eren is so cocky 😭😭😭 the way he’s only ever unnerved when jean is nice is so funny. not even when jean is fucking her hard, it’s seeing him praise her quietly and mikasa going red not bc she’s embarrassed but bc she’s shy and thinks it’s sweet, and it drives him crazy that he doesn’t know what jean is whispering to her (is it dirty talk that even eren hasn’t even mastered ???) so he confronts jean about it later on a bit annoyed, but jean finds it hilarious. anyways, eren tries being slightly nice to her next time (in his own special way ofc) and loves how she gasps and is even more shocked than when he’s straight up mean.
Ok the fact that eren went to jean to discuss this— scrunched up face, utterly perplexed— is sending me! he’s just like… “you love her don’t you?”
Eren nods.
“You think she’s the prettiest, most amazing woman, and the sun rises and sets on her, don’t you?”
Eren blushes, glares at him annoyed. “What’s your point, Jean?”
Jean snorts. “Then just treat her like it, you moron.”
This post might contain spoilers from the documentary “The Great Hack”. Read at your own risk.
During my previous entry for #Writescapade, I unraveled some necessary terms that I will be using throughout my next blogs. If you haven’t read it, here’s the link for Writescapade: New Beginnings. Now, allow me to discuss a very timely issue on the political aspect of the Philippines.
The reign of our current president is bound to end in a few months’ time. We are about to enter the campaign period of the aspiring politicians in our country, and it would be nice if Filipinos would take a pause to think and reflect how the 2016 Elections went and became a burden for us during the past six years.
According to Dahlberg (2001), new media welcomes the idea of disseminating political views and agendas because this platform is very liberated in terms of limitations. In new media, we are all exposed to the three (3) areas of political life which are: (1) Formal, (2) Alternative, and (3) Citizen-based. These aforesaid areas of political life were all maximized by our current president in order for him to convince people that he is the best option among the other options back in 2016.
Citizen-based
Courtesy: Rappler
Among the other areas of political life, this citizen-based approach is the most familiar for most of us. This area maximizes the use of social media (specifically Facebook and Twitter) in disseminating the campaign paraphernalia of the political candidate.
During the 2016 era, our social medias are bombarded by various campaigns. It ranges from the leftist and rightist post (well, at least, on my end). I don’t want to claim that the same thing is happening on the social media platforms of everyone because Facebook uses algorithms in order to come up with a newsfeed that is curated to your liking.
In order for me to prove this point, I would like to use how the former President of America, Donald Trump, used Facebook’s algorithm to convince the neutral people to vote for him. Back in 2014, a voter-profiling company named “Cambridge Analytica” was able to secure and investment that is worth $15 million. With that, they were able to get the private information of an estimated 50 million Facebook users illegally.
Courtesy: Netflix
In a documentary on Netflix with the title “The Great Hack”, explored how Cambridge Analytica maximized the personal data that they’ve gathered and how they helped Trump with his 2016 campaign for the presidential position. In this documentary, Cambridge Anaytica identified which users are neutral for the upcoming elections based on the information that they’ve gathered through Facebook. Through this process, Cambridge Analytica bombarded these types of people with videos, pictures and other propagandas on their Facebook page which convinces these people that Trump is a way better president compared to Hillary Clinton. They manipulated these people into thinking that Trump should be the next president. If you want to learn more about this issue and how a professor sued Cambridge Analytica for buying the personal information of an estimated 50 million Facebook users, you may watch the documentary “The Great Hack” via Netflix.
So, how is this event relevant to my claims earlier? Duterte did not have an agency that is similar to Cambridge Analytica which is why they created a troll farm. They hired people who will create dummy accounts in disseminating and increasing the reach of their campaign paraphernalia. That is how genius Duterte is.
Alternative
Courtesy: GMA Network
This area of political life talks about the movements and activism. If I were to relate this to Duterte’s campaign, he used the “Anti-Drug Campaign” in order to get the votes of the majority. He promised that he will end drugs in our country within a span of 6 months. It sounds surreal but, the Filipinos did not mind at all. Instead, they took the risk and trust the process that Duterte is the key to solve such problem.
Through this campaign, the issue of extrajudicial killings rose when Duterte got elected as the president. He was persistent with the shoot-to-kill order and other orders such as the “Patayin pag nanlaban”. It was a traumatizing era for some or even most of the Filipinos who experienced this first-hand. One of the victims of this was the late Kian Delos Santos which woke the eyes of some that Duterte wasn’t really clever.
