Monday, February 2, 2009

parental guidance: highly recommended

Sa araw-araw na pagbabasa ko ng dyaryo, laging may news item tungkol sa isang teen-ager na babaeng na-rape. At maraming kaso na ang rapist, teen-ager din. Kadalasan, nangyari ang krimen dahil nilasing ang dalagita. Then pinagsamantalahan.

Sa lahat din halos ng kaso, the victim knows the attackers. Either kaibigan, boyfriend, kapitbahay or ka-klase. Ilan lang yong kaso ng mga dina-dampot by some total strangers at saka ginagahasa.

Whenever I read something like this, I always put the blame on the girl. Kung hindi kasi umiinom, hindi dapat nangyari. Kahit pa pilitin. Kahit pa kaibigan o boyfriend ang nagpapa-inom.

In the first place, ang pangit tingnan ng isang dalagitang tumutungga ng alak. It is so unlady-like. Pero mukhang marami na ang gumagawa nito. Siguro mahina ang pundasyon ng moral, kulang sa guidance ng magulang, iba ang paligid na kinalakihan or, ang pinakamalala at pinakamahirap na dahilan – sadyang pasaway ang bata. Rebelde. Matigas ang ulo.

Aside from the girl, gusto ko ring batukan ang mga owners ng grocery stores or kahit mga sari-sari na nagbebenta ng alak sa mga kabataan. Ke lalaki o babae, they should not sell alcohol to minors. Di ba sa states, may batas na nagbabawal nito. Sa atin kasi wala. Hindi maisip gawin ng mga lawmakers natin ang ganito. Dahil bahagi na ng kultura natin yong inuutusan ng magulang ang anak na bumili ng ganito-ganyan sa tindahan, including alak. So hindi na bago yong 5-year old kid pero may bitbit na kwatro kantos galing sa tindahan.

Of course hindi ko ina-abswelto ang mga rapist na karamihan ay kabataan din. Wala rin sa katinuan itong mga batang ito na sa halip mag-aral, alak ang inaatupag. At dahil kulang pa sila sa maturity to handle such an adult indulgence, iba ang nagiging takbo ng utak. Kaya pag lasing na, wala nang kinakatakutan.

Ang masakit nito, lives of these youth are being destroyed. Ke yong victim or yong rapist, both will suffer from the consequence of the rape. The girls will suffer the trauma, indignation and stigma that comes with being a rape victim. While the boys will bear the agony and humiliation of the punishment.

Ang nakaka-awa dito, ang mga magulang who do their best to bring up these kids properly. Sa dami ng factors na sumisira ng magagandang bagay na tinuturo nila sa kanilang mga anak, they seem to be fighting an uphill battle.

Siguradong masakit sa dibdib yong lagi kang naghihintay maka-uwi safely ang anak mo kung saan man sya galing. At siguradong halos gumuho ang mundo mo when any of your kids figure in any of these atrocities.

Sana lang ang mga batang ito ay maging mas responsible sa kanilang mga sarili. Sana maintindihan nila that whatever they are doing at the early stages of their lives greatly affect whatever they will become later on. At sana, matutunan nilang pakinggan at sundin ang kanilang mga magulang. Parental guidance is not only for the cinemas. It is the mold that makes us a better person. Ignore it and you’ll turn out otherwise.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

hotnothot 3

Well, what do you know! We just blinked and January’s gone. But before you go into a very early Valentine mood, let me give you the 3rd instalment of my ‘pakikisawsaw’.

Hotnot : My favorite Roger Federer falling short of his goal to equal Sampras’ record of 14 grandslam titles when Rafael Nadal beat him today in the men’s finals of the Australian Open. Worse, he was reduced to tears while giving his speech in the awarding ceremonies. It’s a bit gauche to see someone so fierce on the tennis court sobbing like a pitiful little boy on worldwide tv. But hey, I can feel the disappointment. Darn Rafael.

Hothot : The 34-year old ‘coup’ leader in Madagascar. True, batang-bata ang nagki-claim to be the new leader of Madagascar - the country, not the film huh. Pasaway kasi ang mga Malagasy (citizens of Madagascar, in case you don’t know), riot ng riot at patayan ng patayan. Then the young mayor of Antananarivo (the country’s capital, again, in case you don’t know) Andry Rajoelina said enough is enough. Magsitigil kayo, ako na ang bagong pangulo ninyo. Kung hindi kayo kayang pasunurin ni Marc (the President), ako ang magpapatigil sa pagiging suwail ninyo!. Although hindi nire-recognize ng African Union yong claim nya. But still, he’s cool ha.

Hothot : My favorite actress – arguably the best female living actor of this generation – Meryl Streep winning the Screen Actors Guild for Best Actress in her role as a nun in the Roman Catholic drama Doubt. It also gave her a nomination in the same category at the forthcoming Oscar awards. Which makes her the most nominated actress – 14 or 15 Oscar nominations if I’m not mistaken. I hope she picks-up her third Best Actress Oscar this year.

Hotnot : The woman in the US who had 8 babies. She is now being criticized for having taken fertility drugs and giving birth to 8 tiny babies while she already had 6 children. At bakit naman sya kini-criticize? Sa kanila kasi, government gives help and subsidies lalo na sa education ng mga bata. Which means, the government will spend more taxpayer’s money on the 14 children. Unfair nga naman doon sa mga ‘responsible’ parents na nagpipigil ng husto keeping their kids na 1 o 2 lang. Malas ni Manang kasi Amerikana sya. Kung sa Pinas sya nanganak ng 8, hindi sya iki-criticize at baka sumikat pa sya kasi sasabihin ‘miracle’ yong nangyari. Yon nga lang, bahala silang mag-asawang bumuhay sa mga bata. Walang paki ang Phil government sa mga ganyan noh.

Hotnot : The worsening economic situation. Large, global brands laying-off workers by the thousands. Paanong sasabihin ng Pinas na hindi tayo masyadong maa-apektuhan eh yan at nagtatanggalan na rin ng workers sa atin. I’m particularly worried about many of my pamangkins working in the semi-conducter sector. Sana wag silang tamaan. At sana po wag nang lumala pa itong recession na ito. God help us all.

Hotnot : Another hero that I loved during the Beijing Olympics being humiliated by reports – with matching photos to wit – besmirching the demi-god status he is currently enjoying from his 14 Olympic gold medal haul in swimming. Darn cannabis, Michael Phelps had to issue an apology admitting to his misconduct. This he has to do just a couple of days after he was named Sportsman of the Year by US Olympic Committee (USOC). Ah well, as the cliché goes, it’s lonely at the top. So grab some marijuana and try to kick out the boredom.

Calendar February 2009