Thursday, July 9, 2015

Juicy Gossip: An App Yet to Be Created, An Anti-Poverty Booklet that Didn't See Print

Rian & I worked like hell, & used both simple & advanced innovative software to crack the passwords (& other data security provisions) we created for our files. After trying even the unconventional methods for a few weeks, and nearly toasting our rather powerful laptop computer in the process, we temporarily gave up (and to this day not having access to many of our files plague the completion of some of our projects.) And so I can't access or find a copy of an anti-poverty booklet we created in the past (Louie & I), one we created in ideal circumstances: as we lived with those we intended to help too, many of our new acquaintance friends then.

iDisrupt blog
http://idisrupt.blogspot.com

But let Rian & I begin with a handful of suggestions here. Of course we seek your patience & understanding: Our thoughts, our ideas are to be presented here in disorganized manner. In time, maybe after 2-3 months, the overall design and layout of this blog, and ideas we are to discuss here, will be much more organized and polished.

What Constrain Many from Easing Out of Poverty?

ONE: Gossip 

Filipinos, many millions of them either can't find jobs or are no longer looking for it. We're not sure whether it's mainly a cause or mainly an effect, or both a cause and effect: Many Filipinos find all the time to engage in some gossips about anything, with just about anyone.

Fine, gossip serves many positive social purposes or functions too (talks about rather unknown dangers, & all). But really, it is emotionally draining, and as we witnessed, even among those who are most addicted to it. So why indulge in something that wrecks your rather good day? Or turn a bad day into a very bad day?

The love of gossip, or compulsion to gossip about others, deny you of opportunities to talk and work productively with productive individuals, and even with those you gossip about.

Gossips destroy relationships. Gossip destroys families. Gossip destroys friendships. Gossip can trigger murders. Gossip can destroy you're or others' reputation, and sometimes beyond repair. Gossip eats precious time. Gossip trigger emotions in you that in turn disrupt your clear thinking and even priorities.

To be continued...


TWO: Nothing is petty PLUS Making a Molehill of A Mountain (for editing)


No conscious efforts to avoid petty quarrels with friends, neighbors, workmates and even relatives. Lack of self-esteem (that developed over many years) and humility to pass-off perceived slight offenses. 

This attitude sucks energy, enthusiasm, spiritual well-being and opportunities to engage in constructive activities and in building meaningful relationships.


Many with what seemingly behavior and attitude problems can sometimes make a molehill of a mountain. That's right - making big-deals of small matters, but making no-deals of big problems and matters, like downplaying the value of relationships with others like neighbors, workmates and even bosses.


Taking oneself so seriously - and taking others even in their spontaneous and playful moods so seriously - takes a toll towards healthy self-respect and balanced thinking. Emotionally draining.

Shortcuts and the Habit of Taking Shortcuts

Tendency to take shortcuts, even if doing so is an act of serious crime. In the Philippines, it's something you can't very seriously fault the simple folks with - they know they exist in a severely corrupt society with so many very corrupt church leaders and public officials, so they rationalize that in comparison, what they do are benign. 

My life was stolen from me, not once. Our lives a target of murder a few times, maybe even now. But I would not use such reasoning to commit & justify any bad act.


Moreover, stealing from someone vulnerable, or another poor man, or a sick old lady, is a heinous crime. Granted that public officials steal a total of billions in U$ of public funds a year, it's no excuse to steal from me just like that.


Public officials don't feel the pains and sufferings individuals like us bear (they chose to forget or ignore, or numb their conscience by rationalizing), if you are someone who knows me, why steal from me & plan to poison or kill me? A few did that to me, including one who turned out to be, or likely a government agent who demonstrated blatant dishonesty within a few hours I came to know him. He was plausibly sent by officials who protected big drug dealers but in privileged positions in the government.


Over-focus on ends, especially when it's beyond (even impossible) any of your present means, rather than making oneself more capable by some hard work and sacrifices, and patience, can make one commit even serious violent crimes. 

On the other hand, keeping mistresses or engaging in flings that you can hardly afford.
I'm not sure about the extent of nature-nurture combination in this instance, and the social environment, contributing to having this kind of bad attitude.


- as with the rest of this blog, this is for editing, refinement and revisions.


THREE: Vices PLUS Impulsive Decision-Making

What  ails this nation, next to the cancer of corruption in our society? Organized grassroots-based illegal gambling, that hooks millions of household heads among poor and very poor families. The problem is far bigger and far more malignant than the problem of illegal drugs in the country.

