IS GOD EXISTS?

If God really exists, why do evils still happen?  Why are there so many people hurting, suffering and in so much pain?  We had world wars, scarcity, AIDS, 9/11 terror, Holocaust, Syrian slaughters, crimes, children raped, innocent victims of war, diseases, violence, injustice, abandoned children, sick people, etcetera.  Why the great loving, so merciful and absolute powerful God allows sufferings to happen?  How God allow these things to happen?  Is there really God?  What if there is no God?

Is God exists?  This is one of the most common argument yet most tricking questions an Atheist can ask and actually a potent weapon they can challenge against the believers.  If there is existing God, why God allows these bad things to happen?  We are saying God is good, full of love and powerful but why God let them us experience them.  If the God knows everything that means God have foreseen all of these, then why God still allowed them to happen?   If God is the almighty, why allow evil to win over good?  I cannot give a complete answer on this.  We cannot have full answer on this world.  This is a question as old as our belief.  First of all, we must recognize that we were created human with minds that can only use to the extent that it allows.  To understand beyond, you must have faith to believe that mind fails to appreciate.

All sufferings, or say all bad things are man-made. People have the freewill to make their own life.  We chose to become the evil we are.  Whatever we received, they are the consequences of our ill deeds.  God is not the creator of evil and suffering.  People made the world war, sexual diseases, terrorism, and etcetera.  God did not kill the innocent children in war but the selfish and apathetic people.   Then why God allowed this selfish and apathetic people succeed? God called His flock but is HHpeople do not come.  Adults know the rights and wrongs but these innocent children, the sinless 3 years old child or maybe 8 months old was raped or murdered, how is that can explain?  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Where is God when these were happening?  These questions bring back us to the evils that men have made.  The parents, guardian and the adult companion of the child victim must watch, protect, guide, pray and teach good deeds to their children.  Something is wrong with these adult that if they were just watching and taking care their children, these children may not perish.  If the parents knew how to pray the protection of God over their children, they would not get raped.  But then it may ask why these children must pay the sins that they did not make or the shortfall of their parents?  Satan is the one behind all rapes and people are the evildoers, then does it mean the evil is more powerful than good?  God showed the way out to Satan but people chose the worldly things.  And still ask, why then God still allowed these to happen.  Because, all experience be good or bad will make us stronger and closer to God.  God wants us to realize and learn what is good and bad.  Then why just didn’t God create the world with no suffering?  Actually it was.  The world was perfect, no harms, no sorrow, no suffering, and no sins until men did.  It always goes back to men’s ill doings.

God exists, the problem is that people do not go to Him. That is why there is so much pain and misery in this world.  People are themselves to blame that happens.  If someone ask, an atheist or an agnostic, if God exist why then God is allowing bad things to happen, ask them first the standards to define good or bad things  They will say evil as per their explanation but for us it might just a blessing in disguise, so how can you say it is bad indeed?  It is better to live believing the existence of God because in here you can make your life to live good.  If you die and you learned there is no God – good for you because you lived your life good.  But if there is, sorry for you but you will receive the punishment waiting for you.

KABSA

Kabsa is a traditional Arabic dish originated from Yemen and most commonly served in the Middle East countries.  By using only the main ingredients, this is the simplest and basic way of cooking Kabsa.  I intended not to use spices since the intention is only to cook plain Kabsa and besides spices are depending from our choice of taste and it just varies from geographical locations.  To start, we'll need to prepare the following:

1 cup of Basmati rice.

3 pieces of Chicken breasts cut into halves each

1 table spoon of Ghee (option butter)

1 big onion cut into quartets

3 big tomatoes chopped and 1 cut into quartets.

1 small carrot shredded optional).

Salt and pepper to taste

Few Gerger for garnish (Arugula)

Here is how to cook:
 1. Soak ng Basmati rice for 30 minutes.
 2. Heat the pan and melt the ghee.
 3. Sauté the onion then follow the tomatoes.
 4. Add the chicken breast and stir for five minutes.
 5. Add ¼ cup of water to cook the chicken breast for 15 minutes.
 6. Add the rice, stir and cover.
 7. Check and stir from time to time.
 8. You will need to add more water until the rice is cooked. Use hot water and put little amount of water one at a time.
 9. Place in a large platter, topping the chicken.
 10.Put pieces of gerger leaves for garnish.
 11.And lastly, just eat right.

