How Should We React to Issues Today?

Sometimes I miss the times in my childhood, especially when national issues were not as critical and numerous as they are today. Back then, crises showed up one or two at a time and not so life threatening. Today, we're faced with several problems simultaneously, all significant, urgent and consequential--Covid, China and WPS, corruption, inflation, unemployment and drugs, to name a few. And all we can often do is just wait for the impact and react.

Photo by David Hunter on Unsplash.

Some folks say we have to react and voice out protest because silence means tacitly siding with the crooks. Well, as Prof Pek says, that's what they think. Their opinion. Others' opinions are just as good. Different people have different ideas and ways of reacting and they all mostly count. If they want to react and voice their opinions, well and good. If not, it's probably even better.

Being Quiet is Good, Too

If you opt to keep quiet, it's an equally good option. I (Jaden Mero, together with brothers Roy and Gerry--sometimes Boy and Lewy go with us)--used to be a student activist and a journalist airing my activism in news feature articles I wrote about, but later changed mind when I learned more about the realities in life. I'd narrow them down to this--no matter how I fought for what was right, I still lacked money. But the activist "leaders" stayed rich or even got richer (probably except Ka Crispin Beltran). 

That was what my veteran-journalist dad had been warning me all along, but I chose to pay a deaf ear. He let me march in the streets among faceless crowds of protesters and face the police and military because he probably thought experience would be my best teacher. And he was right. I later figured out how all this was going nowhere. Even silly. After the smoke cleared, we were still struggling to make money while our "leaders" continued with their good lives. 

Dad's quiet wisdom as a veteran journalist finally made sense to me.

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I still keep abreast with news developments here and abroad but I keep most things to myself and GOD. He alone has the solutions--that's the whole truth--and if we all just listen to him and obey--I mean, really take him seriously--we'd all have more than enough money for daily needs and wants. Without Him, nothing meaningful can happen, anyway. So why react or voice out my opinion? Why get angry on issues? Why go out and march?

Model It

Does keeping quiet on issues then mean siding with the crooks? Not really. The most effective way to fight wrong is to share what is right. And you can do this quietly. I believe the quieter you do it, the more effective "noise" you make. First, model what is right through your life and relationships. That's how action speaks louder than words. A lot of "righteous" noise makers become hard-to-reach, snobbish superstars that put up security walls around them. And because of overstress they become bad-tempered.

I understand the need for limits and boundaries (even Jesus had them), but acting snobbish superstars? Like traditional politicians who would not meet casually with ordinary folks but require them to go through channels for appointments. Unfortunately you see this even with big-time church ministers or preachers. They have this superstar aura.

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Never Expect Help

Government is good and so are public servants. But expect help from them? Sometimes they may prove helpful, and I appreciate them for it, but mostly not. But it doesn't bother me anymore. Sometimes I react and protest, but mostly just keep quiet, knowing how "superstars" think about other people. It saves me time and energy and keeps me cool, relaxed and peaceful--something I wish my wife would also master.

Instead, I learned to look out for myself. I found that mostly you can't expect much help except from God and yourself. And God expects us to use what he makes available to us, like big opportunities. We should learn how to have a trained and accurate eye for them. God provides supernaturally and also materially, like his manna in the desert in Moses' time. It was supernatural and yet it was material--manna was something you cooked and made into loaves. Something you could touch and literally eat.

Grab Financial Opportunities

When God made cyberspace accessible to humans (he had created it a long time ago) he also opened up a lot of big possibilities and opportunities to us, especially online livelihoods and investments. And it seems so timely that the peak of online profitability coincided with the Covid pandemic and lockdowns, so that perceptive people with foresight ventured into online businesses and made huge profits, while the rest lost their jobs or went bankrupt--and complained.

Instead of ending up always a casualty during crisis and inflation and catastrophes, and instead of getting angry at this and protesting and marching in the streets and whatnot, smart folks quietly tried to make money online and succeeded. A lot even turned millionaires. 

Those who tell us to go out and protest and make our voice heard will never put food on our tables. An online business will. If you chance on an online business or investment that works, you won't have to be so affected by negative events like inflation or a weakened economy anymore, especially if your online activity has worldwide reach. 

Like how Forex or Cryptocurrency, for instance, is not locked in the dire developments of any one country or affected by the meddling greed or politicking of the unscrupulous, especially kept safe in blockchain technology. You can always grow your money by buying from a losing currency and then selling when it gains in value. But it's risky. I warn you, it's risky. But very profitable. 

Yeah, there are lots of risks and scams with online businesses and investments, but just helplessly watching yourself as a casualty in the ups and downs of the economy (mostly down) is a bigger risk. You just wait what happens to you and hope some help would come. Or depend on your fixed salary or pension pay. That is a bigger risk to take from which you cannot hope for any ROI someday.

