R2K's Jail Visit

This picture was taken at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Jail
last March 08,2008

A Young Filipino At Her Finest!

Blond and Blue Eyes

(Editor's note: This is the winning speech of Patricia Evangelista. If you are a Filipino, you must read it.)

WHEN I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed, and white.

I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window and freckles across my nose!

More than four centuries under western domination does that to you.

I have sixteen cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be five of us left in the Philippines, the rest will have gone abroad in search of “greener pastures.” It's not just an anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino diaspora.

Today, about eight million Filipinos are scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each succeeding year. Desertion, I called it.

My country is a land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the Japanese, the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so, not anymore.

True, there is no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side of the world is now a twelve-hour plane ride away. But this is a borderless world, where no individual can claim to be purely from where he is now.

My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure Filipino -- a hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.

Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of different ethnicities, with national identities and individual personalities. Because of this, each square mile is already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is England is the world, so is my neighborhood back home.

Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be understood.

I come from a Third World country, one that is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time. Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity. Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the UK's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a-million seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships.We are your software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and, your musical artists in London's West End.

Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that is. The Hobbits of the shire travelled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word.

We call people like these balikbayans or the ‘returnees' -- those who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities come my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn't preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't about just geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving back to the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside my windows on a bright Christmas morning.

Mabuhay. And thank you.

http://www.manilamail.com/features/patricia.htm

On Homosexuality and Beyond

After having attended a forum on homosexuality,I was able to acquire a rather vivid picture and context of the gay movement all throughout the world.More than that,I came across a personal analysis of the concept of practicing what you preach.
To start with,gays,whether gay men or lesbians,are still struggling to achieve recognition as part of our societies,perhaps may be as a sector or as a mere segment of our people.Beyond this however is a rather silent revolution among the homosexuals---a revolution that aims at acceptance of full length and sincerity.Even if we say that these individuals have assumed a "the-usual-people" state in our country today,they are still faced with judgements that,at definite levels,are baseless and unfair.Does this make sense for the Filipinos,especially for the youth?I think so!Since most of homosexuals today belong to the younger population.
So what is the relevant issue?Four words will spell it all out:Practice what you preach!It is so apparent that people are now less predictable than ever before.To put context,it will be totally difficult to identify who actually put their words into actions and who are the ones who just put words into their mouths.Connecting it to the struggle of the homosexual populace,many are continually discriminating and threatening them.It is not anymore a surprise that condemnations against homosexuals are all around but how does this benefit the rest of the world.Many people are claiming that they are good followers of their faiths but still,they commit mistakes intentionally to inflict pain to the least recognized or marginalized.Gays are abused through unsolicited assaults,harsh words and backbites by these so-called faithful individuals.Are not these acts more disgracing than that of homosexuality.
The reality is that it is always easy for others to judge without putting themselves on the marginalized shoes.It is always easy to blame others for their faults and never admit the mistakes of those who judge with utmost bias.It is always easy to talk about morality because it also easy to pretend to be morally upright all the way.IT IS ALWAYS EASY TO POINT ON THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS WITHOUT MINDING OUR OWN WRONGS.If I were to analyze,the homosexual situation is now made a good excuse for people to abuse their own imperfections and still claim that they are good followers of God.It is so sad to finally discover that not even half of our population is consistent with what they claim to be true and good.Our very own selves do not exhibit that of our God.
So the next time around that you encounter a gay man ramping like a model,just offer a humble greeting.Simple but it will make adifference in the following days.Respect bgets respect and acceptance begets the same thing.However,practicing these through sincere acts of kindness will surely serve our purpose of spreading God's Wisdom.
Bakla man o tomboy,dapat pa rin silang igalang at tratuhin nang patas.That makes our living more just and totally fair.Let the youth rejuvinate the decaying sense of respect and fairness of our society.Fight hate against homosexuals and let them live the way they exactly want.It really helps!

Just a share of thought!

Journalism is the greatest profession for those who have great minds,patient enough to analyze and carefully observe the simple victories and surprises of everyday!

Just a Simple Thought

I have been witnessing how various people from my home city react about the Balikatan Exercises this past few days--protests,rallies on the streets,debates,etc.Name it and you will surely find yourself suffering from the uncertainties of the current circumstances.
I bet that everyone has a stand on the issue yet what became more prevalent is the overwhelming freedom of expression that, at certain levels,was practiced with an unforgivable degree of abuse.Why do people need to oppose over and over again if there are much more comprehensive avenues to address feelings and emotions about the Balikatan Exercises?
Just a simple suggestion to those who have done much to protest the said implementation.Why don't we talk things over smoothly so we can gain the mutual benefit of being informed and being responsible enough not sacrifice the very democracy of our country which thrives to liberate us all in any aspect?I tell you,its better that we would be able to identify both the advantages and drawbacks of the said military training to the Maranao society in a rather decent and peaceful manner than to push through all these protests that become totally redundant and pointless.Sometimes,even if we say that we were able to practice our freedom to speak for our people,we can never be certain if what we try to forward with the aid of noise barrages speak of the whole and for the benefit of the majority.Please do consider this opinion and feel free to express in return.

Point Blank;Condoms,PMS,STD and so on!

Hello Fellow Youth Bloggers!
This is but a friendly post-Valentine update from Kabataan Watch.
It is so sad to know that 20 percent of Filipino youth engage in pre-marital sex,with ages ranging only from 15-18.What is more alarming is the fact that these young individuals do not use contraceptives to protect themselves ans thus,unwanted pregnancy comes in just like a mushroom on a very loamy soil.And to tell you honestly,Curiosity is not anymore the culprit but the liberated idea that young individuals are so much aware of the things happening around and the fallacy that they are socially responsible of their actions.
If I would stress out my opinion about this cancer-like epidemic,It would be summarized in three key points:(1)The role of the family to educate the youth about values should be strengthened,(2)Our academic institutions should serve as support arms in promoting sensitivity for the youth's sexual issues and (3)It is but time to promote a comprehensive understanding on high risk behaviors among the youth to address enough solutions to counter further dangers that will possibly arise in no time!

My Epiphany

It had always been my dream to inspire and be part of the league of people who made positive changes for humanity.I was given an avenue for it when I was chosen as one of the delegates from Mindanao to the Four-Week Institute on Inter-ethnic Dialogue and Conflict Resolution held in DeKalb,Illinois,USA.To tell you,it was indeed a life-changing experience.I was given the best opportunity to reflect on the things that might transform my country's developing communities to sustainable dwellings for generations to come,without massive traces of poverty and sufferings for my poeple and for the whole world.
With this blog that I made,I want to make more avenues possible for youth access regarding concerns from the youth's end.Hopefully,this little beginning would inspire my fellow youth to be expressive of their views and aspirations for development and at a larger sense,nation building.Please do indulge and support this humble effort to facilitate communications that will shape brighter futures for every human living on the surface of this planet,especially for the youth and citizens of my country.Welcome to Kabataan Watch 2008!