Enforcing the Enforcers

Read an interesting article here on Inquirer.net. In a nutshell, a live-in couple will be filing charges against a police officer for alleged rape on the woman.
If this is true - and I believe it is still too early to pass judgment - then this could decrease even further the already-low opinion of the general public (source: just ask the person beside you next time) towards our law enforcement officers. Anecdotal tales of police bribing abound in almost every major city in the Philippines that I've been to. In fact, I have already heard of something akin to a "pricing system" with regards to bribery costs! There are yet more stories about law enforcement officers being overly harsh or abusive, as well as being famously corrupt in as many ways as one could be corrupt. Now this presents a very large problem, something that should scare us out of our wits: if we cannot trust our law enforcers, then who can we turn to?

In my opinion, this problem stems from us, the general public of the Philippines.
Firstly, we do not expect much from our cops. This should change. We should expect them to be paragons of law-abiding (even if they're not) in the way that a lesser has a certain expectation of a superior; the superior would be compelled to live up to that standard or risk humiliation from a lesser. Of course, on the side of the police officer, he or she must be willing to accept that he is - not by choice, but by uniform - automatically an example to the general citizenry. Whether or not he accepts this is not the point; he or she must understand that much is expected from him/her, and that the fate of our society vis-a-vis law enforcing and law abiding rests partly on his/her highly accountable shoulders (and the badges attached on them too). In this news report, I am sure (if you have been in the Philippines for a while) that you quickly passed a judgment of "Well, the cops here are really just like that". See? They become what we expect them to be!
Secondly, we already have this mentality that birds of a same feather flock together. In certain examples, I concede; it is a generally well-accepted fact that people of the same creed, interest, or passions do tend to gravitate towards each other. In cases such as in the news report, it was sad - though wholly predictable and rather expected - that the couple felt that the police officers would cover each other's backs. It is difficult to deny that fraternal relationships do produce that sort of relationship between the individuals in said certain group; heck, even in Skittlez, we cover for each all the time. However, law enforcers are expected (there we come full circle to 'expectations') to be impartial upholders of the law, with a certain familiar credo ringing in their ears, ideally: The law applies to all, or none at all. Private citizens, such as yourself and I, should not have to fear law enforcers covering up crimes just because they happen to wear the same uniforms or once swore the same oaths. It shouldn't have to work that way. I believe that if a police officer is wrong, then he or she is wrong; his/her colleagues should in fact be expected to be the first to condemn the law-breaking; after all, their comrade-in-arms broke the same oaths and promises they made, and disgraced the same uniform they wear. In so saying, I think we can help the police force become a much more efficient one by treating their individuals officers as individual units of a larger organization, and not clump them in the "all cops are crooked" category.
Third and finally, we simply need to be a lot more hard-line towards our police force. Perhaps we have built both a low expectation and a tendency to generalize them because the bad apples in the law enforcement basket know that the general public (us) are relative suckers to a little bit of Chewbacca defense (also more popularly known as 'a red herring'). This is simply because bad cops (or good cops gone bad, for that matter) are not made examples of enough; it sounds harsh, and in a sense, authoritarian, but if our police officers know that severe repercussions will arise on the instance that they forget (or forgo) their respective mandates, then I believe they will be less likely to turn into the proverbial bad apples. The truly nasty ones in the police force should be made public examples; hard and desperate measures are called for in hard and desperate times. The times certainly call for it, if such a negative image of our national police force is already the norm in our country. How can our 'disciplinarians' correct us, when some of them suffer from lack of discipline themselves? It's a simple, but vicious cycle.
Going back to the news article, if the cop truly did something against the law (rape is pretty high on the list of not-to-do-to-citizens) then his colleagues are bound - nay, expected - by law and us, the citizens of this state, to be arrested, tried in a court of law, and subsequently receive due and fair punishment. If, however, he is innocent after all, the alleged victims should then face justice themselves. In both cases, it is imperative that our law enforcement agencies understand that they have complete and total control as to how the general public perceives them. The bad rep did not come from thin air, but I truly believe it is not too late for them - and indeed, all of us who may have been guilty of regrettable mistakes - to turn over a new leaf, especially in a new year.

Jay~

Homeless Man's Radio Voice

This has been creating quite a stir since this was embedded in Facebook by some friends. I'll let you be the judge, though I have to say, his voice is totally bad-ass awesome. He is a homeless man from Columbus, Ohio, USA.



What a voice!
It was nice to see that he seems to be clean from his old addictions (alcohol and drugs), and at least he is using a talent to earn his keep. I hope that he gets to use that talent in a legitimate way by being hired by a radio station (what he is hoping for, in any case) or get some voice-over gigs.

Good luck!

Jay~

"Power" "Balance"

If you have a couple of thousand pesos (or about $30), and believe in doing anything to gain a competitive edge, chances are you've bought yourself a bracelet made by Power Balance.

