Questions with no answers...

Have you thought about it? Did you wonder why? Is there a definite answer to it? How conclusive? 

Winning a war is enough? Then, what? Economic prosperity for the few, and sufferings for the 

multitude? How much power do you want? How much money do you need?  Do you know how 

many people are dying from ordinary sickness? Did you know malnutrition is one of the greatest 

threat to children not just guns and bullets? Why do think sufferings continue to worsen each day? 

Is palliative approach or band aid application to the social ill, and economic cancer not proven yet 

to be the norm? Why do you think the world continue to improve, innovate and advance technology?

Do you notice the automated customer check out? Where are the human cashiers? Have you noticed 

all toll booths are automated too? Where are the toll collectors? Is writing enough? Is talking 

enough? Is it time to talk about how to eradicate material poverty to the world? Why eradicating 

material poverty the first step in curbing terrorism and crime proliferation in the world? Do you 

know how many people are struggling to have three meals a day? Do you know how many people 

sleeping tonight and uncertain what they will eat the next day? Have you thought of doing 

something meaningful for others? Can you imagine what would Jesus say to us?          

Long term consequences of COVID 19 to the poor

COVID - 19, a novel virus. Not really new but in layman's term a more complex "flu-virus" from SARS, MERS combined etc. No vaccine available at this time but we will find a solution to this COVID 19 just like any other medications or like penicillin discovered to fight infections that killed millions of people. The flu pandemic of 1918 is another story to bear in mind - millions died. 

(As of posting time a vaccine was given to millions of people but there are almost 8 billion people in the world, and half of that number are struggling if not dying of material poverty.)

The long term consequences of COVID - 19, is to the billions of poor people in the world. People in many poor nations like India, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. People in refugee camps in many parts of the world. The rich nations will continue to recover in the years to come but the many poor people will suffer the consequences.

Consequences to the poor: Loss of income, lack of health care, or no health care at all. While the few can afford to sit on their vacation homes and money, the rest of us languishing in grave concerns if not fear.   

Impact of COVID 19 to every person more to those living pay check to pay check

Accentuating the positive in times of crisis like COVID 19 pandemic, is really impossible when many people are dying due to material poverty. 

Reality, and contingency hits home specially to those who are poor and a pay check to pay check existence. Approximately 3 billion poor people will deeply experience the impact of this pandemic.
According to the UN (2000 data) - Globally, and an estimated 120,000 plus children dies each day from malnutrition related illnesses. We are approaching the 8 billion population mark as of email time. Half of the worlds population are materially poor and destitute, in need of their basic items such as clean water, toilet and a sanitary environment, medical care, technology, and medicines. 
The COVID 19 pandemic will further the gap between the rich and the poor. (The refugees in Syria and other poor nations included)

 If highly developed economies like Western Europe and North America struggles with their basic technologies like ventilators and personal protective equipment or PPE, consequently the poorest of all people will be the ultimate losers of the COVID 19 crisis.

COVID 19 is not a test of our readiness. COVID 19 is a stark reminder the inequality and lack of empathy of the rich nations to the poorest of the poor of the world. 

Dear Readers,

Its almost twelve years ago when I started this blog. My reason was clear and simple. This blog will serve as a platform of the small voices by the multitude of materially deprived people in the world. For the last nine years, I have traveled in almost 43 nations and observed the plight of many poor people in the nations I have visited. 

Last February, 2020, I visited Ho Chi Minh City formerly Saigon, South Vietnam. Vietnam is currently a State Socialist nation (In layman's term: communist) Upon return to the USA, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) boarded our plane and checked. I have reasons to believe I do not have the corona virus or COVID 19. I have no symptoms. CDC cleared us.

The corona virus or COVID 19 impacted the world. The World Health Organization declared COVID 19 as a pandemic. The world wide outbreak of the corona virus will affect the lives of people.
The global community impacted by the corona virus will react differently - from concern, to panic and even hysteria.

The poor people in the world will be greatly impacted by the corona virus. We are now approaching  the eight billion mark (people) worldwide. As of writing time 7.8 billion people as of March, 2020. How many are poor ? Almost 3 billion people are deprived of their basic needs. Lack of clean water, medicines and health care, poor sanitary conditions including the absence of toilets, shelter, education, and other basic necessities of life. 

From Ideologies to the practical plain of life and humans

Steve Job, Coco Chanel, Henry Ford, Koby Bryant, Michael Jordan, Bill Gate, Michael Dell and many others have no college education but succeeded with their visions...

On knowledge:
Socrates heralded as one of the greatest teacher, admired and emulated by a student he never met - Plato. Plato only heard about Socrates from others. Socrates never wrote anything, and yet he is considered one of the greatest minds. Albert Einstein failed his college entrance - Albert Einstein, one the greatest scientist, a brilliant visionary, and activist that changed our theory, perception and interpretation of our world.
We only know what we know - Socrates
(Are we continuing sophistry in our generation because our college students owes(d) so much money before and after graduation ?
Why is it college education is expensive ? 
Experiences is the greatest foundation of knowledge - Einstein 

Education, money and happiness:
Education and money are not the same. Our future discussion  about the correlation of money, happiness and education. 

Education is essential in life. Education is not just about making money or getting a diploma. Education liberates us from our ignorance, biases, stereotypes, and our "stupidity" about our own world. I get mad when people call me stupid. Sometimes, I feel stupid because I think money is the solution to many of our problems.  

