I used to think that corruption and criminality in the Philippines were caused by poverty. But recent events tell me this isn't true. It is one thing to see people turn into drug addicts, prostitutes, thieves and murderers because of hunger and poverty, but what excuse do these rich, educated people have that could possibly explain their bizarre behavior? And to think I was always so relieved when petty snatchers got caught and locked away in jail because I never fully realized that the big time thieves were out there, making the laws and running our country. Can it get any worse than this?
Every night, I come home and am compelled to turn on my tv to watch the latest turn of events. I am mesmerized by these characters. They are not men. They are caricatures of men - too unreal to be believable and too bad to be real. To see these ╲honorable╡ crooks lambast each other, call each one names, look each other in the eye and accuse the other of committing the very same crimes that they themselves are guilty of, is so comical and apalling that I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It is entertainment at its worst!
I have never seen so many criminals roaming around unfettered and looking smug until now. These criminals wear suits and barongs, strut around with the confidence of the rich and famous, inspire fear and awe from the very citizens who voted them to power, bear titles like "Honorable", "Senator"¡, "Justice"¡, "General"¡ and worse, "President"¡. Ironically, these lawless individuals practice law, make our laws, enforce the law. And we wonder why our policemen act the way they do! These are their leaders, and the leaders of this nation Robin Hoodlum and his band of moneymen. Their motto? "Rob the poor, moderate the greed of the rich."¡
It makes me wonder where on earth these people came from, and what kind of upbringing they had to make them act the way they do for all the world to see. It makes me wonder what kind of schools they went to, what kind of teachers they had, what kind of environment would produce such creatures who can lie, cheat and steal from an already indebted country and from the impoverished people they had vowed to serve. It makes me wonder what their children and grandchildren think of them, and if they are breeding a whole new generation of improved Filipino crooks and liars with maybe a tad more style but equally negligible conscience. Heaven forbid!
I am an ordinary citizen and taxpayer. I am blessed to have a job that pays for my needs and those of my family's, even though 30% of my earnings go to the nation's coffers. Just like others in my lot, I have complained time and again because our government could not provide enough of the basic services that I expect and deserve. Rutty roads, poor educational system, poor social services, poor health services, poor everything. But I have always thought that was what all third world countries were all about, and my complaints never amounted to anything more.
And then this. Scandalous government deals. Plundering presidents pointing fingers. Senators associated with crooks. Congressmen who accept bribes. Big time lawyers on the side of injustice. De Venecia ratting on his boss only after his interminable term has ended, Enrile inquiring about someone's morality! The already filthy rich Abalos and Arroyo wanting more money than they or their great grandchildren could ever spend in a lifetime. Joker making a joke of his own "pag bad ka, lagot ka!"¡ slogan. Defensor rendered defenseless. Gen. Razon involved in kidnapping. Security men providing anything but a sense of security. And it's all about money, money, money that the average Juan de la Cruz could not even imagine in his dreams. Is it any wonder why our few remaining decent and hardworking citizens are leaving to go work in other countries?
And worst of all, we are once again saddled with a power-hungry president whose addiction has her clinging on to it like barnacle on a rusty ship. "Love (of power) is blind"¡ takes a whole new meaning when PGMA time and again turns a blind eye on her husband's financial deals. And still blinded with all that is happening, she opts to traipse around the world with her cohorts in tow while her country is in shambles.
They say the few stupid ones like me who remain in the Philippines are no longer capable of showing disgust. I don't agree. Many like me feel anger at the brazenness of men we call our leaders, embarrassment to share the same nationality with them, frustration for our nation and helplessness at my own ineffectuality. It is not that I won't make a stand. It is just that I am afraid my actions would only be futile. After all, these monsters are capable of anything. They can hurt me and my family. They already have, though I may not yet feel it.
But I am writing this because I need to do something concrete. I need to let others know that ordinary citizens like me do not remain lukewarm to issues that would later affect me and my children. I want to make it known that there are also Filipinos who dream of something better for the Philippines . I want them to know that my country is not filled with scalawags and crooks in every corner, and that there are citizens left who believe in decency, fairness, a right to speak, a right to voice out ideas, a right to tell the people we have trusted to lead us that they have abused their power and that it is time for them to step down. I refuse to let this country go to hell because it is the only country I call mine and it is my responsibility to make sure I have done what I could for it.
Those of us who do not have the wealth, power or position it needs to battle the evil crime lords in the government can summon the power of good.
We can pray. We can do this with our families every night. We can offer petitions every time we celebrate mass. We can ask others to pray, too, including relatives and friends here and overseas. And we can offer sacrifices along with our petitions, just so we get the message to Him of our desperation in ridding our nation of these vermin. After all, they cannot be more powerful than God!
