Category Archives: social consciousness

Job Hunting

Posted on March 9, 2010 by greenbucks| 6 Comments

Compared to other countries, the unemployment rate of the Philippines is high. A friend is doing an employment screening for her office and we discussed about the current employment rate.

In my opinion, this is so because of several factors which can be seen in a vicious cycle:

  • Lack of quality in the educational system – I do not particularly point fingers on teachers but put more blame on the department that is handling the educational programs. I know a lot of these teaches are great (which is why schools abroad hire them) despite working long hours with so little compensation. Books have erroneous facts (well, how can these be facts if these are wrong?), class size range from 50-75, classrooms with leaking ceilings during the rainy season, stinky bathrooms and so much more. Click here and here to read more about this problem.
  • Poverty – subsisting on so little, survival is the name of the game for a lot of families in this country so who cares if the children are able to go to school or not? I am sure if given better opportunities, they would send their children to school rather than send them out on the streets to earn a living. This is one reason why the government gives a kilo or two for children as an incentive to go to school. Errr…
  • Corruption in the Philippine – budget intended for books, building of classrooms and other needs for a better pubic school system are not given appropriate funds and these are just the tip of the iceberg so to speak. Oh wait, there are millions of funds for internet in far-flung areas where there is no electricity. Heh.
  • Lack of population control – for a country with limited resources, we are 12th in world rank as fastest growing in number. Do the math, we can’t afford that rising number.

Yes, this goes on and on like the chicken and/or egg situation.

Read more »

Posted in Interesting Topics, Money Watch, Philippines, social consciousness, Thought Bubbles

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Mahusay Nga Ba ang Pinoy?

Posted on February 24, 2010 by greenbucks| 16 Comments

litratongpinoy

Ang Pinoy ay mahusay, walang kaduda-duda dun.

Heto nga o, bag na gawa sa newspaper. Ganda no? Panalo ang bonggang Vigan street scene na painting. Isa lamang iyan sa napakaraming angking kahusayan ng mga Pilipino.

newspaper bag

Sa isang banda, mahusay din ang Pinoy sa mga kalokohan.

San ka pa, kapwa Pilipino lolokohin, o kaya mga kasambahay binubugbog, ang ibang magagandang lugar ay sinusulatan ng kung anu-ano o kaya dinudumihan.

Sabagay, sa bilis ng pagdami natin, talagang hindi mapipigilan ang pagsulpot ng mga pasaway, na bata pa lang eh kita mo na na parang tila ba walang patutunguhan ang buhay. Madalas, ibang tao ang tutulong sa kanila at hindi ang pamilya nila.

Kulang na nga lang ibenta ang bansa natin sa mga Koreanong banyagang nagsusulputan na parang kabute sa dami at parang paputok sa ingay.

Ikaw, proud ka ba na maging Pinoy?

Posted in For Information, Interesting Topics, Litratong Pinoy, Me, Philippines, Photos, social consciousness, Thought Bubbles, Visualizations

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Bookstore Behavior

Posted on February 16, 2010 by greenbucks| 1 Comment

The kids love going to Power Books in TriNoma. Not only do they get to choose a book from a variety of choices but they get to read books there as well.

Having gone to that place, I noticed several things in the children’s books section that I feel I have to discuss with the children.

  • A child gets a book, looks at it and just drops it on the floor but parents/caregivers do not tell the child to pick it up and put it back where she/he got it from. Tsk, tsk.
  • There are children who will open up a sealed book and will just scan the pages and just leave the book where ever they want to.
  • There are small children who tend to make noise or just run around the place but are not told to stop.
  • Some moms/caregivers talk very loud with their children like they own the place and that there are no other people there. (I have a video of an incident where the mom was so angry at her daughter for misplacing their Power Books card. She was berating her daughter and the nannies, telling them they are @#$%^& for losing the card. Ugh!)

So with these things, I have taught the children some guidelines:

  • They can only read the books that have been already opened and NOT open those that are still sealed.
  • They can talk in a soft voice because others are reading and consider this place as a “library”. (Yeah, never mind if one of the people there is just reading about eczema treatment while sitting comfortably on the carpeted floor of the children’s books section)
  • Put back the books where they got it from, just like what they do at home.
  • Guard their space in case someone tries to sit while one got up to get/return a book 😀
  • Be courteous.

Posted in family, Interesting Topics, social consciousness, Urban Living

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Pasasalamat

Posted on December 31, 2009 by greenbucks| 1 Comment

litratongpinoy

Pasasalamat. Salamat.

Nativity Chapel of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Ako ay isa sa mga taong nahubog na may pananampalataya sa Panginoong Diyos.

Dahil sa magkahalong impluwesiya ng simbahang Katolika sa aking paaralan at paniniwalang Protestante sa aking pamilya at kinalakihang simbahan, naintindihan ko kung paano hindi magiging sabagal ang relihiyon sa pamumuhay at pagtugon sa mga tungkulin bilang isang Kristiyano at bilang isang responsableng mamamayan.

Isa lang iyan sa aking pinag-uukulan ng pasasalamat.

Ang pamilya, ang kalayaang mangarap at magkaroon ng pagkakataon upang matupad ang mga iyon , at mga pagkakataong pag-isipan ang kalagayan ng iba sa pamamagitan ng malayang pagsusulat, iyan ay ilan lamang sa listahan ng mga dapat kong ipagpasalamat.

Ang pasasalamat ay hindi lamang kumakatawan sa katagang nagsasabi ng pagtanggap at pagkilala sa mga bagay-bagay na nagawa hindi lang para sa ikabubuti ng sarili ngunit para din sa kapakanan ng marami.

Sa iyo na nagbabasa nito, isang taos-pusong pasasalamat ang aking ibinibigay ng may ngiti. Nawa ay maging maligaya at puno ng pagpapala ang darating na taon para sa iyo at iyong pamilya.

Posted in family, Interesting Topics, Litratong Pinoy, Philippines, Photos, social consciousness, Thought Bubbles, Visualizations

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A Different Christmas Wish

Posted on December 10, 2009 by greenbucks| 1 Comment

Writing about Christmas wishes made me think about what I really want this Christmas and beyond.

Like a beauty pageant contestant, I wish for joy, love and more blessings from the Lord. Throw in world peace and I am as happy as a lark. I know it is probably too much to wish for something like that during this time of turmoil.

Oh, before I forget I need weight loss pills first before i even think I can join a beauty pageant, LOL.

Kidding aside, the developments happening after the bloody mass murder in this third world country ruled by power hungry and corrupt officials is frightening.

What is more frightening is that other appointed officials are on the same boat with the suspects who have deep ties with the sitting president.

Posted in Current Events, Philippines, social consciousness, Thought Bubbles

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