In Line with the World Anti-Counterfeiting day, I am dedicating this blog to the anti piracy campaign of our government. All my posts here in my blog are about corruption and you might wonder why I am blogging about piracy. Well, there is corruption involved in piracy! And that’s what I would include in today’s blog along with my opinion on the piracy issue. What is the role of corruption in the piracy business? Easy! Let me explain briefly. In order to get a pirated product, let’s say a DVD movie for example, a person must bribe or use illegal means to get a soft copy of the movie. The usual means is to bribe a person working on that production to get a soft copy which will then be sold to mass pirating “companies” to be sold to the markets or be uploaded the internet so that people can access it and download it via torrent or streaming websites. In the news today, there were pirated goods that are estimated to be worth P350 million were confiscated and destroyed at the Camp Crame Grandstand. It is questionable how pirated products that are said to be manufactured in other foreign countries can be shipped here in the Philippines without the government knowing it. Aren’t there a division in our government which deals with all incoming and outgoing containers? Don’t there have to be a waybill in every container or any shipment in that matter that will be shipped in and out of the country? Pirated DVDs, replica bags, shoes, and eyewear were confiscated by the Bureau of Customs, National Bureau of Investigation and the Optical Media Board and were destroyed by authorities, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines Director General Ricardo Blancaflor said. ‘High value’ goods like fake Louis Vuitton bags, Oakley shades, Lacoste shoes were among the items destroyed during the ceremony, he explained.“Anything that’s illegal, we’ll destroy,” declared Optical Media Board chairman Ronnie Ricketts. He also said the campaign against piracy and counterfeiting is on-going, also adding that the ranking of the Philippines in the US piracy watch-list has been downgraded. “It’s not yet off the watch-list, but our (Philippines) ranking has gone down,” The Philippines has been taken off the Out-of-cycle review of the US piracy watch-list. “Hopefully, by next year we will be off it,” said Blancaflor. Blancaflor said that it is sad reality to piracy and counterfeiting was the loss of livelihood for many Filipinos, comparing counterfeiting and piracy to identity theft. “It’s like when someone’s name is stolen. It’s unfair. (Because of piracy) artists lose their jobs… and counterfeit medicine poses health risks to people.” I also know that Piracy is bad, but how can I afford original DVDs? Im a big fan of asian telenovelas, be it drama, comedy, or action. I cannot buy original DVDs of those here in the Philippines because there’s no one selling it. So I had to give in and buy pirated DVDs. Also, like me, we believe that buying original DVDs is not practical since it costs too much and you will only see one movie. After watching it, you have nothing but a CD that has the movie you already watched. If they can lower the price of the DVDs and make more variety available, then I would gladly buy original than the pirated ones.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sex tourism
The prostitution industry in the Philippines is a national disgrace. It reflects rampant corruption. Even children are not safe from sexual exploitation. (Cullen, 2011)
The sex industry in the Philippines is growing, spreading all over the nation. Hotels, bars and clubs, and even supposedly empty warehouses serve as fronts. An estimated 1.2 million single male tourists arrive every year but Exactly how many of them buy sex services is unknown; this is an underground business, after all. What’s clear is, however, is that sex tourists exploit and removes the humanity of nation’s youth. Both women and young children, including males, are on offer for those ready to pay in pursuit of sexual indulgence.
Some sex clubs proudly advertise local mayors’ permits and licenses to operate. The purpose of showing it is to tell the “customers” that the girls are supposedly clean of sexually-transmitted diseases. Once, a club operator proudly told Father Shay Cullen (2011) that government-paid health workers come to the clubs to do the tests to ensure the customers that the girls do not carry sexually transmitted diseases that can infect the customers.
I am really disappointed with the health workers because they seem to have no concern that young women are being sold and that they are being exposed to physical and psychological harm. Evidence gathered by NGOs proves beyond a doubt that children as young as 14 can be purchased by private arrangement (Cullen, 2011). Father Shay Cullen (2011) states that sometimes the victims are only eleven years old. More or less one million children are brought into the sex trade every year worldwide according to UNICEF. The International Labour Organization (ILO) states the figure is more likely to 1.8 million. UNICEF estimates that as many as 60,000 minors are being exploited in the sex tourist business in the Philippines. NGOs believe the true figure is probably closer to 100,000.
