Health and Governance

Unhealthy people should not hold public office.

I am writing on the premise that I actually believe the “He is sick, hasn’t been feeling well since this morning so he had to go home this afternoon” excuse by a local government official which resulted to the postponement of our meeting this afternoon. To be honest, my problem with the excuse is, it has been used to me a couple of times already late last year. I have not stayed a year in the city and I’ve already gotten the “sick excuse” of “Mr. Honorable” for three times now. And so now, If I am to accept that that excuse is true then I should be allowed to express my opinion that – unhealthy people, sickly individuals should not hold public office.

As I have worked myself in the government (no was never an official, heck I was even called “Non-Regular” doing more than Regular employees work – read average of 15hrs/day of work! And don’t even get me started on the overnight at the workplace without OT pay), we were often told that as government employees, we were also considered “public servants.” Because much of the Filipino population has grown cynic of our government (raise your hands if you have been), as “public servants” we were to carry ourselves with utmost professionalism and also carry the responsibility of being public servants even outside the official working hours.

I say to you cynics (myself included still, don’t worry) there are a good number of government employees who are more than professional – do so much work outside the office and get much pressure even before and after the regular 8-5 work hours. They live up to being Public SLAVES – Hell I speak of people going to work with physical, conspicuous wounds on their faces, of finishing “million dollars worth” reports while literally vomiting every couple of hours because of illness and of employees coughing their lungs out because of over fatigue (Friends, you know who you are. hihihi).

Anyway, back to my original point – if this being “public servant” is expected from simple government employees then it should be DEMANDED from elected public officials. Their position should be a 24/7 job, not an excuse not to go to work during regular work hours.

(ganito ba ang “super” public servant mo? ganito ba ang mga advice niya?)

Stop the Prestige!

Seriously, if we fully and truly want our Mayors, Vice Mayors, Councilors, etc to be full on PUBLIC SERVANTS we should be demanding enough to remind them that there is no Glamour in public service. They should be reachable during unholy hours even if it means they don’t get enough sleep during the entire duration of their elected position. Kaya nga SERVANTS di  ba?

(Note: I am not trying to be super mean below ha, nor do I mean to be offensive, totohanan lang)

If we are to ask 10 random people to describe a servant/alipin I’m sure they will NOT include these:

> Has a nice, bullet proof car

> Has bodyguards

> Smells like an expensive perfume

> Eats at expensive restaurants

> Goes to work only during the time s/he wants to.

Instead, they will probably say:

1. Madalas, Mukhang Mabaho or Gusgusin

2. Amoy pawis o Amoy araw

3. Wala laging bagong damit

4. Walang choice kung kelan magpapahinga

5. At handang sumunod sa utos ng kanyang amo 24 hours.

Di ba? Di ba? Yan ang servant.  At dahil 24 oras nga dapat ang serbisyo – BAWAL MAGKASAKIT!

New Qualifications

Sa susunod na boboto ng Local Government Official, I think voters – especially in this city – should look into the following qualifications too

1. May history ba sya ng Asthma, Rhinitis, Amoebiasis (o Heart Disease). O kahit anong  sakit na maaring magrecur lagi?

2. Kamusta ang pisikal nyang pangangatawan? Di naman kailangan Zanjoe Marudo/Piolo Pascual abs or Derek Ramsay body, pero mahirap na ang masyadong malaki na medyo may edad na. Ibig sabihin nyan prone to diseases at kailangan ng maraming pagkain. Ikaw ba gusto mo ng alipin na matakaw?

3. Ano ang track record nya ng absences sa dati nyang trabaho or nung nag-aaral pa sya? Kasi malamang, ganyan din ang magiging record nya sa opisina. Gusto mo ba talaga ng laging absent na Mayor? (Ako, hindi!)

4. Marami ba syang masyadong kaibigan? Kung oo, wag yan. Gusto mo ba o ng nanay mo ng aliping mabarkada? Di ba hindi, kasi lalabas yan lagi, mag iiba ang priorities, “lalandi” kumbaga. At ayaw na ayaw natin ng Malanding Public Servant dahil ang kakambal ng landi at libog – SCANDALS

Anyway.. di ko na alam pano tapusin ang aking inis. Basta uulitin ko lang :

1) May direct relationship ang Health to Government Officials; 2) Ang tunay na Public Servant mala-Superhuman – di kailangan ng mahabang pahinga at di nagkakasakit! Dahil ang problema ng “public” di din nagpapahinga at “di din nagkakasakit”.