I implore mothers out there to raise your children the best way you can. Do not smother, pamper, or lavish them with too much of the material comforts of life even if you can well afford them. Teach them that there are more important things in this world. I beg all fathers to spend time with their children, to teach them the virtues of hard work, honesty, fair play, sharing, dignity and compassion "right from the sandbox" till they are old enough to go on their own. Not just in your homes, but at work, in school, everywhere you go. Be good role models. Be shining examples for your children so they will learn to be responsible adults who will carry and pass on your family name with pride and honor. &nb sp; I call on educators and teachers, we always underestimate the power of your influence on the minds of our youth. Encourage them to be aware of what is happening in their surroundings. Instill in them a love of their country, inculcate in them the value of perseverance in order to gain real, worthwhile knowledge, help us mold our children into honorable men and women. Encourage our graduates, our best and brightest, to do what they can to lift this country from the mire our traditional politicians have sunk us
into. The youth is our future and it would be largely because of you, our educators, that we will be able to repopulate the seats of power with good leaders, presidents, senators, congressmen, justices, lawmakers, law enforcers and lawful citizens.
I ask all students, young people and young professionals everywhere to look around and get involved in what is happening. Do not let your youth be an excuse for failure to concern yourselves with the harsh realities you see. But neither let this make you cynical, because we need your idealism and fresh perspective just as you need the wisdom of your elders. YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU! Let your voices be heard. Do what you can for this land that gave you your ancestors and your heritage. Use technology and all available resources at hand to spread good. Text meaningful messages to awaken social conscience. Try your best to fight moral decay because I promise you will not regret it when you become parents yourselves. You will look back at your past misdeeds and pray that your children will do better than you did.
Remember that there are a few handful who are capable of running this country. You can join their ranks and make their numbers greater. We are tired of the old trapos. We need brave idealistic leaders who will think of the greater good before anything else. I voted for Atty. Martin Bautista and his team and I sure hope they will run again. Do your utmost to excel in your chosen field. Be good lawyers, civil servants, accountants,computer techs, engineers, doctors, military men so that when you are called to serve in government, you will have credibility and a record that can speak for itself.
For love of this country, for the future of our children, for the many who have sacrificed and died to uphold our rights and ideals, I urge you to do what you can. As ordinary citizens, we can do much more for the Philippines than sit around and let crooks lead us to perdition. We owe ourselves this. And we owe our country even more.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
RH bill: Sometimes things become clearer in Tagalog... To: Ed Tirona
1. Ano ba talaga ang pangunahing layunin ng HB 5043? Di ba population control o ang mas bagong terminong population management? Itinataguyod ng may-akda na ang problema ng kahirapan ng bansang Pilipinas ay nag-uugat sa over-population kaya ang solusyon ay population control, samantalang ang bansa ay number one sa corruption. Ang mahirap sa mga pinunong bayan at opisyal ng gobyerno natin, tayong mga mahihirap ang sinisisi sa problemang kanilang nilikha. Sila naman ang may kagagawan ng corruption sa bansa natin tapos ngayon sasabihin ang ang ugat ng kahirapan ay ang maraming mamamayan.
Di ba lohikal lang na kung ano ang problema o ugat ng problema ang siyang dapat tugunan o lapatan ng lunas? Kung corruption, kapabayaan at kapalpakan ng pamahalaan ang pinagmumulan ng kahirapan, lohikal lang na iyun ang lutasin. Ang masaklap sa HB 5043, tayong mga mamamayan ang sinisisi.
2. Sinasabi ninyo at binabanggit sa Constitution na natural and primary right ang pagmamagulang at pagtatayo ng pamilya, at tungkulin ng Estado na pangalagaan at ipagtanggol ito. Bakit ngayon pinakikialaman ng HB 5043 ang ideal na bilang ng anak, mandatory sex education, pamamaraan ng pagkokontrol ng panganganak at may kaparusahan pa ang di-umayon?
3. Ayon sa depinisyon ng reproductive health ay para magkaroon ng "safe and satisfying sex life". Ano ba ang layunin ng sexual act? Procreation? Pagpapahayag ng pag-ibig o pagmamahal sa pagitan ng mag-asawa o magkapareha (para sa mas liberal, pagpapasarap? ) Mapapansin na ang lahat ng nabanggit na layunin ay puro positibong kategorya. Sa kabilang banda, ang "safe" o para maging "safe" ay nangangahulugan ng pagbabadya ng kapahamakan o kamatayan. Kung positibong phenomenon ang sex bakit kailangan mag-ingat? Okay sasabihin ninyong may STI/STD na dulot ng sex. Hindi kaya ang STI/STD ay nature's way nang pagsasabi na mali ang makipag-sex kahit kanino at sinasabing isa lang ang dapat ang partner o asawa. May pagkakataon bang nagkasakit ng STI/STD ang tapat na mag-asawa? Wala yata akong alam na nagkasakit ng STD ang mag-asawang tapat sa isa't isa. Nakipag-sex na ba kayo sa asawa ninyo, tapos nagkasakit ng STD? Magaganap lang ito kung isa sa inyo ay nakipag-sex sa ibang tao.
Ang pagbubuntis ba ay isang negatibong pangyayari sa buhay ng babae? O ang pagiging ama ng lalaki ay negatibong pangyayari? Kung iresponsable siguro, negatibong pangyayari, pero sa isang responsableng lalaki o babae, positibo ito. Kung magkagayon, ang pagiging safe sex ay para sa mga iresponsable. Ang paggamit ba ng contraceptive o safe sex ay magiging responsable ang isang lalaki o babae? Ang usapin ay ang iresponsabilidad, samantalang ang solusyon ay contraceptives. Parang malayo yata ang dalawa. (slippery slope?)
3. "Satisfying sex life." Satisfaction o happiness ay isang subjective phenomenon. Paano ngayon maapektuhan ng isang social act ang subjective phenomenon na happiness? I may be healthy but not happy or satisfied. Halimbawa, tumigil akong uminom dahil pinagbawal sa akin ng doktor, hindi ibig sabihin na happy ako. Maaring happy ako kung umiinom ako. Paano yun, gustong tiyakin ng HB 5043 na magkaroon ako ng satisfying sex life, pwede ko bang ihabla ang asawa ko kapag hindi ako sexually satisfied?
4. Gayundin ang pagtatakda ng "ideal family size" na dalawang anak. Ano ang kahulugan at implikasyon ng ideal dito? Ideal sa anong konteksto at pamantayan o panuntunan? Sino ang nagtatakda? Isang subjective category na ginagawang batas. Pwede ba yun? Ang pagkakaalam ko ang batas ay dapat malinaw at ispesipiko. Sabi ni Lagman, wala naman daw itong parusa at hindi sapilitan. Kung magkagayon, bakit niya nilagay pa sa HB? Ano ang gusto niyang palabasin? Marahil ito ang gusto niyang total fertility rate ng bansa, ibig sabihin, walang ideal dito kundi population control lang ito. Ideal siya sa konteksto ng population control. Hindi kaya pakikialam ito ng Estado sa natural and primary right ng parents na ginagarantiyahan ng Constitution?
5. Palagi na lang pinag-uusapan ang paggamit ng contraceptives at abortion. Ewan ko, conclusive na ba ang pag-aaral sa direct correlation ng contraceptive prevalence at abortion? Sang-ayon kina Lagman, directly proportional ang dalawa. Kung totoo ito, bakit sa USA na kung saan ay 9 out of 10 babaeng reproductive age ang gumagamit ng contraceptive pero 1.5 M ang abortion kada taon? Kapansin-pansin din na sa ilang mga bansang may mataas na contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) ay may mataas din ang abortion rate o legal ang abortion o habang tumataas ang CPR tumataas din ang abortion rate. Sa kabilang banda, may mga bansa ding inversely proportional ang dalawa. So hindi conclusive at maling sabihin na ito nga ang katotohanan sa relasyon ng dalawa.
6. Basahin nyo ang contraceptive guide ng US FDA, halos lahat ng contraceptive drugs at devices ay hindi nag-prevent ng STI/STD liban sa condom. Gayundin, ang condom ay hindi epektibo sa HPV. Hindi po Simbahang Katoliko nagsabi nito, US FDA po.
7. Bakit ang Simbahang Katoliko ang palaging pinagbibintangan ng pagtutol sa RH Bill? Nakatutuwa o nakalulungkot isipin na kapag tutol sa RH bill at moral ang batayan, mabilis ang pagtatatak ng relihiyosong doktrina ang dahilan o propagandista ng relihiyon. Hindi ba maaring mangyari na may parehong pagtingin ang isang atheist at relihiyoso sa isang sosyal na usapin? Bakit pareho ang pagtingin ng katoliko sa barbaric nature ng Kapitalismo sa sinabi ni Lenin na ang kapitalismo ay barbaric dahil kalikasan nito ang pagkamal ng tubo na sumasalanta sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawa. Binansagan ba si Lenin bilang propagandista ng Katoliko?
Magkagayon, ako marahil ay pagbibintangan ding propagandista ng Simbahan. Kawawa naman ang Simbahang Katoliko.
8. Sa konteksto naman ng limitadong rekurso o resources ng bansa, ang usapin ay kung paano gagamitin ito. Ibibili ba ng contraceptives ang P 2 billion o ipantatayo ng mga bagong silid-aralan, ibibili ng mga libro, o iuupa ng mga bagong guro o ibibili ng ascorbic acid, gamot sa TB, malaria control, subsidyo sa mga mahihirap na may sakit, o tutugunan ang 10 nangungunang sakit o sanhi ng kamatayan ng kababaihan (para sa inyong kaalaman, wala sa top 10 causes of morbidity and mortality ang maternal death)?
9. Wala namang batas na nagbabawal sa babae na gumamit ng contraceptives. Ano pa ang gustong gawin ng HB 5043? Available naman sa market. Sabi nila para raw magkaroon ng contraceptives ang mahihirap. Kung may pambili ng gin o pangtong-it ang mahirap di may pambili rin sila ng condom. Sang-ayon mismo sa family planning survey ng NSO, 9 out of 10 ay handang bumili ng kanyang supply ng contraceptives. Bakit gagastos ang gobyerno ng bilyong piso para magpakasarap sa sex ang mga iresponsableng mahihirap na ito? Dapat turuan ng gobyerno ang mga mahihirap na mga teknikal na kaalaman at kasanayan para magkaroon ng hanapbuhay at lumikha ng mga oportunidad para magkahanap-buhay.
10. Sangayon sa liberal kapitalistang doktrina, hindi dapat makialam ang gobyerno sa pamilihan. Bakit nakikialam ngayon ang gobyerno sa merkado ng contraceptives? Dagdag pa, hindi naman welfare State ang porma ng pamamahala ng Pilipinas, bakit ngayon isusubsidyo ang pagkikipag-sex ng mga tao? Bakit hindi isubsidyo ng gobyerno ang pagsasaka ng mga magsasaka lalo na ngayong napakataas ng presyo ng mga farm inputs at mababa ang farm gate price ng mga produktong agrikultura lalo nang palay.
Ako po'y simpleng tao lang at nagtatanong lang po.
Di ba lohikal lang na kung ano ang problema o ugat ng problema ang siyang dapat tugunan o lapatan ng lunas? Kung corruption, kapabayaan at kapalpakan ng pamahalaan ang pinagmumulan ng kahirapan, lohikal lang na iyun ang lutasin. Ang masaklap sa HB 5043, tayong mga mamamayan ang sinisisi.
2. Sinasabi ninyo at binabanggit sa Constitution na natural and primary right ang pagmamagulang at pagtatayo ng pamilya, at tungkulin ng Estado na pangalagaan at ipagtanggol ito. Bakit ngayon pinakikialaman ng HB 5043 ang ideal na bilang ng anak, mandatory sex education, pamamaraan ng pagkokontrol ng panganganak at may kaparusahan pa ang di-umayon?
3. Ayon sa depinisyon ng reproductive health ay para magkaroon ng "safe and satisfying sex life". Ano ba ang layunin ng sexual act? Procreation? Pagpapahayag ng pag-ibig o pagmamahal sa pagitan ng mag-asawa o magkapareha (para sa mas liberal, pagpapasarap? ) Mapapansin na ang lahat ng nabanggit na layunin ay puro positibong kategorya. Sa kabilang banda, ang "safe" o para maging "safe" ay nangangahulugan ng pagbabadya ng kapahamakan o kamatayan. Kung positibong phenomenon ang sex bakit kailangan mag-ingat? Okay sasabihin ninyong may STI/STD na dulot ng sex. Hindi kaya ang STI/STD ay nature's way nang pagsasabi na mali ang makipag-sex kahit kanino at sinasabing isa lang ang dapat ang partner o asawa. May pagkakataon bang nagkasakit ng STI/STD ang tapat na mag-asawa? Wala yata akong alam na nagkasakit ng STD ang mag-asawang tapat sa isa't isa. Nakipag-sex na ba kayo sa asawa ninyo, tapos nagkasakit ng STD? Magaganap lang ito kung isa sa inyo ay nakipag-sex sa ibang tao.
Ang pagbubuntis ba ay isang negatibong pangyayari sa buhay ng babae? O ang pagiging ama ng lalaki ay negatibong pangyayari? Kung iresponsable siguro, negatibong pangyayari, pero sa isang responsableng lalaki o babae, positibo ito. Kung magkagayon, ang pagiging safe sex ay para sa mga iresponsable. Ang paggamit ba ng contraceptive o safe sex ay magiging responsable ang isang lalaki o babae? Ang usapin ay ang iresponsabilidad, samantalang ang solusyon ay contraceptives. Parang malayo yata ang dalawa. (slippery slope?)
3. "Satisfying sex life." Satisfaction o happiness ay isang subjective phenomenon. Paano ngayon maapektuhan ng isang social act ang subjective phenomenon na happiness? I may be healthy but not happy or satisfied. Halimbawa, tumigil akong uminom dahil pinagbawal sa akin ng doktor, hindi ibig sabihin na happy ako. Maaring happy ako kung umiinom ako. Paano yun, gustong tiyakin ng HB 5043 na magkaroon ako ng satisfying sex life, pwede ko bang ihabla ang asawa ko kapag hindi ako sexually satisfied?
4. Gayundin ang pagtatakda ng "ideal family size" na dalawang anak. Ano ang kahulugan at implikasyon ng ideal dito? Ideal sa anong konteksto at pamantayan o panuntunan? Sino ang nagtatakda? Isang subjective category na ginagawang batas. Pwede ba yun? Ang pagkakaalam ko ang batas ay dapat malinaw at ispesipiko. Sabi ni Lagman, wala naman daw itong parusa at hindi sapilitan. Kung magkagayon, bakit niya nilagay pa sa HB? Ano ang gusto niyang palabasin? Marahil ito ang gusto niyang total fertility rate ng bansa, ibig sabihin, walang ideal dito kundi population control lang ito. Ideal siya sa konteksto ng population control. Hindi kaya pakikialam ito ng Estado sa natural and primary right ng parents na ginagarantiyahan ng Constitution?
