JOSE RIZAL (A FILM CRITIC)

REACTION PAPER

 TO

JOSE’ RIZAL

THE MOVIE

A. INTRODUCTION

Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, popularly known as Jose Rizal, is a noted Filipino in Philippines history which named as the National Hero for his works of patriotism.  Jose Rizal was well known in neighbouring countries and even called the “The Great Malayan Hero” for standing up against colonialism and fighting for the dignity of the Malay people.  It is recognition to a Malay descent who expressed opposition to colonial tyranny, a recognition that every Filipino should be proud of.  Jose Rizal strengthened a growing national consciousness to oppose the cruel conquest of the Spaniards and aspired to attain the democratic rights of the Filipino.

I feel privileged and grateful to speak my thought about a renowned person and I would like to take this opportunity to tell my words about Gat Jose Rizal, one of the great Filipinos of all times.   There are array of words to describe Jose Rizal.  An author, political leader, polymath, ophthalmologist, linguist, activist, and many more but there is one description of Jose Rizal that I would like to mention in this paper work – nationalistic.  There is no doubt Jose Rizal is a Filipino who had shown great love to his country.  His desire to free the country from Spanish colony was always in his heart, thought, works, and dream.  Wherever he goes, from Calamba to Manila to Madrid, Hongkong, even in Dapitan, he always thought of the welfare of his countrymen and never stopped to write and communicate to plan the freedom of his country.

Jose Rizal is logical in his every move.  Since his childhood, Jose Rizal has already showed presence of mind that exceptional to his age.  There is a story of Jose Rizal that really marked to my mind: the anecdote of young Jose Rizal and the pair of slippers.  When after losing one of his slippers while he was riding in a boat, young Pepe, as childhood nickname of Jose Rizal, threw into the water the remaining slipper saying that there is no use to him to keep it without the pair and maybe someone who might able to pick the slippers will be able to use the pair of slippers.  I am really a fan of this anecdote. I am amazed how the young Jose Rizal handled the situation.  It was a show of love to humanity where compassion is all about.   For me, he is an inspiration that always reminds and stimulates our sense of compassion to our compatriots and country.

The greatness of Jose Rizal was self-titled filmed and played by ace actor Cesar Monato shown to commemorate the Philippines’ 100^th year of Independence Day.  As a Philippine supporter, I should not miss to watch this epic film story of Jose Rizal.

B. BODY

To give the reaction to the movie, let me give first a very brief summary of the movie.  The film was presented basically in flashbacks of Jose Rizal's life.  In the opening is while Jose Rizal was waiting execution jailed in Fort Santiago, Manila. In jail, Rizal meets with his government-appointed counsel, Luis Taviel de Andrade where Jose narrated his love from childhood to being a man he is.  Upon hearing his life story, Taviel begun to realize that the accused is not only innocent but also exhibits the qualities of an ordinary man.  When the mock trial unreels, Taviel is all set to act as the prime advocate for his client as Rizal himself is about to give an earth-moving speech to defend his honor and address his countrymen.  Meanwhile,the Spanish authorities have worked out the enormous political machinery to ensure a guilty verdict until Jose Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan.  This triggered the revolution, and a blood was shed when Andres Bonifacio, a leader of revolutionary group, attacked the Spaniards and Father Rodriguez who ordered the execution of Jose Rizal.

First and foremost, the movie Jose Rizal as a whole was great.  It is a film biography of our National Hero that we only read in history books but in this movie it was presented into vivid life.  Jose Rizal The Movie is about patriotism and heroism.  It is a great presentation of Philippine’s tragic history and life of Jose Rizal that made easily to understand than reading in the book.  I believe it can help a lot the student to learn our Spanish era history.  The movie was actually intended shown in 1998 to commemorate the Philippine’s 100^th Independence Day – that intention alone can make the viewer to feel the sense of nationalism in their heart.  As a cinematic approach, the story was great.  From acting to production, the movie was a first rate epic that should not missed in a collector’s item.  The lead role, Cesar Montano practically owned the story thru his acting prowess although other casts have really done good job in their roles.  But the movie is rightfully to give the credit to the director, Marilou Diaz Abaya for really a job well done – she was the captain of the ship to manoeuvre the whole movie anyway.  Every scene was nice.  I like the intense in the scenes especially when the planned bombing of Simoun was about to happen.  Immediately, it flashed back the chapter I read in El Filibusterismo.  Reading that chapter in the book struggled me to visualize how it happened but watching the movie will help the student to easily understand what have really transpired.  But no matter how nice the thing is, there are still weaknesses to say.  There is no perfect anyway and this movie is not exemption.  Watching Jose Rizal the movie, there are scenes that I found imperfection that may somehow harm to the whole story.  I have to start to the most obvious that I have noticed.

There are too many flashbacks.  These flashbacks confused me once in a while and sometimes I am already confused if the scenes are still in Spain or in the Philippines.  This is a movie that I have to repeat to watch again after the first time to clearly understand the sequences of flashbacks. Confusion in these flashbacks can make a viewer to stare at the screen and be befuddled.  But flashbacks are essential in the movie since the story is actually happening in the final days of Jose Rizal.  In the opening scene, Jose Rizal was in prison narrating his life from being a child until being a grown up man – the story started here, then flashbacks were brought together and told the entire story of the movie.  The movie is very long, too many flashbacks could be tiring to follow but I have to say it is a must and it is worth to watch that almost three hours long movie to know the history that reading in the books could be more difficult.

