Are they smarter than a fifth grader?

Isa na yata sa mga paboritong ipangako ng mga kandidato sa tuwing eleksyon ay ang pagbibigay ng magandang edukasyon para sa lahat. Libre pa nga sana kung nararapat dahil ito daw ang sagot sa kahirapan; ito daw ang susi sa ating pag-unlad.

Nang magtanong naman sa Facebook ang isang naging kandidato kung “Ano ang iyong bibigyang prayoridad kung sakaling ikaw ang maging Presidente?” Sagot ng karamihan ay edukasyon pa din dahil dito umano tayo parating nagkukulang.

Nakakatuwang isipin na halos pare-pareho tayo ng iniisip at pinapahalagahan subalit hindi natin nakikita na maaaring ang inaasahan nating magtataguyod nitong ating gintong layunin ay siya mismong walang sapat na edukasyon para ito ay maisakatuparan.

Ano ang aking pinatutunguhan? Simple lang. Paano mabibigyang halaga ng pamahalaan ang edukasyon kung ni hindi nga ito ginagawang mahigpit na batayan para sa pagpili ng mga magiging pinuno ng ating bansa?

Ang itinatakda lamang ng ating Saligang Batas sa usaping ito ay dapat na maalam bumasa at sumulat ang isang Pilipino upang maging kandidato sa isang posisyon sa gobyerno. Hindi mahalaga kung siya ay nakatapos ng pag-aaral, lalo pa kung ano dapat ang kanyang pinag-aralan. Ang katwiran dito ay dapat pantay-pantay ang karapatan ng lahat na maglayong magsilbing tagapamahala ng bayan.

Subalit hindi ba mas higit na mahalaga sa pang-indibidwal na karapatang ito ang pagbibigay proteksyon sa interes ng lahat, at ng bansa sa kabuuan, sa pamamagitan ng pagtatakda ng mataas na pamantayan sa kwalipikasyon ng sinumang nagnanais na maging pinuno ng sambayanan?

Kung ang mensahero o sekretarya sa isang simpleng opisina ay kinakailangang nakapagtapos man lamang ng high school, bakit hindi ito kinakailangan para sa isang mas mahalagang posisyon bilang halal na opisyal ng gobyerno?

Paano natin itatanim sa isipan ng ating mga anak ang kahalagahan ng edukasyon kung ang ating mga kagawad, kapitan, konsehal, mayor, gobernador, kongresista, senador, o maging presidente ay hindi nakapagtapos ng kanilang pag-aaral o walang sapat na kaalaman?

Hindi ba’t isang malaking kalokohan ang ituring na susi sa tagumpay ang isang bagay na hindi naman natin lubos na pinapahalagahan?

Malaking insulto na ang mga kadalasang nahahalal na mamuno sa ating bansa ay silang kapos sa karunungan. Kung kaya naman hindi natin tuluyang makamit ang pag-unlad bagama’t nababatid natin ang pamamaraan upang ito ay maabot at maisakatuparan para sa lahat.

Ang pagiging pinuno ng bayan ay may kaakibat na tungkuling nangagailangan ng kaukulang antas ng karunungan. Nararapat na ang mga mga tagapamahala ay may alam sa pamamahala at ang mga mambabatas ay may alam sa batas at sa paggawa nito.Hindi kailanman magiging sapat ang pagkakaroon lamang ng kakahayang makapagbasa at sumulat para makapamuno maski ng isang maliit na komunidad. Hindi dapat sabihing matututunan din ang mga bagay na iyon kapag ang kandidato ay naluklok na sapagkat hindi lugar ng pagsasanay ang gobyerno. Lalong hindi dapat iasa sa mga tagapayo ang tungkuling gagampanan dahil ito ang kalimitang pinagmumulan ng anomalya at kontrobersiya.

Madalas nating sigaw na ang edukasyon ay karapatan ng mamamayan. Sa ating bawat pagsigaw, nawa’y umalingawngaw na karapatan din nating pamunuan ng mga taong kumakatawan sa kahalagahan ng edukasyon na siyang tunay na magsisilbi at magsasalba sa ating bayan.

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Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/27652182@N08/2687957034/

Collapse!

What went wrong?

That is the biggest question in the minds of Cleveland fans.

The Cavs did everything it could to ensure at least a trip to the NBA Finals this season. Got in Shaq and then traded for Jamison in the mid-season, but still nothing happened.

One thing: Mike Brown and LeBron James don’t really sync well.