5. Palagi na lang pinag-uusapan ang paggamit ng contraceptives at abortion. Ewan ko, conclusive na ba ang pag-aaral sa direct correlation ng contraceptive prevalence at abortion? Sang-ayon kina Lagman, directly proportional ang dalawa. Kung totoo ito, bakit sa USA na kung saan ay 9 out of 10 babaeng reproductive age ang gumagamit ng contraceptive pero 1.5 M ang abortion kada taon? Kapansin-pansin din na sa ilang mga bansang may mataas na contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) ay may mataas din ang abortion rate o legal ang abortion o habang tumataas ang CPR tumataas din ang abortion rate. Sa kabilang banda, may mga bansa ding inversely proportional ang dalawa. So hindi conclusive at maling sabihin na ito nga ang katotohanan sa relasyon ng dalawa.
6. Basahin nyo ang contraceptive guide ng US FDA, halos lahat ng contraceptive drugs at devices ay hindi nag-prevent ng STI/STD liban sa condom. Gayundin, ang condom ay hindi epektibo sa HPV. Hindi po Simbahang Katoliko nagsabi nito, US FDA po.
7. Bakit ang Simbahang Katoliko ang palaging pinagbibintangan ng pagtutol sa RH Bill? Nakatutuwa o nakalulungkot isipin na kapag tutol sa RH bill at moral ang batayan, mabilis ang pagtatatak ng relihiyosong doktrina ang dahilan o propagandista ng relihiyon. Hindi ba maaring mangyari na may parehong pagtingin ang isang atheist at relihiyoso sa isang sosyal na usapin? Bakit pareho ang pagtingin ng katoliko sa barbaric nature ng Kapitalismo sa sinabi ni Lenin na ang kapitalismo ay barbaric dahil kalikasan nito ang pagkamal ng tubo na sumasalanta sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawa. Binansagan ba si Lenin bilang propagandista ng Katoliko?
Magkagayon, ako marahil ay pagbibintangan ding propagandista ng Simbahan. Kawawa naman ang Simbahang Katoliko.
8. Sa konteksto naman ng limitadong rekurso o resources ng bansa, ang usapin ay kung paano gagamitin ito. Ibibili ba ng contraceptives ang P 2 billion o ipantatayo ng mga bagong silid-aralan, ibibili ng mga libro, o iuupa ng mga bagong guro o ibibili ng ascorbic acid, gamot sa TB, malaria control, subsidyo sa mga mahihirap na may sakit, o tutugunan ang 10 nangungunang sakit o sanhi ng kamatayan ng kababaihan (para sa inyong kaalaman, wala sa top 10 causes of morbidity and mortality ang maternal death)?
9. Wala namang batas na nagbabawal sa babae na gumamit ng contraceptives. Ano pa ang gustong gawin ng HB 5043? Available naman sa market. Sabi nila para raw magkaroon ng contraceptives ang mahihirap. Kung may pambili ng gin o pangtong-it ang mahirap di may pambili rin sila ng condom. Sang-ayon mismo sa family planning survey ng NSO, 9 out of 10 ay handang bumili ng kanyang supply ng contraceptives. Bakit gagastos ang gobyerno ng bilyong piso para magpakasarap sa sex ang mga iresponsableng mahihirap na ito? Dapat turuan ng gobyerno ang mga mahihirap na mga teknikal na kaalaman at kasanayan para magkaroon ng hanapbuhay at lumikha ng mga oportunidad para magkahanap-buhay.
10. Sangayon sa liberal kapitalistang doktrina, hindi dapat makialam ang gobyerno sa pamilihan. Bakit nakikialam ngayon ang gobyerno sa merkado ng contraceptives? Dagdag pa, hindi naman welfare State ang porma ng pamamahala ng Pilipinas, bakit ngayon isusubsidyo ang pagkikipag-sex ng mga tao? Bakit hindi isubsidyo ng gobyerno ang pagsasaka ng mga magsasaka lalo na ngayong napakataas ng presyo ng mga farm inputs at mababa ang farm gate price ng mga produktong agrikultura lalo nang palay.
Ako po'y simpleng tao lang at nagtatanong lang po.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
PEOPLE GET BORED WITH ISSUES
THOUGHT TO PONDER:
Hindi kaya ang dahilan ng pagbaha no’ng panahon ni Noah ay dahil pinutol
niya lahat ng puno para gumawa ng napakalaking arko?!?
Example ng mga hindi tamang sagot sa maayos na tanong:
1. Kumain ka na?
- Busog pa ako
2. Andyan ba ang nanay mo?
- bakit po?
3. Anong oras klase mo?
- mamaya
4. San kayo galing tol??
- nagstroll lang tol
5. Paano mo ginawa yan?
- madali lang
Sa ospital.....
TATA : Hon, nahihirapan ako huminga….
ERLAN : Kung nahihirapan ka nang huminga, itigil mo na!
Nagbubungkal ng lupa si Allan para magtanim. Akala ng taong nakakita
naloloko na siya dahil wala naman siyang tinatanim…
ERLAN : Pare wala ka namang tinatanim ah!
ALLAN : Bobo! SEEDLESS to!
In a Miss Gay Pageant…
HOST : How can we uplift our economy today even though we are under
economic crisis?
ERLAN : (namutla) Mga bakla! Akala ko ba Miss Gay ito? Quizbee pala!
Erlan and Allan in a buybust operation…
ALLAN : Freeze!
ERLAN : Sir mga kasamahan natin yan.
ALLAN : Ah ganoon ba? ok, DEFROST!
ALLAN : Alam mo ba kung bakit hulog ka ng langit??
DEBBIE : Bakit?
ALLAN : Kasi bawal ka dun!!!
TATA : Magkano ang facelift???
DOKTORA : Complete treatment ay P145,000.00
TATA : Mahal naman!!! Ano bang pinakamurang treatment para magmukha
akong bata??
DOKTORA : Eto TSUPETA, P20 lang!!!
TATA : Wanna know how Hindu (India) people communicate without
talking?
DEBBIE : Hindi! Pa’no?
TATA : See the red dot sa NOO nila?? INFRARED yon mare!!!
DEBBIE : Whats worse than finding a worm in the apple you are eating???
TATA : Ano?
DEBBIE : Kapag nakita mong KALAHATI na lang yung WORM!!!!
A boss confused about his Math asked his secretary…
ERLAN : If I give you P3M less 17%, how much would you take off?
TATA : Everything sir! Dress, bra, panty!
Death of Mr. Bean's Mother…
MR. BEAN : (Crying) The doctor just called up, my mom's dead.
FRIEND : Condolence, my friend.
(After 2 minutes, Mr. Bean cries even louder.)
FRIEND : What now, Mr. Bean?
MR. BEAN : My SISTER just called. HER MOM DIED TOO.
Nakabasag ng VASE si Tata sa Museum kaya nataranta ang attendant…
ATTENDANT : Naku Ma’am, more than 500 years old na po yang vase.
TATA : Haaay salamat. Akala ko BAGO.
ALLAN : Nanay, ano po ba yung 10 Commandments?
TATA : Yon ang sampung utos ng Diyos.
ALLAN : Mas makapangyarihan pa po pala kayo sa Diyos eh!
TATA : Bakit?
ALLAN : Ang DAMI niyong UTOS eh!
Misis, nagagalit sa asawa dahil nahuling may ka-textmate…
DEBBIE : Magaling! At sino tong Baby na nagtext sayo?
ERLAN : Ah eh kumpare ko yan! Lalake yan! Baby lang ang palayaw.
DEBBIE : O eto replyan mo. Hindi daw kayo tuloy at may MENS daw ang
tarantado!
TATA : Walanghiya ka! Niloko mo lang ako! Ba’t hindi mo sinabi na may
asawa ka na?
ERLAN : Excuse me noh! Sabi mo, naghahanap ka ng husband. Well… I’m a
HUSBAND!
ALLAN : Alam nyo ba yung lolo ko! No’ng panahon ng hapon dun lang sya
nagtatago sa maliit na pader! Hindi sya tinatamaan ng bala!
ERLAN : Wala yan sa lolo ko! Eh yung lolo ko sa flywood lang nagtatago!
Hindi sya tinatamaan ng bala.
ALLAN : Talaga?
EVER : Wala palang binatbat mga lolo nyo sa lolo ko eh! Yong lolo ko
nakatayo lang sa gitna.
ALLAN, ERLAN : Talaga? Bakit di sya tinatamaan???
EVER : Eh bakit sya babarilin! Eh HAPON ang LOLO ko.
KANO : Nakagawa ako ng isang barko!
INTSIK : Ikiskis ko lang yan sa puwet ko! Ako nakagawa ng eroplano!
HAPON : Ikiskis ko lang yan sa puwet ko! Ako nakagawa ng robot!
KANO : Ikaw Pinoy, ano’ng na-imbento mo??
PINOY : Simple lang, KUDKURAN NG NIYOG! O sige, subukan nyong
ikiskis sa PUWET nyo naimbento ko!
TATA : Sir, what is retirement?
ALLAN : Retirement is when you are replaced by a COMPUTER at work and a
VIBRATOR at home!
Hindi kaya ang dahilan ng pagbaha no’ng panahon ni Noah ay dahil pinutol
niya lahat ng puno para gumawa ng napakalaking arko?!?
Example ng mga hindi tamang sagot sa maayos na tanong:
1. Kumain ka na?
- Busog pa ako
2. Andyan ba ang nanay mo?
- bakit po?
3. Anong oras klase mo?
- mamaya
4. San kayo galing tol??
- nagstroll lang tol
5. Paano mo ginawa yan?
- madali lang
Sa ospital.....
TATA : Hon, nahihirapan ako huminga….
ERLAN : Kung nahihirapan ka nang huminga, itigil mo na!
Nagbubungkal ng lupa si Allan para magtanim. Akala ng taong nakakita
naloloko na siya dahil wala naman siyang tinatanim…
ERLAN : Pare wala ka namang tinatanim ah!
ALLAN : Bobo! SEEDLESS to!
In a Miss Gay Pageant…
HOST : How can we uplift our economy today even though we are under
economic crisis?
ERLAN : (namutla) Mga bakla! Akala ko ba Miss Gay ito? Quizbee pala!
Erlan and Allan in a buybust operation…
ALLAN : Freeze!
