Walang Laya at Walang Hiya: Kung Bakit Hindi Ako Naniniwala sa Independence Day

Author's Note: Yung death threats po, sa comment section nalang. Salamat!

Kahapon, habang naglalakad ako sa kahabaan ng Quezon Avenue upang hanapin ang aming destinasyon, madami akong nakitang mga watawat ng Pilipinas na naka-display sa iba’t ibang gusali, sa mga bahay, at mga sasakyan, pribado man o pampubliko. Sa social media, makikita mo ang mga post na nagsasabing, “I love the Philippines!”, “Happy Independence Day!” “PINOY PRIDE!” at kung anu-anong shit na makikita mo lamang tuwing ika-12 ng Hunyo, kapag nananalo sa boxing si Manny Pacquiao (o kaya nadaya - dahil hindi natatalo ang Pinoy, ganun tayo ka-awesome), o kaya pag may half/quarter Pinoy na contestant sa singing contest sa ibang bansa, kahit pa hindi pa siya marunong magsalita ng Filipino o hindi pa kahit kailan nakakatikim ng adobo.  

Balita ko, Araw ng Kalayaan kahapon, at dapat may panibagong Codswallop akong ipinublish.

Anyare at ngayon lang? Dahil ba kalahating araw akong nag-lalalakad sa Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife kasama ng mga kaibigang photographers at bloggers upang sumuporta sa adbokasiya ng One Pencil at a Time? Dahil ba uhaw ang katawan ko sa tulog? O dahil kaya, katulad ng ibang pagmamahal na umusbong ng masidhi sa damdamin, naubos na ang pagmamahal ko sa Pilipinas kaya hindi ko nalang pinansin ang anibersaryo ng paglaya kuno ng ating bayan?

Siguro dahil hindi na ako naniniwala na tunay na malaya ang Pilipinas. Makikita sa ating kasaysayan na ilang daang taon din nabuhay ang mga Pilipino sa ilalim ng pamamalakad ng mga dayuhang sumakot sa atin – Español, Amerikano, Hapon. Ngayon, nabubuhay ang Pilipino sa ilalim ng pamamalakad ng Pilipino, ngunit nakagapos parin ang Pilipino sa kahirapan at kamangmangan. Sa pagkakataong ito, wala tayong mananakop na sisingilin ng ating kalayaan. Walang gyigyerahing mapang-aping dayuhan. Walang sisisihin na iba kung hindi ang ating sarili.

Maraming mga bagay na nagsisilbing repleksyon ng kawalang kalayaan ng ating bayan and ang kawalang hiyaan sa bansa.

Ang kapal ng mukha ng isang mambabatas na naakasuhan ng pandarambong na sayangin ang buwis na kinakaltas sa mamamayang Pilipino sa isang walang kwentang privilege speech/performance kuno.  

Namatayan ako ng neurons at ng pag-asa para sa Pilipino. Nabwiset din ako dahil wala na akong pera ngayon dahil sa laki ng kaltas sa sweldo ko at sa taas ng presyo ng kuryente, tubig, at ng mga bilihin. Tapos ipapang-song number lang ng isang senador na hindi man lang marunong kumanta? Buti sana kung keri niya ang performance level.

Sa talumpating ito, walang kahit anung eksplenasyon tungkol sa kasong kinakaharap ng senador. Pinuna ng senador ang kahirapan ng mamamayan. Hindi siguro nya gets na hindi sana magiging ganoon kasama ang kundisyon ng marami nating kababayan kung ang perang dapat sa bayan ay napupunta sa bayan at hindi sa bulsa ng mga lider-kuno ng bayan. Nakakatawa. Parang komedya, pero imbis na tumawa, gusto kong maglaslas. Hindi ko alam kung sa katangahan ng talumpati ako na-badtrip, o sa boses ng senador nung kumanta siya, o sa pang low-class movie MMFF-level acting niya. Siguro sa kapal ng mukha ng senador na ito na gawing fail na Showtime ang dapat ginagalang na institusyon ng gobyerno.

Wala pong saysay ang inyong speech, senator. Sana man lang may dance number din kasabay ng kanta para hindi saying ang pagbayad namin sa aircon ng Senado.

