tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72306506077768248152024-02-18T21:26:40.510-08:00Dust EntertainmentA blog for your reading pleasure!Dusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11290265039232510084noreply@blogger.comBlogger10313tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230650607776824815.post-71473775258999346812013-06-05T08:56:00.004-07:002013-06-05T08:57:36.490-07:00Filipino Funeral Tradition: A Palamunin Culture<div>
Just recently my mother passed away because of sickness, and currently I am broke and highly in debt and needs a bit of <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/35q24c">financial assistance</a>. Because of this incident I have noticed lots of <a href="http://dustent.blogspot.com/search/label/Social%20Issues">flaws on our culture</a>.</div>
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They say Filipinos are family oriented people, intact and ready to help each other. It may be true, but actually it isn't. Its the other way around, Instead of helping us ease our pain and suffering these some people are making it worse and to top it all, their old tradition and belief is making me crazy. </div>
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Because I live in a small town, it is compulsory to follow all those traditions and belief, if you don't they will scare you with curses and bad luck, so I have no choice but to follow even its against my will.</div>
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Here are some I have experienced during those times.</div>
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1. They have no respect for the dead and its family</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fk_DuaGMN1IFUKDGjys6L4_M3M4ldzRTl9GeVysc0reMbV5bAIwxetmv5kUYXerAuIPwjnJhF0R7nG2LCFL-t2-9D3EktKC7jbrM7az_DFebyxL5R77tqGf9PweiI1HvRE5pUlclNGA/s1600/pinoy+gambling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Filipino Funeral Tradition: A Palamunin Culture" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fk_DuaGMN1IFUKDGjys6L4_M3M4ldzRTl9GeVysc0reMbV5bAIwxetmv5kUYXerAuIPwjnJhF0R7nG2LCFL-t2-9D3EktKC7jbrM7az_DFebyxL5R77tqGf9PweiI1HvRE5pUlclNGA/s320/pinoy+gambling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[image: gamingfloor.biz]</td></tr>
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I have no knowledge on preparing a burial or funeral but I know whats important, a solemn mourning, a respect to the dead and its family, and paying tribute to a lost friend or family member which is I didn't see during our mothers funeral. Besides those lost factors, the most annoying attitude of Filipinos when attending a funeral is that they have no respect to the dead or its family. Here are some of the things I noticed.</div>
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<li><b>Gambling</b>. I don't like gambling, and I don't gamble myself. In a Filipino funeral, it is common to have people gambling and I don't know why. Because of gambling the essence of mourning, and prayers to the dead are lost. These people attends a funeral just to make money out of gambling and I can't do a thing about it because its the norm, but for me its bullshit. Gambling should be held on a casino.</li>
<li><b>Yelling and laughing</b>. I can't blame people who laughs in a funeral but for me it shows disrespect to its family members. Its an insult to those who mourn seriously and a distraction to a suppose to be quiet and important moment for the family members.</li>
<li><b>Just there for the snacks and coffee</b>. When there is gambling, there should be snacks and coffee for the gamblers, and you should serve them like on a fast food restaurant, treat them like a VIP even you don't know them.</li>
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2. Too much spending </h3>
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When you lost someone, it is understandable that you have problems financialy and if you are a sincere person you shouldn't advice on spending too much. But here, its the other way around. People around you always talks about money, what to buy, this and that. They want you to feed everyone for the next 9 days or more. During those times I spent almost 2 thousand pesos each day just to buy those things they thought necessary on a funeral. Their advice didn't help, it didn't ease my pain and it made me broke financialy. </div>
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3. The Palamunins</h3>
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On a traditional Filipino ocassion, it isn't complete without the "palamunins", these are people who just wants free food and drinks at your expense. They don't care about the ocassion, they just want something that is free. Because of these "palamunins" we spent more than 10 thousand pesos on foods, coffee and drinks alone. And on the 9th day it is required to buy a pig worth at least 5 thousand pesos, in other words the 9th day should be a feast. Other families spends more than 10 thousand pesos on pork alone. I ask one of the elders that, what if we will not held a feast on the 9th day, he just said "it is a shameful act not to celebrate on the 9th day" those words annoys me because you just lost a member of your family and now you are required to have feast. What does exactly are we doing, mourning then celebrating?</div>
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<b>Also read</b>: <a href="http://dustent.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-you-didnt-like-about-filipinos.html">Filipino Bad Habits</a></div>
