Dreaming of Change

Image credit: Link 

historic protest

tyrannical rule nears its end

a state's turning point

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with fists tightly clenched

angry chants in unison

a loud cry for change

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anger sows hatred

a never-ending cycle

humanity's bane

© Bing (PinkLady) 2011

Posted for !The Haiku Challenge! Day 7- Anger

and Poetry Potluck: Aims, Goals and Ambitions 

 

I Have Faith In You

On Monday (May 10, 2010), the Filipino people will go out and vote in the very first automated elections in the country. We witnessed how opposing parties exposed one controversy after another. Their mudslinging and dirty tricks have literally thrown this country into the dumps. Innocent or apolitical people were even dragged into the fray. Some analysts say that this is probably the dirtiest political season here. The infamous Maguindanao Massacre (where 57 people, including 34 journalists, 2 lady lawyers and several innocent motorists, were killed) is so far the worst election-related violence in the country.

Everyday, one would wake up to news of  abductions or killings and Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine glitches. Honestly, we are all tired of it already so it is quite a relief that the election season will  come to an end soon.

But before you all go out to vote on Monday, educate yourselves about the new automated system. You will be given only one ballot so don't waste your chance to be counted. Below is a simple illustration of how to cast your vote:

Remember, we now have clustered precincts, each precinct has 1,000 registered voters.

If you want to avoid a long queue, go to your precinct early (precincts will open at 7a.m.). You might have to skip a meal or be exposed to severe heat of the sun while waiting for your turn to vote so it would be best if you bring some light food (crackers, candies, etc.) and water with you .

Here are some more simple reminders on election day:

1. Bring your voter's id or any identification together with your registration stub. Upon arriving at your   precinct, check your name on the voters list and secure a ballot from the Board of Election Inspector (BEI), they are there to assist you.
2. When the ballot is received, make sure that it is unmarked. Unlike previous elections, the ballots for the automated elections only need to be shaded. Shade your votes properly.
3. After completing your vote, feed the ballot to the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS). The machine will validate your ballot and you will receive a confirmation message on the machines' screen. Your vote has been casted.

My own 15-year-old son will be serving as an election watchdog (for the Church) on Monday. Much as I want to put my foot down, I have to remind myself that he has formed and developed his own ideals and principles. He won't go alone though. He will join the Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth (FCCY) group.

I am so proud of our young people who have somehow developed awareness and love for the country so early in life. We may not achieve that much desired responsible and honest governance now but, hopefully, the next generation will vote into office competent, responsible, honest leaders who have learned from their elders'  mistakes.

I have faith that a better Philippines is in the offing.

So...

VOTE WISELY ON MONDAY!


Sources: Manila Bulletin , James Jimenez

POLITICS IN HELL... THE DEVIL'S CAMPAIGN

While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Philippine Senator was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you know, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he

goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the Filipino people.

They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.
They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil smiles at him and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning ..Today, you voted."

Source: Tita Edzz, Facebook

Who Created The Monsters?

"Thank you Lord for not allowing Mommy to go out with Daddy that evening... Thank you for letting her stay with us..." This was my youngest daughter's prayer over supper one evening. If I went out with James on the night of January 24, 2005 (like the way I used to), these 3 kids would have awakened the next day as orphans. My heart breaks every time I think of it. I guess it was not my time yet. Or maybe I just got lucky.

But not everyone is as lucky...

The children of Eduardo and Cecille Lechonsito were suddenly orphaned when their parents met their untimely death on November 23, 2009. While on their way to Cotabato City for a medical check up and ct scan (Eduardo suffered a mild stroke that day), their car was waylaid and led to the killing fields by the private militia (over 100 gunmen) of a Maguindanao Mayor.

They are not the only ones who perished in what is now tagged as Maguindanao Massacre.

A prominent political family in the South easily lost over a dozen of their members, all women, who were tasked to file the certificate of candidacy (for a gubernatorial position) of Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu. Together with Mangudadatu's wife, sisters (the youngest sister was 4 months pregnant!) and other relatives, 34 media practitioners likewise perished in "the single deadliest event for journalists in history."

Sadly, two lady lawyers, acting as legal counsel for the Mangudadatus , were also among those slain in the infamous massacre.

Ironically, Eduardo and Cecille Lechonsito were not even part of the Mangudadatu's convoy. These ordinary government employees were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.

To date, 57 bodies (22 were women) have been recovered from the shallow graves that were dug by a backhoe which belonged to the Maguindanao provincial government. In an attempt to hide the gruesome murders, the victims' cars were also buried with them.

The manner by which the women victims were tortured, mutilated and killed (possibly raped too!) was truly unspeakable. The devil himself would have cringed at the thought.

The suspect? Scion of a political warlord in Maguindanao. The motive? Political rivalry and vendetta.

Thus ends the saga of the most feared and most powerful political clan in the southern part of the country. The entire nation watched (with great relief!!! ) as their downfall slowly unfolded.

This may be the worst election-related violence in the country but this is not the first time that the people here have heard of such atrocities. Goons, guns and gold seem to get so fast into the head of every aspiring political warlord. No matter how clean and sincere a man's intentions were at the start of his political career, the "power" eventually transforms him into a monster one way or the other. There are some exceptions, of course, and kudos to them who sincerely, incessantly and tirelessly work to make this country (and world) a better place to live in.

In most cases though, power is taken to mean as a carte blanche to take the law into one's hands. The Maguindanao massacre was carried out in broad daylight. It is quite scary to think that these people were so confident in committing mass murder with impunity thinking that they could get away with it. [Actually, they almost did if not for the timely (and unwelcome) appearance of the search team on board a chopper.]

As I said, this is not the only crime of this kind. A few months ago, a mass grave was also discovered in this city. After a controversy-ridden investigation and "technical-legal difficulties," everyone seemed to have forgotten about it already. Everyone moved on since then. The perpetrators conveniently hid under the cloak of the law which they themselves trampled on. But what about those people whose bones remained buried there?

And so it remained that way... unsolved! Sadly charged to experience.

For all of the Maguindanao massacre's victims' families, take comfort that the sacrifice of lives has finally unraveled and unmasked the monsters that lurked in the province of Maguindanao. They did not die in vain.

For those whose atrocities and complicities have not yet been disclosed, divine justice will eventually catch up with you. The truth will emerge and justice will take its full course... Somehow... Someday...

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." -Martin Luther King, Jr.-

"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." -Albert Einstein-