There is a boring scene in the movie when Jose Rizal delivered the honorary speech to the expatriate Filipinos in Madrid.  That scene of speech was very long.  Specially if you cannot understand the speech in Spanish, every long speech that we hear in political speech, school program, thanksgiving party, birthday party and many more are boring.

Although the movie is a biography of a real person, I think showing of Jose Rizal in a sensual scene created negative impression to the viewers young or old.  It put the hero in bad light.  It maybe really happened but I think it is redundant to include in the story since as a Filipino, we preserve our conservatism especially when it comes to sex.  We always believe in the purity and refinement of old times were our parents valued them.  We always have an impression that our great-great grand parents had lived in a very conservative ways wherein they valued the culture of “no touch” in a relationship that men could not even touch the tip of the lady’s fingers .  We always believe that sex during those times is so sacred and so there should no pre-marital sex.  But showing the scene of Jose Rizal and Leonor Rivera in a romantic moment, we can conclude that these things have already been happening during those old times.  And the revelation of Jose Rizal’s died baby to his girl friend Josephine Bracken is really a surprise because all the while we know that in the very strict conservative culture of our country, to have pre-marital baby is completely a great disgrace and shame not only in the name of Jose Rizal but also to the Filipino people.  Yes, Jose Rizal was not a teen ager and yes maybe Josephine was not a Filipina but thinking that our national hero had a pre-marital sex is disgrace to our Filipinism that small children should not watch them in this movie.   And it can change the impression of the youth today.  It can change how they will look up Jose Rizal as a national hero, that Jose Rizal is no difference from youth of today who explore sexual escapade’ while still unmarried, that Jose Rizal was not that ideal and deserved to become the national hero.  Although it is not supposed a criteria to be named hero but this gives a negative impression.  There is a hearsay that our National Hero was really a womanizer but you would not want to know that your hero actually was a very kinky man.  Although the movie is about the life of the national hero that every student must watch but these scenes are not appropriate to young audience like elementary students.

Another disturbing scene to me is the appearance of the characters of Simoun from his novel El Filibusterismo in the last night of Jose Rizal.  This either made my impression a change in the history or a psychological imbalance has happened to Jose Rizal.  The scene is violent.  Blood is shed when the Katipunan attacked the Spaniards and Father Rodriguez who order the execution of Jose Rizal.  Although the result was so cinematic because it successfully showed the intended revolutionary plot of the Filipino against the Spaniard colony but the scene of appearing a fictitious character made somehow a little bit weird in terms of looking for a realistic story, that in this case it must be a real story because the movie was a biography film.  But later, I understood and justified it that Rizal's novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo can be told in parallel with his life story because these novels are Jose Rizal himself.  And on the other hand, it made me understand that maybe people can really experience hallucination during the final days or the dying days.

Overall, I like the movie and I can recommend the movie to those who are interested in world history.  I can also recommend the movie to those who want to see a top-notch production of a movie.  The movie is great but is it not appropriate for children age twelve (12) and below because of the violence, sexual scenes and complexity of the presentation because of editing (of flashbacks), languages and sensitivity of the story.

C. CONCLUSION

Jose Rizal The Movie is for every Filipino.  Jose Rizal is a Filipino, he is our fellow citizen and if Jose Rizal is a Filipino, I strongly agree that every one of us can be like Jose Rizal because there is blood like Jose Rizal that flows in each of us.  Will there be new Jose Rizal to come up in our modern days?

Although the movie was shown in 1998 with a theme of an 1898 plot, the movie is still timely today due to current political issue in our country but the question is if there is still like Jose Rizal who is selfless to stand up for the country.  When Jose Rizal said that the youth is the hope of our nation, I feel partly sad because in our times today, very seldom you can see the like of Jose Rizal.  Let us roam around by starting in the street of Manila.   You see the out of school children, the child labour like sampaguita-cigarette and candy vendors, and the so called rugby boys.  At night, there are still children in the street, some are having nonsense gathering of storytelling until the midnight while a class tomorrow is waiting.  Values nowadays are missing.  How can we say that the youth is the hope of our nation? 

I asked myself, is this youth are the successor of Rizal?  I would want to hope, I would want to believe that there is still hope.  What I look to the youth of today are youth that have no interest in social, economic, environment and national issue, that they would rather choose to spend time to talk entertainment, gadgets and intimate relationships.  But I still want to believe that every one of us can be like Jose Rizal because there is blood like Jose Rizal that flows in each of our veins.  The spirit of volunteerism is an in-born character of a Filipino that has shown repeatedly in many occasions but it is just saddening to vividly see it mostly when there is catastrophe like the Bohol earthquake, the super typhoon Yolanda, etc.

