Who is Baby Ama?

Marcial Ama Perez aka "Baby Ama" 

binansagang baby Ama dahil sa maamo niyang mukha at mala baby face na itsura.

Nakulong sa edad na "disisais anyos" or 16yo sa kasong pagnanakaw.

He became "notorious" sa loob ng bilibid dahil sa dami ng napatay nya noong panahong nakakulong pa sya, at nasangkot sa madugong rambulan na naitalang pinaka malaking "riot" sa kasaysayan ng new bilibid prison sa Muntinlupa.

...at siya ay na bitay noong Oct 4, 1961

CAPT. NIEVES FERNANDEZ: The Assasin!

 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥. 🇵🇭

CAPT. NIEVES FERNANDEZ - 1944

Captain Nieves Fernandez shows an American soldier how she used her long knife to silently kill Japanese soldiers during the occupation, 1944.

Captain Nieves Fernandez, the only known Filipino female guerilla leader and formerly a school teacher, shows US Army Pvt. Andrew Lupiba how she used her long knife to silently kill Japanese soldiers during the Japanese occupation of Leyte Island. Image taken by Stanley Troutman, 7 November 1944, Mabuhay Las Piñas, Leyte Island, Philippines.

Captain Nieves Fernandez was the only known Filipino female guerrilla leader. Working with guerrillas south of Tacloban, Miss Fernandez rounded up native men to resist the Japanese. She commanded 110 natives who killed more than 200 Japanese with knives and shotguns made from sections of gas pipe. The Japanese offered 10,000 pesos for her head. She was wounded once. The bullet scar can be seen on her right forearm.

Filipinos call that weapon a bolo, basically a long knife. The primary use for the bolo is clearing vegetation, whether for agriculture or during trailblazing. Because of its availability, the bolo became a common choice of improvised weaponry to the everyday peasant, especially during the Japanese occupation. There is a rich tribal history in Filipino culture of beheading enemies and doing rituals with their heads. In the Northern province of Luzon, headhunter warriors are tattooed to represent their successful enemy headhunts. This headhunting still went on during WWII, instead of using guns Filipino warriors would hide in the forests and ambush the Japanese. They would bring back their heads to their tribe and do a black magic ceremony with it and put their heads on a spike to ward off future attacks. Even today the Philippines government fears these Northern tribal lands.

Why the kill would be silent? Death comes very quickly. Before you realize what’s going on you pass out and die without immediate medical intervention. It’s painful, yet almost instantaneous. The technique she is showing is cutting a carotid artery and the internal jugular, which leads to the brain. The trick is to stab sharply into that soft spot directly behind/below the ear lobe. Once you push the blade in about two inches you give a sharp, upward thrust while twisting the blade ninety degrees. This operation causes the knife to enter the base of the victim’s brain, causing instant unconsciousness. And the twisting of the blade somehow causes the victim to suck in air so screaming is impossible. If performed correctly, the only sound the victim will make is that of the physical struggle. And that is taken care of from the start because of the way you attack from behind.

Source: Rare Historical Photos

https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/captain-nieves-fernandez-1944/

Love Is Not A Relationship Between Two People

Love is not a relationship between two people... - Nivrad

Have you ever loved without any labels or emotional attachments? Back then I had  loved someone for 15-years straight and I  was also confuse as to where will this relationship would lead. If you are confuse right now or is starting to fall with someone, continue reading. I believe this will also help you!

The idea of falling in love is a very common and very sweet fantasy. Many people think that the most beautiful moments of their lives are when they fall in love with someone. But I don't think so. 

The most beautiful thing in life, in my opinion, is having complete freedom to be yourself. And when you don't have any attachment to anything, neither to a person nor to a belief system or to a country, nor to your reputation, your name or anything else, 

When there is no attachment, then you are free. Correct?

The need to be in a relationship with someone is one of the biggest causes of unhappiness. There are two reasons for this:

First, because we simply don't understand ourselves fully, how can we be with someone else? 

The more we try to control others, the more insecure we become and the less happy we will be.

Second, when we feel lonely, we chase after people. We want to fill that void inside of us. But when a person realizes their true nature, they feel complete within themselves. He doesn't need anything from the outside world to make him happy.

We tend to project our own desires onto other people: "If you really loved me, you would do this for me." This leads to disappointment because no one can fulfill your expectations, which have nothing to do with reality anyway.

When you realize that nobody can make you happy except yourself, it is a great relief. You are no longer trapped by your desires or expectations. You never have to say "if only" again; there is nothing missing from your life, and you don't have to depend on anyone else for your happiness.

