Money & Manny For Pinoy and Poverty

Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura? Nagpasko ka na ba sa gitna ng kalsada? Iyan ang tanong naming, tunay ka bang isa sa amin? I am in no doubt that you heard these lines, not just once but for a number of times. You may have chuckled at it the first time you heard it but I would pose a question on you, is not this something that was able to picture out the lives of our inopportune brothers and sisters here in our country? Is not this something that is in reality happening in our country? If you say no, I would ask you to think again. Hey, where did you really come from?

Philippines is experiencing economic fluctuations every now and then. For some point in time, we are undergoing an increase in the total production of our goods and services due to various economic factors such as the increase in labor force, increase in capital stock and advancement in technology. During these periods, those who are in the business firms engage in economic expansion. This results to a better standard of living for the Filipinos. But nonetheless, there are also years wherein this positive growth takes place. There are years that we do experience a decline in the real incomes and increasing unemployment rate in the country. During this period, what business firms do is economic contraction. And if this scenario gets worst, it would be a severe recession for the Philippines.

This economic condition does not bring any benefit to the people and to our country. Through the macroeconomic theory, the government will be able to stabilize the economy. The government must make use of the monetary and fiscal policy. If there is low aggregate demand, the government must boost up their spending, cut taxes and inflate money supply. However, if the aggregate demand is high then it must do the other way around. Indeed, the government officials must be able to take full advantage of this macroeconomic theory in order to reach a more stable economy which would be of advantage to each and every Filipino.

Nalaman mo na bang mapag-aaral ka niya? Tutulungan tayo para magkatrabaho at ang kanyang plano ay magkabahay tayo. As a Public Administrator, these are the national issues the 2010 Presidential Candidate, Manny Villar would like to concentrate on. The main driving force of his platform is liberating the Filipinos from poverty and injustice. He would accomplish this by his self-reliant and sustainable development programs which could be made possible through implementing agrarian reform, increasing agricultural productivity and developing domestic industries. He would also move the spotlight on the problems of environmental destruction, climate change and returning calamities. He will provide priority to education, health, housing and other basic social services. Ensuring social equity and respect for human rights are also his main concerns. Lastly, he would want to have a foreign policy which is based on respect for national sovereignty and ensure that these foreign policies would be the benefit of parties concerned and not only of a particular country.

On agriculture and rural development, Manny Villar seeks development of agricultural lands and will provide livelihood opportunities since it would raise the standard of living of Filipinos living in the rural areas and it would increase manpower productivity. He would also provide support to farmers through providing them with agricultural inputs and post-harvest facilities and forward and backward linkages, access to technology, and micro-finance to those who are in the rural industries. If ever elected, he would like to the government official to review the policy on trade liberalization. It would be a good idea if our country would export our good and services if and only if the world price and comparative advantage would be in favor of us. If we do have low domestic price then that would be a sign that our country could be a good competitor and exporter of that particular good or service. However, if we do have a high domestic price then it would be a drawback for us since it is the other countries which would get the comparative advantage and it will make us the importer of that particular good or service. Moreover, Manny Villar would push for the review and corrections of various trade and investment policies of the Philippines which only poses inconvenience to us. Trade and Investment Policies must be based on agreements that would be reciprocally advantageous to the Philippines and the Filipinos.

Undeniably, Philippines has a high poverty rate which means that the percentage of the population whose family income below poverty line is high. To be able to reduce the poverty case here in our country, the government must be able to come up with policies such as minimum-wage laws, welfare programs that would serve as an increment to the incomes of the needy, put up a tax system that would collect revenue from high-income households and give in-kind transfers to low-income households and carry out antipoverty programs and make work incentives available since People respond to incentives.

To give solution to the poverty problems in the Philippines, he sees the promotion of viable manufacturing sector as one of the keys to economic growth. He will prioritize an entrepreneur-friendly and entrepreneur-ready environment. He sees entrepreneurship as a long-term solution to unemployment problems in the country. According to him, we should remove the old epitome of Philippine schools preparing students to be employees. What we need to do is to craft a new generation of entrepreneurs. We need more job providers to respond to the increasing number of job-seekers. He believes that the country’s projected annual employment gap can be bridged by turning to entrepreneurship rather than waiting for the global economy to recover. This is one of his platforms that would really make me vote for him. I do share the same way of ideology with him since I do also believe that Poverty is an Option and there are lots of opportunities out there. If you cannot find one then make an opportunity for yourself rather than sitting around the corner and counting posts.

In his term, he would develop local industries through making subsidies and loans and technical support from the government available. Exploration of the provisions for government subsidies and tax relief for Filipino Industrialists will be done to encourage local investors to engage in manufacturing businesses. The investments for these manufacturing businesses would come from the public sectors alone but also with the help of those in the private sphere.

Manny Villar aims to stabilize the economy to manage the fluctuations in our country. Because if the economic fluctuations would continue, it would have an unhelpful impact on the spending of the government and households and even have an effect on the aggregate demand for goods and services. If this happens, there will also be a decrease the in the production of goods and services. When the outputs produced by the Philippines dwindle, the unemployment cases in the country would amplify. It is for a reason that the output of goods and services are interconnected with the economy’s exploitation of its labor force. Just like for example, if a particular corporation in the country decides to lower its production then it would only need smaller number of people to be employed to be able to meet the projected number of outputs of the company. This is another explanation why he would want to thrust for the support for viable manufacturing sector. Through this sector, jobs will be provided and it would trim down our reliance on products produced outside the Philippines. This would also result to Filipinos having the nationalistic consciousness to make use of and pay money for locally produced goods, domestic jobs generation will be sustained and outmigration of Filipinos to foreign countries will be thoroughly reduced.

Through the years, we have seen how the debt of our country has bloated. And if this continues, the share of each person’s debt would also swell. This does not only impinge on those who are at the present, citizens of the Philippines however it would even have more undesirable effect on the next generations of Filipinos. It would be a burden for them since they will be placed in circumstances wherein they have to decide whether to pay higher taxes or enjoy less government spending just to be able to pay the debt and its accumulated interest. Worse decision is not to bother about it now and let the next generations handle this economic problem. Manny Villar would dynamically pursue a variety of forms of debt relief from global financial institutions and foreign banks and prioritize the distribution of these funds to basic social services and growth of agriculture and industry. As a consequence, the government really needs to have a balanced budget because it would be one way of getting greater national saving, investment and economic growth. It would mean a better future for the next generations of Filipinos.

Another plan of action of Manny Villar is to performance of good governance and exercising public accountability. As stated in the Constitution, A Public Office is A Public Trust. If ever elected, he would hold the President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other Public Official who have violated the law for involving themselves in activities such as robbery of public funds, electoral scam, gross human rights violations and the cover-up of these crimes. No one is above the law. Every Public Official who has cases of graft and corruption must be prosecuted and justice must be given to those whose rights were infringed. He would promote transparency by making statement of liabilities and net worth of public officials accessible to the eyes of the public. Through this way, we will be able to improve the way other country see us and not as most corrupt country in Asia.

He does not only focus on economic sectors and political activities within the national territory however he would also want to build good relationship with the external states. He would prop up and enhance trade relations with our Asian Neighbors in the spirit of equal opportunity and mutually favorable agreements.

First principle of Economics, People face trade-offs. In the process of attaining all these platforms of government by Manny Villar, it is inevitable that there would be some things that would not be given too much focus or things must be given up. One example is with the plan of Manny Villar to dynamically pursue a variety of forms of debt relief from global financial institutions. With this, the only fear that I have is when our country becomes too dependent from other financial institutions outside the Philippines in financing the programs of the government. However, this is less likely to happen if the Government will be able to raise enough financial resources and with the backing of other non-government and private sectors in the country to support their programs and activities. Another one is regarding the plan to develop local industries through making subsidies and loans and technical support from the government available. The only danger with this is when the Government releases too much money for lending which results to a negative supply of loanable funds. But nonetheless, this can be prevented if the Philippine financial system would that the loanable funds are in balance and the national savings of the country is not negative. Lastly, the Exploration of the provisions for government subsidies and tax relief for Filipino Industrialists will be done to encourage local investors to engage in manufacturing businesses which has the dangers of posing threat on our environment because of too much exploitation of our natural resources. However, this can be avoided through mitigating measures by the concerned executive department like the DENR.

If Manny Villar will be elected as the president and his platforms of government will be implemented, I would assure you that Philippines in the succeeding years will have a government that upholds the public good, morals, intelligence, social justice, good health, Happiness and prosperity of the Filipinos. Vote for Manny Villar this May 2010 because Si Villar ang tunay na mahirap. Si Villar ang tunay na may malasakit. Si Villar ang may kakayahan na gumawa ng sariling pangalan. Si Manny Villar ang magsasagot sa ating kahirapan. Money and Manny for Pinoy and Poverty.

Eye Love Art

This is a short video presentation of the shirts we have made during our Humanities Class. Enjoy. :D

SEXism and LanguAGE: The Power of Profanity

Are you a writer? If Yes, what pronoun do you usually use – Masculine or Feminine Pronoun? Raising this question, I am beginning to exert conscious effort to be fair and neutral. Is it really trivial for me to worry about such matters?

Some would say no. But for the others, they would say that Language is Exclusionary. There are women here in our society who does not want them to be considered included in the term man. They say no to fall part in that Linguistic pit. They would hate the fact that they are being identified as a matching part of the male species and forced to link their gender identity with ours. When one says man, they say it does not include women. However, Women have no way of describing their person without including men, but men can continually describe themselves without including women. Women are expected to identify themselves with men, while men have the license to have their own identity. And they say that it is totally inequitable. Thus, we must commence to do away with this practice and conception of women identification. Using of man to include woman is no longer up to standard in a society where we are attempting to promote the idea that people are equal like in the Philippines.

That was an example of a Sexist Language. As defined, Sexist language is often found to be offensive and prejudicial, by both men and women. At its crudest and most hurtful, sexist language is a tool used to damage someone. I would make a clean breast that I am guilty of such crime, if you may consider it as one. I do use terms such as like 'bitch' and 'slut', which had been historically used as sexist remarks against females. These are used to refer to a "strong, independent, unattached female" and a "sexually liberal, hypersexual female. Moreover, without awareness, I am also using the term 'dude' which I never thought is also a sexist remark. It is being applied to males.

Thus, I am now making a conscious effort toward lessening the occurrence of sexist language. As the saying goes, do not do to others what you do not want to be done unto you. I would never want to see myself living in this world and struggling against people are really sensitively and psychologically harming me by targeting me with sexist comments. Thus, we must all be cautious of what words break away from our lips

Thus, we really have to be careful of what we say. As someone would say, Words are not Mathematical Equations that balance out. Words are carriers of thought, culture and systems.

BODY IMAGE: Is it a Serious Issue?

Are you contented with the way you look? If you will ask me the same question then I would say NO. In this day and age, the positive self-esteem of individuals has grown to be more reliant on their physical magnetism. As what you can observe in the Media Industry or even just within the UP Community, a number of individuals go to extreme measures every now and then to revolutionize their looks through drugs, radical diets or luxurious cosmetic surgeries.

I am a Victim of Gendered Media. I am one of those who struggle with my self-image because of my daily exposure to the standards of beauty for men and physical ideals displayed throughout the popular media. As the saying goes, every one of us is unique. All of us are one of a kind. But nonetheless, this adage is starting to be outdated. Instead of upholding individuality among human race, what happens now is uniformity. Most of us obey the rules, the ideal standards of beauty set by the society.

I would like better to have a guy who is Tall, Dark and Handsome – More often than not, this is what you hear before from the ladies when they are asked of the qualities of a man that they would want to be with. Perhaps, there may still be some who retains these qualities as the standards for ideal beauty for men but we cannot refute the truth that ladies also fix their eyes at muscular bodies and rock-hard abs. As a result, the self-esteem of Men for this generation has been associated to muscular development and physical strength.

I cannot help but to be flooded with images of what the society considers to be ‘perfect people.’ When I watch the television, look at big billboards and skim some pages in the magazines, what I see are images of what is considered as an ideal body for a man. Then, I begin to raise the question: “Is that what a real man is supposed to look like?” Low body fat and lots of muscle make you look “cut” or “ripped” -- and that is what is portrayed as attractive. Throw in a narrow waist and large shoulders, giving the body a V-shaped torso and you have the idealized male body. If you do not have this, Pop Culture tells you that ‘You are not Worthy unless You Look Perfect.’

Moreover, not being able to meet the ideal Male Body according to the society also affects the way we handle and behave while we are in an intimate relationship. I begin to be paranoid and too much concerned with the way my partner is evaluating me, how I look and smell. I start to be ashamed, detach emotionally and mentally from sexual situations and begin not to be attentive to my partner’s needs or open with my own.

Another issue, it is not just the women who are dissatisfied with their bodyweight. Men do also. The men were evenly divided between two camps. One group of men felt they were overweight. The other group of men thought they were underweight. This study suggests that men have two pressures –- the pressure to be lean and the pressure to build large muscles. Obviously, I belong to the second group.

Now, we see how powerful Media is in shaping the way we think and see ourselves. What we see on TV and in magazines eventually become our standard of reality and desire. If I have a rounded belly or not firm bicep, it will be like a gross or unfortunate flaw for the Media. How can I not feel bad about my own body? This builds pressure to look like the media images that we see and this sometimes brings dangerous consequences.

