‘We can do better.’

The Newsroom (TNR) is one of those shows that just hits you. It challenges the way people think, the realities of life, human nature, their principles, morals, and beliefs, the media, the news itself, and the ‘self’. Best of all, it challenges us to be better. The pilot episode says it all. Will McAvoy’s rant/speech is simply powerful, inspiring and honest. Aaron Sorkin just gave us the reason why this show is worth watching. There, I said it. Boom!

The Newsroom Clip via YT user Larry Fritzlan

Current controversies triggered The Newsroom reference. In fact, entries re: politics have been scarce on my blog heh. I am definitely not disinterested. I am just too tired to dedicate a blog about my political views/rants. I’ll settle with 140 characters, for now.

I have yet express or openly share my opinion on Napoles, the ‘Pork Barrel Scam’, the alleged lawmakers involved or how it’s being handled. I’m not playing safe. It’s just that I am trying to see and understand the whole picture. I’m being cautious. I’m staying true to what I have been fighting against—the public is out for blood for the sake of it all—condemning people without knowing the whole story. That is my position.

It’s the “been there, done that” kind of thing. And, this is actually a media thing. Hence, the TNR reference.

A lot of you would say that everything about the world would still depend on the person. True. For me, however, it’s not entirely true. Deny is as much as you want, the media is a powerful tool that influences people. It always has been. Information is power. Power is information. You can’t make an informed decision when the information you are getting has been twisted/fixed to satisfy your taste, and vice versa. Apparently, the media has been guilty of this. They try not to, but they can’t seem to.

They have seen this before and even recognized the fact that they have done it before to the detriment of another (case in point ‘Juan Dela Cruz’, Hubert Webb, Paco Larrañaga, etc. etc.), but they continue to do it today—again, and again. This, for me, is unacceptable.

It’s nice that people are involved. We should be. Sometimes people just need to learn how to hold their horses. We are dealing with people who have rights too. We have the rule of law. Hindi lahat ng taong inaakusahan, naaakusahan, kinasuhan o nakakasuhan ay guilty na agad. Hinay-hinay lang din naman po tayo. (Not everyone who has been accused or charged of a wrongdoing is already guilty. Hold your horses, people.)

Let’s all take the high road. Be fair. Be vigilant.

With these, all I can say is, it’s not impossible.

5% more of anything makes a difference. | Clip via YT user pesman5

Idealistic as this may appear. This is reality in itself. We can do better.

A Taste of Reality.

Like most of my blog entries, this should have been posted earlier—much, much earlier—a month ago, to be exact.

Rather than taking summer classes, I opted to volunteer for the Innocence Project Philippines Network. It can be said that it is a counterpart of the Innocence Project in the United States. I knew of the organization and the work they have done to help exonerate wrongfully convicted persons. It is something I have always wanted to do. Help free the innocent and punish the guilty. In fact, I have written and presented an argumentative paper based on it when I was in college. Ha! Let’s just say this has been my advocacy since high school, i.e. the Hubert Webb case. (I have always believed in his innocence. Thus, the acquittal was huge and inspiring to me—to be discussed in a future entry, hopefully.) Hence, the decision to volunteer. Actually, you need to apply for it. Haha. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to do this and eventually gain some experience in the field of law. Yes, in a way you get to apply what you have learned in law school. Definitely a plus!

I will not get into the details, just a highlight. Or, as they call it, THE most memorable experience. Other than meeting new people and gain new friends, one of the highlights of my volunteer ‘work’ is the New Bilibid Prison visit. Believe me, the AdDU team worked really hard to make this happen. We might not have been able to enter the maximum security, at least we were able to get inside the minimum security. Yes, we did. We were in Bilibid! How cool is that?! :)

The minimum security was something I expected to be—the look, the feel, the people. It was like your everyday community only with dorms, gates and some military-looking people for security. The security seemed more relaxed though. Heh. It was like a rehab facility. The situation, however, is not something we should settle with. When I say ‘we’, I’m talking about the administration, the government, you, me and everyone else; and when I say ‘settle’, what I mean is ‘not do anything about it even if we should’ or ‘just used to being the way it is’. 

We could have done better. We can do better. Well yes, they are prisoners but they have rights to—basic needs like food and shelter, basic services from the government etc. This also goes to show how bad the situation is in the free world. Since the community inside is similar to our own free world (except the fact that they are actually in prison)—the slum areas, in particular—then, there is no difference at all. It feels like we are actually imprisoned in our own prison. Why settle with ‘reality’ when we can actually change our own ‘reality’?

Strive for a better society.

Make a change.

Be the change.

MUST-SEE: 'Give Up Tomorrow'; screening dates!

Inviting everyone to watch this powerful documentary, 'Give Up Tomorrow', by filmmakers Michael Collins and Marty Syjuco. First, Cinemalaya. Now, more screenings--in local theaters!

Cinema Screenings--FINALLY!

Some of you might have heard, read or have even seen this documentary and I urge you to ask/persuade people to watch it. This is the side of the story we haven't heard before. This is that part of the story people back then refused to hear...to listen, or even consider. This is what was shut down. Now, it's time we get to hear see and listen to what Paco Larrañaga has to say. This is definitely a must-see documentary.

Nadia Trinidad summed it up best with a question: What if 'we' were wrong?

'Give Up Tomorrow' Trailer

OCT2012 SCREENING SCHEDULE:

• October 3 to 9 - Robinsons Galleria, Ermita
• October 3 to 9 - SM North Edsa, Megamall, Manila, Mall of Asia, Soutmall & SM CEBU
• October 5 to 7 - Greenblet 3, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center

End this injustice.

#FreePacoNow!

For more information about the fim, the case and the cause, please visit: GiveUpTomorrow.com | FreePacoNow.com