FOX Studios science fiction show, Fringe, has been one of the most talked about series in the past couple of years. The show is about an FBI agent Olivia Dunham, played by Anna Torv, who solves science-related cases with the help of jack-of-all-trades Peter Bishop, played by Joshua Jackson, and his father renowned scientist Walter Bishop, played by John Noble. Each episode they deal with occurrences or criminal acts related to that unorthodox branch of science known as Fringe science. In this show anything is possible. From reanimating corpses to telepathy nothing is too strange or incredulous that it could not happen. But are any of the occurrences in this show capable of actually happening?
One episode saw the Fringe team dealing with a biochemical attack on several people. A biochemist attacks a wedding event by unleashing harmful toxins in the air through a candle. Since it was a wedding many people were in attendance and almost all of them were exposed to the harmful toxin but surprisingly only some were killed by it. Specifically, people who were of Jewish descent were the ones who died from the attack while the others were spared. Upon finding out the objective of the terrorist the Fringe team figured it out that the terrorist was a Nazi criminal still intent on killing everyone while sparing the Aryan race for them to thrive and take over the world. The question here is: Could there really be a biochemical weapon designed to kill only specific races?
According to Professor Dale Johnson of UC Berkeley’s Nutritional Science and Toxicology Program some ideas that the show proposed might actually be plausible. He says that the idea of a biochemical weapon targeting specific ethnic groups can become a possibility. He explained that biochemical weapons that are taken from biological sources, like Botulinum and Anthrax, can kill certain cells in the body either by targeting the nervous system or the immune system or by creating chemical intermediates that are extremely toxic. He further explained that ethnic groups have varying genetic structures and designing a biochemical weapon to target a specific genetic structure might be possible in the future. Some ethnic groups have genetic structures that comprise a slow metabolism while other ethnic groups have faster ones. If a scientist would want to design a biochemical weapon to target specific ethnic groups then he or she might take this characteristic of genetic variants into consideration.
Professor Johnson was quick to point out though that this is far from happening with today's technology. He said that even if one were able to manufacture that kind of biochemical weapon it would still be hard to perfect it. According to him the problem lies with the objective of the weapon. No weapon, biochemical or any other kind, can target specific ethnic groups because it is very difficult to target the exact genetic characteristic or trait of that group. So far no one has been able to come up with a way to do such a thing, he only suggested that with the advancement of technology such an idea is not farfetched.
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Friday, July 29, 2011
Are Reality Series Proving to be Detrimental to America's Youth?
Tune into MTV and chances are you will get a glimpse of the reality series: Jersey Shore. It is a show about a group of Italian-Americans living together under one roof. The series was meant to show the audience the lighter side of the lives of Italian-Americans but it has garnered much controversy due to the cast's often use of expletives and their penchant for frivolous behavior which has embarrassed most Italian-Americans in the US.
The show, like most reality series, follow the cast wherever they go and showcases to the audience whatever they do. The cast often attends parties wherein most of the female cast-members end up inebriated and unable to walk. One episode even saw one of the members of the cast urinating behind a bar because she was too drunk or lazy to go to the toilet. If they're not getting drunk they're trying to find someone to have sex with which is often the case with the male members of the cast. Almost every episode finds the male members of the show cavorting with female strangers, if not with their fellow female cast-members, enticing them to have sex with them.
The antics of the show's cast-members have garnered much criticism from the Italian-Americans and the larger population. Some have deemed the show to be too crass and racy. It also has a tendency to flaunt the stereotypes of 'Guidos' much to the dismay of some of their fellow Italian-Americans. Most Italian-Americans have criticized the show because of the depiction of
their race which has nothing better to do than to party and have sex.
The show garnered more criticisms when it began airing in Italy. Roberto Del Bove, who is a columnist for a newspaper in Rome, spoke against the show saying that it showed the worst stereotypes of Italian people. He further condemned the show along with other columnists in Italy.
Some people have spoken out against this show due to its lack of finesse and its lack of moral fiber that might be detrimental to many American teenagers and children. Most people find it disturbing that the show celebrates the cast-members lack of inhibition and preference for reckless behavior.
There are other shows on television that seem to embody the same kind of recklessness that the Jersey Shore displays. The Bad Girls Club showcases young women who are constantly embroiled in minor misdemeanors or public altercation. Although the show's producers state that the show is just entertainment constant display of reckless behavior by these women might encourage women of the same age to act like them as well.
The theme of the show 16 and pregnant is pretty self-explanatory and although it could have been a useful venue to educate young women about unwanted pregnancies the show seems to be more focused on glorifying teen pregnancies.
Reality Series such as these might not have a direct influence on a person's behavior. But then again constant production of shows like these might send a message to the younger people that reckless behavior is something to be glorified.
Tune into MTV and chances are you will get a glimpse of the reality series: Jersey Shore. It is a show about a group of Italian-Americans living together under one roof. The series was meant to show the audience the lighter side of the lives of Italian-Americans but it has garnered much controversy due to the cast's often use of expletives and their penchant for frivolous behavior which has embarrassed most Italian-Americans in the US.
The show, like most reality series, follow the cast wherever they go and showcases to the audience whatever they do. The cast often attends parties wherein most of the female cast-members end up inebriated and unable to walk. One episode even saw one of the members of the cast urinating behind a bar because she was too drunk or lazy to go to the toilet. If they're not getting drunk they're trying to find someone to have sex with which is often the case with the male members of the cast. Almost every episode finds the male members of the show cavorting with female strangers, if not with their fellow female cast-members, enticing them to have sex with them.
The antics of the show's cast-members have garnered much criticism from the Italian-Americans and the larger population. Some have deemed the show to be too crass and racy. It also has a tendency to flaunt the stereotypes of 'Guidos' much to the dismay of some of their fellow Italian-Americans. Most Italian-Americans have criticized the show because of the depiction of
their race which has nothing better to do than to party and have sex.
The show garnered more criticisms when it began airing in Italy. Roberto Del Bove, who is a columnist for a newspaper in Rome, spoke against the show saying that it showed the worst stereotypes of Italian people. He further condemned the show along with other columnists in Italy.
Some people have spoken out against this show due to its lack of finesse and its lack of moral fiber that might be detrimental to many American teenagers and children. Most people find it disturbing that the show celebrates the cast-members lack of inhibition and preference for reckless behavior.
There are other shows on television that seem to embody the same kind of recklessness that the Jersey Shore displays. The Bad Girls Club showcases young women who are constantly embroiled in minor misdemeanors or public altercation. Although the show's producers state that the show is just entertainment constant display of reckless behavior by these women might encourage women of the same age to act like them as well.
The theme of the show 16 and pregnant is pretty self-explanatory and although it could have been a useful venue to educate young women about unwanted pregnancies the show seems to be more focused on glorifying teen pregnancies.
Reality Series such as these might not have a direct influence on a person's behavior. But then again constant production of shows like these might send a message to the younger people that reckless behavior is something to be glorified.
Home-based Jobs Vs. Office-based Jobs: Who is winning?
The days of the office-based job is slowly coming to an end. More and more people are preferring the home-based job compared to the other because of the convenience it entails. No need to hustle and bustle early in the morning so you could catch your bus or train because your office is right in your room. No need to deal with annoying coworkers or listen to their arrogant remarks about your PowerPoint presentation because you work alone. Finally, no need to wake up in an unholy hour because you could choose the time when you want to start working. These are just some of the perks of having a home-based job and more people are starting to realize this that more and more companies are beginning to offer jobs you could work on in the comforts of your own home.
The advancement of technology and the accessibility of the internet has made working at home possible and even more lucrative than office-based jobs. IT companies are outsourcing their services to people working from their houses because it is much cheaper than having them work in their offices. With home-based jobs companies wouldn't have to worry about paying electric bills of an office or supplying the employees with pens and papers. Companies also need not worry about employees coming in late due to traffic. The accessibility of the internet has made every house or location a virtual office for everyone. And with more and more jobs that can be done with
minimal supervision it is not surprising that people are turning more to working at home than going to the office.
Back then people thought that only entrepreneurs were able to work in their homes but today many jobs can be done in homes with minimal interaction between employer and manager. IT jobs like computer software engineering, computer programming, and database management are on the top of the list of home-based careers. These jobs can be easily done at home because it requires mainly the use of computers which most of these people have in their homes. Customer service or customer support-oriented jobs are now also being delegated to people working at home because of two requirements: internet access and telecommunication capabilities. As long as employees have a phone they can use and internet access which is up and running 24/7 then they could get a job as customer support agents. Transcribers, copywriters and web content writers are also becoming part of this home-based work environment. Writers or transcribers who can access the internet anytime can easily look for writing and transcribing jobs online.