Panuorin ang privilege speech ng nasabing senador dito. Warning: Nakakabobo.

Ang kawalan ng sensitibidad ng mga tinuturing na lider ng moralidad at ng relihiyon ng gawing pangunahing dahilan ang pagpunta ng kanilang Santo Papa sa bansa upang hikayatin ang gobyerno na bilisan ang rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta ng bagyong Yolanda.

Nung kasagsagan ng bagyong Yolanda sa Visayas noong 2013, nadurog ang puso ko. Alam ko kasi ang pakiramdam na anurin at sirain ng tubig ang lahat ng pinaghirapan. Sa mga balita noon, makikita na daang-daan pa ang patay na nakakalat sa kalye habang natutulog sa tabi nito ang mga buhay na kamag-anak at mahal sa buhay. Walang makain, walang tubig. Milyon ang pumasok (at patuloy na pumapasok) na tulong mula sa kapwa Pilipino at sa mula sa iba’t ibang parte ng mundo pero mabagal parin ang dating ng tulong sa mga nasalanta. Nakita rin natin sa telebisyon na masira na lamang ang marami sa donasyong pagkain, hindi man lang nakarating sa mga taong nangangailangan nito. Nagsimula na ang klase pero hanggang ngayon kalunos-lunos parin ang mga paaralan sa Tacloban. Maraming paaralan na hindi magamit hanggang ngayon. Marami sa nasalanta ang wala paring permanenteng tinutuluyan.

Tapos maririnig mo ang isang alagad-kuno ng Diyos na magsabing kailangan pabilisin ng gobyerno ang rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta ng bagyo. Okay na sana. Okay na talaga. Hanggang sabihin nila na kailangan gawin ito dahil darating ang Santo Papa sa 2015 at nakakahiya ang Pilipinas.

Reality check po: Matagal na pong nakakahiya ang Pilipinas. Nuod din kayo ng balita pag may time. Sana man lang ang naging prayoridad ng pagpapabilis ng pagtulong sa mga taong ito ay dahil tao rin sila, Pilipino sila, at responsibilidad ng estado. Hindi pampaganda ng imahe.

May tawag kame sa Nursing nyan: rational prioritization. Ayos na sana ang prioritization (pero sana noong una pa ninyo masidhing ipinaglaban ito sa media, at patuloy-tuloy na ginawa, kesa isyu ng One Direction concert ang pinagtuunan ninyo ng pansin). Kaso ang fail po ng rationalization ninyo. Sobra.

Ang pangungutya at pagbalewala sa mga Pilipinong gustong matuto, natututo, may natututunan, at may kaalaman.

Nakakatawa. Sa ibang bansa, kapag may naiimbentong bagong produkto o teknolohiya, lalo na kung ang imbensyon ay gawa ng isang mag-aaral, ito ay sinusuportahan ng gobyerno, ng paaralan, at ng ibang mamamayan. Sa South Korea, ang pagiging magaling sa Ingles ay binibigyan importansya ng mamamayan dahil naniniwala silang importante ito sa pag-unlad. Bakit? Dahil naniniwala sila na ang kahusayan sa iba’t ibang aspeto ay makakatulong sa kanilang bansa. Dito sa atin, kung ikaw ay magaling sa ibang lengwahe, o kaya kung may mai-babahaging may katuturan sa social media, makakarinig ka pa ng pangungutya. Kung may naimbento ka na bagong teknolohiya, mas may mangyayari pa sa buhay mo kung dadalhin mo sa ibang bansa para duon ibenta o ipakilala.

WTF?

“E di ikaw na ang matalino” or “Magaling ka lang naman sa English e.” E ano naman kung matalino o magaling sa English ang isang tao? Kailan pa naging negatibo ang pagiging matalino at magaling sa isang lengwahe? May kultura ng anti-intellectualism ang Pilipino. Nakikita ito sa mga ekspresyong, “nosebleed!” (“Epistaxis” kung nasa propesyong medikal ka), madalas mula sa mga walang magap-tuunan ng pansin bukod sa drama ni Nicole at Monica ng The Legal Wife o mga bagong love team sa Bahay ni Kuya. Nakikita rin ito sa pagpili at pagboto ng mga taong uupo sa posisyon ng kapangyarihan sa gobyerno.

Maraming sa atin na mas trip  ang madramang politico kesa sa may utak na lider. Kaya siguro maraming Pilipino ang nakukuha sa drama (at song-and-dance number) ng mga naghahangad mag-“lingkod” sa bayan kesa sa tinatawag na “credentials”. Kaya siguro maraming walang kaalam-alam sa pagsulat ng batas at pamamalakad ng bansa ang may lakas ng loob na tumakbo para maging parte ng gobyerno – dahil alam nila na ok na ang popularidad para maghikayat sa mamamayan na iboto sila sa kapangyarihan, kahit wala naman silang alam.

From L-R: Accused Pork Barrel Scam senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla were action "heroes" of Philippine cinema. Here they stand with another accused senator Juan Ponce Enrille. Photo taken after Revilla's traumatic privilege speech and song number. Nakakaloka. Photo from philstar.com

Kaya rin siguro akala nila na ayos lang sa mamamayang Pilipino na mag showtime sa Senado.

Ang kapal ng mukha ng mga mamamayan na umasta na nakakataas sila sa batas… o kahit manlang sa tinatawag na “propriety”.

Pauwi ako nung isang araw at nakapila sa pagpasok ng SM Makati ng biglang may sumingit na lalaki sa akin para magpa-tsek ng bag. Ayos lang sana (pero sa totoo lang dapat hindi ‘to ayos), pero nagawa pa ni kuya na sikuhin ako. At dahil kaya kong maging bitch minsan, sinabihan ko  siya: “Kuya, kaya hindi umuunlad ang Pilipino, dahil sayo.” Tuloy lang ang lakad ni kuya, parang walang sinikong tao para lang mauna makapasok sa mall.

Yung totoo kuya, pasaway lang? Kaya hindi umuunlad ang Pilipinas e. Tsaka bakit parang ang daming lanes ng sasakyan? Photo not mine.

Ang Pilipino nga naman, madalas walang respeto sa ibang tao at sa batas: magtatapon ng basura kahit saan (kahit may basurahan naman), tatawid sa maling lugar at oras (kaya nasasagasaan), hindi sumusunod sa batas trapiko (kung hindi haharipas ng takbo, parang hinahabol ng demonyo, titigil naman kung saan-saan para magbaba o kumuha ng pasahero), nagpapa-andar at nagpapagamit ng mga bus na pag sinakyan mo maaari kang dalhin sa destinasyon mo o sa kabilang buhay, sisingit sa pila, papasok sa paaralan o sa trabaho ng lampas sa dapat na oras (pinanagutan na ang Filipino Time).

Mga maliliit na bagay ito, pero maliliit na bagay na nagpapakita ng kawanag-hiyaan. Hindi naman kaya ng ordinaryong mamamayan na magnakaw ng sampung bilyong piso sa pamamagitan ng PDAF at fake na NGO. Pero sa maliliit na bagay na ito makikita ang isang bagay na kailangan ng kahit sinong indibidwal, grupo, o bansa na naghahangad umunlad: disiplina.

Tandaan din natin sana na ang mga maliliit na pagsaway sa batas at kawalanghiyaan sa kapwa ay maaring maging malaking pagsaway sa batas at kawalanghiyaan sa kapwa. Tulad nalang ng pagnanakaw ng limpak limpak na salapi muka sa kaban ng bawan sa pamamagitan ng PDAF at NGO.

Ang paglimot at pag-sawalang bahala ng tao sa mga pang-aabuso na ginawa at patuloy na ginagawa sa atin.

Isang litrato ng Maguindanao Massacre. Anyare na at hindi na umusad ang kaso? Photo from Google Search.

