No Bystanders

Yes, you got that right.

After being very much against it, I now have a change of heart. I am now in favor of allowing Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani. Yes, even with full military honors. In fact, it should be a state burial due a true hero.

But only if the following conditions are met. And I mean all.

About fourteen years ago, I was having one of those periods in a teen’s life where one feels lost and conflicted. Living away from my family, and as always, I turned to my usual refuge - the confession.

This particular day however, for reasons I can’t remember now, I have decided to go to a different parish and have my confession there.

It started out ok, normal I guess. Then the priest turned friendly, very friendly, in fact. He asked me to stay, as he wanted to talk to me more. After finishing the last two confessants, he talked to me again, giving me words of encouragement. I welcomed the opportunity to be able to talk to someone who didn’t judge me; in fact he made me feel special by listening to me. When I said it was time for me to go home, he invited me to go back next Thursday (or was it Friday?) to meet some of his young friends.

Naging ugali ko na ang kausapin ang nga driver ng taxi na aking sinasakyan. Magugulat ka sa kaalaman ng bawat isa, at sa kanilang paninidigan, sa mga isyung bumabalot sa ating lipunan. Mula noong eleksyon, impeachment ng Ombudsman, pagbitay ng mga Pinoy sa China - lahat ito ay alam nila at may binuo silang sariling kuro-kuro at pananaw.

Noong Biyerness, bago pa man lumabas ang balitang nag pull out ang Mang Inasal ng Jollibee Food Corporation sa programang Willing Willie, ay naging paksa sa pagitan ko at ng Mamang Driver ang pang aabuso ng isang bata sa programa.

Tinanong ko kung siya ay nanonood ng WW, at ang kanyan sagot "Napipilitan lamang ako kasi yan ang pinapanood sa bahay, pero kung ako ang masusunod, ililipat ko sa ibang palabas."

Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
Sen. Pia S. Cayetano, Committee Chair, Youth, Women and Family Affairs
Hon. Corazon "Dinky" Juliano-Soliman, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development
Hon. Grace Poe Llamanzares, Chairman, Movies and Television Ratings and Classification Board
Mr. Manny Pangilinan, Chairman, TV5
Justice Santiago M. Kapunan, Officer in Charge, Integrated Bar of The Philippines
Mr. John Rojo, President, Philippine Association of National Advertisers
Ms. Charmaine Canillas, Chairman, Ad Standards Council
Ateneo Human Rights Center
Council for the Welfare of Children


SUBJECT: CHILD ABUSE ON WILLING WILLIE SHOW OF TV5


We wish to bring to your attention a deplorable incident that occurred during the March 12, 2011 episode of Willing Willie, hosted by Mr. Willie Revillame which was aired during TV5's primetime block. In the said episode, also posted on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YRCxh9q64w, a six-year-old boy named Jan-jan was shown dancing “ala-macho dancer," much to the delight of the host and the studio audience. As seen in the video, however, the boy was clearly distressed and humiliated by the said experience as evidenced by his crying while supposedly “entertaining” Mr. Revillame and his audience.