The sex industry in the Philippines is growing, spreading all over the nation. Hotels, bars and clubs, and even supposedly empty warehouses serve as fronts. An estimated 1.2 million single male tourists arrive every year but Exactly how many of them buy sex services is unknown; this is an underground business, after all. What’s clear is, however, is that sex tourists exploit and removes the humanity of nation’s youth. Both women and young children, including males, are on offer for those ready to pay in pursuit of sexual indulgence.
Some sex clubs proudly advertise local mayors’ permits and licenses to operate. The purpose of showing it is to tell the “customers” that the girls are supposedly clean of sexually-transmitted diseases. Once, a club operator proudly told Father Shay Cullen (2011) that government-paid health workers come to the clubs to do the tests to ensure the customers that the girls do not carry sexually transmitted diseases that can infect the customers.
I am really disappointed with the health workers because they seem to have no concern that young women are being sold and that they are being exposed to physical and psychological harm. Evidence gathered by NGOs proves beyond a doubt that children as young as 14 can be purchased by private arrangement (Cullen, 2011). Father Shay Cullen (2011) states that sometimes the victims are only eleven years old. More or less one million children are brought into the sex trade every year worldwide according to UNICEF. The International Labour Organization (ILO) states the figure is more likely to 1.8 million. UNICEF estimates that as many as 60,000 minors are being exploited in the sex tourist business in the Philippines. NGOs believe the true figure is probably closer to 100,000.
I also heard about this on the radio where the radio jocks were discussing how an NGO with the collaboration of the police were able to stop an internet based sex business that is in Cebu city. The “business” involves letting minors (even children from age 11) be videoed, and the watchers in the internet will pay the “company” According to that report, there were different prices for each request. For example, If the customer wants to see a naked woman or child dancing, then he will pay, let’s say, $10. But if the customer wants more than just seeing them naked and dancing, the customer would have to pay more depending on how intense or how hard the request will be. When they went to the site, the operation was caught on the act with women and even children naked or actually doing their “work”. As I was hearing this, I was stunned. Then after a while, the radio jocks said that the women have permits, and that the children have their parents’ consent, which the representative of the “company” gladly presented to the police and NGO workers present. It was shocking to hear that there were parents who actually agreed that their child will be doing these kinds of things. It is so sad to hear that some parents would not care of their children’s minds will be corrupted for the sake of money.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Bilibid Prison/resort/hotel/lodging
Just a while ago while I was in my car going to school, I decided to tune in to an AM station. The two people were discussing the recent issue about the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) wherein there have been reports that some inmates that have a significant power in the society are given special treatments by providing them with better prison cells and better service than the others. During airtime of that radio segment, they decided to contact a police officer in the said prison. They began questioning the police officer if it was true that some were given better treatment than the others, then he said no everyone is treated the same in here. Then one of the radio hosts said that: “Pero ayon sa nakuha namin sa Failon Ngayon, eh may TV at DVD player sa kanyang selda?” (“but according to what we got from Failon Ngayon, there is a TV and a DVD player in his prison cell?”) (Failon Ngayon is a public service show, wherein Ted Failon is the host.) The police officer answered: “ay lahat naman po ng selda may TV at DVD player” (“oh, every prison cell has a TV and a DVD player”) I was in awe when I heard this. Why would a prison have these luxuries? A prison, for me, should be a place wherein people are afraid to be admitted to. In this case, maybe some would even prefer being in that prison instead of sleeping in the sidewalks. Wouldn’t that promote crime? The hosts of the radio show were flabbergasted; they asked the police officer one more time whether he understood the question and was he sure that he answered correctly. The police officer explained that: “donated po iyon nung Gloria administration” (“those were donated by the Gloria administration”) Once again, I was confused once more. Why would they do that? Instead of donating TV sets and DVD players, why not just fix the prison cells to ensure safety and good health of the prisoners because I heard (and I see on the news) that prison cells here in the Philippines are filthy. The hosts began to ask the police officer again whether it is true that there are prison cells that have air conditioners. The police officer, of course denied. Then one of the hosts said: “Pero may nababalita na meron daw talagang may special prison cell diyan, may aircon pa daw!?” (“but there have been reports that there realy are special prison cells that has air conditioning?!”) The police officer just denied it. For me, jails or prisons should not have these special treatments for VIPs. Or actually, all jails or prisons should not have luxuries like TV sets in every prison cells, DVD players, and such. Because they will not feel that they have done something wrong. They would not repent if they are “distracted” with those luxury items that are available and can be freely used by them. Although it may seem like I’m such a “kill-joy” person, it just seems to me that it is just right not to give them these luxuries because maybe they will think that there’s nothing wrong with being prisoned, it’s actually ok because I have a TV, aircon, and even a DVD player. Life’s good in here.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Corruption may be present in the military as well
According to former Army Capt. Rene Jarque, corruption is widespread in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He said that the AFP has its share of “usual” corrupt practices like commissions, kickbacks, overpricing, padding, substitution, rigged biddings, under-delivery and ghost delivery.
