What's up with drugs?

There is a stigma on the word drugs. The term carries such a grave connotation, often being the object of addiction and abuse. Drug addiction is a prevalent problem in society; often attacking more than one branch of being. Drug addiction/abuse can lead to negative effects in a person’s health, social life, and mentality. On top of that, depending on the substance abused, addiction could be punishable by law. Like most social problems, the key to eradicating it lies in the knowledge of what it is, what causes it, what effects can it have, and what can we do to prevent/contain it.

When most of us think of substance abuse, we think of illegal substances like marijuana, cocaine,shabu, etc. While there are those who abuse these substances, these are not the only dangerous things that one can be addicted to. It is very common for one to get addicted to legal substances. This includes alcohol, cigarettes, and even prescribed medicine. These are all substances that are considered legal but when one develops an unhealthy addiction to these substances, the consequences can be just as bad as when one gets addicted to the illegal substances.

Addiction contains numerous detrimental effects to our body’s physiological functions. Substances like opiates, depressants, and hallucinogens disrupt brain activity, often messing with our critical thinking abilities and skewing our perception what would benefit us. Aside from this, these substances could disturb one’s metabolism. Appetites are lost and one gets less sleep then what is necessary. One is even more prone to problems when one suffers from withdrawal, often going through paranoia, rashes, restlessness, and erratic behavior.

Social problems also arise from addiction. As one grows addicted to a harmful substance, one finds that this substance becomes the most important thing in his/her life. It completely overshadows the other aspects of life. It becomes more important that family, friends, and loved ones. It disables a person’s ability to work and as a result, one cannot contribute to society any longer.

We can all agree with the fact that addiction is a prevalent issue that will be around for a long time. We must, however, be optimistic in our pursuit to eradicate addiction. Rehabilitation works and people are becoming more aware of the dangers of substance abuse. We must strive for this ideal and work hard to make it true. We must also show addicts that their current lifestyle is dangerous and that they should go through rehabilitation. They should not be ashamed and we should back their long and bumpy road to recovery.

Disaster Awareness

Due to the geography of the country, the Philippines is prone to numerous cases of disaster. These disasters can stem from numerous causes such as climate, volcanic activity, and human hostility. Thus it is important that the Filipino people be able to handle such disasters and meet the needs of the people when these disasters inevitably occur. But to do so, one must have a clear understanding of what a disaster really is and what one needs in order to overcome it. Only with this knowledge can one handle the difficulties of such events and, if possible, prevent them from ever happening in the first place.

The formal definition of a disaster is a serious disruption in the functioning of community or society, causing widespread losses. In short, it is an event that interrupts the status quo, leading to negative effects like injuries, panic, and death. In order to be characterized as a disaster, said event must disrupt the daily lives of the people in a community.  The community will not be able to cope with what this event leads to and this causes it to seek help from other communities.  

Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared. (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness)

Step 1: Get a Rescue Alert Sticker
This easy-to-use sticker will let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers, and that it includes 1) the types and number of pets in your household; 2) the name of your veterinarian; and 3) your veterinarian's phone number. If you must evacuate with your pets, and if time allows, write "EVACUATED" across the stickers.
To get a free emergency pet alert sticker for your home, please fill out our online order form; please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Your local pet supply store may also sell similar stickers.

Step 2: Arrange a Safe Haven 
Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND. Remember, if it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets. They may become trapped or escape and be exposed to numerous life-threatening hazards. Note that not all Red Cross disaster shelters accept pets, so it is imperative that you have determined where you will bring your pets ahead of time:

• Contact your veterinarian for a list of preferred boarding kennels and facilities.
• Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
• Identify hotels or motels outside of your immediate area that accept pets.
• Ask friends and relatives outside your immediate area if they would be willing to take in your pet.

Step 3: Emergency Supplies and Traveling Kits
Keep an Evac-Pack and supplies handy for your pets. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. This kit should be clearly labeled and easy to carry. Items to consider keeping in or near your pack include:

• Pet first-aid kit and guide book (ask your vet what to include, or visit the ASPCA Store to buy one online)
• 3-7 days' worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food (be sure to rotate every two months)
• Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
• Litter or paper toweling
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
• Pet feeding dishes
• Extra collar or harness as well as an extra leash
• Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires (Remember, food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit—otherwise they may go bad or become useless.)
• Bottled water, at least 7 days' worth for each person and pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every two months)
• A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
• Flashlight
• Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
• Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)
• Especially for cats: Pillowcase or EvackSack, toys, scoopable litter
• Especially for dogs: Extra leash, toys and chew toys, a week's worth of cage liner.

