Trending and Philippine Airport Fees

During our vacation, I was asking my partner what trending meant and all that hashtag (#) hallubaloo on Twitter. Well he patiently explained it to me and thank you for that explanation. When I got the hang of it, the trending topics on various threads were uhmmm, sad to say, pathetic.

And while technology has caught up with the Pinoys (or for the people on Earth for that matter), the local "Tweets" that were being followed were obscurely for the most inconsequential topics. Yes, technology has changed the face of the world - sadly, it has increased the IQs of most of the people who use technology for better use.

Let's use the Philippine Airport Fees as an issue. I'm not the only one that complains about the airport taxes. Most of my friends have the same complaint - "why inconvenience the riding public by collecting Airport Fees at the airport?" It's actually a simple solution - "integrate it to our airline tickets!" For God's sake, it's not even rocket science. Even if people say that the airport fees vary from Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao at P200.00 for domestic flights and Tagbilaran, Batanes, or Jolo at P20.00 for domestic flights - you can easily calculate this because you know the route the passenger takes anyway!!! And you can even standardize it - that all domestic flights to ONE destination is P100.00 or P200.00 is the same, regardless of destination! If you can afford to fly - you can afford the Airport Fee!

It has always baffled me why this issue cannot be solved. Someone told me that the reason for this is so that the local authorities can collect their share IMMEDIATELY. Which means that based on that reasoning - the problem is the government (Unless of course there is another or a more valid reason for collection ON THE SPOT). The government apparently has no system that will remit ON TIME the collections for that particular province that has an airport! That's what the national government is for - to provide solutions to its citizens.

Collecting airport taxes is NOT the issue. It's how it's done ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES, that makes it ubiquitously odd. Where does the collection go to and is there any transparent accountability by the local government on the airport fees that are collected? None! With so many domestic airports in the Philippines, does the Commission on Audit even report on the accountability of all these collected fees? You can see how dilapidated and outdated some of the provincial airports are. And yet, they collect airport fees. For what?!?!

The power of technology (and media) has changed the landscape of how we look at issues. Unfortunately, the issues on the hotdog of Aljur Abrenica or Anabelle Rama vs. Amalia Fuentes or Charice getting a makeover or even Grace Lee dating the PNoy are not even a national one. It's just sad that in spite of the digital age, technology has not provided a means to increase the brain capacity of its people.

Obviously, this blog piece will not get a viral hit compared to even Pinoy Porn scandals. It's this kind of thought on using the power of technology through Twitter or Facebook or whatever site that makes changing the world and making it a better place and getting our message across the universe that will create an impact on issues at hand.

The Twitters

I have nothing against social networking. And while I use Facebook or Twitter, I think that some people have just taken this social networking thing to the extreme.

There is no exact defining principle on how to use social networking. You can Twit the whole day or just look at your Facebook site and keep posting non-sensical things for all I care. After all, some of your friends may be actually interested in what you're doing or what you have to say. That is, if you're really someone popular or worth "following".

I've noticed lately, how some people use their Twitter account to "update" people on each and every step of what they are doing and where they are. While Twitter encourages people or friends to "follow you", it doesn't literally mean that you're followed all the way to the bathroom or to the gas station!

I'll give you an example of a Twit for the day (this is an actual Twit timeline):

24 hrs ago - Good morning! @DeepakChopra: Encourage unity, discourage divisions
24 hrs ago - I'm at ______________________ (Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City)
24 hrs ago - I knew I left something! My water bottle! :-(
17 hrs ago - Hangdami lang patients today! Waaahhh
16 hrs ago - I look so haggard already. I'm wearing my best yet surmounted by the amount of patient & d'type of cases. Anobamerontoday? World Clinic Day?
14 hrs ago - Ok since a good friend tweeted about it already, let me announce that I'll be at @dj______________ podcast tonight. Stay tuned!:)
13 hrs ago - I'm at Shell (Kamias Road cor Kasing-Kasing St. Quezon City)
12 hrs ago - I'm at Starbucks (Ground Level, Easton Place, Valero St. cor VA Rufino St. Salcedo Village, Makati City)
12 hrs ago - Didn't get lost. Luckily. Thanks to those who helped me with directions stuff. :-))
11 hrs ago - I'm at Easton Place (Valero, Herrera, Makati)
11 hrs ago - So I'm here!!!! Will start in a few minute... :-)
11 hrs ago - Finally here guys! We're ready to start!
11 hrs ago - I'm at @dj_______________ podcast tonight! Love/Sex/Life probs? Call us! 659-6969
11 hrs ago - RT @mnelizedMD: Watch gwapong-gwapo Dr._____ on GTWM now!!! LOL.
10 hrs ago - We're accepting questions! Call us!
10 hrs ago - That caller sounds like Maria Ozawa. No offense. Hahaha. :))
9 hrs ago - Love/Sex/Life probs? We're accepting more calls with @dj___________ podcast tonight! Call us! 659-6969
9 hrs ago - We're giving away a cellphone! :-)
9 hrs ago - Really had fun with GTWM podcast crew! Waaah! Owell. :-) heading home now
8 hrs ago - Home! I love EDSA traffic during this time/ :-)
8 hrs ago - Oh wow. Now I believe it's really her.
8 hrs ago - Thanks to @dj__________ and @GTWMPodcast crew for the opportunity! I really had fun! TC guys! Gnyt!:)
8 hrs ago - There were a lot of unexpected things that happened today! From the _____ to podcasting...Gosh! thank good Lord for today. Gnyt tweeps!


