Showing posts with label Phlippines. Show all posts

Build, Build, Build

…then, destroy, destroy, destroy

By Apolinario Villalobos

That is how it is in the Philippines. Infrastructures are built and left to deteriorate due to haphazard maintenance. Bridges are provided with lights such as those of Quiapo and Sta. Cruz in Manila, followed by colorful launching complete with media coverage and ribbon cutting, then left to the mercy of vandals and the natural elements due to the negligence of local governments. All airport terminal buildings are in sorry state, one of them even with periodic failure of a lone escalator, while the other one always lands on the pages of broadsheet due to falling ceiling panels. The other one is reported to be with clogged toilets.

Once the “underside” of the LRT (Light Rail Transit) was colorfully painted by a mayor of Manila City, but when he lost in the election, the winner upon assumption of post, practically “deleted” the mark of the previous mayor. Millions of pesos were spent for paints to cover the former “design” and color of posts of the transit system and for the new paint, complete with outdoor plants that in time wilted due to their new environment. Today, the “underside” is again in sorry state. Highways and roads that are still in tip-top condition are destroyed to give way to new “toppings” every time new officials assume post or when the term of the incumbent is about to be finished.

A Call from the Youth of the Land…

Let Harmony Breed World Peace!

By Ed Palomado

Let harmony breed peace the world over…yes!...give it a chance! That is our call, we, the youth of the land to you, our elders and parents with differing advocacies and views that have been splitting the world into segments of disparity. The world is a sphere and should have insured the smooth flow of relationship among men as there are no corners that serve as hindrances…that is why God made it as such.

We did not ask to be born into a world beset with chaos due to mere differences in the color of our skin and the diverse tongues that are supposed to bind the world together. Add to them cultures and traditions that have differing propensities.

We did not ask to be born into a world quivering on a foundation weakened by uncertainties as to what the future would bring. In the meantime, more innocent newborn are being brought forth as the hands of time tick with reminders about our hazy destiny. Where should we go from where we stand today?...yes!...where, beloved elders and parents?

Greed has pathetically overshadowed humane principles, having been fed by the unrelenting selfishness of many world leaders. And, pride has blinded the same arrogant leaders who do not give a damn while treading on the path leading toward aspired success that must be had at all cost. They failed to see the rights of others that they trampled to make their covetous desire come true. We, the youth are among the trampled, a misfortune that have cut short a life that could have made us savor what lies ahead of us.

Why must we, the youth, suffer for all of these?

Why can’t there be even a bit of tolerance for all the differences that ensued when God created humanity?

Why can’t tolerance be observed as a show of respect to what others believe in?

Why can’t there be just music instead of the cracking guns that spit forth death?

Why can’t there be love instead of hate?

And, why can’t we extend a hand of compassion, instead of one gripping a gun?

If we let tolerance prevail, there would be understanding…if we let love overcome our hate, there will be compassion….and, if we give harmony a chance, there will be a soothing and delightful tranquility, as everything would just fall into their proper places with synchrony that shall bring forth peace!

So, now I am asking again…why not give peace a chance to rule the world?

(An oratorical peace composed by Ed Palomado for a student in his speech clinic, and which I edited.)

The Insecurity of the President is

Intensified with the onset of Election 2016

By Apolinario Villalobos

The early manifestation of the President’s insecurity in his refusal to fire unproductive cabinet secretaries was tolerated. But the irritation of the Filipinos went out of hand when they clamored for the removal of Allan Purisima from his post as Chief of the Philippine National Police.

With the onset of elections, another manifestation of insecurity of the highest official of the land  is again showing, and this time, even loudly expressed, when he refused to give instruction to his Cabinet secretaries who plan to run in the coming election, to resign. The reason for the popular call to for these government officials is obvious – there is a great possibility for them to use their respective agency in campaigns.

Unlike the senators who can return to their jobs if they lose in the election, the cabinet secretaries do not have this option. This could be the reason why the president is in a quandary because he cannot just seem to trust others than those who are now in his “stable”. What insecurity, indeed!...no wonder he is called by some parties as “weakling”.

Ang Mga Desperado sa Darating na Eleksyon 2016

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Binay…..kailangan niyang manalo upang hindi tuluyang makulong dahil sa patung-patong niyang kaso. Ang hindi lang malaman ng mga tao ay kung ang ambisyon bang maging presidente ang nagtulak sa kanya upang “mag-ipon” ng panggastos mula pa noong Mayor siya ng Makati, kaya nangyari ang sinasabing pangungumisyon niya ng malaki sa mga proyekto sa Makati na ang ginawang dahilan na alam ng mga tao doon ay pagmamahal daw niya sa mga ito. Lumalabas kasi, gumawa siya ng long-ranged plan na nakakabilib!

Pnoy….kailangan niyang makahanap ng isang matapang at may paninindigang kandidato na mai-endorso upang kung sakaling manalo bilang presidente, ay ligtas siya sa mga balak ihaing kaso laban sa kanya. Hindi pwede si Roxas dahil walang mga ganoong katangian, kaya maski manalo ay siguradong matatalo lang ng mga kalaban niya (Pnoy) na may balak magpakulong sa kanya.

Roxas….kailangan niyang ma-endorso ng pangulo dahil maski simbahang Katoliko ay wala na ring tiwala sa kanya; ang huling hirit niya ay ang lumapit sa El Shaddai, Quiboloy Group na naka-base sa Davao, at ang Iglesia ni Kristo – kung papansinin siya dahil noon pa man ay hindi naman talaga siya nakitaan ng kahit kapirasong gilas. Ang pinapakita kasi niya hanggang ngayon ay ang pagiging “bow man” ng presidente – bow na lang ng bow!

Allan Peter Cayetano….noon pa man ay maingay na sa pagsabi na lahat naman daw ay may ambisyong umupo sa pinakamataas na pwesto sa gobyerno – kasama na siya doon; kailangan niyang manalo bilang presidente upang lalong malampaso ang mga Binay sa Makati na kapitlunsod ng Pasig.

Trillanes….kailangan niyang maging presidente upang maipakulong ang pinanggigigilang si Jejomar Binay; kung hindi pwede, maski bise-presidente na lang upang patunayang may anghang talaga siya bilang pulitiko…kailangan niyang patunayan na bilang dating taga-military ay matapang siya, kaya nga siya nasangkot sa mga coup d’etat noon.

Ang ibang mga taong binabanggit na maaaring tumakbo ay hindi naman ganoon ka-desperado, tulad ni Grace Poe na hanggang ngayon ay walang pakialam kahit mataas ang rating sa survey. Si Duterte naman ay neutral ang image kaya maski sinong manalo ay pwedeng kumuha sa kanya bilang isang kalihim ng gabinete na aangkop sa kanyang katapangan, at kung hindi naman niya kakagatin ay makakabalik siya sa pinakamamahal niyang Davao City, nagmamahal din sa kanya!