randomness

Just some random thoughts of the week:
- i want to study abroad. i have been searching for websites about it, but i don't know yet where and what course. As of now, I'm not yet itching to go, but I really want to in the future. I'm planning to take a media-related course in a prestigious university in the US or Europe... hehehe. And also I'm looking for a scholarship, but I don't know how.

- the past weeks was also an ebay week for me... haha. I know there is such as ebay before, but I never had the reason to check it out coz i never had the intention of buying anything. But now, I was surprised things are cheap as compared to buying them in malls... although most of the things I saw are from abroad. I want to buy a new phone, gadgets, etc... hahaha

- this week, our new COO (Chief Operating Officer or in short our boss) arrived. Ms. Glenda Gloria is the new boss of ANC. She replaced Ms. Judith Torres who resigned last month. Ms. Glenda was the Managing Editor of Newsbreak Magazine and a trusted journalist in the country. She once gave a speech in our Investigative Journalism class during college and I never thought she would be my future boss. I hope there would be great changes for ANC, cos I know the network has all the potential to be one.

- The week has been a "rally week". Schools were active in protesting against the administration and supporting Jun Lozada. Seen in the UAAP as bitter rivals, Ateneo and La Salle united and led the country in support for the ZTE-NBN star witness with a mass, noise barrage and other forms of protest. UP, UST, UE and other schools also held street protests, forums and prayer vigils for truth to come out. It's nice to see the academe and the youth are taking part in an issue of national interest. I hope this doesn't stop in this issue alone.

just some of my thoughts this week. there were more, some not needed to be written down... :-)

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corrupt mind

I usually post serious stuff of nationwide scale to my other blog (bumperspectives.blogspot.com)... but there are some issues I want to write here in my personal blog because I feel very much for it or I just feel the need to.

One of those issues is the controversial and highly talked about ZTE Scandal. Since I work for a news organization, I can say that I am very much exposed to this story and has absorbed it much. I have watched almost the entire Senate Hearing on this issue (7 hours hearing last Friday and 12 hours last Monday). I also have heard the sides of every person involved in this case. I will write here my own opinion, not as a journalist, but as a concerned citizen of the country.

First of all, I really admire Jun Lozada for testifying in the Senate. Now he has a lot of enemies, because of what he divulged (and a lot of supporters too). I have no proof whatsoever, but I believe he is telling the truth. After all, his statements corroborated that of statements made by the whistleblower Joey De Venecia.

But whether he is telling the truth or not, the most disturbing thing here is that there is indeed corruption. Of course, we all know that. But with Lozada's statements, there is a more visual meaning to the word corruption. It is sad that people in power used that power to get hold of more money. How greedy can you get, trying to make money out of government projects. These projects aim to develop the country by quality yet affordable infrastructures. But with corruption, we Filipinos pay for some money that only goes to pockets of some people. This is ZTE project, a very major project- and there is corruption. What more those smaller projects like road building, bridge construction- there must be bribery in those projects too.

This is a sad reality. It irritates me actually. Sayang lang kasi we have an improved economy, yet the political system is so not stable. Why can we just all be honest. On the good side, these controversies may help us. People are now more vigilant with bidding process in government projects. Government officials are now distancing themselves from illegal activities and the Senate and Congress could make better laws regarding these issues.

I just hope this ends well. And I hope people would care with the issues in the country. It is not necessary to go to rallies, but at least talk about issues with friends or in school or work. We cannot hold on to our economic growth if our foot is stucked in apathy.

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a breaking news

While I was listening to the entire proceedings of the saga that is the ZTE-NBN Scandal. I was listening to the Senate hearing, interviews and also a press conference of the Malacanyang. I took a break and checked my e-mail. Another breaking news exploded in front of me.

Ateneo Student Council President Karl Satinitigan, who is a friend, was said to have been ousted or has resigned. He is now not a student of the Ateneo de Manila University anymore. Student Council Vice President Cabrei Cabreira already took an oath and took over Karl's position.

The Ateneo Judicial Council issued a statement that officially said Karl is not enrolled in Ateneo anymore. This is realy shocking for me, cos Karl is not just an ordinary Atenean, but is the highest official of the student body. If I'm not mistaken this is the first time it happened.

Controversies have hounded the Sanggunian Student Council this past year. I really don't know all of it, cos for one I am not a student anymore, but emails after emails have been arriving. And now it all led to what others say is the "assassination of Karl Satinitigan".

Wala lang, I was just shocked of this news. Karl is a friend and I think he is a good leader also. I don't know what is happening right now to Ateneo. Sabay sabay pa with what is happening in the government. I hope Gloria will have the same fate as Karl... hehehe joke.

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be like the ant

I heard this story when I was a child about the ant and the grasshopper. The ant saves food even on sunny days, while the grasshopper just fools around and even ridicules the ant of being hard working. Then rain came. The ant had saved food, so now he doesn't have to worry, but the grasshopper is hungry for he has saved none.

I want to be the ant- hardworking, dependable and disciplined. Now I am definitely not. I haven't been saving this past months. I often withdraw money from the ATM. I don't even budget my expenses. If I see something I like, I buy. If I feel like I want to drink Starbucks, I buy. If I feel I need a new shirt or shoes, I buy. And the bad thing is I am not at all guilty!

I know I should be. After all money is really precious and to think many people are not as privileged as I am. Just last weekend, I spent a lot. Friday night- I had dinner with college friends in Eastwood. Saturday night- I had dinner with my cousin in Greenbelt, watched a movie there and went to a bar after. Sunday night- I was with friends at Rockwell, chilled out in Starbucks, then watched a movie. In 1 weekend, I was in Eastwood, Greenbelt and Rockwell- kulang na lang nag Fort ako and nag Promenade in Greenhills.

Now that I think about it. Shit talaga. Ang gastos ko na. And not to mention, I am planning to buy a new phone pa this month. And plan to go out of town soon.

I'm not regretting all the things I bought or all those movie or dinner nights together with people... it's just that life had been so expensive.. hehehe. And it's so hard for me to resist. This will be a life-long struggle. Although now, I am planning how to save money and limit my withdrawals more... and just stay away from the "ant-eaters" of this world.

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