So many people are working at home now that according to a survey done back in 2004, home-based employees grew from 41.3million to 44.4millione from 2003 to 2004. With more home-based jobs coming out of the woodwork it won't come as a surprise if that number has already tripled.
The advancement of technology and the accessibility of the internet has made working at home possible and even more lucrative than office-based jobs. IT companies are outsourcing their services to people working from their houses because it is much cheaper than having them work in their offices. With home-based jobs companies wouldn't have to worry about paying electric bills of an office or supplying the employees with pens and papers. Companies also need not worry about employees coming in late due to traffic. The accessibility of the internet has made every house or location a virtual office for everyone. And with more and more jobs that can be done with
minimal supervision it is not surprising that people are turning more to working at home than going to the office.
Back then people thought that only entrepreneurs were able to work in their homes but today many jobs can be done in homes with minimal interaction between employer and manager. IT jobs like computer software engineering, computer programming, and database management are on the top of the list of home-based careers. These jobs can be easily done at home because it requires mainly the use of computers which most of these people have in their homes. Customer service or customer support-oriented jobs are now also being delegated to people working at home because of two requirements: internet access and telecommunication capabilities. As long as employees have a phone they can use and internet access which is up and running 24/7 then they could get a job as customer support agents. Transcribers, copywriters and web content writers are also becoming part of this home-based work environment. Writers or transcribers who can access the internet anytime can easily look for writing and transcribing jobs online.
So many people are working at home now that according to a survey done back in 2004, home-based employees grew from 41.3million to 44.4millione from 2003 to 2004. With more home-based jobs coming out of the woodwork it won't come as a surprise if that number has already tripled.
How to Curb Cyber-Bullying?
Social media sites have revolutionized the way people interact. About 20 years ago people only got to know each other pretty well because they live near each other or they spend most of the time together in the office or in a club. Nowadays, people from the farthest corners of the world can get to know other people with just a click of a keyboard. The internet and its social media sites have opened new doors for people to interact and get to know each other. Social media sites like Facebook, Friendster, MySpace and Twitter enables people from all walks of life and from places far away to know more about anyone and everyone. The social media site phenomenon has taken social interaction to another level but has it also taken bullying as well?
Since the advent of social media sites bullying or cyber-bullying to be more apt, has also been visible alongside friendly social interaction. Kids and teenagers are the usual victims and suspects and the damage that cyber-bullying can do to these kids is too harrowing that one is lead to think why kids would go to extreme lengths to terrorize a child. Most cyber-bullies post messages of hate on wall posts of other kids' Facebook accounts or Twitter accounts ceaselessly until these kids fear for their lives or break down due to depression.
Reports of teenagers taking their lives because of cyber-bullying has gone up these past couple of years and until a law has been passed
that states that cyber-bullying is illegal no one is safe from this kind of terrorism.
Fortunately, social media experts are offering some tips to parents to help their kids avoid being bullied on the internet. Here are some tips that parents can do to protect their children from cyber-bullies:
1. “Block” the cyber-bully. Parents should teach their kids to block all forms of communication with someone who is bullying them. Usually, bullies stop harassing others when they are being ignored.
2. Ignore the bullies. As mentioned before, bullies usually stop harassing other people if they are being ignored. So if your child is being bullied on the net tell him to ignore that person and even refrain from replying to any of his taunts or remarks.
3. Do not delete the taunting messages of the cyber-bully. If the bullying doesn't stop it is useful to have proof on hand of the bullying in case you have to go to court.
4. Purchase web applications or mobile applications that are anti-cyber-bullying. There are applications available now that can monitor your child's mobile phone or computer and sends you an alarm when someone is trying to bully your child.
5. Tell your children to ease a little when they are being bullied. If your child experiences cyber-bullying teach them to step away from the computer for a minute and clear their head.
6. Remember that the law is on your side. You and your child have a right to lead a peaceful life free from any torment so if your family is under duress due to another child's taunting then by all means sue them with all you've got.
Since the advent of social media sites bullying or cyber-bullying to be more apt, has also been visible alongside friendly social interaction. Kids and teenagers are the usual victims and suspects and the damage that cyber-bullying can do to these kids is too harrowing that one is lead to think why kids would go to extreme lengths to terrorize a child. Most cyber-bullies post messages of hate on wall posts of other kids' Facebook accounts or Twitter accounts ceaselessly until these kids fear for their lives or break down due to depression.
Reports of teenagers taking their lives because of cyber-bullying has gone up these past couple of years and until a law has been passed
that states that cyber-bullying is illegal no one is safe from this kind of terrorism.
Fortunately, social media experts are offering some tips to parents to help their kids avoid being bullied on the internet. Here are some tips that parents can do to protect their children from cyber-bullies:
1. “Block” the cyber-bully. Parents should teach their kids to block all forms of communication with someone who is bullying them. Usually, bullies stop harassing others when they are being ignored.
2. Ignore the bullies. As mentioned before, bullies usually stop harassing other people if they are being ignored. So if your child is being bullied on the net tell him to ignore that person and even refrain from replying to any of his taunts or remarks.
3. Do not delete the taunting messages of the cyber-bully. If the bullying doesn't stop it is useful to have proof on hand of the bullying in case you have to go to court.
4. Purchase web applications or mobile applications that are anti-cyber-bullying. There are applications available now that can monitor your child's mobile phone or computer and sends you an alarm when someone is trying to bully your child.
5. Tell your children to ease a little when they are being bullied. If your child experiences cyber-bullying teach them to step away from the computer for a minute and clear their head.
6. Remember that the law is on your side. You and your child have a right to lead a peaceful life free from any torment so if your family is under duress due to another child's taunting then by all means sue them with all you've got.
Looking Into The Most Stressful Job Today
It comes as no surprise that work can be so stressful to one's life. Doctors even advise their patients to take some time off from their jobs otherwise they'll end up dead from all the stress. But of all the professions out there some of us wonder which ones are considered to be the most stressful and why.
Surprisingly, most people wouldn't consider being a commercial airline pilot as the most stressful profession but according to CareerCast.com it tops the list of most stressful jobs out there. Aside from weather conditions pilots have to worry about the stability of their planes when they are in flight. Also, pilots have work shifts so they are required to work odd hours which can take its toll on their health and efficiency sometimes.
Second in line is the PR executive. Apparently, media-related professions are quite stressful too and being a PR executive is much more stressful than being a photojournalist covering war-torn areas or places of great danger. According to CareerCast.com PR executives have a more demanding job than photojournalists taking pictures of highly dangerous territories. PR executives are much more prone to stress due to consistent monitoring and rectifying of crisis situations involving their clients. In the event of a media crisis wherein a person, company or product is under scrutiny or being attacked by the media it is the responsibility of PR executives to rectify the situation immediately which is why most of these PR people are on the job 24/7.
PR executives have high stress levels also because of the constant demands of their job, and some of it doesn't even come from their clients. Media technology is advancing very rapidly and people in the PR industry should be able to cope with it otherwise they will be left behind by everyone else. PR executives have to stay on top of every situation and every possible outcome that could affect their clients. Since information can be passed on much quicker these days than before, professionals in the PR industry must be able to think two steps ahead of every media outfit who is going to expose certain details of their clients that can be quite embarrassing.
But of course there are other professions that are much more laid-back than the ones mentioned earlier. Healthcare professionals like audiologists, dieticians, and dental hygienists have more relaxing jobs due to minimal competitiveness and minimal demands of their professions. Computer programmers and software programmers also have stress-free jobs since they are often not required to deal with demanding clients and since they can work at their own time and at their own pace.
According to Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com, those who would want to have a less stressful job should look into professions that do not require too many demands and that are not too competitive. Jobs that have people always gunning for the top spot are the most stressful ones since people are constantly required to be at their best not letting them take a breather every now and then.
Surprisingly, most people wouldn't consider being a commercial airline pilot as the most stressful profession but according to CareerCast.com it tops the list of most stressful jobs out there. Aside from weather conditions pilots have to worry about the stability of their planes when they are in flight. Also, pilots have work shifts so they are required to work odd hours which can take its toll on their health and efficiency sometimes.
Second in line is the PR executive. Apparently, media-related professions are quite stressful too and being a PR executive is much more stressful than being a photojournalist covering war-torn areas or places of great danger. According to CareerCast.com PR executives have a more demanding job than photojournalists taking pictures of highly dangerous territories. PR executives are much more prone to stress due to consistent monitoring and rectifying of crisis situations involving their clients. In the event of a media crisis wherein a person, company or product is under scrutiny or being attacked by the media it is the responsibility of PR executives to rectify the situation immediately which is why most of these PR people are on the job 24/7.
