#philippine government

[ejaydoeshisbest]

What My Special Needs Brother Has Taught Me

I am making peace with the reality of taking care of my special needs brother as we get older in years. For context, I am turning thirty this year, 2024.

I am already imagining us in the future; all grey hairs and wrinkled skin. Our joints aching, and he, whining and complaining.

I will still be preparing his meals because my brother is afraid of hot oil and the heat coming from the stove.

I will spend most of my money on his medicines unless a good government program finally helps to assist autistic elders in the Philippines.

I will still work a decent-paying job to provide for his basic needs and if I have some extra, maybe I could put in a good insurance company and HMO.

My best hope is for him to become independent and find good work on his own, of course. But if he doesn’t, then I have to make sure we both don’t suffer.

Personal Struggles with Accepting Responsibility

If you were to ask someone stronger, more mature, and more resilient than me about the challenges of caring for someone in the family who has special needs, they would probably say that it is a blessing and their personal calling.

They probably would accept the responsibility with pride. If ever they doubted, or feared, or felt moments of weakness, I’d like to think they would carry on sacrificing a major chunk of their lives for the benefit of the whole family.

If you would have asked me the same question some months ago, I would have glumly replied that I have no choice.

For the longest time, I was a weak, self-centered person. I put myself first above others and fled at the first sensations of a binding responsibility, especially if I felt that it was a heavy burden to carry on my own.

For a long while, too, I resented my special needs brother and my parents.

I didn’t ask to be their eldest child who was supposed to support a special needs sibling for the rest of my life. To be fair, they weren’t forcing me, but the passive aggressiveness and guilt-tripping tactic was just as effective.

I thought that my brother would keep me from living my best life, that he would hold me back from so many opportunities and wonderful adventures. Providing for his needs meant sacrificing a lot of my free time and freedom.

Now, though, I have begun to settle into the role of helper or caretaker around the house.

Perhaps it was time. Perhaps it was age or biology or a combination of all three.

It has been difficult. It still is. True enough, it meant a lot of sacrifices; personal time, days off, simple pleasures, creative hobbies, and other projects. But there will be no one to bear this burden but the family members who will remain.

I’m finding the peace in accepting that. But it doesn’t erase the fears I still hold to this day.

My Fears of Taking Care of a Special Needs Sibling

Expenses

Raising special needs children, children with disabilities, children on the autism spectrum, neurodiverse kids, or whatever term one chooses to describe their current situation is more expensive than neurotypical, “normal” children. Some, if not most, need constant supervision for the rest of their lives.

They need different therapies to improve speech, movement, and other behaviors to be functional in a public setting.

Then you need teachers with specialized training to educate them in the hopes that they would use those skills to achieve full or partial independence.

Though my brother went to a specialized school with competent, kind, compassionate teachers, all the expenses came from my father’s pocket, without help from the government. At least, to the best of my knowledge. He worked hard so my brother got the proper education he needed.

Living in the Philippines is hard enough for lower-middle-class families like ours. I can barely scrape by with the meager salary that I had during my last job before I tried freelancing. I don’t feel confident that I’ll have the kind of money that my father had in his youth, so I’m scared that I might not provide for my brother’s future needs.

And those needs will grow more expensive as we both age. That is why I fear our future expenses.

Lack of Government Support

I’m not the type to blame the government for everything, but reading a recent article still showed the lack of progress or any concrete plan for assisting Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.

The news article stated that there aren’t enough “full-fledged learning centers for learners with disabilities in every locality due to the shortage of health professionals who can assess children with special needs”.

After reading that, I worried that there was still a lack of government support for adults with autism who are capable of working a simple job.

My brother isn’t on the severe side of the autism spectrum, you see. He can talk, and dance, and understand you, just as long as you talk simply. He could still write his name, albeit squiggly. He can understand movies and children’s books. He can understand simple orders.

I am grateful that at least he doesn’t need round-the-clock attention. But I’m afraid that if he doesn’t use the skills he learned in school, he will end up losing confidence in himself, and forget the skills he acquired in the expensive school.

While I��ve read that the popular shopping malls in the country have been hiring people on the autism spectrum since 2016, I have yet to personally encounter actual adults with autism working in the many malls that I visited. I’m not sure the information holds up now.

I don’t know if the Philippines would ever have a professional kind of assisted living program for the mentally challenged or disabled. But it would be a great burden off the parent or guardian’s shoulders if there were indeed competent caretakers to watch over the special needs individual as they make ends meet.