Happy Saudi National Day.

By Alex V. Villamayor

September 23, 2016

TUNGKOL SA KOMISYON NG KARAPATANG-PANTAO

Kapag ang isang matalinong tao na kilala ko ay narinig kong bumabatikos sa Komisyon ng Karapatang-Pantao (CHR) na sinasabing mas kinakampihan nito ang mga kriminal kaysa sa mga biktima, wala daw silbi at pampagulo lamang, nalulungkot ako kasi hindi ko akalain na maling-mali ang magiging pagkakaintindi nila kung ano ang kahulugan ng CHR.  Ang akala ko, dahil sila yung masasabi nating marurunong nuon sa high school, o iyung mga nagtapos ng kolehiyo o mga pumasa pa sa board exam ay mas maiintindihan nila kung ano ang CHR.  Mawalang-galang, pero parang katulad na lamang sila ng maraming may mahinang pang-unawa na nagkukumagalit, naghuhurementado at nagngangangawa na nagkalat sa social media pero wala namang saysay kung ano ang ikinagagalit nila dahil parang aso lamang sila na tumatahol sa maling puno.

Una, magsimula tayo sa tanong na “Ano ang CHR?”.  Kung nasagot nila nang tama ay ang maaaring isipin kong ibang dahilan ngkanilang malaking galit sa CHR ay maaaring mayroon lamang silang personal na galit sa CHR, may kulay politika, nakikigalit lang dahil sumusunod sa marami, o ayaw lang nilang intindihin ang CHR.  Ngunit kung talagang mali ang pagkaka-alam nila ay mababawasan nito ang paghanga ko sa kanila dahil sa tindi ng pagbatikos nila ay maling-mali naman pala sila.  Ang CHR ay ang komisyon na itinatag upang tulungang ipagtanggol ang sino mang tao na tinatanggalan ng karapatang pantao ng mga tao na nasa gobyerno o mga nasa poder.  Maliwanag na sino mang tao na nalabag lamang ang karapatang-pantao.  Ibig sabihin, mapabiktima man o mapa-may sala ay ipagtatanggol ng CHR basta sila ay nahubaran ng karapatang pantao.  Ang ating batas na ang nag-uutos nito kaya wala ng dapat na pagdududa tungkol dito.  Ang nakakalungkot, maraming tao ang hindi alam kung anu-ano ba ang mga karapatang pantao.  Sa nangyayaring pagbatikos ng maraming tao, lumalabas na ang pagkakaalam nila sa CHR ay dapat tugisin at litisin ng komisyon ang mga gumawa ng krimen para malutas ang mga kaso.  Hindi.  Hindi ito gagawin ng CHR dahil hindi ito ang trabaho nila.  Ang gagawa nito ay ang ating kapulisan.   Lumalabas pa na ang pagkakaalam ng maraming tao ay basta’t may ginawang krimen ang isang tao ay maaari nang gawin ng sinomang tao ang gusto niyang gawin sa nakagawa ng krimen.  Muli, hindi.  Maling-mali ang paniniwalang ito dahil kapag sinaktan ng nakahuling pulis, barangay tanod o ng kahit Punong-Alkalde ang isang taong gumawa ng krimen bago ito isuplong sa pulis,at ito na ang pagkakataon na papasok ang CHR.  Kaya ang nagiging pagkakaintindi ng mga tao ay ipinagtatanggol o kinakampihan ng CHR ang mga kriminal pero ang totoo ay hindi talaga.  Dahil ang lulutasin lang ng CHR ay ang nakitang pananakit sa kriminal at hindi ang nangyaring krimen.

