New Year For Four

Here's a shot I took the night before the new year. Just me and some friends hanging at my house waiting for the new year.

Sorry.  The title was made to mislead.  It's really a composite of 4 photos of me wearing different clothes and trying to act out different characters.

Happy New Year.

Press Conference for Jose Paulo Catacutan

A PRESS STATEMENT FROM PLM 2005 SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES ON BEHALF OF MR. PAULO CATACUTAN AND HIS FAMILY

We, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Batch 2005 Social Work graduates support our good colleague, Mr. Jose Paulo Catacutan, a registered social worker from the Community Builders Foundation Inc., and who was charged for allegedly murdering his officemate Ms. Cecilia Lancion last 08 November 2010 at the premises of the their office located at 70 Scout De Guia St. Bgy. Laging Handa Quezon City.

We are asking the media to rectify the errors that have been committed in the course of reporting the incident to the public. We appeal to the media – as institutions of good faith and as promoters of justice, peace, integrity and freedom of expression, to look at the basic facts of the case, and consider that while there might be sufficient doubt over Mr. Catacutan’s innocence, there were essential details that were grossly overlooked, and the disregard of such details have unfairly – if not maliciously portrayed a monster out of the good person we all came to know for the past ten years. In our hearts, we believe that Mr. Catacutan – our Kuya Pau did not – could not commit such atrocity. And while we know that it would be difficult to appeal to the public and the family’s victim of his innocence based on such beliefs, we appeal that – at least for the sake of balanced reporting and a commitment to professional and truthful journalism, these essential facts be published.

We hereby issue the following clarificatory statements on behalf of Kuya Pau and his family:

- Contrary to the news report of Ms. Erica Tapalla aired at TV 5’s Aksyon Ngayon, which was anchored by Mr. Tulfo last 08 November 2010, Mr. Paulo Catacutan is NOT a client of the center. He was NEVER “kinupkop” at “tinulungan” because he is in fact, the ONLY social worker of the Community Builders Foundation. He is instrumental in implementing the programs and services of the CENTER. He helps people. He is NOT a client. Hence, it would be the height of injustice to label him as INGRATO, like what the TV show placed on its screen, while Ms. Tapalla reported the incident. As a matter of fact, Mr. Catacutan has been working in the agency for the past two years. Being the only social worker of the foundation, HE WAS OVERWORKED and UNDERPAID. He is a vulnerable worker, exposed to the unfair working conditions of the foundation. For two years, he did not even have an SSS, or any such form of benefit, which could have helped him and his family in situations like this. We appeal to TV5, to Mr. Mon Tulfo and Ms. Erica Tapalla to rectify these glaring errors in the name of professionalism and public accountability. We also appeal to this certain tomcodytv5 to remove this episode from youtube to avoid further damage to Mr. Catacutan and his family.

Mr. Cecilia Lancion is an administrative officer, NOT a social worker. This basic fact was overlooked by the GMA News Report, published in their website last 08 November 2010. While this could not have affected the case, we still appeal for GMA to correct its statement. It puts undue assumptions on social work as a profession and as social workers in general. Most of our colleagues thought that the media have misbranded the involved as social workers, thus discrediting Mr. Catacutan’s professional identity. If they think that Mr. Catacutan is not a registered social worker, then they would most likely believe the TV5 report.

- We appeal to Pilipino Star Ngayon, Abante, and other minor tabloids to be more prudent in labeling the subjects of their news. Words such as “kinatay ng kapwa social worker,” and “inutas ng mga kabaro,” are not professional journalism lingoes. We appeal, not only for Kuya Pau, but for all people in such circumstances be spared from such unfair labeling. After all, everyone is innocent unless otherwise proven without a doubt by our courts. Imagine what it could have done to people you know. Even after being acquitted or vindicated from the crime, such branding would forever be in the news archives and web pages where they were so thoughtlessly published. We believe that such labeling violates the fundamental rights of all human beings to live decently and with due integrity.

We are gravely concerned that such inconsistencies only make matters worse instead of finally settling them. We appeal to the police to launch a serious manhunt operation of this certain Rommel Sagiste, who would be able to shed light of the incident. We express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Ms. Cecilia Lancion, and we hope that true justice may indeed prevail on her passing. We condemn the manner for which she was murdered, and we all pray that her true perpetrators be put behind bars and suffer the consequences of their actions. This being said, we appeal to all good social workers of our country – to not put out the fight in believing on the basic philosophies and principles of our profession. We know that Kuya Pau, even in his condition, still believes on the inherent worth and dignity of all person – that is why we’re optimistic that he will soon receive the merits of due process and fair legal procedures.

