Calamities and Technologies

It has been a week and a half already since the disastrous, shocking, and devastating tragedy that happened in Japan. The 8.9, then corrected as 9.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan shook the whole world. The earthquake left thousands dead and thousands more missing. Earthquake proof buildings stumbled down to dust. As one of the countries in the world that has the most sophisticated IT and telecommunication technology, Japan now suddenly "cannot be reached".

The tragedy shook not only Japan but the whole world as well as people suddenly worry about the preparedness of their own countries. Nations have been stirred up to check and double-check if their preparations are enough to salvage their own countrymen if ever the same tragedy hits their countries. Amidst the scare of earthquake and aftershocks, devastating tsunami followed suit as normally as it can be. Then, as if land and water are not enough to scare the hell out of human beings, air completed the cast as radiation leak threats hung over nearby nations leaving people with no choice but to speculate and be scared unnecessarily.

Here in the Philippines, as the world's texting capital, some of these moronic texters tried to steal the limelight from Japan. Text messages containing information, in fact too specific information about the supposedly radiation leak to be blown our way from Japan spread like forest fire. I do not know what their true intentions are, may it be simply to ride out the situation or to prove how powerful texting is as they sit back and watch people skitter out to buy betadine and iodine salts to "protect" themselves from radiation as what is indicated in the texts. These good for nothing people really do not have even a tiny bit of humanity in their souls. They perfectly know that most of the people here have little or do not have any knowledge at all about radiation and yet they happily took advantage of that to cause panic. I simply cannot fathom how idiotic and inconsiderate whoever created and spread that text message can be as to create panic and do something like that in the middle of the calamity in Japan. How can they be that ruthless, really. This is not something to joke about and I hope these people realize how serious this situation is. Earthquakes this strong cannot happen only in Japan. In fact after what happened last March 11, it prompted our own PHIVOLCS to explain more thoroughly and more frequently the real situation of the Philippines, which sadly, is not satisfactory. Philippines is as vulnerable as Japan as both sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire and I am sorry to say but if Japan lost that much inspite of being well-prepared, how much more would Philippines lose when the time comes that a nasty earthquake hits the country? I hope that even before the most dreaded "Big One" happens, the Philippines will more prepared for it and for once I will appreciate it if this study about the "Big One" would hopefully turn out to be a miscalculation.

People, let's pray.

Viet-lang

The President's ASEAN Summit in Vietnam has created a great buzz in the cyberworld and even with the knowledge that the cyberworld has already been purged with unceasing talks about the controversy, I just cannot stop myself from joining the bandwagon. Too much has already been said regarding the issue and I will do my best to refrain from citing too familiar comments.

First, I want to say that I am starting to feel remorse about voting the current President. I know and always say that the President is just starting to warm his Palace seat to expect perfection from him. But this time around, I think there are too much controversy surrounding this administration to ignore the truth. I won't go to the below-the-belt criticism for those are for the political immatures. But I, for one will use this particular incident to justify my "remorse".

When the Vietnam controversy broke out on the World Wide Web, I know that the immediate supervisor of Ms. Mislang (the antagonist in this story), told the public that he reprimanded her for her actions. But sir, may I just refresh your mind that when Mislang tweeted her dissatisfaction on the wine, you asked her which of the wines served "sucked". Meaning, you did not find this inappropriate and undiplomatic. I do not know if maybe after the flaming-hot banters on the internet prompted you to reprimand her or you just said that because of the negativity that it has created. And, may I just inform you that articles about this incident has been written in other parts of the world also, like in Finland. And that when the Vietnamese people did not say anything about the issue, it does not mean that they are not offended by the remarks. Remember, the remarks are negative and shameful. Answering Mislang's comments will only deepen the shame that they might be feeling right now.

What I cannot accept is that Mr. President himself did not make any "conciliatory" remarks just to ease up everything with the offended party. I don't mean to say that Mr. President should apologize or publicly shame Mislang, but he should at least release a statement to the Vietnam people to appease them.

Lastly, to Ms. Mislang, I do not know you personally, or in any other way before this controversy that you created. But as a normal citizen of this country, please be cautious of your actions because you along with all the Cabinet members of the Aquino administration, reflect the President himself. Your comments about the wine, the men and motorcycles of Vietnam would have only laughed at if you are just an ordinary Filipino visiting Vietnam. But when you are a part of the President's delegation in an official business in any part of the world, your remarks are whether it were sent to a social networking site or overheard from you when you are drunk, will always have an effect to the country you are talking about and our country as well. So next time, when traveling as part of the official delegation, no matter how the wine sucks, or how ugly the people were, nor how deadly the streets are, please refrain from shouting it out to the whole world. Just keep it to yourself and wait until you are safely out of "unnecessary listeners' " earshot, then you can start gossiping about it to your friends. Until then, please zip your mouth and just scratch the itch from your fingers to avoid another social networking mishap. The President already has too many problems to handle. He does not need any more problems to solve that are created by those whom he has too much confidence.

Boss's Assessment

Yesterday is the 100th day of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in office. He delivered a report, in which the theme of the event was aptly called "Report kay Boss". I am impressed by the program's theme because at the end of the day, they have not forgotten yet that his countrymen are his boss, as how they called them during his SONA. As I was impressed by this, I cannot ignore the fact that the President's speech was almost dedicated wholly to blame past administrations. I know that the past administration, especially the last one has been stained with too much controversies but this is a report of a subordinate to his superior. In a corporate setting, you do not include blames of your co-workers on your official report, do you? The speech should be reporting to us, the progress of the nation, and what has been accomplished over the oh-so-short 100 days of the President. Yes, I think that the report is not appropriate because I think that 100 days are too short for the President to accomplish any major thing worthy of reporting. I would also like to suggest to the President to caution or better yet, look for another speechwriter. His speeches to the nation from his Inauguration to the SONA, to his 100th day report was full of accusations and blames of the previous administration. As truthful as these things can be, I do not think blaming other people when you are the one in power now will help the President nor the President's image. Do not keep on blaming other people, this is a report of YOUR progress as the new OIC of the nation. We do not need to hear bow bad the previous presidents were. Our concern is YOU and the now, and the future, or at least the next 6 years. Your blaming past administrations will only make you indifferent from the other administrations. So please, stop.

Although, I do not like the come out of the "reporting" by the President yesterday, what of the same tone of his speech, the vague answers given, and the "corny" answers, I also do not agree of the interruption did by the students. It is but shameful to yell your sentiments, in a private place, not your place, and to the President. I believe these students were enrolled in schools so that they learn how to be a better person. How come they do not know how to respect when it is one of the very first lessons that you will learn in school? Is it very cool for people to know that you do not have respect? Are you proud that your name, and your school name are published in the media and it is not because you have done something very worthy of your school and your parents' pride? I think you should have at least behaved yourself instead of interrupting and shouting at the venue.

The problem is this, no matter what kind of administration we have, seems like there are some people who are always in the opposition. Those who do not even know what they are fighting for anymore. Those who are even before y0u act, already have their objections. If this will be the case, then how can this nation be a better one? How can the country's politics improve? If we will always be on the other side of the court no matter what, will this help in resolving conflicts among the Filipinos? How does being vigilant turn into being over-vigilant? There's nothing wrong in being vigilant. There's nothing wrong either in being careful. This country has already seen bad to worse days of its existence. This country has already gone through too many problems and yet it has always managed to survive. Nobody wants to go through "hell" all over again. But let us be fair and patient as we should be careful and protective of our country. Giving the new leader a little faith is not that difficult, is it?

GI-Joe Wannabee

I am at work now but I cannot resist the urge to blog. I am so furious towards a person. Some shit sucking Peking guy. He has been here for barely 4 months only, and yet he speaks as though he has seen everything there is to see in the Philippines. I admit I am not the patriotic kind of a person but this fucking GI Joe-wannabee is just pushing me to the limit. Let me tell you that I am well aware of the Philippine's economic status. We are a third-world country, no doubt about that. We are lagging behind other third world countries but I know more than what he assumingly knows.

A guy phoned him just a few minutes ago, and judging from this Peking guy's answer, I think the person on the other end is asking how is the Philippines. The motha-fucka answered him "they are poor. Chinese here are well-off but Filipinos are poor." Ok, I admit that most Filipino families are living way beyond the accepted norms of living. My eyes are open to the shanties alongside each and every roadside. I know that poverty here in the Philippines is very evident but no, not every Filipinos are poor. I am half-Chinese, and so I am hurt that I hear this kind of comments. I have Filipino friends that are well-off. And I have Chinese friends that are not that prosperous. I myself, belongs to a middle-class family, cliche as it may seem.

All I want is for foreigners, especially this fucking reporter-wannabee, to respect the Philippines, simply because he is working here. No one, and I emphasize NO ONE wants him to be deployed here, and we are all just abiding by the Main's decision of whom to deploy here. He should be thankful that because of this assignment, his ass is being paid for with a lot of money, more than how much he is earning before. I don't fabricate things. I tell him what the Philippines is all about. I don't only tell him stories of the good ones, but also the negative ones. I tell things as how they are, as transparent as I can be. Being a foreigner, working here with more than half of your staff are Filipinos, I think it is only appropriate to respect one another, including each other's respective countries. If you are not happy with the situation here, which, by the way, is none of your fucking business since you are here only for two years, then by all means go back to your country. If you simply cannot do that, then zip your mouth and keep your opinions to yourself if you cannot construct a less insulting way of describing things. I do not restrict people to say what they want to say, or their opinions, whether or not it is favorable to the Philippines. But please DO NOT GENERALIZE, and assume that you know everything when in fact you know nothing at all. You don't even take time to know Filipinos, their culture, their beliefs. You do not even know what is "Cojuangco" nor the significance of "Hacienda Luisita", considering you are a journalist. You do not read things about the Philippines and yet you act like you know Filipinos.

This has not been the first time that you insulted my country. Let me just tell you that if you love your country, I love my country too. It is true that your country has developed more and in a shorter span of time than what the world expected. But you know boy, your country is not heaven. There are stinking parts on your country. There are unresolved conflicts among your countrymen. Just like here in the Philippines. You do not have the right to insult the Philippines and the Filipinos just as we do not have any right to insult your country, or any other countries as well. Mutual respect pal. It is important especially if you dream of joining the "Party". Much as it is important if you are assigned to another country may it be in the USA or the Philippines.

Dude, two points
1. Do not generalize
and;
2. Mutual respect

We can co-exist, can we? If you want to trash my country, be sure that I will not hear it. If I hear it one more time, be prepared to what kind of trashing you will hear from me. Do not worry, I will not trash your country, I am not like you. But I can trash you. Oh boy, you gave me enough trash to hurl at you over time. Be prepared. "Be scared, be very scared."

No, it is not a threat. It is just a friendly reminder, boy. And if you have spare time, instead of brewing evil thoughts and insults in your mind, it will do you more good if you will read about the Philippines. So you do not end up being a shit-head relying to whatever answer you get from random people that you keep on disturbing with your very basic questions. Use the internet kid, its free, the company is paying for your internet connection at home not only for your porn sessions. Use it to your mental advantage, and not only for your carnal satisfaction. Lessen your QQ in exchange for Google search or even Wikipedia. Or better yet, read the newspaper. We have plenty of them in the office, don't be shy, just get one and read it even as you shit so that you can utilize your time better.

Damn it. And I thought this will be a good start of the week.

Philippines, My Philippines

My boss gave me a copy of an article by Ms. Ana Marie Pamintuan of The Philippine Star in her column "Sketches" published last September 28, 2009. The article was titled "Made in China". By the title, I thought it was something about the Made-in-China-everything that scattered on the streets here in the Philippines. When I finally set my eyes on the first word of the article, I realized that it is really about China.

As I read the first three paragraphs of the article, I felt sad. Ok, not because it has some drama in it. In fact, the article was written in a matter-of-fact way. I felt sad because she mentioned that the FedEx hub previously located in Subic, here in the Philippines, was relocated in Guangzhou. That is the same FedEx I saw on TV the day its plane left Subic to serve its purpose for the very last time. As if the sadness invoked was not enough, she then continued by saying that in a market of fruits and vegetables imported by China from numerous neighboring countries, not even a single Philippine mango caught her eye amidst the sea of fruits and vegetables. For the reason that she later found out: Philippine-grown produces are exported in a minimal number.

I was left in awe, thinking that Philippines is an agricultural country. Meaning, fruits and vegetables are of abundance, enough to be exported to other countries. Philippines, regarded as a third world country should have had grabbed the opportunity of catering to the demand of China of agricultural products. The opportunity has presented itself to the Filipinos and yet the Filipinos has remained stagnant. Our farmers has been complaining about the imported products that the government has been allowing to enter the country. They said that these imported, and yet cheaper products are killing the local agriculture sector. Actually, if they are willing, and if the Philippine government would help these farmers, they should be exporting our products to the neighboring countries, such as China. Imagine, the country that has been providing us things that we already have, especially in terms of produces, are also importing from other countries. And why can't it be imported from the Philippines, for a change? I may not an expert here, but I think, if only the government would be firm on imports and exports of the country, many of our poor farmers and fishermen would be pulled out of poverty.

I am not a hypocrite, and I admit that I also patronize imported products. But, kung sasabayan lang natin ang ibang bansa by exporting our own products, knowing that there is demand, then I believe that even we are importing products from other places, our agricultural sector wouldn't be killed.

Just think of the profit that our country would be gaining. Look at the businesses that export christmas decorations. They are not big companies. And yet, they earn well. They do not need to build buildings, hire 100's of people to work on their products and yet they have the ability to export their own products. And from how much capital? They get their raw materials from the country, which is cheaper, paste it here and there in a creative way, and voila! Dollar-earning Christmas decorations bound to richer countries.

If we are going to shun away opportunities like this, there would be no doubt that each and every sector of this country would just eventually die away. The market is there, ever existing. If we still wouldn't give a damn, then Philippines would remain a third world country, generation after generation.

Look at other Asian countries that has been at par with the Philippines before. Look at Vietnam, we used to be better than them and yet, they are now more prosperous than us. Look at China, they are now catering to the needs of the world. From Philippines to the U.S. From shoes, and bags to computers and even manpower. I mean come on, while everyone is suffering from the recession, and even the United States has been declaring bankruptcy of their enormous firms,left and right, China has been thriving. Its almost saying that China beat the big R. In the middle of ailing economies here and there, China gained its ground and emerged succesfully.

I am not praising China just because I'm half Chinese. But I really wish that China would be Philippines' greatest motivation. I do not intend to boast on China's success but I want its story to inspire this country. My country.