Tuesday, May 13, 2008

SENTIMENTS OF JOHNNY PASAN-CRUZ

"HIK HIK HIK HIK HIIIIKKK!!!"

“RAMDAM KO ANG PAG-ASENSO.”

Is this a new tagline of the Philippine government? My attention was caught that morning by a medium-sized billboard posted along the sideways of a certain LRT station in Manila, the words above were spelled in huge letters beside the smiling image of our country’s COMMANDER IN CHIEF. The same message is repeatedly advertised on national television and on various spreadsheets as well.

I sighed and took a deep breath. As the train goes along the tracks, I watched the busy streets of Manila. I observed a number of dirty beggars on the sidewalks, kids playing without underwear, a pregnant malnourished mother carrying her one-year-old baby, vendors yelling and skirmishing to win a costumer’s favor, a family who refuge in a pushcart, minors with weary eyes selling sampaguita, piles of rubbish scattered in some parts of the metropolis, abandoned buildings, squatters sitting like mushrooms.


"Lost Paradise"

INA: Pasensiya ka na sa "chedeng" natin, Totoy...mahal ang gasolina.
ANAK: Okey lang 'yun, mommy...sikat naman tayo. Nakatingin sila sa'tin, o!

INA: Pagtiyagaan mo munang ngatain 'yang papel, anak...wala pa tayong pambili ng bigas.
ANAK: Kelan po ba tayo mag-ja-jalibi?

"Bili na po kayo! Gugulpihin na naman ako ng tatay ko
'pag hindi ko 'to napaubos, wala siyang pambili ng gin!"


I figured out, the “dwarven monster” in the palace is sending the wrong message. If she's referring to our nation’s development, well, her nose might grow 12 inches longer like Pinocchio after her evil godmother cast a spell on her for telling lies. Kaninong pag-asenso ba ang tinutukoy niya? Sa Pilipinas o sa sarili niya at sa kanyang mga kampon?

"Whooo! Hinde! Hindi ko na sasabihing mas
masarap ang borjer ni Abalos kesa sa Mcdo!"

Rice is the prime commodity in this country. According to the government, the number of Filipinos grew nearly 88.57 million as of August 2007 from 76.50 million in May 2000. The population surge means more mouths to feed. Despite the increasing number of Filipinos, the government is still not planning to alter its population policy, which is limited to promotion of natural family planning and responsible parenthood. We are currently experiencing rice shortage, a fact that cannot be denied. Fuel price increase is the main culprit, it’s a domino effect. Pati ang pandesal, lumiit na nga’y dumoble pa ang presyo. Not to mention the inconsistency of MERALCO’s electricity charges. 
RAMDAM N’YO BA ANG PAG-ASENSO?



Back in the 80’s, your P100 can buy 10 kilos of rice or more; nowadays, you can take home merely 2 kilos if you have 100 bucks in your pocket. ‘Yung sukli, kulang pang pambili ng tuyo at kape. GRABE!
UMAASENSO NGA ANG PILIPINAS!

The government is planning to import 2.2 million metric tons of rice from our neighboring countries. Is this a solution? Or just another window for the administration on the way to a new scam? Baka naman magka-hokus pokus-an na naman sa presyohan. Kawawa naman ang mga mamamayang tulad natin na nagbabayad ng malaking buwis! BUWIS-ET!

Anti-Arroyo protests and rallies are not appealing, hindi ito pakikinggan ng maliit na ale sa MalacaƱang. Kahit magpagulong-gulong ang lahat ng Pilipino sa Mendiola at sa harap ng palasyo, hindi siya bababa sa puwesto. Ilang taon na lang ba ang natitira sa termino niya? Even if she face impeachment trial, the time is already running out. Ilang taon ba inaabot ang pagdinig dito? Baka tapos na ang term niya, hindi pa siya nahahatulan. Sino pa ang i-i-impeach kapag gano’n ang nangyari?



Then, what is the real solution to this poverty? 
Change of the government system? Empowerment of the religious sector? Or is it simply revolutionizing our lifestyle?

Our government is the easy target to blame for all of these deficiencies, there’s no question ‘bout that. Wala na sigurong matinong presidente na uupo sa puwesto dahil sila man, tulad ng karaniwang pinoy ay may mga pansariling pangangailangan din, may mga personal na hangarin at pangarap sa buhay. This “syndrome” lurks in every household up to the highest position in the government.

Lahat tayo nangangarap umunlad ang pamumuhay, it all differs on how we fulfill our ambitions and personal agendas.

Sana lahat tayo matutong lumaban nang parehas para marmadaman natin ang tunay na pag-asenso.

"May gamot ba kayo diyan sa almoranas? Aruuuyyy!"