Itatanong marahil kung paano naman ang biktima.    Madalas ipagsigawan ng mga kritiko ay hindi nila naririnig na ipinagtatanggol ng CHR ang mga biktima ng pangagahasa at mga pinapatay.  May karapatang pantao din ang mga biktima pero ang lahat ay depende sa sitwasyon.  Nagkakataon na talagang sa mga pangyayaring ganito ay mas madalas na nakikita ang paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa mga suspek at criminal pero yung mga kinukupkop ng CHR na battered wife, biktima ng human trafficking, minaltrato, at iba pa ay hindi nakikita ng mga kritiko dahil iba ang sitwasyon kung paano sila natagpuan ng CHR kesa dito sa mga pumuputok  na balita.   Kung ang biktima sa kasamaang-palad ay pinatay, hindi masasabing tinananggalan o nawalan siya ng karapatang pantao dahil ang nawala sa kanya ay ang Sibil na karapatan (Civil Rights o yung karapatan niya bilang mamamamayan) – kaya hindi ito tinututukan ng CHR dahil hindi nila iyun trabaho kundi ng mga kapulisan.   Ang mga halimabawa na ang isang holdaper, nangahasa, o nagbebenta ng bawal na gamut ay nadakip ng pulis at naikulong nang walang pananakit, panghihiya at pangaabuso sa kanila ay hindi papasukin ng CHR.  Ngunit kapag ang isang holdaper, nangahasa, o magnanakaw ay nang madakip ay binugbog, ipinahiya o itinali na parang baboy / hayop bago ikulong, habang kung ang isang tao ay biktima ng pagpapahirap, panghihiya,  o panggigipit ay duon papasok ang CHR dahil ang mga ito ay ang halimbawa ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao. 

Tandaan natin na hindi lahat ng krimen ay naroon ang CHR dahil yun lamang mayroong pagmamalabis ng mga taong-gobyerno at mga nasa poder sa karapatang-pantao tulad ng pambubugbog, panghihiya, panggigipit o anu mang pagmaltrato lamang sa sinomang tao ang lulutasin ng CHR.  Kailangang panindigan, suportahan at patatagin ang pagtatanggol sa karapatang pantao dahil kung wala nito ay maabuso ang ibat-ibang makahayop na gawain.  Una, hindi maitatama ng isang mali ang isang pagkakamali.  Kung ang iisipin natin ay dapat lamang na bugbugin ang mga sala dahil masama silang tao, anu ngayon ang palagay natin sa ating sarili?   Kung ang katwiran natin lahat ay pinatay ang kaanak mo kaya pinatay mo rin siya, edi papatayin ka naman ng kamag-anak ng pinatay mo at ganun din ang gagawin ng kamag-anak mo sa kamag-anak ng pinatay mo na pumatay sa iyo.  Magiging ubusan na lang ng lahi?

Ang problema lang kasi sa maraming tao ay hindi muna nila alamin kung ano ang bagay-bagay na kanilang babatikusin bago sila magkumagalit dahil nagmumukha lamang silang malaking hangal.  At ang hirap sa maramng tao ay hindi nila maunawaan na sino mang tao na nagkasala na agad pinaparusahan ay nawawalan na ito ng kanyang karapatang-pantao at kahit kriminal man ay may karapatang pantao din.  Simpleng tanong lang – sa palagay natin kung mali ang ginagawa ng CHR ay hahayaan na lamang ba ito ng ating batas na magpatuloy?   Siguro naman ay alam na ng mga matatalinong nangagalaiti sa galit sa CHR ang sagot sa katanungang ito.

BEING A SUPPORTER

I am pro-Duterte and I support him but I am not a biased and loyalist supporter who will just always conform, bow and say yes even when see something I do not like or I find it wrong.  I will criticize if I have to do it but I will still support him as long as our leading destination are in the same track which is the cleaning up of beaurocracy.  To sing alleluia doesn’t mean the only way to show support, I can still criticize but not to destruct.  I am neutral and I have to be fair in everything.   I am just afraid on his followers who have lot of pressure to keep diplomatic, objective and calm as possible.  In here comes the categorically called loyalist than just a mere supporter.  I don’t want to find out one day these people become adoring supporters and ass-licking loyalists defending every action, curse, outburst and every decision of the President.  This is frightening for the supporters to become loyalist who do not accept criticism, do not listen explanation and do not see other than theirs.  And at the same time, this is also frightening for the administration because when there is no one opposing, when everybody keep silent, when people surrender their rights, and when we tolerate all – then everything will seem to be perfectly right and this is wrong.