You should also have an emergency kit for the human members of the family. Items to include: Batteries, duct tape, flashlight, radio, multi-tool, tarp, rope, permanent marker, spray paint, baby wipes, protective clothing and footwear, extra cash, rescue whistle, important phone numbers, extra medication and copies of medical and insurance information.

Step 4: Choose “Designated Caregivers”
This step will take considerable time and thought. When choosing a temporary caregiver, consider someone who lives close to your residence. He or she should be someone who is generally home during the day while you are at work or has easy access to your home. A set of keys should be given to this trusted individual. This may work well with neighbors who have pets of their own—you may even swap responsibilities, depending upon who has accessibility.
When selecting a permanent caregiver, you’ll need to consider other criteria. This is a person to whom you are entrusting the care of your pet in the event that something should happen to you. When selecting this "foster parent," consider people who have met your pet and have successfully cared for animals in the past. Be sure to discuss your expectations at length with a permanent caregiver, so he or she understands the responsibility of caring for your pet.

Step 5: Evacuation Preparation
If you must evacuate your home in a crisis, plan for the worst-case scenario. If you think you may be gone for only a day, assume that you may not be allowed to return for several weeks. When recommendations for evacuation have been announced, follow the instructions of local and state officials. To minimize evacuation time, take these simple steps:

• Store an emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible.
• Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Your pet's ID tag should contain his name, telephone number, and any urgent medical needs. Be sure to write your pet's name, your name and contact information on your pet's carrier.
• The ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet as a more permanent form of identification. A microchip is implanted in the animal's shoulder area, and can be read by scanner at most animal shelters.
• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
• Consider your evacuation route and call ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet outside of the danger zone at the first sign of disaster.

Step 6: Geographic and Climatic Considerations
Do you live in an area that is prone to certain natural catastrophes, such as tornadoes, earthquakes or floods? If so, you should plan accordingly.

• Determine well in advance which rooms offer safe havens. These rooms should be clear of hazards such as windows, flying debris, etc.
• Choose easy-to-clean areas such as utility rooms, bathrooms, and basements as safe zones.
• Access to a supply of fresh water is particularly important. In areas that may lose electricity, fill up bathtubs and sinks ahead of time to ensure that you have access to water during a power outage or other crises.
• In the event of flooding, go to the highest location in your home, or a room that has access to counters or high shelves where your animals can take shelter.

If emergency officials recommend that you stay in your home, it's crucial that you keep your pets with you. Keep your Evac-Pack and supplies close at hand. Your pets may become stressed during the in-house confinement, so you may consider crating them for safety and comfort.
Special Considerations for Birds

• Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier.
• In cold weather, make certain you have a blanket over your pet’s cage. This may also help reduce the stress of traveling.
• In warm weather, carry a spray bottle to periodically moisten your bird's feathers.
• Have recent photos available, and keep your bird’s leg bands on for identification.
• If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels that you can change frequently.
• Keep the carrier in as quiet an area as possible.
• It is particularly imperative that birds eat on a daily basis, so purchase a timed feeder. If you need to leave your bird unexpectedly, the feeder will ensure his daily feeding schedule.
• Items to keep on hand: Catch net, heavy towel, blanket or sheet to cover cage, cage liner.

Special Considerations for Reptiles

• A snake may be transported in a pillowcase, but you should have permanent and secure housing for him when you reach a safe place.
• Take a sturdy bowl that is large for your pet to soak in. It’s also a good idea to bring along a heating pad or other warming device, such as a hot water bottle.
• Lizards can be transported like birds (see above).

Special Considerations for Small Animals

• Small animals, such as hamsters, gerbils, mice and guinea pigs, should be transported in secure carriers with bedding materials, food and food bowls.
• Items to keep on hand: Salt lick, extra water bottle, small hidebox or tube, a week's worth of bedding.

Freedom Island

​Freedom Island is a well know bird sanctuary deep within the heart of Las Pinas and Paranaque. It is 175 hectares, reaching the Cavite-Manila Coatal road. Although it is known as a bird sanctuary, its importance to the environment is much more comprehensive. In addition to the aforementioned bird sanctuary, it is also rich in mangrove trees and marine life. Because of this, many fishermen make a living out of the island’s rich ecosystem. It is also a natural defense against typhoons and an outlet for the major waterways of both cities. With all these positive effects to society, it is absolutely mind-boggling that the government plans to reclaim 635 hectares of this paradise to build a highway.

​The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) plans to build a fourteen-billion peso highways linking the business centers or Paranaque and Las Pinas. A sizable amount of the island must be cut off if the project is to be a success. This will obviously have numerous detrimental effects to the island. The mangroves that will survive the construction of the highway will not be able to receive saltwater due to its poor circulation. The eradication of the ecosystem would disrupt the lives of the birds. The fishermen who make a living out of the island will also be affected. The destruction of the island’s ecosystem would destroy every one of those fishermen’s livelihood. In addition to all these horrible effects, the destruction of the island would rob the cities of Las Pinas and the city of Paranaque of a defense against flooding. The construction of the highway would render both cites vulnerable to floods and typhoons.

​From here, we can clearly see that it is in the best interest of the Filipino people in terms of environmental health, the economy, and tourism that Freedom Island be protected. Cutting down 15% of the island for a highway will be a grave mistake by the hands of the government. More than that, it would be an environmental crime. The people must stand up for the Freedom Island so that it can live up to its name.

Poverty Critique

Miss Ka Inday Bagasbas is just one of the many Filipino people who suffer from severe poverty. It’s no secret that there are impoverished individuals in our country after all, what country doesn’t have the issue. But it’s people like Ka Inday who ask questions like “Shouldn’t the government be helping?” or “What happened to all those promises of change and reform?” It’s debatable whether or not the government is doing everything in its power to fight off poverty but it is clear that they recognize the problem. The citizens, as well, are aware of the poverty rate. Any active member of Philippine society will be aware that numerous people are suffering but people like Ka Inday show us that it’s actually even worse.

So what is poverty and why is it a problem? At the most basic level, poverty is the deprivation of opportunity, resources, options, or anything else we as humans have a basic right to. So while most people think of poverty as a lack of money, this is not the full picture. Poverty means that people are without the things that they need and deserve. While money and resources are the most common examples, poverty is not limited to these concrete things. Poverty deprives people of education, options,free speech, and a future. Poverty is also not just a lack of these, it is the deprivation of. Poverty is not (or at least it should not be) a natural phenomenon. It doesn’t just happen. People are deprived of what they need. The distribution of these elements is not equal and as a result, some people get more and others get less.

But what causes this? Why do some get more while others get less? Well there are numerous theories and reasons. One such theory is the Cultural theory of poverty which states that those who suffer from poverty are those who are lazy or have no future planning skills. In short, some people are poor and that’s their fault. While this is not totally untrue, one cannot generalize this as the reason to why there is poverty. Ka Inday’s story is full of hardships and how she fought to support her family as a single parent. She suffered from poverty but she was not lazy. She was a very hard worker who lived a harsh life and it would be an insult to call her lazy and to tell her that all that has happened was her fault. 

Kasalanan bang maging mahirap? Being poor was never our choice but staying poor was an option.  

Pareho ba sila ng kwento ni Ka Inday?  Is it applicable to every poor person? The statement emphasized too much discrimination on being poor. 

The Neoclassical theory tells us that poverty arises from the laws of supply and demand. This country aims to be globally competitive and as a result we tend to take the market efficiency approach. It’s complicated to say what goes on but the gist of it is that by making economic solutions, sometimes social problems are created as well. Ka Inday fights against the demolishing of relocation sites. The government aimed to demolish these relocation sites, believing that they caused problems for cleanliness and road work. By applying this solution, infrastructure can be improved but the lives of those living there would be made even more difficult. This is KaInday’s point.

This does not mean that the government can’t solve the problem of poverty. Ka Inday believes that the government is not doing everything in its power to address the problem. She has seen the effects of poverty first hand. She watched as president after president made a promise to make things better, when in reality, nothing changed. She believes that they could have solved this problem long ago but forgot about it. Maybe the government is trying its hardest to solve the problem but at the very least, it should have improved things by now.

