Why I don't hate Vice Ganda

I have been receiving hate comments from netizens when I posted my opinion that I don't think we should sensationalize the jokes of Vice Ganda on Jessica Soho being gang-raped due to the latter's size. I am not a fan of Vice Ganda nor Jessica Soho, by the way.

I just do not think that Vice Ganda had the intention to offend rape victims. He is a comedian. His brand of comedy is picking on the flaws of other people. Unfortunate for Jessica Soho to have been chosen the butt of Vice Ganda's joke. This is my opinion.

What I could not understand is - the very people who condemns VG's joke are the very people who best characterize the behavior that they are accusing VG of demonstrating. As a proof, here are the responses of netizens to my comment. Just plain tasteless opinions/comments.

danny  •  4 hours ago Report Abuse

ikaw kaya ma rape kareen mana ka sa idol mong bastos

Bushabu H  •  4 hours ago Report Abuse

Nakakatawa ba para sayo yung jokes tungkol sa rape? Eh kung rape-in kaya kita? Ipa gang rape ko kaya nanay mo? Rape-in ko kaya sa pwet anak mong babae na menor de edad? Siguro taob ka ngayon sa kakatawa habang iniisip yung mga sinabi ko.

pinkapple  •  3 hours ago Report Abuse

@kareen Grace..isa kng tanga....ndi ako natawa..FYI

Che Che Bureche  •  6 hours ago 

bastusin na yang Kareen na yan... Ok lang pala sa kanya ang mabastos eh... IpagangRAPE natin sa mga pitbull mo A Yahoo! User :D lol. ahahahha.

roberto  •  16 hours ago Report Abuse

@karen, pwede bang nanay mo gawing topic ni Vice kabayo sa rape?

There are others who expressed "educated" opinion on this matter and I respect them for that. See some below:

Yhumei_cute  •  18 hours ago Report Abuse

ang pinapatamaan nya naman kasi is yung katawan ni jesica eh.. kaya lang hindi kasi sya nag-isip hindi nya naman kasi kapamilya yung niloko nya malamang maraming kapuso at taong humahanga kay jesica soho ang magrereact para sa kanya, isang respetadong tao na gagawin mong katawa tawa sa harap ng napakaraming tao,, oo may mga binanggit syang ibang tao like kris, kim atienza, etc. eh mga kaibigan nya yun eh, anuman ang sabhin nya dun maiintindihan sya, iba ang isyu kay jesica hindi naman sila close para makipagbiruan sya... hindi ako against kay vice actually isa ako sa nanunuod ng mga shows nya, even the concert inabangan ko talaga na maipost sa you tube, pero nung narinig ko yung about kay jesica alam ko na talagang may magrereact, and ito na nga yun, hindi na nakakagulat.

Ice  •  18 hours ago Report Abuse

@ Kareen grace: to be honest when I saw the video on youtube, I didn't laugh with his remarks...Ako napahiya for Jessica Soho, I don't think she deserved to be treated that way....in the first place, taga-ibang network 'yun....she's a serious anchor woman. Kung ikaw natawa, something's wrong with you, you're very insensitive & soo mababaw.

Gary  •  18 hours ago Report Abuse

i don't care and im not a fan of jessica soho i believe jessica soho can take a cruel joke ( she is a big girl ), but what the problem is the concept " rape". that is tasteless and cruel to those people who experience being rape, molested and violated. and that is the reason why jessica soho react's, not because she is offended or hurt's. she is a accomplish and establish. so she can take the heat.

I think that Filipinos are really divided in all issues that hounds our country -- from Taiwan issue to this. I have already accepted that fact. VG already expressed his apology in public, which I personally think, is not necessary at all. I also understand that Jessica Soho cannot just take this in stride because she was made fun of (her weight to be exact). I just don't think Vice' joke is serious enough or should be taken seriously and be made a national issue. We should not take Vice Ganda seriously for that matter.

I also agree that rape is an issue that should not be in the same sentence as joke. But I think that it was unintentional and that VG did not mean anything as far as rape victims and rape per se is concerned. We are just sensationalizing this issue because there are opinion-makers like media personality who voiced their opinions in social media. Nakisabay na din tayo.

I am also disappointed by how some people justify their dislike on VG's joke and on VG as a whole. I hope this is not because he is gay.

I heard a comment this morning from a local broadcaster that VG has become a bad example to gay people, especially comedians, who are following VG's brand of joke. Let us not go that far. These people are earning legally for a decent living. Let us contain this issue, leave this behind us and move on to the more pressing issues at hand which is by the way, a lot.

