Ineffectiveness of Laws and Punishment

The President again granted reprieve to those scheduled for execution this year. I am not really in favor of capital punishment but if it is in the law might as well implement it put it for a good purpose. Sadly, only in the Philippines where you have a death penalty that seems to be useless. To think that drug offenders are subject to death penalty but there we have so much proliferation of drugs and crimes involving drug addicts.

Here in Saudi Arabia, the reason this punishment is effective is that those convicted criminals subject to capital punishment are immediately executed. That is not to say that it is applicable to all, only to those whose convictions are without any doubt. There also those which do not have clear indication of guilt towards the accused which is subject for further review. In the Philippines, even if the perpetrators are caught fighting it out with the authorities there is always this presumption of innocence when they are brought into court. Almost always the horrible incident has already been forgotten but the case still has to go on at a snail's pace afterwards still has to be subjected for automatic review by the Supreme Court and further still subject to being reprieved by the President.

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Another thing is that Filipinos are prone to useless debates and unnecessary litigations. We as players or athletes, resort only to what the rules and/or officials have to say. If an umpire or a referee decides on a certain point it is for us players to obey the decision and go on with the match. That is not to say that the referee or umpire is free from any liability if he commits abuse or grave errors in officiating. That is what I wish we could also apply in real life. Obey first then complain later. What is happening now is that so much time and money are usually wasted only in the name of fighting for ones rights. What I would like to say is that we can still do this by putting responsible officials to do the job and having enough safeguards to avoid abuse and to punish the offending officials. I know that this is debatable but I would just like to say that I prefer this kind of setup.

The Toilet

The toilet or comfort room as we all popularly called it has been with us and it seems that we really cannot live “comfortably” without it. As you visit any home (a friend or a relative, or anybody) there is greater possibility that you will have to use one. And you cannot help but make an assumption on what kind of personality the owner has by simply having a quick observation of his/her toilet.

But this is of course on a private level, as in only one family is using the toilet. Now let us assume there is this one public toilet and that the people here do not know each other and they just come and go without having any communication. Everyday use of the toilet, you will notice how each individual differs on the way he/she uses it before and after. And as the days go on, there are those who show concern and try to clean it while there are those irresponsible ones who just use it and doesn’t care if they leave it dirty. As they go on, you can just imagine who will succeed in having an influence over the other.

In reality, most of us Filipinos are in this situation. There is a constant struggle to influence others to act responsibly and to follow the rules. Each day there is a tendency for people to test these rules and insist their own way of living as they please themselves. We may come to think sometimes if we just let them with their manners and just go on with our own lives. But considering the above example, we can’t escape the fact that we will also suffer if we allow this. Ane even if we succeed in influencing them to do the right thing, the effort of making them maintain this attitude is another constant struggle.

Oh Yes I'm a Great Pretender

(Just laughing and gay like a clown…)

To all those who are enjoying the company of their families. To all those who are enjoying the comfort of their homes. To all those who are able to enjoy fun and games with their friends and relatives. To all those who can celebrate important occasions like Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc. together with all those previously mentioned, I would like to say you are very lucky or at least luckier than somebody like me.

I believe you know what “homesickness” means but I bet most of you doesn’t know what is it really like to feel homesick. Maybe some of you have gone to experience this, but I would say that’s maybe for a short time and not having to experience it year after year. There are times the attack is so strong that you just feel like going crazy. I have to admit there are times also that I feel like crying, maybe I did cry or haven’t notice there are tears in my eyes for being helpless and cannot bear the pain of longing to be with your love ones. These are mostly in times of solitude and having a feeling of self pity. Ever imagine being very ill and feeling very weak, you just wished that someone would be there to care for you. But no you are all alone to take care of yourself. You have to stand up and cook for your food otherwise you find yourself weaker and prolong the agony. That’s why if it can be avoided, it surely is very hard to get sick.

In all of my stay here I never told my family that I have been sick or have been homesick. I always tell them that I’m OK and there is nothing to worry about. I do not really want them to worry about me. I would just have to endure all the longings and loneliness the best way I can on a day to day basis. And with all of those years that have passed, it is either that I just get tougher or realize that I just have to accept this situation in exchange for the chance to give better future for my family.

Same is true with the way I deal with my friends here. I am just not sure if they are also acting the same way like me. But when we get together, jokes are all around.

Maybe all of these situations are already known, the difference is that the others have already shown and told their experiences. This is the first time I told mine while I just continue on pretending.

Caught(?)

Have you ever been into some situations where it seems like somewhat embarassing or you find some difficulties and you wish you can find at least a little way to get on with it. Some of these are my personal experiences and the others have been related by some friends. The first one I believe is the most common.

1) While walking in a street you suddenly saw someone you're sure you knew but you just can’t remember when and where you met him/her before. Most importantly you can’t even remember his/her name. The worse thing is that he/she saw you also and now come smiling towards you calling your name.

2) In contrast to the previous one, you are all-smile to greet someone whom you thought you knew, but eventually he/she isn’t.

3) You are very eager to go and your friend or somebody is also very eager and insisting to tell you a story. His/Her energy shows that he/she really meant to tell it no matter what.

4). After waiting for so long lining up a very long queue and when it is finally your turn the woman in the counter will tell you, you are in the wrong window.

5) Not knowing which exit to go up through an underpass (Quiapo or City Hall). Sometimes going up the same exit twice or thrice and a vendor is wondering what is happening to you.

6) Slept on the bus and you found out that you are way passed your destination.

7) You found out you left your wallet after eating in a restaurant.

8) You woke up late, took a bath hurriedly and dressed up. Suddenly on your way to saying goodbye to your wife you found out that it was Saturday (no work).

SONA: Now is the Time

Now is the time for the President to address the public regarding the State of the Nation. Now that we are experiencing a crisis like this. She doesn’t have to wait for her next schedule, this is rather what the people need now. Something that we can hold on for the sacrifices we will make and a rallying point to pour our resources to help the government.

What the people is waiting is for the government to explain the reasons why we are experiencing this problem. The president must show an act of sincerity and leadership by laying out all her cards and deal with people responsible for these problems. In declaring the State of Nation, there is no room for spins, cover ups and excuses. The solutions should include genuine reforms and safeguarding mechanisms both in short and long term ends and not just any measure they could come up to increase revenues.

This is not an opportunity for the opposition to bring down this government or for the current administration to show off as if what they are occupying is a throne. This is the best time to set aside political differences and cooperate with one another.

Now is the time for unity, for humility, for discipline, for perseverance, for us to work harder and efficiently, and a lot more that we can contribute to help our country.

Something About Myself

I think it is about time that I should tell something about myself, or at least tell about how my mind works or its sense of direction. The reason I chose “DA” as my BLOG name is that it indicates how I behave myself in real life. I know it is not a good trait but I can’t help it. I would say that it is just my style.

I don’t care how I look, my things are not organizedly arrange and I don’t put them in any particular order. Although I’m like this, I must say I maintain a good hygiene and certain standard of good living.

Another one of my traits is I am always curious in solving every problem or in making things work better or at least wish them to be solved. Usually I am very observant and look at some pattern or behavior then attempt to develop some kind of way on how to make them better. This is brought about by my getting obsessed with mind games and puzzles. I love to learn all the tricks there is in solving them and I won’t stop till I am satisfied with the solution. Although you can say that I am not an expert or do things scientifically or with certain methodology, but I have a good sense of absorbing and appreciating good things and learn mistakes from experience.

I can say generally I consider myself as deserving to be second best. I cannot say I can be a good leader but willing to work beside him/her. I am not a good comedian but works better on his/her side for good sense of humor. I am not always the best athlete or gamesman, but I can always say that I can always give a good competition. I am not a good cook but I always find ways to make my food taste better.

I don’t expect that you will always find my ideas here right or good, sometimes you might find it weird. This is one good thing about BLOGGING, you can really say what you want honestly and without inhibitions.

Initially, I intend to lay down things here to satisfy my curiousity and be my own critic to my ideas. If it so happen that somebody out there would find some things here useful or share some of their own, it is I who is supposed to be glad and thankful.

HAPPY BLOGGING TO EVERYONE

Helping the Government

It is really been the habit of the government to charge us for their losses and most of the time, we haven't seen any real recovery. The government is again planning to raise prices of energy coming from Napocor and SSS is at the same time going to raise the monthly contributions of its members. These are aside from their plan to impose further taxes and raising fees on some government services.

Can't we have any option or something that can be done in order that we can get our money's worth. If for example we hire a contractor to do some repair in our house, there will be a contract, for them to do their job and some service and on our part for us to put up the money to pay for them after "satisfactory" doing their service. Either party would then have a recourse if ever a problem arises.

But in reality, there seems nothing like this regarding our relation with the government. Most of the time we are in the losing end and suffer the consequences of their inefficiencies. I cannot recall if there was any official who have ever been charged or punished, either by being inefficient or guilty of corrupt practices. The only thing you can hear is that the official involved would be transferred or removed from his post.

Will it always have to be like that. Everytime, we should help the government to recover their losses. Can we not even be entitled to know what happened, how and why a certain agency incurred such losses. Of course there's always some investigation, but the truth is there have never been any success in finding who is responsible. What they always have are reasons, or if there has to be somebody who should be responsible the finger is always pointed away from them.

Can we ever feel that it is just right to help our government?

Crises...Wishes

The country is in crisis. The government is finding it hard to cope with worsening budget deficit and facing difficulties in finding further financial source for the next budget. In simple words, the government have no money.

I wish the government would be able to solve this problem and obtain further assistance from foreign creditors in form of further loans and assistance in order that the government can recover and would be able to perform its function for the people. The government in cooperation with the congress said they will be coming up with a noble act as some sort of sacrifice by lessening by a certain percentage their pork barrel and performing austerity measures. We should be thankful to them because they are doing the best they can. I wish this crisis will be over soon and then it will be back to normal (for them).

On the second thought, I wish that this problem gets worse and the government would not be able to obtain further loans and assistance from outside or any sources. I would also wish that the government completely collapse became inutile for lack of funds. No I would like to change that they have been like that for ages, at least most of them.

I know that the people will suffer. But we have been suffering for a very long time. And this cannot be blamed on the government alone. We are also part of this through our action and inaction, through our sins and/or our tendency to easily forgive and/or let go those who have continuously committed "sins" or "crimes" in all of its form (big and small). It is not good that this will just go on. We simply let the problem be forgotten or passed just because we have felt a little comfort or because it has no or only a minimal effect on us. I think it is about time that we suffer the consequences. Let the pains, difficulties and hardships be felt. Let us realize that there is really something wrong not just with the things around us but also among ourselves. I wish because of this we would be awaken, united and really find a way to solve this whole thing, not just (again) survive it.