I was sleeping soundly on a Sunday morning (yes, my day-off, but I don't mind) when our editor-in-chief JV Rufino gave me a ring for a story. He asked me to verify a certain radio report that around 10,000 people converged at the Quirino Grandstand because some fool had promised to give them cash gifts.
I assumed it was just another ha-ha or exagerrated story, something not really worthy to write about, especially on a peaceful, sunny Sunday morning. I was dead wrong.
It turned out to be true, and indeed there were people mad enough to give false hopes during trying times (Christmas is coming soon and we know how sad Christmas can be for the less fortunate). What's more depressing is the fact that around fifteen thousand people actually believed they will be given a hundred thousand each!
Hay. Last month, there's this guy who had the guts to use media as his human barricade while leading a revolt at the Manila Peninsula. Then there's this woman who had the guts to actually bring along over a dozen lawmakers for her Euopean trip while the country is suffering from its almost all-time low poverty state.
What's happening to our country? It's irritating to hear all these news. And I'm telling you, it is more irritating to write all about these things. Grr. What an irritating Sunday.
--------------------------------- (Click title to view full story.)
Hope of cash gift brings 15,000 to Quirino grandstand
But go home empty-handed
MANILA, Philippines--(UPDATE) Around 15,000 people, mostly from Northern and Southern Luzon provinces, arrived at the Quirino grandstand Sunday, hoping for a P100,000 Christmas cash gift from a certain charitable foundation, police said.
But those who came eventually went home empty handed and hungry as the man who had promised them money holed out at the nearby Manila Hotel, said Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, Manila police district director.
----------------
Yeah, I agree. It's sad how the political situation seems to be worsening while the rest of the dollar-crazed country is more excited about opening their balikbayan boxes from their OFW relatives.
ReplyDeleteHope you weren't part of those used as a human barricade.
See you around, Thea! ;-)
haha.. i read the story this morning lang. I remember this cult (in the guise of a religion) in this country, who said that the end of the world was already upon us. The members quickly sold (or left) their belongings, property, and money to hide in the mountains (Banahaw ata or some other mountain). After a day the day passed and everyone knew that they were fooled, the leader disappeared and the members went home without any money or basically anything.
ReplyDeleteit is a culture of mendicancy we have. people have forgotten that they have to do honest work in order to live. instead, they pin their hopes on noontime shows like wowowee, raise their daughters to dance like luningning, viva hotbabes or the masculados, sell their votes and wait for handouts.
ReplyDeletesino namang gago gumawa nun? nang bad trip lang.
ReplyDelete