I am a supporter.  I am Duterte’s supporter but I don’t want to be called dutertard for I still have that space for me.  I am a supporter but I am not tolerant, I must reasonable and neutral.  With no offense to those people who are fine to be called dutertards, I cannot categorically call myself a loyalist supporter who is aggressive, biased and insensitive.  People must be loyal to the country, not to the leader because leaders will go but not the country.  It is acceptable for supporters to violently response against the negative criticism but to justify everything about theirs every now and then is something that should slow down.  Sadly, what I see today are supporters who become unfair and obviously partisan.  For them it is all about them and theirs – a show of exaggerated sense of chauvinism like a horse who has covers on the sides of both eyes.  This is not patriotism but idolism and it will show more personal than national, making to protect the leader than the country.  And it is happening in different circumstances like when these people slam a political figure about the picture showing that person with a convicted drug lord and called them immoral but not when Duterte’s picture with a different drug lord has surfaced in social media, this is obviously prejudice.  When supporters bashed a noted and influential political family about their alleged connection with communist but not when Duterte negotiated with its chief founder and planning to free the political detainees soon, is it fair?  When we are opposing the different deceits of China but the administration today seems to accord with China and the supporters are silent about this, then this is really biased.   Watching their behavior, you can ask where the change is.  The spurt of various web sites and fan pages like sprouting mushrooms that are just all same purpose is to destroy enemies, promote their interest and spread propaganda.  People are still the same old politics who are still enjoying to expose defects to destroy their political and personal enemies, where is the change?   When the people we saw cackling in the social media now, these are still the same people who used to mock the political figure, where is the change?  I see the same pattern of Marcos loyalists.

Supporters must be logically realistic.  They must have presence of mind to weight, justify and rationalize things fairly.  There is nothing wrong to fight for what you believe in as your show of support to your political group.  It is difficult to see yourself but if you think you always retaliate those who oppose your group, then pause for a while and self check.   But for you to be able to see and admit the flaw of your own and appreciate the strength of others means you are open minded and that is good, that is healthy.  I have been a pro-administration, opposition and critics in different times but every time I was in any of these situations, I admire and object whether or not it is pertaining to my group or not.  And it will not be difficult for me because this is my nature.

RESTING PLACE FOR HEROES ONLY

I respect President Duterte (DU30)’s very stand about former President Ferdinand E. Marcos (FM)’s burial in “Libingan ng Mga Bayani’ (LNMB).  The LNMB is a national cemetery established as a fitting resting place for military personnel as well as Filipino heroes and martyrs.  The president‘s take is clear: being a former president, FM can be buried in the LNMB and the law doesn’t distinguish whether a president is good or bad.  Besides, DU30 wants to put closure on this long overdue issue, offer reconciliation and do move-on.  But my take on this political issue is not affirmative to DU30’s stand.  First of all, FM is not a hero.  He did not die fighting for the country but died exiled.  For that alone, it is questionably to bury him in the LNMB.  It is true that FM was a president but he was not just a president that was dictator and abusive but an ousted one.  Dictatorship is not heroism.  For the sake of delicadeza, how can you align such kind of man with those honourable personas laying in the heroes’ grave?  Where is your respect to the remains of the respected deceased?   The opposing people are protecting the very name, history and legacy of LNMB.  Burying the body of FM in LNMB will mean that killing political foes, abusing the powers and authority, and stealing from public office are perfectly fine.  Yes, LNMB is not just for President and heroes but also for Filipino soldiers too.  Arguing the point that FM was a soldier is correct, but his being soldier is marred with his fabricated fake medals and fraudulent claim appearing hero in leading a guerrilla unit during the Japanese occupation doing falsification of military records and documents via the force called “The Maharlika”.  Why then bury a dishonest soldier along with dignified soldiers risked their lives?  It is not to say it is just a grave – no, it is heroes’ grave.  If that is the case, will it mean an ordinary victim of hit and run can bury in LNMB or the family of a drug lord man in uniform killed in a police operation can request to bury the body in LNMB?  I hope President DU30 do not overlooked that while the laws clearly qualify previous presidents, it also clearly states that personnel who were dishonourably discharged or involved in moral turpitude cannot qualify for interment.

