Philippine Asian News Today Vol 19 no .14 | Page 7

July 16 - 31, 2017 OPINION PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY  Rey Fortaleza - Publisher Carlito Pablo - Editorial Consultant Rosette Correa - Senior Editor Jun Cordero - Associate Editor Writers - Crisanta Sampang ; Columnists - Geoff Meggs, Ben Berto, Editha Corrales, Mon Datol, Fr. Jerry Orbos SVD, DeeDee Sytangco, Alan Samuel, Erie Maestro, Sandee M. Ed Malay, Jayne Anastacio, JJAtencio and Willie J. Uy (Manila Bureau Chief) Alvin Barrera / Mon Correa - Graphics and Layout ; Rolly Fortaleza - Graphics Design JoelCastro - Website; Julian Fortaleza - Sports Editor; Ricardo Fortaleza- Sports Photography Editor: Dean Guzman; Photograhers- Charles De Jesus/ Christian Cunanan Reyfort Publishing & Entertainment Office Add: 9955 -149th Street, Surrey, B.C. V3R 7N2 Email: [email protected] Website: www.philippineasiannewstoday.com http://www.reyfortmediagroup.com Tel: (604) 588-news (6397) Fax: [phone] Copyright of letters and other materials submitted and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher may freely reproduce them in any other forms. Opinions and views expressed are of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY. E-mail: [email protected] Breaking Point When Everyone Knew What “Walang Modo!” Meant for Sunday Mass. In their By Rosette Correa generation, too, My father was not a typical it was necessary Filipino father during the to respect everyone by telling the time when their generation of truth, no matter how badly the parenting meant beating from other may receive the message. a stick. He was, so to say, a Sin modo became “walang really “chill” guy, but his wisdom modo” when we grew up, as my spoke volumes, and without the Dad also grew tired of the mess use of physical punishment, was people make of themselves. able to raise with my mother So, when I see people drive five children who all became viciously on the streets, cut in professionals and excelled in line, bump you and not say, their field of choice. “Sorry!”, use their phones while Being a Chavacano from talking to you or when at the Cavite City, his words of wisdom dinner table, keeping their hat or came from the Spanish tongue. cap on while having a meal, (or When angered, shouts of keeping their hat or cap on when “Sinverguenza!” translated as inside someone’s house or in a shameless or naughty, would fill building) or not hold the door for the air. you, I think of my Dad and how One of his favourite he would say, “Walang modo!” expression was “sin modo” I know right now, he must be which roughly translates as “no saying it every second. way”, and it was his way of saying On a plane ride back from a person had no upbringing. California on board American Generations ago, how one Airlines, my family and I were behaved and presented himself seated in the last seats of the in public was a gesture of respect plane next to the galley. As the not only for oneself, but for other plane prepared to take off, two people as well. Gone are the days flight attendants took their when folks actually got dressed seats in the galley and started to ride public transportation, conversing loudly about personal most especially the airplane. My matters. When the other FA parents grew up in a generation spoke into the PA system, I where it was actually impolite politely asked the female FA in to not be properly dressed for the galley to lessen the volume occasions, and most especially of their conversation so that i continues to spiral down the proverbial drain because people think that they are experts in everything, and that the real experts’ opinions don’t really matter. Social media has made things worse because it has backed these fights up, and now everyone has a chance to make a point, even if it is wrong and immoral. Gone are the days when truth mattered, and not everyone got a gold medal for effort. The more society allows these things to happen, the more people start disrespecting each other. No wonder we have people who are mean to others, and we continue to have armed conflict. We even elected two presidents who, in my Dad’s words, are “walang modo”. There is less respect for each other now compared to 60 years ago. Man is regressing, but thinks he is progressing. Technology and social media tells everyone this humongous lie that we are better off today than past generations. I am sure that the elderly who lived in a time that truth mattered beg to disagree. Their generation fully understood what “walang modo” meant, and this generation has completely missed the point. The Angelos and an Anti-Drug Youth Program Bulong Pulungan By Deedee Siytangco Reprinted from Manila Bulletin Angel Thoughts “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”— Aristotle Food for thought for those who don’t think seriously about climate change…a trillion-ton ice cap broke off in Antarctica this week. Think how they will elevate ocean levels all over the world and affect global warming! * * * In observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month (July), senator Loren Legarda has renewed her call to heighten disaster preparedness, especially in can hear the announcement, she snaps back at me, saying “Whatever she is saying, you can read on the card right in front of you. I’m not stopping this conversation with my my friend just because you can’t hear the announcement!” I asked her why she was being rude to me, and she started talking more loudly, making me appear as hostile, and so I told her that she was very rude, and that the company will know of her treatment of me. She couldn’t care less and continued talking loudly. I, in turn, wrote to American Airlines and got a pathetic letter of apology and nothing else. “Walang modo!” my Dad would say. We now live in an age when no one cares what other people think, and for me, that’s regression. I know people will say that we should live our lives we deem it necessary, but we have to take into consideration that respecting other people is necessary in respecting oneself. When one only thinks of himself, then it means that he doesn’t care about the rest of the world, and that is a tragedy. Today, people fight for things that are important to them, but they don’t realize that the things they fight for may only benefit them, or a few of their peers, but not the rest of the world. Morality l o c a l communities. Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, said that proactive strategies and the involvement of citizens are needed in strengthening the country’s defenses against natural hazards and climate change. “Most natural hazards turn into disasters because of the lack of preparedness. Disaster prevention starts long before a typhoon makes landfall, before an earthquake happens, or before a volcano erupts. Early warning and early action should be at the very heart of our efforts. Everyone should understand the risks we face and equip ourselves with preventive measures to lessen the impact of natural hazards,” she added that local government officials should lead the community in preparedness. Community preparations for disaster should include regular pruning of trees, dredging of canals and esteros, and the practice of segregating garbage, among many others, and putting up warning systems and telling the communities about them. When hazards such as typhoons are expected, barangay officials and volunteers can do mobile patrolling and use sirens to immediately alert people either to stay indoors or get ready to move to safer places. The regular conduct of earthquake and safety drills is also important, especially at schools and hospitals. Citizens should help restore coastal mangrove forests and continuous tree- growing activities, which are simple yet effective defenses against several types of hazards. July is National Disaster Consciousness Month, Senadora Loren notes. The theme for this year’s observance is, “Kamalayan sa Kahandaan, Katumbas ay Kaligtasan.” * * * * It was with lots of excitement and pride that the popular classical-pop group, The Angelos collaborated with Dr. Eric Tayag, assistant secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), in promoting #Drugsnomore #Healthpamore, a musical initiative to promote the prevention of the use of illegal drugs among the Filipino youth, with “empowering health first” as its mission. Dr. Eric Tayag together with The Angelos will launch three renditions of the original theme song composition by Jai Aisa from Las Vegas, Nevada, with choreography sometime next month. Tayag, of course, is well known for his unique and eye-catching way CONT PAGE 10 WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM