Reading the RH Bill

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair once said, “The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes.”

Nowadays, we rarely hear of leaders, especially here in the Phlippines, who stood up for the common good. These persons, in whom most of us put our trust and confidence, have now turned out to be nothing more than embodiments of empty promises and false hopes.

The president and some of his cabinet members are not exempt from this public perception.

When Noynoy Aquino hurled himself into the political arena, we Filipinos somehow caught a fleeting glimpse of national contentment. It was a portrait of peace, progress and political principles. We saw in him the mark not of a charismatic leader but rather of a unifying force that would rally every hopeful towards the path of true change the country needs most.

All that is in the past now for the present paints a different picture.

The perceived inclination of the government leaders particularly of the president, to support the call for a ‘reproductive health program’ is in itself a wrong step towards the right direction. While we recognize the fact that indeed, there is an urgent need to curb increasing population, the solution to the problem must be based not just on science and logic but also on morality as well.

Since its inception, the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill had created divisiveness instead of unity, chaos instead of tranquillity and fantasy instead of reality. This measure has failed to present itself as the true answer to the ultimate question: “How can we make lives better?”

Instead of improving ways to uplift the conditions of the population, most of our leaders would rather repress the population by introducing decrees that are anomalous rather than virtuous.

In other words, they just want an easy way out. And we all know, that ‘easy’ has never been part of the human performance that we call ‘life.’

Justice for the Judges

To be able to dispense justice appropriately, a judge does not only have to distinguish and appreciate the evidence, but more importantly be of sound mind and character. To achieve this, these magistrates undergo stiff training not only in school but through experience in the exercise of law as well. It is known that judges are able to sit on the bench after a prescribed number of years of practice.

There is also a common notion that to do your job properly, you must work in conducive surroundings. Work therapists even encourage enhancing the ambience of the workplace to enhance productivity. Most court rooms however here in Legazpi city cannot deliver these perks.

A quick view to the regional trial courts would surely give any visitor the impression that they are places that no arbitrator of justice would set their feet on. At first glance, the mentioned court rooms are not really what they seem. They look more like neglected stock rooms with its contents now more valuable to the rats than to those who seek legal remedies. The tone of the area and its occupants seem very gloomy and heartbreaking.

At one of these pitiful areas, the judge holds court hearings in a tight corner. Huddled around him are individuals undistinguishable whether they are prosecutors or private counsels. They more resemble an office section in a meeting than a formal court hearing. Participants and onlookers alike should have to find a suitable chair or settle for a pile of unused papers that abound the place. Even the court records and files are a sight for sore eyes.

Amidst this unfortunate state of things, it is surprising to note that most of the judges still manage to perform properly. They still are able to deliver to the public what is expected of them, the fast and fitting dispensation of justice. Sources in the local office of the Department of Justice say that they have an above average batting standard, a feat commendable under these circumstances. The question however is, how long can these magistrates hold on? Even the toughest rope can break, so they say.

After the destruction of the RTC’s Hall of Justice at the regional center in the calamity of 2006, the department had no option but to rent several private buildings to house these courts including those of the Prosecution Service. It has been more than three years since Typhoon Reming but there still seems to be an ongoing storm within the DOJ. At present there is still no official confirmation that repairs for the destroyed hall would be underway.

Other sources in the national office of the department say the reconstruction is not on the top of the list. The same sources say that the perceived rift of the judiciary and the executive may also be blamed for the back log. There is another report that tends to be more believable: the priority of the department is the de-clogging of neck-deep court cases through the immediate hearings particularly of highly publicized cases like the Maguindanao massacre for instance. The quicker they relieve the courts of these pressures, the faster other priorities would be put into motion.

If this is true, then the Bicol RTC may yet have to wait for another couple of years or more before a decent place of work for our judges is realized. Meanwhile, they have to summon enough guts and grit including patience to be able to continue their dispensation of justice where it is needed... when it is needed. //

(Photo courtesy of : http://www.stopbretschundler.com)

Art of Apology

There’s an old and irritating cliché that says, “...promises are meant to be broken.” Most of us have probably spent forever trying to figure out the legitimacy of this very sad statement. As the world rotates, so does our interaction with others. We meet individuals and groups who feed us with almost any kind of assurance. These pledges however impossible they may seem, tend to have some aura of completion especially if they are blurted out by people in whom we have given our trust and confidence. More often than not, frustration turns into disgust when expected things or events that are supposed to happen, always do not.

Let us try to understand first, why we make guarantees without really assessing if it is doable or not. Sadly, the reason is always the same: we always want either an instant exit or a quick fix.

To keep us from being annoyed, we comfort a crying child by swearing that we would be bringing home his favourite candy. We initially thought that this was the only way we could hurriedly make it to our appointments without breaking his heart.

To be able to avail of a much needed loan, we tend to make declarations of due dates well within the comfortable timetable of the lender. Today, we know that institutions who lend money no longer rely on how fast we can pay but rather on our capacity to pay.