Like the movie, we can make a change in the world that we want to change.   Jose Rizal was not an elected just to help the country but he has done great.  We too can do it because Jose Rizal is alive in every Filipino.  Maybe his personalities could not be found in a single person but every one of us could have at least one of his characters.  The doctors to the barrio, the police, teachers, metro aids and garbage collector, driver, tailor and dressmaker, servants, overseas contract workers, farmers, fishermen, postman, carpenter, architects and engineers, businessmen, lawyers, merchants, pilots, writers, employees, the child labour, actress and singer, from barangay tanod to the president of the republic– all of them are Jose Rizal who wanted to serve the country through their noble jobs.  They are great like someone-like Francisco Dagohoy, Miguel Malvar, Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Melchora Aquino, Macario Sakay, Emilio Jacinto, Antonio and Juan Luna, Marcelo and Gregorio del Pilar, Lapu-lapu, Andres Bonifacio, Felipe San Agoncillo, Jose Abad Santos, Apolinario Mabini, the Gomburza and Emilio Aguinaldo.

Jose Rizal is the past and present of the freed and independent Luzon, Visaya and Mindanao.  Rizal is the same you because you too can be the same to become hero since we have the same blood that flows in us.  We have one purpose like Jose Rizal who wanted to live freedom and peace.  The courage and dignity, we too wanted these and we need to go beyond what the yesterday have done.  The movie said we could have mistakes because no one in this world is perfect but what matter most is how we leave the earth that we will be best remembered when we have gone.

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PAGBABAGO

Gamit na gamit at gasgas na gasgas na ang dahilang “pagbabago”.  Mula sa hindi magandang pinangalingan natin, iba na raw ang sistema ng gobyerno, ang mga namumuno, ang sitwasyon – iba na raw ngayon.  Magaling kung ganun dahil ito naman ang hinahangad nating lahat.  Pero kung para lang sabihin upang pagandahin ang sitwasyon, ipagtanggol ang kapanalig at pasinungalinan ang totoong nangyayari – ito ang hindi tama at maganda.  Dahil sa kabila ng mga nababalitaan mong magagandang nangyayari at pagbabago daw ay bakit hindi ito at nararamdaman, at may mga palatandaan pa rin na may mali at masama pa ring mga nangyayari?

Dahil ang mga nangyayari ay parang hindi naman talaga nangyayari bagkus ay gawa-gawa lamang at mandato ng isang tao na parang palabas lamang na ganito ang dapat mangyari.  Dahil kung iisipin mong mabuti ay nagiging kwestyonable ang mga taong nakikita at naririnig mo na nagsasabi ng mga pagbabago.  Imulat mo ang mga mata mo at suriin mo ang mga taong nagpapatotoo  sa nangyayaring pagbabago ay magkakaroon ka ng pagdududa.  Iyun nga ba talaga o iyun kasi ang gusto nila?

Isipin mo, bakit ang daming tao ngayon ang nagbago, bumaligtad at ginawang tama ang mga dating mali, hindi maganda at ayaw natin?  Marahil ang ikakatwiran ng iba ay natuto na sila, pero saan man tingnan ay kulang sa lalim o katarungan o mali ang kanilang pangangatwiran.  Dahil ang mahirap paniwalaan ay ang biglang pagbabago ng kanilang pag-iisip nang ganun na lang.  Ang dating maraming tao na galit na galit sa Tsina dahil sa ginagawa nitong panggigipit sa ating teritoryo, paghahari-harian sa mundo, paggawa ng mga dispalinghado, huwad at mamabang kalidad ng mga gamit, at pagpupuslit ng mga bawal na gamut, ngayon ay nagbago na ang maraming tao at kinagigiliwan at hinahangaan na rin ang bansang Tsina dahil ang tinitingala nilang tao ay naka-panig sa Tsina.

Nuon ay hindi tanggap na tamang asal ang magmura.  Ngunit ngayon, ang mga tao ay binale-wala, hinayaan, nginitian at tinanggap na lamang ang malulutong na pagmumura ng isang Pinuno sa harap ng maraming tao, na nasa telebisyon, o naririnig ng mga kabataan.  Ipinagtanggol, binigyan ng paliwanag at katarungan pa ang pagmumura.  Ipinaliwanag na walang mali sa pagmumura sa Santo Papa, pagmumura sa simbahan, ang pagmumura sa mga kalaban at pinalakpakan pa ng mga nagtatawanan at nagkakatuwaang mga tagapakinig at taga-hanga. 

Kahit kailan ay hindi maitatama ng isang mali ang isang pagkakamali.  Alam na alam natin na mali ang pumatay pero dahil ang pagpatay ay sinusuportahan ng tinitingalang Pinuno, ang mga tao ngayon ay nagbago ng pananaw na sinasabing walang masama sa pagpatay.  Anung bahagi ba ng “Huwag Kang Papatay” ang hindi maunawaan ng mga taong ito?  Bakit parang ganun lang kasimple at kadali na sabihing patayin ang tao?  Ang mga taong gustong patayin ang mga nakagawa ng krimen, ang mga sumisigaw na patayin ang mga masasama, yung parang masaya sa patayan ay ang mga tao na malakas ang posibilidad na makakapatay din.  At ang mga taong nakagawa ng kahindik-hindik na krimen ay siguradong isa din sila sa mga sumisigaw na dapat patayin ang mga gumawa ng krimen.  Magkatulad na lang sila dahil magkatulad sila ng paniniwala.

