17 April 2013

Rape-Plagued India Becomes Apathetic

Apathy in India
A few months ago, India was put into the limelight after the brutal attack and gang rape of a 23-year-old Delhi physiotherapy student on a moving bus. The student died 13 days later from massive internal injuries.

The horrific incident was followed by another sexually-motivated attack last March when a Swiss tourist was raped in front of her husband by eight men in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The attackers also stole a camera, mobile phone and about 10,000 rupees (US$ 185).

31 March 2013

Should Youth Offenders Be Treated Differently?

Juvenile Offenders
Can a child become an adult after he/she killed somebody? Is it really worth our time to invest in reforming the child despite the gravity of his/her actions? Is community service, rather than jail, really more effective in holding children accountable for their mistakes.

These are just some of the questions ringing through my mind, as the violent acts of juvenile offenders continue to hit the papers regularly.

15 March 2013

Are You Born Gay or Straight?

Lesbo Festival
The article of Tintin Bersola-Babao titled, 'Being Gay' published last 11 March 2013 in her Philippine Star column – Parentin Talk – has received a lot of flak from, you guessed it right: lesbians, gays and bisexuals.

I don’t know Tintin Bersola-Babo personally nor familiar with her show or any of her publications. I don't support the content of her articles nor condemn them since I lack the credibility and knowledge to discuss it in entirety. I am also not a medical doctor or a psychologist, but, as a parent, the issue being push forward has intrigued me.

04 March 2013

Salonga's Point-By-Point on PHL's Sabah Claim

Sabah Standoff
According to former Senator Jovito Salonga, the Philippine claim to Sabah is based on solid grounds. He made this assertion 50 years (March 1953) ago when he delivered his speech by way of rebuttal to the speech of Senator Lorenzo Sumulong berating the Philippine claim to North Borneo (Sabah). The claim was originally filed by President Diosdado Macapagal on 22 June 1962, followed by the London negotiations of January 1963. The British high officials were still debating among themselves at that time what to do with the claim.

Senator Salonga was with the team of Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez who headed the London negotiations on behalf of our government. The charge of "British imperialism" must have weighed heavily in their minds because after Salonga's speech, the British organized the Federation of Malaysia in September 1963 and assigned their rights to said Federation.

20 February 2013

Excessive TV Exposure Produces Criminals

TV and Children
There was a time that television in the Philippines only offered 4 channels for viewing. Pick any major historical event during the past 60 years and chances are you may have witnessed it happening on those four major networks. Unfortunately, because of their limited coverage, there was no choice during some lull moments in television programming but to endure long hours of rehash programs that included movie shows that are still in black and white color.

Those days are gone. The television set, which has become a permanent fixture in most Filipino household today, had generated a shared consciousness that transcended economic and social strata. Majority can afford one and can access 80-100 channels easily.