Then again, these facilities cost quite a lot of money. It would be up to the government, along with the rest of society, to share this burden to improve the quality of lives of all. I’m willing to do my part as well.

The only benefit from the government that helped somewhat was the discounts on bills and groceries when I presented my brother’s PWD ID at the cashier.

I shiver to think what would happen if there was no government aid at all. I don’t want to be one of those elderly people I see on the news. The ones who are in their 80s and 90s still taking care of an autistic aging adult.

My Own Physical Health Limitations

My brother is physically stronger than me. Ever since I was a small child, I was a weakling. I remember the years when every morning, my breakfast was thirty minutes of nebulizer and my dinner was a nightly dose of preventive inhalers.

I’m grateful that I’ve grown out of those severe asthma attacks, but no one can say for certain if it will come back with a vengeance. I hope not, for my family’s sake.

Still, I’m afraid that my health could not keep up with the demands of a full-time job, and some side hustles to help with the finances, while also taking care of myself, having a social life, and taking care of my brother.

It feels like I already have a child with no partner to help me.

All this pressure is taking a toll on my mental capabilities as well. If I don’t stop overthinking, then it will only cause further strain and negatively impact my health.

I need to train my mind to become resilient.

Ironically, that is what my brother is teaching me the more I reflect on how to better care for him and address his needs.

What My Special Needs Brother is Teaching Me

Accept Responsibility and Face Reality

I have learned that accepting responsibility and forcing myself to not overthink about the future and every little detail that irritates me takes a load off the mental and physical stress.

Would it be nice for government assistance? Yes. Would it be nice if my parents set up funds for his future? Definitely.

But that isn’t my reality. All I can do is focus on what I can do at the moment. It may not be enough but at least it’s a plan. Plans still count as something.

I also realized that things will get worse if I choose to run away from my problems. For years, I hoped that it would resolve on its own as I faced my own challenges. I hoped that a solution will fall from the sky and save us all. I hoped that my parents would think of something grand.

Again, the reality of our situation is that it won’t get any better if I don’t contribute.

The reality is that my parents are getting more lines on their faces with each season. Grey hairs are growing faster than they can color them. Their skin is sagging.

I feel myself getting older too. I am on the last stretch of my 20s. I better contribute to the family while I still have remaining strength.

That is why when well-meaning people insist that it really isn’t my responsibility to care for my special needs brother, I tell them that I am not comfortable abandoning them altogether. I need to be present to tackle all the problems on hand so that my aging parents would not suffer.

It may not be my fault that I am physically weaker than average and that my brother has special needs, but it is still my responsibility to act.

That’s just acting like a decent human being and as a good brother.

Besides, we’re Filipinos. It’s ingrained in our culture and tradition to stick together. Unless the family is downright toxic, then by all means, cut them off.

Furthermore, I did my years of selfishness. I partied. I played games to my heart’s content. None of it was fulfilling. All of it was wasted hours and days on cheap dopamine.

I had fun at the moment, but the pain multiplied depending on the time I had delayed addressing important obligations.

In my defense, it wasn’t like I was delaying gratification. I treated these simple pleasures as rewards for being an adult. Still, I admit that there was selfishness there.

Lastly, I have no interest at all in starting my own family. I’m happy being single for the rest of my life. I am an antinatalist, after all. Maybe this is the universe’s way of balancing things out.

Build Strength and Resilience

I used to have this victim mindset all the time. But taking care of my brother grants me a new perspective in life.

It forces me to look for solutions, instead of dwelling on problems. It forces me to become positive and helps me access this delusional confidence to survive and to keep showing up for work.

I realized I am more motivated to finish things and stick with my chosen struggles if it means supporting someone else. It makes things worth doing. It gives me strength and purpose.

I’m aware that helping others boost overall mood, but I’m not doing it for that. I’m not helping because I want that surge of positivity.

I’m helping out of love and out of reciprocation for the sacrifices my parents had made.

I'm helping because I have a lot of years to make up for.

Live with Hope

My special needs brother makes me see what matters most in life.

It’s about bringing people together and trying your best to protect them. It’s about sharing the load with others. It’s about giving more than you take.

It’s about living life one day at a time; to be comfortable with the lows and to enjoy the highs. It’s about never giving up and always believing in the power of hope, that whatever happens, we’ll get through this together.

It’s about honoring the sacrifices of my father and mother, cultivating a strong support system, and being a support system in return.

It may not completely erase all my fears, but living with hope manages them enough so that I have the determination to pick myself up every day and continue focusing on the present. And hope that all my efforts will count for great things in the future.

