11th Hour.

            The documentary the 11^th hour raises awareness on how we should be able to lessen the consumption of our resources. The movie tries to negate the idea that our resources are unlimited. It is a documentary that explains how going green can not just affect the balance of nature but also different aspects of life here on earth. It shows that if we continue to exhaust that the planet has to offer it will not be the environment that will be suffering. Us humans will be the ones who will suffer this continuous usage of resources. We are creating an environment that is getting harder and harder for us humans to ba able to live in.

With the temperature of the world increasing and the human race is trying its best to adapt to it. I think the documentary is really about blaming those big companies and countries that consume more than they can contribute back to nature. This shows an issue in power wherein the leaders of the world are not really making wise decisions on how they will create policies that will promote a greener environment.

It also shows that living simply is the way to go in this kind of crisis because unlike any other issues faced in the world ecological imbalance is the one with factors we humans can’t control to our advantage. The documentary is a wake up call to us to answer and do something about the environment.

-Gabriel Hernandez

Language and self-mastery

The Filipinos have a vast contribution to the global workforce. From domestic helpers to registered nurses, Filipinos contribute immensely to the increasing demand for labor and services from across the world. However, an underlying problem still persists. Despite our large workforce globally, language barriers continue to haunt the OFW. With so many different countries willing to hire Filipinos, we are now required to learn basic English to compensate for our difficulty in communicating with our bosses worldwide. English should be enough for our OFWs for basic communication and understanding right? For me, it isn't. We must first understand that every person has a parameter when it comes to learning a language. Some may excel while others fail. This alone justifies the pitfalls in forcing a native country to speak a foreign tongue. The idea of using English as the main medium of instruction in the Philippines is ignorance in itself already. This implies that we are not capable of learning in our own native tongue. I have to admit, I simply cannot master this English language simply because I keep looking for my roots. To understand this foreign language and culture, I must master first my language and culture. I believe that the mastery of one's self first ensures the mastery of all other things to follow. Problem is, how do we master ourselves? With the limited units of Filipino subjects versus the massive units of English subjects, I sometimes scratch my head in confusion. Why must the Filipino langauage fall behind the English language? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around since we are Filipinos living in the Philippines? I do not question the advantages and benefits of learning the English language but I do question its power over our native language. We boast of our Filipino pride and heritage yet we cannot master our own native tongue. Language plays a humungous role in identifying, clarifying and understanding ourselves, our culture and our country. However, we cannot progress. Why? We simply cannot master the foundation of our understanding with the use of a foreign language. It can only be done through our own language. This is what I believe and what I hope should all of us do in order to master ourselves. Same goes to everyone, not just us.

- Josua Pangasinan

On the February 28 Grand Evangelical Mission.

I know it is a bit late, but let me tell you my insights about the so-called "rally" of our brethren -- the INC.

I don’t care when people complain (with a curse) that we caused a hell lot of traffic in our Grand Evangelical Mission (GEM) last February 28. That’s the truth. But, had these people listened to the news days before, there were advisories and re-routing schemes.  And, had they known that this big event happens rarely (maybe just once a year), they might try to be considerate. But yes, I still understand all the curses and foul words that they directed to INC via Facebook. It just makes me proud that never, in my entire Christian life, did I say "f*ck" or "sh*t" or whatever hate words if I’m caught in a real bad traffic because of other religion’s processions / events / gatherings.

I don’t care when people tell us that we left a lot of kalat in the streets. In my case, I am not guilty. We had a big, black trash bag at the back of our car, and it was filled with our own garbage, which, was properly disposed. And I know and I saw that my fellow brethren did the same, as an act of discipline. But perhaps in a multitude of a million people, it’s safe to say that litter is inevitable. So, I am sorry, if we indeed left some trash behind. But I think it might interest the public to know that we got a couple of clean-up drives and tree-planting projects in almost all our locales every now and then. Do you really want to talk about love for environment here?

I don’t care when people tell that we were paid five hundred pesos to join the GEM. I seriously laughed upon reading that comment in Yahoo. I cut my classes that day, lined up for almost an hour just to use the public restroom, and walked from Vito Cruz to Luneta under the scorching heat of the sun. My brothers and sisters from the provinces most probably did the same – only they traveled much longer. All for five hundred pesos? That’s baloney.

I don’t care when people insist that the gathering was a show of force. After all, two million people flocked in a single area are a clear manifestation of a strong, unified force.

I don’t care when people, particularly from the media, so relentlessly spices up their news by always adding a political angle to the event. I mean, is there a rally with a choir as seen above? If you were there, or you watched the live stream, you’re sure to know that it’s a plain bible exposition. I want to especially mention this to De Quiros: I don’t care when you tell that our GEM is a farce. I pity you instead. You talk about things that you don’t have the slightest idea of. 