For my case, I am spending more time, money and energy on looking “good.” I am spending more money on fragrances, facial creams, hair products, , but I have not reached the point of deciding whether to have plastic surgery or not. It is a good thing that I do not talk to my parents yet about crash diets or liposuction. I do not even use performance-enhancing substances such as over-the-counter supplements or anabolic steroids, restricting food to a dangerous degree or taking potentially harmful substances because it would really be a big problem. The only worst moments I had because of not being able to meet the ideal standards of Male Beauty is depression and having low self-esteem.

We need to be live in a world where it is acceptable to be thin and equally acceptable not to be thin. This planet is not just made for those who are considered to be ‘Perfect People’ according to the society. They do not own the earth. I own a part of this world and I should be getting what I deserve: EQUITY and EQUALITY.

Afghanistan After The 9/11 Attack

“I am not someone who believes

We should build a fence around our country

But I do believe there ought to be some fairness

With respect to the rules of this globalization.”
-Byron Dorgan

Afghanistan was considered to be the country with the most progressive constitution in their region after the 9/11 attack. The country was able to come up with aligned foreign policies with the promises of Globalization and was able to establish connections with every country in the region and beyond for cooperation based on the commercial exchange of goods and services and persuade other countries to lay out money in their country. “A Globalized World will consist of united regions that have geographical, cultural and economic commonalities”, Hamid Karzai said. Are we sure as shooting that this is certain to occur? Is Globalization only after the sharing of common attributes among the regions in the world or a world of uniformity, a place where diversity and variations is missing? The Democratically Elected Leader and Parliament were said to have prepared the country for becoming a subject of positive globalization. When we say positive, it would involve benefit, advantage or good. Has Afghanistan really been a subject of positive globalization after the 9/11 attack?

Globalization, internalized as awlaama in Middle East, refers to the spread of ideas, customs, institutions and attitudes throughout the globe which is usually Western in origin. As a result, it has often been perceived as largely equivalent to westernization. People in Middle East usually see Globalization as an external threat rather than opportunity. Globalization in Middle East is marked by intrusive hegemony of the United States of America, Renewed Economic Dependency and Continuing Insecurity. Because of United States of America’s imposition of structural adjustment, unpopular and inequitable peace treaties and campaigns against terrorism, it led to a state of turbulent change and instability. It uses courses of action that are proved to be highly disruptive and a cause of new conflicts, hostile meetings of opposing military forces and exclusions throughout the world. It often acted as an obstruction rather than a force that would drive them to democratization.

My object of study in this paper is the globalization itself, its effects on the society, the governing authority and local culture of the colonized state. Discussion of the aftermath of the resistance and acceptance of Afghanistan to Globalization will be included in the paper. Furthermore, a discursive formation of how the military occupation of the United States as one of the dimensions of Globalization in Afghanistan will be considered in detail and subjected to analysis.

Globalization: Mother of Worldwide Terrorism

Globalization was supposed to contribute to the growth of democracy however it only led to an intensification of local and global conflicts just like in the case of Afghanistan. It became a haven for international terrorism. The 9/11 attack was considered to be the first war of the 21^st Century and the first major war in the age of globalization. It is an example of a newly globalized jihad by Osama Bin Laden and the multinational AlQaeda, a terrorist network intensely opposed to the United States that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist groups. At the present, it has cells in 50 different countries spread throughout the globe. Osama Bin Laden and his Arab Afghan followers were partly US creations. They are against the United States of America not just because of the religious and cultural differences but also because of its continuous presence in Saudi Arabia, control over Arab Oil, siege of Iraq and other activities in Middle East. The origin of this problem can be traced back in the 1979 wherein armed Islamic groups, the mujahedin, who were trained by the United States of America and were formed to fight the 100,000 Soviet Troops and the Communist government they had installed. Afghans did not want these fighters to stay after the Soviet Troops left. The problem is that right after United States of America’s support of containing the communism in Afghanistan; they left the place with no functioning central government. If only they were able to put up an institution for governance, they could have forced the terrorists to move out of the place just like what they are still doing at the present.

Globalization: Tool for the Enhancement of Material Interests

Globalization seems like to be a new word for Imperialistic Colonization. We can see it in the dominance or leadership of the United States of America over Afghanistan and other Middle East Countries. It has further extended its rule over foreign countries in the form of aggressive extension of authority. If countries could not be coerced or persuaded by economic promises and the Utopian projection of America that it is an ideally perfect state especially in its social and political and moral aspects, they are being invaded. They use their military might.