Even our leaders seem to be beset by this phenomenon. They usually make declarations to satisfy allies and followers alike. Most of the time, these promises are not accomplished because they were done for the wrong reasons.

Any declarations, however noble they might be, are still subject to some form of scrutiny to guarantee its effectiveness. Raw decisions in reality cannot become national policy.

With this, we call on our leaders to begin dismantling their ideas of instant solutions to gigantic problems for we all know that these half-measures can never address the issues at hand.

We need arguments and decisions that are founded not only on the intellect but also on values based on life, love and spirituality.

What is also important is our resolve to correct whatever errors we made and the promise that it will never happen again. In other words, our leaders should always be ready to express regret for their mistakes like failing to deliver whatever they have promised.

To apologize and rectify our wicked ways has always been a time-honoured virtue. It is more acceptable than unethical. It is mostly right than wrong.

(Photo : http://newsinfo.inquirer.net)

Laboring Lad

He is one of the strongest workers in a downtown construction project in Makati City. Jesse, not his real name, can lift two pieces of 24 inch hollow blocks in his hands and a bag of cement on his shoulder in one errand. He can carry sacks of sand on his back and forth, up and down inclined planks, four floors up without pausing to catch his breath. During lunch break, he can still manage to crack several pieces of ice for his workmates, with his bare hands. His skin is deeply tanned, proof of hard toil over the years. He has never learned any task in his life except what is asked of him: hard labor. On top of these, Jesse is just 15 years old.

Jesse is not new to this kind of work as he comes from a small seaside village somewhere in Sorsogon. At the age of six, he started working as an errand boy for fishermen. His family’s meager income could not even afford him a pair of slippers to get to school. In that young age, school was the last thing in his mind. His daily task started at around five o’clock in the morning with carrying small baskets of fish and hauling ice blocks. Later in the day, he was also mending nets and cleaning boats. With these tasks, he was given free lunch and was just paid two pesos per errand. At the end of each day, he managed to save eight to ten pesos. He could only literally set foot in school if all the tasks were finished early or if he had no chores to do.

As Jesse got older, the work load he carried also became heavier. He was not hauling ice blocks anymore. He was now carrying them on his bare head. The small baskets he used to carry now were large “banyeras” (pails) of fish. Instead of cleaning, Jesse was now pulling boats to dry-dock. His physical ability was now known to other fisher folk and demands for his services made him cancel his schooling altogether. Despite of all these, he still was paid the same: free lunch and two pesos per errand. He was now eleven years old yet he was happy and quite contented.

At the onset of the operation of illegal trawlers and “pangulongs” in their fish grounds, the folks slowly lost their way of life. Some of them resorted to the less lucrative trade of coconut farming or “paglulukad.” Others decided to try their luck in urban areas hoping to find their own “yellow brick road.”

Wanting to escape inopportunity from his small seaside village, Jess and his equally unemployed father arrived in the metropolis two years ago to look for an employer who may have use for his physical skills. The construction work he landed in again made Jesse pleased because this time, he was being paid 150 pesos a day and again, free lunch. It is a far cry from what he used to earn in his village home. Little does Jesse know that his skills are far more worth than that.

Jesse is just one speck in the number of child laborers in the Philippines and even in the world today. According to the International Labor Organization, in 2003 they estimated that “…worldwide, more than 10 million children are employed in drug-trafficking, sex work, and other hazardous labor.” The same survey results show that Asia has the largest number of child laborers with more than a 110 million working children ages 5 to 14.

Ironically, the said study also shows that indeed the number of child workers decreased in a certain region with the improvement of economic benefits. Any one can agree that the prevalent situation on youngsters toiling for their survival has something to do with the economic conditions of a certain place. In other words, we solve the problem by improving the economy.

Clearly, laws for children in the country were enacted starting way back in 1974 with the Labor Code of the Philippines. The law allowed 15 year-olds to be employed but banned those below 18 from working in dangerous tasks. These and other national directives however would be futile if they were not to be fully and strictly implemented at the local level.

In the case of Jesse for instance, had there been guidelines being implemented on this law at the barangay level, the young man’s present state-of-health could have been averted. In short, local leaders should be mindful that such labor tenets exist and that they are critical to the protection and development of young Filipinos.

Today, Jesse’s body is now suffering from the effects of the abuse. He now complains of pains commonly found in middle-aged men. According to studies, bone damage is common in child workers especially if they started at a very early age. If this health condition of Jesse remains unchecked, he may not be able to work anymore when he reaches the age of 21.

By then, he will sadly be an inept individual in his prime.

(Photo above from: vcrown.com)

Cheating the Children

We consider the wrongs during the last SK elections as very dangerous in moulding the character of the youth.