This was obvious after their Game 2 defeat in the series against Boston. Brown sees panic, James disagrees. The coach and his best player are not seeing things on the same level. That is catastrophe.

Brown and James have been together for five years and have been through ups and downs season after season. We could assume they are already very familiar with each other that they would have already acquired that Michael Jordan-Phil Jackson mystique. But no, James seems to refuse to see eye to eye with Brown and has a mind of his own approaching a game.

James has got to realize that a coach still is the crafter of a ballgame. He may be the gem that makes the team sparkle, but it is the coach who must fit him to the rest of the ornament to complete the ring, so to speak. Mike and Phil understood these roles so well they successfully created a basketball dynasty and made themselves legends in the sport. Of course, it did not come easy for both, Chicago had to wait seven years before Jordan could hand them a championship trophy. James eyed the same goal seven years ago when he arrived in Cleveland, but so far he only has his eyes on the trophy and not his hands.

James’ stubbornness eventually did him in. He takes no criticisms and yet cannot prove his critics wrong.

Brown simply cannot control him.

One has to go.

And your guess is as good as mine. 

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Photos from http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//100514/ids_photos_sp/r1002167348.jpg/ andhttp://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20100428/i/r2304191144.jpg

Personality Complex Case #2

He is television’s so-called man of the masses. His career, a storied one, is built on a foundation that he laid through constant proclamation that he cared for the poor. He made them stars of his show. He made them winners. He gave them laughter. He gave them hope. He sings and dances with them. He cries with them.

Everything seems perfect. Until we realize this is, literally and figuratively, all just for a show: Wowowee.

It is not a wonder that people fall into the antics of Willie Revillame. The guy can tickle one’s soft spot and funny bones in one jibe. And though his acting sucks as much as his singing, his real-life drama and controversies ignite interest and cult-like following with the force of Eyjafjallajökull’s explosion.

Call it charisma or plain rapport with his audience, what is certain is Wowowillie has enamored the masses and is really bringing in money for his TV network.

Problem is Willie is drowning in his success. He begins to think he is influential and untouchable. He believes he can do anything and lambast anyone in his show. He threatens those who oppose or criticize him and blackmails the management he serves.

The latest of his silly tantrums (involving Jobert Sucaldito) only confirms what his critics say about him. He knows no boundaries on decency. He does not respect individual rights. He sets the bar for cheap arrogance. Worse, he is a recidivist whose “crimes” are beamed live on satellite TV. A day of fun or a wad of cash giveaways cannot be made an excuse for all of these.

This afternoon delight has clearly turned into a sour day creature. He is no different from the man he endorsed for President recently – they both thrive at the expense of the masses. They claim to feel for the poor yet live the King’s riches. They speak volumes on values yet seem to have nothing on their own.

The Kapamilya Network executives ought to teach this guy a big lesson for the station's and his own sake. Else, his jokes will forever be on them.   

Photo from http://www.lugaluda.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/willie-revillame-will-return-to-wowowee.jpeg

 

An Appeal from a Non-Voter

I confess that I have yet to exercise my right to vote. I have not registered as a voter since I qualified a long time ago. I am not really bothered though, as I know there are a lot of Filipinos who grow old and never voted. We have our own reasons.*

People say those who do not vote have no right to criticize the government. This is like saying those who do not pay taxes will not be allowed to use roads and bridges. It does not follow and this should not be the case. We vote or pay taxes not for our personal benefit, but for the common good. So it does not matter who votes or pays taxes because we all share the fruits, bitter or sweet, of this societal obligation.

I dare say that those who will vote, therefore, have a great responsibility to choose the right person to lead our government. Those who will not must accept the consequence of their non-participation. Nonetheless, those who will not vote can still play a critical role by being advocates of fair, honest, and credible elections or by supporting worthy candidates.

Obviously, the credibility of the coming elections will depend largely on the performance of the PCOS machines. We have been hearing numerous reports about malfunctions in the testing of these machines. If that is an indication of what’s to happen, we can expect the Election Day to be chaotic.

While I am in favor of a computerized election, I still doubt our capacity to implement it in haste and with so much at stake. But since it is already happening, we ought to give our support, be patient, and be vigilant of attempts to sabotage the result of the elections. Let us hope and pray that everyone will cooperate and do their part faithfully, especially the COMELEC.

In choosing the candidates to vote for, I beg everyone to decide with reason, not with passion.

Do not vote for candidates who pretend to be poor, exploit the poor, or give the poor false hopes – these candidates will make us all poor.