Formal
The formal area of political life focuses mainly on the organized political parties, legislative lobbying, and referendums. I could still remember how the citizens of the Philippines begged for him to run as the next president. For them, Duterte is the key to attain peace in our country since, he managed to do that during his reign as the Mayor for Davao city. Little do they know that having him reign as our president would include mishaps and misfortunes especially right now, during the pandemic.
Courtesy: Rappler
A lot of people would probably say that our President is not clever enough. But then again, isn’t it we? If Duterte isn’t clever enough then, he wouldn’t be the president right now. During the campaign period, Duterte (especially his team) were very clever in convincing the naive Filipinos to vote for him. He straight up said that he will eliminate drugs in our country. There were no concrete plans provided but, almost everyone did not seem to be bothered at all. He knows how to get the votes of the majority and for that, he is clever. He is clever enough to make us feel that we need him and we should vote for him. For that, he was clever and we are dumbfounded.
Let the previous election be the greatest lesson of the Filipinos for the upcoming elections in 2022. Stop voting just because someone is famous or is currently helping the lower class financially. Vote for someone who will care for you and our country even if it’s not the election period.
References:
How Trump Consultants Exploited the Facebook Data of Millions (Published 2018). (2021). The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-trump-campaign.html
GMA News. (2015). Duterte’s promises and his first year in office: Law and order. Retrieved October 4, 2021, from GMA News Online website: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/616342/duterte-s-promises-and-his-first-year-in-office-law-and-order/story/
Jaboneta, J. (2016, May 14). 10 takeaways from Duterte’s digital campaign. Retrieved October 4, 2021, from Rappler website: https://www.rappler.com/moveph/lessons-duterte-digital-campaign
Punongbayan, J. (2020, April 14). [ANALYSIS] Duterte’s coronavirus aid: Too little, too slow, too politicized. Retrieved October 4, 2021, from Rappler website: https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-duterte-coronavirus-aid-too-little-slow-politicized
27-year-old Vincent Adia is shot and left to bleed with a carton that says 'pusher.' A witness tells the story.
this was on reddit the other day, i was skeptical because it was so brazen. victim survived 3 headshots, was taken to a hospital, cops acting weird and wanted to take him into custody without paperwork. then the cops disappear, masked shooter walks right into the hospital and executes the victim. whole thing stinks, like the cops are barely even making an effort at coverup and plausible deniability.
i’ve often thought, since way back with the kian delos santos killing, why not squeeze the cops? reporters, congressmen, someone pressure the cops involved, offer a deal, make them flip and give up the bigger fish. we don’t want you, we want the bosses, maybe a link that goes all the way up to duterte.
This very day last year I flew to Mindanao. It was my first time. I was scared for my life. I’ve always hoped Mindanao was the complete opposite of what media has depicted it to be. I was scared to be proven wrong.
Groups of soldiers at a checkpoint welcomed us upon exiting Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental. Mindanao was under Martial Law then. It was also the height of EJK (Extrajudicial Killings) in the country. My goal for this trip was to know the other side of the stories. So I asked the locals.
To my surprise, the majority of them have agreed that Martial Law has played an integral role in keeping the peace and order in Mindanao. “Don’t believe the news!” one said. “It’s been peaceful since Duterte became president,” said the other. The Manileños we’ve met we’re as amazed as us on how we could roam around the streets of Cagayan de Oro at night without fearing for our lives. I honestly felt safer here than in Manila.
But I’ll never forget a conversation I had with one of the locals on the way to Bukidnon. He said that before the Duterte administration, it was chaos in their town. He told us about how some members of Maute group were captured and shared how the justice system worked there. Apparently, EJK was (and still is) real and it’s prevalent from where he is from. He told us stories of rape and looting, and how the suspects were killed within days. Some of them were released from jail, but they never attempted to go back home to their families because they knew that there’s a vigilante group hunting them down. Mindanao is not an isolated case as killings continues around the country. Injustices, abuse and oppression are slowly becoming part of the norm. Heartbreaking, I know. Only a few are entitled for a due process. This time you commit a crime, you die.
I have a friend who believes in the vision of EJK. Yes, it’s possible to be friends with someone who has opposing views. We dont have to hate each other. She told me about their family’s first-hand encounter with a drug addict. And through that, I somehow understood where she was coming from. But in my head, I thought: is violence really our only option to seek justice? There must be another way.