ERLAN : Sir mga kasamahan natin yan.
ALLAN : Ah ganoon ba? ok, DEFROST!
ALLAN : Alam mo ba kung bakit hulog ka ng langit??
DEBBIE : Bakit?
ALLAN : Kasi bawal ka dun!!!
TATA : Magkano ang facelift???
DOKTORA : Complete treatment ay P145,000.00
TATA : Mahal naman!!! Ano bang pinakamurang treatment para magmukha
akong bata??
DOKTORA : Eto TSUPETA, P20 lang!!!
TATA : Wanna know how Hindu (India) people communicate without
talking?
DEBBIE : Hindi! Pa’no?
TATA : See the red dot sa NOO nila?? INFRARED yon mare!!!
DEBBIE : Whats worse than finding a worm in the apple you are eating???
TATA : Ano?
DEBBIE : Kapag nakita mong KALAHATI na lang yung WORM!!!!
A boss confused about his Math asked his secretary…
ERLAN : If I give you P3M less 17%, how much would you take off?
TATA : Everything sir! Dress, bra, panty!
Death of Mr. Bean's Mother…
MR. BEAN : (Crying) The doctor just called up, my mom's dead.
FRIEND : Condolence, my friend.
(After 2 minutes, Mr. Bean cries even louder.)
FRIEND : What now, Mr. Bean?
MR. BEAN : My SISTER just called. HER MOM DIED TOO.
Nakabasag ng VASE si Tata sa Museum kaya nataranta ang attendant…
ATTENDANT : Naku Ma’am, more than 500 years old na po yang vase.
TATA : Haaay salamat. Akala ko BAGO.
ALLAN : Nanay, ano po ba yung 10 Commandments?
TATA : Yon ang sampung utos ng Diyos.
ALLAN : Mas makapangyarihan pa po pala kayo sa Diyos eh!
TATA : Bakit?
ALLAN : Ang DAMI niyong UTOS eh!
Misis, nagagalit sa asawa dahil nahuling may ka-textmate…
DEBBIE : Magaling! At sino tong Baby na nagtext sayo?
ERLAN : Ah eh kumpare ko yan! Lalake yan! Baby lang ang palayaw.
DEBBIE : O eto replyan mo. Hindi daw kayo tuloy at may MENS daw ang
tarantado!
TATA : Walanghiya ka! Niloko mo lang ako! Ba’t hindi mo sinabi na may
asawa ka na?
ERLAN : Excuse me noh! Sabi mo, naghahanap ka ng husband. Well… I’m a
HUSBAND!
ALLAN : Alam nyo ba yung lolo ko! No’ng panahon ng hapon dun lang sya
nagtatago sa maliit na pader! Hindi sya tinatamaan ng bala!
ERLAN : Wala yan sa lolo ko! Eh yung lolo ko sa flywood lang nagtatago!
Hindi sya tinatamaan ng bala.
ALLAN : Talaga?
EVER : Wala palang binatbat mga lolo nyo sa lolo ko eh! Yong lolo ko
nakatayo lang sa gitna.
ALLAN, ERLAN : Talaga? Bakit di sya tinatamaan???
EVER : Eh bakit sya babarilin! Eh HAPON ang LOLO ko.
KANO : Nakagawa ako ng isang barko!
INTSIK : Ikiskis ko lang yan sa puwet ko! Ako nakagawa ng eroplano!
HAPON : Ikiskis ko lang yan sa puwet ko! Ako nakagawa ng robot!
KANO : Ikaw Pinoy, ano’ng na-imbento mo??
PINOY : Simple lang, KUDKURAN NG NIYOG! O sige, subukan nyong
ikiskis sa PUWET nyo naimbento ko!
TATA : Sir, what is retirement?
ALLAN : Retirement is when you are replaced by a COMPUTER at work and a
VIBRATOR at home!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
BEYOND PARDON?
PUBLISHED: Student & Campus Section, Manila Bulletin, 15 October 2008 Issue (Page F-4) Is anyone beyond pardon? BY James Soriano
In answering that question, perhaps the case of Claudio Teehankee, Jr. would be a good place to start. Should he be pardoned? He’s rich and influential; no less than the son of one of the great chief justices in Philippine history. He clearly committed a heinous crime, and he has (purportedly) not shown any signs of remorse. He is, in short, the perfect example of a person whom you shouldn’t pardon.
There are other issues as well. Many have complained that the process was not transparent. Some individuals have even claimed that money changed hands in this case. The victim’s family declared that they were not informed. It seems glaringly evident to everyone that this is not just a case of a lapse in judgment—this was a deliberate act of political indiscretion.
In fact, no matter what way you look at it, this can’t be anything but political. Our very own Justice Secretary did admit that Teehankee’s brother, ambassador and representative to the WTO, ended up being a factor in the decision. Considering how even impeached Presidents get pardoned nowadays, I guess the issue is not just about one deliberate act of political indiscretion, but rather, a whole system founded on it.
Also, we shouldn’t forget about the victims’ families. If there is anyone against whom this crime has been committed, it is to them, who are in themselves victims, first and foremost. Why should they—or we—forgive him? Some things that have been taken away can never be returned. If it were our friend, our parent, our brother or sister, whose life had been taken on a whim, would we not feel the same way? We don’t have to undergo their experiences to be able to grasp they are experiencing. Forgiveness does not come easily for wounds that will never heal.
If so, then is every other pardon just as objectionable?
A decade ago, a lot of controversy surrounded the case of Flor Contemplacion, who purportedly murdered a fellow OFW as well as the son of their Singaporean employer. We claimed that she was framed, that she was innocent. We demanded that she be pardoned. Our then-president went so far as to personally appeal her execution sentence. It was denied. Her execution strained our country’s relations with Singapore for some time. Even if the facts of the case were never fully established to us, our then-president went so far as to call her a hero.
But in contrast to Teehankee, Flor Contemplacion was a poor Filipina forced into an abusive working condition. If so, then is pardon simply a question of race or social class?
Say a poor, oppressed farmer murdered his usurious landlord, who happened to be a wealthy and corrupt politician. Assuming he did his country a favor, does that make his murder any less objectionable? Would you call him a hero? Would you think twice about saying that he deserves pardon?
Maybe it would help us answer the question if we turned our assumptions around for a minute. Let’s say that pardon is acceptable and justifiable under certain circumstances. If our administration can do it, and regularly, for the rich and influential, then it is fair to say that the same standard should be applied for those who are poorer.
But assuming there was a case parallel to Teehankee’s, where the murderer a poor drunkard, the victims in question from the slums and the scene of the crime was in an obscure street alley rather than a high-class subdivision. Would that man have a right to be pardoned, too? Would there be an outcry if our president pardoned him?
In the end, however, the question of pardon is about morality, more so than about politics, race, or social class. It extends to our conscience as individuals who live in a state which respects rights, including the benefit of the doubt.
But if we were to talk about morality, then it goes back to the question: Is anyone beyond forgiveness?
(Visit http://james.soriano-ph.com, or email me at james@soriano-ph.com)
In answering that question, perhaps the case of Claudio Teehankee, Jr. would be a good place to start. Should he be pardoned? He’s rich and influential; no less than the son of one of the great chief justices in Philippine history. He clearly committed a heinous crime, and he has (purportedly) not shown any signs of remorse. He is, in short, the perfect example of a person whom you shouldn’t pardon.
There are other issues as well. Many have complained that the process was not transparent. Some individuals have even claimed that money changed hands in this case. The victim’s family declared that they were not informed. It seems glaringly evident to everyone that this is not just a case of a lapse in judgment—this was a deliberate act of political indiscretion.
In fact, no matter what way you look at it, this can’t be anything but political. Our very own Justice Secretary did admit that Teehankee’s brother, ambassador and representative to the WTO, ended up being a factor in the decision. Considering how even impeached Presidents get pardoned nowadays, I guess the issue is not just about one deliberate act of political indiscretion, but rather, a whole system founded on it.
Also, we shouldn’t forget about the victims’ families. If there is anyone against whom this crime has been committed, it is to them, who are in themselves victims, first and foremost. Why should they—or we—forgive him? Some things that have been taken away can never be returned. If it were our friend, our parent, our brother or sister, whose life had been taken on a whim, would we not feel the same way? We don’t have to undergo their experiences to be able to grasp they are experiencing. Forgiveness does not come easily for wounds that will never heal.
If so, then is every other pardon just as objectionable?
A decade ago, a lot of controversy surrounded the case of Flor Contemplacion, who purportedly murdered a fellow OFW as well as the son of their Singaporean employer. We claimed that she was framed, that she was innocent. We demanded that she be pardoned. Our then-president went so far as to personally appeal her execution sentence. It was denied. Her execution strained our country’s relations with Singapore for some time. Even if the facts of the case were never fully established to us, our then-president went so far as to call her a hero.
But in contrast to Teehankee, Flor Contemplacion was a poor Filipina forced into an abusive working condition. If so, then is pardon simply a question of race or social class?
Say a poor, oppressed farmer murdered his usurious landlord, who happened to be a wealthy and corrupt politician. Assuming he did his country a favor, does that make his murder any less objectionable? Would you call him a hero? Would you think twice about saying that he deserves pardon?
Maybe it would help us answer the question if we turned our assumptions around for a minute. Let’s say that pardon is acceptable and justifiable under certain circumstances. If our administration can do it, and regularly, for the rich and influential, then it is fair to say that the same standard should be applied for those who are poorer.
But assuming there was a case parallel to Teehankee’s, where the murderer a poor drunkard, the victims in question from the slums and the scene of the crime was in an obscure street alley rather than a high-class subdivision. Would that man have a right to be pardoned, too? Would there be an outcry if our president pardoned him?
In the end, however, the question of pardon is about morality, more so than about politics, race, or social class. It extends to our conscience as individuals who live in a state which respects rights, including the benefit of the doubt.
But if we were to talk about morality, then it goes back to the question: Is anyone beyond forgiveness?
(Visit http://james.soriano-ph.com, or email me at james@soriano-ph.com)
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