Nuon ay galit ang mga taong ito sa mga nahatulan ng pagkakabilanggo dahil sa pandarambong at katiwalian, ngayon nang makalaya ay natutuwa sila dahil nakapanig na sa kanila ang mga ito.  O kaya nama’y iyung mga mga bilangong notoryos sa paghahari-harian sa loob ng bilibid ay naging bayani ang tingin sa mga ito nang tumestigo laban sa taong kinaaayawan nila, nasaan na ang kanilang pagiging patas?  Alam na naman ang motibo sa nangyayari at ang kredibilidad sa ginagawang pagtestigo pero bulag pa rin silang todo-suporta sa mga ito, anong nangyayari sa kanila at nasaan ang kanilang sentido-komon?  Hindi sa hindi nila maunawaan kundi ayaw lang talaga nilang unawain ang nangyayari dahil iyun ang gusto nila.

Mga dating tutol na tutol sa komunista nuon, ngunit ngayon ay mariringan na sila ng mga kagandahan at benepisyo ng pagiging komunista ng bansa.  Kung dati-rati ay panay ang paninisi sa dating Pinuno dahil sa lumalalang kalagayan ng traffic, aberya sa MRT, pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina at bilihin, ngayon ay bihira kang makarinig ng reklamo o paliwanag mula sa mga matatalinong tao na ito tungkol mga nasabing bagay.  Nuong hindi pinayagan ng dating Pangulo ang umento sa SSS ay halos murahin ito mula ulo hanggang paa pero ngayong hindi rin umubra ang ipinangakong dagdag nuong panahon ng eleksiyon ay tahimik ang maraming tao.  Tulad din ng pangako nuong kampanya na kayang lipulin ang bawal na gamot at krimen sa loob ng tatlo hanggang anim na buwan, walang masabi ang mga panatiko nang hindi ito natupad.  Ganun din nung dating kapag hindi agad nakikita sa sakuna ang pinuno ay mas mabilis pa sa ala-cuatro na umuulan ng batikos.  Ngunit ngayon, sa dalawang pagkakataon na nasa unang sandali pa lang ng pamumuno na wala ang bagong pinuno sa panahon ng sakuna ay hindi magawang kalampagin ng mga taong ito ang pinuno.  Nasaan ang hustisya?

Ang hindi maganda nito ay iyung galit sila sa tao at sa bagay kapag ang pinuno ay galit sa nasabing tao o bagay, iyung kung ano ang sinabi at gusto ng pinuno ay siyang tama at dapat, at iyung hindi sila tumatanggap ng paliwanag at ng pagkatalo.  Hindi dapat ganito, nasaan ang kanilang paninindigan at ang sariling bait?  Hindi talaga patas.  May dubleng pamantayan, mayoong kinakampihan, iba ang tintingnan sa tinitigan.  Ganyan na ba kagrabe ang paghanga at pag-idolo ng mga panatiko na nawawala na sa katinuan?  Nangangain ba ng huwisyo, nakakawala ba ng paninindigan at pang-unawa ang pagiging panatiko?  Dahil bakit nagbago yung kanilang magagandang paniniwala nuon?  Yung mga propesiyonal, mga nakapag-aral, yung mga matatalinong kasamahan natin sa trabaho o kakilala o yung mga dating nasa mataas na section nuong nag-aaral sa elementarya at high school - ngayon ay iba na ang pag-iisip nila na madaling mapaniwala sa mga huwad at iresponsableng balita., yung wala ng pakialam kung sila man ay maging bahagi ng pagpapalaganap ng maling inpormasyon at pagkakagulo basta maisagawa lamang ang sariling inerest.

Bakit nga ba sila nagkaganon, bakit nga ba sila nagbago?  Ang totoo nito, may mga taong sa ngalan ng kapangyarihan, pangarap at ng sariling kapakanan ay kayang lunukin ang prinsipyo, dahil sila ang mga panatiko na kaya nilang ipagpapalit ang katarungan at paninidigan.  Napakababa na ng uri ng mga taong ito nang dahil sa kanilang pagbabago ay hindi na nila pinahalagahan ang kanilang pagkatao kahit sirang-sila na sila sa paglapastangan nila sa kanilang sarili.

TOFU SWEET AND SOUR

Again, another healthy dish is for you.  Tofu in sweet and sour sauce is a healthy option aside from fish fillet, chicken breast, shrimp.  There is sweet and sour pork and beef but they are not option if you are looking for a healthy version of sweet and sour.

To begin, you will need this listing:

Ingredients:

1 pc of Tofu (in bar shape = approx 8” long)

1 small can of Pineapple Tid-bits

1 pc medium Carrot

1 medium size green Bell Pepper

1 small Kalamansi or Lemon (vinegar is option)

Ketchup

5 gloves Garlic

1 pc small Onion

Sugar, pepper and salt

1 teaspoon Corn starch

Preparation:

1. Cut the tofu in 2 x 2 (or as your choice.

2. Mince the garlic.

3. Cut the onion in quarter.

4. Peel the carrots and slice in round thinly.

5. Cut the green pepper in square (or triangle or your choice.

6. Dilute the cornstarch in 5 spoonful water.

Cooking:

1. Sauté the garlic and onion.

2. Add the carrots.

3. Pour the pineapple tid-bits and stir.

(Add some water if pineapple juice doesn’t look enough).

