Wednesday, March 16, 2011

One Country, One Blogging Community

Below is a copy of the draft of the manifesto to create one blogging community in the country. To all bloggers maybe you guys know the meaning of me posting the manifesto, and for the benefits of those who does not know well this means that I agree on creating a one blogging community in the Philippines.

One country, one blogging community.
A Manifesto of Filipino bloggers and netizens (Draft)
March 7, 2011

We, Filipino bloggers coming from various places nationwide and those based overseas, coming from diverse backgrounds and specialties, using various new media outlets, hereby freely come together and call for the formation of a bloggers association of the Philippines that shall unite us around these common and beneficial objectives:

 • Promote and defend the right to free speech and to free expression;

 • Promote and develop blogging, vlogging, photoblogging, microblogging and other online creative and expressive forms in all their diverse categories, topics and types;

• Gather and share Philippine blogging’s best practices that reflect our contributions to ourselves and our online communities, media, causes, organizations and businesses, government, the nation and the world;

 • Draft and adopt a code of ethics that underscore the members’ and organization’s sense of responsibility and maturity;

 • Discuss issues and concerns that confront our members; and

 • Campaign and work for more affordable, reliable and better internet access in the country

The association we aspire to form is voluntary in membership, national in scope, democratic in decision-making, progressive in outlook, and both non-partisan and non-profit in legal character.

• We draw inspiration from and ask the participation of the city-wide, provincial, regional and island-wide associations, summits and conventions initiated by bloggers across the country. We also pay tribute to overseas Filipinos and their blogging organizations and events.

 • We want an association that makes decisions based on democratic processes, consensus-building and mutual benefit.

A long time has passed since the first blog posts and first blogging events. We are now a bigger, stronger and influential community. Businesses, causes and government have started to organize themselves to interact and engage with us. And we also face challenges within and outside our growing community.

The Philippines, our country and people are also expecting more from us, and we bravely and fearlessly say that we want to do more and achieve more In view of all these and more, we declare that we are joining as founding members of what we hope would be a most awesome bloggers association for our country.

Every Blogger across the country is invited to JOIN the ultimate blogging community in the Philippines. 

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Ash Wednesday

Today March 9, 2011 is the first day of Lent. If today is the start of the lent season means that today is Ash Wednesday.

What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday as said above is the first day of the lent season. The term Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of putting ashes in the forehead to every Christian.

What symbolizes the placing of ashes in the forehead?
Putting ashes in the forehead during Ash Wednesday is a sign of mourning and repentance to God.



Where the ashes did came from?
The ashes used are the burned remains of the gathered used palms or palm crosses from previous Palm Sunday mixed with Holy Water.

When is Ash Wednesday celebrated?
Ash Wednesday does not have a fixed date. It is movable depending on when Easter will be celebrated. It can occur as early as February 4 or 5 if leap year or as late as March 10, and in the case for this year 2011 is March 9.

How is the putting of the ashes being done?
The ritual of the Ash Wednesday is done during the celebration of the Holy Mass. During the mass or service of worship on this day, ashes are imposed on foreheads of the faithful Christians. The priest or the layperson marks the forehead of each participant with a black ash in a shape of a cross.

What are the words being said during the ritual?
Upon placing the cross shape ash in the forehead the priest or layperson will say either of the following:

 Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return
Genesis: 3:19

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel
Mark 1:15

Repent, and hear the good news
Mark 1:15

Is the imposition of the ashes on Ash Wednesday a sacrament?
Absolutely not, the imposition of ashes is not a sacrament but is sacramental meaning an action being blessed.

What is the biblical significance of Ash Wednesday?
Ashes during ancient times according to the bible are used to express mourn.  Rubbing the ash to oneself is a penitent’s way to express sorrow for sins.

Ash Wednesday Trivia
  • In the Republic of Ireland, Ash Wednesday is a National No Smoking Day. This is so because quitting smoking ties with giving up luxury for lent.

  • The first No Smoking Day in the United Kingdom was held on the Ash Wednesday of the year 1984, but now has a fixed date of second Wednesday of March.

  • Eastern Orthodox Church does not Observe Ash Wednesday to start the lent season. Instead they celebrate Clean Monday.