Kalam is a public service documentary by a Philippine television network GMA. The episode discussed the rice shortage facing the world and especially the Philippines. The show was very thorough in discussing the causes and possible outcome of the crisis facing the world today. I will discuss and give my two cents on some of the issues.
A few years ago, Philippines was one of the top exporters of rice, but now it has become the number one importer of rice. The Philippines import rice from the world’s number one importer of rice, Thailand. However, since the demand for rice has gone up in the last couple of years, Thailand imposed an export ban on rice. The Philippines had to find a solution and imported from neighboring nations like Cambodia and Vietnam. Both countries imposed export ban on rice also which was later on lifted.
Why would these nations ban the export of rice when they should be happy because their export could rise due to a high demand? Let’s talk economics. The basic concept in economics is that as demand goes up, supply goes down and vice-versa. As far as I know, rice production is quite limited because there can only at most three harvests annually (I’m exaggerating my number for a best case scenario). Rice production is not like any other production where you can simply increase your resources so that production increases. Many factors play roles in rice plantation. So if the production is fixed, the supply is closed to being constant. If the demand for rice increases, the balance is affected, therefore if the country keeps exporting to satisfy the demand overseas, the price of rice locally will rise. A proper nation, unlike the Philippines, would halt the export of rice and feed their own people by keeping the affordable price. That is why they ban, but the Philippines will not do this and will treat this crisis as an opportunity to increase the nation’s export (hypothetically speaking if the country was an exporter of rice). Such is our character.
How did Philippines become an importer, rather than an exporter of such valuable commodity? Corruption and negligence.
Political corruption affects the pre-production of rice. Kalam claims that we are the only farming nation that still uses manual labor to produce rice. Most nations use tractors from preparation to harvest. We use carabaos and sickles. Since rice is the most important commodity for Filipinos, agriculture should be the main concern of the officials that are currently enjoying their grafted incomes. There is least support from the government for the agrarian reform. The government should be providing our farmers new technology and not let themselves work out how to produce such technologies because most farmers aren’t millionaires. Quoting an expert from the show, “we lack industrial strategy.”
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is an institution that studies how to grow rice properly and all kinds of research on improving the productivity of rice, quality of rice, etc. The institute is located close to the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna. Farmers from the leading rice exporting nation learn how to properly grow their rice from this institute. Filipino farmers learn or rather weren’t taught the knowledge learned from the institute. It’s located in our backyard and we get nothing from it. What does that make us? I have been agitated by our lack of awakening. Our lack of self sufficiency. We have all the resources that other nation would die for and all we do is look at it. We would sensationalize our scientists if they win prestigious award from overseas from discovering such and such. What we really are doing is asking for the world’s approval. It is very sickening! I don’t give a damn if a Filipino win the freakin’ Miss World or has won four WBC belts. Stop sensationalizing ourselves within the international masses and let us sensationalize ourselves from within our nation. Apply those achievements to improve the country’s current pathetic state. Let us not compete with each by proving that we can excel abroad and other Filipinos can’t.
July 14th, 2008
According to the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) Factbook, the Philippines has plenty of timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, and copper. I will concentrate on the first two.
Timber surplus caused the destruction of several towns in the recent years. I’m defining timber as logged trees. If the forests are bald, then there wouldn’t be anything to resist the strong winds and absorb pouring rain during nature’s annual wrathful visit to the country. We need our rainforests healthy and green. If the rainforests aren’t healthy, flooding, and erosions that causes landslides will always occur during typhoons.
Petroleum is gasoline in it’s pure, unrefined form. Why do we import when we have abundant supply. WORLD POLITICS!!! ‘Nuff said.
Apparently, we have plenty of resources and each social studies class (taught in the Philippines) would tell you that we never use them properly to our own advantage, but to the advantage of foreigners.
July 7th, 2008
Readiness and Disaster Management are the recent issues in the Philippines. PAGASA claims that there was a breakdown in the structural aspect of their readiness program during typhoon Frank. There is no such thing as readiness. Nature is uncontrolled that’s why most of us thrive to be unnatural. The only thing a forecast can do is minimize casualties; it’s not a prevention. I guess it’s a readiness to be killed for the dead. I’m a huge fan of the natural and I missed one good nature loving during the typhoon. I miss the days back home when we encounter annual typhoon visits. It’s exhilarating. Now most of you will definitely say that it’s insensitive of me to be thinking that way after many people lost their lives. Sorry to disappoint you, but that’s what we call “natural death”. Sooner or later you’ll die, so why not give your life to something that gave and is giving you life and not to some illness caused by the artificial or ambitions. I want to die with nature’s help or during my sleep. That way there’s nobody to blame for my death.
Disaster Management — I’ve nothing on this one. I don’t have the luxury to think about helping the victims. If it was me, I’d look at this as a rebirth and reset my life. I would disappear and live life anew. I’ve been waiting for something like this to happen to me; especially when I’m traveling by plane. I always wish my plane crashes in an inhabited island so that if I survived, I’d live in solitude. Did I just digress?
June 30th, 2008
A pure democratic state is defined to be a state of the people, for the people, and by the people. Obviously, this form of government is inexistent therefore I’m not talking government politics in this entry. I’m speaking of Pinoy Idol (Philippines’ installation of “… Idol” reality show). This kind of contest shouldn’t be allowed in a country where text messaging is a way of life, not a necessity. “… Idol” is a singing contest where the winner is decided by the masses. I am not saying that voting in an installation like the American Idol has a 1-1 vote/person ratio, but the sampling is closer to the actual number. In the Philippines, one out of five texter could (a hypothesis) vote at least 100 times for his contestant and that clearly manipulates the curve which then yields a non-democratic politics. What’s worst is that (again I’m hypothesizing) the multi-voting texter does not know about the talent. However, that doesn’t matter because as far as the show is concerned, they are just counting the number of text votes.
