LEAVING IT AT THAT, the Book

The world of poetry is very engaging to all who are sensitive to the things around them. It raises their feelings of humainty making them run through the whole gamut of emotions, from love to anger, to feelings of loss and despair, or even of celebration. 

Not many can write poems, but those who do exhibit such exhilarating feelings that they invariably go back to do it again and again. 

The three men who wrote LEAVING IT AT THAT, a huge 3-book collection of poems, epigrams and commentaries represent those sensitive souls who would go beyond merely experiencing life but also waxing sentimental or expressing their innermost thoughts and/or happiness or dismay over the turn-out, depending on the quality of their reaction. 

The three authors are Arthur L. Amansec, Basilio M. Cruz, and Manuel T. del Fierro, all members of 1963 Torres High School class in Tondo, Manila. Former members of the student publication, Torres Torch, where Basilio was editor-in-chief; Arthur, associate editor; and Manuel, reporter-columnist, the Torch  became the stepping stone of the three authors to the literary world. 

Leaving  consists of three books, the first by Amansec,* a former government labor official, who previously published his first book Let Go of the Hesitant Heart and Other Poems. The books reveals his fine weaving of word that illuminate the world of a poet, as in that poem, "Be Gentle With Me, O Poet:"

"Be soft as the 
Whisper of dew
into the rose's 
Drowsy ears...
find me
An enchanted river
at Rainbow's end
Not too deep
Not too shallow
Sweet water swirling
Around my Throbbing angst."


The poem was published in the Phils. Free Press (2004).

Arthur also shares his despair over his parting with a significant other in Chronology, where every hour after which the world, the galaxies, the whole universe in fact would become too puny, too meaningless with the other's presence. 

"On the 5th hour of our goodbye 

The universe exploded in fury 

all qualities of existence ended

All aches and anguish quashed."

Indeed if all lovers were like him, then every feeling of romance would not have to end; every heart need not suffer any loss because being love ensures existence as wrapped up with the other through time and space. 

Romance between him and the other/s however does not envelope every poem of Arthur. He also releases nuggets of wisdom to advice to those who are on the verge of separating from their loved one/s. Actually, "Let Go the Hesitant Heart" could be the lyrics for a song of a man who has to face certain realities:

"If she's not meant for you

A cascade of tears cannot, 

Cannot soften or persuade

Let go, let go the hesitant  

Heart with its litany of lies

And legacy of heartaches."

Book II, Notions: Epigrams and Commentaries by Basilio, a creative and industrial communicator, are replete with thoughts that abstract from the realities of life in our society from the mundane to the esoteric. 

Some of those aspects which run from A to Z are Arrogance, Beauty, the Criminal Mind, Divorce, Employment, Family Planning, Heaven and Hell, Jealousy, Love, the Loner, and Money, among others. Of Arrogance, he says that "(a) veil for insecurity, mask for inferiority and armor against low regard."

Of Beauty, is "a burden when after the first look, people begin looking for your lesser attributes."

The Criminal Mind is about the hocus-pocus of three criminals, the first, a fake lawyer who rises in society, but has shifted professions; the second, a US Navy top radar and communications expert who steals US government supplies and then shares them with folks in Tarlac and Pampanga, yet dies a pauper; and the third, a professional swindler who is able to milk his friends and classmates. 

He defines Divorce as a "couple's parting of ways, something their children will never understand because it's bad enough to have been born without choice, worse that they now have to choose."

The writings of Basilio, reveal someone steeped in the political and social workings of our society. His mind is needed by the government for critiquing and revealing its successes and flaws in the face of serving the people.

Book III, Uncliche: The Risks and Thrills of Living and Writing by Manuel, shuttles between here and overseas. It is a set of unpublished poems mirroring his satiric view of poverty, of being an overseas worker, of many other ordinary occurrences in life, yet full of Christian hope. 

In Heavenly Philosopher, he talks of drawing the "line between genuine love and bare hate.

It is "forgiving your neighbor and forgetting your hurt. Think Love. Think Heaven."

He gives his own view of People Power in Edsa Tree, a pun on Edsa Two and Three. 

