Decaying Filipino Culture

Decaying Filipino Culture

Published in May 14, 2011 Free Press Issue

A priest who’s a friend of mine once said in a homily that the culprit in our difficulties is our declining culture. I agree. We are no longer scandalized by scams in the government. We are not outraged anymore by corruption and immorality among our officials. We are no longer incensed by the arrogance of the powers that be. We have become numb to heinous crimes. We seem to have accepted that all this is part of our culture. The government, instead of being the agent of change, is dictating its values to us. This cannot go on. We must deconstruct our culture and return to the traditional values that have made us Filipinos by practicing them—starting now.

—Reginald B. Tamayo, Marikina City

The malignancy of our present culture

The malignancy of our present culture

I once listened to a homily of a priest-friend who said that it is the declining Filipino culture which is the culprit in our present difficulties. I concur. There is malignancy in our current culture that causes all our troubles in our country.

We are no longer scandalized by the many scams in the government. We are not outraged anymore by the numerous graft and corruption practices and immorality of some of our public officials. Our sensibilities are by now numbed to the countless heinous crimes committed by devious individuals. We are no longer incensed by the arrogance of the powers-that-be. We do not cringe on the brazen dishonesty, blatant lying and rowdiness of the bigheaded people. Indeed, we seem to admit that all these ghastly social evils are already integrated in our culture. We have grown used to these iniquities in our society. We know the horror of these peccadilloes yet we genially consent to them. It looks like we already shaped our consciousness and accept that this is now our contemporary culture.

These are diametrically opposed to the culture of the past. We do not seem to feel good about ourselves when we practice the social values of bayanihan, pakikisama, pakikipagkapwa –tao, paggalang, and many others. It appears that we feel uncomfortable or embarrassed when we practice these values. It is delusional to believe that we are a Christian country yet we do unchristian ways.

The government, among others, plays a vital role in the formation of this culture. Though debatable, it imposes this culture to us. It is no longer us, I opine, who are the agents of change of our culture. The government, many say, takes the center stage and rams down our throat the social values it insists on. We, as ever, are silently subservient of this. Along the process, we assimilate the culture of dishonesty, cheating, corruption, disloyalty and disrespect to life and property.

This is no different when we were under the rule of our colonizers. Because of their strong influence, our forebears for some time developed the attitude of passiveness, low esteem, and the willingness to be exploited and abused. We display this outlook in similar fashion nowadays.

Let us deconstruct our culture. Let us be the agents of cultural change and not as obedient recipients of disvalues. Let us not fall victims of the purveyors of social evils. We can preserve our traditional Filipino values by practicing them, now. It is only then that we can bring back our country to its old

Ang Bagong Internal Rules of Procedure ng Ika-6 na Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Marikina

Ang Bagong Internal Rules of Procedure ng Ika-6 na Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Marikina
Ni Reginald B. Tamayo

Ang pagpupulong o session ng ating ika-6 na Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Marikina ay mas organisado, mas epektibo at mas mabisa sa ngayon. Mas matagumpay sa kasalukuyan ang bawat session ng Sangguniang Panlungsod dahil sa ipinapatupad nitong Revised Internal Rules of Procedure. Kadalasan ay tinatawag itong Rules. Ang Revised Internal Rules of Procedure ay ang makabagong patakaran na sinusunod ng mga konsehales sa kanilang session para maging maayos ang kanilang talakayan. Maihantulad ito sa larong basketbol kung saan ang mga manlalaro ay may mga patakarang sinusunod upang ang laro nila nasisigurong ay malinis, tunay, at mapayapa. Ang mga kasapi din ng ating Sangguniang Panlungsod ay nagkaisang magkaroon ng panibagong Rules katulad ng kanilang pinagtibay kamakailan na Revised Internal Rules of Procedure. Ito ay kanilang malalimang pinag-aralan, pinadebatehan, at pinaggugulan ng panahon upang ito ay masusing balangkasin na naayon sa kagustuhan ng lahat. Hindi maikakaila na dahil sa bagong ipinatutupan na Rules na ito, ang mga konsehales ay nagiging mas aktibo at mas masigasig sa kanilang mga tungkulin bilang mga lokal na mambabatas ng kalunsuran,

