Grant lands at the Kalayaan

A few weeks ago, the Chinese intimidated our Armed Forces in our very own waters, particularly the Kalayaan Group of Islands. Chinese wanted to be seen as the big bully who can do whatever it wants in other country’s territorial waters. Strangely, President Abnoy, the AFP and the Foreign Ministry would just investigate it. They could have filed a diplomatic protest but I guess they were scared of China. If they continue to do that then, we’ll end up one day being driven away but the Chinese. They’re now occupying the Kalayaan bit by bit.

It’s a given fact that most of us Filipinos are living below the poverty line. The government is even exacerbating the problem because of their program ‘Conditional Cash Transfer’ that encourages the poor and lazy people to double their laziness. Why would you find a job when the government will give you money on a monthly basis? The urban zones are also filled with squatters or euphemistically called informal settlers by the leftist pressure groups.

Because of the number of squatters in our urban areas, our government should grant lands at the Kalayaan Group of Islands. Tax incentives and monetary rewards should be given to those who would want to resettle there. That way, they can create new community that will help establish our presence in those islands. The government should also establish LGUs, Schools, Hospitals and Churches so that people will be persuaded to move there. If President Abnoy has political will, he can create this law as urgent. The money to fund for this land grant and monetary rewards can be taken from the Pork Barrels of our corrupt Congressmen and Senators.

The government could also declare it as free zones for squatters. We Filipinos are known as squatters nation so I don’t think we will have problem looking for people to squat every inch of the islands.

Kaya nga lang, the question is, if our congressmen are willing to let go of their pork barrels or even willing to listen to my suggestion. I don’t know why President Abnoy’s so called consultants and cabinet ministers weren’t able to come up with the same idea. Mahirap din talaga kung walang utak at duwag pa ang ating pangulo.

The Amazing Massage Chair

Last Thursday, 26 May 2011, I went to my dental appointment with Saudi Swiss Dental Clinic near Rashid Mall. I had an interim dental appointment with them to check on my sensitive teeth but I never had the chance to come back since the day where I was supposed to visit them, was the day that I was admitted to the hospital. That was November of 2010. The last thorough cleaning I had was during my vacation on August 2010.

It was actually A. who made the appointment with the clinic. I just went with him since I thought I had nothing much to do really. Besides, my last thorough cleaning (prophylaxes) was more than 6 months ago. As far as I know, dental appointments should be done at least two times a year. We were on time actually but the lady dentist was very busy since it’s Thursday that our appointment was pushed for another 30 minutes.

While waiting for our appointment, I became so curious of the massage chair in the waiting area. At first, I really don’t want to try it but my curiosity caught up on me. I finally decided to take a seat and operate on the chair. I could not express how I feel at first because the mechanical stuff underneath the leather case of the chair’s weird. I giggled like a small child initially but eventually I feel so relaxed. The good thing in this chair is that it also massages your two feet as well. I was so lucky that day I guess because my swollen feet were able to relax. The extra pounds that I gained because of the steroids in the medication that I am taking put a great burden in my two feet and knees. The few minutes I spent seating in the massage chair made a great difference. For a moment, I forgot that I was in pain. That being said, I’ve vowed that I will buy my own massage chair. I don’t know when and I haven’t started canvassing the prices but sooner or later I’m going to get one of that for myself.

D. has been telling me that I can’t even buy the microwave oven that I planned to buy (handom kag dumot) for years, how much more the massage chair that cost more than 100 microwave ovens? Well, let’s just see. Who knows, I’ll finally be able to move to a new company that’ll pay me more. As they say, vision is important. I’m keeping my eye on that target and hopefully, in the near future, I’ll be able to buy that massage chair!

The blame game

President Abnoy’s Communication Group must have gotten tired of blaming former President GMA that they are now blaming the Media, particularly the columnists for the drastic slip of President Abnoy’s survey results. The three headed hydra Communications Group says that President Abnoy did a lot of things but the columnists failed to visit their webpage. President Abnoy also defended himself saying that he’s hardworking because there was an instance where he woke up early in the morning to attend the funeral of two LP members somewhere in the South.

President Abnoy will turn one year in office yet he has not done anything. The people did not feel anything contrary to what the Communications Group has been claiming. The routine activities such as attending funerals, cutting ribbons and delivering speeches does not mean anything to the people. The President in office is expected by the people to work.

For ordinary Filipino family, they just want to put food in their table, send their kids to school and affordable cost for food, transportation and things necessary to survive. In fact, people don’t really care about Press Releases because in the end, they’ll judge the President on his ability to change their lives.

On the other hand, it’s not President Abnoy’s fault that he can’t deliver. We all knew what kind of Legislator (Congressman and Senator) he was before we elected him into the Presidency. We should not expect something from a person who’s lazy to change overnight. We should blame ourselves for electing a lazy person into Malacañang. We have several alternative candidates but we opted for the son of democracy icons, Ninoy and Cory. We let our emotions overpower our judgment and one year on, we’re disappointed.

