OFFBEAT MAIL

It is so absurd to hear that unsuspecting professionals, especially those in the medical profession, are now being manipulated to sow terror, if only to realize the evils that demonize hatred for innocent people who knew nothing about what's going on around the world. At this point in time, nobody knows who really is doing right. And isn't it enough for restless people to just be concentrated on what they are exercising at the moment, if only to be called a real devotee of God. In the first place, why bother to pester other people's lives with bombings and other forms of intimidation, introducing chaos in place of harmony and peace. But why? If this is happening now, there should only be two reasons why some people are inclined to love terrorizing other people's lives. The closest suspicion that anybody could guess is perhaps, religion and money. Religion is a very complicated issue to tackle. If everybody is given a chance to discourse, it would be an endless harangue ...

It is only in the Philippines, where the longest-running elections take place. And it is also where politics has become commercialized at the seams. Why not? With billions in countrywide development funds at the disposal of each legislator, who wouldn't be tempted to dip his hands in dirty politics? And the politics of dynasty seems to be getting into the fabric of society. It's not only insulting to the wisdom of others, who like the scions of traditional politicians, have keen sense of appetite to serve the public, but downright frustrating to have public officials running public offices at the expense of taxpayers' money without doing anything but to fatten their stomachs, cheating on public funds that are supposed to be for projects. From the way it looks, as if nobody else in the Philippines is capable of dispensing quality service and intelligence as those being done by those already in power. As if the only ones qualified to become politicians are the sons and daught...

Apprehension sips into the spines of leaders of many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, where China is observed to be dominating in so far as international trade and advancement in modern warfare are concerned. And who wouldn't? With rising economic growth, sparked by its extensive industrial developments taking shape in almost all parts of the country, the dragon has risen after many years of hibernation. With a population of more than a billion people, China has not slackened economically and militarily. In fact, its trade surplus with the United States has reached more than US$200 million, a figure that the U.S. Congress is irritated to look at. With a low paid labor force, who is not allowed to protest, China has become a favorite place for multinationals that wish to relocate their plants there owing to cheap labor and low overhead expenses. As a matter of fact, these factors are reshaping the mindset of many corporate big wigs to try their luck on a former sleeping giant...

Known to have one of the world's military mights, North Korea is looking forward to getting some 400,000 tons of rice from its generous neighbor-South Korea. International observers viewed the new food shipment as another form of generosity from a democratic country that is threatened by a nuclear attack from its communist neighbor. And they have expressed doubts that the humanitarian aid will ever go where it is supposed to go. As gleaned in the past, relief goods are diverted to enterprising people close to the regime. While the food aids were believed to have been set aside to feed its military men who are ever loyal to the Nokor leader, rather the millions of its citizens, most of whom are dying of hunger and famine. In fact, video footages aired over international television recently showed that malnourished children picking food leftovers along the side streets. While relief goods supposed to cloth the impoverished are seen being sold in market stalls for profits. For whom?...