WAVE OF VIOLENCE

A wave of violence is engulfing the country. Yesterday, a broadcaster in Palawan RMN radio station was killed after having done his broadcast work. Today, a bomb exploded in a bus, injuring several people. Last week, a car dealer was killed and his body burned.

Why is there violence of these proportions occurring in our country purportedly Catholic, and caring of lives? Today is Cory Aquino's birthday. Is the bombing a reflection of anger at PNoy, son of Cory? Why so, if this is true?

Until now, we have not been able to make life significant enough to be valued by everyone, after all the weekly Sunday masses that 80% of the people attend, and the various worship services from the Protestant to the Born-Again groups held more than once a week. It seems our spiritual intents do not match the physical outlook of some violence-prone people whose mindsets could be difficult to analyze and change, if at all. Only a Godless mindset could think of killing another life.

I propose that the Church, the NGOs, and other concerned groups put up billboards and tarpaulins containing spiritual quotations that uplift the soul and deepen our belief in God. I proposed this a few years ago in a movement that was supposed to re-educate the people (before the 2010 elections and hatched at a downtown universtiy. Unfortunately it was shelved.

But having Pilipino quotations everywhere about the need to care for life -- not just the foetus, but even the mature adults, everyone, regardless of class, sex, creed and skin color, could bring about a whole change in the people's outlook -- especially in terms of solving social and personal problems. No longer will we focus on using hardened solutions but rather humane ones that bring out the good and Christian qualities of everyone.

So be it.

A life of reaction is a life of slavery, intellectually and spiritually. One must fight for a life of action, not reaction.

- Rita Mae Brown

SPEEDY RACE TO PROSPERITY?

How do we get to the stage that Japan, Singapore and Malaysia are in? This seems to be the question that is bugging everyone. We want our country to be at par if not better than they are in terms of economic prosperity.

True, it would be nice to live in a comfortable house (as materials are cheap to buy and land is easily purchased), to have food to eat (as the transport of food sources and food crops is free care of government and so the restaurants, canteens and domestic cooks can whip up recipes cheaply), to have public and private schools with libraries open even at lunch time (UP closes its libraries at lunch at a time when more students could possibly avail of their services especially when cramming for an exam while public libraries have antique books proliferating in their shelves), to travel all over the country (and not having to queue up for cheap tickets which run out easily during promos), to cheaply watch the movies at anytime (especially for senior citizens who are relegated only between opening and 5pm and, AND ONLY ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS in Quezon City, the richest city in MetroManila or the whole Philippines? I think Mayor Bistek, a movie actor himself, should make his administration the greatest by giving seniors the best time of their lives through being able to watch the movies on any day and at least once a day throughout the year.)and many, many more.

Yes, we can dream, can't we? But at the rate the propaganda machine of PNoy is working, it looks like we would be snailing through the economic road. Just look at this: he hires new people to certain posts. Then the next day, he is reported to be approving increases in fares and other things in order to beef up the budget.

What the people deduce here is that PNoy needs the money to pay his people, who by the way were very visible during his campaign. And so one plus one equals two. The government becomes an elite (a term given by a musician to me) group of people whose roles in the political campaigns now give them the prizes for having worked their b___ off to get him victorious.

Now that is really very bad sequencing of government actions. How could he possibly earn better the favor of the people if this is the kind of propaganda that will be dished out in public?

I remember when Cory was president and she had to ward off several coups d'etat in order to maintain peace and stability. Now the people are allergic already to any form of militaristic changes in government and so they refuse now to be dragged into the adventures of the putschists. However, this time, under PNoy, the coups, in the form of gangsterism, is being cooked up and served everyday, in the papers, in media.

What do we get from this? Well, PNoy has been labeled weak in reining in the crimes, but who should really be in charge of maintaining peace and order -- are they not the police and the AFP? Does this mean that these two institutions do not have the right appointees who can carry out that mandate for the people? Is it time to make an overhaul of these institutions?

For being critical (on an occasional basis) I still get harassed and last night I was just at the police station reporting a perpetrator of sexual harassment while I was inside a supermarket paying up. He sidled up to me and brushed my left chest which underneath I had covered with my chaleco.When I looked at him, he was pretending to be counting his money in his wallet. But I still felt the disgusting act and so I reported the guy to the guard after which we hauled him off to the police station.

I talked to the women's desk officer in private who then asked me how the incident happened. Then she informed me of the steps that would be taken: both the perpetrator and I would be brought to a hospital to be given a medical check-up, then to the court for an inquest at 11 pm. It was about 7:30 pm then. I demurred and said I would just like to have this case be blottered. And so the incident was put down in that huge journal, kind of generic reporting, but I made a more descriptive narration in order to make it truly a historical document.