In 1998, the United States of America wanted a new government in Afghanistan. It is for a reason that an internationally recognized Afghanistan Government should first be placed before the construction of oil pipeline would be allowed and they have no other choice because Afghanistan is the only possible route for the desired pipeline. This plan could not have happened if America had not used their military power to replace the government in Afghanistan and it started in 1998. According to Mr. Niaz Naik, former Pakistani Foreign Secretary, said that the wider objective of United States of America is to topple the Taliban Regime and install a transitional government to moderate Afghans in its place. Possibly, if a transitional government would be placed, Zahir Shah who was the former king would lead the government.

After this terrorist attack in September 11, 2001, the United States of America led a military invasion in Afghanistan to deprive the Taliban of strength and efficiency and make them no longer a threat to International Security. The invasion actually started even before the 9/11 attack. Because of this day in 2001 when Arab suicide bombers hijacked United States airliners and used them as bombs, the United States of America took it as a right time to secure public supports to continue its invasion in Afghanistan. The stated intention of the invasion was to locate Osama bin Laden and other high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and put them on trial, to obliterate the whole organization of Al-Qaeda, and to take out the Taliban regime which supported and gave safe harbor to Al-Qaeda. Behind this invasion of the United States of America is an economic motive which can be seen in the substantial links of the president during that time, George W. Bush, with the oil industry. These substantial links can be seen in 2000 elections when gas and other energy interests donated more that $90 million to Bush Presidential Campaign.

The United States America was successful in their military invasion in Afghanistan. They were able to put up a US controlled interim government under the leadership of the former Oil Company Adviser, Hamid Karzai who played as a key collaborator in the conspiracy to construct the major gas and oil pipe line in the region which was the hidden agenda of the US led invasion. Mr. Hamid Karzai really had a strong American backing, support and approval from the American Government. He was clearly trained for leadership. As what has been said by those who support Globalization, it was supposed to contribute to the growth of democracy. However, for those who are against it, they say that it is not democracy. It is like a rubber stamp because everything has already been decided by the powerful ones.

Globalization: Grounds for Social Inequality and Exclusion

Evidence of Class Exclusion and Westernization abound in the Capital of Afghanistan which is Kabul. The economy inside Kabul flourishes with warlords building $100 million ski resorts. These developments are only present in Kabul. For those who are outside Kabul, they are experiencing a different thing. The other provinces in the south like Helmand, Kandahar and Zabul are submitting to, and welcoming the returning tyranny of the Taliban in exchange for food, jobs and security.

In 2004, Nangahar province in Afghanistan reduced Opium Poppy Cultivation by 96% due to the promises of the government that they would give out seeds for new cash crops, financial support and improved infrastructure in the place. However, just like any other promises, it was broken. The promises were not given because the money which was supposed to be allocated for the cash crops and infrastructure was lost in the state’s inducement by improper means, mismanagement and misallocation of the budget. As a result, the economy of the country went down by 60%.

As a result, Poppy production was back in the year 2005. People earn faster and bigger amounts through this activity. They are earning around 6000$ per hectare and this amount is ten times bigger than the money that they would get from other cash crops. This served as a survival strategy for th peasantry because it does not only supply income to buy food and other necessities but also an employment. As a result, ties between the Ordinary People who became Drug Traffickers and the Taliban in Drug Operations in Afghanistan were established. This secret agreement between these two parties is beneficial for the both of them. The Taliban gets the drug money from this Multimillion Dollar Opium Crop which served as their economic engine to finance their insurgency. At an instant, they were able to form a group which was like a Global guerilla which served as their mutual defense front against the eradication of their Poppy crops.

Discrimination cannot only be seen between the people from Kabul and from those who are outside the country’s capital. It can also be seen within the structure Opium traders. The Government of the United States of America has been alleged of backing Narcotic-state in Afghanistan. The United States is picking and choosing winners in the Global Opium trade by eliminating Taliban connected traders and replacing them with those Opium traders with political power in the Afghan Government. Another issue that would support this allegation is the case of General Abdul Rashid Dostum in 2001 wherein he together with his men massacred thousands of prisoners. They stuffed them into metal containers, suffocating most of them and then shooting at close range those who survived. General Dostum was not touched for the crime because he is working for the CIA during that time, an independent agency of the United States government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest. There was an accusation that a cover up was made with the help of the US government.

Globalization: Instrument for the Creation of New Cultural Identity

According to Peter Berger, “The Negative Side of Globalization is that it wipes out entire economic systems and in doing so wipes out the accompanying culture.” People in the Middle East give great importance to their cultural identity especially the Arab and Muslim Intellectuals. They are deeply concerned about maintaining their cultural identity and independence in the face of globalization most especially as it has been seen as a social process of assimilation of American Culture. One of the three groups of Arab Intelligentsia, group of educated and intellectual elites in Middle East, sees Globalization as the highest stage of Cultural Invasion. The United States exerts hegemonic influence in promoting its values and habits through popular culture and the news media and they call it Americanization. They do want a standardization of world culture to happen, a cultural phenomenon which is the emergence of a World Culture. They do want to see the local and traditional forms be cleared out in one’s country to make for American Television, music, food, clothes, films. They fear that one day Afghans would take that as the heart of globalization.

Because of the great value of Cultural Identity in Middle East, negative and defensive responses are seen against globalization such as the discouragement of the supporting elements of globalization like democracy, free enterprise, civil and human rights. Like what Roger Scruton wrote in his book, by imposing itself and its values on the entire world through the Globalization process, the West is creating conditions for conflict to occur between other cultures.

If Middle East has AlQaeda Jihad which imposes radical Islam on the world and destroying Western Infidel Culture, United States of America has its own apparatus for cultural penetration. This is the McWorld. It imposes its jihad on the local culture and traditions of Middle East. It is good to know that at the present, we cannot find any McDonalds store in Afghanistan. However, if this thing happens, McDonalds can destroy local values, the traditional eating habits and cuisines shared by the Afghanistan Society like the flat bread which is often dipped in a light meat stock cooked on an iron plate in the fire or on the inner wall of a clay oven which is really a part of their everyday food. Yogurt and other dairy products are also an important element of an Afghan’s diet, as are onions, peas and beans, dried fruits, and nuts. Scrambled eggs prepared with tomatoes and onions are common meal. For the drinks, tea is drunk all day. Sugar is used in the first cup of the day, and then sweets are eaten and kept in the mouth while sipping tea. Other common beverages would also include water and buttermilk. It would really not be surprising if one day you would see the people in the Afghanistan eating McDonalds Burger and Fries and sipping Coke Sundae. This could be possible results of United States of Americas exertion of their culture and values to the Afghanistan Society.

Afghans are also lovers of social life with abundance of music and festivals. They are considered to be musical people. However, during the Taliban Regime, their passion for music was placed in limits because listening to music or playing any instrument either in public or private was prohibited by the regime. However, at the present, the restrictions were gradually relaxed and at the same time, American music influencing the music of Afghanistan. One example of this is the concerts, recording and filming in Kabul, Afghanistan by the American Voices entitled Jazz Bridges Afghanistan. This is a collaborative performance of American and Afghan artists and musicians. This very first performance of Americans in Afghanistan was a success. The concert goers praised vociferously the jazz rendition of their traditional music. Jazz is a genre of popular music that originated in New Orleans in Louisiana, United States of America around 1900 and developed through increasingly complex styles. This is just another picture of American winning the approval and support of the Afghans. They were able to accomplish their intended purpose which may include the incorporating American culture into the Afghanistan Community.

America was also to affect the media and clothing culture at the same time. Cultural War is visible in the television and again, America has been a contributing factor to this conflict. Afghanistan has its own premier pop music even in the country which is the Afghan Star. This Television program of the Tolo Television Network is the counterpart of the American Idol.For some, the network perhaps is just doing this for business ventures and at the same time, reflecting what the people want. However, for some like the Afghanistan Guardians of Islamic Values, the Ulema Council, protests that it is not part of the Afghan Culture and it can even be a cause of threat to a person’s security. Like for example, the death threats that a female finalist on Afghan Star received after the show when she her head scarf fell into her shoulders. For the Afghans, this is a forbidden thing in their culture. Because of the event, the owner of the network settled the dispute and made a decision of releasing a new show which would better reflect the Afghan Culture.

Globalization: Modern World’s Pandora’s Box

Globalization is like a modern World’s Pandora’s Box. When one state opens itself to Globalization, it unlocks millions of possibilities. It makes itself available for countless opportunities. These opportunities may be chances for one country to advance. It could improve one’s economy; ameliorate the state’s transport, communication and technology, media, education and health. Free Trade and the Investments of Developed Nations in Developing Nations now flow easily. Paul Samuelson once said that Globalization presumes sustained economic growth. Otherwise, the process loses its economic benefits and political support.

The decision of one country to open up to international traffic and capital flows are reversible. It could also be making itself susceptible to other countries’ attacks. It is making one state vulnerable also to the threats of globalization. A state may have the perception that the presence of a Western State is a menace thus they will go on with fighting with the foe. It would the result to greater chances of states to violent in attempt to preserve their cultural heritage. Moreover, international bodies would also infringe on national and individual sovereignty. Just like what happened to Pandora when she opened the large bar given by Zeus, all of the evils, ills, diseases, and burdensome labor that mankind had not known previously, escaped from the jar.