I thought the guy was going to sleep already and was almost grateful that his narration of his life for the day was about to end....

7 hrs ago - Here's the link about tonight's show.
6 hrs ago - I can very much hear the brother @_______ in the other room listening to the podcast...He missed the show so he'll sleep late for it.

And finally, he went to bed....And I clicked on "Unfollow" because it was getting to be irritating already.

For my readers information, I actually deleted some of the tweets in between because it was getting to be a bore.

Like I said, there is nothing wrong with using social networking, but this is an example of how some tweets can get to the extreme! The interaction between the twitter tapping in wild abandon on trying to update people on where you are, what you're doing, what's going on in your life is left to the fab and famous. We cannot create what we're not. Some people just need to get a life!

And it's sad that some people are simply preoccupied with trying to look famous (image making) than to make a life.

Added to that fact is providing more information than what your followers need to know creates a scenario where you're probably looking for trouble. When parents don't know what their kids are doing or are risking themselves especially when exposing too much of themselves in an attempt of trying to create an image. Parents are the last to know when their kids get in trouble because of a senseless random act of being socially carefree.

Take home message is to use the social network responsibly. And while we are personally responsible for what goes on in our lives, we need to utilize social networking sites to promote the better good rather than the interest of one.

[My apologies to the twitter whose twits was used. For your information, it gets a bit irritating when I'm online as well and my phone just keeps alarming each time I get a Twit message that's non-informative.]

True colors

There's a saying that goes "you can take the boy out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the boy."

This saying is most personified in the boxing celebrity-cum Congressman of Saranggani - Manny Pacquiao.

Fine, he's a great boxer. There's no question about this. The guy has talent. In the boxing ring.

I've blogged about his rise from rags to riches. Including the saga of his mom - Aling Dionisia. (I refuse to call her Dona Dionisia, she doesn't deserve the title). CongMP (his name in his Twitter account) has brought accolades to the Philippines because of his boxing prowess. Then there are his charitable works as well. My hats off to him here.

But off the ring, I don't know what kind of unseen spirit had swooped upon the guy that he needed to run for Congressman in the district of Saranggani in General Santos. Alright, so the people of Saranggani had spoken. He won the election fair and square. And CongMP went to some form of crash course in political science or something to that effect in a school in Manila. The professors came out on television, praising Pacman for his being astute and a good student.

Just as he was beginning his political career, Pacman needed to take a leave of absence from his duty as an elected public official because of his fight match against Margarito Teves last November 13. His training days took him out of work as a pubic official. Understandably, with what he can legitimately make as a congressman is peanuts compared to what he can make in one fight. His winning the match against Teves had put him on a pedestal a notch higher.

After the match, congress went on a holiday break and so did Pacman.

The next time congress was in session he needed to take another leave of absence. This time to prepare for his match against Shane Mosley this coming May.

And during his promotional tour in the US and training in the Philippines, CongMP was always absent from Congress. But wait, here's the news. In spite of his absence, he tweets. Yes, he apparently has a Twitter account and announces his day to day progress and "news".

A Twitter follower of CongMP had inquired on why Pacman was always absent in congress and questions if he was fit to be a congressman considering the fact that he is never around for his duties as an elected public official.

This triggered a reply from CongMP with a tweet saying "itanong mo sa lolo mong panot" [ask your bald grandfather].

The following day, during the impeachment of embattled ombudsman Merci, Pacman was nowhere to be found. Training in Baguio, the guy didn't even have the balls to go to congress to make a milestone decision for and on behalf of his constituents. Instead, he tweeted that he votes for NO to the impeachment of Merci.

This sent a lot of people becoming irritated with the conduct of Pacman as a public official. And triggered him to closing his Twitter account.

It is sad that the people of Saranggani will have to bear with Pacman as their duly elected representative for 2 more years (he's been in office for a year already). Somebody is running the show as congressman in their district and it definitely is not Pacman.

Alright, so the guy has moolah and the guy is now dressed in all the designer suits money can buy. He has rubbed elbows and hobnobbed with the rich and famous. He has guested in the White House and maybe we can say that Barrack Obama is a fan [I have no idea what is in the mind of Obama but this is one president that seems to have periods of lucid intervals]. He has been on the cover of so many magazines including Time magazine. He has everything with respect to fame and fortune!

And as a boxer, I have no doubt on the skills of Pacman.

Etiquette and breeding is something that is learned through years of formation. It is not one that flows freely overnight just because you have money. Somewhere in between all that glaring cash, someone thought that it would change his personality and all that hillbilly attitude would be covered up with so much Rolex and gold and diamonds and dollars and cars.

True colors will always show during the most trying time. And Pacman has just shown his.

Question is, do the people of Saranggani and his rabid followers see his true colors or are blinded with the color of money?