If anyone visits a city or town in the Philippines, most especially in the provinces, one would surely notice the church is always the center of any town's life- both figuratively and literally.
The church always has become a monument, a landmark, a face of any city or town. People pass by the area regularly and will always see the facade of that spiritual dwelling place. And in front of the church is usually a plaza, a small park or a fountain. At a distance are municipal hall, commercial area, etc. These are what one should expect when going to cities, towns, most notably at the provinces.
The church is the main point of every area. And from that main point, all else follows. Thus, a church can change the surroundings it occupy.
In the modern times, the church has remained intact, but the central point is no longer the church. What one can see the church of before are the Malls of today. Truly, if one looks at all the malls in the country, they have transformed the society in a big way. They have become the central and main points of a city.
Whenever one puts up a mall, the surroundings benefit from it. That particular area will grow rapidly for sure. Makati Central Business District will not survive without Glorietta and Greenbelt, Ortigas can't be the Ortigas today without SM Megamall and Robinson's Galleria, Fort Bonifacio wouldn't be complete without Market! Market! and Boni High Street. It will also be inevitable that Quezon City will soon become more prosperous with the opening of Trinoma and the expansion of SM North EDSA. It is also a guarantee Pasay will become a business district since the Mall of Asia is just there.
The mall has created a new lifestyle. Every area grows if one puts up a mall, most especially if the mall is popular such as SM, Robinson's, Ayala or even Gaisano. Having a mall actually has rose a standard for a particular city. Before if a huge church is built in one's city, it means the city is really growing, has big economy, etc. Now if there is a mall in one's area, it means that area is economically stable, civilized and has social life. It's like "Oh you have a Mall na in Sulu or whatever city".
The church has then become a background, a tourist spot and for some, an irrelevant structure towering over a town. While the mall has become a place where friends meet, hang out and enjoy. With these in mind, What would be the future's central point?
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
rice shortage
News came out this day the world is in rice shortage. The supply of rice has drop, thus the increase in its price. Rice is a common part of the meal for almost all Asians in the world, most especially Fiipinos. Rice is in every meal and with the low supply of these grains, it could only mean one thing- more hungry people everyday.
The Philippines is one of the leading rice-producing countries in the world. In fact, one of its famous landmark is the Banaue Rice Terraces. And one if its popular scenes are farmers planting rice across a wide field with carabaos. Furthermore, the country is home to the world-famous International Rice Research Institute. But why can't the country produce more rice?
It's pathetic and really sad for the Philippines to import rice from the neigboring countries. The rice bastion of Asia is actully importing rice from Thailand and Vietnam. Region 3 or Central Luzon Region is known as the Rice Granary of the Philippines due to its wide farming lands, but now there are less and less of that land in sight. Instead of rice paddies, it has been turned into commercial space, malls, golf courses and residential subdivisions.
Well no one can really blame the developers, after all these malls and golf courses can prove to be profitable and good for tourism. The bad news is...rice has been compromised. Filipinos have to suffer to pay for higher price. And with the shortage of supply, how can average Filipinos consume a healthy meal?
The government must do something about the problem. It may not be a big issue now, but surely it will be if no one does something. Since Luzon is being transformed into a commercial hub, then Mindanao would be a good place to plant those rice. It would also help the people there. One congressman in Mindanao said there are more lands for rice planting in Agusan del Sur. But when asked what he is doing to develop more rice farms. He simply replied that's the problem of the national government not his.
The Agriculture Department said there is no rice crisis yet, but admits there is indeed a low supply of rice. The National Food Authority added there will be more rice this harvest season on summer. Rice problem might not seem as controversial as ZTE deal or Spratlys scandal, but it sure is worthy to be heard. After all, everyone, even from the highest post of the land to the lowest eats rice.
The Philippines is one of the leading rice-producing countries in the world. In fact, one of its famous landmark is the Banaue Rice Terraces. And one if its popular scenes are farmers planting rice across a wide field with carabaos. Furthermore, the country is home to the world-famous International Rice Research Institute. But why can't the country produce more rice?
It's pathetic and really sad for the Philippines to import rice from the neigboring countries. The rice bastion of Asia is actully importing rice from Thailand and Vietnam. Region 3 or Central Luzon Region is known as the Rice Granary of the Philippines due to its wide farming lands, but now there are less and less of that land in sight. Instead of rice paddies, it has been turned into commercial space, malls, golf courses and residential subdivisions.
Well no one can really blame the developers, after all these malls and golf courses can prove to be profitable and good for tourism. The bad news is...rice has been compromised. Filipinos have to suffer to pay for higher price. And with the shortage of supply, how can average Filipinos consume a healthy meal?
The government must do something about the problem. It may not be a big issue now, but surely it will be if no one does something. Since Luzon is being transformed into a commercial hub, then Mindanao would be a good place to plant those rice. It would also help the people there. One congressman in Mindanao said there are more lands for rice planting in Agusan del Sur. But when asked what he is doing to develop more rice farms. He simply replied that's the problem of the national government not his.
