(UPDATE 21 May 2009: As of now, I have stopped hiring new writers into my 'company.' See full details here: http://projectdennio.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-life-as-freelance-writer.html. Thank you.)
Finally, I'm setting up my very own freelance writing company. A small one that aims to value its writers and make sure that they are well-compensated - not to be exploited for my own good.
Here's my ad for those who are interested to be a freelance writer.
Pop nationalism/activism is really at its highest when election comes closer by the minute. Before, we have these politicians calling for a 'new Philippines' or an 'anti-corruption crusade' that would wipe out the problems of this cursed land. Lately, we have the padyak and i-hope-the-whole-country-would-be-like-this ads. Now we have Ako Mismo.
A call for change in the country - sponsored by two telecommunications companies.
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It seems that everyone is riding on the bandwagon of nationalism to change the country. It is so popular that even multinational companies are jumping in. The often call this as 'corporate social responsibility'. There's nothing about it if indeed they have clean and sincere intentions in reaching out to help others. I just hope that this is not just gimmickry or a way to urge consumers to buy their products because 'a part of their money goes to this good deed.' I also hope that they are not doing this for the sake of evading taxes.
On the other hand, maybe it would be a lot better than paying the taxes to the government. That way, these companies can be sure that the money goes straight to the people who needs them most - not in the pockets of corrupt gov't officials.
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A lot had been said on Ako Mismo. In fact, there had been lots of similar campaigns in the past. Some of them have gone away into oblivion while some are still there - gasping for their final breath. Is there anything wrong with these campaigns? There is. They are very much self-centered.
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We have lots of Filipino sayings that would tell us that we can only do much when we are one. An example of this is our very own walis tingting. A single tingting cannot clean up our backyards but if we have a bunch of tingtings, then you can easily clean up the mess.
Although this Ako Mismo campaign is daring its visitors to 'make a change' by making a pledge on what they are going to do for the Philippines, the campaign is also creating a wrong impression that the 'pagbabago' that we've all been looking for can be achieved by individual acts.
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Small acts like obeying traffic rules can do something for our country. We'll no longer have long traffics in the morning. But these are things that we should be doing in the first place. Things that are expected from a good citizen.
But if we really want to change our society, it cannot be achieved alone. It would be like trying to break through a wall using a toothpick. It cannot also be achieved by doing these small acts. We need to get out of our comfort zone, be one with everybody and act on it.
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We have a great Filipino value that had been forgotten in the past few years that needs to be revived - bayanihan.
Remember the old picture of men, and some women, carrying a bahay kubo on their back that would be moved to another place. It would be impossible to carry such if the owner would do it alone. He would instead call his relatives, neighbors and friends to help him. They would all be happy to help. They would even sing songs in unison to show how sincere and happy they are in helping to move the bahay kubo.
That is what we need to change our country.
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Off topic: This Filipino value have been gravely disregarded by the people who were in charge of the preparations for the centennial celebrations of our barangay's Kapisanang Anak Pawis. They assumed responsibility for everything - from the funds to the line up of activities. They keep on bragging that they've got LOTS of money to make the celebrations extravagant. They had even made a press release that it would be covered by people from GMA7.
Then came May 1st, the supposedly extravagant celebration was a flop. Many organizations in our barangay have decided not join in the traditional parade because of the arrogance of the organizers. Some have even left the centennial committee because their opinion does not matter anymore. And the crew and van of GMA7 is nowhere to be found.
To save themselves from humiliation, they have instead invited other barangays to send a delegation to join the parade. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity ruined by their pride and selfish intentions of taking credit for the succes of the celebration.
We were willing to help - but they refused. The end result? Nobody wants to talk about it anymore.
This is just one simple example that doing everything alone can never have good results.
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How can you be one with everybody else who wants to change this country? There are numerous ways for you to be one with others in changing our society.
If you're that radical type who believes that change is something of a 'national democratic struggle', then the militant groups would be willing to embrace you into their organization. If you're the civic-minded one, then NGOs would be for you. If you're the religious type, then you may join different church organizations.
Just know what your calling is. I sincerely believe that despite the different paths that these groups are taking, what is important is that they all aim for change and the better of this country.
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We have all created this mess. So it is imperative for us to clean it up.
(Disclaimer: I have a similar post like this in my past blog - which I had put into oblivion. A different take with some edits on the same topic/article on the same topic I had brought up for Mother's Day a year ago.)
Maybe the first thing that you would be thinking is that my nanay is a single mom. Well, gladly she's not. We have a very loving father and who loves my nanay very much. So why make a 'tribute' to all the single moms? I've got two reasons to do it. One, they had decided to go on with the child - with or without the 'father' and had firmly decided not to abort the child. Two, it is simply hard to raise a child all by herself.
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When I started blogging in 2006, there's not much 'mommy' bloggers on the net. But lately, they have even formed communities on the web. Some of them are stay-at-home mothers which tries to earn some over the web. But most of them are single moms. Well in fact, we are quite seeing a number of famous celebrities that are single moms. Not only that, even as we look around, some of them are our neighbors.
The big question is: Where are the fathers of these children?!
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It is quite disturbing that there's a lot of rotten eggs that belong to our gender that are very irresponsible and immature. Hindi nila kayang panindigan ang kanilang ginawa. After releasing their sexual tensions and hormones on their 'baby, sugar, honey, etc.', they'd just ran away or simply disappear from the scene - leaving the girl bastardized and her life - ruined.
Even worse, some would just even break up with the simply because, hindi sigurado si kumag na siya nga ang ama ng dinadala niya. Son of the shark (Anak ng pating, roughly translated, haha.. :D), doesn't he know that his 'girl' had given up everything for you. Then, the kumag would leave her and go to his next victim. (This paragraph is based on a true story that I have known personally. The bastard had just broken up with his gf, then fled to the that I've been waiting for -- oops, this is another sad story of mine.)
That is why it is recommended that girls should keep something for themselves just in case we, morons, would leave you.
Now, with a life inside her tummy, the girl is battling with two options: to give up or move on.
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A little diversion from the topic.
I completely do not agree with abortion. Every child that a mother bears whether it is unwanted or that they have discovered that the child have disorders or sickness, is still a blessing. That child may be an additional burden but as most pro-life advocates would simply argue, 'what if that child would become the next president of this country that would uplift us from from poverty or the next superstar or a big name in business?
It is also quite disturbing to know that some of us have a perception that a fetus is just blood. Eh bakit? Tinatawag ba natin ang isang buntis na nagdadalang-dugo siya? 'Di ba't ang tawag natin ay nagdadalang-tao? Kung dugo lang iyan eh di sana nilabas na lang nila iyun bilang regla? Eh hindi, lumalaki ang tiyan niya at ilalabas lang niya ito matapos ang siyam na buwan!
Sorry I'm losing my cool but the argument's right. Even by the way we call pregnant mothers, we regard that thing inside that tummy as a human being, not just plain and simple blood.
But I could understand some mothers who would rather lose the child than to lose the respect of others and receive all the humiliation and defamation from others. They easily became the hot topic of everybody else conversations or chismis. But that could be averted if the people around would be supportive of her. That would be easy for a single mother to move on.
We do not need reproductive rights. What we need is a society that doesn't condemn unwanted pregnancies. What we need is proper education to children like us that things like sex is not a thing to be played with. What we need is a culture that protects and respects life.
Oops.. I'm getting a bit far off from my topic. But anyway it is still related. :D
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It's really disheartening to see to be single moms giving up their child because of the above mentioned reasons. If you're a Catholic, it is a mortal sin to abort an unborn child. But it doesn't mean that you won't be forgiven. God forgives those who have committed abortion. Go to your local priest and seek help.
For those who are planning to do the same, it is not the best solution to your problem. It would simply add up to the burden that you have right now. If you're a believer, then you should seek Him. He would really help you. There are also lots of support groups that are ready to help you. You may also go to your parish and seek help.
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For those who have bravely chosen to move one, I really salute you. You have literally went against the whole world. You have fought for that fragile, precious life, waited for that child to come out of this world and took care of him/her very well. That kind of love is really incomparable. All alone, you have raised up your child - without the stupid father. You have my prayers with you.
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And to those supposedly 'men', who had left these single mothers, MAS BADING PA KAYO SA BAKLA. Buti pa ang mga bakla, kaya nilang panindigan kung ano sila pero kayo na mga 'tunay na lalake' nagtatago sa saya ng nanay niyo nang makabuntis na. Tsk. I just hope your 'thing' would not fall off anytime soon, hahaha.. :D
Please be responsible enough for your actions. A minute of ecstasy would mean endless nights of despair for these girls. Tayo ang may pantusok kaya dapat na maging responsable tayo 'ika nga ni Bro. Jun Banaag. Hindi lang basta tusok ng tusok yan. Hindi tayo aso na kapag nag-iinit eh tusok agad. Dignify ourselves. Show them that we are real men who can control our hormones.
And please, don't scare off your girlfriends or partners that 'sex' (or you prefer to call as love making) is an essential part of your relationship. If that would be your reason for having a girlfriend, back off.
Try to take a bath with an icy water and if that doesn't cool off your hormones, ikiskis mo na lang yan sa pader, haha.. :D
At mahiya kayo sa nanay niyo. Just think if your mother had decided to abort you, Then you won't be in here.
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But of course to my dear young girl readers out there, you got the power. You can always say no if your horny boyfriend still forces you to have sex with him. But if the bastard tried to rape you, or have raped you, don't be afraid to come out of the light and file for a complaint against that bastard. Make him pay for what he did to you. There are lots of NGOs and groups that are out there to support and help you. Stand for your rights.
So to all nanays whether single, divorced, annuled or separated, I salute you! I believe that those who had been able to surpass the most difficult trials in life are those who would be the BIGGEST WINNERS in LIFE!
So single, divorced or annuled moms, there's still hope. I believe that those who surpassed the most difficult trials in life are those who would really become winners in life.
First photo courtesy of the Mr. Jason Endaya's blog here.
Second photo taken from here.
Project Dennio by Jose Dennio Lim Jr. is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
