North Korea provokes war against South Korea, a dangerous game undertaking

The recent salvo of encounter between the two Koreas has brought its entire neighboring nations a point of contemplation. This small nuclear-armed nation can wage war whenever he wants considering that it has in its hands the trigger of nuclear holocaust in Asia.
This show of force is unprecedented since 1953 when both signed an Armistice Agreement which would virtually end hostilities between the two. However, such agreement could not possibly sustain with the aggressive posture of the North.
By being silent about this impending global crisis would certainly espouse the more danger that it can bring throughout Asia. This concern has long been expected by many countries especially the United States who is more determined to defend its ally and put pressure on the North expectedly that it would yield to its own condition.
I should say that this small communist state can stimulate a nightmarish experience that would send every Asian country into the verge of war. Although now that China preferred to let go the whims of its ally, this could certainly affect its own security undertaking. What is feared is the tremendous effect of such provocative action to the overall economic performance when all the other nations trading with China would have that certain pinch and decided to withdraw all its financial trade interests and bring them out to somewhere else.
Admittedly, China is economically considered as a giant. And it has history that it can survive using the least means that it can raise out of its own resources. Nevertheless China yesterday is different that what it should undertake today. This giant needs to stage its own brand of peaceful undertaking that would encourage others to follow suit. If it would not heed to the call of condemning the recent attack of its ally, it would just have to open a new ‘padora box’ that reveals its real means allowing North Korea undertake such dangerous act, to the detriment of all diplomatic initiatives that other countries have been trying to extract.
I believe that North Korea is now becoming a ‘recalcitrant violator’ of world’s peaceful means in diplomacy. Many believed that this would be the dawn of stunted showcase that will cement the impending transfer of power from Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un, the apparent heir; and it just made South Korea’s open military cooperation with the United States as an apparent scapegoat to stage such abominable attack on the South, marking such event of power transfer.
On the other hand, we can perceive this latest North Korean atrocity as  the signification for its wild intention of eventually challenging the United States and its allies. Nobody yet knows what really is the real intention; but many believes that aside from the recent sanction impose on North Korea because of the sinking of a South Korean war ship in March, Nokor has come to its senses that it would be better to provoke a war to air their complaint and make use of the South Korea’s military drill a scapegoat for such an attack. It is as if a wild scenario to make it known to the world that they have this courage of endowing its own people of believing that they are that strong against their enemies.
Another point to ponder is the continued financial crisis that beset giant economy except China. With the recent war provocation, it would certainly bring out a message to all parts of the world that such kind of economic constriction on North Korea, the level of tolerance of its unpredictability in terms of diplomatic, would require a higher price to pay even to a cost of its total annihilation if in case the United States decides so. Practically, it would just be the same as that of Japan during the second world war; and Japan learned the lessons of history.
However, the whole scenario would not just come as many other thought about it. There must be some valid reason why North Korea has provoked a war with South Korea. And these reasons would not certainly come out to the open until the day that hostility between the two countries might end to a catastrophe.
It is also fitting for the South Korea to keep its own ranks ready for the consequences of its own decision, and they owe it to the United States and its allies. The strength that it can show to the North is the same strength that it can embolden particularly in this time of adversity.
However it is still hoped and prayed that peaceful resolution of this kind of deathly game will be given ample time and consideration. In any war of the past, both contending parties suffer the same consequence when they choose the crooked path.

Pacquiao’s magic still works amidst world’s Economic Crisis

While the world is still trying to survive the onslaught of sustained economic crisis that besets world’s economic giants like the United States. Japan, China, and Europe; while the world economy is fixing potholes of financial policies that tremendously affected many lives the world over; while innumerable threats of calamity that are predicted to strike at every possible chance, one event has to stand alone to neutralize the burgeoning load and at one point relax for a few minutes of naked work.
Last November 14, the eyes of the world again was captured by the amazing performance of the two great boxers and made them “heroes of peace” for a few minutes. Filipino boxing superstar Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao traded straw of punches with Mexican slugger Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito in a feat that put a mark in the history of world boxing.
Pacquiao won his unprecedented 8th title in as many different weight classes, a triumph that never before achieved by a boxer. Analysts expressed their amazement by saying that Manny Pacquiao truly is a great boxer of his time surpassing achievements of boxing greats like Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Leonard, and many others who made boxing the great sports in the world.
Both boxers tremendously exploded in a flurry of exchanges that caught up every spectator to join the chorus of shouts and shaking uproar of joyful cries coming from every place. They were all charged with every piece of boxing art that they can show during the gruesome battle that they both fought with their might and strength. But, like in any kind of sports, one has to soar a winner, and it was the Pacman!
As Manny Pacquiao triumphed, the whole Filipino nation also soared with great pride and confidence, and made the Filipino boxing icon a “hero of the masses”.
Everything seemed to have stopped. Silence is all over town except when you reach the sports complex where everyone are watching. Small homes with cable TV were clogged by neighbors, friends, and even foes. What a wonderful sight it was! Peace indeed was peace in a sense that everybody was happy looking at the TV screens. No sense of burden was yet felt as people were stuck in one place. In a few minutes, they felt that joy of peace. But tomorrow is another day.
When you travel the main thoroughfares and business centers in any city and province in the Philippines, you will find yourself naked streets where tricycles, motorcycles, jeepneys, bus, cars and others all lined-up in a parking area, while their drivers are swarming even in a small sari-sari store joyfully watching the bout. After the fight, you may see them also jumping and dancing in the streets together with their friends as though they also won the fight.
I believe the magic of boxing still works in Manny Pacquiao, and of course with his worthy opponent, Antonio Margarito. Both attracted the whole world to watch them play their boxing craft. And it’s all worth it!