"The need for a new order is an overused excuse. Who dares face the music of our broken trumpets?"

  

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*Labor Arbiter Arthur L Amansec of NLRC wrote a labor decision that favored my being retained as a columnist in the Philippine Daily Inquirer,  in the nineties. Unfortunately, in a reversal of its official duty of defending the government, the Solicitor General took the opposite view thur urging me to raise the labor case to the Court of Appeals and lastly to the Supreme Court. The final decision hinged on the technical aspects of the case, not its substance.  

SANTA CLAUS, MAY MGA DALA KA BA NGAYONG PASKO?

Ano ang mga hinihiling ng mga bata kay Santa Claus pag dumarating na ang Pasko? Tinanong ko ang mga bata Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Maynila at narito ang kanilang mga sagot:

Marjorie de la Cruz, 11: Gusto ko po ay bagong damit at sapatos at bagong notebook. Yon lang po…at sana ay tuluytuloy ang pagbibigay ng regalo sa aming mga bata at matatanda. Yon lamang po ang aking mahihiling….

Princess Guerrero, 10: Nais ko po ay may pagsasaluhan kami sa darating na Bagong Taon.

Prince G. Patalin 4: Gu(s)to ko po ng maraming Pira at mga laruan

Paulene Castillo: Ang aking kahilingan ko, Sta. Claus ay bigyan ako ng regalo na Barbie

Prince T. Patulin 4: Gusto kop o ng maraming pira at laruan

No name: (Gust) ko magkaron ng Bahay at ____ Pamilia ko at magkaron ng (bisikleta)

Jorieje T. Patulin: Gusto ko po magkaroon ng Laptop.

Jasmin Anano 7: Nagpasalamat si Jasmin pero walang binanggit na regalo kundi para lamang  sa mga natanggap niya noong araw na yoon.

Justin Angeles 9: Santa, gusto ko magkaroon ng maraming pera para makabili ng malaking bahay….

Mark Paolo F. Perez 2: Sana magkaroon laruan ako….

Nicole E. Lamoste 10: Kami po ay humihingi ng konting tulong sa inyo… ano man ang tulong na ibibigay mo sa amin, kami po ay nagpapasalamat.

Chemerlyn Cuaicong: Grade VI, Ang gusto ko po ay laptop para po kapag may homework po ako ay titingnan ko na lang po sa laptop.

Mar Jun A. Sabusap 12:  ...Mga bagong laruan…magagandang damit…bagong sapatos, kumot, bigas, delata , unan, kama, s(i)nelas, bag, (note)book, ball p(e)n, crayon, papel at unipo(rme) at sando

Shine Cuaicong 8: Ang gusto kong hilingin ay Ipad…

Mapapansin na sa mga paghiling ng mga bata, parating may pasasalamat. At nakakagulat ang kanilang mga hinihiling, hindi lamang laruan, mga gamit sa eskuwela, kundi pera, bahay at laptop.

Sa mga tumutulong na NGO, kapag lumapit sa mga bata at sila ay pasusulatin, 

mapapansin na pasasalihin ng mga magulang ang mga batang hindi pa marunong sumulat . Okey lang yun basta ang hihilingin ay galing talaga sa mga bata. 

Pangalawa, sa mga batang hindi marunong sumulat, maaari rin namang tulungan silang humawak ng bolpen o lapis.

Pangatlo, huwag kalilimutan na unang isusulat ang pangalan at pangalawa ang idad. Mahalaga ang idad para malaman natin ang uri ng mga hinihiling ng mga bata, kung nag-iiba ba kung lumalaki na sila. 

Pang-apat, ikuwento kung saan nanggaling si Santa Claus, ano ang kasaysayan niya. Puwede kayong mag search sa internet tungkol dito. 

Pang-lima, kung may pera ang NGO, pakainin ang mga bata at pakantahin o hilingan silang magpakitang gilas upang matuto silang humarap sa publiko at magpakita ng kanilang mga kakayahan. 

