Sunshine Industry

January 4, 2014 (Saturday) - As usual, woke up early at 3:00 A.M., surveyed my FB world with my headphone on, listening to AGT's incredible Forte Trio belting classic pieces Pie Jesu, Caruso, Unchained Melody, Somewhere, My Heart Will Go On.  What a talent indeed these guys have.  I could hardly believe.  Truly amazing indeed.  Three people from different culture creating harmony.  No way, one of the judges earlier complained, but would soon find herself blown away, too, by the magic these former three slobs-looking from Puerto Rico, New Your, and South Korea turned phenomenal celebrity after America's Talent.  Magic indeed when they sing together, melting your heart away listening to them.

That was back then, for they have already succeeded in carving a niche in the world's music industry with their first CD released last November.  Can't help but wait to secure their album.  Bad trip though ensued.  While listening, the latest news where a lowly paid teacher abducted for ransom somewhere in Muslim Mindanao, simply turned me off spoiling the beauty of this calm and beautiful early morn.  

Again!  How many more innocent civilians would suffer similar fate from the hands of this lawless bandits.  I can't anymore count how many innocent victims they took as willing victims to satiate their insatiable appetite for fast money.  

Priests, media people, tourists, businessmen have been taken as helpless willing victims and prey to their merciless barbarity.  I wonder however why no high profile politicians suffered to become victims?  Cutting off their heads, showing their trademark to the world, sending chilling effect down my spines simply overwhelmed me.  Atrocious!  For how could they do that to innocent victims.  That seems to be their cue, revealing to authorities who really they are.  And what have they done on this monstrosity protecting the victims and families arbitrarily squeezed yet to death looking for that very prohibitive ransom money for their freedom!  Deafening silence there.

Sunshine Industry among terrorists from Basilan and elsewhere is what I would be writing about  today. Never mind Napoles who also hails from Basilan, that stupid genius Madam fiery Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago grilled before super typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda’s visit.  I’m not sure the etymology of the term. Must be coined by Media implying that abduction and or hostage-taking is as lucrative business as clear as sunny day. No hitch. Five to ten minutes would do. Just pay later after receiving a call to deliver  Millions ransom money . Don’t pay and the damage is already implied. What’s your take on this?

Well, reading the issue I could only mention the bottom line and this has been validated all over in different forum – Feudal System well entrenched still among the  culture of our Muslim brothers - . Look how our huge government resources of regular Annual Internal Resource Allotment  going down the drain among different Muslim provinces. Might be the reason too how these provinces ended to ten poorest provinces in the Philippines at the end of  year in a row.

 Lately, GMA-7 Reporters Notebook Makki Pulido made her round to some municipalities at Lanao del Sur and Norte and not surprise or all surprises not seeing occupied municipalities except for one or two police offers serving as Officers of the Day, all officers from Mayor down were not there! . Ghost municipalities up and personal! This what her team discovered and not just one but many municipalities. Why where all those Internal Revenue Allotment go to operate a Local Government Units? In Mayor’s pocket but of course. Incredible but true, the SALN, a government required document showing how one is worth, revealed these same top Executives registering top two spots as their level’s richest.  Don’t complain. You have your fill when your time comes you get elected, a friend qualifies. 

Closer validation gives you an insight of this. Just across my residence is a sticker project of  a friend. I can see it has been lucrative business too for Loloy albeit not really that huge. But seeing him raising his family from this art works giving him extra comfort like taking plane to and from Manila, indicates that he enjoys handsome dividends from his clients. And who are mostly of them? Familiar clients are making my day Ric, he enthuses. Mostly young blood from Lanao and somewhere. Five to eight out of ten, he says! I can only concur hearing too distinct dialect and or intonation from his clients as Loloy makes the road between our residence us as his workplace. The picture showing co-employee’s latest visit to Lanao his service jeep got stuck on a wet and dirty road says it all too.

Recently we witnessed Zamboanga City Siege. And look how those innocent Muslim brothers were taken into joyride believing that theirs is just to attend peace rally in Zamboanga. And that they should secure first  their ATMs because money would be downloaded to them. That on top of cash advance  given and sacks of rice to help them sustain them through while they are at Zamboanga. And where is the alleged mastermind – Nur Misuari – now who ironically begged the question revealing no knowledge about Kumander Malik who head the mutiny?

This is not to criticize our Muslim Community. But what good it takes if we don’t level up the need of the times. Rido, bloodbath of course has been embedded in their culture dating back to earlier Empire. What a scourge that even a baby not yet delivered is already marked for extinction! Well, actually Islam is the belief towards peace, any practicing  Muslim would tell. Explainable. Only bad guys inserted that terrorism’ term in the equation, he confided. Further throwback. Whatever happened to creation of Bangsamoro Entity. Anything for the better, this is understandable. Methinks however, to let them fix first the mess of their own backyard or the government budget again will go down the drain. What loss of incredibly huge taxpayers’ money. Discrimination? None.  Why many of their tribefor instance are in government service occupying lofty positions as  Directors, Chief Executives and all that. This indicates that not all are suffering identity crisis but actually showing industry.

I know that this third installment is touching the chord of  sensitive issue here. So be it. This is a free country. And any tax paying Juan de la Cruz worth his salt should better help clarify the issue in the spirit of free market of ideas. Who knows with our vigilance, we would be saved from sporadic hostility later. Peace – this is what we all need. We don’t own it. God gives it to us. Let us handle and practice it in perpetuity. This beautiful planet is given to us. And we live only once. Use it productively. Never mind living it once for as long us we use it for peace with others. If I may,  let peace be the air you breath, word you speak, life you live.