Same old designs but different fellows on the rein

With the swarming problems that besets the Philippine economy today, the Philippine Congress has also been observed to have turtle-ducking the passage of the 2011 National Budget. The house of representatives alone seem to have been scrutinizing what they believed are "unjustifiable increases in budgets" which would also increase possible deficits in the national budget. Until now, the people believed that there is approved draft of final significance that would indicate that the national debate for the national budget has already been reached.
Although the recent visits of Pres. Noynoy Aquino to the United States brought back assurance of additional assistance in terms of loans and other trade agreements, but, this would not surely assure the whole country that we really are on the right track. The people themselves are now beset with lack of sufficient opportunities to land a job; still the poor people are clamoring for a greater change, even if it includes heaven.
The way the Aquino administration is handling matters of national interest, it would seem that those people who are handling power and authority remained at bay, as if waiting for the glorious outflow of blessings from heaven. No significant difference yet observed that would outdo what has been achieved by the previous Arroyo administration. In fact, people are getting started to doubt the ability of the Aquino administration to resolve national issue that would provide ease of burden on the populace.
The situation on energy, agriculture, and many others do not indicate difference. It's the same cup, but the content is different, as people say. Graft and corruption still thrive that even some provincial offices are inclined to engage to it more boldly. Say for example the recent Barangay and SK elections.
Reports said that some COMELEC offices in the provinces and municipalities are allegedly collecting certain amount of money ranging from P10,000 to P50,000 from the candidates of the Barangay and SK elections. I just can't believe it! The COMELEC, entrusted with the task of determining fair, honest, and credible elections has already gone awry. What would happen then when people of this Office are more inclined to commit graft and corruption than to stand put to the principles by which the office was intended for its existence.
Another point to reckon with is that law enforcers are more inclined to set aside investigation and let those who are more interested to the case do their thing. Some of the police forces are more inclined to spend time chatting with friends while on duty or just stray around like security guards of a big mall. And when there are cases that needs immediate action, it would take a lot of precious time wasted. These are some of the comments I've received from some ordinary people who encountered this type of problem with authorities.
Meanwhile, the local government officials who just took office last July 1, 2010, more particularly those who newly elected, are observed to have displayed impressive performance during their first 100 days, just like the President, they are more willing to sacrifice just for the good of all. But just recently, a lot of politicking is now taking place especially when we speak of the budget preparation for the next fiscal year.
Some of the LGU officials are yet to learn the many labyrinthine activities within their own offices and they are faced with problems of laying off casual employees or terminating contract employees. While the national government has been very problematic about unemployment and job creation, now local LGU is increasingly contributing to the same problem. So we can expect that in the next few months, there will be a significant increase in unemployment. It's been observed that there are more people who are laid off that accepted for jobs. Terms and conditions are still the same with that of the previous administration, the only change is the people manning the rein.
Finally, I should like to say that my country is still engaged in some unprofessional practices learned from previous administrations. The same pattern of management, the same objectives, missions and visions. It's all focused on poverty eradication. Although there are concrete programs and projects to address these problems, but it is not sufficient for the people to receive promises of salvation, a specific action will undertake an alleviating factor that will assure sustainability. But it's the other way around.
Anyway, people should learn from their own wrong choices and decisions. But the question is, when would be the time that they would realize this?... I believe only time knows.

Manual election is what “trapo” really wants

One of the most controversial elections ever happened in the Philippine political history is the Barangay and SK elections last Oct. 25. It is so because the people have already tested the computerized method of elections though at first there was some kind of hitches along the way due to some minor problems in the wireless sending of the result into a database for the instant overall results; but, traditional politicians don’t really like this kind of election method. They still prefer the age-old manual counting of votes.
When you ask common people about the recent barangay and SK elections, most of them would say that it would be best when COMELEC used the computerized method rather than the manual.
Another observation can be noted when politicians are really determined to win the race, they would have to use their money and other available resources just to ensure their win. And the disadvantage of this kind of scheme is that it overwhelmingly surface the real power of money rather than the real power of the vote; and the real power of vote emanates from a singular power of one individual---this is the real election!
It would seem, however, that my country is undergoing a negative form of transformation from modern-day back to the old way of politics when people only recognize those with money and they would prefer to cling to these people rather than to stand up by their own principles.
Just as I believe that poverty is the very cause of our own deterioration, I do also believe that as many people are believing that their government is corrupt and they can’t do otherwise to avert it, the more that they become corrupt. Just as long as leaders in the government are known to be corrupt, people also remains corrupt. And the only cleansing instance would be anarchy, or when people choose to die for their own foolishness.
In a democracy like the Philippines, when people would choose that which are beneficial for their own lives and do not recognize the good values that their community can bring for all, a point of reckoning would come when they would just have to live life and let chances chart their own destiny---a gamble that only money can only make it up as well.
This self-destructive view is what would seem to be prevailing in the midst of many challenges that face our country today. It seems that we are not far from experiencing lawlessness because people who are supposed to uphold the rule of law are the ones exposing themselves breaking the law. Thus, lawmaker are lawbreakers themselves; or they would just have to prevent their own selves from observing the same.
I just want that the light of hope will rise at the shores of disbelief when every one is an active participant to either success or failure.