I don’t care when the enraged commuters last February 28, as manifested by word wars in the online world, so blatantly said that all INC members deserve to die. If that would ease their burdens for the inconvenience we have caused them, so be it. After all, in the end we’re all going to die – the first death. It’s the second death that matters, if you know what I mean.

But one comment really got into me. A Facebook user said: Iglesia ni Cristo idiots are vote prostitutes. Well, that’s simply below the belt. And I can’t afford not to care. That’s why I am writing this.

I don’t cringe at the word idiot. It’s the ‘vote prostitutes’ which hurt. Whoever you are, and for the rest of the world who thinks the same, fine. That’s your opinion. Let me just tell you mine. And let me give you also some facts.

We don’t do block voting to support a particular political aspirant. There are instances when we don’t vote a candidate for a certain position at all (yes, we cross out the blanks in the ballots). We vote as one to show the unity of our brotherhood, and that has a biblical basis. The success of INC, as manifested by its million members in a predominantly Catholic country, its thousand modern house of worships which are scattered around the archipelago, its global expansion to all the continents (except Antartica perhaps) – can NEVER be attributed to any elected official or politician. It is obviously God’s hands at work.

One can never, ever understand all of these, unless he is willing to understand. Are you? Then, I am inviting you to attend one of our GEMs.

-Robynne Albaniel

Religion, and the Global Economy

Religion to begin with, is defined as a specific or fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects. The Global economy is organized according to certain rules, and practices that must be followed. Naturally, one thing that influences these practices, and rules to be, is then religion.


One cannot deny that Religions have an effect on beliefs, politics, and therefore society. An example is the Catholic religion in the Philippines. It is very dominant as 80 percent of the population are Catholics. Due to this, the RH Bill is not being effected in the country, and contraceptives are not as welcome or as used as it is in other countries as to example Africa. Due to the Catholic beliefs, and culture, abstinence is preferred. Hence, many people involved in Politics would not support the RH Bill as well to avoid conflict with the dominant religion. The distribution of these contraceptives are then affected as well, causing an impact on Globalization. Another, is the distribution of Pork in Iraq. Because of the Islamic religion, pork is not very sellable in the area, and are therefore not distributed in the country so much. 

However, even if these cases exist, one must not forget that Religion flattens cultural differences as well. Due Religion, many individuals, or groups, act as one no matter where they are due to the common beliefs they have within their religion. Hence, it could be safe to say that religion replaces or ignores local customs and beliefs as well.


To sum it all up, Religion affects Globalization in two ways. It could either promote it considering the common beliefs of individuals from different places, or do the opposite due to the differences of several religions that coexist with one another. There are pros, and cons considering religion, and its relationship with the Global Economy. 


Hence, religion in itself influences politics, the people involved, the globe, or the society as a whole. 
- Maribien Gonzales 

The Impetus of Delay: A Take on F Sionil Jose’s “Why We Are Shallow”

This person’s article could not have been more spot-on in addressing one of the many social problems that the Philippines is currently experiencing. The article presents several reasons on why the Filipino people are deemed shallow. One of the many reasons that the writer has provided was the lack of humility of the Filipino society. As stated by the writer in the article:” We are shallow because we are mayabang, ego driven, and do not have the humility to understand that we are only human, much too human to mistake knowledge for wisdom.” The author further elaborates that Filipinos are shallow due to the tremendous influence of the Philippine media. The great influence of media is not unique to the Philippines because no matter the place, mass media will always be influential due to its availability and its capability to draw the attention of the common folk.

Going to the issue, the great influence of mass media only aggravates the problem stated in the article. This is because the Philippine media is also shallow, as established by the author. In fact, the author of the article even states that our mainstream media is filled with people who are stupid, arrogant and superficial. He writes: “We can see this yabang in some of our public commentators, particularly on TV — the know-it-alls who think that because they have so much knowledge — available now on the Web at the click of a button — they can answer every question posed to them.” Furthermore, the author argues that the standards of the Philippine entertainment industry have decreased incredibly and that it is shown in the telenovelas available to all in public channels.

This cannot be truer because the writers, directors, producers and all of the people who create these telenovelas may have some loose bolts in their heads when they agreed to do so. These dramas, comedies and sitcoms have no depth, cliché, predictable and, downright repugnant only because it is so cheesy and moronic, making it an effective fad that spreads very quickly. An example would be “Tween Hearts” of GMA or ABS-CBN. I’m not even sure where this is shown since I do not follow public entertainment. It’s sad to think that we have to borrow these alien T.V. shows, which by the way gets higher ratings that those provided locally, in order to attract more viewers. That is no longer being shallow for it falls under inadequacy and incompetence.