Burying FM in LNMB will not help the country to restore the reconciliation between the rivals and opposing political parties but it will heed more gap between them, bringing disunity even worse and will cement totally the wall separating them because it is an issue of history, names, honour and reputation.  It is not just for the sake to say move on.  How dare them to say move on if they do not really care about your sufferings on the first place?  Realtalk, it is very easy to say move on if you are not in the position of the aggrieved.  And Marcos family is not even feel sorry for those who were killed and have died during the Martial Law, doesn’t even regretful for what wrong have transpired during their reign in power and instead glorifying Martial Law as the greatest thing that happened in the history of Philippines. This is not just simply to move on, this is about protecting the history, fighting the act of making wrong the right, preventing to rewrite the history, and protecting the legacy, story, credibility and reputation of LNMB itself.  How can you forgive if the oppressors do not ask your forgiveness?  How can you give the forgiveness to those who do not know to repent and say sorry?  And how do you forgive if these people are not admitting mistakes on the first place?  It is not just to move on but it is abstaining to tolerate the mistake.   Because once you ignored the mistake, you will let to forgive and forget the next coming mistakes again and again.  Learned from the history: if the Marcoses were not allowed to return from their exile in Hawaii, this national issue will not exist.  Just to let them home, they had agreed to bury the remains of FM in Ilocos where they are truly loved.  But the Marcoses today are not honouring this agreement.   Then what is next after this burial?  Knowing now their tactics and their close relationship with DU30, the Marcos family will demand more and more.

This is a long outstanding political and national issue that has been debated by our great lawmakers and political analysts but still there is no closing resolution.  People representing different opinion and parties continue to clash.  If we want to put closure on this, once and for all let the people say their heart and mind.  Let the voice of the people be heard and let them decide.  Held a plebiscite or referendum and ask the people whether or not FM should inter in the LNMB and thru that, the people will have spoken.   Few years from now, the people affected or not affected directly or indirectly by martial law will be gone so it has to do the referendum in our time.  Whether the result is favour or the other hand, at least it is the majority decision that should be respected and acknowledged.

MAGING PILANTROPYA

Kung talagang may sumosobra lang sa pera ko, iyung kapag naibibigay ko na ang mga reposibilidad ko sa pangangailangan ng pamilya ko, obligasyon sa bayarin at nakapagtago na ako ng para sa kinabukasan ko at may sobra pa rin ay gusto ko talagang tumulong sa mga taong kapus-palad.  Maaaring sabihin ng iba na kahit naman tayo mismo ay kinakapos ay maaari pa rin naman tayong makatulong sa pamamag-itan ng paminsan-minsan na pakikiramay, pagbabahagi ng kahit anong maliliit na mayroon tayo at mga tulong na walang katumbas na pera.  Tama ang mga ito pero ang ibig kong sabihin ay gusto ko sana magkaroon ng adbokasiya na aking gagawin habang ako ay nabubuhay o iyung kawang-gawa na palagian at tuloy-tuloy kong gagawin.