There are no guarantees, I know. But it won’t stop me from working.

Having said that, I’m not going to overwork myself. That in itself is a bad strategy. Balance would be the key here.

Work the hours, clock out, live well below our means, cook healthy meals, and ask for help when needed.

Be Sympathetic

Sympathetic. Empathetic. Compassionate. Kind. Patient.

Helping care for my special needs brother has let me release some of the negativity in me.

With a background in dramatic storytelling and a short stint as a PR writer, one of my major roles was reading and researching all the negativity in the news to hook people’s attention.

Maybe I had absorbed too much negativity that I viewed my life bleakly.

I had become jaded and toxic to the point that I had to be less sensitive to the plight of others to protect whatever pool of emotions I had left, which, ironically, made me seem dull, insensitive, and an emotionless husk.

I viewed my life with crushed hopes and broken dreams.

Now, I am re-learning how to search for the silver lining in each situation. I am re-learning to be more understanding towards hostility. I will still fight back even if it means defending myself and my time, but I am more reflective of such negative encounters.

I understand that we’re all lost, alone, and confused. I understand that we either lash out or keep our emotions bottled up.

Helping take care of my brother, I sometimes see that I’ve wasted so much of my energy on negativity and toxic behaviors. I am learning how to let go.

I would also add that I have a rocky, tumultuous relationship with my father. But the care he provided for my brother humanizes him. I still hate the guy, but I respect his sacrifices.

Conclusion

I still have a lot to learn. Every day is filled with frustrations. But without my brother, I am still stuck being a self-centered, hedonistic individual, afraid to face the reality of the past before it haunts him in his future.

Because of him, I am willing to do my best each day, good or bad, and to have faith that I can overcome obstacles.

Words: Ejay Diwas

Art: Viviai Art

[westvalleyfaultph]

Philippines Boosts Disaster Resilience with AI-Powered Technology from Japan

In an era of increasing natural disasters, the Philippines is stepping up its disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) efforts through an innovative collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japanese tech company Spectee, Inc. This partnership aims to upgrade the country’s DRRM system using cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology, ensuring faster…

[haremouji38]

Should the Philippines change its constitution, and turn into a federal state?

The Philippine government has long lived with a republican type of government. With the ongoing 1987 constitution, we all see what this constitution is capable of; we experience its benefits, but it also has a hole that makes Filipino citizens experience a hard life. It's been a long time since this constitution was created and used by Filipino citizens, so many people think we should change it. Some politicians, like the former presidents Rodrigo Duterte and Gloria Arroyo and the current president of the Philippines, Bong Bong Marcos, support the idea of the Philippines transforming into a federal state because they believe that it will greatly contribute to our country and is the best option to make the country develop and improve itself. But the question is, should we agree to the idea of the Philippines being a federal state?

In my opinion, I agree with the Philippines transforming into a federal state because I notice that our country needs some change, and this federalism is a good example. We can't live with this constitution forever. Maybe this constitution was not that bad, but it's not that good either. On the other hand, federalism would be beneficial to the country, as the government's plans seem great. Their plan was to divide the Philippines into 11 federal states (shown in the figure above). This aims to divide the powers of the national government into 11 states. With this, the 11 states will have their own power and the right to make a decision without consulting the national government. They will also have their own power over the funds and more resources. Federalism was also an answer to some major issues in our country, like inequality. Unlike a unitary government wherein there is only one government, a city like Manila, where the Malacañang is located, benefits the most from this because the government funds are given mostly to them while the other city is neglected. That's why federalism is one of the answers that will bring equality to the country, as it can distribute the wealth of the country evenly to the states. Some of its benefits were that it can bring the government closer to the people, and states can have their own separate laws from other states that would be needed for them; for example, in the Muslim region, where they have their own beliefs different from ours, locals in states can decide on their own without the national government's approval, etc.

But of course, not all Filipinos are agreed on promoting federalism. There are so many that were against it even some politicians because, for them, it will be used to extend the term limit of some leaders and will entrench political dynasties in the region. With these pros of federalism, of course, there are also some cons but all I can say was even though it has cons still federalism would be a good try for our Government. It's not perfect, like some medicine, it has side effects, but if you ask me, I would much like something new to hope for rather than being content with the things we have right now. Maybe, personally, I don't really been affected by it so nothing seems to change but for the sake of other people who suffer the most, I would like to pursue it because it might change their fate and brings hope to everyone. Yes, I am an idealist, but I want to believe in this federalism and hope that someday it will be implemented in our country.