But I think the worst now comes to victims of harassment like a famous actress. The media mentioned her name and actually even that of other victims -- whence this should not be done at all. The victims are now marked for life in public consciousness and the psychological scars they suffer from might be difficult to obliterate.

Why does it take so long to resolve or even handle cases of sexual harassment? Is there not a way by which this could be done in 30 minutes? I think the people lose interest in reporting crimes because of the time it takes to handle them at the police.

What am I saying here? Crimes are part of a society the institutions of which are not respected by some sectors. The police and its ability to handle minor and major crimes are not taken seriously. (By the way, while I was there at the station, a woman came in to say that her celphone was snatched while she was about to pay her fare inside the jeep. The police mentioned a group of boys, and she said yes they are the same in terms of looks. This then proves that the criminals go on and on with their "job" without a definitive sanction, or without being arrested at all.

An uncle of my children was General Crispin de Castro who started the Philippine National Police in the 70's. He was a no-nonsense military man who insisted on right makes might. I would say that he was able to institute discipline in the ranks then but those were the days leading to martial law, and Marcos had appointed good men and women then who would give him a semblance of being a powerful leader for all time.

Today, we are faced with the greater problem. not of joining the Asean for that continuing race to prosperity, but with making the people, deviants and non-deviants believe that this government is the best we can have. How do we do that? Every government agency must have an internal videocamera that will check on the activities of the employees, which will be monitored by a group or several groups with high moral standards for governance. (A concerned citizen mentioned that even inside toilets there should be cameras. ("Doon nga ako hiningan ng 20 million nung BIR, e. Nanginginig pa yung hinayupak na yun." she said in bland anger. This is an alarm to Ms. Kim of BIR how she will divest the agency of scalawags and professional mulcters.)

Now what does belief in this government entail? It entails respect of the human rights of the people first of all, foremost of which is the right to live under an equal society -- equal treatment of everyone, regardless of status in life, regardless of sex, skin color, age, and belief.

Let us paraphrase now the quote:

What does it profit a people if they gain the whole world but lose the essence of their soul?


painting by oscar bento "amanece la meseta II"

LET THE DREAM COME TRUE

Pima Community College, Virginia Tech, Millard South High School in Omaha, Nebraska, Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Colorado. What do these schools have in common? All of them were scenes of violence where students, faculty and or non-academics were shot at except for Pima, where the shooter of Representative Gabrielle Guiffords was a former student. In Chicago, 258 students were shot at in Chicago, "32 fatally, on their way to or from school, traveling through gang-infested territory and narcotics wars on the South and West Sides, " according to NY Times. Then another report stated that "In 2010, there were at least 15 shootings at educational institutions from elementary to college level, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence."

What do these all mean? Educational institutions have not been spared from the violence, with the gun shooters either emanating from them or from outside. The victims have mostly been innocent of the crimes and had just been there to pursue their studies. Hence, the violence engulfing the educational institutions in America is nerve-wracking to say the least. The implication is that no longer are academic institutions safe harbour for everyone and anyone wanting to expand their knowledge, deepen their understanding of humanity, and absorb spiritual values that will guide them through life, but rather, they have become a big part of that social life steeped in murky violence -- whether graphically, physically, and even emotionally through words and silence.

Educational institutions should provide that safe haven for all seeking enlightenment, but with the spate of violence, it is time to reconsider what could have been the missing steps that the institutions could have done to stop it.

I am thinking basically of that community-outreach program that schools should strengthen -- whereby teachers and school personnel would be caring of their students not only while they are at school, but rather even when they are already home. The former must visit the homes of the students whereby they could feel more relaxed to talk about their problems and dreams instead of that "cold office or room" where the student seems to be graded all the time -- whether in terms of mental ability or behavior.

I think that in our country, the students and teachers are able to maintain a harmonious relationship because, after classes, the students tend to do extra work for the school -- whether help the teacher clean the board, fix the way the chairs and tables are laid out, etcetera. Even the parents come to school and talk to the teachers to find out how the students are faring out -- and in some cases, even create a committee of parents who will provide snacks to the student children usually in the nurseries, but which could actually be replicated up to high school and college.

What am I driving at? No longer should schools remain as anemic banks of data or knowledge, but rather a vibrant environment where everyone is involved, the parents, the community and the school itself as educating the child, the students should insure their development to being responsible, nurturing and caring adults, and not just plain nerds.