Kung papalaring maging mayaman talaga ako ay gusto kong unang maging proyekto ko ay tulungan ang mga mahihirap na batang mag-aaral sa pamamag-itan ng pagbibigay sa kanila ng pagkain upang makapag-aral sila nang hindi kumakalam ang sikmura.  Mahirap mag-aral nang gutom lalo na kapag umuwi sa bahay nang walang madadatnan na pagkain dahil wala naman kasiguraduhan kung mayroong mailuluto ang mga magulang.  Alam ko ang mga ganitong sitwasyon, at alam ko rin na karamihan sa mga batang nasa pampublikong paaralan ay hindi na kumakain sa bahay bago pumasok o umuwi, o kaya ay maliit lang ang baon na pera at maaaring wala pa ngang baon na pera na pambili ng pagkain.  May mga kailangan ding bilhin ang mga estudyante para sa pag-aaral tulad ng papel, lapis, at kung ano-anu pa na hindi naman basta mauutang sa tindahan kaya yung para sa pangkain sana ay mas ginagastos na lang nila sa gamit sa pag-aaral.  Mayroon akong simpatiya sa mga batang mag-aaral lalo na yung mga mahihirap na nasa pampublikong paaralan dahil wala silang pera.  May punto sa trabaho ko nuon bilang isang kawani ng bangko na nang may batang kailangang kumuha ng pera sa kanyang maliit na ipon na halos masagad na ay binigyan ko pa ng sarili kong pera dahil sa awa ko.  Alam ko, mahirap mag-aral nang gutom dahil may panahong naranasan ko ito.  Kaya gusto kong magkaroon ng lugar kung saan ang mga batang kapos sa pambili ng pagkain ay maaaring dumaan sa aking lugar upang makakain kahit kaunti o maiinitan ang sikmura kahit papano.  Ang mahalaga ay malagyan man lang ng pagkain ang tiyan ng batang mag-aaral na kailangang malusog ang isip at katawan upang makapag-isip nang maayos sa pag-sabak sa pag-aaral.  Hindi naman kinakailangang magarbong pagkain, mga ordinaryong almusal at miryendang Pilipino para sa batang Pilipino dahil ang mahalaga ay makakain sila ng tamang pagkain para sa kanilang kalusugan.

Mahirap ang magpa-aral.  Pagkatapos bayaran ng mga magulang ang matrikula, libro at uniporme bukod pa yung kapag may mga proyekto sa paaralan, ang pang-araw-araw na gastusin naman ang iisipin ng mga magulang.  Ang sabi nga ay mas madaling gawan ng paraan iyung mga bayarin para sa matrikula pero yung araw-araw na baon na ang mahirap igapang at gawan ng paraan.  Kaya marami ang mga estudiyante ang hindi na umaabot ng pagtatapos ng klase ay tumitigil na lamang sa pag-aaral dahil hindi makayang tustusan ng mga magulang ang pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan.  Naramdaman ko ito dahil ilang beses din akong nagpa-aral at sa kabila ng mayroon naman akong trabaho ay alam kong tipid na tipid na pinipilit ng aking pinag-aaral na pagkasyahin ang aking ibinibigay – gasino pa kaya iyung mga walang tiyak na trabaho?

Marami pa akong gustong gawin bilang pagtulong tulad ng pagpapatayo ng pangkabuhayan para sa mga mahihirap, pagtulong sa mga batang lansangan at mga inaabuso, at pagsuporta sa Inang Kalikasan.  Ngunit mas gusto kong maunang gawin ang pagbibigay ng pagkain sa mga nagugutom na batang mag-aaral na mahihirap.  Sa ganung paraan man lamang ay matulungan ko sila na mabawasan ang kanilang dalahing alalahanin tulad ng bayarin sa iba pa nilang pangangailangan sa paaralan, matuto at makatapos ng pag-aaral upang maging maganda ang susunod na henerasyon ng lipunan natin.  Masarap isipin na maging pilantropya at marami ang maaaring pagpilian upang magawa mo ang iyong pagtulong.  Marami ang mga institusyong pangkawang-gawa tulad ng bahay-ampunan, ng may kapansanan, kababaihang minamaltrato na naghihintay lamang sa mga may mabubuting kalooban upang magpahatid ng tulong.

ON COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Disclaimer:  Some parts of this write-up were taken from others’ points of view during a group discussion.

Unfortunately, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) today has a bad public reputation of alleged defending the (presumed) criminals.  Every now and then I see peoples’ sarcastic and hate comments against CHR.  People slums, slays and badmouthing the commission on social media and even in news.  But do we know what is CHR?  Are people just becoming too judgmental and prejudice that perhaps we need to know the duties, purposes and obligations mandated to CHR before we speak or criticize?  Come to think of it, most people who sling mud at the CHR are either have no clue or completely do not care what the commission stands for.

