Jokes in the government? Take it seriously!

"You must have been born on a highway because that's where most accidents happen." If this joke will be said to you personally, will you take this seriously even though you know it is just a joke? Or you will not mind it and rather divert your attention to something else? Many people nowadays are taking jokes seriously. Last May 17, 2013 Vice Ganda a comedian, host and actor held his concert in Araneta and it was entitled 'I-Vice Ganda mo ko' sa Araneta'. He made fun of Jessica Soho and joked that "if Jessica Soho were a bold star in a movie, the scene would have to involve a 'gang rape," Many people reacted to this. Many Filipino citizen expressed their opinions through Twitter, Facebook, etc. Some said "that it was just a joke and should not be taken seriously," but some said that "rape is not a joke. That we should know how to respect our kapwa filipino." Many people react to jokes and take these things seriously. But didn't they realize that they should react more, prioritize, give importance, and especially take seriously what is happening to our government and to our country right now? Poverty is everywhere! Street children are everywhere! Squatters are everywhere! Education is getting poorer! Kidnapping, rape, robbery, massacre, death are everywhere! Government should take action on these things.

As a student, I am aware of what is happening to our country right now, what is happening to our government today. As I turn on the television, turn on the radio, read the newspaper and surf the net, all I can see are negatives issues. 'Pork barrel: should it be abolished or not?', 'Pork barrel and Janet Napoles', 'Zamboanga crisis', 'MNLF vs. the President', '8-year-old raped by her own father', 'family massacre in Cavite'. These kinds of issues just give me headache! Our country today is experiencing a serious crisis. I blame the government for not responding to these things. Some government officials may have good intentions for running but I know others just run for money and to satisfy their own needs. Their focus is not for the betterment of our country, but for the betterment of their own. Some Filipino citizens should also be blamed since some Filipinos vote for government officials who will give them money during elections days or will give them a sack or kilo of rice. As the quote goes: "Promises are meant to be broken". All the things that our government officials promised when they were running for their position aren't seen today. Our country is not improving. We can't see any progress. Our economy is getting weak.

We Filipino citizens are dependent on the government; government should also depend, see and hear its citizens' needs so that they can take action. A healthy relationship is a two-way process: give and take. You should know and answer the needs of your partner, understand each other, trust, be sensitive to each other feelings. If Philippine government and its citizens have this kind of relationship, then I know that this country will be progressive. We should act professionally. We should take action. Be updated with what is happening to our country right now. Know what is right and wrong. Speak out! Let people know your opinion. Be a true citizen of our country! Everything will start with YOU.

Sisterlyn V. Mangana

BS Psychology student

University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus