The Philippine Media

Under the category of News and Politics, a short documentary from youtube.com shows the high life of media years after the EDSA People Power I, as well as the challenge left in this industry.

Information:

"February 1996
Rough, raw and competitive - that's journalism in The Philippines.
TV Patrol, the most popular Programme leads the way with sensational stories and starstruck scandals. Imelda Marcos, overthrown a decade ago, is now a big Filipino personality. She even cracks jokes about her shoes. Chris Aquino, daughter of Cory, is Manila's answer to Oprah Winfrey. Much to her mother's disgust, she delights her audience with a kiss and make up session with Marcos's son, Bong Bong. Father Jim Reuter and journalist Sheila Coronel are among the few dissenting voices who call for a more responsible media. But with its new found freedom, it looks like the media will continue to rebel for some time yet."

This documentary was filmed by journeymanpictures entitled
MEDIA HIGH LIFE - PHILIPPINES (click here)

Reversals II

• The global financial crisis demands every part of social strata to post austerity measures. It is really a different story for the poor citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet ever since. For them, sudden increases in food prices can literally make a difference between life and death.

• Country’s persistent dependence on exports, foreign investment and debt– including official development aid that ends up as foreign debt– are the crates that leads economy’s vulnerability.

• Immediate economic relief measures have to be taken to at least counter attack the inflationary impact of the financial crisis from the regressive taxation in virtue of RVAT on oil up to the basic commodities. Other urgent measures include implementing a nationwide across-the-board wage hike, increasing the budget for social services, and suspending debt payments because of the people’s immediate need for resources and support.

• At these days’ pressing circumstance, many economists argue that this will serve as the right moment for developing countries to take advantage of the current financial crisis (falling prices). If this is the case, we may see that this is America’s prime concern of possibly taking out their superpower status.

• As what the people have observed, states still have an essential role in a country’s economic undertakings. UP Development Studies Professor John Ponsaran explained that states serve as regulators, as well problem solving units.

• Capitalism is currently experiencing its mayhem. As global financial crisis drowns capitalists’ societies, its rigorous effects render chaotic reversals.
  

___________
*Points from "Reversals", academic paper regarding the global financial crisis. Econ 109: The History of Economic Doctrines.

Reversals

Previous economic gain and the monopoly of the global trade led Western capitalism in great advantage, but what is happening today is in reality, a sudden reverse -- the global financial crisis:

• In the Philippines, given the tripartite US dependence in aspects as political, cultural and economic, there is no place for self decision making, but rather most if not all are relative as to how foreign countries will wave their flags.

• Global financial crisis, is on the one hand, the same fraud reason given by President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo in her latest State of the Nations Address, amidst the drilling socio-political and economic distress – thus, making it as a convenient excuse. Behind these tricks, the truth of the matter remains, that the current administration still has its ability and power to thrust aside the influential hands of the powerful foreign businessmen.

• The current global dilemma results to enormous burden to the people as a direct consequence of government’s go-with-the-flow strategy to that of the US economy.

• The capitalists’ world and its protagonists have prompted a perception of interconnectedness in the global economic arena -- that merely translates to liberalization, denationalization, privatization and deregulation of public institutions and other social belongings that were supposed to be considered as “public ownerships.” But given today’s overturn of events, the concept of interconnectedness is the same motivation which has created immediate effects that are either interrelated or stemming from one another.

• In response to this global financial volatility, the Philippines has adjusted domestic fuel prices, cut development/government spending and tightened monetary policies. The unfavorable effects of these conditions of trade slowdown have been significant, revealed as the deterioration of economic growth and development; disintegration of both the micro and macroeconomic activities and imposition of massive inflationary pressures. These same policies moreover, brought the world economy to its lowest tide and caused anxiety and uncertainty among us.

• The global financial crisis will create another bunch of effects, one after another.

• For families, this is not a twist of dissatisfaction, but a matter of insufficiency.

• At present, we may view that same governments which supported laissez faire capitalism utilize taxpayers’ money and government machineries to save companies that are held responsible for the crisis.

• Given these drastic changes, it is to be deemed that these countries confess that capitalism’s too much greed for profit (at any rate) is what conveyed us to the grave crisis transpiring today – and at the end, affecting the Philippines and the Filipino people, especially in its depressed political economy and/or material condition.

