News from the Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte currently caught the ire of most citizens again when he kissed a woman on the lips on live television. This coincides with his previous issues on rape remarks that by now should have been enough to make him remember that anything related to him and women is pretty sensitive. Then came Kris Aquino and Mocha Uson.
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The Philippines politics is currently a circus — at least that is what some people accuse it of being. Not that a real circus is an embarrassment, but the idea behind its absurdity and deception makes it amusing — but a real circus is supposed to be an entertaining show only and not a term to describe running a country.
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The Philippines finally got a good chance at becoming one of the fastest growing countries in Asia. Surveys show that crime rates are lower — though International Courts have questioned the legitimacy — and the economy is seen as booming. And just recently, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was named one the most powerful men in the world.
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Whilst finding exact numbers can be difficult, most sources estimate that 500,000 to 800,000 men, women and children are working in the sex trade in the Philippines. Sex tourism is mainly clustered around the major cities; however, its effects are felt countrywide where women and children are often forced or coerced away from their rural communities to work in the cities. Selling or paying for sex is actually illegal in the Philippines, however sex workers will be employed as a number of different roles that fall under ‘Entertainment’. Law enforcement turns a blind eye, and often accept bribes from sex workers in the form of sexual favors in order for their continued compliance with the industry.
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Why does the Philippines need to consider divorce law? My mom’s friend was intoxicated with a date rape drug from a soda her “friend” gave her. The next thing she knew, she was sobbing while marching along the aisle, forced to marry the guy who held her captive for three days. She had a long-term boyfriend and she was not marrying him.
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Students getting involved in politics isn’t news in the Philippines. Student protesters, who call themselves activists, allegedly fighting for the rights of their fellow men and standing for those who do not have a voice – at least that is what they say they do. Add to that their self-given right to roast politicians they invited to symposiums not intended as such. They celebrate their ability to make others believe that they are smart enough to criticise someone older or with more experience to the point of public embarrassment. And then they call themselves “educated.” Are they, really?
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How much are you willing to spend to earn your professional title? The normal answer would be: it depends. We know, as professionals, we do not have much choice, do we? But especially in the Philippines, the corruption of professional education is worrying.
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In June 2017, Dengue Fever cases in the Philippines were at 36, 000. Though this is lower than the almost 57,000 cases at the same time in 2016, it is still an alarming figure. A new immunization vaccine, Dengvaxia, promised relief but turned out to may even be more damaging.
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Getting sick in the Philippines is a nightmare. Not only because you do not feel well but because you have to pay for it. It would have been bearable if the cost of medications and treatment is affordable and if you are doing it short-term, but what if you are reliant on maintenance drugs which cost at least half of your monthly income? What would happen to you?
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Depression has long been an issue anywhere in the world and many have recognized how destabilizing it can be. Hence, there have been clinics that cater to the needs of people who think they might be undergoing emotional distress. Studies show that it could be due to several factors and may not just be third-party triggered. As such, people who think they experience this are lucky if they have access to a facility that can help them recover. But not all countries see this as important. In as much as we want each other to be better, in some countries like the Philippines, it is still seen as a laughing matter.
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