Category Archives: social consciousness

Pagmimina sa Pilipinas

Sa kabila ng pagsasabing “It’s more fun in the Philippines” dapat din bigyan ng pansin ang nakalulungkot na kalagayan ng ating kapiligiran bunga ng pagmimina.

Narito ang ilang mga larawang nagpapakita ng ilan lang mga lugar na mayroong pagmimina sa Pilipinas:

Surigao del Sur

Surigao del Sur

Rapu-rapu

Rapu-rapu

Benguet

Benguet

Walang watermark kasi ang mga ito ay larawan ng mga larawang kinunan ko mula sa isang diskusyon tungkol sa pagmimina sa Pilipinas, partikular sa Palawan.

Environmental Risks

Mining

Education is a Right

“Education is something I can give an all-out support for all of you.” I always tell that to my children. Then I tell them that education or rather, a degree is something that is truly theirs to keep and put to good use.

This topic on education brings a sentimental tug to my heart not only because we work hard to provide them the best education we can afford but also because it feels that being educated in good schools seems like a privilege, rather than a right. Yes, this is how I feel especially when I see reports of crowded classrooms, teachers, books and classrooms shortage and a host of other school-related problems that cause students to just drop out of school rather than be encouraged to stay and learn.

I dream of one day seeing school-aged Filipino children learning new things and having opportunities to experience what life has to offer. I envision older students whose families can’t afford to send them to universities elsewhere be virtually enrolled through online college degrees programs.

I can dream, can I?

Pagninilay-nilay sa Mahal na Araw

Araw ngayon ng Huwebes, o Maundy Thursday dahil Holy Week.

Alam mo ba na importante pala ang Maundy Thursday dahil ito ang araw ng paglilinis, pagninilay-nilay at pag-reflect sa estado ng ating buhay. Hindi nga ba ang araw na ito ay ginugunita ng mga Katoliko sa  pamamagitan ng paghuhugas ng mga pari sa mga paa ng lay people? Ito ay kagaya ng ginawa noon ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad. Ito na patunay na ang pagpapakumbaba at pagsilbi ay parte ng pagiging Diyos ni Hesus.

Sa ating pamumuhay, kailan ba tayo nagsisilbi nang walang hinihintay na kapalit? Kailan ba tayo nagpakumbaba ng kusa? Kailangan pa ba ang matinding dagok sa buhay upang gawin natin yun?

Senakulo

Bukas, ating gugunitain ang pagkamatay ni Hesus sa krus upang maligtas tayo sa ating mga kasalanan. Tayo na ang nagkasala pero Siya pa ang nagsakripisyo?

Saan ka bukas? Ano ang gagawin mo?

Do They Have a Choice

The recent on-the-job site accident that happened to the construction workers of a residential building shocked us. Accidents in these sites happens, but not like this. And now the companies that are involved in the construction are washing their hands off any wrongdoing on their part. Sigh…

Construction workers are sometimes the butt of jokes of some people, for reasons I can’t understand.

So what if they come from the urban poor or rural folks who, for lack of employment came to the city and ended up being such.

So what if they have burnt faces and callused hands?

So what if they are have dirty hands and dirty faces?

Menial job position they held and they are being given so little with around PhP260.00 or roughly $6!

If only they have been given a good quality education, these people would probably go into merchandising jobs, call center agents with American twangs or sales agents. Do they really have a choice considering they lack what it needs to be in a job other than what they had?

Perhaps they are here because they want to provide for their families so that their children will be better educated than them.

But alas, with so many people with so many needs, this country is not going to be as progressive as its neighbors.

Another long sigh…