Maaring ang tanong ng ilan ay bakit binago ang dating Internal Rules of Procedure? Sa anong kadahilanan na ito ay pinalitan? Hindi ba angkop ang dating Rules na tugunan ang pangangailangan ng lokal na lehislatura? Sa mga nakakasaksi sa mga session ng Sangguninag Panlungsod tuwing Miyerkules sa ganap na 9:00 ng umaga, ito man ay sa loob mismo ng session hall o sa pamamagitan ng panonood ng live session sa internet, ay makapagsasabi na base sa dating Rules na ipinaiiral noon, ang session ay mistulang nawawala sa direksyon. Sa madaling sabi, ang mga session ng ating Sangguniang Panlungsod bago pa ipinatupad ang bagong Rules ay mistulang hirap na abutin ang layunin ng mga kasapi na makapagpasa ng mga lokal na batas na tutugon sa mga pngangailangan ng nakararami. Sa kabilang banda ang dating Rules ay naglalaman ng mga probisyon na may iba’t ibang interpretasyon. Kaya naman madalas nagkakasalungat ang mga mungkahi ng mga kasapi, nagkakapersonalan ang usapan, at nalalayo na sa layunin ng pagpupulong ang pagkakaroon ng isang pangkalahatang desisyon.

Dahil dito sa bagong Rule, mas malinaw na sa mga konsehales kung paano tugunan o pagpasyahan ang mga problema na ipinaparating sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng pagbalangkas ng mga iba’t-ibang resolusyon o ordinansa. Higit lalo na mas handa na ang Sangguniang Panlungsod kung paano hawakan ang mga mahihirap at kontrobersyal na isyu.

Laking pasasalamat sa tagapangasiwa ng ika-6 na Sangguniang Panglungsod na si Bise Alkalde Jose Fabian I. Cadiz, M.D. dahil sa kanyang pamumuno sa planong ibahin ang Rules. Nakasalalay kay Dr. Cadiz ang maayos na takbo ng pag-uusap at pagdesisisyon ng mga kasapi ng konseho. Ika nga si Bise Alkalde Cadiz ay parang pulis-trapiko na siyang nagpapaandar at nagpapahinto at nagpapalinaw ng usapan sa session na naayon sa bagong Rules. At pasasalamat na rin kay Konsehala Eva Aguirre-Paz dahil siya ang nanguna at nag-ambag ng mga probisyon ng bagong Rules sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaliksik sa mga batas katulad ng Rebublic Act 7160 o ang tinatawag na Local Government Code of 1991 dahil karamihan sa probisyon ng bagong Rules na ipinapatupad sa ika-6 ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ay tugma at naayon sa batas na ito.

Globe's Reply To My Query

Globe's Reply To My Query

Dear Mr. Tamayo,

We apologize for the inconvenience this incident may have caused you.As of the moment, we do not have any information regarding the exact number to SMS to be sent when subscribed to unlimited text promo.Please be advised to monitor the number of SMS sent to avoid to exceed in the limit.NTC rules that promos are subjected to Globe’s Fair Use Policy. Globe Telecom reserves the right to terminate/suspend promo subscription/s that violates this policy. This policy prevents network abuse, allows us to fully optimize network capacity and maintain quality of its services for subscribers.For more details, please refer to NTC website http://www.ntc.gov.ph/.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated as this will help us in determining how we can improve our service handling so we can meet and exceed expectations of our valued subscribers.

Should you need further assistance, you may reach us through any of the following channels:

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Or through our hotline 211 (toll-free via any Globe mobile) or (02) 730-1000 (toll-free via any Globe Landline).

Thank you and we look forward to serving you again in the future.
Sincerely,

Ava Halcon
Globe Customer Service

Unlimited Limited Text Messaging

Unlimited Limited Texting

I recently inquired from Globe Center Cubao why my TM Sim Card (09051331617) could not register with its ASTIGTXT10 Unli texts to TM/Globe. I was told that I exceeded the number of messages I sent during the onset of typhoon “Juan”. Worse, accordingly, I have to wait for one month before I could avail and enjoy again this unlimited text promo. There is no denying I sent scores of text messages to my fellow Aparrianos about the status of the typhoon based on the website information of PAG-ASA.