The greatest sin parents could commit against their children is to deprive them of the future. To be able to facilitate this parents provide their young with the bare necessities. Like everybody else, parents probably stick to Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

First we have the physiological needs. Since birth, our parents made sure we would be able to physically face the future. That is why we have been constantly monitored by them to make sure that we have enough if not an overwhelming supply of food, clothing, shelter and beneficial health services and products. It is very critical that children have to prepare physically.

The second are the safety needs. Sadly there are already parents who tend to overlook this need of their children. Today most youngsters feel insecure because they feel unsafe even in the presence of their own parents. Thus they turn to peers and other people for this need. Failure of parents to supply this need often has dire consequences.

This aura of safety generates love, affection and belongingness; which are the next needs. Children who feel safe with an individual or a group often develop affection for them. It would be difficult to detach an emotionally connected person from them, whoever they may be.

The fourth is the need for self-esteem. Let us acknowledge the fact that there are parents who do not realize that their only role for the children to achieve this need is to give them recognition for their own achievements. Parents who offer their children accomplishments on a silver platter are in reality depriving them of this need. Triumphs are hard-earned. They are not given away for free.

A youngster or any mature individual will never attain self-actualization, the last need, if all his successes were doled-out. After all, we can never be proud of something we did not work for.

So, for the parents who knowingly or unknowingly caused their children to commit transgressions during the last elections, you cannot possibly fathom the damage you have done to your own flesh and blood. In the end, it was your own greed that took over your love and care for your sons and daughters. If and when they grow up and miserably fail in their lives, they will blame no one else but you: their own parents.

We pray that there will be time to correct the blunders you have made and rescue whatever respect your children have left for you.

We say this because we have all been children once.

(Photo above from www.cfr.org)

Yanking the Youth (The SK Elections)

It was supposed to be a positive and promising day. The Barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) Elections, as most were expecting, was supposed to usher in a new era of public service at par with the visions and aspirations of a new national leadership. The line of thinking was that, would-be public servants would pattern their platforms and policies to that of a morally upright president. In short, almost everybody thought that the idea of true change has arrived. Unfortunately, it did not.

A day before the actual conduct of the elections, the usual ‘envelopmental ‘strategy was implemented by most of the aspiring leaders. From the pockets of candidates, money flowed into the streets and eventually into the doorways of households, a handful of which were hoping never to be part of such a scheme again. Like rats following the Pied Piper, constituents eager for a fast buck, trailed those who were tasked as paymasters. It was disgusting as it was pathetic.

The unexpected postponement of the event only worsened the situation. The only difference is that this time, the ravenous rats were now demanding more cheese!

On the Election Day itself, shameless cohorts made last ditch efforts to entice voters with cash some of whom were reportedly waving 500 peso bills in front of the faces of the voters. Those who broke down and succumbed to the persuasion probably thought they were invisible to the public’s eye.

What shocked us the most was when a worried parent sought assistance to retrieve her 15 year old daughter who wanted to go home from a beach party. The mother revealed that it was not an ordinary party but another ploy to convince young voters to choose the host of the gathering as SK chairman. Apparently some of those in attendance were being held against their will and forced to break the law by being served liquor. Had it not been for the child’s homesickness, this dastardly and deceitful deed could have never seen the light of day.The usual practice of free rides and free meals are not even worth mentioning if we compare it to what is now being termed as ‘quartering.’ The old political practice has sadly found itself being indoctrinated to the youth.

That day brought a lot of surprises and surmises to us. We pray that social justice and fair play trek its natural path and rectify whatever wrongs were done. After all it was supposed to be a positive and promising day.

Absence Apology

May 29, 2011

Dear readers and fellow bloggers:

It has been eons since my last post. I am trying to straighten out my act. It is tough but I'm getting there.

I have been very busy lately with my regular job.

Another blogger told me to try to post again. This is what I will be doing.

Thanks for understanding!

God bless you all!

JOEY B. GARALDE

Bicol Blossoms (Part 3)

My search for one of my favorite subjects for my hobby has led me to the neighboring province of Camarines Sur. I visited a friend's farm somewhere in Cararayan, Naga City. The lot is about a couple of hectares and is free from any of the smog that wraps downtown. It boasts of a game fowl area as well as hogs and cows. To my delight, I found a few specimens some of which are posted here. The others? Well, let's just say that I'm saving them for something special.

Remember November

There comes a storm in the sky
Then the rain falls down
There comes a thunder from a cloud
That makes trees frown
When we look back and we discover
We realize then we remember

There comes a ray from the sun
Then flowers reach full bloom
There comes a Hand from above
That pulls us from the doom

There is an eagle in flight
Then the wind catches his wings
There is a mountain up high
With the life that it brings

There comes a time in our life
When we have to choose
To follow the path
And either win or loose
We look back and we discover
We realize then we remember

There’s a long hard road to heaven
It is not an easy way
There’s a long hard road to heaven
We have to move or go astray

We look back and we remember
That it was that day in November
We look back and we remember
That it was that day in November