Among those in recent memory, only former President Cory Aquino and his son now President Benigno Aquino were not tainted by allegations of receiving tens of millions of monthly bribes from the gambling big bosses of this country. Only former Secretary Roxas who held the top post in the Department of Interior and Local Government did not get tainted by any such accusations too.

There can be fatal in-fighting even among relatives of some political dynasties all because of the conflicts or bickering about who controls what in which area. The gambling lords in the country are movers and shakers in our government, and they are both kingmakers and breakers.

As usual, the millions of poor families pay the price for all of these. Of course even the middle class ones, as they too are to benefit much from any gains in good governance.

Make it your new year's wish, and let them be aware of it, that you wish your parents stop paying bets to "Jueteng" and stop gambling with your money for food and other basic needs, including medicines. The gambling leaders in your area will not be happy, but they will understand. Problem is, in the Philippines, you can get silently persecuted for this - local officials can be informed of your decision.



FOUR: Instant Pleasures & Gratifications VS...
(Long article being edited) 



Why We Created This Blog? When This Idea Came About?

Part of the answer is in the very header of this blog. But how this idea came about? And when?

Many years ago, after my hunger strike against large-scale seized-drugs recycling in the country, I tried to again live a normal life. I did some business. But severely corrupt officials threatened me when I declared to them that I would never participate in "ghost delivery" schemes or excessive overpricing of our products just to satisfy their demands for ridiculously big amounts (or big percentages) of bribes.

It's not to say we didn't give gifts or favors, we did, you always do in this country unless you are ready to forget business with the government (before President Aquino's admin), but not in amounts beyond what our market-dictated prices can offset by way of competitive biz practices. Having survived murder attempts, it was just too much for me to again bear with the new threats. Despite having substantial amounts of collectibles, I had to stop doing business.

I instead used the incident to actively campaign not against severe corruption but many other severe abuses of power by both local and some national officials during the administration of President Arroyo. I spent what to me was a fortune to discreetly advanced our causes then. We can claim a good level of success as to which ends we made sacrifices for. Of course, I paid a dear price for that. Once again, it devastated me, financially and all. But I am alive today.

Save1Lyf blog
http://save1life-stop-that-corrupt-act.blogspot.com

For practical & security reasons, I lived in unlikely places and amongst the poor. There I got to closely observe the habits, behaviors and attitudes of many of the young people, young adults & middle-aged individuals who I thought could otherwise do something to remedy their dire material poverty. Of course, Louie, my company then, nearly cried once as he lamented how we lived in extreme frugality as we tried to help (mainly feed) many of them, in little ways we could.

One of the things that I discovered was that these young & even the old folks needed mentors. So many of the poor, under-educated (formally, but so very street-smart) needed mentors who don't think like them, and who command their respect. We inspired many, we tried to change or rock their mindsets (self-defeating thoughts, sense of helplessness, overly-simplified understanding of things, etc.), we coached many, we tried to instill a new sense of hope and dignity in them. Yes,we lived, we played, we went hungry, we dined, we enjoyed simple pleasures with them. We even got into their petty bickering.

Anecdotal only, but judge for yourself whether or not our observations are valid, and that the suggestions we are to make here are of any practical value to you or any visitor to this site. But we stand by the prcatical benefits of heeding some of our advice here.

Severe Corruption Stays, Widespread Long-Term Poverty Lingers

Texts in the Header Image of this Blog
(We are to type texts you see in every image within a corresponding post in all of our blogs)

Government policies, physical & social environments, race, gender, ethnicity, access to basic social services, health care system, prevalence of diseases, peace & order and security situation - all of these, plus more, explain some of the underlying causes of poverty or foundations of prosperity.

But intertwined in all of these are values, norms (family, tribal & community) & beliefs - & on these is the focus of this blog: Addressing poverty at a personal level, on areas we consider an individual, or a family can help remedy.

___

If in the US, it's somewhat politically dangerous to publicly mention or discuss the culture of poverty - in the Philippines it can be political suicide, & both public officials & activists consciously avoid it.


And rightly so, because in this country, severe corruption is the main cause (partly an effect too) of the widespread long-term poverty that afflicts > than 20 million Filipinos. If public officials dare touch on these issues and speak loudly about these, the general public will point them to the mirror to see the main underlying cause of long-term poverty in the Philippines: decades of severe corruption among most of them.

Therefore we're tackling these issues head on, oops, maybe not. We are to tackle the less offensive ones. Lest the public officials order our lynching on sight.