Citizens are also responsible. While the government must be critiqued, the citizens should not just stop there. The citizens should also be charitable. They have the power to improve the situation, after all, if they don’t do it, who will. But the nation requires harmony between the government and the citizens. Only then can the problem of poverty be solved.

Bayaning Third World

Bilib ka ba kay Rizal o wala ka lang pakialam?De leon's masterpiece simply portrayed the Image of Rizal as a hero and how much we know about his life.  

Bayaning Third World

The movie is primarily about two film-makers who have hopes of making a movie about the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal. Wanting to be as accurate as possible, the two research on the life of Jose Rizal, his death, and his supposed retraction to the Catholic Church, the very Church he heavily criticized in his two novels, Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The movie creatively shows the research process by having the film-makers interview the historical figures involved in Rizal’s Life. Historical figures such as Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonso, his siblings, his supposed wife, Josephine Bracken, and certain other Jesuits who claim that they witnessed the aforementioned retraction. The Movie culminates with the interview of Rizal himself.

Josephine Bracken : Wife of Rizal? Or Among the other girls?

The movie is a deep analysis of the life of Jose Rizal and the people he was involved with. By having the film-makers “interview” these historical figures, known facts about the national hero as well as historical events pertaining to him are shown in a completely new light.In general, the film-makers analysis of Rizal’s life focused on one thing, his supposed retraction to the Catholic Church. A source of controversy. The authenticity of Rizal’s signature in the document is the question that these two film-makers strive to answer. Was the document, as well as the signature, a forgery by the Spanish or was it authentic? If authentic, why did Rizal do as such? This was against his character and his beliefs which he made no attempt to hide, earlier in his life. If the document is authentic, why did the Spanish still have him executed? The film-makers then interview different figures who were prominent in Rizal’s life in order to arrive at the truth. In a sense, the movie plays out like a detective story, having a mystery and interviewing key witnesses in order to make sense of it all.

The film-makers interviewed Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonso, to get a better idea of what the young Rizal was like. They wanted to see if Rizal was devout in worship as a child. Perhaps if he were, this could provide insight on the decision to retract. Rizal’s siblings were also interviewed and they also provided insights to what Rizal was going through on his last days. Jesuit priests who claim to have witnessed Rizal’s retraction were also interviewed, thought the film-makers remain skeptical of what they say considering who they are. And of course, Rizal’s lover, Josephine Bracken, was also interviewed. She claimed that Rizal wished to marry her and that he could only do so by signing a retraction to the Catholic Church. She claims that they were married but no one, not even the film-makers, can prove this claim. This is due to the fact that although there was a retraction found, no catholic marriage certificate between the two. Finally, the two film-makers go to interview Rizal himself. But he does not provide any additional insight that could aid the two.

One of the themes of the film is the depiction of Jose Rizal as a mysterious figure. His retraction could undo everything he did against the Spanish. If the document was indeed authentic, then would he really deserve to be our nation’s national hero? Of course there is no evidence to support that the document was indeed authentic but this does not necessarily mean that it is a forgery. The film-makers are shown to be frustrated at their inability to arrive at the truth and for a brief moment, begin to doubt the National Hero. The film highlights the irony of how Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines and yet we are not able to verify much about him. How can we agree on whether or not he should be our national hero when some of us can’t even agree on the answer to the question “Who is Rizal?”

Rizal is a hero, of that there is no doubt. But if we compare what he did to the actions of the other Philippine heroes of his time, it becomes debatable whether or not we can call him our national hero. There are different answers and opinions to the question of whether or not he deserves the title. There are those in favor of him being our national hero, and those who are against it.

It’s good that those involved in this film sought out to find the truth. This is, after all, how we learn about history. They are thorough in their endeavors and while the output of their work is well researched, they do admit that they can’t find the answers to every question regarding Rizal. Perhaps some of the answers to those questions will remain a secret for an indefinite amount of time, a fact that is expressed through the frustration of the two film-makers in the film.  As said in the acclaimed film “The Life of Pi”, “Doubt keeps the faith living.” Trying to make sense of history amidst the unknown is like this. Rizal is a hero, but this does not mean that he was perfect. He did things in a way that some of us may disagree with but this does not mean that he was any less of a hero.