the politics of politics

The Aquino administration  defied norms and traditions when it appointed Maria Lourdes Sereno  as the new Chief Justice. First, the appointee is the first female to hold the post second, the President overlooked the tradition of seniority rights.

Associate Justice Antonio Carpio; 63, by seniority rule, should have been the next Chief Justice but the opportunity was quite elusive because of partisan; Carpio is a Gloria Arroyo-appointee.

Meanwhile, Sereno; 52, has recently voted for the distribution of the Luisita land to its farmer beneficiaries. Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac is owned by the Cojuancos, the President's family.

Although Sereno voted for the land distribution, she was one of the minorities who said that the Cojuancos should receive the higher land price based on the 2006 land value rather than the 1989 amount, which is of lower value.

In addition, the new CJ voted against Gloria Arroyo's wish to seek international medical treatment last 2011.

Although appointments are based on the discretion of the president, by unwritten rule, and respect for the one who has the most solid experience, I believe that the most senior of the aspirants should be appointed of the post, irregardless of different political affiliations.

Sereno's appointment is tinted with malice, doubts, and apprehensions that the first woman chief justice will be a political puppet. On one hand, Aquino seemed politically-indebted with Sereno. Well, they are politically indebted with each other.

Our political system has always been ruled by strong partisans and political-debts and ambitions. After all paying and seeking utang na loob at palakasan, have always been one of our general characters as Filipinos.

Kung may backer ka, kung may konek ka, kung malakas ang padrino mo, kung may utang na loob ka at may pinagkaka-utangan ng loob, alam na!

These have always been the prevailing attributes of our politics, the politics of politics.

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Sereno's term will (theoretically) end by 2030, 18 years from now.

Seventy-years-old is the retiring age of Chief Justices, hence, since Sereno is now 52 she has 18 years to spare unless she will resign or be impeached.

The hashtag #CJpaSiSereno trended in Twitter as netizens posted hilarious and ingenious thoughts like, #CJpaSiSereno may asawa na si P-Noy.

the power of non-fiction readers

It is of absurdity to classify textbooks under the fiction category as they supposedly inform, educate, and enlighten students of facts and reality.

I have been editing manuscripts and books for quite some time now and I notice that these educational materials seem to convey some messages that are too good to be true thus, too far from what are really happening today.

I am not saying though that they are made-up but, most of the contents of some books lean toward the ideal, the wishful-thinking.

“Q: True or False: The Philippines has a growing economy because it is not a corrupt country.

Answer key: answer may vary”

“Plant trees for a better tomorrow.”

“Reduce, reuse, and recycle things.”

The two latter axioms of course will only hold water if we practice it. I definitely understand the textbooks’ aim to instil virtuous information to its readers as early as the students are able to read. However, the good intentions of the textbooks are easily dismissed once the students step out of the boundaries of their schools for reasons that what the books say do not match  the condition of the community.

If only what are taught inside the classrooms are also practiced outside the school premises, then we can say that the lessons are hence, effective.

However, if teachers, writers, and editors continue to consciously or unconsciously mask the reality because of fear that students will imbibe a sense of apathy, then maybe it is right to classify some textbooks as works of fiction.

The books are definitely not to blame, maybe we should be. Textbooks are merely manuals, but the realization of the doctrines, lies on the readers’ senses.

 “Q: True or False: The Philippines has a growing economy because it is not a corrupt country.

A: answer may vary”

I have been itching to edit the question above and change the answer key to “answers should not vary it should be false”, because I do not want to blindside the students. THE PHILIPPINES IS A CORRUPT NATION.

But I restrained myself and seconded the motion.

I too, succumbed toward the ideal, to the wishful-thinking.  

It’s just that I don’t want to rub-off cynicism towards the students, the next generation who will read the books, and hopefully will make:  “Q: True or False: The Philippines has a growing economy because it is not a corrupt country.

Answer key: answer may vary”

“Plant trees for a better tomorrow.”

“Reduce, reuse, and recycle things.”   be in their genuine meanings. 

