5 Cool Jobs Ruined By The Philippine Setting

Let’s face it, very few of us are doing what we really want to. I am, but that is because I am easy to please and have little ambition. But really, how many of us really dreamt of selling soap for a living, or answering telephones and helping Americans figure out their tech problems?

Given the Philippine setting, though, we may actually better off doing what we’re doing now, than if we’d followed our dreams. Here are five jobs we thought were pretty cool gigs, but do not quite translate to the third world.

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Lito Lapid: Harbinger Of Doom

As you may (or not) already know, there was a coup in the Senate of the Philippines earlier this evening. Those in the media will say that they were tipped off by sources, or that someone had leaked information about the secret resolution to withdraw support from then-Senate President Manuel Villar. But, really, the first real indication that something big was up was the attendance of Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Harbinger of Doom.

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Oh, those bright-eyed youngsters.

In the tradition of Pisay: the movie, a Cinema One Original film–

UPCAT: the movie. Stay tuned for sequels Shifting: sa pusod ng registration (the movie), AWOL: kasangga mo ang langit (the movie), and Overstaying: uulit ka pa (the movie).  In theatres and state universities near you nationwide.

–PreMadonna

Elections ’08

Neither Of Us Cares What You Think

Neither Of Us Cares What You Think

If you are Filipino, this is how much America cares whether you are for Obama or McCain:

0%

Excerpts From The Reproductive Health Bill Debates

The proposed Reproductive Health Bill has been the subject of heated debates in the houses of Congress, in churches and on the street.

House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles, to avoid a divided house, enjoined both sides of the issue to tackle the RH Bill through parliamentary debate.

The Indolent Indio’s correspondent in Congress gives us the salient points raised by either side at the House debates last week.

For the Reproductive Health Bill,

Rep. Edcel Lagman

(1st District, Albay, Lakas-CMD)

“The use of contraceptives for family planning does not make acceptors bad Catholics. But having more children whom parents can ill-afford to feed, educate, medicate, guide and love makes them irresponsible regardless of their religion.”

“We must appreciate free choice because freedom is the bedrock of republicanism and democracy.”

“There can be no inequity worse than maternal death because the miracle of life must not lead to the death of so many mothers particularly since pregnancy is not a disease.”

“The WHO has estimated that about 1 million infant deaths worldwide could be prevented with reliable family planning information and access to reproductive health services.”

Against the Reproductive Health Bill

Running for Mayor of Quezon City

Running for Mayor of Quezon City

Rep. Anna Rosa Susano

(2nd District, Quezon City, Lakas-CMD)

“THERE IS NO QUORUM!”

“This is about the budget! Mga magnanakaw kayo! (You are thieves)”

“You forged the signatures on your bill!”

Marcos Cronies (Who Got Away With It)

Martial Law was declared 36 years ago to much pomp, circumstance and whereas-ing of things.

It took many deaths and fourteen years before the administration that brought us Martial Law was finally run out of the country. And we learned our lesson in those long, dark Marcos years. So much so that with our never-agains and our Ninoy shirts, any and all attempts to introduce discipline on Philippine society is immediately killed at the mere comparison to Martial Law. A proposed dress code triggered an uprising at the Ateneo de Manila University, for example. A No-ID,No-Entry policy at the University of the Philippines was likened to hamletting in the provinces, etcetera.)

Filipinos took the lessons of the Marcos years and focused on protecting their rights to free speech, free thought, and to do whatever the fuck they want because they have rights. Their right to a just and equitable society under a just and equitable government, however, was just too complex to turn into a slogan and fight for.

For their complicity in a corrupt and despotic regime,  any other country would have tarred and feathered these politicians. But the Philippines is a lot like Soviet Russia in the sense that in the Philippines, justice has you.  Also, the Philippines is poor.

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