Litratong Pinoy: NAKATALI (Tied)

Habang nakasalalay sa higpit ng pagkakatali sa kawayang tagdan ang paglipad o paglagapak ng ating watawat, siya rin naman ang pagkakatali ng ating ekonomiya sa yaman ng lupa, tubig, at hangin. Tayo ay nabibiyayaan o napipinsala ng paroo't paritong pag-inog ng panahon, klima, at kalikasan. Bagaman napatunayan na natin na kakayanin ng Pinoy ang anumang delubyo o sakuna, pinakamainam pa rin ang magmatiyag, maghanda, manalangin.

Batay sa ganitong prinsipyo ko ibinabahagi ko ang mga natagpuan kong listahan ng mga kakayahan, kaalaman, at paninindigan ng mga kandidato sa pagka-Pangulo, pagka-Pangalawang Pangulo, at pagka-Senador. Totoo, sinuman ang mamuno sa Malakanyang o Senado ay nakaka-ungos naman ang Pilipinas, subali't napapanahon na talaga ang mas matalinong pagsuri, pagpili at pagboto. Sabi nga noong isang samahang naglathala ng mga paghahambing na ito- Makialam. Manalangin. Manindigan.

Gusto ninyong malaman kung ano ang masasabi ng mga kandidato sa Halalan 2010 hinggil sa kalusugan, ekonomiya, buwis, kalikasan, karapatang pantao, pagmimina, atbp? Pumunta lamang sa scribd.com/cfgomezmd upang makita ang mga pinagtabi-tabing paghahambing ng kanilang mga ideya at saloobin tungkol sa mga isyu ng bayan. Gawa ito ng mga samahang walang kinikilingan kaya't patas ang kanilang pagturing sa bawat kandidato.

Sana hindi tayo patali sa lumang pulitika ng Bahala Na.

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NAKATALI = TIED

The Philippine flag's flight depends on how securely it is tied to the bamboo pole holding it aloft. Similar, the Philippine survival is dependent on the riches of the land, air, and seas. We are blessed or burdened by the changes that emanate from the weather in particular and the climate in general. While our resilience and tenacity as a nation has been continuously proven by our phoenix-like ability to rise above calamities, the importance of preparation for and mitigation of the effects of disasters cannot be underscored enough. We cannot and must not keep on surviving by just 'winging' it. Life's too precious.

In the same vein, the fortunes of the Philippines are once more tethered to the upcoming National and Local Automated Elections in May. Our vote is much too important to be reduced into selection of The Least Evil among the candidates. We cannot just shrug our shoulders and be passive accomplices to whoever sits as leaders of the land.

Thus, I am sharing my cyberspace finds, the juxtaposed, side-by-side comparison of the profiles and stance of the Presidential, Vice-Presidential, and Senatorial candidates as regards issues like health, taxes, the environment, human rights, among others. Please visit scribd.com/cfgomezmd to see where your favored candidates stand on hot-button topics and crucial concerns of the population. These matrices and tables are put together by respected institutions whose only aim is to have a more informed and empowered population of voters.

Let's free ourselves from the shackles of the Old Politics of Come What May.

fields in the town of Kapatagan, April 2007, using a digicam.

Litratong Pinoy: KALIKASAN (Nature)

Sa kalagitnaan ng tag-init, luntian ang mga nakapaligid na taniman at kakahuyan. Sa katirikan ng araw, nagniningning ang lagaslas ng tubig mula sa talon na ito sa bayan ng Kapatagan sa Hilagang Lanao. Malayo sa pangunahing mga daanan, isang magandang sorpresa ang naturang talon; kagaya ng kabuuan ng Mindanao, na tago ang ganda sa likod ng mga kalabisang kwento ng dahas at ligalig.

KALIKASAN = NATURE

In the middle of summer, the surrounding fields and forests are lush and green with life. With the sun at the day's apex, the rustling waters of this falls glimmer and play a melody like no other. They cascade in the town of Kapatagan- a precious gem hidden in the interior of the province of Lanao del Norte, a good distance from the national highway. It is a symbol for the entire island of Mindanao, a treasure that many Filipinos sadly under-appreciate as it remains entangled in an excessive barrage of negative news and bad publicity.

town of Kapatagan, province of Lanao Del Norte, April 2007, using a digicam.

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SPEAKING OF NATURE: If you find yourselves at the SM Mall of Asia on Saturday, March 6 at 5pm, head on over to the SM By the Bay fountain area and get to see something *special* courtesy of the World Wildlife Fund-Philippines =]