True or False

According to...

Images of Educational Change:
(H. Altrichter and J. Elliot)

• Educational policies appear to be formulated primarily with regard to the national economy and without sufficient regard for its real practice.

• We live in an age of economic productivity, during a time in which the dominant concerns in all countries are expanding the economy, raising personal income and increasing standard of living. No government in liberal democracies can long survive without economic expansion, whether the country is run by conservatives, social democrats, or socialists, or even communists. This concern for productivity is manifested in drive for greater efficiency and has special implication for education.
  

An Introduction to the Foundation of Education:
(A. Ornstein and D. Levine)

• We live in an age of tension and conflict, whereby trends and forces in society impact on school, thus, school priorities are established in response to natural and community pressures.

• Whether we allow the times to engulf us, or whether we can cope with our new environment will depend to a large extent in what kinds of skills are thought to our present-day students.
  

The Professional Educator: A New Introduction to Teaching and Schools:
(C. Myers)

• The complex demands of teaching require life long learning and continuous personal development.

• Evaluations are there not as to criticize the student, but for teachers to improve their teaching methodologies, in pursuit of their righteous profession.

• Teachers are curriculum decision makers.

Frozen Throne

Marami pang lugar tulad nito.

Haligi nito ang malalaking gusali na nakahanay sa isang ambisyoso at marikit na ayos. Isang siyudad na ikinulong ng materyal na hangganan. Ang bawat biga ng mga haliging iyon ay binusog ng napakalaking halagahan ng berdeng papel. Isang maluhong mundo.

Pinagbibigkis ng iisang galaw ang mga bagay sa kaligiran nito -- ang galaw ng kalakalan at komersyo tulad ng nasusulat sa mga dyaryo't libro. Sa kabila nito ay ang ikinukubling mukha, ng pagtitingkad at ng tunggalian. Ang sabi ng ilan, hindi mo madarama ang pagpapahalaga sa lugar na ito. Kung meron mang bakas, ang isa rito marahil ay ang pagbibigay ng limos.

Nagmistulang lahat ay nakatuon lamang sa retablo ng salapi at pang-aangkin. Dito, ang titig ay nasa numero -- sa bawat zero na madadagdag sa pay slip ng empleyado. Sa bawat bagong patak tuwing panahon ng sweldo. Sa pag-aabang na mailapit ang sarili sa bulto ng aning, batayan nga ba ng pagtingin?

Nag-iiba lang sa kulay ng pananamit ngunit ito ay binihisan ng iisang balangkas o moda -- istilo ng pananamit na walang pakialam sa bihis ng iba, istilo ng pananamit na executive na maituturin, corporate sa iba kung tawagin.

Bagaman bukas sa lahat ng tao ang mga tindahan, parke, aliwan at lugar-parokyano, namimili naman ito pagdating sa pakikitungo, sa unang papansinin, sa unang hahandugan ng ngiti, peke man o hindi --

Sa kapwa-Pinoy at dayo,
Sa empleyado at kargador,
Sa naka-Rusty Lopez at naka-Marikina,
Sa naka-flipflop at naka-alpombra,
Sa naka Havaianas at Havana,

Sa pagitan ng bihis-Makati at...nakabihis.

Disconnection Notice

Sa kabuuan, may labing-isang kahera ang branch na ito sa Escoda. Lima sa mga ito ay nakalaan para sa bill payment at ang natitira ay para sa customer care and other concerns. At, ako lagi ang nagbabayad ng bill namin.

Ang unang limang cashiers ay hahatiin pa. Ang cashiers 1 and 2 ay para sa single pay bill. Ang sumunod na dalawa ay para sa multiple pay bills. Ang ika-lima ay para sa mga senior citizen at differently-abled.

Sa aking tantsa, nasa daan ang tumutungo rito sa mga piling araw, tulad ngayon -- panahon ng pagputol at kabibigay lang ng disconnection notice sa napakaraming tahanan. Sa totoo lang, mababa sa 40 tao ang nakatenggang nakapila sa kada cashier.