[ifindus]

The Allies during World War II

The Axis here

[sforzesco]

I am SO excited for bad governance especially for (among other things) the fashion choices we are going to see !

oh! this makes me so happy to hear 🥺 as a little preview of fashion choices to come, here are some sketches I was doing of some of the cast the other day, just trying to pin down their general vibe

[leche-flandom]

Tired tired tired of the US deeming brown people expendable for their political agenda

[elstreem]

Sorry for inactivity, but rest assured me and my loved ones are safe. We've also had strong wind and rain in our province but nothing too bad, and we all live in places not at risk of flood.

However, this recent storm has badly affected several areas, from what I saw Bicol and Batangas have people in need of help, and probably so many other areas too as the effects of Kristine has been very wide-reaching.

Edit: Added some more calls for donations:

Here is Angat Buhay's relief operations:

Pawssion Project is helping out animal shelters affected:

Plushies for Hope is providing hot meals in various places, including Camarines, Batangas and Bicol:

[radyo-kabaw]

Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country, Patricia Evangelista

[sirensea14]

Mga pare ko😭

So here i am, starting my morning with this bullshit. At first i saw this on facebook from a poster with an image of the chinese coastguard vessel and I wanted to confirm it on google and--surprise surprise--It was 3 DAYS AGO! WHAT THE FUCK

I thought this was calming down a bit, but china said "Oh fuck no, we aint giving up 'our' shit"

What's up with them patrolling OUR islands this time?

And um, i have something to tell you all really.

There are 25 hypersonic missiles pointed at northern Luzon by china. EDIT: ITS ACTUALLY 25 AREAS TARGETED BY CHINA'S HYPERSONIC MISSILES. I JUST CHECKED IT HP (Hypersonic= faster than ghe speed of sound) Im not sure if this is true though as Imee Marcos refused to elaborate whom she got the intel from (i was debating from saying this here cuz im not sure) and im still NOT SURE up to this day. I just hope this is a lie.

And our politics and government--its a fucking mess. I hope Kabataan Partylist (Youth partylist) wins cuz we need them. Not those weird ass celebrities-to-politicians that has no education about law, politics, or even economics. They are continued to be voted because those boomers say happily, "i vote for *** because they are my idol!!" Without really knowing what they will do or what can they do in the field of politics. And the family dynasties or whatever, its getting worse. More and more politicians have been backing(supporting) their children (ex: Villar; mother and son, Duterte; father, daughter and 2 sons, Marcos; a whole fucking family, btw they are known to be the dictators back then in 1972-1981) our government is just a terrible mess.

This is just chaos. The world is becoming a mess now cuz this aint just the Philippines' shit, some have also been affected by conflicts--whether it be caused by an outside force (county vs country) or inside force (people vs government). Like Gaza, Ukraine, and now lately ive seen Bangladesh. China, and U.S, these countries are powerful yet somehow broken on the inside. Only i can tell that from videos on the internet, but i am sure they are in a somewhat silent conflict. People's unity are breaking apart, what more of countries in conflict would i consume this time?

[ambasingresident]

Happy Independence Day for the Filipinos in the THSC community (RAHHHHH 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭)

This drawing commemorates the BRAVE heroes of the Philippines. Drew most of the Government-affiliated characters as soldiers and officers of the First Philippine Republic (Philippine Revolutionary Army) celebrating their victory after a battle.

[sleepycoffins-and-benhargreeves]

How I looked on the outside when I have to leave Taiwan to go back to PH:

How I felt inside:

I feel like I've been having such shit tired standards my entire life that one visit to Taiwan makes me wanna leave my country as soon as possible jfc

[carlocarrasco]

Philippines attracted more international visitors than last year but still behind 2024 target

When it comes to attracting visitors from overseas, the Philippines improved over the 5.45 million international visitors of 2023 but they have yet to hit the declared 2024 target of 7.7 million international visitors and time is already running out, according to a BusinessWorld news report. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts…

[themagical1sa]

I remember hearing about the Filipino protests for ceasefire within Palestine.

I remember being glad to see the protests being done in solidarity with our fellow oppressed — having had a history of being colonized and all — and then, my father begrudgingly says, "Ang dami-dami na nga nating problema dito, nakikisawsaw pa kayo sa gulo!" [Tagalog: we already have so many problems here, but there you are joining in their chaos!]

