Edukasyon at Kamulatang Pulitikal

By Gilbert M. Forbes
 
Sa naganap na eleksyon sa America kung saan nailuklok ang ika-44 at kauna-unahang itim na pangulo, marami ang nainggit at nangarap na nawa ay mangyari rin ang ganun sa atin.

Mabilis, malinis at walang bangayan sa pagitan ng nagwagi at natalo. Anumang naging tunggalian ay agad na natapos sa pagsasara ng tabing ng halalan. Agad na tinatanggap ng natalo ang kanyang kapalaran at binabati ang mapalad kasabay ang pangangako ng suporta.

Marahil ito ay dahil sa mataas na antas ng pulitikal na kamalayan ng mga mamamayang Amerikano na di tulad natin. Isa ito sa dapat na tutukan ng lahat ng nagnanais ng pagbabago at pag-unlad ng ating bansa, ang pagkakapit bisig upang mabigyang pansin ang pagpapataas sa pulitikal na kamalayan ng mamamayan.

Kung magkakaroon ng mataas na pulitikal na kamalayan ang bawat isa, matuto na tayong pumili at maghalal ng tangi at s’yang nararapat. Sa puntong ito, hindi na magkakaroon ng puwang ang mga pulitikong mangmang at personal na interes lamang ang hangad na isulong kundi pulitikong may sapat na kakayahan at tunay na pagnanais na maging lingkod bayan.

Malaki ang papel dito ng paaralan. Matagal na ring bigo ang paaralan na makahubog ng mamamayang may mataas na antas ng oryentasyon o kamulatang pulitikal. Pero nararapat ba itong magpatuloy?

Napapanahon na upang ang paaralan ay maging kabahagi ng lipunan. Sa pamamagitan lamang nito matutuldukan ang krisis na pampulitika sa ating bansa.

Ang Pagsasaka at Kagutuman

By Gilbert M. Forbes
 
Para sa isang bansang pagsasaka ang pangunahing ikinabubuhay, nakapagtataka na maging ikaapat sa may pinakamaraming nagugutom sa buong mundo ang Pilipinas lalo na at napakalalawak ng lupang sakahan at napakaraming nakatiwangwang. Mataba ang lupa na sagana sa dilig ng ulan at klimang katamtaman di tulad sa bansang Rusya at mga bansa sa Africa na tulad ng Somalia.

Marahil, maituturing na may kinalaman ito sa nagbabagong pananaw natin hinggil sa pagsasaka at kapabayaan na rin ng ating pamahalaan. Katunayan, dahil mas mura ang umangkat kaysa likhain o anihin ang pagkain dito sa atin, 85% ng ating pagkain ay imported. Di nga ba’t ang bigas natin ay imported? Pati ng karne at gulay eh,

Sana, imbes na mamudmod ng bilyon-bilyong pera, ay gamitin na lamang ito sa industriya ng paglikha ng pagkain kahit di kasingmura ng angkat upang ang ating mga magsasaka ang makinabang sa gayon lalo silang magsusumikap. Mapipigilan din ng tuluyan ang migrasyon mula sa mga kanayunan patungo sa kalunsuran at magaganyak ang mga nagugutom at naghihirap sa lunsod na bumalik na sa kani-kanilang probinsiya.
Tulad sa Thailand, lalaki ang produksyon at bababa ang presyo nito at maaari pang tayo naman ang mag-export. Panahon na rin upang baguhin natin ang pagtingin sa manwal na paggawa tulad ng pagsasaka.

Huwag na sana na nating hintayin na dumating ang pagkakataon na meron nga tayong pambili, ngunit wala namang mabibili sapagkat mas mahusay pa rin na kahit walang pambili ay busog at hindi gutom!

What to do with 13th month pay

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 06:15:00 11/04/2008

Common Pnoy psychology when receiving additional money or the money itself is to think of what he can buy out of it. Very few think of saving or doing the things that experts will advise. The following are the things that we could do with our 13th month pay and of course, to our bonus.

1. Pay off debt. If you have substantial credit card debt or other forms of debt, use your 13th month pay to pare down this debt. This will help you shorten the paying period and lower your interest expense. Being debt-free is liberating and will improve your financial standing.

2. Save. If you haven’t started a savings fund at all, this is the time to do so. We’re up for uncertain times ahead financially because of the global financial slowdown, so save when you can. Use the full amount of your 13th month pay to jumpstart your savings fund, or if you have other needs to meet, save at least 10 to 20 percent of your 13th month pay.

3. Invest. Saving is putting away money for the future. Investing is making that money work for you. If you put your money in investment vehicles, it is possible to earn interest or yield on it without you having to put extra work in. Examples of investments you can go into using the amount received as your 13th month pay include: time deposits, mutual funds, unit investment trust funds, and equities or stocks. Time deposits give a higher rate of return than savings accounts, but your money will have to be locked up for the entire term (e.g., 30 days, 60 days, 360 days, etc.). You can have a more diversified investment portfolio using mutual funds and UITFs which are available through financial institutions and banks, respectively. With these, you can invest for as little as P5,000. Mutual funds and UITFs come in different forms and may invest in fixed income instruments, bonds, or stocks, or a combination of these. With direct investment in stocks, on the other hand, you may take your pick of a company stock and invest for the long haul even with just the minimum board lot (minimum investment required). Investments come with certain risks, so study the matter thoroughly before jumping in. We recommend consulting with an investment specialist that can help you determine your risk appetite and investment horizon – two critical things to know before you get started.

4. Start a small business. Yes, you can do this even with just a small capital. Use your 13th month pay, for instance, in buying ingredients and start a cupcake business you can attend to during the weekends. If you like fashion, buy clothes wholesale in bargain centers or have clothing apparel subcontracted then sell these to your friends and officemates. You may be surprised that some businesses can be started with just P5,000 to P30,000 in capital. Even at P500 one could start a small business.

5. Share. The Christmas season is a time for giving and sharing, so why not share your blessings? Many orphanages would be happy to receive a donation for orphaned kids. Some organizations like World Vision and UNICEF also let you sponsor a child’s education for as little as P450 a month or meet their needs in other ways. There are also a lot of people needing medical help, and it will be a blessing to them if funds can be coursed through organizations like Kythe, among others. Those are already five wise ways to spend your 13th month pay, and we haven’t included shopping yet. Think about it and decide wisely.

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