Aparri had no electric current on that day and practically Aparrianos could not access the internet to source typhoon reports. Many of my townmates, especially my family, were hungering after updates about “Juan.” During the onslaught of typhoon “Juan”, many of my fellow Aparrianos stormed me with their text messages asking information about it. During my stint as a municipal councilor of Aparri, it has been my habit to send text messages to our constituents about public announcements, electric interruptions and conditions of typhoons. It was part of my advocacy as a public servant. I continue to do so even while I am here in Marikina City.

I pose the following queries: Why is Globe advertising an unlimited text promo when there is a limit to the number of texting messages to be sent? How many messages are allowed to be sent in this unlimited text promo so as not to be branded as “abusive” text user?

I bought a new TM Sim card and is now registered with ASTIGTXT 10 unlimited text. However, I am now cautious of my sending of text messages because I understand that it is limited after all.

Schools that promote indifference

Schools that promote indifference
Inquirer

I READ WITH INTEREST THE COLUMN “Catholic education” written by Michael L. Tan. He particularly cited Xavier School and St. Scholastica’s College. Indeed, both schools play an important role in making a better society by helping citizens pursue their vocations and fulfill them.

In my town Aparri, there is also this Catholic school, the Lyceum of Aparri, which is not only seriously committed to giving quality Catholic education to the youth of the north. It is also firmly involved in community-building. For instance, its school policies, mission statement, goals of its departments and even the lesson objectives on the lectures of teachers are consistent with the dogmas and teachings of the Catholic Church. A student here not only gets to be enlightened about the world, he is made to appreciate his being a Catholic.

But I know of some Catholic schools that are indifferent to social issues, thus producing students with little--if any—-sense of social involvement.

For the school, a measure of the students’ functional literacy is knowing the social issues of the day and discussing their possible solutions. Teachers and administrators see to it that the students get first-hand information about the poor and the neglected in society, the moral issues attached to jueteng, illegal fishing, graft and corruption and the like. Thus, students become aware of present-day social concerns and get to know the saving truth of the Gospel.

Catholic education has a lot to contribute to making a better society. It is most unfortunate, though, that there are some Catholic schools which remain passive or indifferent to social concerns. No wonder the graduates of these schools are also passive and indifferent. Indeed, most Catholic schools are mere learning institutions. Students who belong to affluent families are generally the ones who have access to these schools. Thus, the schools become “exclusive” in the real sense of the word, violating in the process Christ’s command for all his disciples to “preach the good news to all nations.”

The Catholic Church promotes “preferential option for the poor.” Therefore, Catholic schools should not be blind to the needs of the poor and the marginalized in society. They should defend the poor against unscrupulous leaders, and educate all in the ways of truth and the saving grace of the Gospel.

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO, member, Sangguniang Bayan, Aparri, Cagayan

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Un-Catholic Catholic politicians

Un-Catholic Catholic politicians

I lost the senatorial race but I gained a firmer faith to my God. I felt I did not campaign at all to win a senate seat but I ran to defend my church. The attacks even came from our own flock, the Catholic Church. I was a witness to a disgraceful display of Catholic politicians and even priests and religious strongly espousing the RH Bill. Worse, they even support the candidacy of Catholic politicians who champion platforms of government that are antithetical to the teachings and traditions of the church. These are scandalous and they may entice others to commit sin.

Shall the church ignore the sinful acts of these Catholic politicians? Does it not concern the church hierarchy to protect the sheep from the wolves?

A believing Catholic who loves the church should defend her at all cost and unconditionally embrace her teachings on the fundamental contents of faith and morals. It is my humble opinion that anyone who professes that he or she is a Catholic yet acts in a contrary manner is a humbug.

Ours is a pluralistic society and probably most of the Catholic politicians aver that in this situation they can make up their own minds on different social issues without being guided by any moral directives from the church. That is fine by me. Yet, the Church through some of her bishops and priests are relentlessly reminding the Catholic politicians of their moral obligations to the teachings of the church.

When shall the Catholic politicians truly behave as Catholics? Shall the bishops and priests dilly-dally or be tongue-tied on these crooked behaviors of the Catholic politicians? All of us Catholics should be awakened from our moral slumber and denounce these anti-Catholic outbreak from our own Catholic politicians.

I believe that the church is God’s living voice. I will remain to be a part of that voice and continue to evangelize politics either in or out of the senate hall.