I hope that President Abnoy has the political will to reorganize the Communications Group into what it was before. Appoint just one Press Secretary, period. I also hope that with that political will, he should also work hard and show his people that he’s fit for the job. People expect so much from him and it’s also his opportunity to build his legacy, rather than being tag all his life as the son of Ninoy and Cory, two democracy icons.

Flores de Mayo memories

When I was a child, my Aunt whose husband works for the then PC-INP at the Camp Delgado in Iloilo City would often bring us to the Flores de Mayo organized by the spouses of the PC-INP personnel. As a child, you don’t attend a Flores de Mayo because you feel like going but because you don’t have a choice. Adults often impose their beliefs on their children or extended family members. I could not forget the agonizing wait for the novena to be over. I could not also forget the torture of kneeling until the novena is over.

The only fond memory that I can think of during the Flores de Mayo is the food that the PC-INP Spouses prepares and that’s it. I however, regretted being unable to go with my family to SM Delgado. My family don’t dictate us whether we want to participate in Flores de Mayo or not. For my parents, there’s no issue if you go or not. They also have the same opinion on going to the Church on Sundays. Don’t get me wrong but my mother’s active in the church.

The point in writing this entry is that sometimes, adults imposing their beliefs to their children or extended family could be an abuse issue. I would never force my child, nephews or nieces on the things or activities that they don’t like. The abuse would be from the context that you force the child to kneel which is by the way, very painful if you do it on an extended period. You could also be abusing the child because of the boredom that you subjected him / her into. Leaving the child without the choice is also a form of abuse.

I’ve watched the movie Matilda and the old man would often say:

“I’m big, you’re small”.

“I’m smart, you’re dumb”.

“And there’s nothing you can do about it”.

Forcing children to do the stuff that they don’t like is bullying and therefore a child abuse.

John Paul II’s Beatification

I have always been a vocal critic of the Roman Catholic Church. There are things that I don’t like and agree with the faith. Their institutionalized veneration of Saints and their ostentatious display in everything they do, Priests committing sexual abuses, Bishops with holier than thou arrogance, to name the few.

Yesterday, the Vatican, the seat of the Roman Catholicism beatified the late Pope John Paul II. I’ve watched TV Patrol and their exaggerated news reporting. Filipino people who were blinded by their Priests (faith) were also celebrating the late Pope’s beatification. In Roman Catholicism, beatification is a step closer to being a Saint.

Saint John Paul II
My view on this is that John Paul II is just a human being. He may have been elected to the Papacy by his fellow Cardinals but he was a human being. The fact of the matter is, he died of old age and the Parkinson’s disease. I was born a Catholic but I really don’t agree in venerating a person and elevate him into sainthood. He’s just like one of us so there’s no reason why we should worship him. I believe in God, one God and no other. There are prophets that foretell God’s coming but they’re not gods and they themselves say it in the scriptures.

Sexual abuses of the Priest during the term of John Paul II were prevalent and he never did anything about it. In fact, the present pontiff did more because he acknowledges the sins of his Church. I may not agree with the Church’s policies and some of its belief but I still consider myself as a part of it. It’s like being a Filipino. I may not agree with President AbNoy’s government and policies but I am still a Filipino. Not by choice but by birth, unfortunately.

Wedding of the Decade

I’ve watched the extensive coverage of the Royal Wedding through BBC 1 last friday. I must admit that I was fascinated by the beauty and pageantry of the event. The Brits knows how to strut their stuff as they say. The bride looks like a real princess, although The Queen never bestowed the title ‘Princess’ to her. Instead, she was granted title as Duchess of Cambridge. Nevertheless, she was a beautiful bride. Prince William on the other hand has no matinee idol looks or appeal. In fact, his younger brother looks better and registers better in the TV than him. But since he’s the heir to the throne, despite having the unfortunate balding hair, he’s still attractive to some.

I’ve watched several comments over the BBC about their dislike for the monarchy and their criticism on the enormous amount that David Cameron’s government spent on the wedding. I ignored it and so were the Brits who just enjoyed the event. The UK was able to capitalize on their monarchy and made it one of their tourist attractions. People the world over are also interested and fascinated in them. Prince Harry’s rock star status is just an example. The new Duchess will certainly have her place in the history and I doubt that she’ll be the next Princess Diana, target to paparazzi and tabloid press. She’s in her early 30s and wiser I guess than when Princess Diana married Charles.

For five hours I’ve forgotten my own problems, the world peace, hunger in Africa, the Arab World Awakening and just enjoyed the show as it unfolded in my TV. I was even moved when the bride walked down the aisle (LOL).