Limited telecommunication blackout: site of the “Feast of the Black Nazarene”
Due to credible intel on a terror plot, according to Malacañang (the group is unnamed and the threat is unspecified by the Palace) at the “Feast of the Black Nazarene”, all telecommunication signals of mobile phones at the site of the procession (from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo church and environs) are disabled today (cellphones are used to detonate most improvised bombs). The mammoth crowd, starting at 600,000 in the morning and expected to rise to 7 million, is a security nightmare by itself. The number is about the size of a successful, small urban revolt, but they’re gathered in piety, not in protest – they just want to touch the statue of the Black Nazarene (or its replica), or wipe their hankie on the image, or touch the rope pulling the carriage. As of this writing, a hundred have been injured due to the stampede and in the past, a number have been crushed to death by the shoving and pushing.
Blog admin is not writing about the legal issues of the “no-signal” area (limited in site and time).
Because…
Okay, blog admin will say a little bit about it — the telecom blackout, being limited in site (two or three kilometers’ radius) and time (a day) is contained enough so as not to affect any kind of mass medium. You could raise due-process issues – but by the time you raise them, the case is moot – of course, that should not stop you… i’m blabbering.
Just the same, everybody should be vigilant everytime Malacañang thru the NTC shuts down forms of communication.
Because…. If my students are not able update their Facebook status….or tweet their followers…. even for a single day… you’ll have a sudden revolution in your hands.
two hours sleep, shot this week, in between two three-hour lectures. Clothes chosen by friends from “Khrysta’s Kollezzione” (had meetings when the collection was brought in) – this one has beading and embroidery for accent; later on, i was told the embroidery was that of the astrological signs; i couldn’t tell, i thought they were the alibata (the indigenous alphabet) – very subtle!
Yesterday’s attempts at a discussion of the philosophical foundation of the guarantees of free speech, third day of classes, Media Law:
Prof: “When time has upset many fighting faiths…” What did Justice Holmes mean by “fighting faiths”? (calls on student)
Student: Ma’am…. ah…(looks at notes) ah…war…?
…. Prof: (laughs)…war…?! (laughs) no, it’s simpler. Justice Holmes just has a way of writing… anyone..?…ok…. He means… ideas, beliefs, so-called advocacies…Ok…Ms._____
Another student: Ma’am?
Prof: Ms._ _ _ …. tell me…. what do you believe in…?
Student: …(silence, looks at her desk) (softly) i don’t know
Prof: Is there anything you would die for…?
Student: Ma’am (looks at seatmate, looks at prof)… ah…. FAMILY…?
Prof: (laughs). Ok. (laughs) those are persons. Family, persons. we’re trying to get at beliefs — something you consider bigger than yourself, or persons… Ok….Ms._ _ _ _ (another student)
Third student: Ma’am…?
Prof: Ms. _ _ _ _ …tell me….what is your faith?
Third student: Ma’am….(looks slowly, left and right, then at prof)….ah… morality ….?
Prof: (laughs)…morality…?! what is morality, tell me (laughs)…. (no answer)….. that’s an entire semester…. What happens to ideas with the passage of time…. (and one student gave the example of the Inquisition, and the medieval ages (the earth as center of the universe etc) — brilliant. and the discussion went underway. A couple of years ago some smart aleck answered:
“Ma’am…. i believe in— peace! prosperity! — and love for mankind!”
