Posts tagged Philippines

A test on Haiti and the world

January 27, 2010 · Filed under Country, Life, Reality, Social Responsibility · Tagged , , , , , , ,

The running and wailing of people must have painted a dreadful picture on the 19th of January 2010 as a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Over a week after the tragedy, the death toll continue to rise and hope is slimmer and slimmer for families searching for missing members. Tears are the only resort to let out the hurt. It becomes even harder to feel better when you’re hungry and thirsty with no roof over your head or a bed and blanket to keep you warm.

A number of institutions including CARE International, governments and private businesses and individuals all over the world have contributed as much as they can to help the victims. Of the nine million population of Haiti, 1.5M is affected by the quake.

The poor countries of the world are probably the ones that can truly empathize with Haiti. Filipinos would probably remember the numerous typhoons that visited the country in the previous years (Frank, Ondoy and Pepeng to name a few) and the grave destruction they brought about. We remember the horror of losing family members and what little property we have. We remember the feeling of hopelessness, maybe even anger, at that nasty twist of fate. We remember exhausting all means possible to rebuild our livelihoods, our homes and our future. We remember the people who helped us get through the toughest of times.

For Haiti, this is the time to test the humanity of the world in which it is a part. For its people, it is a time to strengthen their faith in the Higher Being, in the people of the world, in their fellowmen, and in themselves. As it discovers the strength it has within its boundaries, may be then will it be able to pull through and become a better nation than before.

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Cheating dilemma

January 20, 2010 · Filed under Corruption, Country, Politics, Reality, Social Responsibility · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

(This post is a response to an article written by Conrado de Quiros entitled Interesting times in the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated January 20, 2010.)

The question of cheating in a fully automated elections is not as unimaginable as in the manual elections. Especially for Filipinos, the extent of discovery is merely the extent of one’s imagination. Coming up with results far different from the actual votes is a piece of cake with a number of computer-literate individuals in power and for hire.

It could not be the malfunctioning of machines that the people should be afraid of but rather the machines working perfectly leading the public to think that this time things will be different, this time Filipinos can get the elections right.

Machines are but machines no matter how brilliant they could be because still, it couldn’t perfect its operation without it being manhandled. Even with automation, cheating can exist and it will only be harder to prove.

The next question to answer after nailing this possible flaw in May 2010 is whether another EDSA is to be expected if the surveys’ champ Noynoy Aquino loses and claims cheated. Filipinos are indeed smart and more active in social issues than most people are willing to believe. I don’t believe however that the past EDSA revolutions could stand proof to it. The first one maybe but the thriving of the people power culture has ultimately become more of a habit than a necessity. It seems to have been abused, a last resort when there doesn’t seem to be any way out anymore.

(isangpanata.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/noy.jpg)

Is that all we can do?

Vote for a president and when something goes wrong, oust and vote again? If Noynoy Aquino ignites a People Power to reclaim what he lost if he doesn’t win as president claiming being cheated because surveys say he is at the top of the list, would we be serving justice or again tolerating a spoiled brat?  How assured are we anyway that politics is not powerful enough to fight against his idealism and good name?

I have lost faith in politicians and empty words because words will always just be so easy to say.  No matter who we put in power, corruption will exist.  We cannot rely on an unjust system, only on ourselves.

Mind our own lives, exercise our rights, take up our own responsibilities and just live right.

As for Noynoy, if he does lose and claim to have been cheated, he can choose to spend his money, time and energy fighting for that seat he lost, a fight that would probably be futile against this slowpoke of a justice system or continue to do what he can to keep his promises and make this nation better for the people he comes across.

It’s not like there’s nothing he can do if he is not president.  It would become a mockery of the value this country gave to the fight of his mom in 1986 if he merely uses it to ensure that he gets the seat he is vying for.

The presidency has added benefits but it would not and should not be the one to define him as a servant leader. Everyone can be servant leaders, we don’t need titles or recognition worldwide.

All we need is the heart which is lacking in the government. Given that, we, ordinary people, already have an advantage if we want to make our community better and then transform the world.

(Some insights formed from http://www.noynoy.ph/blog/2010/01/10/people-powered/)

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Blood-stained politics

November 27, 2009 · Filed under Corruption, Country, Politics · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

November 23, 2009, Monday, proved to be a day darker than the year 2012 in the movie.

http://www.newsday.com/news/world/death-toll-at-57-in-philippine-massacre-1.1621662?qr=1

It is inexplicably darker because of the 64 persons massacred in Maguindanao.  The despicable act of human carnage happened as the convoy of Vice Mayor Toto Mangudadatu’s wife and two sisters were heading to the Provincial Capitol to file his certificate of candidacy for governor.  Along with the convoy were supporters and journalists.  Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. is the alleged mastermind.  His father Andal Ampatuan Sr. is currently the governor of Maguindanao province and is planning to run again despite term limits.  He has won all three terms unopposed. The Ampatuans are close allies of the Arroyo administration, with their region contributing to her win in the 2006 elections.  Before her death, Mangudadatu’s wife was still able to call him and attested that it was Ampatuan’s men who have blocked their way.

 

Much is to be said about this atrocity. We can question the culture of impunity in our country, the tradition of the“utang na loob” the people’s lack of values and faith in the Almighty; but five days later, we still have no answers. Life in areas apart from the site of the massacre has continued with people seemingly nonchalant about the monsters of people that are living among us and playing God over people’s lives. We have become overly desensitized to terror and crimes that we cannot identify anymore when enough is enough. It’s the hopelessness at the back of everyone’s minds that’s eating our souls and spoiling our feelings. The perpetrators  of the crime are despicable, but how about us? Do we care enough to effect change? Do we care enough to seek individually a way to make this country better? Is it not despicable that we care when the news comes out and then forget about it the next day?

 

After we identify with the problem, we look not for solutions but for the easy way out. We see ways to get out of the problem but not ways to address its very root to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.  This massacre should open our eyes to the vicious cycle of passivity and irresponsibility especially with regard to the votes we cast during elections. We have all become part of the cycle and this has lead to the mass murder of those who were courageous enough to go against the tide. We are all in danger, directly or indirectly. We are in danger of handing over this country to the blood-stained hands of criminals; thereby becoming accessories to the crime we detest.

http://www.newsday.com/news/world/death-toll-at-57-in-philippine-massacre-1.1621662?qr=1


The only way to rise above the danger is to be strong enough to take responsibility for our actions.  The elections is not the end all and be all of good citizenship.  The fate of our country lies in our diligence to safeguard the welfare of its people from corrupt practices and a dysfunctional system.  It starts from us refusing to tolerate the malpractices we see are happening in our daily interactions with institutions like the government.  It starts with us building our awareness about societal issues and actually wanting to do something about it.  We are to work on believing that we still can make a difference, that we will not be swallowed by a corrupt system and that ultimately by changing for the better, we can turn things around.

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