Cover Letter

Dear Readers,


The Rh Bill is a big issue here in the Philippines. Whether you are rich, poor, whatever religion, age, gender you have your own opinion and your own stand. The people are not decided and often have conflicting stands. The reason for this is not all people are informed correctly. Some are correctly informed, but most are misinformed. I may just be a student, but I am very interested in this social issue because it will directly affect me and my future. I make sure that I am properly informed, and I know it's implications. Because of the information that I seemed about this bill, this made me have a stand. In this blog, I present my stand and my opinion regarding the RH bill. If you are reading my blog, I don't expect you to stand with me. What my goal is in writing this blog is to present my stand and to make those who are in different opinions with me, to look at the glass half empty rather than half full.

Enjoy reading this blog and God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Czar Dominic P Villarama.

Visual Communication (Minor Essay)

As a marketing major, I need to know how to catch the attention of people. This is because marketing is about networks. It is also about communicating with others to make them get your idea. According to my research, there are many kinds of communication. One of those is visual communication. According to a website, Visual communication is communication through visual aid and is described as the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or looked upon. Visual communication in part or whole relies on vision, and is primarily presented or expressed with two dimensional images, it includes: signs, typography, drawing, graphic design, illustration, co lour and electronic resources.

Why is visual communication relevant in my career?

As marketing major, visual communication is very important. It is not only important when I graduate but also during my college life. It is important in my college life, because in most of my classes, I will be presenting or advertising either papers or projects etc. In which visual communication is very important. It will be more important in the future because when the time comes that I will work, as marketing major I will need to endorse and advertise my product. An in advertising, visual communication is more important than auditory communication. One main reason for this is that in visual communication, there is little or no language barrier at all. Everyone will understand what you want to say whether from different cultures or different nationalities. This is one main advantage of visual communication and as marketing major, visual communication is very important and will greatly benefit me in the future. 

Sources:

Barski, A. (2009) Types of Visual Communication ehow.com Retrieved September 11, 2013

David Sless (1981). Learning and visual communication

Kenneth Louis Smith (2005). Handbook of visual communication: theory, methods, and media

http://www.ehow.com/info_8159750_types-visual-communications.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_communication

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121012111126AAj2W5A

opinion.inquirer.net

Google images

GMO's (Minor Essay)

Recently, I attended a seminar here in DLSU which is about GMO's or genetically modified organisms. Here is my take on the issue.

At first, I found the seminar very ironic. This was because the speaker is a bio technologist and she is conducting seminars against biotechnology. However when I thought more about it, the fact that the speaker was a bio technologist, that makes her very credible and that makes her claims more believable. I already have knowledge of some of the facts that she presented. Such as bt corn, what biotechnology is and many more. However, she explained this things farther and those made things clearer. I was already aware of what Bt corn was but she explained how widespread bt corn in the Philippines actually was. Also, because of the speaker, I know that the farmers in the Philippines are against bt corn and are pro native. Also, I now know that the farmers are forced to plant genetically modified organisms particularly corn even though they prefer to plant native corn. At the back of my mind, I know that most of the food that I eat is genetically modified. I also know that there are rumors about go's having some effects and being cancerous. The speaker explained the diseases that gmo's can cause. What I didn't like about the seminar was that the speaker was very biased. I know for a fact that there are also good things that gmo's can contribute however, the speaker only focused on the bad side of gmo's and biotechnology. I would appreciate the seminar more if it explained both the good and bad side of gmo's. The main goal of the speaker was to make a movement on which products which are gmo's will have labeling on them. I support this because I want the people to be informed of the products that they consume because this has a impact on their health.

Divorce in the Philippines (Minor Essay)

This essay is about a documentary film that I have watched which explains why divorce is not legal here in The Philippines

The main issue in the documentary film was about legalizing divorce in the Philippines. This issue is both interesting and controversial because the Philippines and the Vatican are the only two nations in which divorce isn't legal. To understand and appreciate this documentary more, the viewers must first understand the situation here in the Philippines. It is unique in the Philippines because this country is highly conservative. The church has a huge impact on the lives of the people including the decisions they make. Many politicians are supporting the divorce bill however, as stated in the documentary, the church having a huge impact on the people may "blacklist" this particular politician and as a result, the people will note vote for this politician anymore. Also, the viewers must also understand the statistics here in the Philippines regarding marriage. Lastly, the viewers must know the alternatives that the government and the church present in relation to divorce. In the documentary, the debate between the politician and the women's rights advocates really caught my interest because there you can see two worlds. The first world being the world of the politician who is powerful and rich and the world of the average Filipino being represented by the women's rights advocates. The topic of the documentary film was interesting because it is controversial and it can relate to each and every Filipino. However, more documentaries about this topic is to be made before the question presented in the documentary is answered. Why not legalize divorce in the Philippines?

