The RH Bill - From the eye of a Cab Driver

I support the RH Bill and have been an advocate of Reproductive Health since 2005, spreading its concepts and benefits to teenagers, young adults, and parents in economically-challenged communities of our country through the Non-Government Organization that I worked with before. I have understood its benefits to the people on both opposing worlds where money is the dividing line between the two but listening to a point of view of a cab driver made me realize the urgency and need of implementing the RH Bill.

I arrived in Cebu City after an hour of flight from Manila for a few days stay. As soon as I exited the Mactan Cebu International Airport, I immediately got to the regular taxi stand and hopped on a cab with a non-calibrated meter (saved me about P50.00). Manong driver was very courteous to greet me and asked if I am from Manila and if I understand Cebuano. I went on coversing with him in Cebuano to give him the idea that I know the place - which just made me feel secure.

As we started our journey to Banilad, I started asking about the Gimik events here in Cebu just to start the conversation rolling. It went from events, tv networks, food places, and etc. We slowed down to a halt in an intersection when a little girl, about 7, approached the window side where I was sitting and knocked, started singing, and begged for some few pesos that I could spare for her. I just said No, since I didn't have loose change to give. As the lights turned green, we were off.

Then Manong driver commented, "ayaw gyud na hatagi sir kay kung tagaan nimo ang isa, daghan na musunod ana. Kaluoy ba gyud anang mga bataa, kung wla lang unta nagpataka ang mga ginikanan ug panganak, dili unta nila masinatian ang kapit-os sa kinabuhi." [Don't give them anything Sir, if you give to one, the other will come as well. I pity those children, if only their parents was responsible enough, they would not have experienced that difficult life]. I was taken aback by his words and asked him, what would have done differently to have spared this children from poverty. He said that it is a chain of poverty where peole live on the street or even those who are in the slums irresponsibly pro-create. They already know that they are living in poverty but still had as many children as they can without even considering that they are barely earning to get by just the two of them. As a result, children get hungry which leads to begging to get food for the day. And once these children started to taste more food from illegal and inappropriate channels, they will start to crave for more like prostitution and drug dealing. Then become irresponsible people, bearing children they could not attend to and the cycle repeats. That's why he supports the RH Bill.

I know that cab drivers talk a lot but this one just threw some sense into me. He is more of an advocate that I am. He just summarized the points where RH champions.That people need to be informed of the different birth-control methods including the natural methods that would give them the choice on what to use and these information will be provided to them. This way they can plan their family sizes and even plan as to how they are going to grow it. The need on educating the youth on the ill effects of teenage pregnancy. And in the event that they are, get them ready for maternity. And guiding the parents on the psycho-social and sexual development of their children as they play a major role.

What he has seen is reality. I just hope that others would be able to see reality and remove those clouds in their eyes that hinders them from seeing clearly. We don't want to continue this cycle, right? We need to act now.

Becoming a "SpongeBob"

We're all familiar of the hit tv animated series Spongebob Squarepants, right? This yellow spongy character sure brings one hell of a fun together with his friends in bikini bottom. But becoming a human spongebob is similar in some ways but different in other aspects. Sure you bring happiness to others who are down and weary, but surely it will tire and wear you out. I've been a human spongebob lately, or moreso called the emotional trashcan.

Being a confidant of a person sure is a priviledge, most especially for your friends and family. This gives the assurance that they deeply trust you and you will never fail to give out your listening heart and comforting arms to them. It gives us this next level of friendship, creating a stronger bond that goes beyond just mere fun and gimmiks as it tackles a deeper sense of personal exposure to vulnerability.

Consoling

Consoling is not as easy at it looks. The slightest misinterpretation of your actions and words might bring more confusion and discomfort to your friend. You don't know how this person might react to how you deliver your message of comfort. It should be simple and not imposing and most of all non-threatening.

Well, trust your instincts. Your friend has chosen you to listen. With that fact, he/she is already comfortable with your presence. You have that redeeming factor that your friend found in you.

You might be the joker that could bring back the smile. Or the dictator who yells back and command what he/she must do with hus/her life. Or a communist who will freak out and charge the other party. Or the democrat who lays down the pros and cons of the situation. Or the headbanger who nods all the time regardless of where the topic goes. Or the optimist who shows the bright future and the great opporunities that lie beyond sea. Whoever you may be, the fact remains that he/she is your friend you you are there for the purpose of consoling.

Listening

What about it? Yes you might be listening, physically, but are you really listening? Listening is a skill that goes beyond hearing. It takes a heart to hear what your friend is really talking about. You will get the feel of the true essence of listening when you start to imagine yourself into the situation, going beyond the words and breaks the doubts that you have.

Giving Advises

The best advise is not to give an advise as this would tend to either make tye person retreat or stage an uprising. At the end if things don't go well, you are to be blamed. So no advise is the best advise.

Then what else to do? Give options. This is the part where you lay down how you think of the situation. "if you do this, this might end like this. Or if that, i thnk this will result to this." Let the person decide the course of action. This is the main reason you are there, to give sane, sober, legal, plain, realistic, simple, unbiased and humane cognitive view On how things are because your friend is not in a normal state of thinking. Lay down the cards.

Each person has a different reaction to different situaions and stimuli that provoked surfacing of such strong emotions. Nonetheless, you are there to comfort and support your friend who trusts you. Your main task is to be the sponge who will absorb all the emotional hits (and sometimes physical).

Take time to squeeze these emotions out of you as well. This may affect your thinking and feeling and even your health.

So, how are you as a spongebob?

Keystrokes and Muses

Whenever I get bored, or have nothing to do, I always snap up myself with different activities that could fill my day. I have been thinking for a while to get my blog up and running again to share my thoughts especially on my recent travels around the country (or just a mere trip to the mall) which others might find interesting, informative, or better yet entertaining, my newest experiences, food that I feasted on, my point of view on politics, and others.

2010 was not a year of writing for me as I have not posted a single blog. Was I that busy? Hahaha. This is my coming back to the world of writing. Summoning the muses was not that easy and the first few words were the most difficult to finish. The courage to open my laptop and actually start hitting the keys was a painstaking task that it took me months to do so. The moment I think of writing, something comes up that distracts me from doing so. As a result, zero posts for 2010. Shame on me.

Then what made me write again? I got my inspiration from my friends and my brother who filled my weekend with emotionally-stirring, life-challenging, mind-boggling conversations that left me ideas and emotions worth writing. I got so interested of what's happening to their lives that it made me ponder on my own too-the bitter-sweet taste of it.

Here I am, ready to brew some thoughts and pound my keyboard. Who knows, I'll get a lot of readers. :-)

Coming Back

Hi Guys,

Its been a while since i have written anything on this blog. I just acquired a new laptop and I think this is the perfect time to start writing again.

I just missed writing since technology and time hindered me from doing so. This time, both are now conquered and the mighty power of words will again visualize the ideas and give life to the meaning of life.

Here is your Coffee Addict, now signing on...

See you soon... :-)

Focus, Focus

Focus. I've been telling myself this for the past days but it really seems that I am out of focus. Maybe because I have a lot at hand right now and my tables, yeah tables, are full of papers and wires. Argh! I feel so helpless over the mound of papers. But then again, it's really up to me, right?

I've been working with several things at the same time. How's that? I should be listening to my friend, Lou. She's been telling me to relax and take things slow and focus. I just reason out most of the time that I'm so busy and I'm in control of things. And now I'm stuck with things that I think are way too heavy for me to handle. 5 tasks at the same time, I thought that I was superman. Hahahaha. Juggle on several things at the same time. There's the annual report, the Manual of Operations, 5 program manuals, Program evaluation and reviews, and the upcoming National Coordinators' Assembly.

Next week, I'll be off for Davao. Home at last. For 5 days, I could be with my family, physically at least. My mind would be swirling with the preparations for the National Assembly a week after. I have to travel from Davao City to Cagayan de Oro City for 7 hours. Just thinking that gives me all the worries.

Right now, I'm just stuck on my chair, facing my laptop, thinking what may be done but still nothing would come my way.

What I realized now is that I have to prioritize things out. How could I prioritize things if all would start and end on the same date? Nosebleed. My boss also thinks that making program manuals would be as easy as completing it within 3 days which includes the research, policy making, lay-outing and printing. How's that again?

Well, I have nothing to qualm about. It's my job. LOL. I will just have to work things out.