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MGA TAUHAN: Ako (si Jaden Mero, and me-akda ng Kwentong Otcho), si Prof Pekwa, Pareng Babes, Mr. Bean, Badong, Sabas, Roy and Gerry (mag-utol), Sir Tony (teacher), Totoy Golem, Dagul, Derek, Gerald d Dyaryo-Bote, Victor the taho vendor, Sikyong Pedro, si Lewy (o Lowie), si Boy at si Bisoy. O nga pala, si Boy at Bisoy ay mga bagong members ng Otcho Boys---although si Boy ay matagal na sa Otcho. Yun nga lang, matagal ding nawala dahil umuwi sa Butuan. Pero bumalik na siya. Si Bisoy (Bisayang Baboy ang tukso sa kanya kasi mataba siya) ay nangungupahan naman sa likod-bahay nila Boy.

How To Be Happy Outdoors While Staying Covid-Free

The first day when Modified ECQ was put in place, multitudes of people flocked to the streets and malls to see what's happening. Some say they terribly missed SM malls. A few of them were out to gladly report for work for the needed income. And most of them seemed totally unmindful about the deadly virus. In short, a lot of them wanted to enjoy the limited freedom made available. [Picture above from this site].

Parang me mga ka-ocho nga akong nakita sa news e. Isa ka ba dun? Hehe.

We can't blame people aching to go out after being locked down at home for some 3 months, more or less. But what we worry about is the probability of them ending up with the virus and spreading it all over, especially in their homes and barangays. Mas nakakatakot pag asymptomatic carrier ka. You will be spreading the virus without anyone knowing it.

But we all have the right to be happy. But then, this right might be the very thing that would get us in trouble and end up in the ICU or crematorium--not to mention the scary second wave scenario. So, how do we do it? How do we become happy outdoors again while staying Covid free? To many of us, happiness is roaming around or traveling. Sa totoo lang, happiness to Pinoys is malling and shopping. 

Pero wag naman tayong mamasyal ngayon or gumala-gala lang. Alis lang tayo ng bahay pag kelangan talaga. Yung pag-gala me katuturan at urgent talaga. Paano bang gumala ng di napepeligro ng Covid 19? Pwede kaya ito?

Here are some vital tips, aside from wearing masks, observing social distancing and always washing your hands:

1. Avoid crowds. Kung pupunta ka sa SM, piliin mo yung rutang hindi ma-tao. Medyo loner muna tayo. Umiwas sa mga tao. Better if you can walk to it. From Munoz to SM is only 15 minutes or less. Mag-payong ka. Magdala ka ng bottled water but DO NOT drink when exposed to the public or amid crowds. Choose a place where you are isolated and drink quickly there. DON'T touch the mouth of the bottle with your hands.

2. Don't touch. Kahit ano, don't touch hangga't maaari. Not even your face--lalo na your eyes, nose or lips. Don't touch handrails, doors, door knobs, or anything with your bare hands. So always bring tissue paper with you and use that to hold things, if you need to hold them--lalo na pag sasakay sa jeep or tricycle, or bababa. And always bring a small bottled and sprayable alcohol to clean your hands with, lalo na pag inaabot mo ang sukli. 

But even with hands sprayed with alcohol, don't touch your face.

3. Less Talk. If not necessary, don't talk with anyone. Remember, the virus can only travel if released from the mouth. When people talk they release tiny vapors from their mouths, and these vapors can float and travel some distance. So it's safe if we talk less with people. Bawal muna chikahan at chismisan. Yung chismis bawal talaga yan. Ayaw ni Lord. We can respond with a nod, a shake of the head, with eye movements or with hand signals. 

If you have to talk, maintain distance. NEVER go near to anyone. If you can't hear them, place a hand on your ear to signify that you can't hear them. 

4. Less Aircon. Avoid places with full air-conditioning. The virus travels better in enclosed places with air-conditioning. So big, super cool malls are not recommendable, really. Well, they have significantly reduced their air-cons na rin yata. Opt for small shops with few people inside. If you have to go to a big mall, choose less cooler places. And don't stay there too long. Bawal tambay. Tumambay ka sa bahay nyo. Unlimited.

5. Breathe well. Some experts say it's not healthy to have a mask on for long hours, definitely not the whole day. You might inhale your own carbon dioxide and that could be fatal. If you have to take a break to breathe deeply, get out of enclosed and air-conditioned places and breathe deeply outside where no one else is around. Make sure no one is within 20 feet from where you are. It's risky to inhale deeply where a guy 20 feet or less away just sneezed or coughed. 

