On Catastrophe (Ultra)

This was originally posted as comment in Migs' blog (http://migs.wordpress.com)

"I’m also sure that we have learned something from this incident.. But the question is, are we putting in to practice what we have learned? YES… but for how long?"

This is a good question. I've always believed in the saying "history repeats itself," but only in the right context. That is: "If humanity doesn't learn, then history is bound to repeat itself."

Personally, I believe that this was a result of three main causes: security plan, discipline, and government.

Yes, there was a security lapse. 200+ security men and women may have been deployed but that's not enough... not when you're talking about a 30,000 strong crowd. ABS-CBN, Ultra, and the PNP are now pointing fingers at each other, blaming each other for the mishap. But the reality of it is that all of them are answerable for the disaster. The ABS-CBN and Ultra people already knew early on that the number of people coming to the event was growing exponentially each day. They should have created a contingency plan to cover possible scenarios. A stampede is not unexpected when people that many converge in a very limited space. There's where their irresponsibility lies. On the side of PNP, they say that the organizers did not coordinate with them. That doesn't strip them of the fact that as law enforcers they should have had enough initiative (and common sense) to check ABS-CBN for their crowd control plans.

As was stated in the blog, the people themselves are also party to the cause of disaster. Discipline amongst the crowd would have prevented the disaster from happening in the first place. If the gates weren't mounted and people weren't pushing against each other, there wouldn't have been a stampede. The road may not have been paved well, but if the people were being ushered in or at least taking care by not running, they would not have stumbled. Discipline should have ruled, but it did not.

What did rule, however, is poverty... and hope. This is where the government fails. If at one point in time, they stopped politicking, even for one day and concentrated on economic policies (without vested interests, that is), then the people wouldn't have been in the area. If the people were living comfortable lives then there would have been a great reduction to the number of people that went to Ultra. If the government had a very strong labor program then wowowee and the kind of mendicant entertainment it spurns shouldn't have existed in the first place. The lack of these strong policies and programs is the main reason why the Philippines continue to thrive in strife. This is the reason why the people would risk their lives to get a chance even at consolation prizes from the show.

I just hope that this event will really be inculcated in the public's mind. I hope that we really have learned.

But I highly doubt it.

Just look at EDSA.

Dance upon the fire... ramblings

Don't you wish sometimes that you can do this? To let yourself out, see all that you're made of, try to win the toughest challenges ever made, create the most beautiful invention no one appreciates then make everyone fall in love with it as you have?

Living a typical life like mine, you're faced with enough challenges. Sometimes, you're faced with morality hurdles, then there's the ever present financial burden, oh and that love thing (or the lack of it). I don't mean to belittle these hurdles. They're very hard to face, especially since they're recurring... specifically that financial part. hahahaha! But there are times when i wish the challenge was more, i don't know, special. Not the extra-challenge-milyonaryo-kind of special but something truly remarkable.

I want to change the nation. I want to unite the world. I want to dismantle the US Government. I want to demolish poverty. I want to find cure for AIDS. I want to invent an organic, nature friendly material that's tough as steel but pliable as plastic. I want to talk to animals.

ok... that last entry might be a little disturbing... but what the heck!

unfortunately , i won't be able to do any of those things. the world will not permit me. i don't have the power. more importantly, never will i have the power. i am constrained with who and what i am and my role in this society. I am but one of the masses. An ant in a zoo... too little and too common to be noticed among majestic animals.

this is why i get frustrated a lot. i get frustrated with the people who actually wield such power but do nothing except promote their own interests. I don't know how they can sleep knowing that just outside their doors a guy is searching the dumps for food. it's just abominable.

it's sad. too bad i can't be superman and beat the crap out of them. too bad i can't be Dr. Doolittle and arrange for an animalian upheaval. it's sad that as someone too small all i can do is sit back and write blogs about getting frustrated.

if only i can dance upon the fire... then the world will be a very different place.

Big Time

The following entry is originally posted over Sir Oliver's blog as comment:

"i dunno but i was disappointed with Big Time. I was expecting more with all the hype that came with the movie. it was good/entertaining enough, but i still found it lacking.

the comedy was a bit forced, and the movie did not achieve the "darkness" it deserved. medyo gasgas na yung story pero kung nabigyan ng tamang treatment, baka naging film noir pa ang dating niya.

i really shouldn't but i couldn't help but compare it to Utang Ni Tatang, which basically was a gangster film with the right edginess. Mas ok kasi ang characterization dun, mas may lalim for me. mas nakikilala mo yung pagkatao ng bawat karakter. di tulad ng sa Big time na parang inihain na lang sa yo kung ano sila sa pagkakataong yun at hindi kung ano talaga sila sa realidad ng mga buhay nila. tulad na lang nung kay sonny boy, may issues pala siya with the boss pero sa dulo na lang lumabas, medyo pilit pa. I give one point for Big time though for being less dragging than Utang.

interesting twist however with all but one character dying.

all in all, i'd recommend it still for people to watch. magandang foundation sya to change mainstream cinema. but it's not the best i've watched among its genre."