Hi, dear readers!
Pasakit to leave the comfort of home to do errands outside these days. Summer has officially started in the Philippines and that equates to more intense humidity. I also never imagined that Pinoys can die of heatstroke because, diba nga, sanay tayo sa init at araw?
Hindi na po ngayon- newspapers have reported a few cases of Pinoys, young people at that, succumbing to the ill effects of sobrang init. Yung isa sa Cagayan province has just finished a game of basketball, drank cold water and collapsed. He did not reach the hospital alive. May isang ale din daw took a shower to relieve herself of sweat and perspiration but suffered a stroke inside the cr.
Eto na nga ang kinatatakutan ng buong mundo- mga epektong masama ng global warming. El Nino is enveloping the whole country. The famed Banaue rice terraces ay nagkakabitak- bitak na rin. The world’s longest subterranean river located in Palawan ay nasasairan na rin ng tubig- affected are the stalactites and other natural wonders housed in the caves along the river. Plantfood including rice and corn are prematurely dying.
There are many harrowing stories. If these accounts do not move Pinoys to action, I do not know anymore what will. With all our everyday concerns, I hope we will all include environ- mental protection as part of our priorities. Hindi porke’t hirap tayo with our daily existence e babalewalain na natin si Mader Nature- kailangan talaga syang pahalagahan for the sake of our young Pinoys, and of the whole world din.
BUT iba namang klaseng init ang Philippine May 2010 elections. This is one time when candidates leave their airconditioned offices and vans to brave the init and alikabok of the streets. Shake hands dito shake hands doon, ikot all over the country to reach the botante. It’s just a month or and a few days na lang eleksyon na!
Ngipin sa ngipin na ang girian nina Noynoy and Villar. Tumatabi- tabi na ang ibang presidentiable bets. The fight is really centering on these two. Hatak ni Noynoy si sister Cris and family sa pag- iikot. Di naman naiinggit si Villar- kakampanya si namesake Pacquio after his fight with Clotty. Tumutulong din sa mga pakulo sa entablado si Wowowee Revillame.
But while we know that celebrities are sure crowd- drawers, I am glad to note that more and more of our regular voters- the simple people, I mean, the ordinary man on the street are now also becoming discriminate in his choice. Medyo mahihirapan na ang kandidatong magsusulsol sa kanya ng isang kilong bigas at apat na latang sardinas kapalit ng kanyang boto sa Mayo. Nagtatanong na sya ngayon- sino nga ba dito sa sandamakmak na mga kandidato ang totoo? Sino ba sa kanila ang makakatulong mag- ahon sa kanya sa kahirapan?
Sa isang simpleng Juan or Juana kasi, hindi naman kaagad sya nag- iisip para sa pangkalahatan. Ang sarili muna nya- medyo hindi kaigihan ang stance na ito pero kung ako or ikaw ang nasa lugar nya, baka yun din ang isipin natin- WHAT’S IN THIS FOR ME? May mapapala kaya ako kapag itong kandidatong ito ang ibinoto ko? Una nyang pagtutuunan ng pansin ay ang relief ng kanyang kumakalam na sikmura, pangalawa siguro ay ang pagpapa- aral ng mga anak para magkaroon ng mas magandang bukas, di tulad nyang isang kahig isang tuka ngayon. Susunod siguro ang pangangailangang pangkalusugan. Huli na ang mga damit, sapatos, atbp although talagang nangangarap din syang magkaron ng bihisang disente- yung bang itsurang karangal- dangal din sya kapag nagsisimba o pumapasok sa trabaho.
Sa kanyang matamang pagpili sana din, I am hoping, na maglaan naman sya ng sapat na panahong pag- aralan itong bagong sistema ng poll automation. Naku, talagang this is very crucial! Bakit kamo? I am just afraid that because of ignorance, Juan or Juana’s vote may not be counted kapag nagkaroon ng kaunting mali ang filled out ballot form nya. Aba, mantakin mong, kapag lumagpas sa allotted space ang binibilugan sa balota ay baka hindi tanggapin ng machine!
Napakahalaga ng isang boto if it turns out to be the tie breaker. Kung ito ay makakadagdag sa pagpili ng tama at karapat dapat na mangungulo sa baying naghahanap ngayong ng isang tunay na lider.
Napakalaki ng responsibilidad ng bawa’t isang Pinoy na siguruhin na handa syang pumunta sa kanyang presinto sa May 10 at isigurong mabibilang ang kanyang boto.
Till next issue dear readers!
My congratulations to the winners of Videofest 2010 at Centro Escolar University. I was one of the judges who were extremely amazed at the professional quality of video shows produced by masscomm juniors of this university. What talented youngsters they all are!