Do not vote for candidates who extol themselves for things they are supposed to do or claim personal credit for things their office performed using taxpayers’ money – these candidates are bosses, not leaders.

Do not vote for candidates who once betrayed or rebelled against the government they served – these candidates do not know the value of loyalty and do not trust the rule of law.

Do not vote for candidates who merely bank on a clean reputation – having one does not equate to having competence.

Do not vote for candidates who seek out endorsements – these candidates will have to pay back what they owe sooner or later.

Do not vote for candidates who have been in public service for a long time and yet have never made any significant contribution to helping improve people's lives – these candidates may be the reason why the nation never really progresses.

Do not vote for candidates who are surrounded by unscrupulous people – we may be voting for the people who surround these candidates.  

Do not vote for candidates who change their mind as quickly as they change the company they keep – these candidates are not trustworthy.

Do not vote for candidates who appeal to the emotion – or we might find our lives having lots of twists and turns.

Remember that when one votes, one is voting not only for himself or herself, but also for everyone else, including those who will not vote, those who cannot vote, and even those not yet born at the time you vote.

So please, vote for us... wisely.

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* I want to register in my hometown in Northern Samar and not in Manila where I actually live. But someday I might just register in Manila. Note: Finally, I registered as a voter in the City of Manila

Photo from http://westinspect.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/philippine-flag-face.jpg?w=300&h=199

LeBron the wonder kid

LeBron James is a wonder kid. He is a wonder on the basketball court and at times he makes us wonder about his erratic perspective of the game he plays.

Remember him not wanting to shake hands after a series loss to Orlando? Well, he gave his reason but nobody bought it, except perhaps his Momma.

Recently, LeBron refuses to see panic after his superb team was trashed by Boston in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. To think his team was just lucky to escape with a victory in Game 1, yet this young superstar acts like he has every ballgame under control.

While I believe Cleveland has what it takes to win the Championship this year, I said this would depend on James asserting himself more as the leader of the team without trying to impress too much. In the last two games against the Celtics, LeBron is not being that. He does not attack the basket as he used to during the regular season and is focusing too much on making plays for his teammates.

This attitude is baffling considering the talent and power he has. I do not think his injured elbow has anything to do with this. I blame his mindset.

I believe he can make the team win just by his sheer effort. He only needs his teammates to pass the ball to him. It is still teamwork even if James alone would shoot the basket for Cleveland so long as everyone works hard to give that basketball to him. That is, I think, the perfect formula for Cleveland to clinch it all the way this season.

This would only happen if LeBron would stop forcing himself to grow too fast as a basketball player. He has to realize he remains a kid on the basketball court - a kid who would not give up the ball to anyone else, including his teammates, until he makes a shot.

The path to basketball superstardom starts with individual brilliance. To be a basketball god – like Russell, Bird, Johnson, and Jordan – this brilliance should be consistently on display until it reaches a point where the distinction between the individual and his team could no longer be made.

LeBron is rushing to get to that point. But despite what he has achieved so far (two MVP awards and scoring titles) he is still far from achieving that goal if he cannot get his team to win when it matters the most. He has to recognize that he pouring his might going to the basket is the key to Cleveland’s success and not the plays he can create for his teammates.

The time to mature in the game would eventually come, but for now – bad elbow and all – LeBron should just be acting like a selfish kid who badly wants to make that shot again and again and again.

* Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/james_clear/4200924467/

Desperate measures

It is not hard to decipher what the little lady in Malacanang is up to in the twilight of her ignoble reign.

The computerized elections in danger of turmoil.

The midnight appointments.

Her seeking a Congressional post.

These are desperate acts to save herself from immediate retribution for all the anomalies that spawned during her term. How else could the rush and brash in decision-making involving these matters of national interest be explained?

She used to be the hope of this nation before the Presidency. But nine years of almost absolute power have poisoned her mind and soul – trampling even the Constitution that put her up there in the first place.

She could have saved face by bowing out with a bit of honor. But no, at the very last minute, she still stood firm for her meaningless acts that only divide this already fragile nation.

She says she’d rather be right than popular. Her son says history will judge her mother fairly.   

Well, she was never even right all these years. And yes, she will be fairly judged, not by history, but the court of law if she finally runs out of cover. 

* PGMA photo downloaded from: 

http://meiyah.i.ph/photo/v/Photos/MyFirstPhotoAlbum/gloria+arroyo.jpg.html