Wake up Pinoy!

Tell me! Are you really anxious to where are we heading? And do you think you really want for a change? In the present flow of things, I am in doubt that most Filipinos are hunger for a change - maybe tomorrow.

It is a fact that the behavior of the citizens of any country determines where a country is heading. You can even talk the whole year round with theories and plans for changes, but all will end up a futile attempt if it lacks a sense of seriousness and focus. Please, think about this: Do you think there is seriousness in ones effort if someone will just end up laughing at the flaws and ineffectiveness he noticed? If your answer is "yes," then you are going against all logic.
Filipinos like anybody else know what's the problem. But only few of us have taken the initiative to do his part of the effort. On the contrary, I am always hearing jokes suggesting the acceptance of wrong doings in the society. If we are really aiming for that change, we shall put an end to this kind of attitude, which have unwittingly found way to our normal way of thinking. In the media, for example, I have always been hearing broadcasters throw that seemingly harmless jokes of incompetence, mal-practice, and etc. to unwary listeners unsuspecting of its degenerative effects on their morals. And because the majority are uneducated to its harmful effects on their psyche, every time they hear it, they just laugh about it; which is, in fact, an act of acceptance.

Now is the time to put a stop to this unwholesome attitude and inclination. I know that speaking is easy than actually doing it; but, we have to, there's no other way - if we want a better life for all of us.

Food support: a good move of Phil. government

Rice is the staple food here in the Philippines. In view of the present economic crises the world has been expriencing, I am glad with the government's strategy to keep the rice commodity at a lower price of 25 pesos per kilo, which is distributed, nation-wide, by the Philippine National Food Authority (NFA). With this price of rice, poor people could already buy food with their meager income. Without this effort of the government these times could be a real nightmare for the poor, as the prices of commercial rice ranges from 30 to more than 50 pesos already. To this, I want to say, Thank you so much President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Inhuman: Maguindanao Massacre

Breaking a news of ones death to someone very close is utterly awkward and seemed inappropriate. That was exactly the atmosphere the first time an announcer got the first report of the massacre in Maguindanao, which is part of Mindanao. Just a matter of minutes after the broadcast, the wife of a certain journalist that was mentioned to have been among the victims called in and inquired for her husband. Since the incident was already aired, there was no point denying the matter on air. When she was told the truth, at once, her voice trembled and cracked into uncontrollable sobs. She was completely overwhelmed with her emotion -- an incredible sorrow that would even penetrate deep into the hearts of the listeners. At that moment, for her, it was like the world was going to end.

During my childhood until I graduated high school, Mindanao was already considered as one of the torbulent areas in the Philippines. And, at that time, the country was under the reign of President Ferdinand Marcos. The situation, however, might be true in other places, but not in my home town they called "Labason" in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.

The only hair-raising occassion that I had to run for my life was a pre-arranged training in which I really thought the rebels had already been there in our school campus:

I was an elementary student then, perhaps, 10 years old. In our town, news had spread that rebels had planned to attack our school. As a pre-cautionary measure, all of us were given trainings and lectures on what to do if the rebels would actually come. We did a lot of crawling just like a lizard, propelled by our elbows and knees and must lay flat on the ground to avoid being hit by the bullets. Running was strictly not recommended -- too dangerous, according to them. A specific warning of an eventual attack would be the successive ringing of the bell, we were told. With all those trainings and tensions, I was still doubtful that the rebels would actually come.

But, one day, in school, the teacher had just started the class, and everybody was paying attention to her, when suddenly the continuous ringing of the bell sounded in the air. At first, nobody seemed to move, just listening, but after we were relieved from the shock, like lightning everybody streams out of the door in a rush and ran as fast as we could. I saw young elementary students scampered all over the place, ranning towards every direction. To my fright even though I knew I had lost one of my slippers, but I didn't dare to pick it up, I kept on running for my life instead. I had just ran a short distance, but I was already pretty much exhausted. The road I would suppose to take was now jammed with students that I had to deviate across the muddy rice feilds until I finally reach the road leading to my home.

Later that day, we learned that it was just a mock attack to determine how elementary students would actually behave in such an event. Indeed, there was real danger, for in that stampede, I forgot as anybody else to perform any of the pre-cautionary measures we were supposed to observe. Being panic strickened, we forgot the safety rules that could have led to a disaster.

Pushing knowledge...

How nice it is to hear that someone' has the desire to impart education to the most needy in the community. I am referring to the news I heard on the radio about this Filipino guy, Efren Peñaflorida, who was cited by CNN as a hero -- a recognition for his effort at educating the less privileged.  If I am not mistaken, today, Nov. 27, 2009, he will be awarded the title "Order of Lakandula" at Malacanang. (I think Manny Pacquiao has also received such a title.) Sorry, I can't go on deeper on the details of this kind of recognition because I don't know much about it.

His project, "PushCart Education," is a rare project and truly a laudable motive in helping others, since nobody can disregard the importance of education in molding law-abiding and prosperous citizens.

Material success is not only in terms of finding a way to make money, but it also deals the essential know-how of managing it correctly to reach the target - and that means in a broad sense KNOWLEDGE. To attain happiness, the ultimate goal of all, still depends on the same thing -- the acquirement of the right knowledge.

By the way, how can one act differently when, in fact, he doesn't know that other options are possible? Ignorance, of course, is the reason behind mediocrity and poverty. Providing relevant information and knowledge to these kinds of people is the only way to get them out from faulty, unwholesome ideas that can only result to problems, either to themselves or to the society at large. No need for me to cite other people's experiences, you can see the havoc ignorance can do to people in my own life.

Note: I looked at few of the headlines of today's local news paper, it turns out that the attention has been drawn to the Maguindanao massacre that the event mentioned above that is going to happen today seemed to have been eclipsed in comparison.

Winner again!: Manny Pacquiao

Personally, I don't like sports that hurt the opponent physically. Though, even those non-body-contact kinds of sports, still, they warrant emotional pain to the loser; but, anyway, that is what sport is all about -- to teach the players the virtue of sportsmanship whose core concept is acceptance.

Looking boxing a bit deeper, it can be said as a mild and modernized form of the ancient deadly combat of the gladiators -- significantly, minus the killings.

Nowadays, though society no longer want to witness such horrible sight of spilling blood and eventual death of the defeated, many still find the thrill of seeing others beaten and humiliated and, on very rare occassions, caused accidental death -- all in the name of the game, and the dignity of winning.

I have not yet seen the entire boxing match, Pacquiao vs. Cotto. All I know is that Pacquiao won. Being a Filipino, I am also very happy that he did it again this time. Congratulation to you Pacquiao and thanks for bringing honor to our country again in the field of boxing. And if Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico has accepted wholeheartedly his fate then he, too, equally deserves praises for humbleness and stability of spirit.

Filipino champions like Manny Pacquiao (boxing) and Efrin "Bata" Reyes, the Magician (Billiards), are figures that remind me always -- that big things can happen to anybody in any corner of the world.

Hello? Are you there?

Here in the Philippines when communicating with the use of cell phones, we usually used text messages in view of their low costs compared to calls.

When I sent a message and got no reply, instantly, I was anxious what could have happened. To receive a couple of letters like “OK” or even just “K” is enough already to settle my worrying mind. We humans need confirmation – and this is an instinctual matter.

I have brought up this issue since, for the past few months, I had sent emails to government institutions but to my disappointment received no response at all. I am not saying that they are not working or reading my request/message; perhaps they do.

With private agencies, I have not experienced this one. There is at least a message of some kind that reached to my inbox. So, I am suggesting that it is better to install an auto responder, so there’s no forgetting.

When I was a young adult, I wrote to the then President, Corazon C. Aquino – few months later, I got an acknowledgement card from Malacanang. Oh! There was no enough space to stash my joy inside my heart, taking into account that the card has traveled a long way – from Manila to Mindanao – where I lived.

If they couldn’t response to an email these days, Oh! How I wish to go back to the olden days where there’s no other option than a snail mail but, most likely, people will find time to reply.

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NOTE: Just as I was already losing hope of hearing from Malacanang regarding my complaint sent to them, there it was, in my inbox, a message from Secretary Cabral of DSWD Malacanang.

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Well, I was heard after all

I received no response from the Head Librarian of Quezon City Public Library until now. How I wish they had an auto responder. It's of course comforting to know that your message has surely reached its destination. The apparent silence, though, didn't mean my complaint has not been heard. One time, I went again to Quezon City Public Library, Project 7 Branch (whose Librarian I had complained about), to use the computer. The Library was open; I came in, said good morning to the Librarian and asked for the computer. After eying me, the first thing I heard were the words, "I think you are the one who complained!" Without hesitation, I said, yes, I am! "Wait, I will check first if the computer is working," she announced. She then mumbled defensively: "It wasn't really working at that time you were here." So she would like to tell me, at that moment she had no idea if the computer was in good condition or not, which is of course a silly argument. Obviously, her demeanor was a sign of annoyance with what she thought as an intrusion in her domain, which is actually a right given to any citizen in this country.

Seeing me advancing towards the computer, she authoritatively instructed me to sit down first, while she turn it on, pointing to a series of chairs in front the wide reading table.

In one occasion, I came in again to use the computer in Quezon City's Head Office Library; there was a sort of briefing or meeting inside the computer room. They were just at my back, and their discussion was just an earshot. I heard a familiar voice; it was she, the Librarian who I complained. There she was telling them the story of that event; calling me a stubborn guy. Anyway, it doesn't matter whatever adjective she will attached to my action, I know I am doing the right thing. I was only glad that the personnel who is calling the meeting had emphasized to her and to the rest of the group as well, to post an informative message on the door rather than simply pasting a closed sign. Yes, I truly appreciated his good advice, because without furnishing a relevant information would only leave the visitors perplexed of what's going on, and when to come back -- an inconvenience indeed.

My message to Malacañang

Because I believe I have the right to complain I sent an email to Malacañang at www.gov.ph about the cold response of DSWD, Legarda, concerning my request for a business assistance. Below is the content of the said email.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Dear Sir/Ma'am,

How wonderful if all government personnel will be as responsible as what I had experienced at LIVELIHOOD DIVISION of DSWD Head Office, whose OIC is Mr. Restitoto Macuto; but sad to say that once in a while there are those people who are not inclined to helping others earnestly, especially to the poor, like what I have just experienced with a field staff of DSWD Legarda Branch.

I have applied for the program "SEA-K (Self-employment Assistance – Kaunlaran)" program of DSWD, Department of Social Welfare and Development. At first, everything seems to be going fine until I got a problem with DSWD Legarda – the field staff assigned to me, her name is Judith, just kept on promising to come to my place , but until to this day nobody comes. If she don't want to help me, for whatever reason it is, then all she has to do is to tell me. However, I just can't think of any reason why I can't avail the said program, for I am virtually nothing at this time, and I am confident the my proposed business project will work.

I have an Art exhibit at home, which is open for donation. Actually, it's more like a small museum because I have paintings, books, rare objects, documents, etc. It's my plan to make a business out of my paintings ( my business proposal).

At the moment, I am working really hard for this project. As a matter of fact, I am now writing my Blogs and publishing my Computer Paintings on the Internet. I have paintings done in colored pencils and latex paints, though, at this time, I don't have a digital camera to upload them – too bad.

What I am doing now is a hard work, everyday, for almost a month-and-a-half I have to walk an hour or so to Quezon City Public Library at the City Hall just to have a free Internet access.

I don't lose faith yet in the government in looking after the needs of the poor, only, that there are few in the position that are lazy and don't care enough for their constituent. In my case, how I hope that I will be extended financial aid for my business project. -- if not, then I have to find other ways of course.

Although the amount I will receive from the government's SEA-K program is only 5,000 pesos, the maximum, I can already work around with that amount to propel my business. I have Marketing Strategies already in mind, for my business to work, like Radio program, Lectures, Blog and Website.

Below is the details of my SEA-K application:

July 21, 2009 – At the DSWD Head Office, Batasan Complex, I wrote a letter and was received at the same date by the same office.. The OIC (Officer in Charge) of the LIVELIHOOD DIVISION is Mr. Restitoto Macuto The letter I wrote was a request for me to avail a financial aid for my proposed little business. The said letter was then forwarded to DSWD Legarda.

August 14, 2009 – I made a call to DSWD Legarda. I was told my letter was already received by the field staff assigned to me, and that I will just have to wait for she will come soon.

Days passed, still nothing happened.

August 18, 2009 – Desperate for an aid, I visited DSWD Legarda. There, I met Ms. Malou Ballesteros, their director, and the field staff assigned to me (Judith). Since I was there already, I was interviewed. After some minutes of conversation with Judith, I was informed that it will take more or less six months to form a workable group for the SEA-K Program, since there's no existing group in my barangay (Bahay Toro, Quezon City) at present.

Because of this, she suggested that it's better for me to be referred to another government institution that caters individuals. I told here that if that is what she thinks the best option for me then I will go for it. She said within a week I would receive a letter coming from that institution.

I waited again – nothing arrived.

Sept. 09, 2009 – I called DSWD Legarda again; luckily, I was able to talk to Judith; she again promised to come and see my place. I waited – again, she didn't come.

Now, with all these empty promises I received it's only appropriate that I will complain, in hope that I will be heard. To make others know the existence of such unwholesome attitude and inefficient service, I made this letter open to the public.

Sorry for the inconvenience, I don't have telephone connection. I have a cellphone but, since I don't have electricity for months now, it's no use to me at this time -- I can't charge it. For communication, I am using my email: (email is purposely deleted).

How I only hope that you can understand my position.

Suppose to be, I have to send this complaint to the Civil Service Commission, but I was unsuccessful in sending it through their online complaint form, that's why, I sent it here instead. So please, forward this message to the right department.

SINCERELY YOURS,

ANSELMO MALUGAO
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NOTE: For some months, the sent email above got no response, this prompted me to comment on how government agencies' behave on email communication. The next entry deals on this issue.

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Comment on Philippine CSC's (Civil Service Commission's) Complaint form

Today, Oct. 13, 2009, I sent a letter to the Philippines Civil Service Commission to complain about a certain field staff of DSWD Legarda Branch, Manila Philippines; unluckily, I just can't submit the form by simply hitting the submit button. So I wrote a letter to the webmaster for him/her to know my experience, hoping for a possible improvement, if there is.  

Here is the letter:

TO THE WEBMASTER:

Sir/Ma'am'

I am just wondering if there is another way to make the submission of a message to CSC easier, because I found out that the present design needs a certain configuration in the computer ( the one I (encountered is an instruction to create an email profile in the Control Panel, this is for PC) before the form could be sent. And I don't know also if it's advisable to create one in an Internet Cafe's computer.

Like me and to those people who don't know much about computers and who rely on Internet Cafes, an environment in which the user don't have full control, perhaps sending the form is impossible. However, if there's a better way to remedy the problem then almost anybody could conveniently use the online service of Philippine Civil Service Commission to facilitate the sending of information.

SINCERELY YOURS,
MR. ANSELMO MALUGAO

Coins Without Value! Why?

One time, I was exasperated when I can't almost buy something because my money contains two 10 cents and one 5 cent. Here in the Philippines we usually received these kinds of coins (10 and 5 cents denomination) from Malls. But surprisingly, these coins are not accepted in the common market: For your embarrassment, people will tell you, What is that!

The fact that these coins are made and distributed as legal monetary unit, they have value and they should retain their value throughout the country. The government should impose a Law giving penalty to those who will not accept the said currency; because if they will not, most of these denominations will just be thrown into the trash can – definitely, a waste of money.

Project 7 Public Library -- a complaint

Below is a copy of my complaint sent to the head librarian of Quezon City Public Library.

MS. EMILETA L. VILLANUEVA
Head Librarian
Quezon City Public Library


Dear Ma'am:

This is a complaint against the public service of  Quezon city public library, project 7 branch, located at Bansalangin corner Palomaria Sts., Brgy. Veterans Village Project 7 Q. C. Philippines.

The first time I went there was Oct. 01, 2009, Thursday, 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon, as I can remember; the library was closed. There was no other notice posted on the door aside from the word "closed." From a nearby store, I learned that a relative of the library staff had died. The next day, Oct. 02, Friday, I went there again; this time, I was there at 1:00 P.M., since 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM is lunch break -- still, I saw and experienced the same thing -- no one was there.

Since the library is closed on Saturdays, I had my third visit in the afternoon of Oct. 05, Monday; the sign "open" could now be seen on the door, but still no one was there. I asked a barangay staff, I was told the librarian, might be in Quezon City Hall. The following day, I went again, 8:00 o'clock in the morning; luckily, the librarian was there and I was able to used the computer -- the library has two of them. Two days later, I went again,  the librarian told me, the computers were broken or not working. Well, it's easy to wonder, how come those two computers had malfunctioned simultaneously -- or it could be something else.

Now, my point here, is that, if ever the staff has really to leave, in an emergency, a notice should be posted somewhere to inform the would-be visitors.

Normally, I think any public institution should never be left unattended (closed)  during a working period. Lack of man power could never be a valid reason, since there's, of course, a lot of people who can take the staff's position during his/her absence for convenience.

Like in my case, you can just imagine my utter disappointment to find my first three consecutive visits fruitless, taking into account that I have to walk an hour just to reach the library, but only to find it closed.

I only hope that you understand my sentiment.

SINCERELY YOURS
MR. ANSELMO MALUGAO

The worst rainy weather since 1967

Friday night Sept. 25, 2009, it was raining already. The rain stopped the following morning just one hour or so, just enough for me to finish preparing my breakfast, then it rained again; not too hard but a persistent one. I have no radio, so I really don't know what it's all about, because there was no wind. Before I left the house, the rain was pouring already. I just picked-up a small umbrella, since I thought it would just subside within an hour. As costomary, that morning, I was heading to the public library on foot to organize my blog that I had been working for a month now. The rain went a bit stronger this time, I halted under an awning of a store. On the other side, people were gathered in front of a store ( Girry's Grill, Congressional brance). Ambulance, police cars, the media (Manila Bulletin, DWIZ) were also there. Turning to my right side, I asked a guy, who was already there watching the scence when I arrived in that store, what the gathering was all about. Form him I learned that a costumer had just been robbed and was shot dead. Well, I was a little bit shaken thinking of the murder. This is not a good day, I thought; then I was on my way despite the constant poring of the rain. I stopped for shelter many times, until I reached a waiting shade, and there, I was kept for more or less four hours, waiting for the wind to slow down. By now, the public library was not far from where I was -- the problem was the rain. At around 10:00 o'clock that morning the day went dimmed; hence, street lights were now glowing to offer visiblity to the motorists. This time, I noticed the water splushing heavily in both sides of vehicles ahead. It was obvious the water had gone deeper this time. Then, not long, the vehicles ahead ceased moving. For a few minutes, there were no traffic flowing on the road; it was just almost an empty road. This scene I witnessed was in the elleptical road around the park they called "Quezon Memorial Circle." It was like that, nothing seemed to move for a while, then cars begun speeding up towards the now stationary vehicles, in a counter flow -- which was of course a traffic violation. More and more, cars follow the same route only to be upset that they couldn't go anywhere. It seemed that some places somewhere along the roads were now submerged under deep water -- impassable. The weather didn't show sign of stopping, and cars just couldn' get passengers anywhere, so people started streaming, parading down the sidewalk. Like others that day, I didn't like the situation I was in, a disruption to my work. Even holidays, these days, I don't like them. How many times after I reached the public library ony to find it close because of a holiday -- and I begun to wonder why this country has created so many of them. At that time, even though it was doubtful the public library was open, but since I really wanted to find it out, if it was so, so I stepped out of the waiting shade under shelter of my frail umbrella, I marched forward. But when I saw how the hikers waded into the water, I gave up my intention and headed back home instead.

The only things I protected from getting wet from the rain were my computer files saved in diskettes and some papers inside a plastic paper arranger. Going home was not easy; I was partly drenched by now; the cold sent shivers to my body making me weak. Because there was no better way to turn to, after I removed my wallet out of my short pants' pocket, I dipped three-fourth of my body, that's up to my chest, into the brown, dirty water. I kept wading, as I laughed heartily of that unsual experience, while cars were floating and starnded by my side. When alas, my feet were back on the unflooded pavement, my sheveing had stopped. Aggressively, I went on exploring the rest of the places near the market. Some people were busy saving their commodities by evacuating them on safer places. What I just saw and experienced was just in the early afternoon. That day, I reached home safely, and I didn't go out anymore. The rain stayed until way up into the night, pouring in varying strength.

In the morning, I strolled outside, there were still the remaining silts and gravels on some of the main roads. In some places, the water has reached to a deep of approximately 2 meters, basing on the telltale remains of garbage trapped in barbed-wire fences. Though in the vicinity where I lived, perhaps the devastition was not so sever, but there are some are greatly affected by the typhoon "Ondoy, " especially those poor families living near the river. I heard deaths, lanslides from the people I met. And I personally saw the anxious faces of those affected by the calamity, huddled in one side of a building. I know how they felt at this time, because I was once became a homeless too. And, it was a joy for me when I heard an old man shouted to a young girl down the bridge apparently gathering metal scraps to sell, "It's already nootime! Leave that one, it will do you nothing; go to the barangay! There's food there! Looking on the newspapers displayed in the sidewalks, Manila Bulletin describe the typhoon as the worst rainy weather since 1967.