Had to attend this talk on illegal gambling yesterday at U-Break (Wednesdays, 1:00-2:30 pm, when everyone in DLSU is free from class). A supposed member of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's cabinet was going to give his points. I was curious enough anyway, so I up and went.

Ugh. The problems started when we had to get into the damn North Conservatory. The air-conditioned venue was never really meant to host such a large audience, as it is usually a full student hangout almost all the time. So many classes were required to attend the talk and all had to trudge in line to have their names and ID numbers listed down. With that volume of students, it’s expected that the Conservatory would be full. What I don’t understand is why the organizers never bothered to set up more chairs to seat all the students. Many of us had to sit on the marble floor, as all the provided seats (inadequate in the first place) were located only along the middle aisle. Hmmm…

To make things worse, the Cabinet member showed up really late. I already had an exhausted 30-minute nap and our guests still weren’t there. U-Break was quickly running out.

Finally our guests arrived…and what an entrance they made, escorted by Manila’s top police officers. Typical.

The city mayor spoke first. Turns out he didn’t have to speak too long for me to pick the contents of his mind. All he talked about were his accomplishments and how the smallest and most ridiculous violations, like peeing in public, had to be apprehended. He said so in this annoyingly loud voice, fit for campaigns but not fit for intellectual gatherings. Uh-huh. I don’t even see the point of his being there.

Next up was the head of the school’s system. I thought he’d cut the bullshit and get on with it, but no… All he had to do was to introduce Mr. Cabinet Member, yet he numbered all the guest’s accomplishments from time immemorial. Never have I heard an introduction worth 5 minutes. Just goes to show that even my school has its share of nitwits in its faculty. Wait a minute…was he really DLSU faculty or Mr. Cabinet Member’s campaign manager?

Finally the main event came on the podium—with 15 minutes of U-Break remaining. The organizers never seemed to think about the audience’s schedules. They never thought that MOST OF US HAD CLASSES AFTER U-BREAK. By this time I knew I wouldn’t listen to the guy anymore, whether he’s the secretary of local government or the secretary of my school’s president.

Turns out I was right. Nothing he said was new to my ears. With ten minutes to my Sociology class, I left.

I wonder how many other clowns like Mr. Mayor and Mr. Cabinet Member exist in Philippine government. It’s no wonder why so many Filipinos prefer to leave for other countries rather than stay here and endure the discomfort.
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My new computer just froze on me a while ago, the exact freeze my old Pentium 2 used to drive me crazy with. I am scared. Don't tell me this means having to buy yet another computer.