It is, however, a rather dumb investment considering the company itself admits that there is no science behind their products.
(Click the link above for the full news report)

Is that money down the drain? Not necessarily. As mentioned in the article, it could provide something of a "placebo effect"; when the user believes that his/her performance will improve by using the bracelet, then it would probably help, albeit simply on a psychological scale. In my opinion though, it is a rather pricey piece of motivational accessory. I'd stick with my "lucky baller" :P

Jay~

Age Quod Agis

\ˈä-ge-ˌkwȯd-ˈä-ˌgis\
- do what you are doing

Ever since I started working, the very first question that people ask me is "How much are you earning?"; "Is the pay good?"; "Does La Salle pay well?" or a host of other questions along that vein. I refuse to answer those questions, simply because it illustrates quite clearly how many define what "a career" is and/or the goals and objectives associated with being in the working world. Frankly, I am getting a little tired from having to fend off income-related questions, simply because I actually love what I am doing.

Income vs. Experience
The first question that came to my mind when people ask me this is whether or not they value the experience gained from their work as compared to the number of digits (and the subsequent values of those said digits) they are earning. I know for a fact that many a call center agent earns more than I do. This is in absolute terms. I for one understand that call center agents play an important role in the economy of the Philippines, and yes, they are important as a medium in modern business transactions and vice. However, the money earned cannot compare (or for that matter, buy) with the life experiences that I get when I have the opportunity to rub shoulders - sometimes, almost literally - with admired and respected leaders of industry, education, and politics. The conversations and the subsequent wisdom and out-of-the-classroom education I reap from these individuals are worth so much more than mere cash. These cannot be bought. So perhaps the question that I should ask in response is "How much are your experiences worth?". Then again, that would be stooping down even lower.

Income vs. Enjoyment
How many of us enjoy waking up knowing we have to attend a class that we absolutely loathe? I disliked my very first Filipino language class; not because of the teacher, who was more than qualified, but simply because I didn't enjoy it. While my grade may reflect an adeptness at the subject, it did not reflect the grudging feeling that I have every time my timetable said it was time to attend that class. The same with my work; I wake up every morning excited to be in the office. I like my colleagues - one even got me a coffee mug out of the blue, as I probably seem to have set up camp near the coffeemaker - because they also perform their jobs enthusiastically. I have not heard a single job-related gripe or complaint. I like my work, which is writing and researching when necessary. Research? "Bah, humbug!", you may say. In fact, digging up old records and searching obscure but specific websites have piled on even more knowledge in my knowledge stock room. Who doesn't enjoy learning? Well, perhaps the process can be a bit tedious, but at the end of the day, knowing that we know a little bit more on something should be very satisfactory. If I had a dollar for each time that I enjoyed writing an article, a message, a speech, or a report, I'd have a house. And a couple of cars. And a boat. You get the idea.

Income vs. Employment
Everybody starts from the bottom as a fresh graduate. That's a fact of life for the most part (does not apply for those born in royalty, family business empires, organized crime, or a combination of the three). However, it must also be understood that there are millions of fresh graduates around the world who are sitting on their thumbs and presumably on Facebook or reading blogs like these because there is very little opportunity available for work. Of course, there are those who are unemployed by choice, and are just too choosy for their own good and want to start on top immediately. That rarely, if ever, happens. I've instilled that in my head already, hence why I am drawing salary just a couple of months after finishing my last day in university. In this day and age, it is already an achievement in itself to be legally and regularly employed. At a time of "take it or leave it", it is much more practical to be on the "take it" side of things. So how much am I earning? That's confidential :) Do you even have a legal and regular job? :)

Income vs. Individuality
If there is one thing I just cannot stomach, it's the idea of us Filipinos becoming job fodder for other countries. It may pull the dollars in, but it results in boatloads (and airplane-loads) of unhappy and disillusioned educated members of the society. I have a background in science, and yet I ended up becoming a specialist in International Relations. Most people I know here in Manila do not even an idea what International Relations is. Sad but true. I ask myself, why is that, and it was partly answered by my undergraduate thesis: migration of Filipino nurses. Basically, we studied the main reasons why Filipino nurses leave our country to work abroad (for your information, it's the prospect of earning a lot more money), but we also learned something else: many of these nurses never wanted to become nurses in the first place. What happened? Their parents will only support their tertiary education if "they did what everybody else is doing", which is nursing at this point in time. Some wanted to be engineers, architects, artists, singers, even musicians.. dreams long gone because they were forced to follow the herd. What do we have to show for it? Thousands of unemployed but educated nurses. Yeah, the demand overseas isn't that high anymore. Really sad. So instead of doing something they could be good at and like (which I am blessed to be doing), they are victims of the job-needed-right-now current. It is highly unfair and very impractical use (or rather, misuse) of our educated youth.

After all that, I am doing what I am doing.
Why? Because I know I can, and because I am excellent at it.
The literal compensation for the work I do (financial rewards) can never ever even begin to compensate for the experiences, the sights and sounds, and the enjoyment I face day after day at the office :)

So how much am I earning?
A whole lot of fun :)

"Age Quod Agis"

Jay~

2011 Begins!

My professional year begins!

First day of work for the year starts today in less than a couple of hours.
Breakfast now, while reading up on news sites.

I could get used to this :)

Jay~

What's in Store?