4. Add some catsup for colouring and stir.

5. Taste with sugar and squeeze the half of kalamansi

(You can use vinegar for option or for a stronger sour taste).

6. Let simmer for 2 – 3 minutes.

7. Add the tofu and simmer for another 2 – 3 minutes.

8. Taste with salt and pepper.

9. Pour the diluted corn starch and stir until thicken.

10. Add the bell pepper, turn off the heat and cover.

11. Cool down and serve.

12. And lastly, just eat right.

TOFU IN KANGKONG

Another healthy recipe is here.  It is cheap yet healthy and yummy.  And, it is fast and easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

1 Tofu (choose tofu in bar shape)

1 bunch of Kangkong (or Talbos ng Kamote as alternative)

Garlic

Onion

Soy sauce (5 spoonfuls)

Vinegar (1 spoonful)

Salt and pepper

Preparation:

1.  Cut the tofu into three and boil them with salt and pepper for tasting for about 3 to 5 minutes, remove from water then set aside.

2.  In a pan, heat the oil and sauté the minced garlic and the thinly sliced onion.

3.  Add the cut Kangkong leaves and stems, stir for few seconds.

4.  Add soy sauce and a little vinegar (oyster sauce without adding vinegar is an alternate).

5.  Stir for another few minutes.

6.  Cover the pan and turn off the heat.

Presentation:

1.  In a platter, arrange the tofu.

2.  Put on top the cooked Kangkong.

3.  You may want to sprinkler it with toasted garlic for garnish and added dramatic taste

4.  And lastly, just eat right.

CHICKEN SHAWARMA

Pita Bread

Chicken breast (or fish fillet)

Onion

Tomato

Potato

Cucumber (or pickles or both)

Lettuce (or parsley)

Mayo (or coleslaw)

Soy sauce

Salt

Pepper

Sugar

Ketchup

Garlic

Options: cheese.

Preparations:

1.  Cut into 1” x ½” the chicken breast and marinate overnight in soy sauce, sugar, katsup, garlic.

2.  Thinly slice the tomatoes and onion, remove the seeds of the tomatoes and separate apart the onion then set aside.

3.  Slice into 3” x ¼” lengthwise the potatoes and cucumber then set aside.

Cooking:

1.  Fry the potatoes then set aside.

2.  Remove the chicken from marinate and fry then set aside.

Wrapping:

1.  Lay the bread, put some mayo and spread all over the bread.

2.  Arrange some fried marinated chicken, fried potatoes, tomatoes, onion rings, cucumber or pickles.

3.  Taste with salt and pepper.  You can add some ketchup.

4.  Put over a piece of lettuce then carefully roll the bread.

5.  Fold the bottom of the rolled bread.

6.  Lastly, just eat right.

ON MY OPINION

My thoughts about some social issues.

ON USA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIP

On the issue of our foreign policy, I am pro-American.  Admit it or not, whether we like it or not, we need USA.  I’m not against in our effort to be independent but who said we cannot be independent unless cutting the ties with the West?  Do not accept their monetary aides, for the sake of being dependence that is fine.  But cutting the alliance?  I don’t think so.

If we want to stop the issues of being “subservient”, “mendicant”, “lapdogs” then no more donations, but stopping the relationship will not make good because our relationship now is interdependent.  Philippines and USA are gaining in one way or another, some people are just hypocrites.

ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE 

It’s a matter of religious versus legal issue.  The church will not, go to civil if you want.  It will always quote Sodom and Gomorrah which for conservative believers won’t want to happen.  It is a dogmatic belief in any religion that a man is to a woman and it gives the notion of marriage is to sanction the sexual act which makes procreation the very purpose of marriage.  This oppresses the freedom and equality for gays and lesbians who are just the same with straight people when it comes to love.  Given the assumption that procreation is to marriage, how about those impotent?

I’m not against LGTB but right now, I don’t like to support same sex marriage.  It’s redundancy.  Being gay or lesbian as a person is acceptable but gay and lesbian as lifestyle is something that up to this date is insufficiently good enough.  Lifestyle such as gestures and characters are fine but grave things such as show of affection and gay marriage are still awkward.  There are just some things in gayness world that no need to brag.  Everybody has the right to be happy but not all that make you happy can be done.  Some beyond the prescribed are just need to restraint.  I don’t think any spiritual human being will go into homosexual relationship and the pinnacle is to get marry.  If you are not religious why you need church marriage?  There is no homosexual affair if you are religious anyway.

ON SSS 2,000 PENSION HIKE

On my opinion, the two thousand pesos hike for millions of pensioners of the Social Security System (SSS) is not timely just the same as with the huge bonuses of the officers of SSS. Yes, the present pensions of our senior citizens may not enough for their needs but let us not make it rush and not get tempted in this momentary benefit. Let us look at the future and protect the majority of the members who are dying hard in trusting their future to SSS.