I think that this is the essence of a democratic set-up, an educational institution where everyone has a stake on the life/lives of everyone, to protect, nurture and care for all, mentally, emotionally and physically. Then perhaps the current siege of peace in the campus will be altogether obliterated forever.

GLOVED OR UNGLOVED

Governing as a president could be a very difficult task. Local leaders are more apt to be having a grand time. But wielding power over 7,100 islands could be a daunting task, what with so many officials clamoring to be in the limelight and coming up with suggestions, some of which could be pro-people and others anti-people in character.

So after 146 days in office, what have been some of the pro-people acts? Well, we were able to breeze through the Christmas season without any feelings of guilt that our gifts are not expensive enough to give to our relatives and friends. We are just too grateful also that there is greater sensitivity to public mood and responses than before. Our defense and police officers are particularly aware that should their acts become negative then they would receive grave penalties if not punishments. Then, also, the reproductive health is now being debated upon more comprehensively instead of being shot down from the beginning and letting only the voice of the Church prevail. Now, we know that giving birth is not enough. There are more considerations too important to consider like how to feed, shelter and educate that foetus once it comes out and grows to be a human being.

Now, the anti-people issues are coming up one by one. Let's skip the Justice system which is now going haywire, what with decisions being overturned to the advantage of the accused (the violators) instead of the victims. (See Hubert Webb, Sandiganbayan impeachment case and Truth Commission. What I would rather drive on here is the need for more heads-- not just one president and his secretaries calling the shots. I am for the creation of a Council of Elders who will counsel the president when making decisions. The Council could be an ad-hoc group which he would consult now and then before releasing major decisions that have to do with people's lives, now and in the future.

PNoy said that he would bring us through the "daang matuwid." I think this is the right path, the way with the elders who would give him their ideas about how his administration could be more people-sensitive, especially to rising prices of goods and services. The Council could provide guidance in terms of how a program could be developed, which ones are significant for quick implementation, and which ones need close supervision so that they would not be corrupted along the way.

This Council idea is not new, as in fact, the Igorot peoples in the Cordillera have their bodong system which allows leaders from different tribes to come together and make decisions that will bring about peace and respect among themselves, and to resolve inter-tribal conflicts. Respect for the elderly decisions is also ingrained in our culture, as our Filipino culture is replete of them, especially those pertaining to health. The Babaylan are elderly women and men consulted for their wisdom in terms of looking to the future, whether about harvest, ill health, or plain success of the community in overcoming problems. In Rizal's novels, we have read about Pilosopo Tasyo giving his views about the community relations.

It was only during the Spanish era that the value of the elders were downplayed or denigrated as the rulers focussed on the priests and government officials as final sources of "wise" rulings.

In the last presidential elections, one of the candidates was Brother Eddie Villanueva. I do think he should be one valuable ally in making this administration go the "matuwid na daan." He could provide passages in the Bible to make the officials sensitive enough to make all their decisions contain valuable spiritual learnings which could be handed down to the people as well as steps to God-like, and not authoritarian-behavior.

Finally, we must continue our sensitivity to all matters containing our life as a people and make it imperative to know the democratic steps to correcting ills in society. Some sectors think that marching through the streets is the easiest way to get attention and results. But I do think that doing this is like whipping up a storm to bring back People Power. I do think that this movement acquired a negative effect on our people, especially when Erap was deposed, and GMA was installed as president for 9 years without the benefit of legality given by the people.

Hence, as we trod that path to peace, equality and prosperity, let us make sure that our steps are geared towards strengthening democracy and now being lured into another authoritarian machination geared towards resurrection of the iron fist, gloved or ungloved.

BOXING, A STEP TO GREATER VIOLENCE

A Democrat official from Arizona was shot by an apparently disturbed young man who had just been dismissed from school. "Pima Community College said he had been suspended for conduct violations and withdrew in October after five instances of classroom or library disruptions that involved the campus police." (NYT, Jan 8 2011)

How sad to know that a public servant has been wounded because of politics. In our country, a barangay councilman, Reynald Dagsa was shot dead by an assailant whom he caught in his camera while shooting a picture of his family. The assassin was at the back aiming his gun at him.

Many other instances have happened of political officials being gunned down which now seems to be acquiring epidemic proportions.

Why does it look so easy to snuff out life?

I think the culture of violence has not been eradicated at all even with the constant propaganda about the democratic way of life. The world has not really seen the essence of that kind of life after all these years of our having the United Nations which gathers together all freedom-loving nations.