Word War! - On Taiwanese and Philippine Coast Guards

I am really fond of reading news feeds especially with regards to the affairs of the Philippines and the problems that hurdles us everyday. I also have a habit of leaving my own comments to some issues. Most of the time, my opinions are met with criticisms. There are times also that my comments can gather as many as 300 likes or dislikes.

Today, my flavor-of-the-day issue is a news article written online by Christine O. Avendaño of Philippine Daily Inquirer entitled Manila, Taipei agree on ‘cooperative’ probe. 

(Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/75075/manila-taipei-agree-on-cooperative-probe#comment-903647120).

So, what I usually do is read the comments and compose my own. In this particular topic, during the course of the discussion, I realized that there are Filipinos who prefers to side with the other country than the Philippines. I am actually very saddened by this fact. And there are people who are very responsive that it actually challenged me to think.

I am really enjoying this mental intercourse because it helps me to enhance my skills in debating on issues that matters to our nation. I will say no more at this point but please take time to read the argument I had with some people like me who loves to discuss on issues. This is quite lengthy but there are areas that are amusing, and funny..:)

kareen • 5 hours ago

Why the hell would our coast guard fire upon a manned foreign vessel without sufficient provocation on the Taiwanese' side? I believe our coast guards have protocols to follow before engaging in hostile actions with "intruders". Yes, the Taiwan vessel was an intruder in our Philippine waters and we have the right to protect it. These fishermen should have respected our territory. They took the risk and should bear the consequences. Taiwan's hostility towards us now is just a portrayal of a hurt ego. We should not be sorry. We are saddened by the shed blood but this issue is beyond that. This is about our sovereignty and no one, not Taiwan or any country for that matter, should trample upon it.

 

Jane Tan kareen • 2 hours ago

So... you're basically saying its okay for law enforcers to shoot a person that is jay-walking since it's against the law and "they took the risk"?
I mean, come'on, they could have caused a road accident, or worse... got hit by a bus and messed-up the road with their blood and guts.

 

kareen Jane Tan • 2 hours ago

That's a very weak analogy. Equating jaywalking to encroaching upon our national territory. We are a sovereign country and we have laws on our national waters. Like I said, without provocation, I don't think our coast guards will fire upon them. Judge it at face value unless a strong evidence will be presented otherwise, the fishermen violated our laws.

Jane Tan kareen • 2 hours ago

Well, okay, what if a person tries to beat the red light and is in a direct collision course with a police officer, will it be okay for that police officer to unload multiple shots directed towards their vehicle, but without sufficient training and accuracy, hitting and killing the driver?
Provocation right?
Malabo argument mo. Similar situations involving only Filipinos happen everyday. That doesn't make it right to take out your weapon and use it just because this time it was Chinese foreigner. Would they have done the same thing if it was an American or a Filipino?
Best thing to do is to stall judgement and wait for the results of the investigation. If there is indeed enough evidence to prove that the fishermen were attempting to ram the boat, then their shooting would be justified (though I'm not sure about the multiple shots towards the cabin, and not the engine room).

kareen Jane Tan • 2 hours ago

No, he won't be shot because it is not a sufficient provocation. But he will be arrested. In the case at hand, if the fishermen refused to be taken into government custody and act in defiance, as coast guards, will they just leave them be and continue to violate our law? I don't think so.

Jane Tan kareen • 2 hours ago

If you're saying he won't be shot, then you're being a racist. Breaking the law and running over the police officer with your car is pretty much the same thing the Taiwanese vessel did (according to the PCG's claims).
\\as coast guards, will they just leave them be and continue to violate our law? I don't think so.\\
As police officers, will they just leave road hazards be and continue to violate our law?
Same situation. The only difference is that, when it comes to Filipinos, your answer to your own question is "yes" instead of "I don't think so".
If a policeman, according to you, shouldn't do it. What gives the coast guard the right to do so? Should we start assigning coast guards to police our roads too? That would be a sight to see.
Mind you, I am a Filipino. I just don't believe its right for us to judge foreigners when our own people are complacent and incapable of following our own laws.

 

kareen Jane Tan • an hour ago

It is not right for you to judge our coast guards as well and our police officers for that matter. Not all law enforcers in the Philippines are what you think they are. If you, a Filipino, doesn't believe that our coast guard acted on our defense, then foreigners will always bully us and disrespect us by virtue of our division. They won't believe us and they won't give us the respect that we deserve. We should stand our ground in times like this. We do not have strong military capacities in terms of weapons but if the neighboring countries will see that we are one in advancing our national interest, they will hesitate to subject us to their inflated ego. Yes, there are violators of the law. Many of us are not following our own laws. But in terms of national interest, we gotta stand on our own ground. Especially that Taiwanese people are hitting us by abusing our OFWs in their country.