Natatandaan pa kaya ng marami ang Ampatuan Massacre? Ilang buwan pa lamang pero wala na akong nakikitang kalampag ng tao tungkol sa rehabilitasyon para sa sinalanta ng Yolanda. Tapos na ang unang linggo ng klase at wala ng napapabalita tungkol sa kakulangan ng class room, matinung libro, at guro sa mga pampublikong paaralan. Sa Facebook ko nalang nakikita ang tuloy-tuloy na protesta ng mga mag-aaral sa pataas na pataas na matrikula sa kolehiyo. Kahit ang isyu tungkol kay Janet Lim Napoles sandaling nawala sa pokus ng tao ng pumutok ang di-umano’y panggagagaha kay Deniece Cornejo ng TV celebrity na si Vhong Navarro. Madalas ata tayo makalimot ng isyu pag mag bagong "trending". Ilang kabataang Pilipino kaya ang nakakaalam na sinampahan na ng kasong pandarambong si Pogi, Tanda, at Sexy?

Ang Pilipino, minsan makakalimutin. Hindi nila makakalimutan kung anung time slot ng The Legal Wife sa telebisyon o kung ano ang latest sa buhay ni Kris Aquino, pero makakalimutan nila ang kawalang-hiyaan na ginagawa sa kanila tuwing sahod, habang nagpapakamatay para kumita ng pera, habang araw-araw na ginaga ng Diyos ay nabubulok sila sa matagal at masalimuot na trapik sa EDSA at sa iba pang kalye sa bansa. Makakalimutin ang Pilipino, kaya ang galit, mabilis ring makalimutan. Pagkatapos mag-rant sa FB, ok na.

Pero hindi dapat tayo nakakalimot, kase parang okay lang sa atin na tapakan at abusuhin ng mga may kapangyarihan at ng bulok na sistema. Dapat hindi tayo nakakalimot.

Hunyo 12 kahapon. Sabi sa Facebook, 116 na taon na daw tayo malaya. Pero kalayaan bang maituturing ang kawalan ng progresibong pag-iisip, pagkawalang bahala sa nangyayari sa bayan, pagkutya sa karunungat, at pagiging bulag sa kawalang-hiyaan at pag-aabuso sa mamamayan?

Parang hindi naman.

Theists, Atheists, and Some (Goddessly) Facepalms

(And yes, I just made up the word “goddessly” – I wanted a feminine adverb)

It was only this year that I got involved with a group who classified themselves as humanists and the Humanist Alliance of the Philippines, International (HAPI) has given me a lot of avenues to serve others as well as to meet people who share the same ideologies as I do. However, even before joining HAPI, I was already exposed to people can be classified as humanists. There are a lot of those in the advocacy. I was also exposed to people who classify themselves as atheists and agnostics.  I have more than a few friends who are quite happy (others quietly happy) in proclaiming this. I consider myself quite lucky to have found and fallen in love with these people. They are good friends who have taught me that to be kind is a blessing in itself and that true wisdom results in the burning desire to help others.

Quite a weird crowd to be hanging out with, especially for an ex-Catholic school girl.

Being on both sides of the coin – such as like being a bit of a nerdy, overachiever in some religious education class I enjoyed in college and now being an officer in a humanist organization and rubbing shoulders with some of the most atheistic atheists I’ve ever met – I can say that both factions have some good in them, but both also have something relatively nasty. In fact, if I were a goddess, I’d have probably face-palmed so much because of these unwarranted nastiness, I would have removed half of my goddessly make-up. Which means two things: (1) I probably need better godly face primer to save my damn foundation and (2) I should write about it before I go bonkers.

Goddessly Facepalm #1: The “Bahala Na” Attitude of Some Theists

Seriously? SERIOUSLY? If God(dess) did exist he/she gave you neurons, did he/she not? You haven’t got two. You haven’t got thousands. You have billions in your head, waiting to be put into good use. And problem solving would be an awesome use for those brain cells.

I do understand that many believers have the “bahala na” attitude – faith. That’s all well and great but whatever happened to “Nasa Diyos ang Awa, Nasa Tao ang Gawa” (Pity comes from God, Action Comes from (hu)man)? Do you just expect deities to wave a magic want and vanish all your troubles away? Do you expect divine intervention without flexing a bit of muscle? Life doesn’t work that way, you know.

Goddessly Facepalm #2: Read this in Draco Malfoy’s voice – “You believe in God? You must be inferior.”

I asked one of my most trusted friend if this is what militant atheism is all about and he said, “That’s being an asshole.” I would admit a moment’s desire to hug this person (and maybe kiss him senseless, but don't tell him that).

A lot of nonbelievers have this tendency to believe that being an atheist automatically makes them superior to those who still have religion…which further emphasizes my belief that freethinking does not equal atheism.

It’s discrimination all over again, and although discrimination has some good use, it does have its evil effects, especially when applied to, say, every single person belonging in a specific category. You know, like what Hitler did to the Jews? I'm sure everybody remembers Hitler.

Goddessly Facepalm #3:  You('re) gay/lesbian/transgendered/Pro-RH/like sex!

When theists go Sodom and Gomorrah because of other people's sexual preference, i can't help but cringe. Seriously, ladies and gentlemen, whatever happens inside people's bedroom is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. Unless of course it's legit porn then by all means, write a review on techniques and positions for all I care. 

Seriously, stop blaming other people's sexual preference for Yolanda. That's climate change, y'all, not gay sex.

Goddessly Facepalm #4: This picture (and all it represents).

Picture grabbed from Facebook.

This, according to some unbelievers, is intelligent. Seriously? Some people have beliefs and not every religious person has done inhumane, idiotic things. Many believers are truly concerned with the conditions of others and would sincerely love to help. Many ar Case in point: Catholics for RH.


Newsflash: Bastardizing an entire group's belief just because you think it's funny is not smart. It's stupid.

The Importance of Shutting Up

It was my brother who taught me how to love animals.

When I was young, he would take me to empty lots around our subdivision to catch dragonflies. He told me that there was a crocodile living in the creek near our house.  When we got older, my brother would always take me to Cartimar, this little place in Manila known for selling birds, cats, fish, and dogs. We would go around and hang out with his fellow pet enthusiasts.

Was I surprised when his interests turned into reptiles and other exotic animals? No. Was I surprised that he started going on several trips, climbing mountains, to take pictures of the local wildlife? Not one bit. Did I find it amazing that he became a resource person of a show about Philippine wilderness and whatnot? No. My brother, who has a Masters in Public Administration and who worked his butt off to get his PhD in Educational Management, has always been destined to be awesome (I'm his sister after all).

My family and I during my brother's graduation. 

My brother’s love for the local wildlife meant that he has worked to ensure that we normal people are aware of the existence of the diverse fauna endemic in our country, as well as to preserve the said exotic animals.

This love is most likely the reason for this scathing status:

A Thin Line Between Public Service and Self Service

I have always believed in that writers, regardless of whether they tell fiction or non-fiction stories, are obliged by their craft to tell the truth. Writers who are journalists are even more compelled to do so. It is their work. It is their calling. It is their mandate. But like any job, telling the truth should be done with caution. Case in point: The Quirino Grand Stand Hostage Crisis. Hong Kong has yet to forgive the Philippines for that not-so-hospitable end to the tourists. 

If there is one proof that sometimes truth can be used in the worst of ways, it is this. 

When I was in high school and during the media training for RH that I attended, one important thing was drilled onto me by my teachers and trainers: responsible reporting. This can mean several things, and here are just some ideas that can be related:

1. Accuracy is the name of the game. This means that before a writer writes he or she must check sources, get in touch with experts, and make sure that whatever and however the piece is written is not intellectually dishonest, whether you meant to do it (for agenda setting - not cool, man) or not.

2. Protect your source. This is where confidentiality comes in. Say you're writing about a crime, like the PDAF scandal. It's often very tempting to say that you got the scoop from the mistress of a senator, or a perpetrator's brother in law, but sometimes, there are more important things that sensationalizing your story with undertones of betrayal, immorality, and sex. Your source could be risking more than their relationship with the people they choose to be a snitch to, they can very well be risking their lives.

3. Some truths are not meant for public ears. There are certain information that, if made public, such as the name of your source in some high-profile crime story, the identity of a rape victim (especially that of a minor), and the location of the Philippine Orange Tarantula, especially if your source has explicitly asked you to not divulge such information because it may lead to endangering the species. 



Many people use the banner of public service to rationalize voicing their opinions and telling truths. I believe in this. But sometimes shutting up is just as important as speaking up.

If, in disseminating the truth, you have hurt or endangered other people's lives or have compromised something that is good, then you might just be self-serving instead of people-serving. And as much as good writing, a nose for the news, and an instinct to get to the bottom of an issue are qualities of a good writer-journalist, I think learning when to shut up should be given as much value abovementioned traits.

5 Facepalm-Worthy Things in the Aftermath of Yolanda

Anyone who's come across me ranting about how the Philippine government's efforts to help Super Typhoon Yolanda are faring would know damn well I'm pissed. Unfortunately, unlike some, more talented (or pretentious) people, I cannot hide behind pretty words and pretty writing tones to express my burning displeasure at how things are going. I have to admit, of course, that the international community has been more than generous with the aid, and the Filipino people have once again been possessed by the energy associated with the Pacman's boxing bouts, this time to volunteer, donate, and clamor. I am proud to get to know some of these people.

 However, this blog post is not about the help that we've received and are continuing to receive. I was told before that true charity has to hurt and that might be true, but the hurt is superficial - like having a gauge 19 stuck into your forearm for a blood extraction (trust me, that's less painful than a prick on the finger, where all nerve endings are). Being able to give up something for the sake of others is, in itself, rewarding. That's probably the Vincentian in me talking, but there you go. 

But I digress. 

This blog post is being written for three purposes: (1) because I am heart broken and thus I need something else to occupy my bipolar psyche; (2) because I want to rant on behalf of people who want to point out so many idiotic things which are still happening, but cannot because it might cost them; (3) hopefully to convince people to remember the idiocies enumerated below and, for the love of decency and brain cells, NEVER DO THEM AGAIN.

Death threats and flame can go to the comment section. 

Facepalm-Worthy Thing #1: 

The "Never-My-Fault-Always-Your-Fault" move which heads of freaking state do again and again and again.

Facepalm Level:  

Ah, the blame game. Every spineless leader's favorite ploy. You know how it goes: It's always someone's fault except the spineless leader's. Unfortunately, the truth is, when the shit hits the fan and the ones cleaning the fan fail, the supreme leader fails by default. Moral lesson: don't let the shit hit the fan. If you can't prevent it, make sure the clean-up job would be as efficient as possible. 

Why is the inefficient aftermath clean-up (which includes helping people get their basic needs, recovering the dead and burying them with dignity, and rehabilitating the place where disaster struck) the fault of the supreme leader? Because said supreme leader has access to military power, diplomatic ties, billions of pesos in corruptible form (like PDAF and all the other names which we call the indiscriminate funds of public officials), the power to change protocol and ignore bureaucracy in favor of saving lives, and because the people said supreme leader are accusing of not being prepared do not have such resources. These people include the local government officials who belong to the opposing political family. These people are also the regular citizens who pay for the supreme leader's monthly salary, whose lives were ravaged by a natural calamity.

The blame game isn't helping them with anything, unless you call hypertension secondary to rage over politicking "help".

Facepalm-Worthy Thing #2: 

Saying that God sent the Super Typhoon Yolanda as a punishment/warning against the RH Law.

Facepalm Level:

With all due respect, but we have no need for insensitive middle ages crap like these.

I have two things to say.

1. Yung totoo, bakit puro RH? Kami ngang condom-giving, sex-talking, contraceptive-sharing hardcore RH advocates e tumigil sa usapin ng Reproductive Health Law upang bigyan daan ang pag-aadbokasiya sa mga naapektohan ng Bagyong Yolanda e, tapos ikaw isisigit mo. Yung totoo, you don't want the issue to die, noh?.......Secret RH advocate ka ba!? 

2. When I was a kid, I thought of Jesus Christ as an older brother - the kind who loved me, played with me, comforted me if I felt unhappy. He would be gentle not just with me but with everyone. He's awesome like that. He might sometimes pull my hair playfully or  give me a firm stare if I did anything bad. I imagined that sometimes he would have given me a tap on the wrist before explaining why I deserved the punishment. 