So the first day of the year passes.

I'm very excited for this year. So many things will be coming up, like my alma mater's Centennial celebration, our anniversary, the probability of visiting my parents in the USA, and so much more. I'm also planning to post a lot more regularly (yes, I noticed that my 2010 posts have been a little bare). I was looking through old posts from 2007 to yesterday's and my, have I changed! My writing has become a lot more analytical and dare I say, more tempered. I suppose that all comes with age.

Still mildly sick from the cough and colds I picked up a few days ago. I'm not the superstitious sort, and I hope that entering a new year less-than-healthy only spells a much healthier year for me! Haha.. I'd like to think so.

PJ, thanks for the awesome T.G.I.F. date very early this morning :) Nothing beats having our first date of the year at a virtually vacant Bonifacio Global City (BGC, formerly The Fort), just walking around and talking. Our conversations are truly something I cherish, and something that helps me grow so much more as a person. I love how you're so much smarter than I am; you just don't know it! ROFL.

*happy sigh* It's a very cold night tonight; the Philippine "winter" can really bring down the reading on the thermostat on occasion. Anyway, cheers to 2010, and 2011: HERE WE GO! :)

Oh, it's 1/1/11, even if I don't write my dates as such. Just thought it was amusing :P

Jay~

First of the Year

First post, and certainly our first date for 2011 :)T.G.I.F., Bonifacio Global City

Nowhere else I'd rather be, and no one else I'd rather be with :)

Jay~

So Long, 2010!

It's been a year of ups and downs, but I've been lucky to have way more ups than downs.

Thank you to all my friends, new and old, for having stuck with me and our friendship for yet another year. I can never express my gratitude to you guys. I know I met many of you in university, and then I just left (I graduated, okay, not expelled :P) but I am sure we will all still keep in contact, what with the many online-based social networking sites we're all using now. Haha.. Here's to another year of friendship!

Thank you to my parents, for the endless moral, emotional, and financial support this year. I'm a graduate from a good school, and I hope I've made you both very proud. This has been an awesome year; thanks for being a part of it.

Skittlez Crew! This year gave me my third Remix dance competition with you guys, and I am honored to have led you guys for two years. I'm so proud and honored to have won two championships dancing beside all of you, when just a couple of years ago, "I wasn't good enough" to be a 'proper' dancer. How things have changed, and how we've all grown! We were champions of 2008, and this year, thank you for the graduation gift of being champions of 2010. Through ups and downs, you have all proven yourselves to be a true family, in every sense of the word. I love you guys, more than words can say. You've been there for me on my first week in university, my final week as a student, my first day on the job, and so much more. ONE LOVE, through and through. Thank you for making my 2010 absolutely amazing.

I have to thank my alma mater as well, De La Salle University Manila, for the high-quality education I received from this wonderful institution. I didn't know at first why the hell I took up a liberal arts course here, when I was coming from a science background with my Cambridge A-Levels. It was a decision that made me fall in love with politics, political science, world and international systems, as well as society and culture in general. Thank you also for my very first job. I can never be grateful enough to our President (and my boss) Brother President Jun Erguiza FSC. You saw something in me, trusted me, and have become so much of a father-figure to me. It's truly difficult to leave Taft when one is taken care of so well by a great academic institution. Here's to our Centennial next year, La Salle! Animo :D

Last but not least, the icing on the cake, thank you PJ for being that special someone who is willing to be beside me through thick and thin, and I think we've gone through enough to justify my saying that :P You've been nothing short of awesome, and you're unbelievably cool and laid-back. I know I can be really uptight, but you've slowly made me a more fun and outgoing person. Oh, and you're just so gorgeous on top of it all! LOL. If my 2010 was already freakin' great, you made it perfect. I'm looking forward to many more New Year's with you :) You make me better, in more ways than you know. You're the absolute best.

Happy New Year, and let's all welcome 2011!
Another year, another chance to be a better person.

Life has been great, 2010; I'm sure it can only be better :)

Jay~

Increased Taxi Fare

According to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), starting January 15, 2010:

The flag-down rate of taxis in Metro Manila will go up to P40 from P30, and the increments will go up to P3.50 from P2.50 per increment.

I bloody disagree.

As if we aren't already getting robbed by taxi drivers who insist on having "contractual fares", have faster-than-usual meters, or downright crappy meters that cheat the hell out of us private citizens.

I absolutely bloody disagree.

Source: 24 Oras News Report.

Jay~

Southbay FT

Nothing like a food-trip after party after a Christmas party :)

Chocolates and cookies.
Fish balls and soda.
Chips and conversation.

Especially conversation.
Lots and lots of conversation.
The sort that makes time fly..

:">

Jay~

(100th post of 2010)

Malaysia Wins Suzuki Cup

Malaysia has won the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time!

Congratulations and Malaysia Boleh! :)

Picture from allvoices.com

More on the AFF victory in The Straits Times and the AFF website.

Jay~

Nvm

Sometimes, the best words to tell a person who render all effort of humor, banter, and conversation is a big, fat never mind.

Yeah.

Something like that.

Jay~