Zamboanga conflict: The real story

Everyone is cursing the MILF, Nur Misuari, and praising the military for the conflict in Zamboanga. The media is also covering the conflict on both sides and also recording images of helpless civilians who are affected by this war. Yes it is a war - a war of misleading proportions.

First, it has mislead us from the true criminals, the Philippine politicians. Who are continuously stealing from the Filipinos hard earned money. Just imagine, before they get hold of their full salary, there are some deductions already. And those deductions are as below:

SSS - you will get this money if you retire or turned 60, but if your dead before you reach that age, the money where does it go? to them of course.

Philhealth - this is also misleading as hospitals still charge you for something, so much for affordable healthcare. And we are mature enough not to get sick always right?

BIR / Taxes - you want to know where your salary goes? to the squatters who dont have homes, and the government built them a home from your goddamn money that you earned from your blood, sweat, and tears! Maybe we should become a squatter too, so that we can get free housing. Ask those staff or employees from Makati if they have their own houses. A lot of them are just renting or staying with relatives! Isn't it unfair? And the bad thing, the taxes goes to public officials, who are lazy, incompetent, or just downright sleazy and criminals who steal money.

And what does my salary have to do with Zamboanga conflict? it is because your salary is also funding the war! This is just to remove our attention to the pork barrel scam. And to make both sides richer by getting publicity. All are just coordinated entertainment.

People from Zamboanga are the real victims here. Not just from the war, but in many years to come. It has been known that the government is trying to encroach on them, stealing their homes and livelihood. Zamboanga and other parts of Mindanao is well known as the food basket of the Philippines. And everybody wants a piece of it. Small tribes are really against it, and some hard-line Muslim clerics.
That is why they curse the politicians, who are mostly Christians, who came from well off educated families, who does not have any decency, humanity, or respect always goes to Mindanao making businesses, therefore ruining farms and livelihood.

Now, who is the real criminal? Who is the real cause of the conflict?

I think I have to blame myself for this, as I let it happen anyway.

Philippine traffic problem cannot be solved

I really hate to be such a critic, but let us be realistic. The traffic problem in the Philippines has been a nightmare since the late 1970's, how come the government didn't see it coming in the first place? Or, should we blame the government in the first place? What can we do about it? To avoid complications, especially on my health, I learned to accept that the problem with Philippine traffic cannot be solved in any means possible. Below are some of the reasons why:

1. There is no political will. Politicians are good in 'politcking' and not solving problems. Just good in talking without doing anything. All comfortable inside their SUV's without breaking a sweat while commuting. Worse, they use hired motorcycle riders that blurt out loud sirens.

2. Rich Filipinos (as well as other Asian people) are financially wealthy but lack intelligence and sense of compassion. To beat the odd-even vehicular reduction scheme by the MMDA, they buy 3-4 cars just to drive a car in every day of the week. We all know the logic why there is bad traffic, it is because there are lots of vehicles on the road.

Whatever happened to carpooling? A rich person who drives a large SUV does not give a ride to a mother with a newborn child who is waiting for a ride on a rainy day is certainly mind boggling (maybe they are afraid of the car-napping syndicates) Money seem to change the person throwing out morality and compassion down the drain.

3. There are no more innovators who are willing to spend time, money, or even professional advice to the traffic situation in the Philippines. Why would they bother anyway? What's in it for them? And if they really want to help, it goes back to number 1 where politicians don't have any political will to do it. Same old same old thing.

4. The Filipino driver also is to blame. They do not follow traffic rules and regulations, and the sad part of this, majority of these people are professional drivers, who always use the roads to their benefit. And some private drivers are just crazy on the wheel, worse, some of them are drunk while driving.

5. Pedestrians are also to blame. Some of them just walk like they are on the moon. Worse, they do not walk on prescribed pedestrian lanes, overpasses, underpasses, and sidewalks. And if they were hit, the driver is at fault. Why?

Overall, its in the culture. Since the economy of the Philippines is growing little by little, the traffic situation has been left behind. Everyone didn't mind it and don't want to prescribe something new.
Filipinos are not good innovators or inventors, they are know to just copy everything and check if it is right for the Philippine scenario.

The slow flow of traffic is already normal. I accepted that fact as we are a fledgling nation trying to keep up with the big leagues. Similar situation applies to countries who are in the same GDP as ours.

As for me. I already did my part. I sold all my cars and started commuting. I don't get stressed out anymore, I just relax and sleep while going to work. No more parking fees and annoying registration payments. I just ride and get off.

Sometimes simple solutions solve complex problems.

New Pope will reform the Vatican but will take time

As a Catholic myself, I welcome Pope Francis I on being the new Pope for 1.2 Billion Catholics. I do believe in every organization, there must be a good leader, that is wise and will guide everyone to do good too for the benefit of everyone.

I am a proud Catholic, although I admit I don't pray that much often. Times have changed, every second counts, even Sunday is considered a workday for me, a potential income earner. We have 24 hours in a day,  if we segregate it, 8 + 8 + 8. Let's remove the first 8 hours as it is for our sleep. Another 8 hours for our work. So what we'll do for another 8 hours? Time is not enough if we do our present activities. And the Vatican seem not to notice this as they are stuck with their old principles on this 21st century.

So I think, the new pope can reform the Vatican, but it will take time. We can't see any quick changes, but for sure he may start something.

Life is full of promise, everything has a beginning and an end. We may choose to end it too if we want to. And accepting it to end is another thing.

After every ending, there is a new beginning.