But the AFP is said to have a more sophisticated form of corruption called “conversion” Conversion is the process of converting the budget for military supplies into its cash equivalent by bypassing government accounting and auditing rules bye using false documentation.
Aside from the government, corruption in media also happens. Inday Espina-Varona, the chairperson of National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said that the definition of media corruption is manipulation of news for personal or corporate interests. According to her, corruption in the media is an open secret.
Luis Teodoro, Danilo Arao and Evelyn Katigbak conducted a study on the media’s coverage of corruption and it showed the weakness of selected print and TV media agencies in evaluating the roots of corruption. According to them, “this necessarily requires looking closely at the workings of government, understanding it, and conveying that information to the readers, viewers and listeners as a living expression of the necessarily oppositional and watchdog functions of the mass media in the Philippine setting.”
In the usual of occurrence of corruption, Tujan pushed for “people’s governance” as the antidote to corruption, a governance which he described as one that would “take the issue of equity as a preeminent concern, ensuring positive action or even a preeminent role for the poor, marginalized toiling masses and develop democratic governance from the perspective of the poor and marginalized.”
This is one reason why Filipinos today don’t know where to go to for help concerning the law. For example, I need to tell the police that I have seen a police officer, wearing their uniform, go into an adult club. In the Philippines, that is not allowed. If I approach the barangay, which for example is where police officer is currently designated, what if the other police officers I talk to are friends of that police officer that I want to report? Or what if they themselves do exactly the same? Would they really take note of my report and do something about it? Most probably, not. So who is the person most likely I’ll run to next? The media people. But then again, corruption also exists in the media. If I go to the wrong person, whom can be a friend of a politician or a person that may be affected by what I will report, will he or she publicize my report? Most probably, I may even be in greater danger than I was before because of the goes out that I am reporting about something bad about the police, other people may follow and then the image of our government will be affected negatively. Of course, our government does not want that. What will happen to me? Most probably, I will be targeted or be falsely charged with something I didn’t know existed. But that’s just my opinion. I don’t know whether I’ll survive the first encounter to whom I reported, It’s probable that by then I will be already assassinated.
But the AFP is said to have a more sophisticated form of corruption called “conversion” Conversion is the process of converting the budget for military supplies into its cash equivalent by bypassing government accounting and auditing rules bye using false documentation.
Aside from the government, corruption in media also happens. Inday Espina-Varona, the chairperson of National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said that the definition of media corruption is manipulation of news for personal or corporate interests. According to her, corruption in the media is an open secret.
Luis Teodoro, Danilo Arao and Evelyn Katigbak conducted a study on the media’s coverage of corruption and it showed the weakness of selected print and TV media agencies in evaluating the roots of corruption. According to them, “this necessarily requires looking closely at the workings of government, understanding it, and conveying that information to the readers, viewers and listeners as a living expression of the necessarily oppositional and watchdog functions of the mass media in the Philippine setting.”
In the usual of occurrence of corruption, Tujan pushed for “people’s governance” as the antidote to corruption, a governance which he described as one that would “take the issue of equity as a preeminent concern, ensuring positive action or even a preeminent role for the poor, marginalized toiling masses and develop democratic governance from the perspective of the poor and marginalized.”
This is one reason why Filipinos today don’t know where to go to for help concerning the law. For example, I need to tell the police that I have seen a police officer, wearing their uniform, go into an adult club. In the Philippines, that is not allowed. If I approach the barangay, which for example is where police officer is currently designated, what if the other police officers I talk to are friends of that police officer that I want to report? Or what if they themselves do exactly the same? Would they really take note of my report and do something about it? Most probably, not. So who is the person most likely I’ll run to next? The media people. But then again, corruption also exists in the media. If I go to the wrong person, whom can be a friend of a politician or a person that may be affected by what I will report, will he or she publicize my report? Most probably, I may even be in greater danger than I was before because of the goes out that I am reporting about something bad about the police, other people may follow and then the image of our government will be affected negatively. Of course, our government does not want that. What will happen to me? Most probably, I will be targeted or be falsely charged with something I didn’t know existed. But that’s just my opinion. I don’t know whether I’ll survive the first encounter to whom I reported, It’s probable that by then I will be already assassinated.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Corruption is widespread
What do cellular phones and corruption have in common? Both have become abundant and part of the Filipino lives.