Did you miss me?

Uh-oh. I surely miss doing this, honestly. I miss posting daily entries in this site about my personal experiences and hobbies. Good thing we do have this three-week break. I am going to get the most out of this period of time. I am not going to spend this thoughtlessly. With my laptop fully charged and very recent activities fresh in my mind, I am back to blogging again. Here I am fellas, signing in.

October 27 - Got bored of my routine, I decided to go to Koronadal City. Actually, I was asked by my father to go to the grocery store to buy stuffs for the week. I got so excited. Geez. My parents were even surprised by my reaction. They are just not used with my response because usually when they ask me to do something, I look angry or sullen and of course, wrinkle my forehead to make them notice my disapproval. But when they asked me to go to the grocery store, I said YES right away. I really took time by the foreclock. Maybe you’re wondering too what made me come up with such decision. I have to admit this because if I will accept the offer of my father, I will be able to get the moolahs and pocket the change. Aside from that, it would be another first time experience for me. Unfortunately, my father changed his mind when I told him my condition. I will be the one to do the grocery thing but not in our place. He should let me travel for 30 minutes, move to the other city and do the grocery. ‘Sobra ka naman. Para grocery lang…’ He found it not practical. I was not allowed to go to the grocery store and lost the chance for a first time experience. But you know what, I was still happy. Yeah dude, happy. They still gave me the moolahs and allowed me to go to Koronadal City. Perhaps, they saw that big thought bubble above my head saying ‘I am effing Ho-hum. BORED.’

When I got there, I first went to CAP-Koronodal to do what my mother asked me to do. I think I submitted some of my papers needed for the insurance. Sorry. I am not sure. I did not open the folder to see it. But I am sure it is not a bomb. After that, I went straight to to KCC Mall of Marbel and roam around like a gypsy roaming the woods without any destination. I was like Mister Vagabond. That’s what I’ve learned from my past life. I was living in a pirate ship which was a vagabond of the sea, you know. Haha. Suddenly, I heard the rallying cry of the thingabobs in my stomach. So I decided to have my lunch. And now that I that I have a full stomach, I moved to Book Sale to look for good books to read this break. I purchased two books, America Now and Will They Ever Trust US Again by Michael Moore. Apparently, these books talks about America. My fascination for American Politics started when I took up Political Science. It got my attention so fixated as though by a spell. Evidences are my research papers for the past 2 years. Political Impacts of Social Movements of America’s Democracy was my research topic in Communication II. Just last semester, I chose US Invasion in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attack as my topic for the problems of Globalization. I guess that would be enough to make you believe that really I am hooked by the States.

By hook or by crook, I told myself that I really have to see at least one movie per day. And so, I decided to enter the movie house and watch I love you, Beth Cooper. I chose it because I thought it was a sexy-comedy type of movie. At first, I was really hesitant to watch the film. It is not that I am afraid of the dark. It is not also because I remembered what happened in the movie ‘Serbis.’ Haha. Honestly, I haven’t watched the movie yet. I was hesitating because I do not want to watch the movie alone. I do not want to look like weirdo laughing my ass out loud inside the cinema. So, I called some of my friends from the place to go with me.Thank you very much to Renan and Kezia. Thank you for accompanying me.

After watching a movie, I entered a computer store to look for an external hard drive and canvass for the prices of laptops. Then, I felt I was starting to lose energy. So, I just went to the terminal and take a bus back to our city. But before reaching home, I passed by Jollibee first dahil dito Bida Ang Saya. Haha. I bought snacks for the family. Isn’t that sweet? I do not know what happened to me. I being in an affectionate or loving manner just happen once in a blue moon. This rarely happens. It recurs in long interval. I guess the next time this would occur again will be next break. Haha. Maybe, this is what happens when you are just too far away from your family and you are dying to see them everyday without letting them know your agony. Oh Boy. I have no plans of ending this with a very emotional remark. But it’s true. I missed my family. I missed blogging. I hope you missed me too.

SIBLING RIVALRY

Before, it was like I was in the center of the universe... But that ended when a new baby was welcome to our home.

Dad, He is in my room again.
Mon, he won't stop annoying me.
Me first... Me first, daddy.

Sounds familiar? If you have brothers and sisters, the answer is probably YES because these are the sounds of Sibling Rivalry.