Many societies were obsessed with money. According to many people, money is the answer to everything. 

Money cannot buy happiness. You can buy a funny movie, can you force yourself to laugh ? You can buy a nice comfortable and expensive bed. Can you buy your happy and restful sleep tonight ? You can buy the most expensive hamburger ($5,000.00) but can you buy your appetite and happiness having the most expensive hamburger ?  

On Socialism (State and Workers), and Capitalism
Political pundits have the definition of socialism and capitalism.
Semantics and rhetorical arguments of each system can be convincing. But, what is real ? What is sustainable for the humankind ?
Any socialist state or capitalist state solved the problems of material poverty among the majority of the world's population ?
We have been arguing about the effective system - for more than 200 years ? Any solutions at hand ?
Many people fought and died for their ideology. Commendable.
USA fought the communist. In Vietnam millions of people died during the war. My Adidas is made from Vietnam, and I bought the tennis shoes from the USA.  China and USA are partners in a trillion+ dollars businesses. Apple products are made in China. We buy goods made in China. China is still a socialist state. We fought them before. Walmart biggest consumer goods supplier is China.
Walmart is owned by Sam Walton and family. All are Americans doing business with the Communist people of China. Most of us buy from Walmart. Cheaper goods made in the Communist Republic of China.   

On humans:
Strength and weakness of each person. Do you know yours ?
Do you know yourself ? Do you know where you are going ?
What is the meaning of your life ?

This is just the beginning of my rambling thoughts...

Rodolfo

Genesis... Reflection of the Past Part 1

My late father inculcated in my young mind the value of reading. According to my father nobody can rob you of your education and knowledge. Embedded in my psyche is the love of books.
I can read at the age of six. My first reading materials were the Philippine Free Press by Teodoro Locsin Sr. and the Manila Bulletin. I enjoyed reading the editorial section, the comics of "Prince Valiant", and "The Wise sayings of the day" (Manila Bulletin). I read the sayings of Socrates, and many others.
Two of which I vividly remembered - "We only know what we know." (Socrates), and "Those who think controls, and those who control thinks."  (Disraeli) 

I grew up in the era of Philippine fast pace, exponential growth and progress - an economically progressive nation in the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN). Philippines was second to Japan in terms of their GDP. Philippine is an agricultural nation, and we were the number one in rice production. We supplied rice to many Asian nations. Philippines was extremely stable during the 50's and late 60's. The Philippine currency was "not devalued", and the economy appeared recession proof. A political firestorm erupted in the 70's. On September 21, 1972, the former president Ferdinand E. Marcos declared Martial Law. 

My late father succeeded in his business as a rice trader and distributor. I have three other siblings. Every Saturday, my father mandated every single one of us to report to our stores. I never knew if there was a child labor protection laws during my child-labor days. I did not mind working in my father's businesses. I learned a lot about profitability of retail business. My father paid us to work. He always reminds us that all his business holdings will be ours to manage and own someday. My father diversified his businesses. He was engaged in textile retail and distribution. My late father was also a cigarette and alcohol distributor in the city where I grew up.
My parents owned at least seventeen stores scattered all over the city (most of our stores were located inside the public or wet markets.)

My first lesson in business and political patronage - My baptismal godfather was a powerful Philippine senator, and my father's best friend in college. My late senator godfather was my father's protector and political connection. 

My first lesson in power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely (Lord Acton of England) - 
My late Machiavellian godfather senator was also a warlord. My godfather travels in the city and rode in bullet - proof cars, and escorted by two armored vehicles. My godfather was ambushed while in route to his city office. It happened at 8:00 in the morning, few miles away from my former grade school. My godfather survived the assassination attempt. Ten of his bodyguards were killed. Philippine politics in my childhood days was violent, and deadly to warring political factions. Organized crime protection rackets were rampant and impacted the peace and order of the city. We were untouchables because of my senator-godfather. Nobody dares to collect protection money from my late father's stores. 

My first lesson in socio-economic stratification - My late father shared his challenges and struggles before he became successful.
According to my father my late maternal grandfather never liked him to marry my mother because he was poor. My maternal grandfather was a feudal landlord and a popular political figure in the Philippine island. Philippine is an island nation. There are more than 7,200+ islands. The three big islands are Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. My late maternal grandfather owned an island where the first coal mine was established, and continue to operate as of writing time. My relatives still controls the area where my late grandfather ruled.

The lessons I learned from childhood impacted my choices and decisions in life. My childhood days taught me to respect power, and authority despite what I witnessed in the society where I grew up. The love for the underdogs and the poor became an obsession. I made a promise to myself that I will always protect others who are exploited and oppressed. 

"Experiences, the greatest foundation of knowledge." 
- Albert Einstein



Rodolfo  P. 

Peccavimus enim et genus sumus (Latin)  meaning,We are all guilty of this...

 We are afraid of uncertainty.
 We worry too much. We blame others.
 We only think of our families, what about the other poor family ?
 We often see our perspectives, views, and opinions, better and superior compared to poor nations. We tend to know it all.
 We trust too much on formal knowledge.
 We missed the point of life. We are angry without knowing why ? We react, instead of being proactive. We focused on the cure not prevention. We limit ourselves. We think money is essential to help. We put a price on people. We depend on people's approval, and opinons of ourselves. We will deny this...