Problem Solution Essay (Deforestation)

Comparing our Earth thousands of years before and to the present, our planet is very different. Thousands of years before, our planet is greener, is healthier and is also more inhabitable. However thousands of years after, the planet is polluted, is dangerous for living things and uninhabitable for some. This is because humans are polluting our planet. The ecosystem cannot work as it is supposed to work because human beings are disrupting the cycle, in exchange for convenience and technology, bodies of water are being polluted, plant and animal habitat are being sacrificed and forests are being cut down. This is called deforestation and its effects on the Earth as well as earth’s inhabitants such as humans are very harsh.

The Earth is filled with trees for a reason. We can say that trees are the blood of the earth. Similar to human beings, if human beings lose blood, we become unhealthy and to a certain point, we die. This can be also applies to earth. When Earth loses its trees, the planet becomes unhealthy and to a certain point, the planet may die. Along with its inhabitants, Deforestation is a reality and it happens all around the world. People do not really care at all about the reality of deforestation. What exactly are the effects of deforestation? Recently, it is common for countries to experience widespread flooding especially during the rainy season. One cause of these flooding’s is the lack of trees. Usually during rains, trees sip the water to prevent flooding. But lack of trees means that the waters that rains bring will be accumulated because there are no trees to drain the water.

During the monsoon season, flooding is not the only hazard that people face. Landslides are more dangerous than flooding because in flooding you still have time to react and to reach higher ground, but in landslides, in just a few seconds, you will be buried under tons of soil. What exactly causes landslides? Landslides are most common in the mountains. Mountains, which are bald, do not have anything to hold the soil and rocks intact. Therefore in the presence of heavy rain, the soil becomes damp and wet. Therefore, the soil becomes unstable as well and prone to landslides. Compared to mountains, which are rich trees, landslides in those mountains are almost impossible.

We can also say that deforestation can create storms. Storms, which are one of the causes of landslides and flooding, Lack of trees in one of the reason for global warming, normally, the carbon dioxide that we release in the air is absorbed by trees and turned into oxygen. However, lack of trees and huge amounts of carbon dioxide is the main cause of global warming. One of the effects of global warming is a very strong storm. Similar to the recent storm that hit the Philippines which was the strongest storm ever recorded, Typhoon Haiyan. By this we can see that it is all a chain reaction. The cutting of trees is one of the causes of global warming. Storms and typhoons is the effects of global warming, Floods and landslides are the effects of those storms and trees which are cut down are the ones which are supposed to prevent flooding’s and landslides during storms.

Is it bad to cut trees? Since the ancient times people have been using trees as a material for shelter as well as tools. It is not bad to cut trees however, there is a saying that anything in excess is dangerous. Excessive cutting of trees is dangerous. What makes trees so valuable is the fact that tens of hundreds of years are needed to grow these trees. Also, small trees are very vulnerable. In a planet where industrialization and developments in technology in inevitable, cutting down of trees are also inevitable, however, balance is the key. Balance between industrialization and nature. Some companies, when they have developmental projects and trees should to be cut down, they usually plant trees to replace the ones that they will cut. Usually they say that they will plant ten trees in compensation for one tree that they will cut down. The problem is that trees take many of years to grow. Also they plant trees but do they take care of the trees that they plant and do they monitor its development? Small trees are like babies during the first few years; they need to be taken care of. They may plant ten thousand trees in replacement for one thousand trees that they cut down but at the end of the day, only one hundred trees may fully develop because they were not taken care of. Because of the, effort of the people planting trees is wasted. Also the resources are also wasted looking for seeds as well as the money used to buy these seeds as well as water and fertilizers, which are also essential.