Let us do simple mathematics. There are over two millions pensioners of SSS. The monthly hike of 2,000 for 13 month will give 52,000,000,000 every year. (This doesn't include the actual present monthly pension). In five to ten years from now, SSS will go into bankruptcy. To salvage the institution, the monthly contribution of the members will be increased.

I hope people will consider the future of the institution. It is not just to please the pensioners of today but equally important is to protect the future of the other members. But it is not just the pensioners but also the officers of SSS should put some control among themselves. In our economic situation today, they should be at least sensitive to give themselves the huge sum of bonuses. If SSS has made profit, they should wisely invest instead the profit in strengthening the fund of SSS which will benefit both present and future pensioners of SSS.

ON BBL

I like the intention of Bangsamoro Basic Lay (BBL) which is to come up with a lasting solution in search for peace in Mindanao.  So much have been transpired, many have been laid down their lives and shed blood in this warzone.  Something must be done to stop these and BBL is here to end these nonsense killings.  Watching the news and reading the primer of the draft, BBL promises the exhilarating welfare of Mindanao’s particular group in exchange of ensuring to attain the long elusive peace.  Fine, I believe nothing can match any amount of money for the sake of peace.  But there are scuttlebutt behind this rushing and railroading proposed bill.  Most of the people are actually clueless about BBL and there is a need for clarification for unconfirmed reports of hidden agenda behind the railroading of this law.  And giving my reaction to that, I want to say compromising the sovereignty and interest of the whole country and profiting of some few should not ever allow.  The whole Mindanao is part of Philippines.  Part of it can be autonomous but should always part of the republic of the Philippines.  Everybody wants peace but our heartfelt desire to attain peace must still be bounded with constitutionality. I want the turmoil in Mindanao to put end and finally restore the peace in the land but if by means of the current form of BBL, I would say no primarily because of three things:  it empowers selective group only, it favours over the state on the distribution of revenue, and it neglects the interest of the other minority ethnic groups.

ON MANNY PACQUIAO SS STATEMENT

I see nothing wrong with Manny’s belief about Same Sex Marriage (SSM).  But I found his word usage is off.  It is not fair to any human being to be compared to animal, be it gay or straight.  It is disrespectful, offensive and downgrading to dignity, though human is the highest form of animals.  Religion is very difficult to oppose but it is not right to use religion to hurt other people because you don’t have to harm your brothers and sisters.

I want to focus on the main issue which is about SSM.  Correct me if I’m wrong, I think there is no scripture in any religion that concur with SSM.  I understand where Manny is coming from and again I have to say it’s just the choice of words that makes him hated and bombarded.  The very purpose of marriage is not only to unite the Love from two souls but aimed too for procreation.  If the intention is only to unite or to multiply, then marriage should not have existed at all and instead anybody who falls in love twice, thrice or more can live together.

Since this is a spiritual issue, on other points of view are those agnostics who – most likely will oppose the claim of religions when it comes to SSM (and other teachings of religion).  I understand that.  But for me, if we chose to live righteously and when we died we learned that there is no God, then it will be fine because we lived our life good.  On the other hand, if we died and there is really God, then the price is waiting for us.  One of the moral lessons here is never preach if you are not guilty.  If you say do not commit adultery while in fact you keep an illicit affair, then you are one of the false prophets.

ON BALIKBAYAN BOX OPENING

So much harsh words had been said about Bureau of Custom (BOC) mandatory inspection of Balikbayan Boxes (BB).  My sentiments definitely go with the same sentiments of the general public.  BBs are usually for family consumption and private property that opening is invasion of privacy.  But if this is what has stipulated in the law, so be it I have no other course but to obey.  BOC is backed up by a law.  It has long been enacted, the law has been passed, ratified, and enforced from past early administration.  If the president said let the BOC do their job, that is absolutely right.  And if he directed to stop the mandatory random inspection of BB, that is still right and there is no conflict with that.  As the most powerful man in the land (Phils), he has all the prerogatives to mandate his cabinet as prescribed by the law.

The law is good, it prevents the entry of contraband, smuggling and helps taxation in generating additional revenues.  But for an OFW like me, it is not about sending illegal items but it’s the standard procedure.  Let’s admit, MOST of us are not declaring the true content of the boxes.  This alone overrides the proper and lawful tariff collection from imports and export.   The last time I had cargo last year, I was not asked about the content.  In my past cargo, I was advised to declare it personal effect without even asking me what’s inside.   I’m not against the random mandatory open, what I’m upset about here is the way it opens like exposing your very privacy, it is disrespecting the solemnity of how an OFW carefully packed his box, it brings to temps the unscrupulous and it is discriminatory against those big-time smugglers.   There is no need for random if BOC will use its resource.  The BOC has the capability to implement strict yet reasonable mandatory labelling of package by declaring the true content of the boxes, and BOC has the full resource to acquire the state of arts high-tech x-ray machine that detects and works thorough scanning of illegal and taxable.  For the meantime, the legislative should amend the tax exemption of balikbayan boxes worth P10,000 and below since this has been long rendered obsolete.

ON BALIKBAYAN BAGGAGE AT THE AIRPORT

For me, whatever is written in the existing law so be it.  Afterall, it was not just imposed – the bills were proposed, deliberated, debated, and ratified before they implemented as laws.  If it is outdated and there is need to amend, then this is what should’ve been doing now.

Many are upset about the baggage issue in the airport.  If someone is doing his duties, let’s not put our anger on the person because if he did not do what he supposed to do, he is then neglecting his job.  If that person is unscrupulous, corrupt, pompous, thief and whatsoever, then it is another story and should set aside from the issue of baggage checking in the airport.

Let’s admit, there are many Returnees’ (Balikbayan) who are coming home with valuables in their baggage that were sliping despite the existing law about taxable valuables.  And we’re unable to notice it because the airport immigration has been relaxed, and we are noticing it now because the immigration is a bit strict now in the law.

We have no excuse, no one is above the law.  What it needs now to address the concerns of the migrant workers is to amend this existing old law.  This is about valuables, or let say this is taxation, and there is a significant change from the time this existing law was passed until today where the inflation rate has been already increased this much.

ON TANIM-BALA

It’s alarming to figure out the still uncertain suspect in this disgrace “laglag-bala” scam in the NAIA. It is disturbing because it’s been long time since it was sensationalized in the news, and quite many have been preyed in this scam, (apart from it is now becoming an international embarrassment for our country) yet the “tanim-bala” responsible culprits are still free at large. The bylaw is so powerful which has been seeing by the crook to use and take advantage the pressing travellers to extort. Another dirty tactic in the name of money, the sad thing here is that the law has used to cheat. And it is even saddening to think the chronic graft and corruption in the bureaucracy.

I am suspecting two possible scenarios. There is this shameful inside-job syndicate operating the scam until it was headlined in the news and sensationalized in social media, or there is a political ploy here to sabotage the government in this election season from the time this went viral in social media to present time. But either way, it must bring the responsible now and it needs to have heads rolling. It should not take long any further because it already affected the innocent travellers and those tourists who have high expectation. Our country becomes centre of mockery and our fellowmen abroad have discriminated because of the anomaly of these unscrupulous people behind “tanim-bala”. It’s a shame.

ON PHILIPPINES TELEVISION

In the 90’s, there are only four regular programs that I really religiously followed.  The political satire comedy show “Abangan Ang Susunod na Kabanata” on ABS CBN-2 every Tuesday, RPN-9’s primetime soap opera “Cebu” every Thursday and the Saturday noontime game show “Battle of the Brain” and the Sunday night musical variety “The Sharon Cuneta Show” on IBC-13.  I can catch every night the late news while eating my dinner just after coming home late from work.  These makes a balance teevee programming for me.

But I really love Cebu.  It is about protecting the legacy of a rich family.  This drama series was one of the best drama mini-series that ever graced the Philippine television.  The story is believable, fast-pacing, and has sense, good acting of the casts, good production design and cinematography.  It lasted two seasons which were equally superb unlike other soap that suffer the sequels.

ON BEING A PRESIDENT 

If I were the president, the first thing that I will do is to uplift the lives of the Filipino people by generating more well paid jobs.   Addressing this priority, I think the rest of the economic and political issues will gradually follow.  The staggering rate of unemployment and underemployment cause a domino effect in the prices of our basic need, peace and order, graft and corruption, population explosion, education, medical and more.

Having a more than enough pay is giving the citizens the power to purchase their basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing.  We are giving the citizens the will to seek medical attention, or to send their children in school, and we are controlling them not to be tempted in graft and corruption.  And subsequently, peace and order will be attained.

Having more money that circulates in the market means reducing inflation until controlled.  And with the large volume of money, it will create more jobs, more products, more services, more consumers, more tax, and it will give a productive economy.  And in return, the government can create more services to its people, making them to enjoy the right to live peacefully, secured, free and abundantly.

ON K-12

From the start, I am not really affirmative in K-12 program.  There are still so many things in the education system that need to iron out first instead of this another load and weight from student, parents and teachers.  What should put in plan and application is the enhancement of quality of education system rather than the quantity of years that a student must spend in the school. 

The government should address the needs of additional classrooms, enough teachers, modern facilities, useful textbooks and materials.   As long as the schools are equipped, there is no need to add more years of curriculum.  There are other better things to do than adopting K to 12 curriculum. 

ON NATIONAL ID 

I don’t know if my favor in national ID is shallowness.  Maybe I am sincere in nature that is why it is no big deal for me to entrust myself to the government that there is no security breaches of information. 

If the government officials, low enforcers, and the persons in authority are trusty, honourable and dependable, and if the abiding citizens are trustful, submissive and unsuspecting, then using the nationaL ID is a mutual acceptable and understandable issue that is far from debate, disagreement, and controversy.

ON CYBERCRIME

We need the Cybercrime Act to protect us from online harassment, identity theft, hacking, cybersex and from those abusers who used freedom of expression and democracy as their excuse. We must keep in mind included in democracy and freedom of speech is the corresponding responsibility.

I think RA 10175 just needs to amend few provisions enclosed with it. But overall, the very purpose of the act is good, just and right.

ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

On the national issue of capital punishment in Philippines, I am not in favor of using death penalty mainly due to humanitarian reason.  Aside from the potential wrongly convicted, the significance of human life is the sacred creation from God that is so precious and only He can take away the life and breath.  For outlaws found guilty in heinous crimes, lifetime sentence is the most appropriate yet effective penal. In light of strict implementation of lifetime imprisonment without providing special treatment, politics, negligence against jailbreak, and even the provision of clemency or pardon – lifetime sentence is tantamount to death.  Let them serve the reality of living behind the bars for the rest of their lives for there is no worse payoff and more painful punishment than withholding to live freely forever.

ON REPUBLIC HEALTH BILL

It’s high time to have the bill to put some control on the soaring high rate of growing population and to address the health of the people.  In reproductive health bill, it is not only about the various methods of family planning. The bill will teach people the proper way in taking care their family and themselves.

I think I’ll not a bad Christian if I will support RH Bill.  I feel I am still good Christian because at the end of the day, it is me who will be subjected to public eye if I cannot raise my own children, it is me who will be judged if I am a good parent, it is me who will be not good in the eyes of God if I will not be a good father, if I cannot raise my children properly.

ON SPRATLEYS ISLAND

In a battle like David and Goliath, for you to defend is to find the ways that will not need to use your weaknesses. We don’t need to spend to wage war since we may not able to afford it but we can stand united to at least stop importing and using infamous China made products.

Apparently we cannot stage war. In a battle like David and Goliath, for you to defend yourself is to find the ways that will not need to use your physical strength.  We cannot afford war but we can stand united at least to harm their economy by stopping importing and using infamous China made products.  If I were the leader of a powerful religious sect, instead of calling to boycott a television network or some political figures, I will instead order to boycott all China products.

In this way we are not just designing our game plan but also show our nationalism in patronizing our own.  And it can open door for us to look alternatives by focusing on our local resources to rediscover and enhance them, and find out what they can offer.

ALEJANDRO SETS LIMITS

It is been written and been said many times and many ways:  “Give if you can, give as much as you can.  Because who else will but those who have the capacity to give.”  When he started his life at forty, Alejandro felt that something has changed in himself.  For one thing, he’s quite serious on how he spent the life in the past but then he felt someone is telling him the need to become better.  He wanted to do something that he will feel his existence worthy, and realize his difference from many.   And in his nearly golden age now, Alejandro can say he did a good decision when he chose what his heart wants – making a sense.

When he decided to find doing something different that will make him feel worthy, something important that will give an accomplishment in his life, he found birthday a good opportunity to give thanks and share the blessings by giving back.  For quite long years now, Alejandro does not prepare foods to celebrate his birthday simply because he does it in different way to spend the day.  And since he is already impassive in celebrations, gatherings, get-together, etcetera, he decided to use his time, effort, and means in something else that he knows more important.  It is understanding the importance of compassion.  Rather than spending for fun for few hours of party that become a relief of worldliness, Alejandro decided to use it in more practical, useful or worthy cause by giving and helping.  Instead of aiming foods and fun, he felt the sentiments of other who have not experienced to enjoy foods.  There are people out there who are more deserved to experience happiness in enjoying the foods in the table rather than them who are already used to eat luscious foods in many occasions with their friends and colleague. By the way, it may not necessarily a feeding program or something but if we know it will go to feed other people in whatever means, then giving is as fun as eating.

Well, people will say they just want only the best for their family, or they need quality time with their family and friends.  And time and again, there are some who will still insist their idea to prepare at least few traditional noodles as sort of symbolism or whatsoever.  And some will justify to say celebration is a way of giving thanks and sharing of blessings.  Nothing is wrong with these and it’s our personal discretion and opinion but each one of us has our own belief.  But this time, it is Alejandro’s giving and it is his way of finding self-esteem.  Alejandro decided to make a difference than this traditional food party.  He doesn’t have big sum of wealth and if he could have more he would go even bigger help but for the meantime he is doing the best he can.  At least to know you are extending your hands in as much as you can is something that is rewarding, fulfilling, and accomplishing.  Thanksgiving becomes more special when doing it in a most secretive way and sharing of blessings is more meaningful when giving it to those in greater need.  And as much as possible, help in sincere and most humble way.  There are other ways to celebrate your day, give thanks and share of blessings – just find your means.

Same here, I am in a point that enjoying thru party is no longer my interest.   First, I have the priority to live my life as simple as can be as my advocacy.  I feel partying is a fixation of eating full as relief of our mortal body.  And for one thing, I am promoting health and one way of keeping in control of our health is limiting our consumption of unhealthy foods, which most of the cases is prepared in table in birthday parties.  I have done this many times in the pasts, so why not make different this time?  It is not breaking the old tradition that we’ve lived and grown with, or suggesting not to follow them or saying they are wrong, or it is not losing human and social inter-relation but my principle is that anything we do should be in moderation.  All year-round, we have attended so much celebration that we share foods and drinks.  I am not saying abstain them but what I am just trying to emphasize is choose the most important.  Do not pretend or fool yourself and mistaken or cover up your food addiction that you are just hanging out with others while the truth is that you are simply voracious which is a reflection of your extravagance and mundane living.