A Day for Mourning

Early today, three Filipinos have been put to death because of an attempt to smuggle heroin in China. A week ago, they were sentenced to death and they were not even aware of it. Philippines' last minute plea for mercy was in vain. The entire Filipino community is grieving.

What they have done was against the law and no reason could ever justify their action. However, the same goes with China's take on punishment for those found guilty of such crime. It is not EVER JUSTIFIABLE to execute any life as if it weren't inviolable. What gives any one the right to take away life?  Life imprisonment would be more than enough to make up for any crime committed. I have been and still am personally against death penalty. I am thankful it has been abolished in our country for decades now.

What I also don't understand is not allowing the concerned to know of their fate? It makes all the difference to know that their lives will be taken, that they will be dead in a week's time. I wish they were given MORE time to spend with their families (their children, most especially), who are a thousand miles away. I wish the Philippine government, despite saying they did all they could do to spare the lives of the three, exerted MORE effort. This is the problem with the kind of government we have. If only the officials weren't corrupt and selfish, hunger, unemployment, and poverty wouldn't be prevalent. If this is the case, no more Filipino would choose to go abroad, seeking for greener pastures. If only the Philippine government is protective of the rights of those who RISK their lives by contributing largely to the economy of the country, then no one would undergo the same fate as the three. As I write, there are still more than 70 Filipinos on death row in China for drug offenses while more than 7,000 more are in jails across the globe.

“The case of the three Filipinos executed in China is but one of countless cases that can be attributed ultimately to the failure of our government to uplift the lives of ordinary citizens," Olalia, a  secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers .

Truly, our Overseas Filipino Workers are our modern heroes. They may be put in bad light because of the crimes they are FORCED to commit for obvious reasons, but that doesn't strip them off of this title.

Really now?! And you have to be friends with my friends in almost all social network sites??  PLEASE!! Seriously! 

Twenthy-fifth: The Good Fight

"There are people who have said that I’m being brave for being openly supportive of gay marriage, gay adoption, basically of gay rights but with all due respect I humbly dissent, I’m not being brave, I’m being a decent human being. And I don’t think I should receive an award for that or for merely stating what I believe to be true, that love is a human experience not a political statement, however, I acknowledge that sadly we live in a world where not everybody feels the same. My family and I will help the good fight continue until that long awaited moment arrives, when our rights are equal and when the political limits on love have been smashed."

-Anne Hathaway (on gay rights)

Twenty-fourth: Jhorja

Just tonight, after I got home from work, I read all my offline messages and that of from my mail. My close friend from way back elementary left me messages. Looking back,I still feel bad for not seeing her before she left for Canada.  Had I known it, I would have really forced that we set a date. :/ Now, she's far and chances are slim. I have to wait for a year or two or more. :/


It's true that we don't really know what we're missing until that thing or someone is far or gone. That's exactly how I feet right now. :/ 

Before work took the better of my time, I had the chance to go to the beach-- where the weather is sunny and the clouds at 4 are a sight to behold. There's every reason to celebrate summer! :) 

 

 

 

Too early to rise eh?  :)

I have just recently heard Michelle Featherstone's You're Not Alone when I was watching The Hills series and it has a very wonderful message. It will surely help a person get through whatever issue one has at the moment.

The world is turning upside down

I'm talking. Is there anybody listening to me now

I can't say the right thing is what I always do

I'm just like you

Looking for the answers too

You do what you can to see both sides

You give what you have to satisfy

You think you've got a long way to go

You're not alone

You're not alone

Strangers faces look from all directions

They're hoping and searching for some reaction

I can't say the right thing will always be the truth

What do we do but keep pushing on through

You do what you can to see both sides

You give what you have to satisfy

You think you've got a long way to go

You're not alone

You're not alone

You're not alone

You're not alone

This black and white world should be more colorful

So open your eyes

The sun will shine through Turing grey skies to blue

It's a state of mind

You do what you can to see both sides

And you give what you have to satisfy

You think you've got a long way to go

You do what you can to see both sides

And you give what you have to satisfy

You think you've got a long way to go

You're not alone

You're not alone

Reminder

I had to drop my nephew and sister-in-law at the airport early this morning. It was really a pain for my sisters and I to see them leave. Our little baby boy is EVERYONE'S DELIGHT. He is EVERYONE'S DARLING. He is OUR MOST FAVORITE PERSON, next to God and our parents. And to see his little hand wave a good bye was extremely difficult. I had to hold back my tears. I have a very close and personal relationship with my Buboy.

When they left, the house became quiet, especially because he is the noise-maker. He wakes me up with the noises he makes at 9 in the morning when he plays with his toys. Although I try very hard to go back to sleep, I could not because he is one persistent lad, persuading me to get up from my bed because the only viand left is egg because he has devoured the fish, bread and fruit juice. So you see, he has his ways and I'm ALWAYS left with no choice. Despite his being like that (I say that in a good way), he also throws tantrums every now and then, especially when I don't understand the message he's trying to convey. For one instance, he was telling me 'pam-pam', and I was really trying hard to make out its meaning for a good five minutes but I ccould not. It turned out he wanted to go watch Spongebob. 

It'll be another month before I get to see him again. For the time being, I content myself with SMELLING (not gross at all) the clothes he has left behind, watching the videos I have documented from his almost two-month stay, and looking at some doodles he scribbled on the the walls. His tiny slippers are also a good reminder of how truly blessed the family is for his presence.

Prince Amos is also a teacher at his tender age. He taught me a lot of things. When I shout at my older sister for some reason, he gives me the strangest look, as if telling me that what I did was completely WRONG. He says with his most adoring voice, "Wag sigaw (Don't shout)" or "Wag ayaw (Don't quarrel)". When I cuss in our native dialect because of excitement or anger, he tells us yet again, "Hala, bad man yan! (That's bad)" All these words are more than enough to make me feel guilty that I had to be corrected by a three-year-old child. I don't know why it takes a young child to remind me yet again the importance of manners, humility, and courteousness. I am very much humbled by his innocence and love.

For all the good things that have come and will still be coming my way, he is, by far, the BEST.

Twentieth: Fantasy

I think it's a very wonderful feeling to just be traveling-- going to places you've only read or dreamt of. The world has so many beautiful things in it, and that include places-- mountains, valleys, amusement parks, quaint houses, buildings, oceans, etc. To immerse oneself in a culture different or similar to ours (but nonetheless unique) is a feeling we cannot suppress; it leaves ourselves in awe. It's also great to be able to meet and converse with people of various and distinct backgrounds.

Allow me to share with you some of my travel photos. 

Philippines, represent!