OUR RIGHTS

Do we have the right to write?

Do we have the right to have work? If you are a writer, are you allowed to write freely?

Do we have the right to complain? It takes a system to write a complaint. Are all knowledgeable about how to complain?

Do we have the right to be secure in our jobs? A barangay tanod complained to me that they do not enjoy even a GSIS coverage. Yet their lives are always in danger. They face every conflict, be it family, or neighbors against each other which could result in injuries. Yet they and their family cannot look forward to anything should they lose their lives in the process of pacifying conflicting individuals.

Do we have the right not to wait too long whenever we approach government offices? I think that all people who look for assistance from government should be given speedy attention. At SSS, I tried renewing my membership and I waited for an hour. The lady at the desk was taking so long attending to one customer and there was a long queue of people. SSS has billions of pesos yet it scrimpts on people who could respond to queries right away. Moreover, its requirements need to be updated especially as they apply to women members because of the enactment of the Magna Carta for women. 

Do we have the right to have barangay telephones available whenever we need access? I used to be able to call up the barangay even in the middle of the night. That was when I had a PLDT number. But then Sun Cellular offered free calls to PLDT numbers under its P200 a month prepaid card. That was an ingenious way to take PLDT subscribers away from the croc fees. Unfortunately, now I cannot call up our barangay. Why, because their phones belong to Bayantel. Suncell cannot connect with Bayantel.

So now, I call up Camp Karingal to ask the operator to get in touch with our barangay regarding my complaints. And the police woman there is very acommodating but not so industrious in really getting connected. As you know, drop calls, no ringing, etc.

Do seniors have the right to choose the time they want to watch a movie? We are slotted to Mondays and Tuesdays and up to 5pm only. Why can't we view the movie after 5 pm. Are we being treated like like patients who have to be home by a certain time?

And why can't we view movies on weekends with our relatives who could have the time for family bonding?

I think that senior citizens have to make noise about the way we are being treated. I would cite also the pedestrian bridges and overpasses. They do not have escalators. The MRT elevators are always out of order so much so that it is a very great ordeal having to travel around MetroManila.

Do we have the right to have clean markets? I think we do. Our markets should undergo washing every night after the business of marketing is finished. Because that is not being done, most markets have rats and all other insects in them. I pity the market vendors who spend the night there securing their “paninda” for the next day.

Do we have the right to cheap food? I don't know who the National Food Authority or the NFA works for and why it exists. Foodstuff in MetroManila is too expensive. One hundred pesos will only buy two things, a pizza and a bottle of coconut juice. For a worker who earns P450 a day, that is too much. 25% of the salary will be sliced right away.

Lots in MetroManila are being taken over by big real estate developers who build high rise buildings. It is very eeky having to pass by them because they are so high and the threat of the Big One sends fears every time. Supposing it just happens today or tomorrow, will we survive at all? Are those high rise buildings strong enough to withstand Intensity 8 and more?

Do we have the right to have a beautiful scenery of MetroManila, bereft of electric and other wire cables hanging up there like spaghetti cooked in the sidewalks? Do we have the right to require cable and telephone companies to have aesthetic eyes so that they could see how ugly our cities are due to their wires which are absent in Makati's major avenues?

Do we have the right to complain? The last time I complained about those wires and the PNP harassing me under Gen. Purisima, my son died in Singapore under suspicious circumstances. 

Let us not forget the rights of the Marawi people. In the rehab program, I believe that they should allot one hill as a memorial to all those who died in the siege, soldiers and citizens. Let the people remember that they did not die in vain, and that their memory will always be etched in the minds of the people. We should have a huge brass plate with the names of those who died etched on it. Then a piece of sculpture depicting Maranao culture and bravery could be put up there. Let there be a contest on the design of the sculpoture to give a chance to everyone to exercise their imagination. Nearby, let us have a fountain with spiritual icons where the people may drop coins to make wishes for the departed. 

Do we have the right to WI-FI? Yes we do in many public places. But there should also be anti-jamming devices because some unscrupulous individuals manage to make their nefarious ways overcome them. I have suffered a lot of times at not being able to connect to the internet, just like now where I am typing this, because a stronger device is around barring me from exercising my RIGHT TO WRITE! As soon as a guard passes by, I feel tremors because most of them have a jamming app in their celphones. 

So, President Duterte, I salute you for your bravery in tackling the big multinational companies and corrupt officials. I would salute you again if you would kindly attend to our rights above. 

May the Maranao tribe prosper and increase!