We do not fully feel the effects that lack of trees brings. However, now the public is becoming more aware of the situation, the public is now more aware of pollution, of global warming, of carbon dioxide, of greenhouse gasses, of flooding’s and many more. Planting trees is similar to an investment, you sacrifice something at first but in the long run, you will greatly benefit from it. Yes at first trees are difficult to plant and are more difficult to maintain, however in the long run, similar to investments trees will be greatly beneficial to people. This is because of the fruits, of the oxygen and the fact that trees give habitat to animals and people and most important of all, prevents natural calamities such as landslides and flooding.

Why do people continue to cut trees? One reason for this is that people are greedy. In exchange for trees, which are thousands of years old, companies will build restaurants, resorts and hotels for profit. Make no mistake these structures help the economy but thee are ways to keep a balance between industrialization and nature.

One alternative is land reclamation. Land reclamation is the process form creating new land from oceans, lakes and rivers. This process is usually used by countries, which are small and have a limited amount of landmass. However this method can also be used by countries, which want to preserve their natural resources. Since the Philippines is an archipelago country and is surrounded by bodies of water, land reclamation is very possible. This is already tried in Pasay in which the ground where the Mall of Asia was built was reclaimed and it was successful. No trees were also cut during the construction of this structure.

Another method is tree planting. Mountains and forests, which are bald and have no trees anymore, can still be saved. If trees are planted in those places and are taken care of, those mountains and forests can still recover. Nature is not a machine, it is a living thing and it can recover if put under the right conditions. Trees can be cut down for structures but those trees needs to be replaced and those replacement should be taken care of. These methods are the key to achieving balance between industrialization and nature.

Recently, we can see all over the news about natural calamities, about pollution choking countries such as China and New Zealand in which smog choked their countries for days which disrupted their everyday lives because of the hazards if pollution. But now, they are starting to take steps to preserve their natural resources, to lower their pollution and to preserve their trees. These things that they do are not very difficult, it is also not expensive which means this can be done, our natural resources can be preserved, we can lower pollution and we can take care of our trees, we just need the will and the effort. Must we face the problems head on first before we make a solution? Prevention is better that cure.

Extended Definition Essay (Good Governance)

One key to a country’s success is its government. Since the early years, the government is what keeps countries peaceful and in tact. How much of a difference does one government make in one country? Countries with bad or no government at all may be in anarchy. On the other hand, countries with good governance may be experiencing an economic boom, or the people are living in a community with no or less poverty, crime rates in these countries will or may be low because of the low poverty rate and the relationship of the government and the citizens is in good terms. By looking at the people of a country alone, one may already see if the government is good or not. Usually in countries with bad governance, people are living in poor conditions, crime rates in these countries are high, and basically, the people are against the government. On the other hand, if people have high regard for their government, we can see that good governance is present in that particular country.

What exactly is good governance? Good governance is composed of two words. Good and Governance. Good meaning satisfying or pleasing, and governance, which means to govern or to rule over. How can we say that the governance on that country is good? Examples of countries with good governance are Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden and many more countries. These countries have low crime rates; good economy and these countries are also industrialized. Poverty in these countries is very low because the government in these countries really takes care of its people. Numbers alone cannot measure whether the governance in a particular country is good or bad. A country may have a strong economy but its governance can still be bad. An example of a country in this kind of situation is China. In China, yes they have one of the largest economies in the world. However, we can say that they do not take care of the welfare of their people. This is primarily because China is a communist country. The governance of a country will most likely dictate the future of a country.

What exactly and how will the government benefit a country? We can say that the government is the soul of a country. More often than not, chaos will run in a country with no government. This means that the type and kind of government of government present in a country will dictate how the government will run, develop and basically become a country. Countries blessed with good governance for sure have a lot of achievements. These countries have a good economy, which is good news for the countries citizens because this means that poverty rates will be lower. Also, because governance in these countries are good, crime rates in these countries will be lower as well. Generally, the citizens will be happier and tourism in that country will also increase ethic is again, good news for the economy and the people. Usually, these countries are renowned all around the world and its people think highly and respect their government, which is rare nowadays.

There are many effects that the government brings to a country. The main job of a government is to take care of its people. Every action of the government has a direct effect to each and every person or citizen. Which means the type of government whether communist, democratic, and parliamentary and many more has a significant effect on the people. In addition, how the government is run whether good or bad has a greater effect on the people. This relationship the between the government and the people is very sensitive because a country will not be a country will not be a country without people and citizens. Every time the government passes a law or a bill, and when the government decides on something, everyone in that country will be affected. Not only the people, but the economy as well, The welfare of the people is also at stake when the government makes a decision, and when they make a decision, whether good or bad, they will be judged.