It takes two to tango. NOPEE! It is impossible to love someone if you are incapable of being alone. If you are unable to be with yourself, it is impossible for you to be with another. You cannot share yourself because if you try, you will lose yourself. Then there will be no freedom left for you. You would have given your freedom away to the other person and become a slave, a prisoner.

The one who loves never loses anything by loving; rather, he gains everything. That is the paradox. Only by risking it can one ever find security. That is why only those who can be alone are capable of loving, sharing, and entering the innermost core of another person — without possessing, becoming reliant on, transforming the other into a thing, or becoming addicted to the other. 

They give the other complete freedom because they know they will be as happy as they are now if the other departs. The other cannot take their happiness because the other does not provide it.

Viktor Hugo said as I quote: 'Go out into the world and work as if money doesn't matter...; 

Love is not a relationship between two people. It is a relationship between one person and himself. When you love someone, you love that aspect of yourself that you are capable of seeing in another human being. That's why the other is so important to you. 

That's why he or she is so precious to you. Without the other, you can never see yourself.

The possibilities of love are not in a relationship in which one has to depend on another, but in a relationship in which both are independent and can really love each other—each loves the other because he loves himself and that other person allows him to see a bit more of himself.

Truly loving someone means seeing him as he is, without any effort on your part to change him or make him different, and without any expectations from him whatsoever; just accept him as he is. The real love does not think about changing the object of his love; he loves it as it is.

The truth is that in a relationship, you're not supposed to be dependent on the other. In fact, when two people are really in love, they help each other grow, they challenge each other, and they bring out the best in each other. You're not supposed to create an addiction to each other. You should be independent and whole even when you're apart--capable of loving others if the person you love is no longer there.

A relationship is a union of two people who have accepted each other's differences and decided to build on those differences. They see the negative sides of their partner as well, but instead of focusing on the negativity, they choose to focus on the positive parts. A relationship is all about learning from your partner and building a lasting connection with them.

Truly loving someone is the most selfless act you can do. When you love someone, you don't act out of fear, neediness, or compulsion. It's not about what you can get from them or how they make you feel. You love that person because that person makes your life complete and meaningful--because every day with them brings something new, exciting, and beautiful into your life.

When you're capable of this kind of love, it radiates from within and all around you. People who experience it will never forget it and will always come back for more. They'll fall in love with whatever aspect of your life touches them—your smile, your eyes, your spirit—but it all comes back to this love that shines through everything you are.

The ability to be alone and enjoy your own company sets you up for a healthy relationship. If you are not able to be happy when you are alone, the chances are that you may be addicted to your partner or be in an unhealthy relationship with them. You will feel sad about them leaving or being away from you, and in your mind, you will become dependent on them being around for your happiness. In such a scenario, if the other person leaves or is not around anymore, you will feel miserable and lonely.

The heart is as big as the world, and if you are true, every living being belongs to your heart.  🥀

- Nivrad S.

TATTOO: Igorots in the Philippines by Darvin S.

Tattooed Igorot man and woman having a light moment. (c)1959.

The Igorot people inhibit the mountainous area of the northern Philippines, a region known as the Cordillera . They have a rich tradition of having beautiful, intricate anthropomorphic and geometric tattoos. Both women and men have these tattoos, primarily on the arms and chest region. They were considered a serious religious experience while enduring hours of pain to attain the badge of honor. Tattooing was also considered a sign of rank and power in the Igorot community. These tattoos could only be earned by accomplishing a specific task, or as a rite of passage.

Men had tattoos on their chests and heads primarily as signs of their strength as warriors. Tattoos that were specific to women of the tribe depict detailed lines on their arms and wrists, or full chest and arm tattoos, which were indicative of the mountain tribes and seen more as marks of beauty. It is customary for boys under 10 years of age to be tattooed. Their first tattoos are usually a small, half-inch cross on the cheek or perhaps a line or small cross on the nose region.

The styles vary depending on the region and tribe that the person came from. The Igorot are a combination of different tribes depending on actual geographical location in the Philippines. So the name Igorot is more of a collective term used to describe six different ethnic groups: the Apayao, Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Kalinga, and the Kankanaey.

Tattoos worn by the Bontoc Igorot men symbolized the number of human heads taken during a headhunting raid.

The chaklag tattoo, 

usually a design going upward from each nipple, and curving outward onto the shoulder and region of the upper arms, symbolizes the number of fresh trophy heads taken during inter-tribal raids and battles.

The Kalinga Igorot would tattoo their warriors on the back of the hands and wrist after their first kill. The designs and placement would get more elaborate depending on the number of trophy heads they acquired. An Igorot warrior would not be permitted to get married until he took his first trophy head.

