As I peruse the nature of pain, I realize that the pain never goes away.  But if that is the case, then everybody would be miserable.  Yet, despite of the fact that everybody experiences pain, not everyone is being tormented by the thought of it.  This is because, the pain becomes something else - maybe it is taken as an inspiration (its new form).  A concrete example is a child being looked down by her own relatives because of her family's status.  Her relatives have created a stigma to her memory which is painful, and it torments her when someone would remind her that or if she remembers it.  However, pain cannot continue to dwell when she will take it as a challenge and make this as something else that will fuel her to be better.  Although, I personally believe that to achieve something out of hidden hatred or what-not is not good.  But I would rather be fueled by it than to remain in self pity.  My point is, one should not allow pain to continue to agonize him/her. 

When a voltage (electrical potential energy) passes through two series resistors, the voltage is divided.  In relation to pain, when it is shared it becomes bearable.  The pain did not dissipate in one way or another.  Considering division of work, it would be difficult if only one person is working in a group.  Responsibility is burdensome and it becomes painful when no one is willing to take part.  But if everybody shares a bit of it, it becomes enduring. This is one of the reasons why it is condemning to see selfish people or a person not willing to help.  Even though, one would argue that to help is not obligatory, it is a social imperative because each and everyone is living in a society.  If a particular person denies his/her responsibility to help, then maybe s/he should live in his/her island.

Sometimes, it is necessary to create relationships and links to existing laws - whether in science, philosophy or anything in general.  There are things that people already know but to busy to care about.

The Philippines does not look that bad when you are viewing it from the top to the ground. 

They say that the poor are discriminated.  Yes, discrimination happens almost all the time despite of legal equality but this does not only occur to those who are having a hand-to-mouth existence but it is experienced by affluent individuals.  When a rich person walks at the narrow lane of the squatters, people stare at him/her with envy or hatred - as if it is a SIN to be rich and that the person does not deserve the kind of life s/he has.  Are those stares even justified?  Who are robbed?  Who are often victimized and being asked for ransom?  And because they are filthy rich that is their destiny?  And that poverty becomes an excuse to murder someone? to be immoral?

I wish to understand the notion that a person deserves to win because s/he is poor.  I remember watching reality shows wherein those who become champions are the ones who suffered so much in life because they are poor.  In my opinion they do not deserve the title.  They did not win because they are better but because they are being pitied.  That an individual who has the right to claim the reward is void of doing so because s/he is gifted enough and blessed with material things.  Can anyone call it justice? 

It is sad that one should accept this kind of reality.  Winning out of pity is not something to celebrate.  When can a person learn to stand up on its own when others seem to shoulder that person's responsibility?  That this person should reason out that s/he deserves something not because s/he works hard for it but because s/he is poor.  That the gauge of sympathy is wealth and it goes to someone who is having scarcity.  How will they get up from that pit?  Through other's help?  Maybe they could get up because someone else is good enough to offer help.  But I am certain that no matter how many help they get they are doomed to wallow and fail because they never had the backbone to stand up on their own. 

I am not an elitist but I hate it that people make excuses saying they are poor when in truth they really do not have a backbone to help themselves. 

Contemptible, it is!

But should I be considered irresponsible just because I didn't take part on this election? Should I be gagged for declining my right to vote? Should I have to shoulder the blame of what this country has become or what it will become?

Fortunately, for those Americans and Europeans who were blessed to have the best of everything that almost all other nations aspire to have but the Filipinos are not so blessed at all. Ever since the Spanish colonization, the American and Japanese invasion nothing much has changed. The Philippines remain to be the same old Philippines. And despite all the opinions that the Philippines was richer, that it was more economically and politically stable during the Marcos regime, I beg to differ. The Philippines has never been rich and economically-politically stable. If anyone has declared that it was, then I do not bother of changing your view. At least, you can fill your mind with wonderful memories of the past that didn't exist.

In my heart I still believe that the Philippines will be better. If not sooner, maybe later. However, I do not think that practicing my right to vote will make the Philippines better. The election today is not about choosing between good and evil. It is choosing between the evil and less evil. Why should I drag myself in a muddy, smelly, dirty place to register? and vote? I am only giving some people the chance to exploit the right of the poor, to promote tyranny and corruption. Those leaders who are powerful think that they are great but they are no better than anyone else. They cannot exist without the exploits and poor. They are the most dependent and the worst parasite ever existed in the universe!

This culture is not appropriate. Why should I buy it?

In my own little way I can help this country but voting is not an option (for now).

***I thought the urban places have the most dreadful election but the rural areas are the worst-ess. Somewhere in Cotabato (where my sister went to experience being a paralegal), the mayor has been governing its place for ten years (more or less). The people serving the tyrant are willing to die and kill for the sake of loyalty. And somewhere in Compostella Valley, a congressional candidate gave four hundred pesos to the residents. A classmate showed her eight new fifty pesos given by the candidate. Obviously, the money was just withdrawn from the bank.