Poverty

Many people complain about poverty, about being poor, about not having much.  They turn their eyes to the government for being “poor”.  What have I seen from looking and observing at the lives of the many people I have met with gave me a glimpse of why people especially Filipinos consider themselves as poor or getting poorer each day.

A student just graduated from college.  From being a non-earner to an earner, immediately that newly hired person will think of what can he do with this first paycheck.  He will think of dating his girlfriend, or maybe buying a new mobile phone, or laptop or running shoes.  Very rare that you will encounter an newly hired person who will think of where to save his first paycheck or giving a tenth to his church.  This is a newly hired individual with excited mentality.  Because he will be overwhelmed by his salary, he will buy and buy the things he wasn’t able to buy when he was just a “student” with limited allowance.  He will not be thinking of giving a portion of his salary to his parents.  Later his parents will complain about poverty, without realizing that his child is already earning but is not contributing to the family’s expenses.

Then comes a worker with minimum wage.  All his accounts are properly budgeted, from his transportation to even his “me time”.  Everything seems okay.  Suddenly he gets a promotion and an increased salary.  He will start buying the things he wanted to buy not realizing that he starting to spend more than what he earns.  This is an overseas worker's heir mentality.  Because there is an increase in salary, there will be an increase in expenditure.  Families left behind by overseas worker act this way.  Because their breadwinner is abroad, they will have a mentality that they can spend and spend because they know money will come anytime soon.  Most of the time, people with this mentality will start buying what others have, what is in and trendy rather than spending the hard earned money for what they need.  Before what they buy is an ordinary brand of corned beef, but when their salary increased, they will start buying imported brand of corned beef.  Before, "Divisoria" brand of clothes iare like the BOMB to them, when they taste the feeling of big brand clothing line, they will never look at Divisoria clothes again.  As a result, most of the people with this mentality will lend money.  They have the guts to do so because they know money will come soon.  That is why many overseas workers with families with this mentality often are not able to save nor improve their lives.  After years and years of working abroad, they will complain that their lives didn't get better.

Poverty is only a state of mind.  You can’t be poor if your body can still work or your mind can still properly function.  I have no offense meant to beggars, but hey instead of begging money why can’t you use your selling skill to atleast sell something so you can earn.  I have seen an old lady in Singapore.  Very old infact that I think no other company will hire her.  She is not begging! She is selling tissue papers and candies.  The small earning she gets from selling those is enough to make her live for a day.  But here, beggars on the streets have broader shoulders than I have if not have a good mental skill to even answer you "philosophically". Yes, some maybe crippled, but you can still earn if you really want to put your back into it.  I salute the blind singers down the LRT Central Station singing all day long.  Yes, it’s still begging to some, but at least they equal the amount of change you give with entertainment.  It’s good enough than posing yourself with very dirty clothes and pouty lips and nearly crying eyes to beg for money.

We will not be poor if we know how to prioritize.  Buy what we need not what we want.  It’s not because there is a new release of mobile phone you’d lend money just to buy it.  If you still have a phone with good signal, clear screen and a long lasting battery never mind about the latest mobile phone! 

We won’t be poor if we look at our own lifestyle instead of other people’s lifestyles.  It’s not because others can afford to change gadgets every other payday, you can also do that or force yourself to do that.  It’s not because other people can afford to watch the movies every week, you’d do that too.  And it’s not because your salary increased, your expenses will also increase.  When that happens, you must save the extra and spend your usual budget.  In that way in a year or two, you’d be able to have more money to level up your lifestyle, say buy yourself a new house if you’re still renting or buy your family a car if you’re still commuting.

So who ever say they are poor, maybe just have poor budgeting skills or maybe just maybe is still living in a world where saving and wise spending is alien and comparing their lives to others is common.

Kawawang pangulo!

Katatapos lamang ng ika-limang SONA ng pangulong Noynoy Aquino Kabi-kabila ang mga puna at batikos sa kanya.  May mga nagsasabing hindi sila kuntento sa performance ng pangulo, may mga nagsasabing dinaan na lang ni PNoy sa “acting” ang pagtatakip nya sa pagkadismaya ng mga tao sa kanyang pamumuno.  Ngunit para sa kin, pasintabi sa iba diyan, ito lang ang masasabi ko:

Mahirap mamuno ng isang bansa, ako nga isang maliit na private school lamang ang pinamumunuan ko, nahirapan din ako lalo na noong unang taon ko sa pagiging principal.  Napaka hirap bakbakin ng mga nakagawian na ng mga guro, studyante at mismong mga parents para isulong ang aking mga nais na pagbabago para sa school.  Napakahirap alisin ang “katamaran” at pagiging tradisyunal ng mga teachers sa kanilang pagtuturo.  Napakahirap din namang pasunurin ang mga magulang sa bagong patakan na ipinapanukala ng namumuno.  Napaka hirap talaga maisulong ang pagbabago, lalo na kung ang mga dinatnan mong mga tao ay hirap umalis sa kaning mga comfort zones at talaga naming ayaw na sa iyo sa simula’t simula pa man.

Ganun din ang nangyari kay PNoy, napakarami nyang plataporma para sa bayan, subalit, may mga tauhan sa gobyerno, lalo na ang mga dinatnan na niya ang hindi sumusunod.  And I say, hindi talaga sila susunod dahil una pa man, ayaw na nila kay PNoy, napilitan na lamang sila sa kanilang mga trabaho dahil “permanent” ang posisyon nila sa gobyerno.  RESULTA: napakabagal ng progreso ng pagbabago.  Hindi naman sila pwedeng ipatanggal agad agad ni PNoy dahil may security of tenure sila at tiyak na kakampihan ng DOLE o CHR kung papaalisin sila sa tungkulin dahil sa kanilang inefficiency or insubordination.  Pero pupunahin naman ng taong bayan ang mabagal na pagsulong ng mga proyekto ng gobyerno, nang hindi tinitignan ang mga government employees na papetiks petiks lang sa kanilang mga opisina.  Napakahirap para kay PNoy na isulong ang pagbabago dahil sa ilan sa kanyang mga gabinete, “napipilitan’ lang naman syang sundin dahil sa pagkapit sa posisyon, wala talaga sa loob nila ang sumunod.  RESULTA: napapabayaang trabaho na nagiging dahilan ng mabagal na pag unlad ng bayan. 

Napakahirap para kay PNoy na pasunurin ang mga taong ang tanging nais ay kontrahin sya.  Aba sige nga, ikaw ang pangulo, paano mo mapapasunod ang mga taong walang alam gawin kundi hanapin ang mali ng pangulo?  Paano mo mapapasunod ang mga taong ang hinihintay ay magkamali ka para maibato ang sisi sa iyo?  Paano mo mapapasunod ang mga taong may pansariling interes na kapag sinunod ka ay mangangahulugan na mawawala ang kanilang mga “racket o sideline”?

Nakaka siguro akong ginagawa ng pangulo ang lahat para mapaunlad ang ating bayan, subalit napakahirap humanap ng mga taong talagang tapat na magsusulong ng kanyang mga adhikain para sa ating lahat.  Napakahirap masiguro na ang lahat ng mga naisin niya ay nasusunod dahil aminin natin at sa hindi, madami pa ding tao sa gobyerno na buwitre na pag kaharap ang pangulo feeling masipag pero pag talikod ng pangulo feeling boss na walang nang dapat gawin.

Naiintindihan ko ang pangulo, dahil minsan din akong nahirapan magpasunod ng isang buong school community.  Muntik na akong sumuko kundi lamang sa aking pinanghahawakang salita ng Panginoon na may plano Siya sa akin (Jer. 29:11).  Wala akong ginawa kundi ang kumunsulta sa Kanya salita, patuloy na ipinaglaban ang pagsawata sa kasamaan at gawa ng kadiliman tulad ng katamaran, di pagsunod, pagiging makasaili at inggit.  Unti-unti, naipaglaban ko ang aking adhikain.  Nakita ko ang pag ayon ng pagkakataon sa akin.  Nakakabilib pa nga ang pangulo dahil hindi sya sumusuko sa kabila ng kapal ng maling gawi ng mga Pilipino na dapat niyang bakbakin.  Dahil jan, napapabayaan na niya ang kaniyang sariling kalusugan, ipupusta ko, mas lumakas ang paninigarilyo ng pangulo.  Wala naman kasi siyang magagawa kundi mag isip ng mga dapat niyang gawin.  Pero may nag tanong bas a kanya na kumaen ka na ba po Mr. President?  Or may nagsabi ba naman sa kaniya ng ‘matatapos din po iyan, dasal lang po.”? Meron ba?  Mas madami diyan tiyak, mamasamain pa ang malabis na paninigarilyo niya kahit hindi nalalaman ang dahilan kung bakit.  AKo nga, 592 students lang meron ako sa school, 45 staff at 1184 parents pero minsan masuka suka ako sa stress lalo kung mabigat ang kinakaharap ko, minsan hindi ako makakaen kasi ang mga trabaho ng mga “pasaway’ kong staff, ako na gumagawa, umusad lang ang trabaho at huwag mabinbin.  Kaya naman, pumapasok sa isip ko, gaano kadaming sama ng pakiramdam na kaya ang pinipilit kayanin ng pangulo masiguro lamang na uusad ang maghapon ng mga Pilipino?

Isa lamang ang susi para umunlad tayo.  Hindi ang pangulo, kundi tayong mga Pilipino!  Matuto tayong sumunod.  Hindi yung, pinapanukala pa lamang, andami na nating batikos, hindi pa nga natin sinusubukan, sinusukuan na natin.  Kahit sino pa ang maging pangulo natin ay baliwala kung hindi tayo matututong sumunod.  Igalang natin an gating mga pangulo, dahil sinabi ng Diyos sa aklat ng Roma 13:1-3 na “Ang bawa't kaluluwa ay pasakop sa matataas na kapangyarihan: sapagka't walang kapangyarihan na hindi mula sa Dios; at ang mga kapangyarihang yao'y hinirang ng Dios. 2Kaya nga't ang sumasalangsang sa kapangyarihan, ay sa utos ng Dios sumasalangsang: at ang mga nagsisalangsang ay magsisitanggap ng kahatulan sa kanilang sarili. 3Sapagka't ang mga pinuno ay hindi kilabot sa gawang mabuti, kundi sa masama. At ibig mo bagang mawalaan ng takot sa may kapangyarihan? gawin mo ang mabuti, at magkakamit ka ng kapurihan sa kaniya:” 

Mas pagpapalain ang ating bayan kung ang sinumang maluluklok sa atin ay ating igagalang at susundin.  Subalit kahit na anong galling ng pangulo na mailuklok kung mas marami pa din sa ating mga kababayan ang imbes na sumunod ay puro pagpapahirap at pagpapatagal sa pagpatupad ng adhikain ang gagawin ay wala ring magyayari sa ating bansa. Lahat ng iluluklok ay ipapatanggal natin via “impeachment” na para na lamang natin ginagawang panakot sa pangulo, ay kawawa naman ang ating pangulo.  Anong dignidad ang gusto nating ipakita ng ating pangulo sa ibang bansa kung mismong mga kababayan niya ay binabastos siya at binabalewala?

May pag asa pa ang Pilipinas!  Ipagpatuloy natin ang paglaban sa korupsyon sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod natin sa mga utos ng nakatataas sa atin. Maging open nawa ang ating mga isip na tanggapin ng maluwag ang naluklok na pinuno at makiisa sa kanyang mga adhikain dahil wala naming pangulo na nagnanais na mas maging mahirap ang kanyang bansa.  Pagtuunan nawa natin ng pansin ang mabubuting nagagawa at tulungan ang gobyerno na maitama ang mali sa pamamagitan ng forum at hindi ng mga rally.  Sabi nga sa isang patalastas noon “wala namang hindi nalulutas ang mabuting usapan” diba?  At higit sa lahat, mas maging madasalin tayo, ipanalangin natin ang ating pangulo na biyayaan siya ng karunungan na nagmumula sa Panginoon upang mas mapamahalaan niya tayo ng may takot sa Diyos at naayon sa Salitang Diyos.  Ipagdasal natin na magkaroon tayo ng masunuring puso upang matutong sumunod.  Ilagay natin sa sentro ng ating mga buhay ang Panginoon at totoong totoo, maibabalik natin ang dating ningnging ng Pilipinas, Makakabangon tayo ang muli sa ating kahirapan.  Huwang nating gawng kawawa ang pangulo sa ating mga pagsuway, sapagkat sa isang pagsuway natin, samu’t sari ang magiging resulta nito na ang karamihan ay patungo sa pagbagsak ng ating bayan.  Sabi nga ni Don Shula "the inferior man blames others; the superior man blames himself."  Pakita nating superior tayo, bago tayo manisi ng iba, tignan muna naten ang partisipasyon natin kung baket hindi pa din umuunlad at wala pa ding pagbabago ang Pilipinas.

Teacher VS Cheater

Me with the entire school staff together with our International Academic Director

TEACHER is an anagram of CHEATER.

I met this teacher ones, he seemed dedicated and seemed to be really have a lot of improvements in mind.  However, as days go by, I realised that he has this certain characteristic of gaining the students approval and popularity for letting the students do what they want, even if it is wrong and against school rules.  Several times I called his attention about his wrong teaching practice.  However, he didn't seem to bother.  Then I realised that he is cheating from his calling as a teacher.  He is just after the benefits of being "popular and cool" among students.

I also observed in him that he really doesn't care whether some other teachers would look like "monsters" in the sight of the students because these teachings are trying to correct students mistakes.  What he would do is to affirm students' thoughts that those teachers are "uncool" or being so "strict" by telling them he agrees to their woes.

Double standards among students arouse.  Students started hating TEACHERS and liking the CHEATER.

Being a teacher of 15 years, I have come to a realisation about being a teacher and good teaching.  I wish that this could help aspiring teachers.

Good teaching practice is telling your students what they did wrong even if it will hurt them, not neglecting to tell them what they did wrong so that they will not be hurt.  Real teachers are are the ones who are not afraid even if students dislike them as  long they do what is right.  Only people pretending to be real teachers are afraid when students dislike them for doing the right thing.

Cheating practice is when you see students doing the wrong thing yet, you don't call their attention or give them any punishment because you think that you will not look "COOL" in their sight.  With this, you are creating wayward citizens in the future.  Cheating is also when you just want popularity among students even if will make you denounce your sworn duty to be just and fair.

What does the Bible said about correcting mistakes? "Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die." (Pr. 23:13)

Students wouldn't die if you tell them to be quiet because someone is reporting in front.  Students wouldn't die if you ask them to throw their chewing gums on the bin because it is against school rules. Correcting students' mistakes won't lead to their deaths.  What could lead to death is when you allow them to do bad things thus in turn will develop a habit of wrong doing.  How?  Let us say you caught a student stealing his classmates's pen.  You knew that the student saw you saw him and you didn't correct him nor talk to him and ask him to return the pen.  certainly after quite sometime, that student will repeat that action even when people saw him because in his mind, "it is ok because a teacher didn't tell him that it is wrong."  When he reaches maturity, he might opt to stealing just to get what he wants, might lead to him being caught by the police and he may die trying to escape from them.

If you are an aspiring teacher, think about what you really want to be in the future:  a teacher or a cheater.  Do not be afraid to be unpopular on uncool, but be afraid to be wrongfully cool and unrighteous popular. Remember that what is popular is not always right and what is
right is not always popular.