PR executives have high stress levels also because of the constant demands of their job, and some of it doesn't even come from their clients. Media technology is advancing very rapidly and people in the PR industry should be able to cope with it otherwise they will be left behind by everyone else. PR executives have to stay on top of every situation and every possible outcome that could affect their clients. Since information can be passed on much quicker these days than before, professionals in the PR industry must be able to think two steps ahead of every media outfit who is going to expose certain details of their clients that can be quite embarrassing.
But of course there are other professions that are much more laid-back than the ones mentioned earlier. Healthcare professionals like audiologists, dieticians, and dental hygienists have more relaxing jobs due to minimal competitiveness and minimal demands of their professions. Computer programmers and software programmers also have stress-free jobs since they are often not required to deal with demanding clients and since they can work at their own time and at their own pace.
According to Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com, those who would want to have a less stressful job should look into professions that do not require too many demands and that are not too competitive. Jobs that have people always gunning for the top spot are the most stressful ones since people are constantly required to be at their best not letting them take a breather every now and then.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Otaku: The Anime Fever
Since I was young, I was fond of watching television. My favourite television show is the popular Japanese Anime. Every time I came from school, I hurriedly ran onto our television just to watch the then popular Ghost Fighter. My fondness of anime still continues up to this day, but I know that I am not the only one who is addicted to Japanese Anime. As I observed, there were children, teenagers and even adults who are still hooked up to anime. There are some who even join cosplays; some even collects items of their favourite anime character. The term used to people who are addicted to anime and manga are called Otaku. Now I wonder what is it about anime that is different from cartoons and why are people addicted to it?
Some people often mistake that cartoon and anime had no difference because anime was just coined to differentiate the Japanese cartoon from that those of American or Western cartoons. However, as an anime and manga lover, I can say that anime has depth and plot compared to the cartoons. The characters grow through trials, and as the people watch they started to be drawn and relate themselves to the characters. The plot of an anime is deep, more than the good vs. evil story; sometimes it is a battle between oneself. The plot also includes the element of politics, religion, humanity, and many other abstract concepts. In addition, anime can be for adult viewers while cartoons are mostly for kids. As for cartoons, its plot is very simple and defined, and the characters are easily defined and according to the role.
Entertainment is not the sole reason why I enjoy watching anime and reading manga, it is also because of the lessons it gives and the lessons they imparted on my life. Take for example the famous anime Naruto, the context of the story is not about violence or war, but more on friendship and believing in yourself and others. That alone makes my heart deeply moved. I know that most of the anime are all about violence, if not, most have violent scenes but the violence shown in the anime is part of the life of the heroine. That violence makes the heroine stronger and it is also the reason why they always learned something new about themselves and others, which can be compared to the problems and challenges we face on our everyday lives. But do not take me wrong, anime is purely fictional and our life is totally different from that of the anime. The thing is, we need to learn what the anime imparted on our lives, the lessons it offers and the whole context of the story.
Up until now, even if I am in my 20’s, I can’t stop myself from watching anime and reading manga. It left me hooked up in my seat and wonder what will happen next. I can only say that anime helped a lot on how I face and cope with the challenges in my life because of the lessons I learned from it such as the importance of friendship, being strong in tough times, being there for others and having faith.
Certainly, many people like my fellow otaku’s can relate to what I am thinking about anime. In addition, I am sure that they too can never and will never forget the anime they once watched that they will keep on repeating it over and over again. Also, I know that anime will become a phenomenon as anime lovers and fans increase each year. Truly, the wonders and effect of anime is truly mysterious.
Some people often mistake that cartoon and anime had no difference because anime was just coined to differentiate the Japanese cartoon from that those of American or Western cartoons. However, as an anime and manga lover, I can say that anime has depth and plot compared to the cartoons. The characters grow through trials, and as the people watch they started to be drawn and relate themselves to the characters. The plot of an anime is deep, more than the good vs. evil story; sometimes it is a battle between oneself. The plot also includes the element of politics, religion, humanity, and many other abstract concepts. In addition, anime can be for adult viewers while cartoons are mostly for kids. As for cartoons, its plot is very simple and defined, and the characters are easily defined and according to the role.
Entertainment is not the sole reason why I enjoy watching anime and reading manga, it is also because of the lessons it gives and the lessons they imparted on my life. Take for example the famous anime Naruto, the context of the story is not about violence or war, but more on friendship and believing in yourself and others. That alone makes my heart deeply moved. I know that most of the anime are all about violence, if not, most have violent scenes but the violence shown in the anime is part of the life of the heroine. That violence makes the heroine stronger and it is also the reason why they always learned something new about themselves and others, which can be compared to the problems and challenges we face on our everyday lives. But do not take me wrong, anime is purely fictional and our life is totally different from that of the anime. The thing is, we need to learn what the anime imparted on our lives, the lessons it offers and the whole context of the story.
Up until now, even if I am in my 20’s, I can’t stop myself from watching anime and reading manga. It left me hooked up in my seat and wonder what will happen next. I can only say that anime helped a lot on how I face and cope with the challenges in my life because of the lessons I learned from it such as the importance of friendship, being strong in tough times, being there for others and having faith.
Certainly, many people like my fellow otaku’s can relate to what I am thinking about anime. In addition, I am sure that they too can never and will never forget the anime they once watched that they will keep on repeating it over and over again. Also, I know that anime will become a phenomenon as anime lovers and fans increase each year. Truly, the wonders and effect of anime is truly mysterious.
Justin Bieber bagged 4 awards at the American Music Awards
His phenomenal song Baby got us hooked in our seats. His baby face and his signature hairstyle makes the girls go crazy about him. This young sensation makes it to the top of the music entertainment at the age of 16. But do not underestimate this young boy, for he started singing since he was young and learned how to play different kind of musical instrument like piano, guitar and drums.
Bieber started his music career when Scooter Braun, currently his manager, discovered him on youtube. Braun saw Bieber’s video when he was going through some videos of an artist in the said internet site. He was impressed by Bieber’s performance and started to trace him through his mother. Beiber’s mother was the one who uploaded his video, when in 2007 Bieber rendered a version of Ne Yo’s song So Sick in a local competition where he ended second place. Soon, his mother uploaded more of his video at youtube for the other friends and relatives to see. Braun then arranged him to meet up with Usher, Bieber’s mentor, to sign a contract under Raymond Braun Media Group, a company owned by Braun and Usher.
The rise to stardom of the 16 year old singer is amazingly fast as he bagged four awards at the recently held Music awards. Last November 22, 2010, the 38th Annual Music Awards 2010 was held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California. The singers walked at the red carpet all with smiles on their faces. Bieber, who was nominated in five categories, won four awards including the Favorite Artist Award, Favorite Breakthrough Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Album for “My World”.
Bieber was all smiles as he went up to the stage to get his award. As he took the trophy for the Favorite Artist of the Year Award, Bieber could not believe and was shocked to have received the award, where other famous singers like Eminem, Usher, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga were also nominated. As reported, Bieber was the youngest person to have received the award. Bieber also thanked, as he accepted the trophy for Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist the late Michael Jackson whom he admired so much.
Aside from the awards he got, the overwhelming support of his fans ruled the whole place as they shriek his name and saying ‘I love you’ all night long. The Bieber fans also went crazy as their idol went up to the stage to perform a live song, where you could barely hear the song because of the loud applause and support coming from his fans.
Other winners of the awards were Black Eyed Peas for the Favorite Pop Rock Band/Duo/Group, Taylor Swift for the Favorite Country Female Artist, while Shakira received the award as the Favorite Latin Music Artist. The R&B singer Rihanna grabbed the award for the Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Brad Paisley was adjudged as the Favorite Country Male Artist, Eminem for Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for his popular album “Recovery,” and Lady Gaga who managed to get the award for the Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.
Certainly, the night was a spectacular night not only for the artists but for the fans as well who managed to see their favourite singers. As for Justin Bieber, the night was not the end for him because surely he will become on of the top singers in the world who is admired and loved. As the Bieber Mania soared high, certainly, many people as well as fans will continue to support him and wait what will become of him in the next coming years. Because of the success of this young singer, truly, many will aspire to become like him. Maybe, a lot of people will think of posting their videos as well in the popular internet site youtube in a hope to have an instant fame, but being lucky is just one ingredient why Justin Bieber becomes phenomenal. It is his dedication to music, his love for it, his heart and mind, and his diligence that he put into his work.
Bieber started his music career when Scooter Braun, currently his manager, discovered him on youtube. Braun saw Bieber’s video when he was going through some videos of an artist in the said internet site. He was impressed by Bieber’s performance and started to trace him through his mother. Beiber’s mother was the one who uploaded his video, when in 2007 Bieber rendered a version of Ne Yo’s song So Sick in a local competition where he ended second place. Soon, his mother uploaded more of his video at youtube for the other friends and relatives to see. Braun then arranged him to meet up with Usher, Bieber’s mentor, to sign a contract under Raymond Braun Media Group, a company owned by Braun and Usher.
The rise to stardom of the 16 year old singer is amazingly fast as he bagged four awards at the recently held Music awards. Last November 22, 2010, the 38th Annual Music Awards 2010 was held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California. The singers walked at the red carpet all with smiles on their faces. Bieber, who was nominated in five categories, won four awards including the Favorite Artist Award, Favorite Breakthrough Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Album for “My World”.
Bieber was all smiles as he went up to the stage to get his award. As he took the trophy for the Favorite Artist of the Year Award, Bieber could not believe and was shocked to have received the award, where other famous singers like Eminem, Usher, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga were also nominated. As reported, Bieber was the youngest person to have received the award. Bieber also thanked, as he accepted the trophy for Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist the late Michael Jackson whom he admired so much.
Aside from the awards he got, the overwhelming support of his fans ruled the whole place as they shriek his name and saying ‘I love you’ all night long. The Bieber fans also went crazy as their idol went up to the stage to perform a live song, where you could barely hear the song because of the loud applause and support coming from his fans.
Other winners of the awards were Black Eyed Peas for the Favorite Pop Rock Band/Duo/Group, Taylor Swift for the Favorite Country Female Artist, while Shakira received the award as the Favorite Latin Music Artist. The R&B singer Rihanna grabbed the award for the Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Brad Paisley was adjudged as the Favorite Country Male Artist, Eminem for Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for his popular album “Recovery,” and Lady Gaga who managed to get the award for the Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.
Certainly, the night was a spectacular night not only for the artists but for the fans as well who managed to see their favourite singers. As for Justin Bieber, the night was not the end for him because surely he will become on of the top singers in the world who is admired and loved. As the Bieber Mania soared high, certainly, many people as well as fans will continue to support him and wait what will become of him in the next coming years. Because of the success of this young singer, truly, many will aspire to become like him. Maybe, a lot of people will think of posting their videos as well in the popular internet site youtube in a hope to have an instant fame, but being lucky is just one ingredient why Justin Bieber becomes phenomenal. It is his dedication to music, his love for it, his heart and mind, and his diligence that he put into his work.
The Controversial RH Bill
The burgeoning of population in the Philippines has tempted several lawmakers to pass a Reproductive Health Bill which states the approval of the use of contraceptive methods like condoms and pills. However, this law become a controversy as different sectors especially the church did not approve of the said bill.
Even before the bill was made into a law officially, there were different groups and organizations who favoured the bill because they believe that it is for the betterment of the Filipino citizen especially the women. The Department of Health as well as other volunteers that is supportive of the bill, started teaching about contraceptive methods and its positive effect on the health of women, and some started to distribute free condoms. Because of these bold acts, the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines made a statement that they do not approve of the bill.
Philippines, as a Christian dominated country, believed that it is immoral to use contraceptive methods just to prevent the rise of population because it is parallel to abortion. According to the church, natural methods and abstinence are enough to stop the population boom and no need to resort to such acts. If I remember correctly, our parish priest discussed on a Sunday noon mass about the negative effects of the RH Bill and why the church is not approved of it. According to our priest, using contraceptive method, such as using condoms or pills, can evoke polygamy or unfaithfulness to one’s partner. It is because when a male thought of using a condom, he will not worry of his partner getting pregnant, thus this can lead to him having one sexual partner, and this applies to females too. Therefore, the sacred of marriage will be destroyed. In addition, according to him, if you read and re-read the whole RH Bill it ends up to abortion.
The Difference in opinion from the church and from the different sectors and government sectors made the President stand up for what he knows is right for his people. The President Aquino made his stance as he support the controversial RH Bill despite the strong opposition coming from the church. The move of the President made a controversy since her mother, the late President Cory Aquino, was a devoted Christian, and the church could not believe that the President would support the bill. Many reports have been released that if the President will not change his opinion, the church will have no choice but to rally against the President.
However, just recently, Pope Benedict the XVI made a statement regarding the use of condoms. In the Pope’s statement, the HIV-infected male prostitute should use a condom in order to prevent the spread of the HIV and other diseases, and to protect the female from contracting this disease. For the staunch advocate of the Reproductive Health Bill, the message of the Pope is an advantage. Meanwhile, some argue that the message was different from what the lawmakers intended because the Pope reiterated that the use of condoms is to prevent diseases and infections, and not to prevent creating babies.
The Philippines is just a small country with a population of almost 99,900,177 as of July 2010. We are the 12th most populous country in the whole world. The rise of population over the years created economic problems in the country especially in the field of education Moreover, because of the rise of population, the poverty also rises. We need to know that as the population grows - education, employment and services should also meet the equal number of people. Take for example: our education is incompetent to other countries because of the lack of school buildings, classrooms and teachers for it cannot meet the demands of the rising population.
Employment is another issue because the employment rate in the Philippines cannot serve all the people that is why many have resorted on working abroad, but the worst part is, numerous Filipino people do not have a job and this contributes to the poverty level of our country. Another is the services that the Filipino should be getting. The ideal ratio is for every 500 Filipino, there is one cop to serve them, but in reality, the ratio is 1:1500. The problem in population is that it creates problems not just for the country but to the economy and society as well.
I cannot blame the lawmakers to pass a reproductive health bill because, reality wise, we need to control the population of our country. I cannot blame the church either for their strong opposition of the bill because I know that they are being true to their duty. But how can we solve the problem in population if both the powerful sectors in the country, the government and the church, cannot cooperate? I think they should talk it all out, settle their differences and make a better proposition to solve the problem of population because whether we like it or not, we need to act before it is too late.
Even before the bill was made into a law officially, there were different groups and organizations who favoured the bill because they believe that it is for the betterment of the Filipino citizen especially the women. The Department of Health as well as other volunteers that is supportive of the bill, started teaching about contraceptive methods and its positive effect on the health of women, and some started to distribute free condoms. Because of these bold acts, the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines made a statement that they do not approve of the bill.
Philippines, as a Christian dominated country, believed that it is immoral to use contraceptive methods just to prevent the rise of population because it is parallel to abortion. According to the church, natural methods and abstinence are enough to stop the population boom and no need to resort to such acts. If I remember correctly, our parish priest discussed on a Sunday noon mass about the negative effects of the RH Bill and why the church is not approved of it. According to our priest, using contraceptive method, such as using condoms or pills, can evoke polygamy or unfaithfulness to one’s partner. It is because when a male thought of using a condom, he will not worry of his partner getting pregnant, thus this can lead to him having one sexual partner, and this applies to females too. Therefore, the sacred of marriage will be destroyed. In addition, according to him, if you read and re-read the whole RH Bill it ends up to abortion.
The Difference in opinion from the church and from the different sectors and government sectors made the President stand up for what he knows is right for his people. The President Aquino made his stance as he support the controversial RH Bill despite the strong opposition coming from the church. The move of the President made a controversy since her mother, the late President Cory Aquino, was a devoted Christian, and the church could not believe that the President would support the bill. Many reports have been released that if the President will not change his opinion, the church will have no choice but to rally against the President.
However, just recently, Pope Benedict the XVI made a statement regarding the use of condoms. In the Pope’s statement, the HIV-infected male prostitute should use a condom in order to prevent the spread of the HIV and other diseases, and to protect the female from contracting this disease. For the staunch advocate of the Reproductive Health Bill, the message of the Pope is an advantage. Meanwhile, some argue that the message was different from what the lawmakers intended because the Pope reiterated that the use of condoms is to prevent diseases and infections, and not to prevent creating babies.
The Philippines is just a small country with a population of almost 99,900,177 as of July 2010. We are the 12th most populous country in the whole world. The rise of population over the years created economic problems in the country especially in the field of education Moreover, because of the rise of population, the poverty also rises. We need to know that as the population grows - education, employment and services should also meet the equal number of people. Take for example: our education is incompetent to other countries because of the lack of school buildings, classrooms and teachers for it cannot meet the demands of the rising population.
Employment is another issue because the employment rate in the Philippines cannot serve all the people that is why many have resorted on working abroad, but the worst part is, numerous Filipino people do not have a job and this contributes to the poverty level of our country. Another is the services that the Filipino should be getting. The ideal ratio is for every 500 Filipino, there is one cop to serve them, but in reality, the ratio is 1:1500. The problem in population is that it creates problems not just for the country but to the economy and society as well.
I cannot blame the lawmakers to pass a reproductive health bill because, reality wise, we need to control the population of our country. I cannot blame the church either for their strong opposition of the bill because I know that they are being true to their duty. But how can we solve the problem in population if both the powerful sectors in the country, the government and the church, cannot cooperate? I think they should talk it all out, settle their differences and make a better proposition to solve the problem of population because whether we like it or not, we need to act before it is too late.
North and South Korea exchanged fire
It was reported that North and South Korea exchanged fires Tuesday at their disputed frontier. It was said that the North Korea started to fire the island of Yeonpyeong in South Korea when the later refused the warning of North Korea to stop the maritime drilling at their sea border. The refusal of the South Korea made the North to make its move. According to the reports, there have been fatalities recorded to both countries. This incident made a huge shock to different countries. The President of America, Barrack Obama, gave his word to defend South Korea as part of its alliance. President Obama also strongly condemned the attacks made by North Korea, and therefore called his counterpart Lee Myung-bak, South Korean President to hold a joint military exercise in response to North Korea’s Attacks. Many responded to the incident including some of the powerful and influential people in the hope that what happened would not lead into war.
If we examine the history of Korea, North and South Korea was one country before World War II but was divided in 1945 when the Japanese control on Korea ended. After the World War II in 1945, the Americans controlled the Southern part of Korea, while the Soviets gained control over the Northern part of Korea. The country was divided when the Soviets and the Americans failed to accomplish an agreement on a unified Korean government, thus two separate governments were formed in 1948 creating the Republic of Korea of the South and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of the North. The North Korea invaded South Korea and this started the Korean War that lasted from three years from 1950 - 1953. When the war ended, neither won a complete victory and a permanent peace treaty has never been signed, thus the tension between the two remained. In 1991, North and South Korea entered the United Nations as separate countries.
If we examine the history of Korea, North and South Korea was one country before World War II but was divided in 1945 when the Japanese control on Korea ended. After the World War II in 1945, the Americans controlled the Southern part of Korea, while the Soviets gained control over the Northern part of Korea. The country was divided when the Soviets and the Americans failed to accomplish an agreement on a unified Korean government, thus two separate governments were formed in 1948 creating the Republic of Korea of the South and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of the North. The North Korea invaded South Korea and this started the Korean War that lasted from three years from 1950 - 1953. When the war ended, neither won a complete victory and a permanent peace treaty has never been signed, thus the tension between the two remained. In 1991, North and South Korea entered the United Nations as separate countries.
Department of Tourism’s Controversial Slogan
The Pearl of the Orient Sea, that’s what they call our country, the Philippines. Truly, the Philippines is a wonderful country, especially if you are looking for a place to relax. We are just a small country but it has numerous places where people can enjoy themselves, loosen up in the warm rays of sun, walk in the white sand of Boracay and freshen themselves in the many pristine beaches surrounding the archipelago.
One of the famous tourist spot in the country is the famous white sand beach of Boracay, the hundred islands of Pangasinan, the beautiful place of Palawan and the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Other than that, there are still many places to visit in the Philippines like the city of Cebu which is now ranked as the third best island in Asia for Leisure and Travel by a New York based magazine. Cebu is a really great island to pay a visit with. I have gone to many places in Cebu incuding the Kawasan Falls, the Taoist Temple, the Church of Sto. Niño, the Cross of Magellan and the Moalboal Beach. The place never ceases to inspire me and surprise me. I can’t describe the feeling when I first went there; I was in awe of the beauty and tranquillity of the place. Though Cebu is considered as the major city in the Visayas, where offices, buildings and big businesses are found, still the atmosphere of a province remains.
Unlike in Manila, where smokes from cars and jeepneys pile up in the air, and the people are always rushing to work, the air in Cebu is clean and the people seems so relax that you wanted to come back again. Aside from Cebu, there is Lake Cebu in General Santos in the province of Mindanao. Boracay is not the only white beach in the Philippines, in fact there are so many in the province of Mindanao, however because of the threat of the militant group, this white beaches goes unnoticed. Truly, there are still many things that we should discover in the Philippines, the hidden gems and the unnoticed beauty of some place.
Besides the place, the Philippines is also known for its warm, hospitable and happy people. I have heard many stories that even though Filipinos are face with problems or difficult challenges, they still manage to smile. This is all the more why people from other parts of the country should visit the Philippines. However, negative controversies cannot be stopped. First there was the hostage drama that happened last August 23, 2010 that put the Philippines as one of the dangerous countries to travel to. Then there was the travel advisory released in some countries that banned their people on going to the Philippines because of security.
Maybe these issues prompted the Department of Tourism (DOT) to create a new logo in order to attract more foreigners into visiting our country. The old slogan Wow Philippines was replaced into Pilipinas kay Ganda, which sparked controversies and criticisms from different sectors of the government. According to reports, the said new slogan was copied from the slogan of Portugal from the colors of the text, the font style, the use of trees and waves, even worst, the DOT was said to use a budget of P5 Million to launch the new slogan to government stakeholders and the media.
Because of the controversies the DOT is facing right now, many people gave their own opinion about the said slogan. For one, the new slogan Pilipinas kay Ganda lacks appeal and the use of the Tagalog Language could be a disadvantage since the target of this slogan are foreigners. In addition, it was said that the slogan was rushed by the DOT in order to meet the said deadline. The slogan, instead of bringing hope to our country for more tourists, it instead brought controversies which leads to criticisms. I hope that someday the DOT will be careful in producing logos and slogans for the Philippines to attract tourists, so that we can share the hidden beauty of our country.
One of the famous tourist spot in the country is the famous white sand beach of Boracay, the hundred islands of Pangasinan, the beautiful place of Palawan and the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Other than that, there are still many places to visit in the Philippines like the city of Cebu which is now ranked as the third best island in Asia for Leisure and Travel by a New York based magazine. Cebu is a really great island to pay a visit with. I have gone to many places in Cebu incuding the Kawasan Falls, the Taoist Temple, the Church of Sto. Niño, the Cross of Magellan and the Moalboal Beach. The place never ceases to inspire me and surprise me. I can’t describe the feeling when I first went there; I was in awe of the beauty and tranquillity of the place. Though Cebu is considered as the major city in the Visayas, where offices, buildings and big businesses are found, still the atmosphere of a province remains.
Unlike in Manila, where smokes from cars and jeepneys pile up in the air, and the people are always rushing to work, the air in Cebu is clean and the people seems so relax that you wanted to come back again. Aside from Cebu, there is Lake Cebu in General Santos in the province of Mindanao. Boracay is not the only white beach in the Philippines, in fact there are so many in the province of Mindanao, however because of the threat of the militant group, this white beaches goes unnoticed. Truly, there are still many things that we should discover in the Philippines, the hidden gems and the unnoticed beauty of some place.
Besides the place, the Philippines is also known for its warm, hospitable and happy people. I have heard many stories that even though Filipinos are face with problems or difficult challenges, they still manage to smile. This is all the more why people from other parts of the country should visit the Philippines. However, negative controversies cannot be stopped. First there was the hostage drama that happened last August 23, 2010 that put the Philippines as one of the dangerous countries to travel to. Then there was the travel advisory released in some countries that banned their people on going to the Philippines because of security.
Maybe these issues prompted the Department of Tourism (DOT) to create a new logo in order to attract more foreigners into visiting our country. The old slogan Wow Philippines was replaced into Pilipinas kay Ganda, which sparked controversies and criticisms from different sectors of the government. According to reports, the said new slogan was copied from the slogan of Portugal from the colors of the text, the font style, the use of trees and waves, even worst, the DOT was said to use a budget of P5 Million to launch the new slogan to government stakeholders and the media.
Because of the controversies the DOT is facing right now, many people gave their own opinion about the said slogan. For one, the new slogan Pilipinas kay Ganda lacks appeal and the use of the Tagalog Language could be a disadvantage since the target of this slogan are foreigners. In addition, it was said that the slogan was rushed by the DOT in order to meet the said deadline. The slogan, instead of bringing hope to our country for more tourists, it instead brought controversies which leads to criticisms. I hope that someday the DOT will be careful in producing logos and slogans for the Philippines to attract tourists, so that we can share the hidden beauty of our country.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Maguindanao Massacre: Remembering the Tragic Incident
Journalist. Freedom. Massacre. During the revolution between the Filipinos and the Spaniards, what sparked the courage of the Filipino to fight for their freedom were the writings of our national hero Jose Rizal. Thus they say, the pen is mightier than any sword.
This belief continued until the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos, when he first declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972. The late President Marcos took over and controlled all the privately owned newspapers, magazines, television and radio. Many journalists were thrown into prison and incarcerated in military camps. Even though the former president banned all the media outfits in the country, there were still brave journalists who continued to write, in honour for the freedom of the country and the right of the people to know. Because of the bold decision and the courage these journalists showed, many Filipinos from different parts of the country, young and old, Catholics and Muslims, joined force to create a peaceful revolution known as the Edsa Revolution. The news written and telecast all over the country made by the brave journalists plus the cooperation of the Filipinos toppled the Marcos Government and gave way for the new administration. The media was given privilege by the new administration by giving them freedom and the right to inform the Filipino citizen of what is happening in the country. The media, since then, became a powerful tool for the Filipinos right to be informed.
However, the right of the Filipinos to be informed gradually decreases as the culture of impunity rises. The culture of impunity, in the Philippines, is defined as the continuous assassination of journalists where the government and other institutions ignored and even encourage the violence and harassment done to journalists resulting for the perpetrators to go unpunished. Since the time of the late President Marcos until the era of the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, there were countless of journalists slain and no justice was given.
Last November 23, 2009, the whole world was shocked as news broke out that 58 civilians were killed in Maguindanao. This shocking incident was considered to be the worst election-related killings that happen in our country. Out of the 58 victims, 34 journalists were murdered, and women victims were violated before they were killed. As of now, the remains of the body of the 58th victim were nowhere to be found.
The journalists at that time were covering what was supposed to be the biggest news of that year. For the first time in the history of Maguindanao, someone will run against the Ampatuans in a race for the governatorial post. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, now the current governor of Maguindanao, sent his wife along with his lawyers and other supporters to file a candidacy for the governatorial post. Media persons and journalists accompanied the said team to cover the filing of candidacy of Mangudadatu. The journalists who were supposed to bring the news was instead became the news. Because of this tragic incident, media persons and journalists once again fight for their security to bring the news and inform the people of what is true. Freedom of the press was once again became an issue. Many persons from the media institution grieve for the loss of fellow journalists. Several protests were made asking for justice for the victims.
To date, one year has passed, and still there were no clear reports of justice for the victims. Although the primary suspects, the most powerful clan and the warlords of Maguindanao, the Ampatuans, are already in the custody of the Philippine National Police, and there are several witnesses to the crime who already appeared before the court, the trial seems to last longer and the justice seems to be far from reach.
I remembered the time when we went for General Santos for our field activity as a journalism student. It was February 23, 2010, our last day at General Santos. Instead of going straight to the airport and be ready to fly back to Manila, we went to Forest Lake Cemetery where the 12 journalists who were killed in the tragic Maguindanao Massacre were laid to rest. Before going to the cemetery, we dropped by the market to buy some flowers. Some of us really took a long time to think what kind of flowers to offer on the graves of the 12 journalists. Some bought fresh flowers; some even manage to pick their preferred flowers and asked the person in-charge to arrange our own personal choice of a bouquet and some really took time and effort to look for presentable flowers.
Upon our arrival at Forest Lake Cemetery, when I saw the 12 tombstone of the journalists, I felt chill run down my spine. I stood there and slowly walked to each tomb bearing the journalists name that died in the massacre. As I gaze at each name, I felt a tingling ache in my heart. I was so sad and I wanted to mourn for what happened to the 12 brave journalists, but more than that I want justice. We offered flowers and prayers on the grave of the 12 journalists. Soon, the family of the victims came arriving, and I saw the children left by the 12 victims. They were so young to understand what happened. What moved me the most was when I saw this very young little girl, of age 3, waving and saying ‘goodbye’ and ‘I love you’ to her mother, as asked by her relatives. In my mind, I was asking myself if that little girl knew what she was doing. It was really a heart-breaking scene.
The tragic incident is not only an issue of security, press freedom and the right to information but it is also an issue on the family of the victims. Most of the journalists who died were the breadwinners of the family. Now that they are gone, what will be the future of their family? What will become of them? We must remember that the most affected from this incident are the family of the victims. The government spoke that it will take years before the justice can be given to the families, however, we must take note that most of the families came from the province of Mindanao. Whenever there is a hearing in Manila, these families flew all the way from Mindanao to Manila just to witness and hear about the case. Despite the money, time and effort the families put in for the case, the faith of these families is the greatest, faith that someday they get the justice for their loved ones.
This November 23, 2010, on the first year anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre, many have come to pay tribute to the journalists who were killed and to remember their courage in doing their job and securing the freedom of the Filipino people to know their right to be informed. In celebration of the first year anniversary of the most gruesome Massacre in the history of election-related killings in the Philippines, media persons from different parts of the country as well as the family of the victims went to the massacre site to offer prayers and flowers In commemoration of the 58 victims of Maguindanao Massacre, the families and media persons released 58 white balloons and planted 58 trees.
In addition, the school where I graduated, St. Scholastica’s College Manila, offered a mass in memory of the victims in the Maguindanao Massacre. My fellow Mass Communication friends, schoolmates and classmates, and our professors released 58 balloons after the mass in remembrance of the victims. At 12 noon, several churches throughout the country including Manila Cathedral rang their bells in remembrance of the gruesome Maguindanao Massacre. Even President Noynoy Aquino promised to do everything that he can to give justice to the victims and their families. A promise that the persons from the media industry and the family will remember, and the media itself will serve as a watchdog.
The Maguindanao Massacre is something that we should not easily forget. We must always remember the victims who were killed in Maguindanao. We should continue to seek for justice and never stop until we get it or else this incident will just repeat itself and many more families will become a victim. Punishment should be given to the perpetrators, to the master mind and to the criminals. It does not matter if they are in the position or the wealthiest and powerful man, what matter most is that they should held reliable to what happened. We should believe and have faith that someday justice will come. Most of all, we should NEVER FORGET! LET US END THE CULTURE OF IMPUNITY!
This belief continued until the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos, when he first declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972. The late President Marcos took over and controlled all the privately owned newspapers, magazines, television and radio. Many journalists were thrown into prison and incarcerated in military camps. Even though the former president banned all the media outfits in the country, there were still brave journalists who continued to write, in honour for the freedom of the country and the right of the people to know. Because of the bold decision and the courage these journalists showed, many Filipinos from different parts of the country, young and old, Catholics and Muslims, joined force to create a peaceful revolution known as the Edsa Revolution. The news written and telecast all over the country made by the brave journalists plus the cooperation of the Filipinos toppled the Marcos Government and gave way for the new administration. The media was given privilege by the new administration by giving them freedom and the right to inform the Filipino citizen of what is happening in the country. The media, since then, became a powerful tool for the Filipinos right to be informed.
However, the right of the Filipinos to be informed gradually decreases as the culture of impunity rises. The culture of impunity, in the Philippines, is defined as the continuous assassination of journalists where the government and other institutions ignored and even encourage the violence and harassment done to journalists resulting for the perpetrators to go unpunished. Since the time of the late President Marcos until the era of the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, there were countless of journalists slain and no justice was given.
Last November 23, 2009, the whole world was shocked as news broke out that 58 civilians were killed in Maguindanao. This shocking incident was considered to be the worst election-related killings that happen in our country. Out of the 58 victims, 34 journalists were murdered, and women victims were violated before they were killed. As of now, the remains of the body of the 58th victim were nowhere to be found.
The journalists at that time were covering what was supposed to be the biggest news of that year. For the first time in the history of Maguindanao, someone will run against the Ampatuans in a race for the governatorial post. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, now the current governor of Maguindanao, sent his wife along with his lawyers and other supporters to file a candidacy for the governatorial post. Media persons and journalists accompanied the said team to cover the filing of candidacy of Mangudadatu. The journalists who were supposed to bring the news was instead became the news. Because of this tragic incident, media persons and journalists once again fight for their security to bring the news and inform the people of what is true. Freedom of the press was once again became an issue. Many persons from the media institution grieve for the loss of fellow journalists. Several protests were made asking for justice for the victims.
To date, one year has passed, and still there were no clear reports of justice for the victims. Although the primary suspects, the most powerful clan and the warlords of Maguindanao, the Ampatuans, are already in the custody of the Philippine National Police, and there are several witnesses to the crime who already appeared before the court, the trial seems to last longer and the justice seems to be far from reach.
I remembered the time when we went for General Santos for our field activity as a journalism student. It was February 23, 2010, our last day at General Santos. Instead of going straight to the airport and be ready to fly back to Manila, we went to Forest Lake Cemetery where the 12 journalists who were killed in the tragic Maguindanao Massacre were laid to rest. Before going to the cemetery, we dropped by the market to buy some flowers. Some of us really took a long time to think what kind of flowers to offer on the graves of the 12 journalists. Some bought fresh flowers; some even manage to pick their preferred flowers and asked the person in-charge to arrange our own personal choice of a bouquet and some really took time and effort to look for presentable flowers.
Upon our arrival at Forest Lake Cemetery, when I saw the 12 tombstone of the journalists, I felt chill run down my spine. I stood there and slowly walked to each tomb bearing the journalists name that died in the massacre. As I gaze at each name, I felt a tingling ache in my heart. I was so sad and I wanted to mourn for what happened to the 12 brave journalists, but more than that I want justice. We offered flowers and prayers on the grave of the 12 journalists. Soon, the family of the victims came arriving, and I saw the children left by the 12 victims. They were so young to understand what happened. What moved me the most was when I saw this very young little girl, of age 3, waving and saying ‘goodbye’ and ‘I love you’ to her mother, as asked by her relatives. In my mind, I was asking myself if that little girl knew what she was doing. It was really a heart-breaking scene.