Yes, towns are quiet, but people are scared. If peace is defined as this, I don’t want it. Francis Magalona once wrote: “You can’t talk peace and have a gun.” I still want to cling on to hope that justice is possible without violence. As Lennon put it: “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”
The alleged extrajudicial killing (EJK) of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos has become the moon that pulled a strong tide toward disapproval on the Duterte drug war as of late. Many of my Facebook friends who used to be mum on the issue have suddenly shattered the ice cube of silence that had long held them in suspended animation, Captain America style, as they found enough motivation to speak out against EJK. Duterte drug war believers, of course, have been more than ready (as always) to respond to them with equally scathing passion.
Because I am a pastor, I am keen to observe these things from a pastor’s point of view. And one thing I both notice and commend is the number of Christians on my social network fearlessly coming out with their opinions because of Kian’s controversial death. I commend this newfound courage for many Christians who are new to social media discussions that affect society because them tackling justice, even if it were just through a hashtag, is a quantum leap from their usual fare of 9GAG memes and Super Tekla videos. Okay na ‘yan kesa wala ‘di ba hehe, so stop accusing them na bandwagoning lang or nakikisawsaw. Slow clap para sa mga kapatid kong Kristiyanong may paki-alam na ngayon sa current events :)
I highly recommend that every Christian be aware of what’s happening in their world, develop a biblical opinion about it, and air that opinion with prudence. Admittedly, though, I find something lacking in this procedure.
What we often lack
It is easy to be misled into thinking that we’re doing enough just because we became aware, had an opinion, posted it on social media, and garnered likes and reactions. Because of the kind of technology at our disposal, we may acquire the delusion of accomplishment just because we got to voice out on social media.
But a social media post that cries out for justice is not enough. Our opinions are not enough. We need to actually do something to dismantle the evil of illegal drugs in the country and prevent anymore loss of human lives.
Whether you are “pro-” or “anti-Duterte”, I know we agree on one thing. We want the drug problem (and its multifarious and nefarious consequences) over and we want no more Filipinos dying.
This is a societal sickness government and its police force cannot solve on their own. Now more than ever, the church as Christ’s living body in the Philippines must awaken to the truth that we can actually do something to help solve the problem.
BUT HOW, right? Should I volunteer to a crime watch organization? Should I be active in neighborhood junkie crackdowns? Would organizing a vigilante group cut it?
Chill, Norman Osborn.
Here’s how
Actually, I’m talking about evangelism and discipleship. Yes, good old evangelism and discipleship. That simple.
If you’re a Christian who wants to do something about the drug problem, you should really try getting involved in the work of evangelism and discipleship.
And if your problem is you don’t know how to go about the work of evangelism and discipleship, your first step could be connecting with a church ministry or leader that can train you how to do it.
If every Christian would just get seriously involved in their local church’s evangelism and discipleship efforts, more would be won to the kingdom of Christ. And every soul brought into the kingdom is one less potential drug user in the world. If there are two of them, then make it two less potential drug users in the world.
If the logic sounds mind-boggling or far-fetched to you, then you must have not yet met people who got saved from heavy drug misuse after finding salvation in Jesus and much needed support from church friends and leaders. OR you must have not yet encountered Christians who fell away from the faith and ended up using drugs.
Whatever battles we face on earth, we must always come from this perspective: Our battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12); the weapons of our warfare are not of this world (2 Corinthians 10:4); Jesus is the savior and hope of humanity (John 3:16 and basically the whole Bible).
I believe that every Filipino Christian’s diligence in the great work of evangelism and discipleship is also an effort to mitigate the Philippine’s drug problem (and whatever else ails the world). This is work the church should be proud of (in a good way).
Of course, it’s something the world won’t understand and media won’t necessarily report in a breaking news. But this is truth.
Evangelism and discipleship impacts individuals, families, and societies. They accomplish more than posting your opinions on Facebook. I’m not saying we should stop posting them, but we should definitely not stop at just posting them.
We can act now by keeping people away from drugs (and other works of darkness) by showing them eternal life in the kingdom of Christ’s light. That’s your role; that’s my role.
Log out and reach out. Don’t be an armchair justice crusader. We can actually do something by committing our lives to the greatest rescue mission of all: evangelism and discipleship.