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4. Un practical superstitious beliefs</h3>
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In our towns culture, there are supersitious beliefs that makes me crazy mainly because it is unpractical and health hazardous.</div>
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<li>Cutting your nails are prohibited. Personally, I don't like my nails to be long and I don't know why it is prohibited.</li>
<li>Personal grooming is strictly prohibited. You need to look like shit when you have a dead family member.</li>
<li>You need to keep a nail of a dead person and hide it forever in your home. I say this one is really bullshit, I will not keep a decaying matter in my home because it is dangerous to our health and could lead to a spread of virus. Its like keeping a dead rat on your closet.</li>
<li>9th day is always feast day. I don't like this idea, why should we celebrate when someone is dead?</li>
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5. Outsiders are a threat to security</h3>
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I remember many incidents of shooting and killing during a funeral. The worst incident I happen to know was in Samar where a drunk guy just suddenly appear on a funeral and start stabbing everyone he sees. Because a traditional pinoy funeral is open to everyone, it is very prone to uninvited dangerous people. During our mother's funeral, an outsider just yelled and threatened my brother and sisters, he was just lucky I didn't see him or else I will break his neck. </div>
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Despite my disgust on some of these traditions, I followed most of them because I don't want to make a scene. I keep my calm and do everything exactly as they say. Even though I completed them all, instead of making me feel better, I felt very tired, weak, sick and very sad. I didn't have time to make a tribute to my mother because I was so busy entertaining, running around, buying things, doing some paper works. I was planning a video presentation for her but I was too tired and my brain is like a vehicle running on an empty gas tank, I can't think clearly because they keep dictating me what to do. Instead of doing something to remember her, I was so busy pleasing people that I don't personally know.<br />
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But even though there are things that I don't like during her funeral, there are few people that helped our family emotionally and financially. I also like to give thanks to those who helped even without asking. They are the few that really keep the spirit of giving tribute to a person who passes away.</div>
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<b>Last note:</b> These are just opinions and these traditions does not apply to all Filipinos. I don't blame people if they are not the way they should be. Beliefs and culture are in their system and its very hard to change them especially if its the life they have been doing since they were a child. It just makes me sad why a lot of people are following a tradition without asking why they should do it. </div>
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Dusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11290265039232510084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230650607776824815.post-42741386323209420212013-05-08T09:16:00.004-07:002013-05-08T09:27:23.978-07:00Election Dirty Tactics in the PhilippinesElection is a hot topic in my country and I wanted all people to know what is happening during and after the election and after that I will be back with my regular posting.<br />
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Campaign period is almost over and that why politicians are doing all they can to campaign and be noticed by its constituents, but for those who wanted an easy win, they let a bullet seal their win. Just recently a mayoralty candidate was shot during his campaign speech and no one has any idea who the gunmen were.<br />
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<b>Also read:</b><br />
<a href="http://dustent.blogspot.com/2013/02/who-is-traditional-politician-trapo.html">Who is the traditional politician?</a><br />
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Assasination is the dirtiest tactic in Philippine election. Many elections has passed but still people get killed just for the sake of winning a seat in the government. No matter how our government put an effort to end election violence there seems no solution to it.<br />
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Besides violence there are also election related dirty tactics in the Philippines, here are some of it:<br />
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Vote buying</h3>
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[image: <a href="http://www.pcv.com.ph/news/show_news/April2013/20">pcv.com.ph</a>]</div>
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This is probably the most common dirty tactics during election. Politicians hire "team leaders" to give money on the voters. These people usually appear on the day before the election, roaming at midnight and early in the morning. They carry a huge bag full of money with stickers of the candidate then give it to the voter in return of promising to vote their candidate. Team leaders are scattered in different barangays and municipalities, they are usually known in their own barangay so that people will trust them easily. </div>
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Campaign materials removing</h3>
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Politicians will do anything to get noticed and one of the easiest way to do that is flood the whole town with their own campaign materials. But you are not the only one doing that, that is why some are backlashing others campaign materials to replace it with their own. These people are paid to remove or paint campaign materials of their political opponent.</div>
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Assasination</h3>
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[image: <a href="http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2013/03/05/915904/editorial-no-end-election-violence">Philstar.com</a>]</div>
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As I have mentioned above this is the deadliest among election dirty tactics. Politicians in desperate to win hires hitmans to do their dirty work. If you notice this country is full of political dynasties and behind those families are mercenarries, ready to kill for money. Candidates who are trying to clash with a dangeroues politician often gets threatened or worse, get killed. </div>
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Flying voters</h3>
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In the Philippines the dead can still vote, yes! they can, thanks to flying voters. They are people using names of the dead and pretends to be them during election. Flying voters are used by politicians so that they can vote many times on different precincts.</div>
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Television brainwashing</h3>
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Campaigning on TV might not be a dirty tactic, but to some it is unfair because <b>only the rich can afford to advertise</b> themselves on national television. It is also a way to brainwash audience on their political motives and platforms. Most of the things they promise are all lies and very unlogical, I will give a sample:</div>
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Bam Aquino has said:</div>
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Sisiguraduhin ko na lahat ng Filipino may trabaho. Lahat may negosyo. (I will ensure that all Filipinos will have a job and a business).</blockquote>
This is very unrealistic, because there is no country that has zero unemployment rate and by giving all people a job could promote child labor and if everyone has business there will be no worker.<br />
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This words promised by Mr. Aquino is misleading and unrealistic.<br />
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Another negative effect of too much TV advertising is dictating the winners based on surveys, it may not be accurate but surveys plays a big role in a candidates chance of winning because it influences voters on whom to vote. A politician usually won based on popularity and not on skills, personal achievenents or credibility to become a leader.<br />
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An example is Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, she is being criticized for her lack of achievements and skills as senatorial candidate. She didn't attend any senatorial debate on national TV and she even admit that she only run as Senator because her daddy wants to. But besides her lack of credibility she is very popular on surveys, she even ranked number 3.<br />
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I can't blame TV stations for advertising politicians, because it is still business. In fact ABS-CBN earned more than a billion on political advertisements alone, wow!<br />
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Personal sabotage</h3>
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If you can't beat them with your platforms, why not sabotage their personal life. In the Philippines personal sabotage is a common dirty tactic, by doing some black propaganda against your opponent you can destroy their morale as well as what people see on them. These politicians usually digs a hole on the opponents personal life, whether its about their family background, past cases, corrupt practices, they expose them instead of giving the people their clear platforms. They give people the reason not to vote this candidate.</div>
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These are just some of the political dirty tactics in the Philippines, if you happen to know some kindly share on the comments below.<br />
<br />Dusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11290265039232510084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230650607776824815.post-84475843635619440612013-04-18T19:54:00.000-07:002013-05-08T09:37:37.313-07:00Is the Philippines really rich during the time of Pres. Marcos?I like joining conversations on forums sites such as yahoo.ph, and one of the most debated topic is the question that "is really the Philippines rich during the time of late President Marcos?". A lot of people are giving small information about the Marcos achievement during that time, and so is the anti Marcos, who denies those facts and declaring it the darkest time in Philippine history especially the Martial Law victims.<br />
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<i>The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, a project accomplished by Marcos but wasted by the next Presidents. If fully functioned, it could decrease our Electronic rates from 20%-40%. A project that Marcos entrusted to Cory Aquino before he died, he said that if the power plant will not be used, he predicted 20 years from then, the Philippines will become one of the poorest country in Asia. A prediction that became true.</i></div>
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I was born in the year 1986, the year where Martial law has ended, but my young age doesn't restrict me from knowing the truth from the past. I watched and read documentaries from freelance journalist on Martial law and compare them to the one I see on National TV. I even ask old people what is was like during those time.<br />
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I remember one day, I asked my aunt what was their lives during the Marcos era, is it hard? do soldiers grab people and put to jail without reason? I asked the questions related to the abuse by the Marcos government based on what I see on national TV. But she replied, No, there were no abuses on their province. She remembered very well that there are parts on each city that there is a feeding program everyday, we call it "<b>bulgur</b>", a rice based soup packed with vitamins and minerals. It was said to be implemented because the President wanted the next generation to be not malnourished and smart. But sad to say, there are no feeding programs like that today.<br />
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<b>Also read:</b><br />
<a href="http://dustent.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-korean-think-about-filipinos.html" target="_blank">what Koreans think about the Filipinos</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVafs7ZqqVwHEmFZYJnUQdlurdiXpTasfE9GN-Xq-knAsBjCnrb7a40DEWBaDou5cTl9lXdH8E1kipv1elh5JjyTh8J9TEuTEwhLOnaKwrmyS_GL0UkuRdwD7tFi7I3zlOnEtnlLPCLQo/s1600/Apo+lakay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" during="" height="253" marcos="" of="" philippines="" pres.="" really="" rich="" s="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVafs7ZqqVwHEmFZYJnUQdlurdiXpTasfE9GN-Xq-knAsBjCnrb7a40DEWBaDou5cTl9lXdH8E1kipv1elh5JjyTh8J9TEuTEwhLOnaKwrmyS_GL0UkuRdwD7tFi7I3zlOnEtnlLPCLQo/s320/Apo+lakay.jpg" the="" time="" width="320" /></a>I also experienced a bit of the "<b>Marcos touch</b>", remembered it very well when I was about 4 years old, a former crony of Marcos was the Mayor of my hometown. And it was beautiful compared today, our small town has a huge swimming pool in front of the capitol hall with dolphins in there where you can feed them as you like, across the pool is a mini Disneyland where kids can really enjoy and have a good time. But since the end of the Marcos power and so is the end of our beautiful town, corruption is now trending. Our once beautiful pool is now a place for prostitutes, snatchers, and rugby boys. I don't know what really happened, time has changed so fast.<br />
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Our country is on a downfall since then, and if you wonder is the Philippines really rich during those time, here are some facts that might prove it is indeed true.<br />
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President Ferdinand Marco and his accomplishments:</h3>
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<li>Richest in Asia, second to Japan</li>
<li>First country to have an Airport in South East Asia</li>
<li>First country in Asia to have a Train</li>
<li>Number 1 in the world in Rice and Sugar exporting</li>
<li>There are no illegal drugs, you can't even drink and get drunk on the streets</li>
<li>There are only a few OFW's because the government is self sufficient with jobs</li>
<li>Foreigners can't own a land property</li>
<li>Peso to US dollar, $1=P1.50</li>
<li>The only President that doesn't use written speech</li>
<li>Only President who defends himself on the court without the use of an attorney</li>
<li>Only President who is a world war II veteran</li>
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He also made some accomplished projects without promising it to the Filipino people</div>
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<li>Manila International Airport (Now NAIA)</li>
<li>LRT-1, a first in southeast Asia</li>
<li>Heart Center of the Philippines</li>
<li>Nayong Pilipino</li>
<li>Kidney Center</li>
<li>Bataan Nuclear Power Plant</li>
<li>PICC</li>
<li>Philippine Lung Center</li>
<li>Golden Mosque for Muslim</li>
<li>Folk Arts Theater</li>
<li>SLEX and NLEX, a first in southeast Asia</li>
<li>San Juanico Bridge</li>
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These accomplishments are still being used by the Presidents who followed. But sad to say some of these projects are forgotten, if used wisely it could benefit this country.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b><br />
<a href="http://dustent.blogspot.com/2012/02/edsa-revolution-downfall-of-nation.html" target="_blank">EDSA revolution: The downfall of a Nation</a></div>
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I keep wondering about the accomplishments of past Administrations, and none has come even close even if you combine them all.</div>
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Now, if you ask me if the Philippines was rich before, my answer is a concrete YES!</div>
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Dusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11290265039232510084noreply@blogger.com