ariellalisan.org – Homeward Bound

Ms. Gupana flanked by Sarangani officials and representatives of various sectors

THE WOMAN behind the huge flag project, Grace Galindez-Gupana, was called to deliver a speech. She wasn’t introduced properly, so we didn’t know who she is except that she has something to do with ABS Herbs and a certain HalleluYAH Prophetic Global Tower Foundation. More about her feats here.

Her speech made me dizzy. She failed to establish the purpose of creating such a huge replica of the Philippine flag and bringing it to various provinces in the Philippines. She didn’t even give us the dimensions of the flag, the persons she commissioned to sew it, or the details of her effort of coming up with such an ambitious project. Moreover, it was the most culture- and gender-insensitive speech I have ever heard.

I THOUGHT we were to witness a historic event when we were invited to the unfurling of the largest flag of the Philippines at the Sarangani Provincial Capitol Complex this morning. To my dismay, what we witnessed instead was a large-scale disrespect to the nation’s emblem. Or so I thought. Just yesterday, the students and teachers of our school were advised to proceed to the capitol grounds for the unfurling of the largest Philippine flag. So we all went there this morning.

WHEN YOU look around right now, it’s easy to get depressed. You know people who have picked up pink slips. There are houses in your area that have been foreclosed and they are just sitting there like rotting teeth in your neighborhood because no-one’s buying. And what are those guys doing up there in Washington? Well they seem to be doing nothing that’s really going to help the ordinary people of America. They are carrying on with the same old, same old arguments. Tax cuts solve all our problems. We’ve got to spend billions to rebuild America. Like tax cuts are going to help you when you’re unemployed, and planning something to build is going to make for new work opportunities tomorrow. Well, for once, there is some good news. The Stimulus Package has hundreds of pages and thousands of plans but there’s one that might turn out to be a “good thing”. Now don’t you go holding your breath because what it says in something produced by Washington may not work out on Main Street. But let’s look on the bright side for once. This one may just pay off.

MY LEVEL of excitement plumetted when my principal told me that I have to spend my own money for my trip to Subic next week.

While in Zamboanga, my principal decided to bring me to Subic since three research projects from our school qualified to the Intel Philippines Science Fair.

When we reported to school last Tuesday, the clerk told me that they bought a round trip ticket for me but I have to pay for it in the meantime and I will be refunded by March.

SOMEONE MIGHT say I’m making a false logic here or that I am jumping into conclusion without thoroughly examining my arguments. I’d like to make it clear that this is my personal feeling about one particular experience in Zamboanga City. As a Mindanao Blogger, I don’t intend to spread negative things about the island. I just think that it’s important for anyone who plans to visit Zamboanga to know this.

I was in Zamboanga last week together with our principal, three other teachers, and four students for the First National Science and Mathematics Summit for Regional Science High School.