Anu-ano nga ba ang dahilan kung bakit mahaba ang pila rito? Narito ang ilan:

• "Wala pa kaming pambayad nung binigay yung bill. Yung asawa ko, delayed yung sahod, kaya late niya rin ibinigay yung pambayad, (and so on)..."
• "Hindi no! Nakaugalian ko talaga na hintayin ang disconnection notice bago ako magbayad..."
• "Maliit pa lang naman kasi, kaya hindi ko muna binayaran."
• "Masyado na kasing malaki. E cash ang dala ko lagi, nakakatakot. At, baka mahirapan na ko magbayad."
• "Nagalaw ko kasi yung nakalaan/nakatabing pera rito dahil kasi... Peste! Nagkasakit si Junior, may kailangan akong bilhing gamot, pinang-opera ni Nanay, (and so on)..."
• "Pinagpabukas ko muna kasi, matagal pa naman ang deadline, hanggang sa naabutan na nga ako nitong kahabang pila..." (Manyana Habit)
  
• Ang pinakahuli, "Nakalimutan ko."

Maliban sa mga talastasang ito, mas napansin ko ang lohika ng mahabang pila mula bulwagan patungo sa labasan ng gusali. Box-Office. Parang may pila ng Pera o Bayong. Matiyagang pumipila ang lahat, kahit yung iba nag-iinit na ang ulo. Matatanda. Office girl. Pauwi galing trabaho. Papasok pa lang. Nanay na hindi maiwan ang paslit sa bahay. Si Tatay. Siyempre, mawawala ba naman si Inday. At estudyanteng tulad ko -- na naghihintay na madaanan ng de ribbon na printer ang bill, katunayang bayad na ako. Matapos ang bawat transaksyon, isang malalim na buntong-hininga para sa bawat isa.

Ang Meralco, ang pinakamaling electric distributor sa buong Pilipinas. Hawak nito ang pinakamalalaking plantang pampadaloy mula sa generator patungo sa mga kawad ng kuryente sa mga poste at huli, sa mga kabahayan sa Maynila at sa Greater Manila Area. Solo nito ang mahigit sa 22 prangkisa ng kuryente sa buong Kamaynilaan. At dahil nag-iisa lang at walang ibang ka-kompetensya, monopolyo nito ang pagpapadaloy, paglalagak o distribusyon at ang paniningil ng konsumong kuryente sa mayorya kundi man kabuuan ng lungsod (~20 lungsod, ~90 munisipalidad).

Maraming patakaran na ang isinagawa ng Meralco katulad na lamang ng panahunang pagtataas ng presyo ng kuryente sa sukat na kilowatthour. Sa lahat ng ito, naging sunud-sunuran lamang ang publiko. At masaya na tayo kahit man lang may 50 centavos roll-back. Sana alam ng lahat kung paano kinukwenta ang bill nila, kaya lang sa napakaraming pigura sa likod ng bill, hindi na ito inaalintana.

Bayaran mo ang bill versus brown-out, black-out... kadiliman.Simple lang, magbayad ka, may kuryente ka -- ganoon kaliwanag ang buhay para sa kanila. At alam naman natin kung ano ang mga pwedeng mangyari sa dilim - karahasan man yan o ang pagtatalaga ng bagong ambag sa populasyon ng Pilipinas.

Maliwanag ang tumbasang inilalatag nito.
Sa ganitong mekanismo, wala tayong pagpipilian.
Sabi nga, we are left with no choice -- than to pay.
Kaya pala mahaba ang pila sa Meralco.
May liwanag ang buhay.

Saan? #

Emo Ka? :(

Isang malaking isketch ng pagkatao ang emo o ang pagiging emo. Binigyan ng lipunan ng isang katangi tanging binyag ang salitang emo, katulad na lamang ng deskripsyong karaniwang tumatakbo sa isipan mo at ng bawat tao. Kulay itim. Mahabang bangs. Scarf. Ga-uling na eyeliner. Atbp..

Sa daigdig ng kulturang pop, isang isyu ang pagiging emo. Isang likha ng isip upang pausuhin. Isang larawan upang may ipagaya muling istilo partikular na sa kabataan. Sa pananamit at moda, ang emo ay nagkaroon na ng sarili nitong anyo babae man o lalaki. Sa midya at iba pang daluyan, isinisingit ang konsepto ng emo sa mga friendster URL's, blog templates at iba pang disenyong makapagsasabing "siya" o "ako" ay emo. Sa wikang pop, naging isang pang-uri na nagkaroon ng ilang variations, depende kung sino ang sinasabihan at paano niya ito tinatanggap.

Maging sa agham, hindi nagpapiglas ang emo at kumapit sa ilang konsepto upang mabigyang katuturan ang pagkakaroon nito, at ang pananatili nito -- partikular na sa psychology's environmnetal nurturing. Bunga nito, may dahilan na kung bakit ang isang tao ay emo. At ang itinuturong dahilan? Hindi lamang ang pagpasok ng kulturang pop ng Kanluran, kundi ang epekto ng kapaligiran sa isang personalidad -- kung gaano ito katatag upang hindi maapektuhan, kung gaano ito karupok upang agad na lingapin ang sinasabing iskriptura ng emo.

Hinahanapan ko ng konkretong depinisyon ang emo sapagkat nagbago na nga ang perspektibong ito sa kasalukuyang panahon. Sapagkat kakaiba na ang konsepto nito, mas minabuti kong hindi gamitin ang diksyunaryo ni Collier at Oxford. Ang mga sumusunod ay mula sa Urban Dictionary* at ang bawat kahulugan ay mula mismo sa mga grupo ng mga taong sinasabing emo sila:

• Genre of softcore punk music that integrates unenthusiastic melodramatic 17 year olds who dont smile, high pitched overwrought lyrics and inaudible guitar rifts with tight wool sweaters, tighter jeans, itchy scarfs (even in the summer), ripped chucks with favorite bands signature, black square rimmed glasses, and ebony greasy unwashed hair that is required to cover at least 3/5 ths of the face at an angle.
• An entire subculture of people (usually angsty teens) with a fake personality. The concept of Emo is actually a vicious cycle that never ends, to the utter failing of humanity...
• Emo guy is just too much of a pussy. His penis is too small, he's too depressed to bathe, and has more mood swings than emo chick, and he doesn't even have a menstrual cycle. Emo chick dumps him, saying "It's not you, it's me."
• Often acoustic guitar with soft, high male vocals that dwell excessively on the singer's feelings, especially melancholy remembrances of past relationships/mistakes in life. A form of music that diverged from punk in the '80s, the name "emo" is derived from the emotive style of the lyrics and music.
  
• "Emo" is not short for "Emotional." "Emo" does not mean Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional, despite what MTV has lead you to believe in the last few years. "Emo" is not sidebangs, tight pants, and male vocalists who sing like little girls about their failed relationships. "Emo" is not the use of diluted, meaningless metaphors and similes such as "My arms are like pinecones," and most definitely is not the rampant use of words such as "autumn," "heart," "knife," "bleeding," "leaves," and "razorblade."
  

Ano nga ba ang kahulugan nito? May nararapat bang kahulugan para rito?
Sa ganitong paraan na tayo maaring nauto ng kasalukuyang kapitalismo. Kahit sa simpleng pagbibigay kahulugan ng isang salita. Sila sila mismo ang nagkakagulo sa pagbabandila ng depinisyon nito.

Isyu nga ba ito? Para sa naghahangad ng pagbabago, OO, sapagkat binabago nito ang paraan ng pag-iisip ng ilang kabataang kababaihan at kalalakihan. Binabago nito ang takbo ng isipan patungo sa pagiging mababaw. Binabago ang ayos ng kabataang Pilipino maging sa istilo ng pananamit.

Kabataan bilang pag-asa ng bayan.
Paano nga ba ito maisasakatuparan kung emo sa lahat ng bagay?
Edukasyon at pagkakaroon ng panlipunang kamalayan pa rin ang mga natatanging kasagutan upang hindi masupil ng kapitalismo ang isipan ng kapwa kabataan bilang elemento ng pagbabago at maiwaksi nito ang hangad na pabagsakin ang pamantayang moral ng bawat mamamayan.

*isang internet portal na malayang nagbibigay puwang sa iba't ibang tao para sa kanilang depinisyon sa isang salita

Island in the Black Stream

August 11, 2006 - after two years, what now?

Two years after the merchant tanker Solar I (Maritime Development Corp.) sank in the Panay Gulf, oil continues to seep in the sea. More than 200,000 liters of the vessel's cargo of 2 million liters of bunker oil have spilled into the sea, causing great environmental and economic devastation on the island of Guimaras. This island, having been known as one of the first rater tourist spots in the country becomes an atmosphere in the black stream.

No whale sharks for now. It will take more or less 20 years more for the island's restoration. This issue is not only limited to the island itself but also to the actual losers of the disaster, the residents and the fisher folks. From having a nice catch of aquatic resources as the primal source of their livelihood and their means of survival, to just hopelessly seeing the dead marine species is really an intricate struggle to live with. Taking into account the widely practiced subsistence economy, residents are forced to find their catch, this time, above water.

Living differently. The spill has polluted vast quarter of the island, distressed many families, and created an evident stain that will last for at most two decades. Recovery is easier said than done. The sad story left behind is that the efforts and procedures exerted by the government as well as the companies responsible in the stoppage of the spill are leisurely done -- is this because they are not the ones who are directly affected? They do not address the resident's truest needs. Yes, the burden of what had transpired should not be laid on wrong shoulders. Nevertheless, the fisher folk continues to sincerely cooperate to attain greater improvement for its cause. Government's mitigation procedures seem not to rhyme with the actual requirements of the island and of the people therein. On the one hand, the corporation's efforts (to include its CSER) are rendered inadequately.

Recidivist? It is not only now that we are talking about marine disasters. Various incidents such as the sinking of M/V Princess of the Stars, Dona Paz, among others are concrete pieces of  evidence that there is a need to pursue maritime regulations, or in simple terms, the laws/legislations regulating over-all sea transportation and other related activities. These shall extend from the very basic completion of requirements before sailing for vessel/transportation/cargo ships (i.e. vests, wear and tear of the ship, knowledge + experience of ship authorities on board, facilities, emergency plans, back-ups, correspondence with the weather/meteorological bureau, among others) up to high penalties to even the risk of taking lives versus the adherence to the rules to ensure safe trips.

September this year, The Department of Agriculture implemented P17.8-million worth of livelihood projects for 3,800 residents of Guimaras affected by the oil spill. Environmentalists are asking, why only now?.

_____________
*Title Story from Philippine Free Press.

Urban Legends?

Sa Pilipinas, ang Nobyembre 1 at 2 ang mga natatanging araw upang gunitain ang pagyao ng mga miyembro ng pamilya, kaibigan, hinahangaan at iba pa. Iniuugnay ang umpisa ng Nobyembre sa salitang Halloween (hallow: holy,consecrated). Nagsimula ang pagdiriwang nito sa tradisyon ng mga Celtics na umukopa sa mga lugar na tinatawag na ngayong Ireland, United Kingdom at Hilagang Pransya. Ang araw na ito ay takda ng pagtatapos ng tagtuyot at pagsisimula ng madilim na taglamig - ang panahong iniuugnay sa kamatayan ng katawang lupa ng tao o human death. Sa panahong ito naglalabasan ang mga tradisyunal na kuwentong kababalaghan (hal., tema ng mga programa sa telebisyon, portal home page, blog, atbp.). Maaring sabihin na ang mga ito ay pagpapatunay na may mga konsepto pa ring hindi pa nabibiyang katuturan ng tao at ng pisikal na agham.

Pilit mang ikinukubli ng pagkakataon ang mga kuwentong kababalaghan, hindi pa rin maiaalis ang pagdaloy ng mga ito sa tinatawag nating modern-age. Ikinakahon man ang nasabing konsepto bilang bahagi lamang ng mga lumang kuwentong bayan o urban legends at elementong resulta lamang ng pagkalayo sa urbanisasyon, sa totoo lang, tila nagkaroon na rin ng modern-age versions ang mga kuwento, katulad na lamang nito:

Mula sa current.com, True Horror Stories in the Philippines

• In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it called the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. (History.com/Ancient Origins)

• Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas. (History.com/Ancient Origins)