6. Walk. Walk, walk, walk as long as this option is possible. It's safer to walk than ride in buses, jeeps or tricycle. Definitely not in cabs or grabs. Know were shortcut routes are, but always be mindful of safety. Don't take paths that are dark and prone to crimes. Iwas sa riding in tendem. Stay in major routes but avoid crowds. And don't walk on really hot times of the day to avoid heatstroke. 

7. PRAY. Last but not least, always ask God's covering and protection. The safest place on earth is in God's hands. So pray before you leave home, pray as you're out there, and pray when you get back home (pray that God disinfect you). To make sure your prayers are heard by God, you have to have a close relationship with HIM. How? Confess your sins to him, repent of them and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, fully surrendering your life and life plans to him everyday. 

Suggestion lang naman yan. Kung iba paniniwala mo, OK lang. No problem. Stick with your belief. I respect that.

When Back Home

Now, when you're back home from the outside world, do this. Stay in a secluded part of your house, like your garage or porch or just at the main door, and rest there for a while. Don't touch anything and leave your shoes OUTSIDE for disinfecting later. Have everyone hide (hide talaga hehe) or stay away from you. After a 15-minute rest, go straight to the bathroom and bathe. 

After bathing, collect your used clothes and put them straight to your laundry basin. Let it soak there with water and soap for 10 to 15 minutes then wash. Don't let used clothes loiter in the dirty clothes basket for long. Baka me Covid yun kumalat pa. Wash them immediately. Then spray your shoes well with alcohol, especially the soles, and let them dry in a place far from people in your home. 

Pag ganito ugali natin araw-araw, pede tayong mag-saya at magpunta sa mga lugar na kelangan natin puntahan talaga. Pero the best option is STAY HOME pa rin. Wag gumala ng walang importanteng dahilan. 

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Beating Hot Days and Cold Nights

It's November but the days are still hot--especially in the late mornings and early afternoons. It's like summer. Thank God it's beginning to be cold at dawn.

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What do you do when you can't bear the hot, hot, hot summer-like days in Manila anymore? The whole months of March and April, May to November, and now it's almost December--we've been patiently enduring hot days and nights.

Turning the electric fans on give some relief but we try not to use them often for fear that the electric bill would skyrocket. Just imagine how much people spend who turn on their air-conditioners the whole day.

Like Derek and Roy.

What we lower middle class do is make manual fans of hard cartons or cardboard. Sometimes we make fans out of newspapers. Better if fans are made of used illustration boards--like what Prof often does.

Or, we buy plastic or accordion manual fans, like what Aling Lydia has. And then we find satisfaction in drinking iced water. For instance, my wife and I just bought 2 plastic bags of ice for P2 each at a nearby street store. We let that soak in a pitcher of water and later, we enjoy glasses of ice-cold water to fight the heat with.

But during cold early mornings, we like sipping hot Ovaltine.

Plus, we take a bath 3 to 5 times a day--well, we take a bath once and take half-baths the rest of the time.

Now, we're about to go off to Vikings--that posh eating place where you eat all the local and foreign foods you can. for sure, I'm going to just enjoy the cool air-conditioning and cold beverages there.

Zombie sa Ocho!

Meron daw zombie sa Ocho? Confirmed na ba ito ni Prof? Saan sa Ocho? Kelangan mag-ingat lahat!

What if one day you suddenly find yourself in the company of your worst (actually funniest) zombie nightmare? And this because you got too careless about accepting friends on Facebook! And much worse is, you're the prettiest girl in your high school!

Wild stuff that won't happen to you? Well, that was what Ciara also thought. But one day it happened! And the lesson she wouldn't forget from this adventure was--never get too careless about accepting friends on FB!

Ingat-ingat lang pag me time!

This is my first English mystery-adventure e-book! It's titled "The Facebook Post Mystery Adventure." I'm Jaden Mero, an associate blogger on Expert Builder Blog together with other bloggers making up that site. And I'm also an associate blogger for MTrackers--a mystery-detective fiction with location in Project 8, QC. Different authors write about MTrackers and this e-book is my first.

And yes, you might unknowingly add a friend who's a zombie or something similar. The profile pic looks cute but when you meet the guy face-to-face, it's like watching The Walking Dead. So, never "eyeball" a stranger from FB. What happens if you do? Well, this e-book may give you a good idea. Ciara actually went on a long, adventurous and dangerous trip out of Manila just to solve the Facebook post mystery.

Imagine a pretty high school girl out in the dark hillsides of a far-away province in the Philippines, alone, trying to figure out zombies and other dangerous creatures--with so much fun and laughter--all because of one FB mistake! What would happen to her? Would she finally be eaten alive or infected with the virus and spread it everywhere?

Para malaman mo buong kwento, kumuha ka na ng PDF copy mo ng e-book now! Simply click on this link and buy via Paypal. Pagka bayad mo, dadalhin ka agad ng Paypal sa Expert Builder Blog namin para click yung download link!