CHR was created and mandated to investigate, promote and protect the human rights of the person that were abused by Authorities regardless of the person’s status. Once their rights have violated they will need help to defend their rights through the aides if CHR.  In cases where the suspect was persecuted or killed (whether a thief, drug pusher, rapist, etc.) without due process, automatically it is CHR task to investigate (and I repeat, suspected or convicted criminals killed without due process) because that moment of persecuting or killing the suspect or criminal, right there and then his right to defend himself was stripped off.  It is now job of CHR to enter into the loop, because this is their purpose why they were created.  I hope people understand that whether it is suspected or presumed criminal (even the accused and proven criminal), they constitutionally still have rights and are still not guilty until sentenced.  Do not hate the people behind CHR otherwise scrutinize the law who mandated them.

And you may ask how about the victims of these (suspected or not) criminals?  To begin with, the victims are already having their rights carried out in so far as the criminals are being prosecuted.  But their rights will be defended by the Police.  That very moment, the victims have the government and the people of the Philippines to defend them.  The suspected criminals who were killed or mishandled are the ones that need their human rights to be defended because they're the ones in danger of not having them properly respected in the first place.  And CHR is mandated to defend them (if abused by authority) - no other recourse but to do the mandate.  Sounds ridiculous?  But it is true.  Please don’t get me wrong, I am not antagonist here but I am just trying to speak out my comprehension in the law, maybe I am mistaken.  I am a pacifist person that hates violence and definitely I am not glorifying crimes and criminals.  But when I see the violent reactions of netizens, I can’t help but to sympathize with the CHR because they were misjudged.

CHR is not anti-victims and it is not that they do not defend them but it is because their job is to give justice to the oppressed (by authority) who in these cases are happened to be the persecuted suspects / criminals.  It may looks like CHR is defending the criminals but actually not because it has to understand that CHR is not defending the act of the criminals over the victim but only the treatment over the criminals.  It is not to acquit them from their crime.  CHR will not justify why the victim was killed but rather will investigate the manner how the suspects and criminals were persecuted because this is what the law said (not by CHR but by law).  And by the way, who is to say that the CHR doesn’t step in for victims?  People see only the sensational news without knowing the continued battles of CHR against human trafficking and abuse (raped, battering).  If we never heard of these is because media do not asked and / or media only shows the hot issues.  Think of it: we do not see CHR intervenes in all crimes.  For the record, CHR is not defending all accused suspects.  This is because CHR will go into the scene only when the suspect was mishandled (worse if killed) by authorities without due process.  If the suspect was handled properly then there is no argument.  And who knows maybe CHR is helping the victims but we do not know because it is not reported in the news.  Did media go the office of the commission to interview who, how many and what they have accomplished?  CHR becomes incredibly hated because most people on social media like Facebook are uninformed (and maybe stupid) who treat Facebook posts as a Wikipedia articles.  Unfortunately this people represent the majority that set mind-conditioning for the others until creates mob mentality.

Despite the negative impression on CHR, I would rather want the existence of the Commission on Human Rights because it is a good idea and I see the relevance of it.  If you want to know what is life if without CHR, then look back the dark years of martial law and you will see what will happen if there is no CHR.  I think most Filipinos don't know what human right really is unless or until (which we may not wish to happen) it will compromise their very own rights or any of their family and relatives.  I am pretty sure if someone who kept badmouthing the CHR will need the help of the commission if ever happened they were framed or put in a disadvantageous position like the criminals, at which point they change their tune 180° and start begging for mercy - such a rather selfish view.

THE SEVENTH BIRTHDAY

In a night of loss

I come to meet with the Lord.

To submit some burden

weighing to my load.

I want to please Him,

colour again my world.

Just like when I was,

yes, only seven years old.

Back then, life was filled

with love, joy and hope.

When in times

I cannot forget the smiles I wore.

But now I’d realized

life is not always a child’s zone.

Until I never feel

to celebrate the day I was born.

It’s that time again

but I feel nothing special today.

No twinkling stars

unlike on my seventh birthday.

Tonight I prayed to the Lord

to please if He may.

Grant me the sweetness

like the same old day.