The commonness of corruption has come to a point where selected government positions are seen as quick tickets to massive fortune. For example, employment at the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is perceived as an opportunity not to serve the people but to gather wealth. But the Question is, why is such thing happening? Do the higher officials simply neglect to investigate on these “common” actions? Such public impressions are based not only on occasional news about government inconsistencies but also several studies that have identified various government agencies as havens of corruption. Though, it is not just confined to the public sector but is also evident in the private sector. The frequency of corruption in the country was highlighted at the National Study Conference on Corruption (NSSC) on January 14 and 15 2005 at the University of the Philippines College of Social Work and Community Development (UP CSWCD). That corruption is everywhere has been proven by the session and workshop papers that analyzed corruption in various sectors of public and private life. One of the speakers, said “The prevalence of corruption...implies that corruption is not simply an individual act but is a phenomenon that is systemic...and defined by particular social relations in the realm of ethics and culture, politics and economy in each society as well.”
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Can Media Corrupt A Child's Mind?
A recent study showed that kids who are allowed to watch R-rated movies are a lot more likely to start drinking at younger ages. The researchers surveyed middle school kids, asking them whether their parents let them watch R-rated movies or not, then surveyed the same kids again two years later and asked if they have started drinking yet. According to the study, Only 3 percent of kids who were never allowed to watch R-rated movies drank, compared to a whopping 25 percent of kids who were allowed to watch R-rated movies all the time.
One of the researchers said the data suggests that it's the R-rated movies themselves that lead kids to drink: "seeing the adult content, which includes smoking, drinking, sex, etc., actually changes their personality."
What it says to me is that, for better or worse, kids with more lenient parents end up drinking sooner than kids with more strict parents. But I wonder about those kids who aren't actually allowed to watch R-rated movies, but can figure out how to watch them anyway. Which are probably kids from ages 10-14, especially the ones with HBO, Star movies and the likes. Do they get into even worse stuff than the kids whose parents let them watch some R-rated movies and maybe let them have a little alchohol at special events? What are those sly kids doing by the time they get to 9th grade? Snorting drugs and watching porn films?
Using myself as an example, I thought back to the first R-rated movie I ever saw. My first experiences were all horror movies because my older cousins tend to like the thrill of watching horror films even though we were not allowed to. I watched Final Destination at age 9 with my cousins at their house. Their ages at that time ranges from 9 to 13. None of our parents knew their kids were watching it. It was a pretty scary and a one of-a-kind viewing experience (as I thought at that time), considering I was in a roomful of preteens at their house watching a movie about teens getting killed in a theme park. I ended up stunned at what I have seen in that time because I was a fan of theme parks when I was young. But after seeing that movie, I had a different perception on theme parks.
Then after that, my cousins and I dared each other to watch another one- which was The Ring. At that time I think I was already 11 years old. The movie was even scarier than the first horror movie I ever watched and it made me cry while watching the movie! First, theme parks were taken from me because of the story of final destination, and then now, I cannot watch television because someone might pop out of it?! At that time, I regretted watching those because I cannot go back to my usual happy life wherein I watch TV all day and go to theme parks and enjoy my time there.
Even though my parents didn't actually give me permission to watch any of these movies, they definitely let me drink a little bit at family reunions since my relatives always hires a bartender whenever we have a reunion. My relatives are fond of drinking so they give me “juice” which apparently, has been spiked by either vodka or rum. Of course, my family was not able to forbid me to drink it because they respect their elders. I wonder what happens to kids who watch higher quality R-rated movies than I saw? If they watch, for example, American pie will they really go drinking at a young age or even have sex before marriage? Is it really possible for media (movies) to corrupt a child’s mind?
What was your first R-rated movie? Did it corrupt you?
One of the researchers said the data suggests that it's the R-rated movies themselves that lead kids to drink: "seeing the adult content, which includes smoking, drinking, sex, etc., actually changes their personality."
What it says to me is that, for better or worse, kids with more lenient parents end up drinking sooner than kids with more strict parents. But I wonder about those kids who aren't actually allowed to watch R-rated movies, but can figure out how to watch them anyway. Which are probably kids from ages 10-14, especially the ones with HBO, Star movies and the likes. Do they get into even worse stuff than the kids whose parents let them watch some R-rated movies and maybe let them have a little alchohol at special events? What are those sly kids doing by the time they get to 9th grade? Snorting drugs and watching porn films?
Using myself as an example, I thought back to the first R-rated movie I ever saw. My first experiences were all horror movies because my older cousins tend to like the thrill of watching horror films even though we were not allowed to. I watched Final Destination at age 9 with my cousins at their house. Their ages at that time ranges from 9 to 13. None of our parents knew their kids were watching it. It was a pretty scary and a one of-a-kind viewing experience (as I thought at that time), considering I was in a roomful of preteens at their house watching a movie about teens getting killed in a theme park. I ended up stunned at what I have seen in that time because I was a fan of theme parks when I was young. But after seeing that movie, I had a different perception on theme parks.
Then after that, my cousins and I dared each other to watch another one- which was The Ring. At that time I think I was already 11 years old. The movie was even scarier than the first horror movie I ever watched and it made me cry while watching the movie! First, theme parks were taken from me because of the story of final destination, and then now, I cannot watch television because someone might pop out of it?! At that time, I regretted watching those because I cannot go back to my usual happy life wherein I watch TV all day and go to theme parks and enjoy my time there.
Even though my parents didn't actually give me permission to watch any of these movies, they definitely let me drink a little bit at family reunions since my relatives always hires a bartender whenever we have a reunion. My relatives are fond of drinking so they give me “juice” which apparently, has been spiked by either vodka or rum. Of course, my family was not able to forbid me to drink it because they respect their elders. I wonder what happens to kids who watch higher quality R-rated movies than I saw? If they watch, for example, American pie will they really go drinking at a young age or even have sex before marriage? Is it really possible for media (movies) to corrupt a child’s mind?
What was your first R-rated movie? Did it corrupt you?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Corruption in the Philippines is on its massive stage
Corruption in the Philippines is on its massive stage, it can be pointed out whenever, wherever but who’s to blame? Our government? The church? The people? Or all the choices mentioned? Well corruption is part of our daily lives, everywhere we go in the streets of Manila or even in provinces it is present. Everything we encounter has a glimpse of the most contagious and deadliest disease that we Filipinos are trying to struggle with. Political corruption is the most evident nowadays. There are numerous vulgar cases of corruption that is just scattered around the corner. Well, are you familiar with P728 Fertilizer Fund Scam, Hello Garci scandal, AFP scandal, and NBN-ZTE scandal? These are just some of the most controversial expose in the history of political corruption. How about these names? Heidi Mendoza, Jun Lozada, Lt. Col George Rabusa? These people became an instant hero after proclaiming corruption within their environment. They became famous and called whistleblowers. What I want to point out is that there are various issues of political corruption and we can do nothing about it. Is it right to say that we are bring bribed by these people in power to serve as their tool in attainting what they want to achieve? Well most likely and no doubt the answer is yes as a crystal clear. Where can you find a President that was found guilty because of plunder? Only in the Philippines. Where can you a find a President that was found guilty in manipulating ballot counts? Only in the Philippines. Where can you find a person shot in the airport because of fighting against independence? Only in the Philippines. Only and exclusive in the Philippines that’s why foreigners and citizens as well labeled Philippines who have the most corrupt leadership and economy. Corruption in the Philippines dominated the news and there comes a point that the church is being questioned. The Church has a mission to lead the people in the upright and humane way of living but how come that corruption is still present? Can we blame Church for this? Should the Church intervene with the decisions in the Malacanang? Or should it simply guide the Catholics with the right path of life? Whether guided or not people should prevent themselves from being corrupted. Isn’t funny how people treat whistleblower as heroes after their expose and the officials involved are the villain? But it stopped there, the situation normalize after several mind manipulating and brain washing, worse bribery. People are very flexible when it comes to money. Sometimes, they forget about everything just to earn money and eat three times a day, that’s how sick and pitiful our situation here. If only we can realize that we are the biggest loser in this fight, we should work hand in hand to stop graft and corruption in the country. Corruption is a serious obstacle that every “Juan” should face, this is a contagious threat to our society and culture that should be cured right now before it can kill us in no time.
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