Ginanap ito noong Disyembre 2012. Ilang araw pa, isinama ko ang mga bata sa Museo Pambata para makatanggap ng mga regalong pagkain, laruan at iba pa sa tulong ni Nina Lim-Yuson,  Pangulo at Chairwoman ng Museo.  Babalikan ko sila ngayong Nobyembre para malaman kung ano naman ang mga hihilinging ng mga bata, 10 taon at pababa na mga taga Smokey Mountain.

VENUS AND ADONIS

VENUS AND ADONIS

The present marble group shows Venus bidding farewell to Adonis before setting of on a hunt, which would turn out to be fatal. It is based on one of Canova's most famous models, executed between 1789-1794, and currently in the Musées d'Art et d'Histoire in Geneva. A model of very similar composition, depicting Venus and Mars, is in Buckingham Palace (inv. no. RCIN 2038), and was commissioned in 1815 during Canova's visit to London to see the Elgin Marbles. 

-sothby's.com

MALE ICONS FOISTED IN OUR SOCIETY

Folks, have you mulled over the kinds of male icons that have been foisted in our country?

During the 19th century, our heroes were our idols because they sought the independence of our country from colonizers. In the 50's, Ramon Magsaysay captured the minds of the people because he was the man of the masses. 

The during martial law, the dictator pretended to be a male benevolent leader but failed i. the end. History will tell us what he did to our country.

Male presidents after 1986 the year of the People Power phenomenon, the kinds of leadership left much to be desired.

In the larger societies, there were male icons that made our minds shape the male qualities - Adonis, that Greek sculpture, is viewed as the quintessence of the perfect body of the man who should be adored.

The Americans meanwhile brought here fil heroes like Superman, Spiderman, who were depicted as heroes of the world, helping those who are in distress, and out to destroy the evils of the world. However, Russian interference in the US elections and the installation of their puppet dissolved the idea that Superman is an eternal icon of malehood or manhood. BTW Folks, have you noticed how the male superheroes are dying or being deleted from screens? Superman, and Spiderman are meeting their endings in their last films. 

It is so funny but the robotic super beings, like the Terminator are overtaking our ideas of a handsome and favorable man.

In the political field. the leftists were enamoured by the idea of living the lives of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and especially Mao Ze Dong. The commitments of these radical political philosophers to raising the status of the downtrodden and abolishing capitalism replacing it with communism became a desired dream of every new recruit to the movements for change.

However these poltical icons are slowly being removed from the public consciousness as the economic developments in the countries where they originated pno longer conform to their original ideas. 

Now there are eternal icons of men in our society like Jesus Christ, the male saints, and predictably certain Popes. Pope Francis must not commit any error in running the Vatican in order to be our eternal icon. Despite their celibate status, the people, especially the women readily pay obeisance because they possess the noble and good virtues that show kindness, love and patience for all peoples of the world.

All women in the movement must define now what kind of men should prevail in the minds of the people. To my mind,  our women are confused on the kind of men they shall deal with. Majority now think that sex is the major come on to making men interested in them. Just look at their attire in the streets. This has to be fully discussed. It would also be good to ask PRD his male idol is. 

Only a clear perspective of manhood will make our people realize the need to have standards for choosing their partners in life as well as the leaders in our society. The violent men will slowly recede into the background, hopefully. 


           

COMPUTER VIOLENCE

Internet kiosks with violent computer games are full of computer addicts. They are becoming violent-prone individuals who will be dangerous members of our society once they exit the place.

Worse, the violent mindset will be easily persuaded by authoritarian rulers who would use violent means to rule the country.

Women and children will be unwilling. victims of such violence-prone individuals.

WHEN PHYSICALITIES DOWNGRADE HONOR

Folks, in the course of my travels, I have met only two kinds of men, so sadly. One is just so concerned about sleeping with the woman; and the other wants to have a deep discussion with her, before developing any intimacy. 

Usually, the kind of woman desired is sexy, with a big chest and butt that swings as she walks away. 

The second woman is usually a high-degreed woman who can discuss the ABCs of any topic or can have a definite stand on issues and the she attracts are intellectuals,  if not more intelligent than she is. But because of her avid interest in discussing the issues, she becomes adorable to the men -- not a doormat who would use wily ways to keep a man or men beside her. 

I raise this issue of man-woman relationships in order to caution the younger women to keep in mind that honor and integrity as a woman hinge on how she carries herself and her attractiveness is more lasting if the man or men love her for her intellect than her physical attributes. As we all know, the physical is ephemeral. 

So re that new law on "Bastos" women can avoid attractomg catcalls, by wearing less of thigh revealing clothing/ Remember that any affair that starts there could end there as well. 

HANGGANG SA HULING HIBLA NG ATING HININGA

Napakadaling tumayong Diyos sa ngayong panahon. May mga tao magaling umarte bilang Diyos, kahit na magmukha silang hindi kanaisnais na tao.

Sa isang bansa, kung saan arawaraw may nakikita, naririnig, nababasang patayan o pinapatay o namamatay, e anomba ang isa pang papatayin sa pamamagitan ng silya elektrika o iniksyong may panglason sa katawan? Balewala hindi ba? Kaya lang dun sa mga pinapatay ng estado, sa Bilibid Prison, dehins makakatakas ang preso, - babantayan siya, tititigan, at baka tumakas siya at titiyakin na dedbol siya pagkatapos itaas ang elektrisidad sa inuupuan niya o kaya matapos siyang maturukan. At kung mabuhay pa rin siya, uulitin ang mga paraan ng pagpatay. May duktor na tiringnan kung humihinga o tumitubok pa ang kanyang puso. At kung tiyak na tiyak ng wala na ang kalukuwa niya sa mundong ito, kundi ang katawang kupa na lamang na hindi gumagalaw, tagumpay ang pagpatay sa kanya. Ganun ba ang gusto nila?

Akala ko matapos ang People Power Movement natin, naitakda, at naparating na natin sa lahat ang kahalagahan ng buhay. Pero hindi, May mga senador pa rin, bagito, na gustong ibalik ang State Terroris, tanggalin lahat ng balakid at siburaduhing may mga preso na hindi na makikita man lamang ang kanilang katandaan.

Gusto ba nilang maging Diyos, tawagin silang Diyos! magmukhang Diyos, umastang Diyos na makapangyarihan sa lahat? Sa panahon ngayon, kung saan narito na ang New Age, isang kilusang naglalaying pahalagahan ang lahat ng may buhay, nabibuhay, insekto, halaman, ouno o tao man, may mga sektor na gusto tayong ibalik sa panahon ng Inquisition.

Palagay ko bawat tao ay may natitira pang onsa ng pagpapakumbaba at sasabihing " Ako ay tao lamang at maaaaring magkamali o may pagkakamali. Sana ay patawarin nyo ako." Masarap pakinggan ang mga salita ng tunay na nagtitika. Pero may mga plunderers ni hindi nagtika, nakawala sa kamay ng batas. Ang Diyos ay parating patatawarin ang lahat ng mga nagkasala, magsisi man o hindi. Yung mga ayaw magsisisi, ipagdadasal sila ng mga relihyoso para magbago.

Kung kaya't para sa mga bagitong senador, tanong namin, kung anak nyong lalaki. babae, tomboy o bakla, matanda o bata ang tuturukan ng lethal injection, o pauupuin sa silya elektrika, papayag ba kayo?

Ito ang pinupunto ng ibig sabihin ng Pamamahala o Governance. Ang taumbayang Pilipino at Pilipina ay bumoto ng mga tao na may katawang lupa at hindi yung mga taong gustong mag-ala Panginoon.

Alam natin na ang mundo ay tahanan ng mga taong humihinga,kumikilos, nag-iisip, nakakaramdam, at ang Panginoon ay naririto sa paligid natin,misang Espirito upang iparamdam sa atin ang kahalagahan ng kanyang mga tinuturo kung ano ang makatao,at maka Diyos na pamumuhay.

Kaya't kahit na anupamang relihyon ang yakap ng bawa't isa sa atin, parepareho ang Diyos natin. Iisa lamng. Diyos lamang ang maaaring magbigay at pumutol ng hibla ng ating hininga. Alay ng Diyos sa atin ang ating buhay at siya rin ang may kapangyarihang bawiin ito.
.