I was immediately pissed — was it so bad to show our solidarity with Palestinians in our own land? — but, even in the moment, deep down, I knew my father's response was some form of valid. We can barely live in our own country still neck-deep in poverty as the corrupt manipulate their way into plundering the masses. I mean, if the 2022 national presidential elections was any indication, we were all fucking cheated systemically! We're living in a damned nightmare woven for decades upon decades by the rich and powerful, like the Marcoses.

A Facebook user once posted in a political discussion forum that we're living in a failed democracy. When I saw and stared at the post, I realized... yeah, we really fucking are. Putangina.

My father's comment about Filipino protests for Palestine implies a lot of valid points — we're in our own kind of hell, and we really should be striving to better ourselves first before we call help for other people... and yet, at the same time, I can't deny that, at least, in my head, heart, and soul, I'm fiercely chanting From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!

I hope that one day we'll all see the day when we're all finally free — free from oppression. Free from corruption. Free to live and just be.

I hope that one day, we'll all be free.

[flightlessinsect]

Cold take, but those of us who have zero power over the results of US elections should not have to be forced to experience dread over the results of US elections but here we are

[lyntherighteousleftist]

Dear Self,

I sincerely sympathized with you during this difficult time after you flunked the Civil Service Professional Exam for the third time. I know you did your best with everything you could.

I witnessed your efforts in reviewing for many hours, even to the point where you had no time to sleep or take a break.

In my opinion, it's not that you didn't give enough because, as I see it, you genuinely persevered to pass the Civil Service exam. You tried all the tips and techniques you could. Maybe for others, it wasn’t enough.

The saying "Basta naay 500, naay pag-asa" doesn’t resonate with me anymore. This mindset shouldn’t be instilled in our minds because time and money are invested in the Civil Service. It's not just a simple coin you can find anywhere, even every corners. Some people even borrow money from others, or save up from their daily earnings, even if it's only minimum wage.

I know you're frustrated with your situation now because it feels like your efforts have wasted. If you're frustrated, your alter ego is even more pissed because it sees that most of those who pass are first-timers who haven't gone through extensive review. It feels like the world is unfair, and everything is reversed: those who study diligently are the ones who don’t pass.

I don't want you to think that you failed because you're stupid. The truth is, it really isn't such a thing as a "dumb" person. I believe that people just need more practice, and with enough time, they can learn and become proficient.

Next filing period, don’t tell anyone about your plans to take the exam. You can keep it a secret; don’t share it with anyone, not even your closest friends. It’s okay to tell your mom because a mother is always the first person to believe in your ability to succeed, no matter how impossible it may seem.

Edmalyn, I know you can cry all you want, even when you’re alone in your room. It's okay to cry now if it helps ease the pain. It’s also okay to feel disappointed, even if you know in your heart that you did your best.

Sometimes, we feel envious of others because it seems like they’re achieving their dreams while you’re still stuck. Don’t worry; your time will come.

My alter ego, please don’t give up, even if you feel like you wanted to jumping off a building because you can’t accept what happened. You’ll only truly lose if you stop fighting.

It’s true, mahirap mahalin ang Pilipinas, especially when even entry-level jobs have such high standards. Even fresh graduates are required to have work experience. Yet, when it comes to candidates for the Senate or gubernatorial elections, the standards seem so low, and even some celebrities or influential people want to run.

The world is so unfair, which is why I understand Edmalyn, because I know you also wanted to achieve your goals in life. One day, you will pass... I hope this can inspire you to keep fighting in life.

I believe in you, Edmalyn! Even if sometimes I can’t quite grasp what exactly you’re fighting for right now, I’m here for you, supporting you. I love you, Ed! ❤️

[kavalyera]

Ask time, yay!!

16. What’s something you want to create soon?

17. How do you feel best loved?

25. If your soul was a color, what would it be?

yayayay ask time ^_^

16. What’s something you want to create soon?

More art!!! And vtm fics ofc ofc. Maybe a mix of my own ocs (if anyone is interested haha) and also vtm bloodlines. I want to make more art of my own ocs and stuff drifting away a bit from all the marquis de gramont lmao

17. How do you feel best loved?

im such a girl who likes words more than actions cuz i lowkey get awkward hsxgishxsh i like it when i get showered in compliments and praise because i fckin deserve that ^_^ or honestly whenever someone lets me yap in their ears about anything i find interesting like how earlier i yapped for a good 32-maybe 33 minutes about philippine history and culture :3

25. If your soul was a color, what would it be?

hrmmmmm maybe likeeeeeeee a really bright neon pink to scare off the non weirdos that don’t get it and it has to be sparkling too. it has to look like a biblically accurate angel just came down to earth and said “be not afraid”