PLM BSSW Batch 2005

All Saints Day

Hi Everyone.  Here is something I took at the cemetery.

That's not what I'm going to talk about.  I just want to ask you something.  Why is it that us Filipino's celebrate the All Saint's Day by going to the cemetery and visit those who passed away.  Shouldn't it be about the Saints and not the dead?  Then on the next day, we all just go back to our normal lives whereas that's the time we should be at the cemetery since it's All Souls Day.  I really just don't get it.  But like the guy in "Fiddler on the Roof" kept saying it's all about "TRADITION".

Chocolates

Do you like chocolates?  Here is something to make your mouth water.

Thorntons Classic

These chocolates are really great.  It melts in your mouth and you won't be able to have enough.  One more will end in a lot more than you expect.  It has different flavors for any tongue.  Just the taste of it will make you crazy.

Don't take my word from it, get one.

Starbucks

Hi Everyone.

I just got something from Starbucks and it's not coffee.

It's a fertilizer made of used Starbucks coffee grounds.  Here is a list of the benefits you get from it:
-it's good for your plants
-it smells good
-its free
-best of all, it's Starbucks

That's it for now.

Tennis

Hi everyone.  It's been a long since I last exercised.  So, I played tennis earlier with a friend of mine.  It was fun playing and I still have my old game.  Although, I can't maintain my speed as before, I still can run fast in short bursts.  Afterwards, we just hanged out at my house to have some hot tea to help us relax.

How about you, do you have still have time to exercise?  If you don't, you should find some time for it.  It's healthy for you physically and mentally. Physically, since you get to sweat it out .  Mentally, since it can help you forget your problems.

That's it for now.

Las Paella (Fetival Super Mall)

Hi everyone.  I had my dinner at La Paella a few nights ago.  The ambiance of the place is really nice specially when you're going out with a special someone and having prices that won't put a hole in your pocket ain't bad too.

Here's what we had.

Seafood Pomelo Salad

Mixed green tossed in pomelo vinaigrette and topped with fresh tomatoes, sweet pomelo, marinated gambas and grilled calamari.  Cost 158Php.

It's the 2nd time I had this and it still manages to tickle the tongue .  The pomelo sweetens the vinaigrette to make a very nice mix for the greens.

Chicken and Shrimp Diablo

Salted boneless chicken strips and fresh shrimps in spicy garlic marinated sauce tossed in pasta topped with grated cheese.  Cost 198Php.


The taste of the sauce is spicy-sweet.  Although the bread that came with it tasted stale, the pasta is good.

All in all, the food is great.

*Prices are subject to 12% Vat.
**Prices are accurate at the time of writing.
***Prices are subject to change without notice.

VA Seminar: Work from home as a Virtual Assistant

Hi everyone.  I recently attended a Virtual Assistant Seminar conducted by Mr. Jomar Hilario.  He's a really good at discussing what we should be doing and how we should be dong things as a Virtual Assistant.  He also discussed the different kind of Virtual Assistants.  It's an "everything you need to know to get started" kind of seminar.

There were a lot of attendees and all are positive thinkers.   Just what I needed to surround myself with.
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Upon parting, Mr. Jomar Hilario gave us an assignment to help us get started on our pursuit of working at home.  I'll keep you updated on the assignment as it progresses.

All in all, I learned a lot in the seminar and had fun at the same time.  I highly recommend you attend Mr. Jomar Hilario's next Virtual Assistant seminar.

Here is Mr. Jomar Hilario's website:
http://internetmarketingworkshop.blogspot.com/

Events Ensemble Website

Hi everyone.  I'm back.  I just finished upgrading our Events Ensemble business website.  It's really fun to do.   I got to look at some of my shots from my previous projects.

I run this events store with my girlfriend, Ianne.  We decided to combine our two passions, photography and flowers, mine and her's respectively.

We'll take care of the planning of your wedding, birthday, debut, baptism or any others that you can think of.  To add to our business, we have emcees and performers if you need them.  We also import giveaways for your events. 

You can visit the newly upgraded site at http://www.wix.com/eventsensemble/EventsEnsemble.

My First Blog

As the old saying goes "Start at the beginning".

I'm Joseph Alcala an Events Photographer.  I shoot Weddings, Debuts, Birthdays, Parties, any event that you can think of.  Yes, even funerals.  Currently I'm running an Events company named Events Ensemble which does flowers, catering, planning and the likes.

Currently, I'm still looking for a good place for my studio.  I already have the budget set-up for it but like in the real estate industry I need "Location, Location, Location".

That's it for my first post.