 

Shuami kareen • 40 minutes ago

"They won't believe us and they won't give us the respect that we deserve."
Show some evidence to back up your claims, such as releasing the video footage for the incidence, then people will believe you and will respect you.
Given PCGs reputation and past records, it's hard to believe them just based on their claims, especially when they run opposed to the evidence available, That act by itself (i.e. refusing to release the video) is hard for anyone to demand respect.

kareen Shuami • 27 minutes ago

That's why there are investigators from both parties to refute or confirm claims of each side. I think that if the video footage will be released for the public to see, both Taiwanese and Filipinos, it could give birth to more problems especially that people's way of viewing things could not be controlled by both governments. If the footage is too damaging to Taiwan or to the Philippines, will it make the situation better? Notice how Taiwanese react despite the absence of sufficient evidence that the Pinoy coast guard killed one of them with premeditation..they are turning their heads to our OFWs who did not do anything but work for a living. What if we turn the table and Filipinos subject the Taiwanese people to harassment? Will the Taiwanese take it lightly? Maybe, PCGs reputation precedes them. But that doesn't mean this is the case here. If the fishermen respected our laws, will there be bloodshed in the very first place?

Shuami kareen • 10 minutes ago

" If the footage is too damaging to Taiwan..."
Let the Taiwanese worry about that as they are the ones that demand the release of the video, how's that?!
"...or to the Philippines,..."
Now you are talking.
"...will it make the situation better?"
I believe so. Only the TRUTH and not just YOUR truth can calm this down.
"PCGs reputation precedes them. But that doesn't mean this is the case here."
But you REALLY need to PROVE that it is NOT the case, BECAUSE of PCG's reputation that precedes them.

kareen Shuami • a minute ago

Why is it that the Philippines are being asked to explain and justify the incident when the Taiwanese are the ones who entered our waters illegally? The only truth here is that the Taiwanese invaded our territory without apparent reason but to exploit our natural resources. The real truth here is that our coast guards defended our rights over own territory. The truth here is that the killed Taiwanese fisherman was not killed due to a murderous plot by the coast guard because logic would tell you that if our PCGs are trying to kill the intruders, why discriminate and kill only one? Finally, the truth here is that Philippines is not sleeping and that we are ready to defend our country at all cost. Deal with that.
 

Jane Tan kareen • 7 minutes ago

I'm not judging them before they do anything. In this case, they already did something, which is to shoot instead of arresting a law-breaker. That's abusing their authority as enforcers.
I never said all law enforcers are like that. In fact, I'm the one telling you that all law enforcers aren't like them. Why do you think this is so? Obviously because, if every single one of our law enforcers would shoot law-breakers instead of arresting them, everyone would revolt.
The Taiwanese abusing our people are a direct result of this incident - because some idiot coastguards, instead of considering the consequence of unloading on unarmed fishermen, did so without any thought. This is their fault, not the Taiwanese. I agree that the actions against our OFWs are petty acts of vengeance, but you are pretty much the same as they are. "We should stand our ground in times like this."? Seriously? I suppose you're one of the people who don't agree with Pnoy's decision concerning the Sabah incident. And, its people like you that create more conflict in the world, simply because of your ego.
If you really want to hit a country where it hurts, you prove they violated international law and bring it upon an international stage. You don't go in guns blazing. Look what happened to the Sabah incident. Can we still lay claim to the land? No. Because the country that first resorts to violence is always the one in the wrong.

 

kareen Jane Tan • a few seconds ago

Like I said, I believe our coast guards did not act without sufficient provocation. Do you really think that our PCGs are stupid enough to assault surrendering lawbreakers??? You have little faith in our people.

At this point, I was beginning to get bored with the topic and with the discussion.  

But I suggest you make this a habit also. This will not only keep you abreast with the affairs of our country but can also help you improve your communication skills and logical reasoning.

I do not wish to insult anyone by my opinions. I just want to share it.

If I were not in the Philippines

I have been contemplating about how my life could have turned out if I were not a Filipino or if I was not living in the Philippines. It is actually very hard to imagine since I haven't gone to any place outside this country but the thought repeatedly crossed my mind.

I think I am far blessed as compared to majority of Filipinos. I have a decent job, I was able to graduate in college which has become a "privilege" now rather than a "right". I can feed myself more than three times a day (note the fats!). But for most of the Filipinos, things could have been better if we are in a 1st world country OR if Philippines is a 1st world country although I think it does not necessarily mean that when your country belongs to the 1st world, it means there is less poverty.

