WHO'S WALKING THE DOG?

WHEN BANKS BECOME TOOLS FOR HARASSMENT

Folks, you do know the kinds of writings I churn out, don't you?

Well, they make me a target for surveillance all the time. Did you know that in every bank I go to, the janitors always wipe the floor and make sure that the cloth touches my shoes?

Then the guards of the bank start to smile. 

Last week, I really got very angry. And the janitor gave a big smile as if he had been expecting my reaction. But I continued talking to the bank clerk about it: " You know what he has done is intentional. The floor is spic and span and you could even use it as a mirror. But he purposely drew very close to my seat and then swept the floor with the cloth swishing very near my shoe. You know what he is doing? He is making me feel insecure about the security of the bank. And I am apt not to patronize the bank because of that." Because of that last sentence of mine, a senior bank official stepped in to apologize. But I told them, this is not a rare occurrence here. And that guy is not going to do it by himself alone. He has been told to do that by the guards who get the license of their company from Crame. It is a form of harassment so that I would not be able to make a decent transaction in your bank. And so he is sabotaging the operations of your bank by doing that. This has occurred to me in other banks, as well. I am sorry but I have to write about this."

And thus, I am telling you Folks, that the PNP intelligence group has a not-so-subtle ways of harassing me, as if in a public place I would not make a scene. But I do make the scene because I want the public to know that freedom of expression is not respected in our  country and that disrespect occurs in every corner of every critical citizen and/or writer like me. 

The next time this occurs, I shall name the banks where I find such janitors. For this time, I am withholding their names to give the officials the time to discipline their guards and the janitors. 

When banks become tools for political harassment, they are no longer performing their pristine function of guarding our money. They have become agents of corrupt national and local officials. 

It is time to review the functions of the PNP intelligence groups, as well as their policies on dealing with critical writers. Are they serving the public good or that of certain officials?

ON RAISING EDUCATIONAL STANDING GLOBALLY

Many tips are offered in the internet on how to motivate students, and they run from 10 to 20 and more. But looking back to my high school days at the  UP High School, I could see who were the really dedicated teachers who inspired us to study. All of them did. 

For example, our teacher in math, Mrs. Yap was always giving us problems to solve on our seats and on the board. She never tired of explaining to us how the answers came about. Then there were also surprise quizzes which made us so agitated that probably that was why the ideas had sunk in our minds. And one thing she really showed us? She revealed to us through her smiling face that math is not that difficult really. 

Another teacher, Ms. Luisa nee Canieso (Doronila) gave us drills in English, whether through classroom tests or take home assignments. She was very precise in what she had wanted us to learn. In fact, when there was a big issue at school, where our drama club (she was our adviser) was dissolved due to our having worn black sweatshirts and pants, sunglasses, and the organizers' having covered the windows with newspapers to make the Multipurpose Hall really dark so that we had to light up candles, Dr. Canieso was very cool about it. Why did the senior faculty dissolve the drama club? Because the "children" were being made objects of Satan; it was satanic to be having dark hall rooms and dancing there. Instead of repWe udiating the comments of the senior authorities, Dr. Canieso told us, "Class, you are all mature to judge what you had done, whether it is right or wrong." 

Yes, she recognized our ability to decide for ourselves how we had wanted to look, regardless of whether we preferred aping the Beatles or not. 

But I can really remember that she spoke flawless English in the classroom. I did not hear her utter a single Pilipino or Ilonggo word as sh e hailed from Negros Occidental. 

We also had Ms. Gloria Quitco, our Biology teacher who has such flawless skin until now that we also felt very eager to see her. She always came prepared to show us the parts of a plant. 

Of course we also had terror teachers, those who dissolved our drama club. I remember one who, during the trial for the retention of the club, had told in no uncertain terms that we were being tempted by the devil in that multipurpose hall. Another teacher asked each one of us if what we had done was wrong or not. Many of my classmates and I were so disappointed when the so-called tops in our class had spoken and chosen to condemn our club. They really sounded very fake. 

Now we don't know where they are. But I do remember their family names. I guess they just did not want to lose their standing in class and so pretended that they were morally higher than us.  

One thing I can that really encouraged us were the surroundings. Our school had four buildings divided into rooms. Outside the windows you could see greenery, green grass Folks and fresh air. That was the 60's. 

And so we did not have to feel so stressed out learning because we  could look outside and relax our minds, a belated deduction now. Moreover, our teachers always had time to give us a one-on-one conversation and so we could talk to them about our angst and worries about our lessons or the blocks to our graduating on time. 

Then what did the many senior graduates in the new millenium of UP High do? They declared that the buildings are dilapidated and so they had agreed with the  top officials of UP sell the use of the land to a big commercial company. Now you see not a shadow of our school but "Buy this and that Teeshirt." From being a shaper of minds for greater roles in society, it now shapes everyone to become individualistic, and develop an attitude that to become somebody in this world, one must have a lot of cash for buying imported goods. 

I think the very low ranking of our 15 year-old students in the latest global study on educational rankings, is just the logical result of a society that is steeped in commercialism. It is also the result of students do not think in terms of serving in the country but outside. Their sights are on going abroad and earning dollars and yens, or whatever whereas during our time, our ambitions were to write a good book, to discover new inventions, to become known in society through excellent achievements. 

What music propelled us to move in this direction? The Beatles, who wrote songs with lyrics that spoke of the individual's role in society as in the song, Imagine, A Day in the Life, and love songs that had pure intentions. Of course, western feminists' analysis of Beatles songs now show some of them having anti-women contents like that song with this line: "You better run for your life little girl..."

Our teachers were all very encouraging as our school was deemed a notch higher than others. There was pride all over in being able to teach at UP High, and for us, students to be studying there. What we can glean here is that pride in being where we are studying is highly important. 

Some of us who were quite slow in class were made to go to an office where we were told to read books and answer questions about them. I remember having read Mein Kampf by Hitler there. But I think it ingrained in me the inhumanity of the Nazi regime. Anyway, in this method of teaching, I learned to extract ideas from books, and not just how to breeze through them. 

By the way my mother and her second husband were busy with their businesses and so it was my sister, Adelina who was always reminding us to look after our education at school From her, I learned equality between women and men. Her friends, Malou Canieso, Tessie Abaldonado, and Glo Quitco through some week-end gatherings were always around us and that presence of intelligent women propelled me to be as intelligent as they are. 

But nowadays, with most parents gone abroad, how many of the students really experience parental attention on their studies? This is one aspect that the study did not look into, I guess. The value of this factor is very important in assessing the standing of students in class as they are still on that stage of needing a push, encouragement, and applause for whatever little or big successes they experience in school. 

I think no matter how big the budget of the Department of Education will have year in and year out will come to naught unless attention is paid inside the classroom -- what happens in the interaction between teachers and students; what occurs in the minds of the students when they are in school; and how adequate are the libraries in providing thought-provoking books and gadgets that will make the students love the art and science of learning. 

Global studies on educational rankings should also look into the socio-economic background of students to make the results really reflective on the conditions of the students and to provide adequate solutions on how to sold underachievements. 

MACARTHUR PARK REPRISED

Folks have you ever heard MacArthur Park again by Richard Harris? I've been listening to it again despite having heard it only during my college days. Now I appreciate more the music and the lyrics which make me wonder really what it means overall in our life. 

The song sang by Harris achieved number two in the the three charts - Billboard, Cash Box and Record World at that time and Donna Summer's disco version attained first in all three after a decade. 

The composer, Jimmy Webb says that he had composed it after his girlfriend Susie Horton broke off with him. The park was where they used to meet as it was only across the office where Susie worked. It reveals his pain and passion, the pain of being a composer still building up his career, and the passion of making music that reaches up to the skies. 

Some sectors have said that his lyrics reflect a mind that has been immersed in marijuana and other substances, which I would say maybe a vehicle which some artists use in order to raise some creative ideas. Others have commented on how the melody transcends the usual songs that go ABA or ABBA,  His MacArthur Park rather goes from ABCA and it uses solos and choruses, as well as varying tempos, from midtempo (neither fast nor slow)  to slow to "Allegro" and back.

The lyrics is full of longing for a love that is going away and his memories of the affair linger on the surrounding park -- the cake and "the sweet green icing flowing down," the birds and the old men playing checkers. . 

 Does it really matter if the lyrics exhibit illogical nuances like "MacArthur Park is melting in the dark" or "I don't think that I can take it (the cake) Cause it took so long to bake it?"

To my mind, this is what you would call poetic license, imagining the structural changes that a park acquires. Maybe the breakup really caused some questions in the mind of Webb but he came up with lyrics that were so poetically apt to the music. 

However, I would say that the love relationship that is shown here seems to be immersed in the memories of the flesh encounter. The sixties was full of fearful scenarios -- the drafting of men to join the war in Vietnam that was completely anti-democratic, the use of LSD and other drugs that made the mind convoluted. All these could have made people escape through various means, including being creative, I suppose, that is creatively writing music that speaks of what the artist has been feeling all along. 

In the end,  the music lingers because the melody, even without the lyrics could stand alone. However, the singing of Richard Harris brings a very deep longing for the reverse of a relationship that is dying.  And so the lyrics also arise to make us ponder on the fleeting moments of the friendship and how they could make us question, why go back again and again to a dying love? 

Listen to the song once again, Folks and discover the loves of your life. 

BATTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT

WHAT CAUSE OUR COUNTRY TO FALTER -- with another OFW killed in Kuwait? The first murder was not to shut our door of migration to that country. Instead, we relied on that perennial idea that human goodness will abide in the long run, which is highly questionable. Once we go out of the country, we have to face the fact that human goodness has many colors, that every country has a different idea of what is good and bad. 

Our problem is really great. The churches in our country are not united in instilling what is good and bad in our society. Just look at the problem of lascivious dressing -- do we hear or see or read a united stand to curb it? No, in fact in religious schools, it is even tolerated. Hence, the boys in those schools are confused -- should they concentrate on their studies or enjoy the views of the parade of thighs and legs in their midst?

Then the question of the interpretation of the Bible, the basic book of all Christians. Are we united in how the Bible should be taught at all? Not really. So many pastors wallow in repetitive sermons on loving Christ, in revering his past -- his crucifixion, his sufferings (for our sins? We were not born yet at that time. How could we possibly be part of the sins of that era?) So instead of studying which teachings of Christ are really worthwhile remembering to heart and mind, we are fed with teachings that are detached from the realities of our lives. 

This is why we have half-baked Christians. Just listen to that corporate moralist broadcaster: could you believe and follow everything he says? In between his sentences, he mentions the name of the relative of the publisher of his columns five times and more, giving her a free propaganda, as if to utter her name was reaching the heavens. But I find his acts highly hypocritical -- he purports to be a Christian but he misuses the broadcasting medium to show his canine loyalty to his publisher.

I believe in Christ, but I don't believe in how it is taught here in our country. I believe more in what Christ taught the people and how to realize them -- for example, feed the hungry. Love the children. Don't commit adultery. Love your neighbor. Love the creations - the earth and everything in it.

Then there is another Bible leader who claims to be a leader but discriminates against the poorer member of her group, picking out the sessions that she should join. Another leader claims to be passionate about Christ but refuses to answer telephone calls when she is busy with her family tasks. Supposing that was a frantic call for help, would a supposed leader ignore it? Is the family over and above one's pastoral tasks? What kind of image is she projecting to the world -- that she is a special leader who has only a few moments for dealing with members?

Then in another Christian group, I was confronted by the pastor, not really very old, who did not recognize me at all whereas when I used to attend the masses, I used to approach him and congratulated him as to how relevant his sermons were to life. I stopped attending because of that. Pastors are not gods to be put up in the pedestals. They are still human -- fallible and probably approaching second childhood or developing amnesia- in which case, the powers-that-be have to check on their capacities to lead. 

Folks, I think Christian and Catholic leadership should be checked now and then, if we are hewing close to shaping a morally upright society. Maybe the problems of society are repetitive because even our own political leaders are confused as to how they should direct their offices. 

For example, year in and year out, departments are given budgets for the implementation of programs and projects. But are they checked at all if they have diligently spent the money and that all the people of the Philippines  have enjoyed the benefits due them? How long does it take before action is done on complaints of the people?

Look at this, they are building the skyway. What do the construction companies do?They hammer and pound at night when we are already supposed to be asleep. The noise even penetrates our dreams. Can we complain? Does the DPWH have any means to know what the people feel, or do they care at all?

I rode the jeep Project 2-3 yesterday and from Tomas Morato, it took more than 45 minutes to reach EDSA. Is that humane to the jeepney drivers? 1.) The trips they can take is lessened; instead of ten, it is down to 6 or so;  2) if being in that traffic makes them lose half a liter, then times 7 days = P140 (if per liter costs P40) and times 365 days=P7,300.00 per year;3.) the residents in the areas passed by, the passengers and the drivers suffer from the polluted air along the way; which is why many drivers suffer from cough, colds, and TB; 4.) the drivers control their urinating while on the way which could make them suffer from kidney problems. I advised the driver the pros and cons but he said their leader has gone. No one has taken over. Leaders of workers' movements really develop burn-out. 

Everyday, as I ride the jeepneys and get out, I have to walk 100 steps in order to reach my destination. The jeepney and bus stops  are so far from my destination. There are no elevators in many overpasses. I counted the steps in going up and going down -- they reached 40 to 50 steps. For an elderly and a PWD that is Agony with a capital A. And as I carry my things in two bags, climbing up and down is like being up in the mountains of Abra. Why does the MMDA make the commuters suffer so much? Are we not paying taxes so that they can get a decent salary? Every 15th and 30th they earn their salaries, assured of food to eat in their homes; and yet they do not care about the welfare of pedestrians and commuters. All they think about is how to make people and vehicles move. NO, DEVELOPMENT IS NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL. 

Only inside malls -- if we have moolah- do we experience a better treatment. Cool temperature, clean surroundings, and sometimes cheap food. 

I think we should think of alerting those departments that fail to give a decent service to the people. If they receive a complaint, then Congress and the Senate must withhold P1 million from their budget per complaint until that is addressed and solved. If so, then the P1M may be restored. But if not, sorry na lang, walang tongpats. 

Let us think of tit for tat. For Kuwait, let us bring home all our domestic helpers. 

Only when receiving countries are ready with their dormitories for the workers, which means workers well be sleeping every night in them, and not in their employers' homes. In this manner we could always check the condition of our workers -- whether they are being treated humanely or oppressed. DOLE, huwag ka nang magpatumik-tumpik pa. Marami nang namamatay na mga kababayan natin. Move Secretary, move. 

Let us welcome 2020 with a brighter idea of how to see what is good for our people, what is right and wrong. And I would bat for the strongest position we can have in the international scene. 

AMERICA LED BY AN OVERGROWN KID WITH A PENCHANT FOR VIOLENCE

ON VALUING RIZAL

MALABONG PANANAW KAY RIZAL

December 26, 2019.

My assistant, Angela and I went to Knights of Rizal office along Roxas Boulevard.

Emma: Ma'am, I am a writer and dramatist. May I recite Huling Paalam at your observance of the Death anniversary of Jose Rizal?

Answer: A, our program is only for the members (all men). We just join the celebration of the National Historical Commission every year. They have a wreath laying at the Rizal monument in Luneta and then the program. You can contact them and present your idea. Here is their number - 09296982127 (name never mind.)

So I called up the NHCP

Emma: Good afternoon ho. I am (my name) am a writer and a dramatist. I would like to join your program on Monday, the 30th. I would like to recite Huling Paalam ni Rizal.

Reply: Saan nyo ho nakuha ang number na ito?

Emma: Sa Knights of Rizal ho.

Reply: Tapos na ho ang pagpaplano ng programa.

Emma: E. 'Day, may magre-recite by ng tula ni Rizal?

Reply: Wala ho.

Emma: E di tamang-tama. Ako ang tutula.

Reply: E yari na ho ang programa. May wreath laying ang Presidente sa monumento ni Rizal at pagkatapos ay magsisimula na ang programa.

Emma: Saan gaganapin ang programa?

Reply: Dito ho sa 4th floor ng National Historical Commission building.

Emma: Sinu-sino ang dadalo?

Reply: By invitation ho.

Emma: Hindi ba mahalaga sa inyo ang Huling Paalam? Hindi ba yun ang huling sinulat ni Rizal bago siya pinatay sa Luneta?

Reply: (Walang sagot) Sige ho, tatanungin ko lang dito. Tatawagan ko na lang kayo.

And so I waited that afternoon, the whole days of the 26th, 27th, and the 28th, but no one had called. Then on the 29th called that celfone again but no one answered.

Tanong: Si Rizal ba ay pang sanlibutan, pang masa o pang elitista?

Parang kailangang mag rebyu tayo:

1. Ano ang layunin ng pag-aaral ng kasaysayan?

2. Ano ang tunay na layunin sa pag-aaral ng buhay ni Rizal? 

3. Sinu-sino ang dapag magpahalaga sa buhay ni Rizal?

4. Ano ang papel ni Rizal sa pagpapalaya ng bansa?

5. Bakit siya pinatay?

6. Sinu-sino ang mga nakinabang sa pagkamatay ni Rizal?

7. Bakit hindi tayo nagkakaisa sa pagkilala sa pagkabayani ni Rizal? Siya ba ay bayani ng iilan lamang o ng buong bansa at ng sanlibutan?

8. Magkano ang budget ng NHC para sa pagpapakalat ng kahalagahan ni Rizal?

9. Anu-ano ang programa ng NHC para makilala ng taumbayan si Rizal?

10. Saan kinukuha ng NHC ang mandato nito para gawing eksclusibo ang programa sa pag-observe ng Death Anniversary of Jose Rizal?

11. Anu-ano ang nangyayari kung malabo ang paningin natin kung sino ang dapat kilalaning bayani ng ating lahi?

Bigyan ng pag-aaral muli ang mga empleyado at opisyales ng NHC. Paki.

WHEN "ANGELS" SING ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Folks, Merry Christmas!
Did you know that there is a group of men who control the sounds here at Bahay Caridad compound, Bayani Street, Barangay Donya Imelda, Quezon City? Every time someone they know celebrates a birthday, there they go singing some in tune but most of the time one or two dominates the mike and sings offkey. Not only that, they sing anti-women songs, like that Tagalog song that talks about the sufferings of a househusband, and other songs that would really make women feel bad.

I have tried calling the attention of authorities here but they are able to go on and on with their freaky behavior. Worse, they penetrate my residence once I voice out my disgruntlement over their burdensome ways. In these past two months, I have lost a celfone and a ring, the first I complained to the authorities, the Galas Police Station. But nothing happened. All the police did, Officer Budomo,  was smile and laugh at my complaint. Now he is even scarce. I went to Camp Karingal and complained about the loss but even Officer Zaldariaga is missing now. These people are always out when I complain. Camp Karingal is under Gen. Esquivel, the last time I heard. So if you know these people, Folks, please tell them to return my celfone.

Can you imagine spending your Christmas with such sounds? It is past three in the morning and they just keep on and on. I reported the rowdy boys to 911, and it looks like someone had come to tell them off.

The Christmas spirit has been lost in our country. Instead of celebrating quietly and appreciating the sacrifices of Christ to propagate his highly humane teachings we are led to believe that we must tolerate every behavior, regardless if they exhibit anti-women stance. 

So,  Philippine Commission on Women, what are your accomplishments this year? Why is the above still happening? What areas of Philippine life have you penetrated to make men respect women? 

Let us be bold in our steps in raising the value of Filipino womanhood in this country. Machismo, catering to the macho image of men is bringing down our efforts in propagating equality in our country. 

WHEN PRIESTS AND NUNS ARE QUIET ON LASCIVIOUS DRESSINGS

POPE FRANCIS from ravsla posted in an email:

   Ogle? I attended Mass in Ayala's Greenbelt earlier tonight. SRO Simbang Gabi. A comely teener kindly insisted on giving to me her stool, which in the end I took, with appreciation, and tried to concentrate on the ritual. Trouble was right in front of me was an even comelier young woman in short shorts, tough to choose between Jesus's bare legs on the cross, and hers.

   Merry Christmas.