It is these kinds of portrayal - the punitive god, the jealous god, the petty god, the god who freaks out and throws tantrums like a toddler because the imperfect humans he/she/it created did not follow the whims of the supposed "representatives on earth" - killed the image of Jesus as a cool older brother for me. 

Seriously, stop giving God a bad name.

Facepalm-Worthy Thing #3: 

Telling people that if your devastated community elects an administration candidate in 2016, then next time all hell breaks lose, help would come sooner.

Facepalm Level: 

Yup. This baddie got the "I'm-French-kissing-a-mutated-lobster-looking-alien" facepalm. Congratulations, if you've done this kind of shiz, not only are you a hardcore idiot, but you've become eligible to be Supreme Leader of the Idiot Society. How tactless, insensitive, and insulting could you be? 

Let me tell you the truth in case your utter narcissism has blinded you to it: People who have been starving are desperate. They haven't eaten for days and they just really want to get their hands on those relief goods you're handing out, and you find it acceptable to give speeches implying that they haven't been receiving aid more efficiently because their city chief belongs to a rival political clan? Speeches that indicate your intention to run for an election three years from now?

Mahiya-hiya rin pag may time. 

Facepalm-Worthy Thing #4: 

Giving survivors all the wrong kind of help.

Facepalm Level: 

The bunny's kind of ashamed that some people are rather dismissive if not down right apathetic of the needs of our kababayans down South. But this facepalm-worthy moment gets the cutest of the facepalms because some people truly want to help, it's just they don't know how properly do it. You know that moment when you go to your parents crying because you've gotten into this fist fight with another kid at school because said kid was bullying you, but instead of addressing the situation of being bullied, they get angry at you for getting into trouble and think of the situation as child's play? That's how epic the failure is right here. I've heard people who say they have no money to donate but have cash for Starbucks. I've even been told by someone that she already considers that her family is helping out because a family member, who was working as a disaster relief personnel, was already in Tacloban, treating the injured. I've seen people who refused to help just because they know that other people and international organizations have already extended their support. And I've seen others offer prayers and nothing else. 

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Regarding the prayers: I have nothing against them. It may even help the morale and motivate the people in the calamity-stricken areas. Psychological support during times of disasters is important. But as far as I'm concerned, these people need food, shelter, clean water, and decent clothing FIRST. If you're going to offer prayers, better make sure that you help keep that person alive first by providing for the physiologic needs. 

Check out Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as reference for stuff that keep people alive.

Facepalm-Worthy Thing #5: 

"Shut up and just help."

Facepalm Level: 

Mar Roxas was right in saying that nothing was fast enough for the survivors of Yolanda. Of course. There's nothing fast enough to alleviate pain and suffering, which is why the stupidities involving relief operations down south have been highlighted, painted in red letter on a billboard and wrapped with Christmas lights. Some of these expressed above, others still happening (such as that funny little incident when one of my girl crushes, Dr. Raquel Fortun, forensic pathologist, pointed out to President Aquino that we don't have coroners in the Philippines. 

I understand why some people say that posting or talking about about negative stuff regarding the Yolanda relief efforts doesn't help. Some of the people who say this are in the thick of things - the government officials, the volunteers, the peace-keeping force, the medical professionals - and I don't blame them. But this is also pride talking, especially if the person saying this is more concerned about how the Philippines would look in the international community.

There will always be criticisms. You don't always get a pat on the back when you do a good job, but you will probably always have someone notice when you screw up. It happens. Take it as an opportunity and try to not screw up again, especially if people will needlessly suffer as a result. 

Which is why it is annoying that those who criticize the stupidity of these actions are told to just "shut up and help", like you can't point out stupidity and volunteer, raise money, and just care for these survivors at the same time.There is a thing called multitasking, you know. 

Bagyong Yolanda won't be the last test that the Filipino government and the Filipino people would have to struggle through. Although the Idiot Society is quite tightly intertwined with  our own, there is still hope that these will not be repeated. 

Hopefully next time we keep our wits about us.