Thursday, September 28, 2006

Come back and come again!

What you see is not always what you get.

My high school editorial drafts.


EVAT is just another dumb mistake of the government. Expanded Value Added Tax, like what the opposition says is another burden the poor Filipino people have to shoulder. After being put into action last November 1, many already state their angst against it.



As the clock struck 12 last October 31, the prices awakened and began to rise. Petroleum gas increased ten percent. Prices of food and commodities hiked up way higher than most Filipinos’ budget. Surely, the Filipinos bilbil are painfully suffering under the restriction of their belts. All this was done by a 4-lettered acronym.



The Filipino people suffer. The immediate effects of EVAT probably killed half the populations’ hopes of ever rising from their mud holes. After the assurance of increased revenues in the far future, the islands would already be infested with thieves, criminals and illegal doers because they can not afford or even find an honest job. After what GMA has done, she will be left with only the very rich, who were not affected at all, and the impoverished. The middle class would have vanished.



One more thing, how can the government assure the masses that the EVAT revenues would be for payment of debts and accomplishment of projects and not for their own pockets? The masses are not blind; right from the start, they already know that the government is a pool with greedy sharks. EVAT could have been more acceptable to the Filipinos if they were confident that they are under honest and credible government. But that is not the case. They should have cleaned the government first before implementing EVAT.


President Gloria Macagal-Arroyo is notorious for her embarrassing mistakes and misjudgments. EVAT is included in the list – from the Garci Tapes to her statement regarding Charter Change. The Filipinos can’t wait to hear her say, once again, “I am sorry”.


**********



Citizens should not expect that success of the Expanded Value Added Tax be felt the very day it officially starts. Being put into action last November 1, EVAT has already faced some smirking looks and statements coming from the opposition. They firmly stand their ground that EVAT is not the solution to the dreadful economic crisis.



Surely, there will be no immediate expected changes regarding the economy. EVAT will take its toll soon after revenues increase enough to pay the government’s billions of debts from international banks. Only then will they have public funds to be used for the betterment of our country and its people. This is the sweet and rewarding fruit of the sacrifice the people have made.



EVAT is the answer to the depression our economy is experiencing. It is only about time that the president takes control of the continuous decrease of the Filipino’s standard of living and pushes them up from the quicksand the previous leaders have put them into. When the revenues are up and the debts have been paid, the government could make improvements on the condition of the country. More projects could be accomplished and the population will be more focused on.



Our incumbent president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is a graduate of Harvard University in USA and has been blahblahblah. She also has a good family background – even better than most of the other politicians’ - and had more experience in governing. Do the masses, who continuously spit at GMA’s works, not think that the president knows what she is doing? Or that she has seen to it that what she executes is really for the welfare of all? It wouldn’t be hard to trust her judgment, would it?



Japan had to cocoon itself from the world before it reached its present glory. China had to suffer wars and invasions before it became what it is now. All the other successful countries had to suffer and sacrifice first before they became wealthy and strong empires. That is what EVAT will do to the Philippines. Patience is a virtue we must not forget in times like these. Cooperate and be rewarded.


If I weren't to say which side I'm on, you might get confused. You may think I'm a two-faced liar who doesn't know where to put herself. However, if you try to look at the bigger picture, you would see that I am only pointing out what is obvious yet still oblivious to most - universal duality. Every event, things (in quantum level), even persons (doppelgangers?) have two sides. Everything has its dark and good side just like the present situation of politics and economy in our country. The Milenyo typhoon benefited numerous students who didn't want to go to school or to the sick whose boss would kill (that would be double dead? haha!) if he/she were absent, etc. However, it is also catastrophic for them because of the black out and ruined homes and/or livelihood.

We can think like Jollibee or we can think like Lonelibee. It is up to us to decide whether to be positive or not. We just have to realize what could be gained and what could be lost.



BTW,
(Yes, I am Pro-EVAT and Pro-GMA as you all may know. I won't do us any good to go against what is already there. You may say that it's wrong and irresponsible for people to just accept what is unacceptable and be contented with what is offered but I think this, although not the most, is the next best thing that we can do given the circumstances with which GMA faced as she sat on the throne.)

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Upload




What you see is not always what you get.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Kids in the Streets.


What you see is not always what you get.

I feel bad about my last entry. It sucks to know that people like that still get to me. Grrr. My apologies.

Today was a little bit better but karma got to me real quick! Our history presentation, that is a video presentation, was about Military Relations between U.S. and the Philippines and we thought it would be nice to have our shooting at the playground in front of Manila Zoo. We had already made the plans and we got there although not on time but still on schedule.

We were actually laughing our butts off because of the kalokohans we were doing. Then after some time, a number of kids heard the commotion we were making. They made their way to where we were and started disturbing us. It was just fine when we were still playing guns.

I don't know why or how. I'm not sure if it's because of Mon-mon's (my other groupmate who came in late) arrival like what Daphnae (my early-bird-who-always-makes-jokes groupmate) said or if it was because Roch (our leader) started talking to them (as if they'd understand her). No matter what the reason was, it triggered the kids' evil sides. They were harsh! Oooohh! I could still remember all the nasty things they said. They were so horrible especially the leader of the pack who was said to be the grandson of the chairman in that place.