The Agriculture Department said there is no rice crisis yet, but admits there is indeed a low supply of rice. The National Food Authority added there will be more rice this harvest season on summer. Rice problem might not seem as controversial as ZTE deal or Spratlys scandal, but it sure is worthy to be heard. After all, everyone, even from the highest post of the land to the lowest eats rice.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
return of the former
Pakistan and the Philippines, at first glance, has really nothing in common. Aside from the fact that both countries are tied together in an alphabetical list of countries of the world, nothing else would bind the 2 nations in any aspect. In fact, some Pakistanis may not have any idea there is such as the Philippines and some Filipinos might also have no information there is a Pakistan.
But what many people failed to see is that both countries are in a way experiencing identical political situations at the moment. This is somethink no one would think will be happenning in two countries so far apart.
Pakistan gained independence from the British in 1947 and from then had series of political instability. The Philippines, on the other hand, won their freedom from the Spaniards in 1898.. but was shortlived as they were again under foreign rule- under the United States.
In 1972, civilian rule was returned to Pakistan, but it was also in that year that martial rule was imposed in the Philippines. In the 1980's, the Philippines elected into power its first female president- Cory Aquino. In the same period, Pakistan voted their first female prime minister- Benazir Bhutto. Aquino is the wife of slained Senator Ninoy Aquino, while Bhutto is the daughter of slained former Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In recent times, Pakistan and the Philippines also experienced massive protests and political crisis. In 2001, Pervez Musharraf, who ousted elected Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, declared himself president. On that same year, Gloria Arroyo ousted elected Philippine President Joseph Estrada and was declared the new president. Both received praises from the world for being beacons of democracy.
But now the tides are against the 2 leaders. Both Arroyo and Musharraf seek re-election and won... allegedly. People in this countries protested against their leader's re-election bid. These 2 heads of state have also undergone various controversies and issues. Both are link to human rights violations. Musharraf arrested dissidents and once closed media networks. Arroyo, on the other hand, is linked to political killings, bribery and corruption.
Both Musharraf and Arroyo's parties won only a few seats in the recent elections. Musharraf's party was only 3rd place in Parliament, while Arroyo's party got only a few seats in the Senate. A sign that means both leaders are losing their touch on the people who helped place them into power.
Protests continue to mount in the 2 countries against the administration. Ousted Nawaz Sharif is calling to impeach Musharraf, while ousted Estrada is calling for Arroyo's resignation. The 2 former leaders are now the ones who is fighting the governemnt. These 2 leaders returned to the scene. They were ousted before, but are still loved by people. How irony unfolds in the world. Those who ousted leaders are now the ones being asked to step down.
No one knows yet how this will end or how the political similarities in both countries will stay the same. But one thing can be seen, the world of politics is just a game. Sometimes one is up, sometimes one is down. Politics should be a tool for growth and development of a nation, but sadly it has become a hindrance. The Pakistan-Philippine module is just an example of how the game of politics revolves. Many other countries might have similar situations too. In politics, the greed for power plays a role in every country, compromising the life of its citizens.
But what many people failed to see is that both countries are in a way experiencing identical political situations at the moment. This is somethink no one would think will be happenning in two countries so far apart.
Pakistan gained independence from the British in 1947 and from then had series of political instability. The Philippines, on the other hand, won their freedom from the Spaniards in 1898.. but was shortlived as they were again under foreign rule- under the United States.
In 1972, civilian rule was returned to Pakistan, but it was also in that year that martial rule was imposed in the Philippines. In the 1980's, the Philippines elected into power its first female president- Cory Aquino. In the same period, Pakistan voted their first female prime minister- Benazir Bhutto. Aquino is the wife of slained Senator Ninoy Aquino, while Bhutto is the daughter of slained former Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In recent times, Pakistan and the Philippines also experienced massive protests and political crisis. In 2001, Pervez Musharraf, who ousted elected Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, declared himself president. On that same year, Gloria Arroyo ousted elected Philippine President Joseph Estrada and was declared the new president. Both received praises from the world for being beacons of democracy.
But now the tides are against the 2 leaders. Both Arroyo and Musharraf seek re-election and won... allegedly. People in this countries protested against their leader's re-election bid. These 2 heads of state have also undergone various controversies and issues. Both are link to human rights violations. Musharraf arrested dissidents and once closed media networks. Arroyo, on the other hand, is linked to political killings, bribery and corruption.
Both Musharraf and Arroyo's parties won only a few seats in the recent elections. Musharraf's party was only 3rd place in Parliament, while Arroyo's party got only a few seats in the Senate. A sign that means both leaders are losing their touch on the people who helped place them into power.
Protests continue to mount in the 2 countries against the administration. Ousted Nawaz Sharif is calling to impeach Musharraf, while ousted Estrada is calling for Arroyo's resignation. The 2 former leaders are now the ones who is fighting the governemnt. These 2 leaders returned to the scene. They were ousted before, but are still loved by people. How irony unfolds in the world. Those who ousted leaders are now the ones being asked to step down.
No one knows yet how this will end or how the political similarities in both countries will stay the same. But one thing can be seen, the world of politics is just a game. Sometimes one is up, sometimes one is down. Politics should be a tool for growth and development of a nation, but sadly it has become a hindrance. The Pakistan-Philippine module is just an example of how the game of politics revolves. Many other countries might have similar situations too. In politics, the greed for power plays a role in every country, compromising the life of its citizens.
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