Emergency NTC 117: NOT For General Public Use

Yesterday evening, on our way home, there was an accident between a “security” car and a motorcycle. The accident was on the corner of our street, and at first glance, it appeared as if the security car had run over the motorcyclist. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the car stopped on an incline, and it looked like it didn’t have the hand brake on, threatening to crush the driver a second time.

My sister and I were the only ones in the car, so my first instinct was to call Emergency NTC 117. I had my Sun Cellular mobile phone with me, and immediately tried to call for help.

That was by far the most idiotic choice one could ever make.

The phone kept ringing until I received a message saying there was no answer on the other end of the line. I called again, and this time, after a few rings, I received a busy tone. 4-5 calls later with the same results, my load ran out, and I never did got to call for help.

Just what kind of an emergency number is 117?! No answers, busy tones, and it eats up your load just for hearing a ringing/busy sound? I had at least P70-50 left on my credit, and I know this because I had just reloaded my Sun Cellular with a P150 regular load on August 25th, 2010; a load that would usually last me 45 days with a lot of credit left over.

Aren’t emergency numbers supposed to be answered quickly and efficiently? And most importantly, there is an emergency. Why should we have to pay for calling for public service help?!

Sadly, we didn’t see what happened to the motorcyclist and the crying child, who was presumably with the motorcyclist. He seemed unharmed, but was scared and crying all the same. We saw the security car on another road a few minutes later. Same car, but the motorcyclist was not there. The driver seemed to have fled the scene and kept his headlights off so that we couldn’t see his plate number.

I hope this blog post somehow gets on the news. I’m certainly posting this on twitter, plurk, and facebook. For shame, Emergency NTC 117! Charging for calls without even answering them is a disgrace.

Alas, only in the Philippines…

Grief…

A hostage situation that started peacefully ended in a blood bath, killing 8 Hong Kong tourists.

Hong Kong Interpol will be making their own investigations on what went wrong.

Two nations who both wish to seek the truth silently can not cooperate with one another.

And I can’t help but watch from the sidelines, thinking the situation could have been handled better, but could not do anything except to helplessly watch as the events unfolded.

I love Hong Kong. I love it so much that when I had the opportunity to work there, I enjoyed every single minute. The food, the freedom, the people… even those who looked down upon me changed their minds when they realized I was Chinese.

I don’t know the people who were taken hostage… neither do I know the ones who were killed. But watching the entire thing unfold left a pain in my hear that refuses to heal.

I can easily point fingers as to who did what wrong. In fact, I have been doing so in my twitter and plurk accounts. But then I realized, my bitterness cannot help those who are really suffering: the families left behind by the departed.

And so I will light incenses and keep them in my prayers.

May God bless the departed souls and the families who were left behind.

Praying for the Future

We, the Kuassary Family, pray for our fallen comrades from HeroEmpires.
We vow to take part in keeping Peace and Order as Royalists of Granado Espada.
Long life to our leaders and members who are no longer of this world...
They are dearly missed.

On a more serious note, if appears that God has answered my prayers. ^^ I will continue praying that His Will may be done, and that the Philippines will thrive once more under the rule of the Aquino Family.

Rukia’s great sword reminds me of Souseiseki’s scissors in Rozen Maiden. Not that I’m complaining, as I need to raise her stances levels for that anyway.

All this sleeping late is going to get me in trouble sooner or later. I hope I can get my old sleeping schedule back.

Ondoy/Ketsana Aftermath

I never thought a typhoon could hurt us so badly.

My house has never been flooded in 40+ years. When Typhoon Ondoy (internationally known as "Typhoon Ketsana") hit us, the water rose to mid-thigh inside my house. Outside, it was up to the waist. For those curious, I'm 5'2" (or maybe 5'3"). More than 80% of Manila was underwater, and even until now, 5 days later, some places are still submerged.

My brother suspects that all the damns in the area were opened, that's why the floods rose to unimaginable heights. I think the sewers are so clogged up with garbage that it couldn't handle the flood waters. There are so many slums in the sewer areas... how then can you drain the water when the sewers have been covered up by houses?

And then people in the slums complain that the government is not helping them, when in truth, they are also part of the problem. We already know there's corruption in the government, so why can't the citizens do something on their own?

Then again, I don't blame them for leaving the province in search for a better life in the City. I'm only angry that so many people are hurt when I know this could have been prevented some way. People always think "if it ain't broken, don't fix it", only to cause so much grief and misery... even death.

One day, when I have enough money after I work in Canada, and I have the chance to return to the Philippines, I will make a recycling facility. I will also use Japan's technology to clear up the poluted waters, because I don't think the government will ever stop stuffing their pockets with money.

The Philippines could be so much better...

If you would like to help, there is a full list of places accepting donations here.

On another note, I say Senator Noynoy Aquino's car pass by in front of us today. From the brief glimpse we had, he seems like a simple guy. The window was down, and he was seated on the front seat of the car. I wonder where he was off to?

1000 Paper Cranes: Wishing for a Better Philippine Government

Would it be wishful thinking to hope for a better government and clean, truthful, fair elections in the Philippines this 2010?

Frankly, I don't know. I'm not even sure I'll be in this country by the time the elections begin, but that doesn't mean I can't give my support to the Philippine Paper Crane Project.

I've always dreamed the Philippines could be one of the greatest countries the world has ever seen. I mean, we had the first female president in Asia, and we stopped a war with People Power; no death, no bloodshed. Whatever happened to that nation where we saw everyone as equals and helped one another?

If I had a choice, I don't think I'd want to move to another country, but as it turns out, I have to in order to start living my future.

Even still... I hope the Philippines will heal. And I hope I can return one day... I hope everyone can support this endeavour. Because I know wishes can still come true.

Typo of the Year?

My officemate decided to share this news clipping to us this morning.

Quote:

WITH UTMOST CARE. Military honor guard carefully moves the coffin of President Arroyo out of the Manila Cathedral. (Photo by Tony Pionilla)

I have no idea whether this image is Photoshop-ed or not. You can click the image to see the original version (which I linked to the original source), but if it is real, someone might kick the bucket for it. You have to admit, it's a little amusing, intentional or not.

Senator Noynoy Aquino gave a rather bold statement about Arroyo's reign. He mentioned in an interview that Arroyo was beginning to be a lot like Marcos, and he wondered if the Aquino's would have to be the ones to clean up after her... again. It makes me wonder if he has plans to run for Presidency when the time comes.

I wonder... how long will the people's resolve last this time around...

Farewell, My Lady...

A sad, yet uplifting scene I keep seeing past when I head to work. You'll have to forgive the photo quality, I took it from inside the car this morning. It's a little frustrating that traffic is killing me ever since people have been coming to visit outside of the late president's house, but it's also nice to see people appreciating what she has done for this country.

She's probably one of the few honest leaders this country's ever had. And to see people flocking to pay their respects makes me think that the Philippines may not be so hopeless after all.

I hope Lady Corazon Aquino finds peace... she, of all people, deserve it... much, much, more than anyone.