They were the worst bunch of kids I've ever encountered and I never want to meet them again.

But emotions aside, I can tell they were just trying to make friends in their own crude way. I think they were just acting the way they did because they are used to it. My theory is that people were mean to them or they have seen mean people and they have based their attitudes on these 'role models'. They were so used to growing up with rude and uneducated people that they themselves absorb these and put into practice.

While Roch was talking to them as if they were equal (in maturity), I felt the kids were already cracked except for the no-good (I apologize) grandson of the chairman. I knew they were innately good kids who turned bad because of the evils around them. Even that kid leader is good but I guess he was more difficult to break.

If I were a patient, warmhearted and compassionate person, I would have empathized with the kids and talked my ass off trying to break them all to remind them that goodness should reign. (And I could have won some award because of this!) That is, however, not the case. I am not patient enough to curb the tongues of those foulmouthed youngsters nor am I warmhearted and compassionate enough to see their feelings beyond their hateful facades.

I blame the adults who are supposed to be looking after those young kids. Have they not thought of the kids' welfare and where they'd end up in the near future? But of course, they, too, must have grown up the same way. That just plainly sucks.

I can blame anybody for the situation those kids are in right now. I could blame the government, I could blame the immediate family. I could even blame their neighborhood. I could blame the leader kid himself. I could blame you. And of course, I could blame myself.

I should have been what I am not. I should have helped right then and there but pointing fingers won't get us nowhere.

When I grow up, I want to be a lot of things. I could become rich and help those kinds of kids. But when those kids grow up, what would they be?

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Little Mr. and Ms. Mickey Mouse Club



What you see is not always what you get.


I now have proven, using my in depth knowledge of psychology and human behavior (which is so laughable), that people really feed on dirty laundries paraded on the public streets. I guess, in a way, it is the parader's fault why he/she is being feasted on. Why on earth would anyone want to flaunt his/her misdeeds in the first place? I, for one, would not want my skeletons cleaned out of my closet.


Is it natural for people to gossip and make crude remarks about other people's lives no matter how repulsive it is? Are the former justified for what they do since it is technically the latter's fault? In some ways, yes. We really just can't help but talk about other people and how immoral, unjust, repugnant the lives they lead are. Who would not want to comment on something waved right below their itchy little (or big for some cases) noses? It is just as automatic to talk of something as it is for us to eat when we're hungry.


Let us examine first the cases or reasons why one would want others to see their dark sides? First thing I could think of is publicity. I have heard from some old movie I watched that Bad publicity is still publicity. I gets people talking and that person becomes instant celebrity. William Hung was shamed during the American Idol. He was actually downright insulted. However, that global embarrassment resulted in a record contract that earned him millions (I am not sure with the profit) and fame that would last for a very long time. So I guess someone who wants to be known would do anything to be popular - even show off their misdeeds.


Second reason: Have you watched the movie Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen? That's exactly it. People sometimes think that they are the only protagonists in the story they have wielded for themselves. Other persons are just minor characters that ought to help them achieve whatever it is they need. It seems as if the world revolves only around them and that it would crumble when they do. And since they think it's all about them, they wouldn't care a bit about looking like a fool because after all, it is their story.


A third reason, although it may not be applicable to all, is that they may also think their damsels in distress that need rescuing of some sort and pity for the misfortune. I don't know if this should fall under the second reason.(It just popped out of my mind.) They think it looks cute to look pitiful and unknowing. It is as though they want some one to open up their eyes and let them show the world -shining, shimmering and splendid. (yeah right!)


Last reason, (since I don't have much time on my hands right now) ugh! I forgot my last and best reason. This sucks.


Anyway, I despise people who try to flaunt their so-called colorful and juicey lives. I hate them for the reasons they do the things they do. I am repulsed by their silly antics and deceptive innocence. They think they look cute but they don't. They just look plain stupid.
If only I have the guts to tell them straight up how much they irritate me, how their attitude won't get them anywhere and how the world is not at their stinky little carefully pedicured feet, I would but that would take too much time and effort from my side. They are not just worth all the trouble. Unless they've proven themselves worthy of my empathy or awe, they will be nothing but pain in everyone's butt.


Now I hate myself for wasting my time talking nonsense.


I apologize. (to myself)

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

sad? nah. just crappy.

It is sometimes hard to wake up everyday and think of how it would unfold. It sucks to know that you're waking up to the same old routine doing the same old things and thinking the same old thoughts. I want to wake up with something new everyday. I guess I do, but my life sucks right now so bad. Bad enough to make me think it useless to wake up feeling happy for the new day. I guess I just miss the people who make me feel happy.. =/

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

and after...

Philosophy is my new enemy.

I have been gone for a very long time and I apologize to those people who were affected. (If there are any.) hehe!

I'd like to say PAT! sorry po.. huhhhuhu.. di ako nakapagpaalam.. actually nasiraan kme ng internet. ngaun buong pc na.. haaay.. missu na tlaga.. sorry uli.. heheh!

now i have to go.. I still have lots of school work.

I hope I could blog again tomorrow..

take care everyone!