Lourd says we never learn, I say amen

While the onslaught of Ondoy may still be freshly etched in the memory of its victims, a seeming part two starts anew. This time, with harsher rainfall, flashfloods and greater destruction, to think that what has just transpired on the eve of August 6 was not a typhoon but mere heavy rains.

The intense downpour experienced in Metro Manila and its neighboring regions was equal to a month of rainfall, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

No one can stop the wrath of Mother Earth, but who says nobody can at least lessen its effects and damage? This is a rhetoric question.  

The government has allotted 13.7 billion pesos (if I am not mistaken) for the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, a chunk of money that I think, should have been allocated to more pressing concerns of the Philippines. No studies, after all, say that there is a direct relationship between population and poverty.

 “Who cares about a clean government, the respect for human rights, social justice and all that crap if everything can be wiped out by just one big-ass rainfall?” the Lourd de Veyra says in his blog.

“Calamities and harrowing incidents seem to simply skim off our cultural radar,” de Veyra says, “After a couple of months, they just float away into a distant haze. We're a land of typhoons, but being concerned with the weather doesn't really seem to be part of our culture.”

Fair point made once again, Mr. Lourd.

Days after some parts of the country have been hit by natural calamity, the sun will come out and it will be back to business as usual—heavy traffic and busy streets. The wastes that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has accumulated will once again, mount up. What is new?

We do not know how to heed to the signs of the times, thinking that we can always depend on our resiliency.

This is a wake-up call we have been snoozing time and again. 

'fashion audience' & some trends that need to go

Glenda leads a seemingly double life; she dons chic corporate attires in the morning and occasionally succumbs to “excessorizing” however, after her eight-hour stint in the office, she deliberately takes off her bangles, cocktail rings and hoop earrings. She’s now Miss Plain Jane.  

“My boyfriend hates my bangles and rings, they get in the way when we hold hands,” she reasons out to me.

Aah, the dangers of “fashion audience,” I thought. Fashion audience er …what? It’s just a term I coin for dressing to impress but always noting who is your ‘audience’, something like that.

My officemates and I love Glenda’s outfits but her man would rather see her uncomplicated.

Just like writing for a specific audience, love of fashion also seems to undergo the same premise. Fashionistas can always wear the latest trend but they should not expect everyone to love, understand, and relate with their eccentric, feminine or rocker-chic get up, especially the opposite sex.

Dress to impress  

Your girlfriends may totally adore a fitted bodice and lace top but don’t expect the elderlies or your parents to worship them.

Moreover, no matter how high-end or expensive your skinny jeans or sheer blouses are, expect your man not to mind the labels: where you get your clothes, or whether you were up and about before the malls open just to get the clothes you’ve been eyeing for, at first hand. The opposite gender, it turns out, is after the “by-product,” on how great, sexy or cute you look on your skinny jeans.

  

I perfectly understood and somehow, related with Glenda’s case. I remember when my family and I were once out for dinner on a cold evening. Expectedly, I had to warm up by either layering (putting my cardigan on) or wearing a scarf. I chose the latter.

But much to my dismay, my father (since I don’t have a boyfriend) restricted me to wear such. I can still remember his words up to this day, “mukha kang OA, pagtitinginan ka lang sa labas.”

To my defense I was not aiming for any attention, it was just cold and I thought that my zebra-print scarf would add oomph to my rather blah outfit. My mother totally loved my ensemble but would rather not argue with the Head of the Household.

See? Fashion philes may want to keep this in mind: it’s okay to lead a double-life so long as you dress according to where you are going and who you are going to meet. Your best friend may find you cute in your print-on-print ensemble but your boyfriend (in case you don’t have one, your brother or father) may get dizzy with the Aztec and floral combo. 

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Nay or yay?

I love fashion but I don’t completely embrace it at face value. Here is my list of fashion items that I think should bid a permanent goodbye. (*photos from google)

Printed leggings/jeggings –Sweet and girly-girl fashion items are not just my thing. 

Circle shades – don’t expect me to buy these just because Mary-Kate Olsen likes them. These shades look sooo funny, it seems like two bottle caps are on your eyes! 

These are just plain hideous and baduy, and so are the fruit/flower emblem slippers!