Mga of the Week : August 10, 2010
Vocabulary :
subterfuge - something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity.
Quote :
Some people never grow old enough to be mature.
Last Sunday, the Philippines fortunately witnessed the demolition of Erik "El Terrible" Morales in the hands of Filipino boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao. The streets were filled with joyous people celebrating and recounting the events and punches that led to Paquiao's victory.
As of this writing, Pacquiao had already arrived and did his usual ware of parading through the streets of Manila except Makati whose residents I believe are fuming mad over the fact that they did not see their idol in person. Whatever the reason, it will be known sooner or later. But then, critics say that it was Malacanang who orchestrated the Makati bypass operation.
After the Sunday spectacle, where Manny Pacquiao showed the world that perseverance and hard work has its sweetest prize, that prayers can be answered and dreams can come true, came the politicians who showed the world how power hungry they are, how ksp (kulang sa pansin) they are, how arrogant they are and how they can manipulate the Filipino people. Politicians did put a dirty color to the win. They immediately relate the victory of Pacquiao to the traits and character of a Pinoy. And they added that Manny united the Filipino people.
Oh common... Everytime, there's one Filipino that excels in the international community, these sweet talks come in. And yet the Filipino is never changed. We are given false hopes. A Filipino is strong and is fearless. Are we? Strong because we can easily be swayed by money and power that we can sell our votes? Fearless because we fail to recognize the fault in our system.
Pacquiao is the most recognizable Filipino nowadays. But please don't put him in a situation wherein he will be judged. Put him in a ring to fight his foe not in an arena where he can be manipulated. Already, politicians are eyeing him on whatever their plans. They see a diamond in the person of the Pacman. They're gonna use him to the hilt that we may not be able to discern Pacquiao from the other greats who fell to the world of make believe - politics.
It is true that a Filipino is brave, and has a heart of a champion, is industrious and would take a beating just to get what he wants. Let's have the other nationalities say it to others. Not us, believing fully on ourselves, loving ourselves thus exposing our weaknesses. Of course, the win motivated the millions of Filipinos to dream. But only in dreams. Dreams can never turn into reality if there are no actions.
They say that the country needs Pacquiao to reunite the Filipinos. But kelan ba naging united and Filipinos that we need
re-unification? We always boasts of the things that look good to other people and yet does not lift a finger to correct our very own mistakes and false traits.
This euphoria may last longer than expected but as long as there are still government servants who does not want to serve the people, there can never be a realization of dreams. The Filipino people dream of changes, of stable economy, of good and God-fearing government officials. But it is also the same Filipino people who make the politicians, the biggest crocodiles on earth. They are the ones who do not believe that the economy will improve. And the very people who resist change.
As I said earlier, we are given false hopes. And this is the reality that is hidden beneath the anaesthesia that is Pacquiao. We temporarily forget tha pain but the reality is - the Filipino is not worth the death of Ninoy.
This is my opinion. You have yours.
Claims have been abundant that piracy, that is software or simply those cd’s sold in flea markets, takes away millions of dollars from the government in terms of taxes and for the industry, their voluptuous income.
There are advocates for the intellectual property rights law and there are those who are happy we have pirated software. Who are these men? The first group are paid by companies who charged exorbitantly high fees for original products and the second group, the simple consumers who just want to have a thing out of their meagre budget.
The first group charged high prices because they seem to overrate the people who made these softwares. They want to give the
best compensation to their employees and they spent billions on research. In using these reasons, companies take in more. They are always on the
comfort of their costumers. Comfort here will mean a very expensive one.
The second group are the users who are at the pity of these companies. They are the ones charged because of using pirated software. Yet these are the ones who make the economy float. These are the small enterprises.
The government is always saying that it is the micro-economy that provides employment, be it in small incomes, to the masses. Enterpreneurship is encouraged because it makes the country liquid in terms of cash flow.
Big companies can spend millions to purchase high-priced original softwares while low profile entrepreneurs can only afford the pirated ones. Why? Because big companies can pass on their cost to the consumers and consider it investments and when you say investment, there should be a ten-fold increase when time comes. The poor entrepreneur cannot, in any way pass, on things to his consumer or else he will be charging too high considering the market that he caters. And yet these are the people in which the government lean on.
Yes, in other countries, like Singapore or Japan, they seldom buy pirated ones, even for individual users. This is because their state of economy is far above ours. There entrepreneurs can afford to purchase and redistribute the price because the people can afford. Advocates always emulate other prosperous nation which is still a faded view in front of the Philippines. And yet they seem to be blind in terms of how much can the people afford here in the Philippines compared to the other nations.
Look at these technology companies. Yearly, they have an increase in sales and revenues. All these money which rings at their cash registers come from the consumers, it is at the expense of the people whom they want to serve
best and fair. Is it fair for them to rake in billions by adjusting prices so that they will gain more all for the pain of their
dear consumers? Can they just lower their projected net income or maybe just maintain it? They are having great bonuses at a time when piracy is high. Piracy is high and they are still raking in millions!!! That is how cruel they are and how arrogant they are in pricing their goods.
Sometimes I feel pirates are heaven sent. They provide these technology companies a look at the ground where they stood at. What will happen when there will be no more pirates? Prices of softwares can reach enormously high. And who gains the most? Them. The government can only take in a small portion in terms of taxes and will go straight to the pocket of these big-mouthed crocodile corrupt officials. The big bulk goes to their coffers at the expense of the trapped consumers. And when these happen, entrepreneurship will die. And when entrepreneurship dies, where can the government go?
I am not against protecting intellectual property. But it should not be overrated. And there should be a time frame on how long could an idea be protected. The world is evolving and so is intelligence. Have an idea and keep it to yourself and after sometime you’ll find that another person has come up with the same. I hope whoever coined the term
intellectual property can explain its original meaning.
I don’t know anything about economy and accounting, etc. These are my understanding on piracy in relation to the economy. I may be wrong and I hope so.
I lost what I have written tonight. It was about being blank sometimes. I was so blank I pressed something, all that I have written for the last fifteen minutes were gone.
And now I'm back being blank.
I cannot understand what I've done. I cannot remember what key or a combination of keys I pressed.
Have you ever experienced something like this? It's called a mental block. I used the word when I was still a student. Everytime I fail to get a good exam, I always say I had a mental block. One of the reasons I got that is cramming. I used to study in the morning of an examination day. Sometimes I study ten to fifteen minutes prior to the exam proper.
And now I'm experiencing the same. I have two Visual Basic Projects to finish all for the good of some BSIT students who asked me to help them. One is for a Library System and the other is for a Memorial Service. Grrrr, I already wrote this a while ago.
What the heck!. I'll get a sleep now.
EVAT or RVAT has been implemented across the archipelago. It is almost always the reason for the price increase of basic commodities. Even the price increase of certain products which are subjected to VAT before is correlated to EVAT.
But some Filipinos found a way to further push this negative impact of EVAT.
I had a dinner last Sunday with my wife in a mall. I noticed an increase in the price of the food to be higher, so I teasingly ask the sales lady why, she said, "Naa nay VAT Sir." I expected this answer since almost all my askings regarding increase in fare or price, EVAT always comes as the runaway winner as the most voiced out reason.
We proceeded to our table and started eating. As I always do, I scanned the receipt and found out something. -
On top of the total price is an additional 10% VAT!.
I was hit twice! by the same EVAT. I now translate EVAT as Extra VAT.
And again, just this afternoon, I experienced the same in another establishment...
Well, this may be it... Unscrupulous people seem to have found something good out of EVAT but on the expense of the others.
So, is EVAT good for us? Ask a customer and you'll get an answer, ask a businessman and you'll get an answer. But these answers are almost on the opposite sides of the coin.
This is plain REALITY. Politicians and economists may snub this things and consumers may accept these as it is because it is the law, but the REALITY remains that because of these things, the Philippines can't seem to take off.
I hope I'm wrong, dead wrong...
Whatdyathink?
What brings people to spend time with families during the eve of the new year?
It usually goes that whatever you do or whatever happens during the first day of the year will happen in the rest of it.
People don't spend much on new year's day for fear of having to spend every day of the year. Transportation is scarce, operators think that nobody would go riding their buses, etc. Supermarkets do not open for fear of only a few shoppers will go and will continue for the rest of the year.
Does this reflects the true essence of a new year? Is it true that everything you do in that very first day of the year is replicated along the days?
I experienced these from my childhood days. But somehow, this new year, it struck me. Why are we doing these? Just for the tradition? OK. We've got to preserve our tradition but how does this tradition get this? What part of history does this tradition started?
Filipinos have so many superstitious beliefs which are handed down from generation to generation. At times, when one belief is questioned, somehow, there's a penalty for those who dare ask for the very specific reason for such. In my hometown, still, these beliefs abound. And in cases when it is questioned, the old phrase keeps coming "Wa may mawala kon motoo ta!" ("You don't lose a thing if you believe"). Then kids and querying minds would stop.
A new year comes with new hope. A new year comes with resolutions. I tend to agree with my brother who said in his blog that, hope, faith, changes should not wait for a new year to be implemented and desired. Everyday is an opportunity to change, and for the better.
So by sticking fully to the traditional beliefs, can one achieve a better life? Is doing a thing because of tradition brings luck or is it the other way around. What if by doing the things we thought (because of tradition and beliefs) to be bad brings in more changes for the improvement of one's life? Only a few people do. I myself would like to try to move my life to the opposite side of the fence but somehow the culture that raised me gives stinging sensations to think twice. This culture is what has made us Filipinos unique and maybe the ones that made our country what it is today.
So is new year for a new beginning or just an ordinary day made special by tradition? Chinese new year does not start until February.
I am asking questions... What is the real meaning of a new year?