Why am I getting so hyped up about this? I have been hyped up about this, but I’m only writing about this now. Last night, the viewers eliminated deserving candidates and kept mediocre talents. The judges even agreed with my thoughts. I know that one of them will eventually win, but if the deserving candidates are not permitted to compete (because they were kicked out) then what’s the using of discovering new talents. The viewers who care about a talent are left frustrated because the majority of viewers who don’t know what a talent is voted out the talented ones. Eventually, the show will have talents that aren’t up to par. The show must start rigging the votes. It’s nothing new in the Philippines anyway.
I’m done criticizing the system, now it’s time to criticize some contestants…
Sue Ellen - you’re a trying hard fashionista. If it doesn’t suit you however trendy the dress is, don’t wear it. I’m begging you in the name of all Ilonggos.
JJ - You should have been sacked this week, but I guess you’re too pretty for that.
Jeni - Excellent performance this week, but I’m worried you’re only restricted to a genre. If ever you’re voted out, make a jazz album and make sure to write your original music.
Ram - You have to be original, but keep rocking! I hope you win the shit.
Topher - Nice voice, but work on the image.
Warren - Be original; love the voice.
Obviously, I don’t pay attention to the girls. I want the contestants to ROCK and the boys are the only ones capable of doing that in the current season. I can’t sing, but I yap a lot, don’t I? Get used to it!
June 9th, 2008
Before leaving for work, I saw on 24 Oras a report about the couple physicians from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. Dr. Pearle Tecson Pagunsan and wife Dr. Hazel Chua Pagunsan are serving their community instead of going abroad for better wages. The Pagunsans said that there are opportunities of going abroad promising better life that’s been coming their way, but they chose to stay in Binalbagan and serve their countrymen. These are the models every Filipino should look up to and follow.
Dr. Hazel Pagunsan said that weighing the needs and and love for the work, they both chose the joy in working to help the townspeople of Binalbagan over enslaving themselves overseas for better wages. If every Filipino professional has this mindset, then the Philippines would be one step towards the betterment of the country.
I sound hypocritical given I’m overseas, don’t I? I was fourteen when I migrated to the US. A step that I’ve protested from the beginning. I never wanted to come here, but I had no choice. It was a family choice. Then what am I still doing here now that I’ve grown to have my own decision? I plan to return to the Philippines in the near future. I’m just saving for a fresh start. I don’t exactly have anything if I came back, do I? I’m being patient and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I may not be bright enough to offer something for the nation, but I would be one man back.
The Pagunsans are selfless, why would someone like me who is selfish appreciate the act. To me though selfishness boils down to oneself, it does have a layer. Here, I am speaking of national selfishness where the layer is the choice of group. I’m being selfish for the group I belong to. I’m inherently contained in the group and I’m being selfish to achieve my own goals by making sure the group is successful.
What troubles me, though, is that the Pagunsans are also nurses. They took and finished nursing recently. That means they thought or still have thoughts of living the country and nursing foreigners abroad. We’ll see.
June 6th, 2008
In the past few years, I haven’t paid attention on prime time TV. Most shows are reality contests that it’s frustrating to watch them. I guess there is a shortage of witty writers nowadays. Well, I think I’ll have to join the bandwagon. Last night I watched an episode of “Last Comic Standing” and I want to follow the season without missing the future episodes. The comedians last night were witty and flat out hilarious. I have three comics under my radar already. I will write more about them when they reach the finals in a few weeks.
I’m a sucker for comedy — especially stand-up comedy. I give all the props to these guys because it’s not easy to be funny. You have to be smart and confident to deliver your piece. I used to follow the late night shows (all four), MadTV and SNL, but I lost interest when they started playing re-runs and shit. I also had no time.
I’d like to go to a comedy bar one of these days. I’d invite my colleagues again, that should be fun. We seem to like comedy. When I was in college, we always had people come in class selling cheap tickets to comedy bars. I wanted to go, but didn’t have anyone to come with me. People at home are too boring ad uninterested in stuff like that. I once went to a comedy bar in the Philippines (Klowns) with my aunt and cousins. They are all gay jokes and it’s just plain stupid. The only jokes Filipinos know are gay jokes. Not at all funny once you hear them over and over again.
Last night I watched Carlos Mencia on YouTube. The guy is fucking hilarious. He was bashing Caucasians and Asians mostly — goddamn Mexican. Racial jokes are fun. I think people should be open about it. Many get offended though because comedy is a medium of truth that hurts. It ain’t funny if it doesn’t hurt I guess.
So I’ll be checking on “Last Comic Standing” every week from now on. I won’t vote. I’ll just enjoy the show. Also, I really miss the “Superstar” show. I hope they return the show this summer.
Oh, my latest favorite song is “Motorcycle Emptiness” by the Manics. I enjoy the guitars in this song. I’m listening to it now as I close this entry.
May 23rd, 2008
If you want to know more about the officials representing your town, province, region, or the Philippines, there is a site that has a database of all information from personal to how much money they have on the bank (declared of course). Grafted incomes are not included I’m pretty sure. At least the site will tell you if they are honest enough, can they still live a lavish life?
The site is called Eye Site — The information site on Philippine politics and government.
May 18th, 2008
Next Posts
Previous Posts