Not all countries are blessed with good governance. Yes some countries have good governance but some countries meanwhile have bad governance. Examples of these countries with bad governance are Thailand, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and many more. How can we say that governance in these countries is bad? Civil War is present and happening in these countries. This means that there is a problem on how the government runs these countries. Some reasons may be corruption or basically, the people feel oppressed because of the government. Also, the economy in these countries may be collapsing because of bad calls by the government. A bad economy in a country is bad news because it means that it will be harder for people to live in these countries. By just simply asking the people and looking at their conditions, we can say and evaluate the governance in these countries.

Truly the government is one of the masterpieces of the human race through its existence. However similar to a quote in the movie Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility” Yes if the government or if the governance is good, it will be a great benefit to all people. However, if the governance is bad, it has a greater effect. Because similar in math, two positives will form another positive. But one positive and one negative will still yield a negative. What we can do now is help those countries that are struggling in terms of governance and development. If these countries help one another, it will be a great benefit to the human race. 

Entry Essay (RH Bill)

The social issue that I would like to discuss and present my stand is the reproductive health bill otherwise known as the RH bill. This social issue came to life ever since President Noynoy Aquino came into power. He himself could not choose at the start whether to support the bill or not.  This is because he and his family are very close to the church and the church clearly opposes the said bill. On the other hand, his political allies and the situation in the Philippines clearly state that the country needs this law or bill badly. President Aquino’s dilemma is similar to each Filipino. That is why there are Filipinos who oppose this bill and there are also Filipinos who support this bill whole-heartedly.

Before discussing the stand of Filipinos, including me, in reward to the RH Bill, what exactly is the RH Bill and what are its effects on each and every Filipino? RH means reproductive health. It aims to lessen maternal deaths. However, that is just one piece of the cake. When studied carefully, the bill aims to lessen maternal deaths, but in ways which are unacceptable to the church and most of the Filipino community. One reason for this is that the Philippines is a highly conservative country. Things like abortion, same-sex marriage, third gender is very unacceptable. This is when the conflict between the said bill and the church, together with most Filipinos arises. The said bill promotes the distribution of contraceptives, primarily condoms, pill, and others. This is to control the population of the Philippines. This is because according to the government, out country is populated. However, what the government does not want us to know is that there is no such thing as over population because it is the job of the government to take care and provide to each of its citizens. Yes, there are a lot of people here in the metro and it is also crowded and congested. But that is because the government foes not provide and foes not reach the people in the provinces. People from the provinces go to the urban areas in search for a better life. The RH bill also aims to lessen the babies, which are born. That is why this bill will distribute contraceptives to those who want to avail of this. Tis method if a shortcut and will involve a lot of money. A lot of money will be spending on condoms and pills. We all know that our government when it comes to money has corruption written all over it. The church opposes this method because of two reasons. One is that this is unacceptable in terms of our doctrines. This method, which is the distribution of contraceptives, will promote a sex-for-pleasure rather than sex-for-procreation. Another reason why the church opposes this bill is that because there is an alternative, a more natural and safe alternative. This alternative is safer because contraceptives are known to cause cancer, primarily to women. This method and alternative that the church recommends is natural family planning. No pill, no condoms, no other contraceptives, just a dialogue between couples in planning their future family. The government wants this bill because this is a shortcut. Yes, the RH bill is easier than natural family planning because you will just give contraceptive to the people and the problem will be solved. However sometimes, yes shortcuts are easier and more convenient but it comes with a price. Yes the RH bill may lessen maternal deaths but I the government improve its facilities and educate its people properly, I think the effect will be the same. Those maternal deaths will be lessened. Yes the RH bill will definitely control and lessen the population but is there a reason to control and lessened our population or is the government looking for an easy way out? The Filipino nation is a separated and undecided in regard to this bill and it is because not everyone is properly informed and many are misinformed. I am properly and mostly informed about this bill and that made me stand against it.

The RH bill is already a law in some countries and in other countries, similar laws are applied, and in fact, these countries are very successful. That is because when those laws are passed, those countries together with their people are ready for the said law. That is why RH bill in some countries are good for them because they are educated and they were ready for that. But in the Philippines that is clearly not the situation. If the situations are similar here in the Philippines, I will support the ill. But in the meantime, I am whole-heartedly against it.