The tragic incident is not only an issue of security, press freedom and the right to information but it is also an issue on the family of the victims. Most of the journalists who died were the breadwinners of the family. Now that they are gone, what will be the future of their family? What will become of them? We must remember that the most affected from this incident are the family of the victims. The government spoke that it will take years before the justice can be given to the families, however, we must take note that most of the families came from the province of Mindanao. Whenever there is a hearing in Manila, these families flew all the way from Mindanao to Manila just to witness and hear about the case. Despite the money, time and effort the families put in for the case, the faith of these families is the greatest, faith that someday they get the justice for their loved ones.
This November 23, 2010, on the first year anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre, many have come to pay tribute to the journalists who were killed and to remember their courage in doing their job and securing the freedom of the Filipino people to know their right to be informed. In celebration of the first year anniversary of the most gruesome Massacre in the history of election-related killings in the Philippines, media persons from different parts of the country as well as the family of the victims went to the massacre site to offer prayers and flowers In commemoration of the 58 victims of Maguindanao Massacre, the families and media persons released 58 white balloons and planted 58 trees.
In addition, the school where I graduated, St. Scholastica’s College Manila, offered a mass in memory of the victims in the Maguindanao Massacre. My fellow Mass Communication friends, schoolmates and classmates, and our professors released 58 balloons after the mass in remembrance of the victims. At 12 noon, several churches throughout the country including Manila Cathedral rang their bells in remembrance of the gruesome Maguindanao Massacre. Even President Noynoy Aquino promised to do everything that he can to give justice to the victims and their families. A promise that the persons from the media industry and the family will remember, and the media itself will serve as a watchdog.
The Maguindanao Massacre is something that we should not easily forget. We must always remember the victims who were killed in Maguindanao. We should continue to seek for justice and never stop until we get it or else this incident will just repeat itself and many more families will become a victim. Punishment should be given to the perpetrators, to the master mind and to the criminals. It does not matter if they are in the position or the wealthiest and powerful man, what matter most is that they should held reliable to what happened. We should believe and have faith that someday justice will come. Most of all, we should NEVER FORGET! LET US END THE CULTURE OF IMPUNITY!
The Aquino Legacy
Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III became the President of the Republic of the Philippines at the age of 50, the same age the late Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. died. It was not a coincident that the only son of Ninoy and Cory was the one to be elected President of the Philippines. It is because of the desire and will of the Filipino people to see the change in the country through good governance and a good leader. As the only son, Noynoy carries the legacy of his late parents, therefore, Noynoy have a great responsibility not only as a leader but also as the heir of name Aquino, the most covered political family in the Philippines.
It is not unknown to many why the parents of President Noynoy Aquino are highly regarded by the Filipinos. The late Ninoy Aquino was the one who exposed the plans of the Marcos government. He became the number one enemy of the then President Marcos because of his ideologies of democracy. When the former President Marcos first declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972, Ninoy was the first one to protest by going on a fasting for 40 days inside the prison cell. However, because of his heart disease, the Marcos government granted him amnesty provided that he and his family will go to Boston to have a heart surgery, in exchange that he would never come back in the country. Despite being in Boston, away from the dirty political arena, Ninoy remains a Filipino and true to his word. He became active by giving speech about the current situation in the Philippines and his views about it. After three years of living peacefully in Boston, Ninoy cannot ignore the cries of the many Filipinos who wanted change and democracy. He decided to come back home despite the rumors that he will be assassinated.
Filipinos, excited and eager to see him, tied a yellow ribbon, based on Ninoy’s favourite song Tie a Yellow Ribbon on an Old Oak Tree, in every corner as a sign of welcoming Ninoy back. As soon as Ninoy stepped down from the airport, a loud ‘bang’ was heard and Ninoy was suddenly seen lying on the ground, blood all over his body. The whole country was in grievance over the death of Ninoy, their only hope against the dictator government of Marcos. However, his death sparked the Edsa Revolution and in turn gave way to the presidency of Cory Aquino, Ninoy’s wife.
Cory, being politically inexperienced, proved herself worthy by restoring the democracy in our country that was once lost. She revised the constitution of the Philippines now known as the 1987 Philippine Constitution or the Freedom Constitution. She became one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the Philippines because of her honesty and humility.
Now, it is the turn of their only son, Noynoy Aquino, to continue their legacy and advocacy. The story of Ninoy and Cory has long been told, but for their son, this is only the beginning. His true story is just starting as he embarked on a journey called Presidency.
It is not unknown to many why the parents of President Noynoy Aquino are highly regarded by the Filipinos. The late Ninoy Aquino was the one who exposed the plans of the Marcos government. He became the number one enemy of the then President Marcos because of his ideologies of democracy. When the former President Marcos first declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972, Ninoy was the first one to protest by going on a fasting for 40 days inside the prison cell. However, because of his heart disease, the Marcos government granted him amnesty provided that he and his family will go to Boston to have a heart surgery, in exchange that he would never come back in the country. Despite being in Boston, away from the dirty political arena, Ninoy remains a Filipino and true to his word. He became active by giving speech about the current situation in the Philippines and his views about it. After three years of living peacefully in Boston, Ninoy cannot ignore the cries of the many Filipinos who wanted change and democracy. He decided to come back home despite the rumors that he will be assassinated.
Filipinos, excited and eager to see him, tied a yellow ribbon, based on Ninoy’s favourite song Tie a Yellow Ribbon on an Old Oak Tree, in every corner as a sign of welcoming Ninoy back. As soon as Ninoy stepped down from the airport, a loud ‘bang’ was heard and Ninoy was suddenly seen lying on the ground, blood all over his body. The whole country was in grievance over the death of Ninoy, their only hope against the dictator government of Marcos. However, his death sparked the Edsa Revolution and in turn gave way to the presidency of Cory Aquino, Ninoy’s wife.
Cory, being politically inexperienced, proved herself worthy by restoring the democracy in our country that was once lost. She revised the constitution of the Philippines now known as the 1987 Philippine Constitution or the Freedom Constitution. She became one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the Philippines because of her honesty and humility.
Now, it is the turn of their only son, Noynoy Aquino, to continue their legacy and advocacy. The story of Ninoy and Cory has long been told, but for their son, this is only the beginning. His true story is just starting as he embarked on a journey called Presidency.
Keeping the faith: Overcoming Obstacles in Life
All people face different kind of challenges in their life. These challenges have become a great part in everyone’s lives, not to punish, but instead to make people more strong and mature. There are varieties of self-help books available in bookstores about overcoming ones problems but there is really no definite formula on how people can overcome all the challenges and obstacles in life. It is through experience that we learn how to cope and how to become strong amidst the problems that may come to us. It is said that experience is the best teacher. Let me share an experience of someone whom I knew, who learned how to cope with life.
She was a student full of dreams not only for herself but also for her parents and country as well. Six years ago, she had an unknown sickness that some others believed of a supernatural phenomenon. Even the doctors could not tell if she can regain her memory back. Her parents, her teachers, relatives and friends were very worried about her. She’s been in the hospital for months, when she opened her eyes she can’t recall things that happened in her life. It looks as tough she was born again. Her unknown sickness brought forth a lot of difficulties as well as changes in her life. She had a hard time coping with her studies. She got low scores in all of her subjects. Being a diligent student, she had a hard time accepting the fact that she was no longer performing in school than usual. That made her lost her self-esteem.
Because of the incident, she blamed God for what happened to her. She always cried alone in her room and often asking God why such a thing happened to her. Aside from her performance in school, many of her friends turned their back on her. She had no friend to rely on to in the midst of her loneliness. She was also criticized by some and started calling her names like crazy, insane and a lunatic. One day, her mother told her about the people who visited her during her stay at the hospital. She then realized how much she was love by her family, her relatives and most of all by God by giving her a second chance to live. She believed, from then on, that her sickness was just a test for her to see that she can always count on God at all times. She realized that her sickness was a blessing, and not a curse, in order to see that her strength and hope lies in God and God alone is her salvation. It was a mystery to her when she was feeling lonely and uncertain, she suddenly found a little book entitled ‘God’s Promises to You.’ The book contains a lot of teachings and words of God that made her heart and her mind be enlightened about the true purpose of God.