With the shooting of the American official, I hope that there should be a rethinking of the kind of sports that proliferate in our midst -- especially boxing, wrestling, and even target shooting. I think these sports exist to annihilate opponents and that is just a step towards killing life itself.

Here in Philippines, we should stop Manny Pacquiao, a government official from leading the pack of adherents to blood sports like boxing. Instead he should quit altogether and preserve his hopefully still balanced mind despite the pummels he has received from his opponents. Also the House of Representatives should raise its standard for what is an ethical behavior of its members. They must not allow themselves, their bodies to be boxed or treated inhumanely like in boxing. As officials of the land, they should bear the greatest dignified bearing all throughout their term and afterwards.

Being a public official is owing the public an obligation to appear with all dignity and honor and not allow their bodies to be subjected to dehumanizing treatment inside any ring and anywhere at all. Doing the reverse is creating in the minds of the public the idea that an official is vulnerable from all angles and that boxing is a legitimate sport to commit greater violence. Manny could start resigning as a member of HP if he continues his boxing career.

I have always considered boxing a game for bloodthirsty individuals.

ADDITIONAL EIGHTH

By the way, Folks, my second child, Marya Nadezhda, named after Mother Mary and Nadezhda, the wife of Lenin, was born on the 26th of September. In numerology, 26 is 2 + 6 which then equals 8. Another 8 ruling my life.

THE EIGHTH OF HEAVEN

January 8th is fast approaching and it reminds me of the death anniversary of my mother, Esperanza who died of unnatural causes in the hospital -- De Los Santos Clinic. That time I felt the warm sympathies of friends all over the world, from the United States to the Middle East and I am thankful once again of everyone out there for having been there when my family and I needed them most.

I keep a small altar for the mementoes of my mother, her pictures when she was still young about twentyish and in her eighties smiling brightly to her grand grand child. My mother, tubong Nueva Ecijana, was a very brave woman. At about midnight, one time, someone threw a stone on our rooftop. She came out in her nightcoat with a 2" x 2' wood ready to pounce on the erring boor. Luckily she did not find one, or otherwise, we would have spent the morning explaining to the police at the station afterwards.

What a way to spend the beginning of the year on a death note, but you see this is also the birthday of the grandfather of my children, Eugenio, the first. He worked and retired from the Bangko Sentral and again suddenly died at the Makati Medical Hospital while confined there. He was a handsome fellow, very thorough, and caring of my children when I was in Europe in the eighties educating myself on what is freedom (at that time, our country was under Martial Law, the dark Marcos years and funny how until now, the stolen funds have not been returned), and what is the so-called women's movement. My children are now reaping the result of that stay as they are survivors, very tough individuals and knowledgeable about finances, so necessary for existing on this earth. Their grandfather and grandmother, Fidela taught them how to prepare themselves -- shaping their personal habits -- before going to school. And when I came back from Europe, not wanting to disturb their educational momentum, I shuttled to Binan, Laguna every weekend to fetch them and make them experience being with my mother and stepfather, who helped me rear them from infancy especially during that period when my former husband was incarcerated for being a "subversive."

Hence,Folks, this is why the number eight is very significant for me, the lives of two of close peoples in my life make me recall them all the time.

Yesterday, I was feeling the doldrums, especially after seeing someone who resembled someone occupying a very important seat in the peace process in this world. And I had thought of eternity and immortality. It's so funny I started asking, what is the significance of all these political involvements when we become dust after all is said and done.

But wait, there is still another eight, March eighth, the birthday of my son, Eugenio Zigmundo the third, and of course International Women's Day. when I chose to be operated on to give birth to him, I just chose it at random and voila after all it was a day to be reckoned for all ages. This was why, upon returning from Europe, I proposed the creation of that day as a holiday to be celebrated as International Women's Day in our country through our organization Makamasa (Makabayang Kababaihan ng Masa) which was expanded to Women's Month by Remedios Rikken during her tenure as an official of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women and who is now in the roster of administrators under the present dispensation.

How time flies indeed. I do hope that this year 2011 shall bring us to the eighth heaven of prosperity, development and peace for all peoples. So be it.

BATAS FOR WHOM?

I would like to report to the authorities this Toyota Cruiser, with plate Number SN 327, on December 8, 2010, at 1925 pm.

This vehicle with front plate number 8 kept blowing its horn in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church along Scout Ybardolaza in Quezon City. The driver must have thought he owned the Philippines and ergo he could do as he pleases everywhere.

Calling the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives.

BATAS FOR WHOM?