Tuesday, July 24, 2007

IT’S REGISTRATION TIME


BEFORE WE CAN EXERCISE FREEDOM


Filipinos need to exercise their feet and prepare their physical strength and endurance before they can exercise their freedom.

Wow! What a whooping requisite, before I can cast my first vote.

I am discouraged of what I saw from T.V. and was already decided to give up my right to vote. I certainly don’t want to become part of the disgusted crowd or worst to participate with the anticipated and possible stampede. Until my big sister discussed to me her nationalistic views with a tint of spiritual ideas, then and there I was moved.

Since it is registration time, we already anticipated the long wait before our turn, harsh words, hunger, foul smell and sweating bodies fried under the scorching heat of the sun. As expected, I experience them all but enjoyed most the course of running. This has caused me to bargain my whole day class in exchange for this extended registration day.

As early as 2 AM, my 2 sisters and I ready ourselves and hurriedly rushed at the registration center. Surprisingly, we topped them all. Considering all the people in all Davao Districts who wanted to be registered, it is we who felt like three lucky winners for getting the first 3 slots. What a fortune.

But before we can enter at the Magsaysay Park, we amused ourselves talking and laughing while we sit with a shivering body waiting for the gates, which I jokingly called as “barricades”, to open.

As we enter, I was shocked that this registration center has only a SINGLE machine. What? No question why the flow of registration is that slow. And then, we are aiming for a hastely smooth flow of registration? Think twice. That can be above to the utopian assumption. With this kind of system, it’s definitely not possible. How can this government can be so mean to us? Can they stand, watching people fainting? OMG!

At first, I can’t stand the arrogance I felt from the comelec people. I don’t like their INCONSISTENCIES. I really want to hire MAAM DIVINE TO EDUCATE THIS PEOPLE about MANAGEMENT and GOOD MANNERS! I wonder if are they stepping on their brains? I don’t like the way they bang the door and shouts at people. OMG!, it’s very degrading. People are supposedly to be treated as people and not as dogs.

After 7 hours waiting and writing two complete articles, I felt like all hope is gone. But WHEN ALL HOPE IS GONE, AN ANGEL COMES ALONG. A comelec woman accommodated us nicely and immediately processed our papers. That marks the end of our waiting.

This joyful experience makes me smile. What can I do but smile. I giggle as I reminisced the people which we befriended and the hot debated topics we have tackled. I love that comelec woman. The three of us give our BEST SMILE as the photographer click the button. We make fun out of the unfunny things. That’s the secret! Go endure then s-m-i-l-e-!

With truckloads of people still coming one after another, I conclude that this country needs to push for Poll Automation. With a high spirit, I am challenging newly elected public officials to bravely put an iron fist in chartering and pushing for laws that may address this problem. Public service is their job, isn’t it?

Monday, July 23, 2007

Go Legal!



The Author’s mandate

Friends, sisters and brothers, I command you to execute the following on my behalf:

ü I Hereby command you to prick my ballooning head through open and closed rebuke If only it happens

ü I ask you to remind me towards the right way, if you discern I’m heading towards the dark one.

ü If I justifiably need to be spanked, I give you my high order to do it

ü I bestow you the honor to make constructive criticisms for an individual’s development.

ü I will thanks you, if and only if, you air you ideas, suggestions and opinions that needs to be acted upon geared towards our advancement.

ü If my egoistic and boastful personality shows remind me to become humble and influence me to completely depart from it.

ü In case if I become “super” dominant that leads me to abuse my power, slap me with your thunder-awakening words.

ü If I become unprofessional, immediately beat me with your golden words.

ü If my being becomes a hindrance towards the general success, hit me so that I will be moved.

ü I forget to say “Thank you” which I commonly do, remind me to practice good manners and right conduct.

ü If I become rebellious with the ways I think, I feel and I write, I order you to criticize me ‘till I come to my senses.

This mandate is subject for strict compliance. Please obey accordingly. Reading this has caused you a promise to the author to follow it.

SONA na naman!



Actions speak louder than what is in the News!

CHELYN TOREJAS

Various groups of people may have various set of understanding regarding the SONA of Mrs. Arroyo, delivered live Monday at exactly 4 in the afternoon. Many may welcome the president with a smile, handshake, hug or even –a protest!

Since the day I was born, I only knew one president who is fond of making SONA –and she’s the current president. Before I don’t pay much attention to it, but still continues to watch it only to earn good grades for the following day’s undisputed oral recitation (sigh).

As you grow older, you tend to become more mature. You tend to develop concerns for your country as well as your fellow citizens. You also tend develop a critical observation of the things happening around you.

I always commend writers and speakers who can turn their writings/speech into a masterpiece especially those who can deliver messages wherein the majority can relate and the contents are reflective of the true happenings in the present society.

I listen to the Mrs. Arroyo with my eyes wide open. I can’t believe it. How blessed is the Philippines with talented growing and young citizens. How I wish to become one of them (in my dreams). Her works including her completed and on-going projects are impressive. How did she do it? I believe she have already exceeded the projects being done by the former presidents of the country. Throughout the past 12 months, her work is definitely plausible.

Take away your prejudice and take a look on our society today. There you will see a picture where the economy is stable and good job opportunities are increasing. But the society is however, not free from the flaws of the world. There are still a lot of things to be done.

Speech will always remain a speech, unless everything is done! Both national and international sectors are eyeing every word GMA utters. It’s that sensitive that writers and reporters even records how many times the audience gave her an applause. Behind the flick, used film and the spotlight, is the President’s sleepless night in drafting and planning her speech.

Becoming true to her commitment to become of service to the Filipino people, is a hope and desire from every Filipino heart for a better life and a regular satisfied stomach. That can be one of the challenges the present administration should addressed. But that doesn't mean, the President will work on your behalf. Definitely not, let's work for our bread!

True, we can not please everybody. Philippine media, however, seems to patterned the way it delivers news like the America. It's so adversarial that often causes chaos leading to the stemming of protests. I just can't understand why these public-affairs-people are most of the time magnifying the bad side of the government. Why can't they be original and do otherwise?

May the Father’s blessings be upon you madam as we go forward! As much as the president can be strong as she wanted to be, we can move forward for as long as we want to. Since you are the Father’s appointed president for this country, I can promise you one thing, “I’ll go with you.” Promise!

UNVEILING THE TRUTH


CHELYN TOREJAS


Once again, I have tasted the harsh realities of the physical world where people are holding each other for greed otherwise using each other to pull the other downward. Why is the world so mean? Everyday became a person’s struggle towards the survival of the fittest. The world has become a gallery ruled only by the beautiful, intelligent and the money-makers. For the majority who doesn’t have it, it is expected that they are the once taking the backseats, scratching their heads and find themselves as hopeless as a thrash. Everyday seems to be a hazing ritual. Life should not be like that.

Biologists classify us as being part of the animal kingdom, but we should act and be treated much higher from the rest. People should come out dignified. But why is the world so fond of neglecting the basics of good values, right conduct and even proper hygiene. It’s so depressing but in this country it seems that poverty, corruption, the lust of the flesh, injustice, inequality, violence and lowlessness are just a common part of life. Consequently, a significant number of Filipinos go overseas only to search for that green pasture raking in a small portion of the green bucks. While it’s strengthening our economy, It’s breaking the Filipino society.

Life should not be unfair. Everybody deserves to happy and be respected for who he is. But let's face it, it's the reality. As much as there is the ying, there is the yang. It’s the work of symmetry. And the cause of it is the cause of it all: the implantation of the serpent seed virus.

These are all the works of the devil. We always think that we don’t have the power. We don’t have the right to smile completely. We always assumed that tasting the pure meaning of joy is near to impossible. But it’s perfectly wrong my friend.

We should be feasting for the Son of God in the Jewish setting has once come to pay the price of redemption –And he succeeded. That’s why all we call him savior. Satan is no longer in the throne of power. He lost it all and the Father regained it back and has now appointed a Son, the fulfillment of the old and the new.

The Son’s message is so simple yet many can’t get it. A part of the world follow Him, but the pure and the concentrated serpent seed virus persecuted them. SHAME ON YOU! You don’t deserve an iota of respect! You don’t have a single right to persecute. We owe him a lot. He is the way towards each other’s salvation.

Ignorance also takes a part maybe because people didn’t know or simply they are too busy to listen. The media impact is so pervasive and far-reaching. As much as it serve to become a thread that binds and connect people from different parts of the world, it can also be utilized to trumpet the message

Many may raise their brow, validating how true is the message. But sorry, it’s the truth and the truth is hitting us painfully. Every truth hurts and this truth is meant to set us free.

Due to time constraints and it seems like in this wee hours of the dawn majority of the human race are deep asleep. The glory belongs to the Father through His Son! Good night.

Come and follow the footsteps on the Son, online, through www.kingdomofJesuschrist.org . See you there!

Friday, July 20, 2007

Looking forward

Chelyn Torejas

Despite the rallying sentiment for the country’s economy, the Philippine peso has been regarded as one of the well-performing currencies in Asia.

The government has raised its economic growth targets for this year to reflect the impact of lower borrowing costs and inflation, and a stronger peso, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves told Star Friday.

Much of the credit goes to the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) whose remittances has become one of the pillars of the Philippine Economy.

Despite the threats and warnings of traveling to the country, the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu City can take part to speed up tourism expositions and investments. World-class performers and athletes, in one way or another have also taken their role in lifting the Philippine banner as a means of building tourism industry using the global stage.

Furthermore, the country’s rich festivities like Sinulog among others in a tropical setting have attracted visitations soon after investments. The expatriates take pleasure with the warm and hospitable Filipinos, though the recent militants’ uprising and series of blasts aren’t a nice way to welcome guests.

In spite of the mounting claims of having poor education, the country’s big number of English-proficient citizens with affordable labor rates spells out opportunity. Call centers, Medical and legal transcriptions and IT based jobs, to name some of the few emerging industries has impressively offered both international and domestic jobs.

The country has been empowered as a legal global player in the international marketplace through the emergence of E-commerce law. In spite of connection disruptions due to the December 26 - 7.1 magnitude earthquake, the International connectivity still links the over 7,000 islands aiming for regional growth generating sound job and income.

The influx of Koreans swarming the country has also played a part in pushing the Philippine economy to another level despite elicited red tape policies. Aside from the expatriates’ desire to learn English, the strategic location of the country makes it even accessible.

Isn’t a democratic country for the people and by the people? The Filipino working force needs the benefits they deserved. If the healthy economy continuously performs well, it would not be impossible to jump-start a change.

Considering the low salary income of majority, the need to preserve the rights of the working force is eminently a necessity. Having E-VAT, PhilHealth, SSS as just some of the few operating costs, an ordinary worker is mostly often left with a lesser take-home pay. There is a need to strike for stability, which can instigate wage increase without affecting the business sectors.

ASEAN’s global development plans for free-fair trade, poverty, terrorism, and the protection of migrant workers among others should come to its fulfillment. If not, certainly the people will soon post questions to the mystery as to why a union of capable, brilliant leaders from different countries fails as an assembly.

But having 10 ASEAN prominent leaders aiding for solutions, there is something to look forward to.

BOY PUSIT (MOVIE ANALYSIS)

Chelyn Torejas
III-ABMC

March 6, 2007


Boy Pusit, the 2007 New York festivals Gold World Medal marks another breakthrough in the cited dying Philippine Film Industry. Filipinos having been poured with numerous profit-oriented and clumsy films will certainly be awestruck with GMA’s another approach of making a common practice in the Philippines a big hit not only to the local audience but also to the global subscribers.

The director’s cut version of the underwater documentary as hosted by Sandra Aguinaldo offers never seen behind the scene footages and its featured interview along with its Executive Producer Kristoffer Brugada. The two, during the interview looked pleased as the documentary surprisingly ended up illuminating the bleaking future of its feature children.

The recent underwater documentary focused on the long and common problem in the country: child labor. It featured the story of two children, Jameson and Istoy from the rural area of Sitio Paradahan, Masbate. It has captured the children’s’ fight for survival, sad plight in combat with poverty, longings to finish their studies and their routinely quest of pusit in the vast deep ocean.

The use of variations of shot all through out the movie has effectively shown the other face of the multi-faceted featured characters: comical, joyful, ingenuity.

The technical team is good enough to utilize the natural light (considering that it’s an outdoor work), which in turn, created a natural and usual look. The amount of lighting is fit enough to let its audience see the customary burned skin of the divers which added another striking and authenticated effect.

The crow of the chicken, the laugh of the children, the sound of the waves and the roar of the pump boat machine are just some of the captured natural sounds that have given the audience almost the same feeling of being close to the nature.

The music goes together well with the mood of each scene. When it was regarding the scene of the poor harvest of pusit, the scoring is somewhat gloomy. All throughout the story, the scoring is suddenly but smoothly changing – from festive to suspense, suspense to exciting and a swift shift to suspense musical score.

It also offers a complimentary beauty adduced by the picturesque environmental scenes –a glimpse of sunrise, birds and the sea itself.

In contradiction to the common featured high-tech gadgets, towering buildings, busy streets and well-groomed personality, the documentary truly depicts majority of the Filipino way of living.

Since it is an underwater documentary and considering other factors such as the shaking effect brought about by the waves and the wind, the production has been good enough all the way to capture each scene appropriately. It’s clear enough that the production team is well experienced to simply handle it with ease.

From the opening up to the end of the documentary, everything is dramatic and surprising which makes every audience craves for more. There is always something to look forward to.

The whole production can be an eye-opener to some, and an inspiration to others but it’s an award winning documentary, a historical achievement you may say, that is fine enough and is not waste worthy to learn from. There is no need to wonder why it won.

Junkyard?


Chelyn Torejas




The Increasing concerns about the environment have persuaded some to act upon it while to some extent have unleashed protests to the underlying causes.

Despite the progressing number of programs and laws designed to protect the environment, still the problem of pollution along with waste mismanagement is spreading widely and potentially harmful.

Japan and the Philippine Governments have made a treaty labeled as the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) and is expected to go in effect before the end of 2007.

The agreement has empowered more Filipino healthcare professionals to land a job as workers in the Japanese economy. Among other things, the treaty has also allowed the country to collect tariff on the 11,300 commodities from Japan, in which 141 items are marked as environmentally sensitive. These include medical wastes and muddy deposits among other matters.

But what are we supposed to do with these wastes? Isn’t the country has enough?

Environmentalists are still aiding the Guimaras oil spill, which once have turned some

parts of Visayas waters into a polluted flammable wastewater.

Philippines has witnessed the booming industry of used clothings or the “ukay-ukay” business as best called in our own lingo. Secondhand cars imported from neighboring countries are also a hit to the society.

Though used and considered secondhand, Filipinos with built-in ingenuity behavior have surprisingly managed to utilize matters of all sorts.

. A cement company even plans to utilize the Guimaras oil spill into an industrial fuel.

Toxic substances such as cyanide, mercury and asbestos have benign uses for the society to recycle.

An important way to fight waste mismanagement is for the individuals to learn the effect of their every action. This is another way of producing individuals who can make responsible choices to reduce damage.

If the water can be turned into wine, why can’t a mess be brought back into use? Every mess has a message: recycle, segregate and make your part because every individual effort counts.

Freedom is…



Chelyn Torejas

We are a country awakened to danger and called to defend the true spirit of freedom. For a number of people, their annoyance has turned to anxiety, and anxiety to panic, or worst to a rebellion. Life is so dear and peace is so sweet that millions of people around the archipelago are armed for the great cause of freedom without minding that this may cause them to offer their lives.

We, Filipinos, have an instinct of shutting our eyes against a painful truth and listen to the siren of those who are popular, ‘till they transform us into someone whom we don’t want to be. Is this the right attitude of people like us, who are engaged in a great struggle for freedom? Are we disposing ourselves to those who are having eyes, but see not, and having ears, but hear not? For our part, we must be very willing to know the whole truth, be aware of our rights, fight for it and exercise freedom.

Freedom is indeed, the state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any, or to any undue, restraints and restrictions. By using this power, comes great responsibility, for whatever outcome this may bring will be take charge unto us. Discipline comes into the picture now, for Freedom without discipline is anarchy and discipline without freedom is unfair.

Freedom gives us the power to express our opinions without reserve and to voice out our cries to be heard. We must let no one to totally take Freedom out of us. For this is indeed a power to be treasured and a gift to be enjoyed. No wonder, why people are craving for an intellectual spirit that knows no boundaries, for this will surely drew men from all over to strive for unity in defending freedom.

In preserving Freedom, Ignorance can’t help but knowledge can do. We need spiritual wisdom from up above to guide us, in whatever endeavor that we’ll going to take. For freedom founded by faith and love will be invincible. It can’t be shaken nor be moved. Let us enjoy and appreciate the small existence of freedom that we have in our country, for freedom unexercised might become freedom forfeited. Let us wait not to the time that our countrymen will be shouting for “give us freedom or give us death”!.

E-waste Management, a need


Chelyn Torejas

Do you have a new cell phone, the ones with internet access, mp3, radio, camera, and video camera? Or do you have the slimmest laptop in town? If yes, then, congratulations. You’ve got the latest gadgets.

“There is no question that the world has benefited immensely from the rapid developments in the electronics industry. But most people remain unaware of the negative health and environmental impacts associated with the disposal of electronic products,” Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner in Manila said in a report.

PCs, Stereos, VCRs and fax machines among other electronics seem so proficient and user-friendly, but many remain unaware of the dangers it may bring once they become e-waste.

Electronic waste (e-waste), or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) covers all discarded and unwanted computers, mobile phones and electronic appliances which are immensely becoming a growing problem to the country.

The situation has posed both environmental and physical risks. Unwanted electrical appliances if improperly dispose contain biodegradable and toxin-producing substances. Computers’ Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) can cause human nervous and respiratory impairment. While flame retardant plastics used in electronic casings can discharge elements that can cause human endocrine break down.

Corporations are very active in the production and promotion of various electronic gadgets. However, environmentalists and nature advocates have raised concerns towards companies, which refuse to face environmental concerns.

For the meantime, companies like Samsung, Nokia, Sony, Ericson, LG and Motorola have made commitments to substitute hazardous substances with safer alternatives.

The state of California and some European countries have already enacted electronic waste management. But the Philippines’ unrestricted regulation regarding e-waste management has exposed unfortunate communities and workers towards toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium and mercury, which if improperly recycled could contaminate landfills and eventually pollute the country’s land, water and air resources

Greenpeace and other advocates have demanded electronic corporations to develop durable technology that can be upgraded, recycled and disposed properly. A number of both profit-oriented and non-profit organizations are also accepting and taking electronics for recycling.

As environmental advocates projected, the country’s growing e-waste problem can be regulated through a universal mantra: waste management and recycling. Regardless of whether mandated or not mandated by the law, positive actions should be done to control the e-waste predicament.

So, Do you still want to throw the old ones? Think twice.