Based on my friend’s story, the lesson that I have learned is that God loves us so much that He will not put us in danger, instead of mourning be thankful for the challenges you are encountering because God knows what is best for us. Even if we encounter ups and downs in our life, we must always remember that God offers a helping hand. Remember also, that no matter what happened in our life, no matter how much we are hurt, we just need to keep on striving hard and move on. Accept all the pains and sufferings, forgive the people who have hurt you and most important of all, always keep the faith because no matter what we do, we cannot run from all these problems and challenges in our life, we must face it with our whole heart. There is a saying that “it is not the problem that determines who we are, but how we face it and our attitude towards facing them.”
She was a student full of dreams not only for herself but also for her parents and country as well. Six years ago, she had an unknown sickness that some others believed of a supernatural phenomenon. Even the doctors could not tell if she can regain her memory back. Her parents, her teachers, relatives and friends were very worried about her. She’s been in the hospital for months, when she opened her eyes she can’t recall things that happened in her life. It looks as tough she was born again. Her unknown sickness brought forth a lot of difficulties as well as changes in her life. She had a hard time coping with her studies. She got low scores in all of her subjects. Being a diligent student, she had a hard time accepting the fact that she was no longer performing in school than usual. That made her lost her self-esteem.
Because of the incident, she blamed God for what happened to her. She always cried alone in her room and often asking God why such a thing happened to her. Aside from her performance in school, many of her friends turned their back on her. She had no friend to rely on to in the midst of her loneliness. She was also criticized by some and started calling her names like crazy, insane and a lunatic. One day, her mother told her about the people who visited her during her stay at the hospital. She then realized how much she was love by her family, her relatives and most of all by God by giving her a second chance to live. She believed, from then on, that her sickness was just a test for her to see that she can always count on God at all times. She realized that her sickness was a blessing, and not a curse, in order to see that her strength and hope lies in God and God alone is her salvation. It was a mystery to her when she was feeling lonely and uncertain, she suddenly found a little book entitled ‘God’s Promises to You.’ The book contains a lot of teachings and words of God that made her heart and her mind be enlightened about the true purpose of God.
Based on my friend’s story, the lesson that I have learned is that God loves us so much that He will not put us in danger, instead of mourning be thankful for the challenges you are encountering because God knows what is best for us. Even if we encounter ups and downs in our life, we must always remember that God offers a helping hand. Remember also, that no matter what happened in our life, no matter how much we are hurt, we just need to keep on striving hard and move on. Accept all the pains and sufferings, forgive the people who have hurt you and most important of all, always keep the faith because no matter what we do, we cannot run from all these problems and challenges in our life, we must face it with our whole heart. There is a saying that “it is not the problem that determines who we are, but how we face it and our attitude towards facing them.”
Filipino OFW and their Families
Everybody says that in every parts of the world, in every country, you can find Filipinos out there. That is because most of the Filipinos choose to work abroad because they prefer high salary in order to feed their family and give them a decent life. Compared to the Philippines where unemployment rate is higher, the salary and compensation are also not enough compared with their income abroad. However, due to their desire to provide their family a good life, they choose to be away from their family and be slave of another country.
In exchange for money, they trade their time working instead of spending them with their loved ones. I am not speaking ill of the Filipinos who are working abroad because my father too is an OFW. In actuality, I am proud of them because they are our modern heroes. Without their remittances, our country would have long suffered from poverty and economic failure. However despite the success and good income of an OFW, there are also negative effects of being away from a family for a long time.
Speaking of which, I remember the movie ‘Anak’ played by famous actresses Vilma Santos and Claudine Barreto. In the story, Claudine was a rebellious daughter growing up away from her mother. Her mother, Vilma Santos was an OFW working for several years to provide her family a decent life. Yes, she indeed gave them a decent life, having all the things they want. However, when Vilma came home after her husband’s funeral, she was shocked to find out that her children do not seem to care about her. Her oldest daughter, Claudine does not seem to have any affection towards her. Her only son, portrayed by Baron Geisler, was not talking to her. Even though she tried hard to talk to them, to pursue them but nothing worked. The worst part was when Claudine got herself involved in many mischief doings, taking drugs and getting pregnant at an early age. The movie ended Vilma going back to her work abroad, but before she leave for abroad, she made Claudine realized that it was not easy for her to leave them and it was hard for her taking care of other children while she do not have time to take care of her own.
This movie moved my heart deeply because I know the feeling of being a child of an OFW. Sometimes, I think that the other children are very lucky to have both their parents attend all the important events in their life. I know I’m lucky too because I have a very hard working parents, and that I have a decent life and because of that I am able to graduate in a prestigious school. However, sometimes I can’t help but feel sad.
My father, who is working as a seaman up until now, has not attended any of my birthday and graduation. This is one of the reasons why I strive very hard to excel in my studies so that I can at least repay them for their hard work. In addition, I made my father promised me that he will attend my graduation once I graduated college with flying colours. My wish was fulfilled when I graduated cum laude in my batch, and father was finally able to come to my graduation. I was even happier when our family, the four of us, went for a vacation abroad. I was so happy because it’s been a long year since our family went for a vacation, just the four of us. Unlike other children of OFWs, I do not hate my father nor ignore him when he comes home. Instead, I always see to it that my father feels loved and welcomed.
But we must remember that not all OFW families end up in a happy ending. There are some families who were abandoned by OFWs. There are several reasons why abandonment happened. Some of them are third party, problematic relationship between spouses, vices, absence/distance and loneliness. This abandonment of the OFW parent has negative effects especially on their children. Some of the effects on children, they are starting to feel hurt, mad, sad, disappointed and wanted to avenge. They also became a rebellious children due to lack of guidance, misses their father or mother, they started to long for father’s or mother’s love and care, their education is affected which could lead to poor performance and a sudden attitude and behavioral change.
Being an OFW is hard because you need to be away from your family for a long time. Being a child of an OFW is also hard because sometimes there is a gap formed between a child and an OFW parent. However, this can be prevented by constant communication with each other for communication is important for the OFW families. Nowadays, with the rise of internet and cell phone, communication is just one click away.
In exchange for money, they trade their time working instead of spending them with their loved ones. I am not speaking ill of the Filipinos who are working abroad because my father too is an OFW. In actuality, I am proud of them because they are our modern heroes. Without their remittances, our country would have long suffered from poverty and economic failure. However despite the success and good income of an OFW, there are also negative effects of being away from a family for a long time.
Speaking of which, I remember the movie ‘Anak’ played by famous actresses Vilma Santos and Claudine Barreto. In the story, Claudine was a rebellious daughter growing up away from her mother. Her mother, Vilma Santos was an OFW working for several years to provide her family a decent life. Yes, she indeed gave them a decent life, having all the things they want. However, when Vilma came home after her husband’s funeral, she was shocked to find out that her children do not seem to care about her. Her oldest daughter, Claudine does not seem to have any affection towards her. Her only son, portrayed by Baron Geisler, was not talking to her. Even though she tried hard to talk to them, to pursue them but nothing worked. The worst part was when Claudine got herself involved in many mischief doings, taking drugs and getting pregnant at an early age. The movie ended Vilma going back to her work abroad, but before she leave for abroad, she made Claudine realized that it was not easy for her to leave them and it was hard for her taking care of other children while she do not have time to take care of her own.
This movie moved my heart deeply because I know the feeling of being a child of an OFW. Sometimes, I think that the other children are very lucky to have both their parents attend all the important events in their life. I know I’m lucky too because I have a very hard working parents, and that I have a decent life and because of that I am able to graduate in a prestigious school. However, sometimes I can’t help but feel sad.
My father, who is working as a seaman up until now, has not attended any of my birthday and graduation. This is one of the reasons why I strive very hard to excel in my studies so that I can at least repay them for their hard work. In addition, I made my father promised me that he will attend my graduation once I graduated college with flying colours. My wish was fulfilled when I graduated cum laude in my batch, and father was finally able to come to my graduation. I was even happier when our family, the four of us, went for a vacation abroad. I was so happy because it’s been a long year since our family went for a vacation, just the four of us. Unlike other children of OFWs, I do not hate my father nor ignore him when he comes home. Instead, I always see to it that my father feels loved and welcomed.
But we must remember that not all OFW families end up in a happy ending. There are some families who were abandoned by OFWs. There are several reasons why abandonment happened. Some of them are third party, problematic relationship between spouses, vices, absence/distance and loneliness. This abandonment of the OFW parent has negative effects especially on their children. Some of the effects on children, they are starting to feel hurt, mad, sad, disappointed and wanted to avenge. They also became a rebellious children due to lack of guidance, misses their father or mother, they started to long for father’s or mother’s love and care, their education is affected which could lead to poor performance and a sudden attitude and behavioral change.
Being an OFW is hard because you need to be away from your family for a long time. Being a child of an OFW is also hard because sometimes there is a gap formed between a child and an OFW parent. However, this can be prevented by constant communication with each other for communication is important for the OFW families. Nowadays, with the rise of internet and cell phone, communication is just one click away.
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