THE 7^th BIRTHDAY

By Alex V. Villamayor

September 3, 2016

MGA MAGULANG SA ANAK

Kapag nakapagpalaki ka ng isang anak na may malasakit at may inaakong obligasyon sa inyong pamilya, mapalad ka na dahil sa panahon ngayon, bihira sa mga kabataan ang maka-pamilya. Karamihan sa kanila ay mahilig sa barkada at paglalaboy, at mas gusto nilang pagbutihin at intindihin ang kanilang sarili.  Kapag nakatapos sa pag-aaral ang isang bata at nakakuha ng trabaho, ang kadalasang unang iniisip nila ay ang pagbigyan naman muna ang sarili na ibili ng mga gamit, damit, sapatos, alahas, at kung anu-anu pa. Kaya magpasalamat tayo kapag ang anak natin na nang makakita ng trabaho ay ibinibigay niya ang mas malaking bahagi ng kanyang pera sa kanyang magulang. Swerte ng magulang kapag ang kanyang anak ay pinupunan ang malaking kakulangan ng kanilang pamilya sa halip na sarili niya.

Kung ang bata ay buwan-buwang nagbibigay kahit ang natitira sa kanya ay kaunti na lamang, kung alam naman natin na hindi kalakihan ang kanyang kinikita, lalo na’t alam nating baguhan pa lamang siya sa trabaho ay huwag na nating hanapan ng mas malaki. At huwag na huwag nating ikumpara sa ibang bata na nakapagbibigay ng malaki dahil hinding-hindi sila magkapareho ng kinalalagyan.  Unang-una, ang magulang ng ibang bata ay hindi katulad mong magulang na mapag-hanap.  Maaaring mas malaki nga ang kinikita ng ibang bata ay mas malaki naman ang pangangailangan ng inyong pamilya kaya huwag mong hamakin ang kayang ibigay ng iyong anak.

Unang-una ay hindi natin sila dapat obligahin na magbigay o tumulong upang makabawi sa ating ipinagpa-aral sa ating anak dahil tungkulin ng bawat magulang ang pagtapusin sa pag-aaral ang mga anak nila.  Oo dapat lang tumulong ang isang bata kapag nakikita niyang nangangailangan ang kanilang pamilya pero may kakayahan ba ang bata?  Kung ano ang kanyang nakakayanan ay ipagpasalamat natin at huwag nating sagarin at sobrahan.  Napaka-manhid naman ng isang magulang kung isusumbat nila ang ginastos sa pagpapaaral at hahanapan sila ng higit pa.  Hindi na nga maramdaman ng bata ang kinita niya sa kanyang pinagpagurang trabaho, ni hindi niya maintindi at masunod ang sarili dahil kulang na kulang na nga ang kanyang kinikita.

Tayong mga Filipino ay nasa ugali na ang magsilbi sa pamilya.  Maka-pamilya kasi tayo at walang masama dito.  Kaya kahit hindi tayo obligahin ng mga magulang natin ay tayo na mismo ang nagkukusa.  Pero hanggat maari, kung kaya naman natin ay hayaan na lang natin na paghandaan ng mga bata ang kanilang kinabukasan.  Iyun nga lamang, mayroong mga magulang na kapos din kaya hinahanapan nila ang kanilang mga anak.  Sana lang ay huwag nating itulak ang ating mga anak na sa kawalan ng magagawang paraan ay nakakapagdesisyon sila ng mali para lang malutas ang pinagdaraanan nilang mag-anak.

Mga magulang, magpasalamat na kayo kung ang inyong anak ay tumutulong sa inyong pamilya ngunit ituloy pa rin ninyo ang inyong pagtratrabaho hanggang kaya ninyo kahit mayroon kayong mga anak na tumutulong. Ituloy ninyo ang pagtratrabaho hindi na para sa mga bata kundi para na sa inyong mag-asawa dahil sa huli ay kayong mag-asawa lang ang magkasama.  Mga bata, matuwa kayo kapag hindi kayo obligadong buhayin ang inyong pamilya.  Masuwerte kayo dahil may mga magulang kayo na hindi kayo hinahanapan ng pagganti sa kanilang pagpapaaral sa inyo.  Kaya pilitin ninyong mapaunlad ang inyong kinikita upang sa panahong kayo na ang maging magulang ay ganito din ang inyong gagawin sa inyong mga anak.

Alex V. Villamayor

September 1, 2016