NO NEED FOR PLAYING GOD

It's easy to play God nowadays. Some guys are good enough to play the role, regardless of whether they are becoming less human.

In a country that sees or hears so many deaths everyday, what is another death via the electric chair or lethal injection? It is nothing. Except that in the latter case, the individual is watched over, guarded lest he or she escapes, and his/her life is insured to be snuffed out after a while.

I thought that with People Power we have been able to emphasize the sanctity of life. But no, here come the new senators eager to be the ones to pull out all the barriers that would insure that some prisoners shall not live to die in their old age.

Are they playing God? In this age when the New Age has already set upon us, that values every living thing, whether insect or human, we are now being pulled back to the age of inquisition (12th century Europe).

I think every human being has to feel humble enough to say, "I am human and can commit mistakes. Please forgive me." God will always forgive sinners who repent. Even those who refuse to repent, the religious would always pray for them to change.

And so to the newbies, the new senators, we ask you, supposing it was your son or daughter who is up,for lethal i jection, what would you do?

I think here is the whole point of Governance. The Filipino people elected human beings not those who liken themselves to God. We are aware that in this world, humans abound and God is around us in spirit to make us feel the value of His words. Regardless of any religion that each one of us practices, the God in them is the same. God is the only one who can take away life.


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What did the inquisitors do during the period of Inquisition in Europe? 

Inquisitors would arrive in a town and announce their presence, giving citizens a chance to admit to heresy. Those who confessed received a punishment ranging from a pilgrimage to a whipping.

Those accused of heresy were forced to testify. If the heretic did not confess, torture and execution were inescapable. Heretics weren’t allowed to face accusers, received no counsel, and were often victims of false accusations.

WHEN LOVING ONE'S COUNTRY BECOMES UNBEARABLE

What is being a productive citizen? We could be working in an office, or making crafts for sale, or serving at a canteen and feeding people and then getting a salary in return. These are jobs that produce income to society. Through our work, we pay our taxes to the BIR which then feeds the government programs. and projects.

However, there are some jobs that incur a different response in society, especially from the police. As a writer, the response to me is terrible: I get harassed every night by some underground service men who play pool right below my window, discuss loudly and laugh at their hearts content until the wee hours of the morning. I am even wondering how come the units below the building who are directly in front of them do not complain. A group of tricycle drivers also rev up their engines very loudly as they pass on the left side of our building purportedly done to make me notice them and thus not be able to concentrate on my writings or whatever I am doing.

Because of this, I am wakened up almost every hour, and my eyes are feeling very tired.  In the daytime I feel so sleepy because of lack of sleep.

Now I have not sat on this problem Folks. I have reported the matter to the barangay Doña Imelda, the 8888 and 911 numbers, as well as the offices of Galas Police Station and the ODD (Office of the Directorate).

However, the playing of pool is consistently done almost every night. No let up as if I did not complain at all. Neither the tricycle noise which could be easily solved if only the LTFRB would require silencers in every tricycle.

Now I wonder. That task of reporting to the authorities takes away my attention from the more productive jobs I could do. It takes me away from composing music, from writing my short stories and fairytales for children; in other words the more worthwhile and important jobs that would be considered as legacies to humanity.

So when I report to the authorities, I am not being productive anymore. I become a social activist, to help society be cleansed of unwanted individuals who destroy the peace and quiet in our society.

Who is the loser in this game? I am because I lose time, space and the opportunity to be productive in a wholesome manner.This is a truly unbearable endeavor - to be loving our country and putting up with harassment.

I think we should have a statistician who will count the hours lost for productive work when we have to report shenanigans to the police. In this manner, the police will not wait for the citizens to report to them all the time but will insure that with one report, not several reports, the probem will be solved.

But there is something I wish the courts would do. When a citizen has a legitimate complaint to be resolved and is resolved in his or her favor, the government must pay the victim the costs of the harassment or the crime, whatsoever.

It is no joke when I lose my two puppets of the Pied Piper which cost me eight hundred pesos, and other valuables like the Rieta laser light (2 pcs) costing six thousand each when I bought them in the 90's but now costs P18000 each, according to Maja Prevendido, the distributor of Panfilo Rieta's invention. My weighing scale which costs P300 is nowhere to  be found. My em rule for printing is gone and it costs now over two hundred pesos. Add to these the costs of going out to buy them at the source plus the sleepless nights.

So you see, Folks, how much we lose individually when we are harassed? I hope that the IAS would really do something about wayward police staff.  They are not only a disgrace, they are saboteurs of individual initiatives to improve our lives economically.

KATIPUNAN BIRTH

The Katiounan was established on July 7,  1892, 127 years ago.

CHARADE OF THE CHAMELEON

l

The display of military power during the American Independence reminds me of the German Hitler regime celebrations, the Russian and Chinese as well as they parade their metal power on air and land. 

What is the IO up to in copying the rightists in their public displays? Isn't it a subtle message that he has the military might needed to curb any protest or any move to oust him?

When will his charade end?  


this page has been vandalised. 

DRINK AND DRIVE DEAD

One criticism of advertising:

Materialistic

"Another strong criticism of advertising is that it corrupts society by promoting materialism. Proponents of social responsibility accuse advertisers of taking advantage of the free enterprise system to exploit various populations with unethical, misleading and offensive advertising. The result, they say, is a less informed and less caring population of consumers. According to the American Educational Foundation, critics claim that ads play on peoples’ emotions with promises of social acceptance and sex appeal, causing them to make purchases they can’t really afford and don’t need. Advertisers can’t force consumers to buy something they don’t need, but enough effective advertising can increase consumer wants and desires." (https://smallbusiness.chron.com/common-criticism-advertising-68007.html)

The presence of several San Miguel beer ads (It even has the caption: "Don't Text and Drive" when it should be "Don't Drink and Drive"  in the middle of the avenue shows that education of the youth is the last in their priorities. It only wants to sell beer and nothing more, regardless of whether their ads induce people to drink while driving. This is the criticism of advertising above, -- advertising as a profession corrupts society promoting buy-buy and nothing more. Parents should discourage their children from taking up advertising as a profession no matter how attractive the technologies used, unless the school or university itself has ethical professors who would infuse their students with a great sense of social responsibility.   

WHEN DOGMA OVERRIDES BEING HUMANE

If I were an official of this place, I would advice PRD this way about the West Philippine Sea.

Sir, Asian countries are clamoring for the use of this sea - Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan and even Malaysia. Why allow our country to be subservient to China whose claim is dubious since the UN has already declared that we own the right to use and explore it.

Our strength as a nation lies on our neighborS with a capital S because we share the same goals of achieving development. The best friends are those who will not bamboozle us to accept their terms, no matter how wrong the are.

And so, let us be Asians. China is not Asian anymore. It is steeped in Marxist Leninist Maoist dictates that adhered to the dictum: Might is Right.

No, Sir, the Asian way is being kind, generous and helpful to our neighbors. The reality that the Chinese military left our fisherfolks nearly drowning in the high seas after their vessel bumped the fishing vessel of our people, shows that they are not good neighbors, not Asians.

Let us not delude ourselves that we can still change the mindsets of the Chinese in PRC. If they can be harsh to the Hong Kong peoples, the majority of whom are Chinese,they could be worse to us.

The response should be an Asian response, Asian unity against a sea bully. Sorry, Mr, Xi Jin Ping, you are being loyal to your dogma and not to human beings.

PANA WHERE ARE YOU?

I find the beer company I wrote about before, very brazen. It has added more billboards with the Caption:Dont text and drive when it should be Don't drink and drive. Eeky, Folks! Really, I find this gangsterlike tactics of selling beer to our poor drivers who may not be so advert- literate with regard to hidden meanings of visuals.

Pwede ba PANA * (Philippine Association of National Advertisers) hanggang salita na lang ba kayo?

MUTED MARTIAL LAW

The entry of an ex-military guy into DICT does not augur well for those who embrace freedom of speech. I can hear drums beating for the declaration of muted martial law meaning undeclared but in operation.

Why is PRD fond of individuals in uniform holding powerful positions? The Civil Service Commission is not doing nor saying anything at all about the militarization of the government. Even NCPAG, the Political Departments in the academes. Where are the adherents of democracy? Although he was previously a senator, the DICT appointed had a lackluster performance in the Senate.

Typical of a military discipline - let the bosses speak.

My goodness.

TROLL-FED SOCIAL MEDIA

"an actor with a very shallow..." Folks please correct. my previous posting. thanks.

Also I read an advice from an NYT writer to stop reading the social media to which my blog is categorized because Trump trolls are moving about. I think that should not be the proper advice in times of critical political conditions. Rather the NYT must come up with requirements for what are legitimate postings. Such should make the readers wise enough to distinguish what is troll-fed and what is not.

In this way, the readers develop their political consciousness and sharpen their analytical skills of what are legitimate journalistic writings and what are subtle propaganda to blur the issues.

soul of the people

SOUL OF THE NATION

The United States has to be very careful and circumspect in choosing the candidate against the impostor in the WH. He has lasted so long that it seems he has mastered the art of insulating himself from any brickbats whether from political parties or the people themselves. His political advisers from within and without are surely moving hell and high waters to make his stay on and on despite the derogatory findings regarding his ascension into the position.

To my mind,  the best candidate to face this guy is one who is his complete opposite.  I say this because the American people seem still not in the know about his real character and so could vote for him without regard for deeper consequences that would happen should his stay be prolonged.

I think that media play a big part in shaping the people's opinions about the elections. Objectivity is no longer the issue here. It is the soul of the nation.

There are many distractions in America. Unlike in Russia.

You know Folks, I read that Sergei Eisenstein, the Russian filmmaker was very involved in making political films like Battleship Potemkin to commemorate the Revolution of 1905 in the twenties.  He also directed "October or Ten Days that Shook the World, which in the space of two hours dealt with the shifts of power in the government after the 1917 Revolution..." (brittanica.com). You can read more about him in the latter.

On the other hand, in America, what came out were escapist films like King Kong and Alice in Wonderland.

Today, despite the earthshaking shift in political power in the US, the entry of a nonpolitician. an actor with a very shallow understanding of world politics but is now being presented as world leader for peace, what movies are being made? Sci-films that are still escapist in nature. These are the films that dull the senses, that make the people turn away from political realities, that make them forget that something is awry in their political structures.

Folks. this problem of the impostor is not funny anymore. The longer he stays, the deeper the grave where democracy is bing interred.

Media brought down Marcos in our country. Our media was educational - pointing to the people the need for freedom which he had snatched from our grasp.

But in the US, the media has the tendency to obfuscate the political realities, especially the movies.

I think it is time for everyone in media to get together and decide once and for all if they should only think of saving their careers or presenting to the the people the real score of  how the IO has bluffed his way to power.

AUTHENTIC LEADER

What is an authentic leader?

An authentic leader is one who supports our desire to lead a moral life and have a meaningful existence in this world.

LAYUNIN NG BUHAY, HINDI PAGPATAY

"Ang layunin ng buhay ay ang magsilbi, magpakita ng pakikiramay, at magkaroon ng mahigpit at mataas na adhikain para makatulong sa iba. 

Araw-araw, umiikot ang tiyan ko kapag naririnig ko ang pagpatay sa isang pusher, isang drug addict o kung sino pa man na nahuhuli. 

At nitong Linggo may nabasa ako sa Facebook: isang batang babae (siguro 15 anyos) na nag post: "E kung magpakamatay kaya ako?" Nalaman ko kaninang umaga ng hindi na pala siya pinapaaral dahil kulang daw ang suweldo ng kanyang Lola para punan ang pangangailangan niya. Naisip-isip ko na ilang araw pa ay maaaring gumamit na ang batang ito ng bawal na droga. 

Sa ibang bansa, may mga naging solusyon na sila, nguni't dahil naririto tayo at hindi natin makukuha ang masinsin na mga datos tungkol dito,  hindi natin masisiguro kung nalu  nalutas na nga. Kung kaya't narito ang nais kong ihain na solusyon na puno ng katanungan:

1. Tanong: may national action plan ba para mapigil ang drug us? Anu-ano ang papel ng bawa't ahensiya ng gubyerno sa pagsugpo nito? Ipinaaalam ba ito sa mga lokal na namumuno? Anu-ano ang parusa o pagbabago kung hindi natutupad ang action plan?

2. Bago magsimula ng pagwawalis ng mga biktima ng droga, at mga pushers sa isang lugar, marami na bang datos para malaman ng publiko ang extent o lawak ng problema? Alam ba ito ng publiko at ng akademya para kahit sila ay makapag-ambag ng solusyon sa problema?

3. Sa mga nagtutulak ng solusyon sa drug problem, may mga nailabas na ba silang dahilan kung bakit nagdodroga ang mga indibidwal? Nailabas na ba ang komprehensibo at kadalasang nangyayari dahil sa pagtutulak ng droga? Naipresyo na ba ang nawawalang yaman at oras ng bawa't lokalidad dahil sa paggamit ng droga ng mga citizens nila? May mga ginagawa na ba silang patakaran o proyekto para matigil ang paggamit ng droga sa kanilang pamayanan sa bawa't barangay? Anu-ano ang mg aito?

4. May mataas ba na pagintindi kung bakit nagdo-droga ang mga tao sa bawa't barangay? May mga solusyon bang inilalatag sa bawa't barangay para masawata ito? Kinakausap ba araw-araw ang mga tao para matigil na ito? Anu-ano ang mga pabuya para matigil na ito? 

5. Mabilis ba ang pagresponde sa mga nagiging biktima ng mga durogista?

6. Mabilis ba ang pagresponde kung may niri-report na gumagamit ng droga? 

7. May tatlong bahagdan ba ang paraan ng paghuli ng mga durogista: una, warning; 2. pagkausap sa pamilya; 3. pagkausap sa mga pari, social workers at mga guro kung makakatulong sila sa pagpigil ng paggamit ng droga ng isang indibdwal o maraming indibidwal sa barangay? 

8. Nakapaloob ba sa mga programa ng eskuwelahan, ng PNP, ng simbahan, ng social work, ng munisipalidad ang pagsugpo ng paggamit ng droga? Nagkakatulungan ba sila o kanya-kanyang pagkilos ang gawain? Bakit kanya-kanya? Bakit hindi sama-sama?

9. May regular na paghahambingan ba ang mga iba't ibang ahensiya sa pagsugpo ng paggamit ng droga? Kailan ito at sinu-sino ang mga dumadalo? May pagbabago ba?

10. Anu-ano ang mga batas na kailangang sundin, maging ito man ay national o international laws sa pagsugpo ng paggamit ng droga? Ang mga ito ba ay nasusunod? 

11. May mahigpit na kasunduan ba ang mga ahensiya kung ano ang ipatutupad na paraan para mapigil ang paggamit ng droga? 

Panahon na para magkaroon ng civilian response sa gawain laban sa droga ng gubyerno. At sa palagay ko matitigil ang mga patayan kung masasagot ang mga katanungan sa itaas at makapagbuo ng  pamamaraan na batay sa magiging kasagutan ng mga ahensiya. Maigi lalo kung magkakaisa ang lahat sa isang mapayapang pagsugpo ng paglaganap ng droga. 

Ang problema ng droga ay isang aspeto sa lipunan na gawa ng mga tao. Ang solusyon ay nasa mga tao rin.  Kapag ang tao ay gumagamit na ng droga para takasan ang kanyang mga problema, panahon na para maharap ito ng lahat hindi lamang ng pamilya. Dahil ang susunod na hakbang sa paggamit ng droga ay pagpapakamatay na. 

BAON

The best thing that ever happened for students is the free rides on the trains. Next freebie: daily allowance please.  

THINK POLICE, THINK SIMPLE

I passed by UP Diliman yesterday. Why passed? Because I had to turn back due to the heavy traffic going to it. Many graduates and their families were posing beside sunflowers and taking souvenir pictures of the event. Vehicles were coming out of UP and others were going in. 

Every year that happens. UP is full of cars and vehicles going to and fro. 

Let us help the police of UP think how to solve the problem. The simple solution: make UP all one way roads on that day.