WHEN IN PUBLIC: In the Mall

Here’s the “mall” version of previous write up, when in public. Just a few observations…

1. If you are not Kuya Kim, please do not wear his hat, especially not in the mall. Because seriously, why would anyone wear a hat like that while s/he shops? Matanglawin, great-outdoor shoot ba ito? To be honest, di ko nga feel ang hat ni Kuya Kim sa kanya, sayo pa kaya? But thanks for giving me laugh!

2. Don’t be Shy!

Wag ka ng mahiyang ipakita sa mga tao na first time mo sa isang International Brand store. If you are going to have your picture taken in front of the store using your phone, don’t rush your friend to take it. Huwag ka ding magtatatakbo habang kinukunan ka ng picture, mas tawag pansin yun. Ayan, because you were running, you have to take the picture again and again. Don’t be shy, Ok lang yan! Madami ding first time dun, nagpapanggap lang na di excited o kaya walang kasama na pwedeng magpicture sa kanya so keri lang yan. Rampa!

3. Huwag Kayong “Judger”

a. Just because I’m using an iPhone it doesn’t mean I’m out to buy your entire store (or buy anything in your store). Truthfully, I’m waiting for a friend and your “posh, most of the time overpriced store” seemed safe and empty enough to bring out my phone and check if I got a text. So stop shoving things in my face and things I really can’t afford right now. It depresses me that I can’t purchase it.

Aaminin ko din, minsan gusto ko lang ang AMOY ng tindahan niyo, parang “opium” sya for me. Don’t you just love the smell of Marks and Spencer and Mango in comparison to amoy pulbo BAYO and Kamiseta stores? And don’t get me started on the smell of real leather bags and shoestores – happiness.

(For the Record: I took this Photo on top of a building in Hackney, London. :p – yabang! echos!)

b. Just because nakapang-Field Work, galing sa bukid (kasi galing naman talaga akong bukid, hahahah) look ako, it doesn’t mean I can’t afford. Tsura!

Nakita mo ang malaking “catcha” bag ko, I have it not because I don’t have any other bag – I’m minimizing my use of plastic pero marami ng laman itong bag ko noh. Sige sundan, sundan mo pa ako na parang magnanakaw o kaya wag mong pansinin ang tanong ko na magkano ito at kahit na may gusto ako sa tindahan niyo ay di ako bibili ng kahit ano. You don’t have to fold the clothes I touched as if I have filthy hands – for your information may unlimited supply ako ng hand sanitizer. Echosera! :p

Besides, huwag mag judge ng galing sa bukid dahil baka sila Haciendera o Ranchera (but yes in my case, wala akong lupain, hahaha). And think of it this way, a person deprived of a real mall has the tendency to be an impulsive buyer so that might resort to bigger sales for you. Trust me, a person who hasn’t seen a proper/real mall for about a month can spend a couple of thousand pesos in less than an hour. (guilty!?… then she feels bad after and realizes her stupid, unnecessary purchases. hahaha)

3.Stop Staring at Me

Why do people do that a lot? Like stare at people who are on their own and sometimes even do the “head to foot” look? That is sooooo rude!

Wala naman akong dumi sa mukha at di naman bukas ang zipper ko. Alam ko napagkamalan akong actress at model ilang beses sa buhay ko (di ako FEELINGERA, pramis, ilang beses pa nangyari. It’s not my fault!), pero tanggap ko namang baka kulang lang sa tulog ang mga taong yun or that I’m the 15lbs heavier version of those people. So your stares are unnecessary and impolite.

WHEN IN PUBLIC:In the Bus

When alone, one is able to observe more.  Personally, I admit that what I normally observe are the things that annoy me. Admit it, you do too. We also often notice things that make us laugh and make us wish we were with a friend so we can have someone to laugh with (because if we laugh out loud ourselves we will look crazy&be someone else’s source of laughter).

Shall we begin with the annoying things?

In the Bus

The bus is a public, enclosed vehicle. People generally hear one another especially when the supposed free TV is not working. So when you are with other people for 2 hours or more, you can’t help but notice..

