues from the moral aspect like the unborn."

What he seems to have forgotten is that not all Filipinos are Catholics, so not all have to abide by Catholic teaching. President Aquino is also the President of all the on-Catholics who does want to avail of contraceptives. It is his duty to give us this choice if we want to.

The Catholic Church should not be allowed to rule the Philippines, Jose Rizal's description of the Philippines under the rule of the Catholic Church should serve as a lesson to us.