C is an accomplished international consultant on educational affairs in science. Yet, she is not grabbing all chances of more jobs and travel perks abroad because she wants to be with her 97-year old mother who remains lucid until now. She can see the difficult past of her mother as the latter remembers her painful childhood of having been responsible for her siblings at a very tender age.
Del from Pangasinan, is waiting for her contract abroad. The youngest in the family of 6 children, Del was single at the time when she took care of her 64 year old mother who suffered from a heart condition and difficulty of breathing that required her hospitalization. Today, because she was at the bedside of her mother when she died, Del has been a model for her original family in terms of caring for the elderlies.
Meanwhile, in Tondo, an older man resides in his daughter’s house, suffering from dementia. He can no longer manage his personal condition and requires an aide but the family cannot provide one. His wife tolerates his idiosyncratic ways and feels helpless about doing anything to alleviate his condition.
A grandmother in Tondo also suffered a worse fate. During her stay in the city, she was actively moving about, getting bets for jueteng, and discussing the stories in the teledramas. She was also sensitive to the cries for counseling assistance of her neighbors. Because her family did not want her to be moving about without their knowledge, they sent her home to a daughter’s house in the farm where her mind deteriorated; lacking the necessary knowledge of humane treatment of the elderly, the family tied her to a pen like an animal, fed and hosed her with water whenever she answered the calls of nature. Eventually she died.
The stories above are bleak scenarios of what can happen to the elderly in our society. Among the upper classes, the family can afford to pay for a nurse that will attend to the needs of their grandparents on a daily and nightly basis. The budget for them is already set aside and reserved for their medicines, the caregivers, and other expenses.
Anti-Ageism
To be politically correct, we define discrimination of the elderlies as ageism, a movement that seeks to marginalize the elderly citizens. An ageist is one who espouses that principle that the elderlies are no longer useful in society. Hence, our movement is anti-ageism, anti anti senior citizens.
The government use of the word “senior” pits the elderlies against the youth needlessly. Why use the word “senior” instead of “elderly?” Eddie Ilarde in his radio program emphasized that “elderly” or ‘senior” in Pilipino should be “Nakatatanda,” and not “matanda.” The word “Nakatatanda” is more respectful of the people.
Western care of the elderly
In London, I have seen how the elderlies are taken care of even if they live alone in their flats. They get an allowance for housing, and a pension that can take care of their basic needs. A meals-on-wheels is provided them at their doorstep everyday. A social worker visits them daily or several times a week to check if they are ok. In the streets, the buses stop for them to alight and get on, with everyone not minding at all the long period of waiting for them to negotiate the act. But of course, medicines and hospitalizations are free there, since Britain is a welfare society. So the elderlies do not have a difficult time when getting sick.
I remember having read about an elderly woman who was divorced by her ageing husband who had gone looking for a younger woman to boost his fears of old age. Instead of moping in her home, she took off to New York and developed a new career, as a painter. But of course, this is in the west where opportunities abound and the social ladder is almost open to everyone regardless of age, sex, race and creed.
What are we trying to say here? In general Philippine society relegates the elderlies to the family members’ care without much assistance coming from the government nor are the relative-caregivers given assistance either in terms of morale-boosting or financial help. The department of social welfare and development may provide monetary assistance but only for dire needs like funerals. (Hopefully the new budget of the DSWD will carry funds for the elderlies to be able to cover their basic needs.) Monetary assistance for sickness is given by the PCSO but only after too much paperwork requiring going back and forth to the office which in turn could drive away the physically and economically hard-up relatives.
Debunking workplace attitudes
How early is the discrimination made against the elderly and those approaching retirement age? I remember in the Budget Commission, now the Department of Budget and Management, a senior employee was always teased by the junior employees, “Matanda ka na,” and he would retort with “Tatanda ka rin.” During the election period at the Barangay Donya Imelda in Quezon city, I heard a man say, “O paunahin ang mga senior citizens,” in a very mocking way. Somebody told him off, “Oo, paunahin sila. At ikaw tatanda ka rin at pagtanda mo, you will also be mocked. Lilibakin ka dahil yan ang ehemplong ipinapakita mo sa mga nakababata.” His face grew serious after that.
Actually, in the workplace, approaching 40’s is already like a time bomb, or a time for being bombed out for many employees. I can empathize with the flight attendants of the FASAP who are clamoring for the raising of the retirement age for them from 45 years, since they can still move about at that age. I know they speak from experience. When I flew to Amsterdam, KLM Airlines had elderly-looking attendants for that short flight from Frankfurt, Germany. They were very professional and smiling all the time, walking nimbly along the aisle, and their physical bodies not registering any weakness at all. Their faces had wrinkles but it is their heartfelt gestures of taking care of the passengers that removed all feelings of anxieties during the flight. And of course, their years of experience on board all the more emphasized that we, the passengers then were in good hands all the time.
In reality, the worst thing that can happen to elderlies or those approaching retirement age is to be considered a liability, and no longer available for competing in the workplace nor for an appointment in a government position despite their expertise. The latter is worse because the government is supposed to lead as a model in hiring on the basis of competence, and not making youth as a standard for getting appointments. Government positions are jobs that require sensitivity, competence, and skills in attending to the needs of the people, such qualities readily found in those that have had experience like the elderlies.
Being marginalized contributes a lot to the onset of mental weakness, according to medical doctors. Yet this should not happen at all as the Filipino people in the first place are a beautiful set. We love life and love Mother Nature. We grow easily in any surrounding – just consider the millions of Filipino workers and professionals abroad. Hence, the least the government can do is to take care of everyone regardless of age.
Truly, a need exists to debunk many ideas about age in the workplace.
Artistic contests
What about artistic contests? I am glad that the Filipino society of composers contest in cooperation with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, entitled “Click” for song compositions does not specify any age bracket for entrants. Instead it just calls on everyone to submit their entries and the public will decide the winner by the number of downloads that they get, internet-wise. By the way, the deadline for this is November 15. Check the KBP website.
On the other hand, a film competition on Biodiversity now emphasizes age over competence. The problem here is not that the elderly cannot compete skills-wise but rather in terms of treatment, they could provide a deeper meaning, a more substantial delivery of ideas, than the younger contestants. Clearly what is important here is that ideas about biodiversity should flower and that they must be allowed to spring from all sources. Why limit to a certain age? Environmental problems are concerns of everyone.
In the arts, works of mature and experienced artists really show more significance than those of the young. Even in terms of musical compositions, the lyrics of mature individuals have more depth and more relevance.
I think this is why in the Oberhausen film contests, everyone is free to apply and submit entries regardless of themes and regardless of age, but there is a special section for youth and children’s films. Here we see that all the members of society can exercise their creativity and be allowed to compete in terms of artistry and audience-viewing.
By the way, a sadder scenario here is that only Makati city provides free cinema viewing to all its elderlies all week.
Education for all
Then in the educational field, elderlies who may not have had chances of furthering their studies, or who would like to pursue a new course can no longer compete for scholarships. There is no such thing as scholarships at all for the elderlies as if the government looks at this sector as a risk instead of a group that can provide a deeper meaning to issues and topics of the day. Why not give a 50% discount in all education fees to those who want to study further or pursue a new course?
Moreover, our society is growing very fast technologically. Hence everyone should have a chance to get into the bandwagon and learn how the latest gadgets work and/or study how to put these technologies to good use. An ordinance can be passed making schools in every district provide discounts to the elderlies to study and then using these as tax-deductible items.
Anti-Age Ads
Along the same vein, our society is too embroiled in making youth as a standard for everything. Look at all the advertisements, a few show the elderlies for selling anti-ageing food supplements, and anti-sickness medicines. Instead of magnifying their exceptional achievements in having helped this society attain its level of development, the ads bracket them into situations that depict or emphasize their weakness. In an advertisement for a lagundi cough syrup manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, a child mocks his grandmother for sticking to the traditional method of boiling lagundi leaves. The case of discrimination here is two-fold: one, the boy is mocking the grandma for being out of touch in terms of so-called “modern” medicines, and two, the ad script is disrespecting our traditional healers who have used leaves for curing and treating the illnesses of our people especially those in the provinces where medical care is not available or is expensive. Hence the ad is a poor model for a child, and a poor example of advertising on health. It is also a prime example of discriminatory advertising.
On the other hand, I would not surely approve of elderlies competing with the younger set in terms of dressing up like Madonna the singer or dancing ala-Michael Jackson, and gyrating on stage as if the world can go hang. I believe that all acts of copying or imitating the young should not be encouraged as ageing should be taken as a spiritual stage when everyone can be looking at the world already, viewing and reflecting on it as a place for human life and for resting. The tarot cards reveal one picture of the Crone, an elderly woman known to have wisdom. Yes, wisdom is what the elderlies have and which should be nurtured and respected.
For couples approaching elderly years, I would suggest that the DSWD provide more vigorous counselling so that the stronger of the two would not abandon the other unless for plausible reasons like violence. It is rather unfair that one should separate from the other only because of age. Sometimes, even family members commit acts against the elderlies like their preventing or despising a parent for wanting to marry again. I think this is the height of insensitivity as romance and love are natural occurrences regardless of age. Instead, the barangay should have competent counsellors to advise families. Then DSWD should also devise program to teach the elderlies on what foods to take, food supplements that are good for their bodies, and all kinds of exercises that would keep their bodies still healthy and fit to live, as well as how to maintain a healthy sex life with one's partner.
I believe that ageing is only in the mind and that it is possible to maintain one's fitness. It is only the stresses in society, the pollution and the attitudes that bring about dark thoughts among people and hence hasten ageing. Medical reports are now coming out that age is not at all a liability in upland places, especially in mountainous places that are stress-free, where the air is cool, pollution is practically nil, and water is always clean.
Definitely, a deeper study of the plight of the elderlies in our society is very much needed so that the local governments, especially the barangay can truly be relied upon to take care of every one from womb to tomb.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
FEEDBACK: MARIA.EMBRY
maria.embry@sbcglobal.net Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 7:34 AM
To: miravera2010@gmail.com
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original
thank you for sharing w/ us your personal journey
you are very exact in your observation about political parties in the U.S.
I did not register any political parties, vote as an independent & cross political aisles during elections
To: miravera2010@gmail.com
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original
thank you for sharing w/ us your personal journey
you are very exact in your observation about political parties in the U.S.
I did not register any political parties, vote as an independent & cross political aisles during elections
FEEDBACK: MARIA.EMBRY
maria.embry@sbcglobal.net Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 7:34 AM
To: miravera2010@gmail.com
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original
thank you for sharing w/ us your personal journey
you are very exact in your observation about political parties in the U.S.
I did not register any political parties, vote as an independent & cross political aisles during elections
To: miravera2010@gmail.com
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original
thank you for sharing w/ us your personal journey
you are very exact in your observation about political parties in the U.S.
I did not register any political parties, vote as an independent & cross political aisles during elections
Thursday, October 7, 2010
ON GETTING POLITICAL
Do we know what moves people to go into politics? Power of course. Without power, who can exist? We may have power in the family, in the workplace, in the community but without power in the larger societies, especially globally, we could be eased out of major decisions being made that define the directions of life on this planet.
When I was only 11 years old, I went to the United Nations office with my classmates and asked for posters. The woman there commented, "Oh how cute she is. Look at her," and then gave me several posters on how the UN functions, and some others that contained their advocacies.
Since then, I have been posted on foreign issues.
Then when I reached adulthood, I wanted very much to travel around the globe, but the only way was to get a scholarship to study at some university. Then during martial law, when I would look at a map of the Philippines in a PAL ad, (my sister Luzviminda, was an international stewardess at the time) and how their planes travel from Manila to Hong Kong then to parts of Europe and the United States, I really felt very sad. I even shed copious tears. Why because we were second rate country, unlike Hong Kong. International flights were emanating from them while ours had to pass by HK first before going anywhere in this planet.
But luck is still very much in my hands because in the 80's I got a chance to visit Amsterdam (my namesake is Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, btw)which is a great coincidence. Annette Forster, a Dutch writer invited me to join the First International Conference of Women in Film and Video and show my Super 8mm films.
From Amsterdam, I travelled all around Europe and saw, read and interacted with all types of activists on many issues, political, social, cultural, economic -- indigenous, migrants', anti-racism; Third World vs First World films, and feminism, among others.
My head was reeling from many books, other printed media, films, tv shows that I could read when I based myself in London. I even listened to BBC tv every morning as my house mate, was a fan of the station.But I could not finish reading the newspapers because they were so bulky and my whole day would have been spent on them. Since i always deemed my stay there temporary, I just read the front pages, and parts of the cultural pages. However, in the beginning, I read through page by page, including the adverts. I was curious what things were selling in Britain.
I think that my stint in Europe, meeting filmmakers especially, gave me enough courage to view the world as it is and to join in all kinds of discussions and debates. This is the only planet we have and that we need to take care of it, no matter if we come from the "Far East" a far-away country, far-away from whose point of view, my friends would ask.
I guess had I stayed on and become an immigrant there, i would also have been very agog over politics there. But you see, in London, I was curious about what was happening with Princess Diana. I pitied her very much because Prince Charles' dalliance with now his wife, was being bandied about in the papers and among all circles. Why, a princess was in distress, and I empathized with Prince Di so much that I wrote a letter to her in the Guardian and advised her to get a divorce and also to involve her life in feminist issues. I never got to know whether my letter got published or not.
In 1991, I got the chance to go to and speak at a conference in NY courtesy of Sue Rosenberg-Zalk, bless her soul, of City University of New York Center for Women's Studies, Graduate School. Afterwards, I got immersed again in politics, watching the Democrats debate themselves to death over many issues. I commented to Linda Pichon and Ludy Resurreccion ow their style of debating could boomerang on the Democrats, with people saying "how can I trust these Democrats when they are always quarreling?" So, after watching another tv debate, i called up the 1-800 number and started criticizing. The guy at the other end, asked my how they could improve their show. So I suggested, you can debate but at the end of the program, show unity. You are all Democrats, after all, and you must present a united force to the people. In the following debate, I saw a great improvement. of course, Bill Clinton won the following year.
Now, I need not tell you anymore how I got involved writing my emails through Fil-Am Forum and the Overseas Filipino Council. I wrote heavily during the 2008 presidential campaign in the United States heavily favoring Obama over who? McCain-Palin? That election sounds very much distant now, what with many issues being raised.
One thing I have learned, any person can easily drown in the plethora of issues and advocacies. We always say, let's junk this and that person or that party and try the other one. Here in the Philippines, our officials switch parties easily and so there is no definite direction as to where they are going -- everything depends on who is up there.
However, in the western world, the stands of the different parties are very much delineated. And until now, I still cannot say that if I were an American, I would vote other than the Democratic Party. Why because once you say you are a democrat then ideas about debating, discussing, people's advocacies, women's issues, children's rights, all these come into mind. And I think I won't be able to forego all of that where questions of power exist.
Yes power, electoral power, is the most important of all in any society. How I wish, all the people, our people would use that to the hilt, electing those with whom we can praise, criticize, debate and wonder about this planet.
When I was only 11 years old, I went to the United Nations office with my classmates and asked for posters. The woman there commented, "Oh how cute she is. Look at her," and then gave me several posters on how the UN functions, and some others that contained their advocacies.
Since then, I have been posted on foreign issues.
Then when I reached adulthood, I wanted very much to travel around the globe, but the only way was to get a scholarship to study at some university. Then during martial law, when I would look at a map of the Philippines in a PAL ad, (my sister Luzviminda, was an international stewardess at the time) and how their planes travel from Manila to Hong Kong then to parts of Europe and the United States, I really felt very sad. I even shed copious tears. Why because we were second rate country, unlike Hong Kong. International flights were emanating from them while ours had to pass by HK first before going anywhere in this planet.
But luck is still very much in my hands because in the 80's I got a chance to visit Amsterdam (my namesake is Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, btw)which is a great coincidence. Annette Forster, a Dutch writer invited me to join the First International Conference of Women in Film and Video and show my Super 8mm films.
From Amsterdam, I travelled all around Europe and saw, read and interacted with all types of activists on many issues, political, social, cultural, economic -- indigenous, migrants', anti-racism; Third World vs First World films, and feminism, among others.
My head was reeling from many books, other printed media, films, tv shows that I could read when I based myself in London. I even listened to BBC tv every morning as my house mate, was a fan of the station.But I could not finish reading the newspapers because they were so bulky and my whole day would have been spent on them. Since i always deemed my stay there temporary, I just read the front pages, and parts of the cultural pages. However, in the beginning, I read through page by page, including the adverts. I was curious what things were selling in Britain.
I think that my stint in Europe, meeting filmmakers especially, gave me enough courage to view the world as it is and to join in all kinds of discussions and debates. This is the only planet we have and that we need to take care of it, no matter if we come from the "Far East" a far-away country, far-away from whose point of view, my friends would ask.
I guess had I stayed on and become an immigrant there, i would also have been very agog over politics there. But you see, in London, I was curious about what was happening with Princess Diana. I pitied her very much because Prince Charles' dalliance with now his wife, was being bandied about in the papers and among all circles. Why, a princess was in distress, and I empathized with Prince Di so much that I wrote a letter to her in the Guardian and advised her to get a divorce and also to involve her life in feminist issues. I never got to know whether my letter got published or not.
In 1991, I got the chance to go to and speak at a conference in NY courtesy of Sue Rosenberg-Zalk, bless her soul, of City University of New York Center for Women's Studies, Graduate School. Afterwards, I got immersed again in politics, watching the Democrats debate themselves to death over many issues. I commented to Linda Pichon and Ludy Resurreccion ow their style of debating could boomerang on the Democrats, with people saying "how can I trust these Democrats when they are always quarreling?" So, after watching another tv debate, i called up the 1-800 number and started criticizing. The guy at the other end, asked my how they could improve their show. So I suggested, you can debate but at the end of the program, show unity. You are all Democrats, after all, and you must present a united force to the people. In the following debate, I saw a great improvement. of course, Bill Clinton won the following year.
Now, I need not tell you anymore how I got involved writing my emails through Fil-Am Forum and the Overseas Filipino Council. I wrote heavily during the 2008 presidential campaign in the United States heavily favoring Obama over who? McCain-Palin? That election sounds very much distant now, what with many issues being raised.
One thing I have learned, any person can easily drown in the plethora of issues and advocacies. We always say, let's junk this and that person or that party and try the other one. Here in the Philippines, our officials switch parties easily and so there is no definite direction as to where they are going -- everything depends on who is up there.
However, in the western world, the stands of the different parties are very much delineated. And until now, I still cannot say that if I were an American, I would vote other than the Democratic Party. Why because once you say you are a democrat then ideas about debating, discussing, people's advocacies, women's issues, children's rights, all these come into mind. And I think I won't be able to forego all of that where questions of power exist.
Yes power, electoral power, is the most important of all in any society. How I wish, all the people, our people would use that to the hilt, electing those with whom we can praise, criticize, debate and wonder about this planet.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
PHILIPPINE-USA RELATIONS
Many groups are not attuned to what is going on in the United States at this time wherein elections are going on which will determine whether the Democrats or the Republicans will lord it over in Congress. We do not seem to be too keen to observe what is really going on there.
This is unfortunate because when the United States "coughs" we catch colds, don't we? Meaning to say, whatever happens there has a connecting effect on us. Besides there are over 2 Million Filipino-Americans and Filipinos working and living there. Their dollars are helping their relatives overcome the poverty problems here. Hence it is all important for us to be wary of the goings-on there.
To my mind, the ascendancy of Barack Obama to the presidency was not a fluke. It had long been coming that a president from the black race should be president. The Afro-american singers have been singing to many songs about the black race being oppressed and subordinated; and the writers have produced many works already giving the political, cultural and social histories of black slavery. On top of it all, the series of white presidents in the United States did not result at all in a country that is immune to recession. Hence, the Obama administration inherited a government that was deep in very big economic problems and wars that seemed to have no end, although the Iraqui battlefront has now been made non-combatant.
Now for us, we need to seriously observe the politics there as the consequences for our government could be very grave. The history of Republican policies in our country are largely beneficial only to the United States. I can cite only three Republican presidents whose administration became a yoke for us to carry. Theodore Roosevelt approved of the annexation of the Philippines during the turn of the century, thus sealing all the hopes of our martyrs for a free country. Then Ronald Reagan gave his imprimatur to the martial law regime in our country up to the very end, even writing his own scenario for Marcos to leave the Malacanang and the Philippines. George Bush approved of a fake presidency which resulted in many media persons killed, greater in number than all other regimes. He distorted our idea of democracy.
The Filipino women's right to vote was given after not much struggle in the 30's because the American woman, Catherine Chappman came over to help in campaigning for it and also convincing the American governor-general then to support it, while the Filipino legislative officials then were totally aghast at the thought of women voting.
Our country is better off under a Democratic Party rule in the United States, to my mind.
Now comparing Obama's regime with that of Clinton I think will not be good because the historical circumstances are not the same. The current state of the United States does not call for quick solutions to their problems. If it took two terms of Republican rule for the economy of the US to turn sour, it would take maybe three terms to strengthen it to its feet again.
However, I believe that the direction of economic changes in the United States should be towards a real democratization -- not only of the US but also all countries around the world. Resources must be democratized and not confined to a few. It is not ethical nor humane to find millions of people suffering from wars, poverty, lack of basic necessities like shelter, clothing, water, food, and education while so many dollar millionaires reside in this and that country.
I think that now is the time for new movements to arise -- those that will truly address the inequitable distribution of wealth, opportunites and resources. By observing and if possible getting involved in political developments in the western world, especially the US, we would be alert as to the possible consequences of elected officials and thereby be guided as to how we ourselves should move, whether in the government or outside as members of the non-government movement.
Our questions should be: which party is most likely to support our NGO issues? Which one is most open to providing real and concrete support to our programs for change?
A lot more questions have to be asked as ticklers for determining our own stand about the US elections. I leave this to the Fil-Americans who must give us an update on political developments there.
This is unfortunate because when the United States "coughs" we catch colds, don't we? Meaning to say, whatever happens there has a connecting effect on us. Besides there are over 2 Million Filipino-Americans and Filipinos working and living there. Their dollars are helping their relatives overcome the poverty problems here. Hence it is all important for us to be wary of the goings-on there.
To my mind, the ascendancy of Barack Obama to the presidency was not a fluke. It had long been coming that a president from the black race should be president. The Afro-american singers have been singing to many songs about the black race being oppressed and subordinated; and the writers have produced many works already giving the political, cultural and social histories of black slavery. On top of it all, the series of white presidents in the United States did not result at all in a country that is immune to recession. Hence, the Obama administration inherited a government that was deep in very big economic problems and wars that seemed to have no end, although the Iraqui battlefront has now been made non-combatant.
Now for us, we need to seriously observe the politics there as the consequences for our government could be very grave. The history of Republican policies in our country are largely beneficial only to the United States. I can cite only three Republican presidents whose administration became a yoke for us to carry. Theodore Roosevelt approved of the annexation of the Philippines during the turn of the century, thus sealing all the hopes of our martyrs for a free country. Then Ronald Reagan gave his imprimatur to the martial law regime in our country up to the very end, even writing his own scenario for Marcos to leave the Malacanang and the Philippines. George Bush approved of a fake presidency which resulted in many media persons killed, greater in number than all other regimes. He distorted our idea of democracy.
The Filipino women's right to vote was given after not much struggle in the 30's because the American woman, Catherine Chappman came over to help in campaigning for it and also convincing the American governor-general then to support it, while the Filipino legislative officials then were totally aghast at the thought of women voting.
Our country is better off under a Democratic Party rule in the United States, to my mind.
Now comparing Obama's regime with that of Clinton I think will not be good because the historical circumstances are not the same. The current state of the United States does not call for quick solutions to their problems. If it took two terms of Republican rule for the economy of the US to turn sour, it would take maybe three terms to strengthen it to its feet again.
However, I believe that the direction of economic changes in the United States should be towards a real democratization -- not only of the US but also all countries around the world. Resources must be democratized and not confined to a few. It is not ethical nor humane to find millions of people suffering from wars, poverty, lack of basic necessities like shelter, clothing, water, food, and education while so many dollar millionaires reside in this and that country.
I think that now is the time for new movements to arise -- those that will truly address the inequitable distribution of wealth, opportunites and resources. By observing and if possible getting involved in political developments in the western world, especially the US, we would be alert as to the possible consequences of elected officials and thereby be guided as to how we ourselves should move, whether in the government or outside as members of the non-government movement.
Our questions should be: which party is most likely to support our NGO issues? Which one is most open to providing real and concrete support to our programs for change?
A lot more questions have to be asked as ticklers for determining our own stand about the US elections. I leave this to the Fil-Americans who must give us an update on political developments there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