#1. The Cellphone Attached Passenger

I am not interested in your conversation with your friend over the phone. Unless you are talking to a very powerful person or about a very juicy story of adultery or crime, I really don’t want to eavesdrop. So please refrain from speaking too loudly when you are:

a.) Too happy or excited about your trip (to Camiguin, mang-inggit?!!). Your laughter is not contagious, it’s too loud. Since we don’t get the whole conversation, your laughing loud borders on being crazy.

b.) You are using your fake American Accent. Especially when you only use and repeat same words/phrases in the next 5 minutes. I would believe your accent if you had a rich/er vocabulary.

c.) Lying. The bus just left Malaybalay so don’t tell the person on the other line – “Malapit na ako.” Cagayan de Oro is 2 hours away at hindi yun malapit! Worst, please don’t give them false expectations by telling them a place that is actually near to Cagayan but that we are not there yet – “Fortich na kami (45 mins away on a good day)” I am only refraining myself from grabbing your phone and screaming – “No, kakaalis lang namin ng Malaybalay. Sinungaling sya!” You Liar!

And again since the bus is an enclosed space

#2. Hygiene and Sensitivity People

Please cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Wag ka naman magspread ng virus, some people are traveling to and for work. And nakakadiri din kasi.

Even in public places there is such a thing as personal space

#3. Creepy seatmate

No seatmate, I do not talk to strangers.

Get a clue, my eyes are closed, I have my earphones on and the jacket of my hood is up. Or in the morning, can’t you see I’m wearing sunglasses to avoid eye contact and more importantly because I cannot be bothered or disturbed. So stop asking, “Getting to Know You Questions,” hello nasa seminar ba tayo?

A louder “No!” I do not give my personal information (course, school and most especially where I live) to people I sit beside with in the bus. Ano ka hilo? Paano kung serial killer ka? Just because we have the same destination (sana di ba kasi kundi isa satin mali at dapat na siyang bumaba at lumipat ng bus) doesn’t mean we have friends in common. In case you forgot, we are going to one of the largest cities in the WORLD so there is a bigger possibility that my life can and will go on without knowing you.

#4 Damaged Eardrums

Seatmate, I am not into trance or hiphop music, especially not when I’m on a public bus. I do not need you to share your music, thank you, because as you can see I have mine on too. Somehow though I still hear your music, which makes me worry about your eardrums. So stop pretending that you can sleep with such loud music and turn the volume down.

(For the record, I am a pro-active passenger so I did tell off Mr. Feeling Close. I told him I cannot be bothered and that I am now going to sleep. I also told Music Guy to turn the volume down. The others were quite far from me so I couldn’t really talk to them.)

Since I had to stand most of the way back to Malaybalay last night, I need to add this one on the list

#5 Hygiene and Sensitivity (again and this time its more imperative)

It’s a very full, people standing air-conditioned trip and you have B.O. problems: Self-awareness is the key here, I’m sure you can smell yourself. So please refrain from raising your hands and holding on to the leverage on top near the air-conditioning. Manong. Haven’t you noticed all of us around you have been covering and/or rubbing our noses in disgust? I even conspicuously massaged my forehead for you to see that you have given me a serious headache because of how you smell.

Thank God you finally were able to find a seat about 20minutes after. You take it manong, I will remain standing as long as you are seated far away from me.

On Good News

#6 “The Driver”

Thank you for making the trip quite bearable. How witty and kind were you manong when you asked who the owners were of the big bags near your clutch? You didn’t scream or smirked at anyone, you just said – “Igalaw natin konti ha para makaalis na tayo at makachange gear ako mamya. Kundi abutin tayo ng 8 hours.” And a couple times, you offered to swap places with us who were standing. “Oh sige, ikaw dito ‘Miga, ako tatayo kung pagod ka na.”

Really you were not that funny, but you tried to make our burden lighter and you got me to my destination safe and well. For that you deserve to be mentioned here. 🙂

Hello there “Beaches”

There’s a new bitch/beech/beach in town. But really, I’m just a semi-bitch, I promise.

May mga panahon lang talaga na kailangan ipaalam sa iba ang iyong inis, galit at pagkatuwa sa mga bagay-bagay. Para may sense of release, para masaya ang buhay. Hindi kailangan masyadong seryosohin(Kaya nga Bitchosera – kasi ECHOS lang ang iba), but if it’s an advice that hits you in the right spot, you can opt to think about it and take it. 🙂

Do you also need to bring out your inner biatch? I can post your issues for you, that is if we are friends and you actually know where to email me. You are one lucky person if we are.

Until my first REAL post!

Cheers!