YOLANDA – and its aftermath to (some) people

This blog post might seem a bit too late, but I did intend to write post scripts, when the ’storm’ is finally much more calm. Tough I have been quite active on my facebook account about how to help and all other things about #YolandaPh; my fascination with behavioral psychology is really at its heights.

So let me start…

Here’s a rundown of how this very strong storm had changed even the country’s political and social landscape – with concentrations on these people.

PNOY (The President)

I was never a fan, but he has been doing quite good in the first few years in the office (and so I give him credit for that, click here ) until the recent weeks. Coming from Ateneo myself, am aware of this man’s status in the learned society. He is, as we call him, OC when it comes to details. He disregards wrong information and is really pissed by wrong and bad media. This gives him a good (and not so good) status.

One, he took the police’s statement that almost 10,000 died. It was a rough estimate and it was wrong. He made a good impression by stating that it could be less, so to not put further bad effects. What he did wrong? He fired that man off his post. Was it too much? Well, for a staff who was there at the city where thousands were killed, he was simply being honest and fair. Was he wrong? Yes but to fire him for simply stating a possible fact that made the world ‘listen and look’ at us far more caringly? – NO. 

Secondly, he said Tacloban was not prepared - and I say yes. But granted the region’s leaders, was that statement a statement or a political bashing? The Romualdezes took the storm like a simple thing, and it pissed me off as well. For one, an ex-executive of Cebu was able to evacuate a total of 1500 people out of an island to safety; how come Tacloban, which has been historically hit by calamities of this magnitude took a calm approach. Is the governor liable, YES. But with the president’s political bashing, too much! While he was lambasting the also affected officials, where were the reliefs? It took four days before the innocent survivors received one. Galing Galing naman nun, PNOY. Talk about real #Priorities.

Lastly, he took over the mission to help only after bashing (and blaming) everyone else and, here’s the fun, only until the international media started to talk negatively of him. Now, the question, did he really intend to help primarily because he is RESPONSIBLE AS WELL? Or simply because his image is way going down?

My ratings: DOWN.

KORINA SANCHEZ

She has lost her credibility long before this event, but her incident with CNN’s Anderson Cooper placed her even below mud. She has been quite very good on TV but is really off on DZMM since Binay and the rest of their rivals. Making a not so needed bad comment on a reputable anchor on the field, haha , nah sistah, way too much. Would I ever believe her, hell no. Has she lost her media reputation – yes!

My ratings: Get another life!

TED FAILON

I won’t talk much about this guy because am not well researched really, but his current HAHAHA comments on the PAG-ASA personnel l who died on the field during the typhoon was not just below the belt but is a serious indicator of his low view on the morality of things. Why blame the person who died while serving well? Pag-Asa did not do anything stupid this time, he did. The agency lost a personnell, he laughed about it. Now tell me, is he worth our trust?

My ratings: konting ingat, p’re.

***

And since all these guys have further lost their rather not so good reputation, here’s some who inspires…

The AETAS

Get the news here : 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=733458500001813&set=a.324763030871364.95523.312800398734294&type=1&theater)

(Kara David's facebook)

I need no more words.

These are poor people with a good heart….

Marvel

https://twitter.com/philredcross/status/405359602381754368/photo/1

(posted by RED CROSS on their twitter account)

a person with disability who inspired me to be better, to continue living…

THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

for further help:

 http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/43300-reliefph-victims-typhoon-yolanda-help

Need I say more? 

From the millions donated, to the labors freely given. 

SALAMAT!

KUDOS PNoy!

Give credit to whom credit is due.

And so goes my post’s title.

I have never fully liked the president; there is something in him that’s so Cory Aquino. Of their family, it’s really only Ninoy whom I have liked most. But that doesn’t place me behind enemy lines nor does that make me an oppositionist.

I am more of a criticizing fan. I have said this before, that I never did vote for PNoy but his time at the office made me a fan. I have become a huge fan, a supporter and a critic all at the same time. I don’t agree with him in many many things but I agree with his goals. I don’t initially see the wisdom in most of his unusual ways – but God, I like them! He is fierce and firmly willed, the kind of president that we needed – after Marcos.

I am turning twenty three in a few days and I’d say am but a new soul to say much. But the last four presidencies, as for me, were a joke compared to what PNoy is doing. The past administration being the worst there is. Imagine the growth that this current presidency has brought upon the country – in a span of three years. Half the road and we have achieved what the past four presidents, including his MOM, had never.

True enough, the poor and the lower sectors of the society would say that these statistics and economic ratings are but just numbers. But as a part of that sector of the society, I would like to bask in the hope that sooner than soon, we are to feel, to experience changes. Although frankly; I see and feel some already.

The biggest ally of this presidency is not the one with a barong or that tuxedo at congress, nor is it the Resorts World dining businessman. It is not just them; it is us, as well. The current attitude and perspective by many Filipinos as measured by the likes of SWS shows how much trust and hope we have to a non-thief head of state. There is just so much trust that I hope we also learn to unlearn the attitude of negativity. I still see it and hear it often, but there are messages of hope and positive change every once in a while. Let’s listen to voices that aim for a better Philippines, frankly stop listening to Kabayan or that Korina Sanchez.

Like I have said above, KUDOS to PNoy 

for bringing about a culture of righteousness and positive change.

But the biggest KUDOS goes to all of us, for responding well.

***

#GoPinoy  

When Fiction Paints a Wrong Picture…

(What Dan Brown Should Have Known)

In his recent novel, the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demon author, Dan Brown called Manila,
the Philippines' capital city as the gates of hell.

Manila took the lime light, and so did Inferno, his recent work.

And although it has been written as a fiction, a form of literary entertainment; I can’t help but ask; has it not crossed the line?

Let me think aloud…

Fiction is but another form of literature that seeks to free a person’s point of view. It is a tale-tell of how a person sees the world, wrapped in the assumed and the created world of make belief. Fiction is the adult’s form of fairy-tales. It is our own version of monsters, villains, heroes and happy-ever-afters.

But like all other stories of fairies and dragons and monsters and Prince Charmings; fiction seeks inspiration from real life. It is a dream, inspired by our own realities.

So is the use and depiction of actual cities (take Vatican and Manila) in fiction somewhat a transgression of this make belief and reality?

Thing is, it is not. Reality inspires fiction. We inspire fantasy.

BUT there is a thin line between depicting a real story, a real, tangible character, and a breathing city with depicting a fictional persona or a make-believe city. This is why the likes of Narnia and The Capitol (of Hunger Games) are far more ‘real’ in our minds, because we share a common understanding of what it is.

Our biases taint our view of real and actual persons, places and ideas.

It is also murder to depict a real person or a place in ways below or beyond its worth. It is like painting yet again the beauty of Mona Lisa – in strokes and colors of your choice. It does not and will not give justice to the real thing. It will fail in comparison.

Thus to attempt to tell of a city’s glory (or gore) is to immerse oneself into the depths of its alleys, to experience its noise and music, to bask in its warmth and coldness. To tell of a city’s life is to seek its heart, to KNOW ITS PEOPLE. 

Yes Manila is not a perfect place to be. It has lots of things that even I dread of seeing (or experiencing) but Dan Brown in his Inferno is not able to fully depict Manila the way it is now. It has grown up and moved on from the sex-and-gangs era. The time of Asiong Salonga has long been gone. Yes traffic and pollution is there. But that does not give one the right to call it a gateway to hell.

To describe our beloved Manila

(and I quote from your book)…

 "When the group settled in among the throngs in the city of Manila--the most densely populated city on earth--Sienna could only gape in horror. She had never seen poverty on this scale." 

… I’d say, Sienna has not seen much of the world, huh?

Too much for an adjective, too much Dan.

Fiction is and fiction will be, but the story lacks substance now given the fact that it is based on an exaggerated view of a city he has not even been into.

Manila would never be understood unless experienced.

A little dare Mr. Brown,

Come and see for yourself, who knows, you might like the gates of hell.

#DearPH: Who’s taking a firm stand now?

I woke up to sad news, yet again, today. The White Vote movement, an assembly of different religious organizations, has come up with their ‘senatorial line up’ for the coming 2013 elections.

Although I have nothing against the organization, it just seems so wrong to see these ‘rather influential’ organizations giving out biased information for the sake of their cause. I mean I get it, being a Catholic (or Christian) entails evangelizing the world. But there exists a thin line between politics and religion. Politics, that being grounded on socio-economic needs and equal rights; and religion, touching the holistic persona of a person and communal spiritual journey; are two different things. Although there would be areas that these two should fuse and play in unison, there are also instances that these two are better left coexisting – separately. What one may accept as true as per religion may not actually be as incremental for a society’s growth. And vice versa.

The much talked about RH BILL and the action of many Catholic and Christian dominions to not vote for those who are supporting this bill makes me sad. It breaks my heart to hear even my sister having misinformed notions about the bill.

Yes, it is progressive and liberal in nature. But it never provides for forced abortion, or abortion per se. It does not have clauses about euthanasia (God, where did that even come from). It does not dictate the number of children to be conceived, nor does it promote and legalize same sex relationships.  

Read here for yourself:

RH Law

It only gives us, especially women, the choice. What is wrong with choice then? If this provision only aims to help and further better living, then what is so wrong?

Laws would always have possibilities of being abused, but that does not make the law per se evil. It makes the man (or woman) who bends it for his(her) schemes evil, but the law per se was conceived with so much good faith. I just hope the church people see this.

Thus I look up to those who stood up for this. I am definitely voting for senatoriables who took a firm stand for this cause. To be really frank, I would rather vote for a person who bravely stands against a crowd of misinformed Filipinos than vote for those who conform for the sake of being ‘liked’ and ‘voted’ for. I would rather vote for those who took a solid stand than those who kept mum in the crowd but quietly mock them for their ignorance.

It is time for a progressive Philippines, and it starts with a progressive mindset. Don’t you see history repeating itself? How many times did the Philippines succumbed to ‘religion’ only until the likes of RIZAL and BONIFACIO took a firm stand?

Who’s taking a firm stand now? And who are they doing it for?

Ikaw? Sinong iboboto mo? Take a firm stand my friend.

***

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