Most tattoos would be accompanied by some sort of ceremony depending on the accomplishment which would effectively activate its spiritual and magical powers. Every tribe had an assigned tattoo artist who perfected his craft after every tattoo administered. Tattooing handles and needles were usually made from wood and animal horn. The tattoo was applied by tapping the needle which was attached to a wood handle with a wooden mallet. The tattoo ink was a mixture of tree resin and soot which was rubbed into the wound as the tattoo was applied. The finished tattoo would be dull and blackish-blue in color, sometimes having a green color cast. In some cases the area would become infected. This method of tattoo is very common amongst most primitive tribes.

While many tattoos were for a certain accomplishment such as a fresh head taken, or possibly attaining the highest rank of chief, some tattoos were given for medicinal reasons as well. A small tattoo would be placed on the exact spot of illness such as a tumor or wounded area for therapeutic healing. Medicinal tattoos have been a practice that spans back thousands of years.

- Darvin S.

References:

American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries

Taxation, a life of the Philippines

“Taxation, a life of the Philippines”

            Taxation is one of the inherent powers of the state that is entrusted to the government to levy the revenues of persons and properties that is within the jurisdiction of the Philippines. However, every Filipinos should cooperate and be responsible enough in   paying their revenues for the development of the Philippines. (Agoncillo, 1974)

            Taxation is the life-blood of the country because this is the main source of revenue in the Philippines. (Briones, L., 1983) Taxes are collected to finance the government’s expenditures and to allocate budget in each departments of the government. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) plays the biggest role in providing the revenues of the National Government. (Bacalla T., 2000) Almost 80% of total revenues are from the tax payments of internal revenue taxes being administered by the BIR. (J.M. Buñag, 2006) There are three(3) major expenditures of the government that has been allocated a budget every year. The Maintenance And Other Operating Expenses, the Personnel Services and the Capital Outlays. According to the national financial report of 2010-2013, the biggest allotment of revenue is in the ‘Maintenance and other Operating Expenses’. This covers the repair and maintenance expenses, purchase of supplies and materials, utility expenses and others. Second is in the ‘Personnel Services’ that caters the salaries of employees in the government, their benefits, their uniforms and others. Third is in the ‘Capital Outlays’ that includes the construction of roads and government buildings, machineries and equipment, public infrastructure and many others. (Briones, L., 1983) The revenues collected can be a source of development in the country if all taxpayers would be true to their records and pay their obligatory revenues regularly. Taxation could positively build the developmental dreams of the state. (Mangahas, 2010)

            There are many departments of the government that is assigned to collect the revenues from persons and properties. These are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportations and Communication (DOTC), and other executive offices. I would focus on the two common departments which is Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Department of Finance by way of its agency named BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) has the function of assessment and collection of all internal revenue taxes, fees and sets charges.  Tax payment is not designed to be voluntary, but it is made to be an enforced contribution. (Sabine, 1961) Although taxation is an enforced contribution, BIR fulfills its mandate by counting on the support of willing and honest tax payers to make voluntary tax payments through a self-assessment tax system. This system manifested clearly as it accounted for 99.77% of the agency’s total collection in 2004. (J.M. Buñag, 2006) The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on its unit which is the Local Government Unit (LGU) has the responsibility of collecting the Real Property Tax and the Business Tax. Business tax and Real Property Tax is levied depending on the owner’s chosen mode of payment. It can be collected monthly, quarterly or annually. According to Mrs. Daisy Garcia of Dumaguete City Treasurers Office, the usual struggle they encounter is when business owners and land owners doesn’t pay regularly or when the payment is delayed.

            Taxation has a big impact and role in the Philippines. (De Leon, H. 2000) The outcome when tax payers become efficient in paying their taxes is that, the government will also become sufficient in catering the needs of the people. At the same time, the government will continue to do its functions efficiently. There are many kinds of programs and projects that the government has established for the benefit of the people. In order to restore peace, the government established the Peace and Order program. The government also created projects for Infrastructure Development. To ensure the health of the people, government made programs for Health and Environment and for our safe and security, the National Defense. There are many more projects and programs offered to people locally and nationally.

            Taxation produces energy to the government that gives life to the Philippines. If all Filipinos would have been educated and has understood all these things, development in different areas will never be questioned. Let us not isolate ourselves in the blindness of reality, that we are the only ones who becomes the obstacle of development in the Philippines. Let us not become weary of doing good things, for the reward is on wait. Fellowmen, instead of becoming a destruction, let us become a contribution to our beloved nation.