Sibling Rivalry is a social issue and just like any other thing that needs to be resolved, it has also indications and preventions. Let us begin with this question, What is Sibling Rivalry?

Sibling Rivalry is a type of competition or animosity among brothers and sisters, may it be blood related or not. This feeling of ill will arousing active hostility may happen to different kinds of people no matter what are their state of connectedness. Let me cite some examples of Sibling Rivalry among brothers and sisters from the bible. Do you know the story of Cain and Abel? This story tells one brother's jealousy when God appeared to favor his sibling. Another story is the Story of Jacob wherein he tricked his brother Esau out of his inheritance. Sibling Rivalry could also happen in love just like for the case of Leah and Rachel wherein they competed for the love of Jacob. Even Joseph, the foster father of Christ have experienced Sibling Rivalry. Because of his brothers' jealousy, he was effectively sold into slavery.

We often have this idea in mind that Sibling Rivalry only happens between brothers and sisters. However, the truth is that Sibling Rivalry could also happen even to those who are not blood related most especially to families who have only one child. As a result, their child spends more time with other children in the community. They create social and emotional ties with these people. Then, Sibling Rivalry comes into existence. It seems like Sibling Rivalry has existed ever since the dawn of humanity and no one is totally outside its range.

Now that we know what Sibling Rivalry is and some of its popular cases, let me now tell you the signs of this type of condition. Sibling Rivalry often occurs after bringing about the second child in the family and it dramatically changes over the years.

Here are the sings of Sibling Rivalry at the age of 2-3 years old. The older child becomes more aggresive or the older child may act more like a baby. Desperate to win back his or her parents' attention, he or she may react by misbehaving or regressing like jumping on the sofa when the mother tries to breastfeed, sit on the baby's seat or refusing to use the potty after months of doing so. He or she may even try to punish his or her younger sibling with few not too subtle pinches or prods.

Sibling Rivalry during adolescence has different indicators. Adolescents fight for the same reasons younger children fight however they are just now better equipped physically and intellectually to hurt and be hurt by each other. One study found that the age group 10 to 15 reported the highest level of competition between siblings.

How about Sibling Rivalry during adulthood? Events such as parents illness may bring sibling closer to each other however events like marriage may drive them apart, particularly if the in law relationship is strained. Rivalry often lessens over time and at least 80% of siblings over age 60 enjoy close ties. There are various evidences to prove the existence of Sibling Rivalry which depends upon the time of life. Moreover, the intensities also of the conflict differ for every age group.

Now that we already know the signs of Sibling Rivalry, it is about time to know the things which served as the generative force and origin of Sibling Rivalry. First, let us examine Sibling Rivalry using the Psychoanalytic View. If we are to ask Sigmund Freud about Sibling Rivalry, he would tell us that Sibling Rivalry is just an extension of the Oedipus Complex, where brothers are in competition for their mother's attention and sisters for their fathers.

Aside from this view, we should also consider other factors. Position in the family for example, the oldest child may be burdened with more responsibilities for his or her younger siblings. On the other hand, the younger sibling may be spending his life trying to catch up with an older sibling. Sex, for instance, a son may hate his sister because he sees that his father is gentler with her. A sister may hate his brother because he cannot go out fishing or hunting with his fathers just like what her brother does. Another factor would be the age. A five and eight year old may enjoying playing games together however when they reach the age ten and thirteen, they can be totally poles apart.

The most important factor is the parental attitude. Parents must be impartial or else their children might feel that they are getting unequal amount of their parents' attention. However, this can be extremely difficult. It is inevitable that parents will feel differently about children with different personalities with differing needs in the family.

Just like any other problem, Sibling Rivalry can also be kept back from happening. One thing that you can do is to avoid making comparisons. Make yourself feel that you are unique. Set goals and level of expectations that would only relate to you. If you are the oldest child in the family like me, love your younger brothers and sisters. Involve yourself in things like looking after the baby. In return, younger children children must also love back their older brothers and sisters. Lastly, take the lead in settling your differences with your brothers and sisters. Do not keep grudges in your heart because it would make you ugly.

For another time, Sibling Rivalry is a type of antagonism or acrimony among brothers and sisters. It may be blood related however it could also be not. Just like other things that gives us difficulty, it has perceptible indications to notify us from the risks and dangers that it could bring. and It has also variety of causal agents. The good thing is that we can stop it. It is stoppable. It is abatable.

So that's it ladies and gentlemen. I hope you have not commited into your mind but learned by your hear everything. I expect you now know what to do when you face the one you hope to defeat. Who knows? Your world's number one rival is just around the corner. Who knows? It could just be me.