The author does not stop in attacking the media. Furthermore in the article, the author also bashes our government officials. I cannot agree with the author more because I truly believe that the voting majority of our country have been brainwashed into thinking that popularity is synonymous to competency. This is again, and I cannot stress this quite enough, due to the horrid public education, no, basic public education that our government provides. These government officials are like toddlers playing with their toys on the high chair. I’m not sure if they are dense, clueless, stupid, incompetent and unsuited for their position, or if they are just extremely clever, but devious at the same time, and keeping the masses illiterate and ignorant is just their scheme in order to ensure their spot in power.

In conclusion, a lot of issues stem out from the primary issue talked in this entry. The bottom line is that if we do not change in the near future, we will continue to be looked down upon not only by foreigners, but also by the our fellow countrymen who have grown sick of hoping on the Philippine society to change. Because the way I see it, the change will only occur if the people actually stand up and say enough is enough, and if the government would cease to swindle the country they are supposedly running.

-Rafael Roberto P. Carmona

k12

         Although it is a brilliant idea to start upgrading our educational system with the K 12 program, it’s probably not the proper time to execute this program. It’s good that the government wants to address this problem but I think that this does not solve the bigger issues like unemployment and underemployment. I mean, yes we are competent but where would these fine students go if there would be no job available here? They would just go abroad and we would be missing out a lot of competent workers that would cost us opportunities.

For me, a better way to address our educational inferiority and never-ending battle to poverty is to supply these aspiring labourers job opportunities that would suffice not only their needs but the country as well. I’m talking about creating more job opportunities as teachers in our country. Not that I completely ignore the idea that students are encouraged to take up education. It’s just that being a teacher in this country lost its sense of “opportunity”. It’s like why should I be a teacher if I could earn more by being an engineer of a businessman. It is no longer seen as something advantageous because nothing would be gained out of it. It will just make you provide with a lot of investment in order to become a promising high-waged professor in private school. Furthermore, it’s probably high time that our country should also make a job craze like what other countries did with our nurses. The last job craze that occurred here in our country is when call centers flourished at every district in Metro Manila. This is very alarming because it will undermine the quality of job our labourers would go after for.  

                It would be a lot better if our government would allot more funds to pay our teachers, just enough to keep them happy with their jobs. I mean instead of giving funds to provide everyone with condoms why not just allocate it to the salaries of our public school teachers. Not only will it attract more to become a teacher, it will increase the chances of quality teachers which would provide quality education. It would eradicate the disproportional ratio of teachers to students and students can learn more. With such positive effects, k12 could no longer be necessary and parents will no longer have to put up with two more years of exasperating tuition fees.

- Ferdinand Badillo

Hacienda Luisita

                Hacienda Luisita is a large piece of land owned by the Cojuangco’s for over five decades. Literally speaking, it is a rich and healthy land used massively for agricultural use. Today it is known as an issue, an overwhelming image of oppression and greed that steps on the poor simple lives of our hardworking farmers.

          The Hacienda Luisita’s origin takes us a while back in the Spanish Era. The land was originally belonged to the Spanish-owned Tabacalera which is used for Tobacco plantation. Cutting the story short, it was later on bought by the Cojuangcos in 1957 with the help of the central bank, provided that they would have to distribute these lands to small farmers after 10 years. It’s 2012 and still no solutions have been garnered to suffice this means of selfishness. By the way if you want to read the full article about Hacienda Luisita, just visit this site

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/181877/news/specialreports/hacienda-luisita-s-past-haunts-noynoy-s-future

or you could watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gevTmyWtHVo

                What’s my point in this blog? This is just a perfect example of centralization of money. For the past couple of decades, the Cojuangcos had for themselves a stable goldmine. Instead of farmers gaining more than they should, they were forced to bow down and let the trustees slap their dignity with the minimum wage they hardly deserve. 

 

The Cojuangcos completely blocked the proper circulation of money with their dominance over the land. They are one of the reasons that poverty in the Philippines ceases to go down. Farmers were forced to believe that their lifetime investment of hard labor would pay off eventually. This issue should no longer be ignored by the government. I know that Noynoy’s share in the land is I think around 1% or so and he actually has no voice to convince his titos and titas about this pressing issue but as president he should. He has all the power he needs to pave way for these farmers to an ordinary life; even though with their lifetime investment of labor, they deserve more than a mundane life. It’s about time that this issue should end. This is the best way for Noynoy to prove his worth to the Philippine masses.

                                                                                                                           - Ferdinand Badillo