Am I a Responsible Filipino?

In a democratic country, the absolute power to elect government officials rest on the hands of its citizens. The Philippines, being democratic, depends on its people to put into power the right politician for the job. This brings in the people’s Right to Suffrage or the Right to Vote.

 

Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/06/17/954861/comelec-forms-committee-barangay-elections

Article V, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that “Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise qualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they purpose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.”

Suffrage is considered one of the most important civic responsibilities of the citizens of a nation. Being tasked to elect government officials into power is not an easy task. The power lies in the people’s hands during the day of election. But after elections, the people seem to lose their voice. Some no longer care what happens to the government and where the money goes. While some are active enough to get to the streets and protest the way government officials abuse their power, some are just contented to watch and remain silent. Our civic responsibility does not end after casting our votes, after the results are announced or even after the officials started their term. Why? After we have elected the government officials into power, another very important civic responsibility comes into action.

Being a democratic country, we have strong belief on the words “a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Although this was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg with a different meaning intended, this quote has already been a sort of basis for what a government should be especially in a democratic country like the Philippines..

 

Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/28702-2013-philippine-elections-guide

After elections, the elected officials will be starting their term. For some, this will also be the start of abuse of power, graft and corruption. When Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, III ran and won as the 15^th President of the Republic of the Philippines in 2010, he promised the Filipino people the “tuwid na daan” system aiming to eradicate graft and corruption in the Philippine government during his six year term. The Filipinos believed in him and in his promise that is why he was elected to power. We expected the Philippines too rise from the ashes of a third world country and once again rise as the Tiger of Asia like that during the term of former President Fidel V. Ramos. We expected our economy to rise and bring a better life for Filipino people. We expected an improvement of the crisis on poverty, lack of housing, illiteracy and lack of jobs. We expected a more transparent, clean and honest management of the taxpayers money.

Now, after three years since PNOY started his term, where is this SO-CALLED “tuwid na daan”? What happened? The Philippines even seemed to sink lower and lower into the mud and quagmire poverty, graft and corruption, and other social and economical problems as stated above. As Filipinos, it is our duty to be watchful and vigilant on what our government officials are during. As citizens of this nation, we have every right to participative in forums, assemblies, meetings and court hearings to be updated on what is happening in the government. This is a bigger civic responsibility of every Filipino, young and old, male or female, educated or not.

The Constitution should have included in the checks and balances theory that the people should also have the right to put into check and scrutinize carefully the decisions of the three branches of the government. Remember that as citizens of this democratic country, the people have the power to elect our government officials into power. Therefore, our officials are accountable to the Filipino people.

Many Filipinos are not aware of this bigger civic responsibility which rests on their shoulders. This is a right provided for us by the 1987 Constitution. Many Filipinos would complain of how the government is being run but they are not doing anything about. Be more vigilant, be more participative in the affairs of our country and you will have every reason to complain. You have every right to do so. Always remember that your rights do not end after the elections.

STRESSED is DESSERTS spelled backwards

According to Wikipedia, Stress is a person's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition or a stimulus. Stress can be very bad on your body if you don't learn how to handle it. Stress is a body's method of reacting to a challenge. According to the stressful event, the body's way to respond to stress is by sympathetic nervous system activation which results in the fight-or-flight response. Stress typically describes a negative condition or a positive condition that can have an impact on a person's mental and physical well-being.

Source: http://tfosuccess.com/stress-management/

The term stress had none of its contemporary connotations before the 1920s. It is a form of the Middle English destresse, derived via Old French from the Latin stringere, "to draw tight." The word had long been in use in physics to refer to the internal distribution of a force exerted on a material body, resulting in strain. In the 1920s and 1930s biological and psychological circles occasionally used the term to refer to a mental strain or to a harmful environmental agent that could cause illness. Stress as an explanation of lived experience is absent from both lay and expert life narratives before the 1930s".

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(biology))

          Each one of us experiences stress almost everyday due to many different factors, sources, stimulus or condition. We encounter stress at home, in school, in the workplace and well, practically everywhere. Stress has become a part of a person’s daily life, whether he or she likes it or not.

According to www.medicanewstoday, the most common causes of stress are: Bereavement, Family problems, Financial matters, Illness, Job issues, Lack of time, Moving home, Relationships (including divorce). Other factors include: Abortion, Becoming a mother or a father, Conflicts in the workplace, Driving in bad traffic, Fear of crime, Losing your job, Miscarriage, Noisy neighbors, Overcrowding, Pollution, Pregnancy, Retirement, Too much noise, Uncertainty (awaiting laboratory test results, academic exam results, job interview results, etc).

          However, a lot of scientists, doctors and psychologists have conducted tests and experiments in determining and studying stress and what causes it. A lot of studies was also conducted aiming to come up with better if not the best solution to combat stress. Since nothing is impossible with science, scientists and other experts believe that they can be able to come up with the best anti-stress formula.

          In the meantime, doctors and experts advise three methods in lessening and combating if not eradicating stress. These are Self-Help, Self-Management, and Medication.

 

Source: http://willgallucci.com/wordpress/?p=167

Self – Help Method

·         Exercise – exercise is very important in maintaining a stress free life after having been proven and tested to affect a person’s over-all we being. Exercise is one way of releasing stress trapped in the body. A 30-minute jog can help releasing stress.

·         Proper nutrition – eating the right food ensures that the body gets the right and exact amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed to combat stress.

·         Drugs and Alcohol – besides being harmful to the body, they do not give any benefit except satisfaction. Some think that by drinking alcohol and taking drugs, they can release the stress in their body. What they don’t know that alcohol and drugs can even add to the stress they already have.

·         Relaxation and Meditation – for me, this is one of the most effective anti-stress formulas. Whenever you feel stressed out, calm down and meditate. Do some yoga or have a massage and you will surely feel stress-free after a few minutes. Sometimes, stress is brought about by to much work. Conditioning your mind and body helps in combatting stress.

·         Time – have some time for yourself. Life is not always work, work, work! Take a few minutes off every now and then. Why not watch a movie by yourself or go on a trip.

·         Caffeine – coffee contains caffeine that aids in combatting sleepiness but not all the time. Remember, too much caffeine is not good for the body.

·         Division of Labor – do not ever take on more than what you can manage. Divide the responsibilities among yourselves. The more responsibilities you have, the bigger the stress.

·         Breathing – proper breathing aids in combatting stress. Learn some breathing exercises and put it into good use whenever you feel stressed out.

·         Talk – stress is caused by problems so try to talk to someone like your family, classmates, friends, or colleagues. Just let it all out and listen to their advice. Before you know it, you will feel stress free.

·         Laugh – remember, laughter is the best medicine. Whenever you feel stressed out, watch a comedy movie or go to a comedy bar. Laugh out loud and your stress will fly away.

·         Seek professional help – if all else fails, go see a doctor or a psychologist. They surely know what to do.

Self – Management

·         This are often found in books, medical journals or in the internet. Experts call this the self – management therapy. No need to go to the doctor. Do your research and put it into good use. You can also attend stress management sessions or seminars. Doctors also advise massage, reflexology, yoga, aromatherapy and acupuncture. That is if you are wiling to pay.

 

Source: http://www.briody-fitnessnhealth.com/stress.html

Medicines

·         When all else fails, you no longer have any choice but to consider going to the doctor and asking for a prescription which can help you combat stress. Although you have to remember that too much dependence on medicines can affect or might damage your body.

Stress can be avoided if we take good care of ourselves. At the end of the day, it is still all up to you on how you will manage and combat stress. Live a healthy lifestyle!

“I got STINKY, I got DIRTY, but see…I LEARNED!” (NIDO)

"Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan."

-       Dr. Jose P. Rizal

Since Rizal’s death, his famous quote has been one of the Filipinos’ guiding principles. Dr. Jose P. Rizal is simply telling us that in order to reach our destination, we need to look back from where we come from, look back to our past.

According to Wikipedia, “past” is a term used to indicate the totality of events which occurred before a given point in time. The past is contrasted with and defined by the present and the future. The concept of the past is derived from the linear fashion in which human observers experience time, and is accessed through memory and recollection. In addition, human beings have recorded the past since the advent of written language.

When talking about the “past”, another famous quote usually comes into mind. What is this famous quote? Aren’t you familiar with “Past is past”? I am quite sure that almost all of us have quoted this quote every once in a while. I was unable to find the origin of this quote in the internet but they say it was used by people who are brokenhearted or “sawi sa pag-ibig”.

Comparing and contrasting these two quotes, which would you choose to believe in? Although they both talk about the past, they are different in meaning.

For us Filipinos, Rizal teaches us that looking back to where we come from is very important. We should remember that significant things had happened in the past and still we treasure and we should treasure those things until now. We always give time to celebrate important moments from the past and even we would say “Past is past”, what comes into our minds is that ‘at least I’ve learned something fruitful from my past’.

 

Source: http://www.jamesleonhardt.com/vision/

The past is like a gateway of molding us to become who we are now. We live from it, learn from it and love it because it is already a part of us. We usually tend to look back to those good memories that we have especially when we were still little. We laugh to those happy seconds of our time. We feel sad for those mistakes that we have done. We feel regrets for those promises that we have not accomplished. The beauty and the beast of the past are still circling around our head and it helps us grow stronger. It helps us to make good decisions. It helps us in all aspects of our lives.

Past, it is a broad term relating to one’s memoirs. Some believed that forgetting their past will release them from those bad situations that had happened to them but, you will only make it worse. Instead, we need to accept these kinds of things because we cannot change what happened in the past and it will remain constant no matter what we do. Holding on the past is like keeping a sacred thing and you must consider it as one of your keys in opening a better life in the future.

We need to think of what Rizal’s famous quote has left for us. It paves the way to have a beautiful and successful future. The key is looking back. When we’ve done stupid things in the past, remember that we have tomorrow as our second chance to do the right thing. Doing a mistake twice will not help you grow up, that is why God created the future to give us chance in life.

Source: http://awrightworld.tumblr.com/post/4109827414/letting-the-past-control-your-future

“Past is past” can sarcastically mean that we should ignore the past and not analyze its importance. It is totally a mistake when we do such thing. The past should not be and should never be ignored. We need to live a life as what Rizal has said. We need to treasure what the past has brought us. It has brought us freedom. Even if we relate this to the past events that had happened in our country, it gave us one special thing that we are using and claiming as of today, FREEDOM.

Keep the past closely in our hearts because someday it might be helpful to us. Without our past, we will never be in where we are today.

"Bukot Burugasan, Bukot Paranubli-on"

Source: http://antique.gov.ph/

“Twenty-eight years ago, a murder was executed in San Jose, the capital of Antique in Panay Island that outraged the Filipino people struggling to free themselves from the clutches of a dictatorship.

The assassination of Evelio Bellaflor Javier (EBJ) on Feb. 11, 1986 sparked the flame of democracy that burned bright in the succeeding days and culminated in the historic February 22-25, 1986 People Power that ended the 20-year Marcos dictatorship.”

(http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/antique-celebrated-evelio-javier-day-145325733.html)

The Javier name in the Province of Antique has always been associated with heroism. Every February 11, the island of Panay remembers the heroism of the late Antique Governor, Evelio B. Javier who was killed on this day in 1986 while guarding the ballots in front of the Antique Provincial Capitol. This day was declared a holiday through RA 7601 by President Corazon Aquino in 1992.

He was the champion of the poor and well loved by the Antiqueños. Whenever the song “Impossible Dream” is being played, people will always remember Evelio or Beloy as he is fondly called. The most famous line of this modern day hero was “Ang pulitika bukot burugasan, bukot paranubli-un” or in English, “politics is not a food source, not an inheritance”.

But what is disheartening about this line is that after Beloy’s death in 1986, his brother, Exequiel, joined politics bringing the name of the former with promises of progress and betterment of life for the Antiqueños. Since 1987, Exequiel has held power as Congressman and Governor for many terms. After his last term in 2010, he turned over his Congressional seat to his son, Paolo Everardo Javier, while he ran and won as Governor of the Province.

          What an insult to the legacy and the name left by Beloy! Where now is the essence of the famous line of Beloy in the actions of his brother who in the first place, won by bringing the former’s name? He even uses the song Impossible Dream as his campaign jingle just to encourage the Antiqueños to vote for him and his son.

          Ever since Exequiel had been in power, numerous accusations of graft and corruption were hurled at him left and right. Supporters of the Former Governor Salvacion Zaldivar – Perez were removed with no further notice. The Christmas bonuses and 13^th month pay of the Provincial government employees were not released for the past two years that Exequiel is in power.

          The father and son tandem has again secured the posts of Congressman and Governor of the Province. With their political machinery and huge budget for the campaign, they were able to retain their positions. Massive vote-buying has always been the situation in Antique during election time.

Source: http://antique.gov.ph/

          A huge tarpaulin in the town plaza of the capital San Jose de Buenavista shows the pictures of the father and son bearing the slogan “25 years of faithful service” to the Antiqueños. A similar tarpaulin can be found beside the bridge just outside the Poblacion of the town of Hamtic.

          But who says that “crime does not pay”?

          Now, his Excellency Boy-Ex Javier is facing charges for illegal suspension of Valderrama Mayor Mary Joyce Roquero, wife of the former’s political rival Ray Roquero during the 2013 gubernatorial elections. The Commission on Elections has sided with Mayor Roquero on the matter.

          The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has dismissed for lack of merit Javier’s motion for reconsideration and affirmed its September 3 en banc decision indicting the governor for violating the Omnibus Election Code. A jail term of one to six years awaits him. (Panay News)

          The Civil Service Commission has also sided with Provincial Information Officer Eric Otayde who was removed from his office when Javier took over the Provincial government from his close political nemesis former Governor Sally Perez. The CSC ordered Javier to reinstate Otayde and pay him his back salary amounting to more than 1 million pesos.  

          Last February 11, Panay Island commemorated the 28^th Death Anniversary of the Antiqueño Hero. But what is disheartening is that “Sadly in Antique, Evelio Javier’s legacy is becoming a distant memory” (Alex Delos Santos).

          Even in the other Provinces of Panay, less and less people can recognize the name of Evelio Javier.

Over the radio program Crazy Cris of Love Radio Iloilo, a listener asked who Evelio Javier was and why was that day a holiday. The host candidly answered that he was just as clueless but obviously googled EBJ immediately and read out the information. (Alex Delos Santos)

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/antique-celebrated-evelio-javier-day-145325733.html

There is an old saying that when you are confronted with two evil choices, you should choose the lesser evil. We hope that the Antiqueños would be able to see beyond the veil that covers their eyes. Politics is neither a food source nor an inheritance especially to the brother of the very same person who uttered these words.