GO! EXPRESS YOURSELF

“No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

-         Article III, Section 4, 1987 Philippine Constitution

Freedom of speech and of expression – the most famous right of every person not only here in the Philippines but in the entire world is given for us to have our right to express our thoughts and ideas. Every people may give his opinion to different kinds of issues around him. No one has the right to stop a person from expressing his points of views.

But, every right has its own limitations. So does the freedom of speech and expression. How will we consider if a person goes “beyond the line” with his freedom of speech and of expression?

For these past few days, I’d encountered different people with different points of views regarding the issue about their freedom of speech and most especially their freedom of expression.

For me, a person abuses his freedom of speech and of expression because of these reasons:

1. A person doesn’t think of the possible outcome of the idea that he will express. We must be responsible enough of everything that will come out of our mouth.
2.  A person is insensitive of others’ feelings. We must be sensitive to others’ feelings. Remember, words, sometimes, are the strongest weapons to hurt someone’s emotion. We could easily forget the physical pain that others gave us rather than the pain they gave us verbally.
3. A person has a great level of self-pride. People with great levels of self-pride sometimes are those who believe in themselves as superiors over other kinds of people. By this, they could easily step off someone’s integrity.

Sometimes, people misinterpret what we say or express. So, we must think first before spitting out what’s on our mind. I am just trying to point out that we have our different levels of understanding. Not all of us have the same interpretations to different issues around us. We don’t have the same Intelligence Quotient level or I.Q. level with each other. For us to avoid arguing with others, we must start thinking first the possible outcome of the words that might come out of our mouth. If you think that others will misinterpret what you will say, it’s better if you will not tell it anymore and just keep it in yourself.

The Constitution provides us the freedom of speech and of expression. We are free to use it by the way we want it. But still, I reiterate that every right has its own limitations. So better think first before you express what is on our mind.

AUGUST 23, 2010 MANILA HOSTAGE TAKING

Ngayong araw na ito ay nagmistulang isang nakakaawa at nakakatakot na kaganapan sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa. Kanina ay naganap, sabihin na natin, ang isa sa mga napakalaking hostage taking sa ating bansa na nanggulat sa ating lahat hindi lamang sa ating mga Pilipino kung hindi sa buong mundo.

Bakit nga ba mayroon paring mga ganitong pangyayari sa ating bansa? Ito ba ay dahil sa kapabayaan ng ating mga opisyales ng pamahalaan o ito ay dahil sa kakulangan ng disiplina ng bawat isa?

Sa nangyari kanina, marami ang nag-react­ sa mga social networking sites tulad ng Facebook. Marami ang nagsasabi na kung pinagbigyan ng mga pulis ang kagustuhan ng hostage taker, sana'y walang namatay. Sa makatuwid, sinisisi nila ang mga pulis kung bakit maraming napaslang sa naganap na hostage taking.

Sa bawat problema, hindi lamang isang tao ang nararapat sisihin sa nangyari. Both parties are held responsible for that. Parang ung hostage taking lang sa Quirino Grandstand. It's not just the policemen's fault na hindi pagbigyan ung demand ng hostage taker. It's also the fault of the hostage taker. Kung hindi siya nang-hostage, hindi sana siya makukulong o mapapaslang. Kung gusto niya talagang bumalik sa pagiging pulis, dapat nakipag-usap siya ng maayos in such a way na walang mapapahamak! Remember, there's a due process of law!

Sa aking sariling obserbasyon, nangyayari itong mga pangyayaring ito sa ating bansa dahil sa kakulangan ng disiplina sa sarili. Isa pang dahilan ay ang kakulangan ng self-control. Hindi mo magagawa ang isang bagay na makakasama sa ibang tao kung disiplinado ka at kung kaya mong kuntrolin ang nararamdaman mo.

Dahil sa kaganapang ito, pito sa labing-apat na mga Hong Kong nationals (kung hindi ako nagkakamali) ang nasawi. At dahil pa dito, naglabas ng kautusan ang gobyerno ng Hong Kong ng top-level black travel alert. Ito ay kautusan na nagpapabawal sa mga Hong Kong nationals na tumungo sa ating bansa dahil sa naganap na pangho-hostage.

Napakalaking epekto ang dinala ng kaganapang ito sa istado ng turismo sa ating bansa. Labis na naapektuhan ang imahe ng ating bansa.

Ano na lamang ang mukhang ating ipapakita sa mga dayuhan? Paano na ang ating bansa?

Instead of thinking negative things, why don't we just think of the best solution that will help to regain the lost percentage in our country's tourism rate? We can't do anything about just what happened a while ago. We can't turn back the time. So, let's just all move on. This event will serve as a lesson to all of us. And the bottom line, there will be no greater weapon than PRAYERS!! God Bless the Philippines!!