Anyway, so I gathered some data comparing our lives now in the Philippines and the life we could have if we were not here just for the heck of it really..:)

1. If Luxembourg were our home, we would make 23.6 times more money because the GDP per capita there is $78,000 while in Philippines, it is only $3,300 . 

2. If Qatar were our home, we would have 93.33% chance at being employed. Their unemployment rate is 0.50% while ours is 7.50%. 

3.  If Singapore were our home, we would live 10.68 years longer. Their life expectancy is 82.06 while ours is 71.38.

4. If Norway were our home, we would experience 45.41% less of class divide in terms of the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income. In Norway, it's only 25%, in Philippines, it's 45.80%.

5. If Hongkong were our home, we would have 70.99% less babies. The annual number of births per 1,000 people in Hongkong is 7.45 while in Philippines, it is 25.68. Thus, the passing of RH  Law or Responsible Parenting Law.

6. If we were in Sweden, we would enjoy the best political environment in the whole world because of their high level of political participation and it's long lasting neutrality.

I could go on and on about the many countries that are far better than Philippines. But, despite the many thing we don't have and the things I wish we have, I would not exchange Philippines for the world. Why? There are many reasons actually. Here are my list of few of the million reasons why Philippines should still be our home.

1. We are notorious in terms of hospitality! We are very famous because we welcome guests in the friendliest manner making sure our visitors feel at home away from home. In fact, we are ranked by Forbes as the 8th Friendliest Country in the whole wide world!

2. As compared to Afghanistan, we make 75.76% more money than the people there. Their GDP per capita is only $800 while ours is $3300. We are luckier than the people in Africa, in Sudan, in Rwanda - countries that are torned by war and slavery for many many years.

3. Filipinos smile a lot. We have positive attitudes. We are actually ranked as number 8 (again!) in the list of the Most Positive Countries in the World. We always find reasons to laugh at ourselves even at the most difficult situation.

4. We have award winning kababayans who are always bringing us pride. Pacquiao, Pempengco, Salonga, Sanchez, Supsup, Elizalde, and many more!

5. We are always topnotch in terms of world beauty contests. 

6. We are blessed with abundant natural wonders.

7. Politics is reaallllllyyyyyyy exciting, a constant source of fun/laugh and bloopers.

8. We have balot, isaw, betamax, halo-halo..and batchoy! yummmm!

9. We have close family ties. We always turn to our families in times of dire need and we share with our families our happiest moments. Kahit may anak na si anak, nakatira pa din sa bahay. Masaya..super saya!

10. We have Miriam Defensor-Santiago. and Kris Aquino! :p

and a million more reasons to stay at HOME even in the midst of hardship!

 

When you think no one cares..

I have always thought that no one notices my actions and no one feels that I have an impact in their lives. But a single gesture proves that all wrong. Let me tell you about it.

I am often fond of reading inspirational stories to motivate me and to strengthen me whenever I'm down. Now, I don't usually find it fun to share those stories because I think no one will ever read them. I have actually collected so many inspiring stories I meant to share but never did because of that thought. But not yesterday. I came across a story online and the message is too strong that I thought I needed to share it. I shared the story to almost all persons in my email address book.

This time, I did not expect any response. But I received one from someone I least expect to receive it. I call him Sir Boy. He was an Accounting Manager in my past employer. He is a good co-worker and a good friend. We worked together for a short period of time only in 2011 because I resigned. He is working abroad right now, in Middle East handling a managerial position in a big corporate company there. So far away from his family.

Below was his message to me which really made my day.

"Thank you very much Kareen for this very strong thought about life & Goodness of God. This message relieved me from being in  a low spirit most of the time. (mahirap mamuhay ng malayo at mag-isa).

best regards to you, God Bless!

boy "

I know you are curious what was the story I sent him and to the rest of the people in my mailing list. I want to share this to you also. I hope this will help you when you need it. I do not own this story. From where I got this story, it says that this was a story or written by Tony A.B. Akinye. I do not know him and he does not appear to be a famous person to me but he sure touched lives by this story.

God is never wrong..
 

A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances, said: “My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!”

 

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty losing a finger.

 

Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger."

 

The slave replied: "My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows "why" of all these things. What God does is perfect. He is

never wrong!"

 

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

 

Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices.

 

In the altar, ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages found that the victim had not one of his fingers, so he was released. According to them, it was not so complete to be offered to the gods.

 

Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave that he received very affectionately.

 

"My dear, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?"

 

"My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, I would have been sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger, therefore, remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong."

 

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

 

Every morning, offer your day to God, don't be in a rush.

 

Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong!