I got a hypertension attack last week and I lost three days of my life (I think).
We came home on the night of Tuesday, to find that our water service was cut off.
It was well past 12pm, and I've been working late nights for many weeks (since April 7), with an occasional all-nighter dropped in (don't ask why), so there was nothing I could do until the morning.
I was mad --fuming mad -- because in the poor community (the infamous Nagpayong, Pasig) where my daughter and I live, several households tap from our water and electric service.
Mukha kasi kaming Instik (Filipino Chinese), and just because I'm the only one around with a regular paycheck, kami ang pinupuntahan, kahit di naman kami mayaman.
The last bill I paid for water was P1,500.--and we're only two, how many cubic liters does it take to bath twice a day? I'm short, by the way, so that really means less water consumption. And our lifestyle is to be always out! 9am-12 midnight, we're out. Often, we have our clothes laundered, because I have to work one extra day during weekdays to complete my work tasks.
But for many months I just agreed anyway to pay for everyone, because my neighbors are tricycle drivers and vendors, and my heart went out to them, struggling through their harsh lives.
Pero too much naman that even when I pay-- they hadn't been paying it to Manila Water pala for the past three months!
Now I had to pay surcharges + reconnection fee + the inconvenience of not having water! The total bill came to P3,700.
I've been so mad and there's no way to express it (apart from my matrona-like pagbubunganga), the blood pressure (I think) shot up and would not come down.
Up to Friday morning, we did not have water. And though I paid, the landlord did not take care of it immediately. We had to move around in different friends houses for three days-- and you can imagine how tough that is with a kid involved. And in between the constant headache...
I think I will finally, finally give up in my social experiment to live among the poor. I suppose I will still feel for them, advocate for them, but I can't allow myself to be victimized anymore!
.......................... We have our water back, but I'm so mad, mad, mad. I guess only ex-activists will understand the level of betrayal I feel.
.......................... It's called Horizontal Violence.
Horizontal violence is non physical inter group conflict and is manifested in overt and covert behaviors of hostility (Freire 1972; Duffy 1995). It is behavior associated with oppressed groups and can occur in any arena where there are unequal power relations, and one group's self expression and autonomy is controlled by forces with greater prestige, power and status than themselves (Harcombe 1999).
... such as the urban poor community I live in...
It may be conscious or unconscious behaviour (Taylor 1996). It is, generally, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually damaging behaviour and can have devastating long term effects on the recipients (Wilkie 1996). It may be overt or covert. It is generally non physical, but may involve shoving, hitting or throwing objects. It is one arm of the submissive/aggressive syndrome that results from an internalized self-hatred and low self esteem as a result of being part of an oppressed group (Glass 1997; Roberts 1996; MCCall 1995).
It is the inappropriate way oppressed people release built up tension when they are unable to address and solve issues with the oppressor.
(And it also happens in the workplace...)
In the majority of western cultures, a dominator model (Eisler 1993) of social organization enables workplace hierarchy to limit autonomy and practice of various groups of workers and therefore acts as an oppressive force.
Workers are socialized into the oppressive structures and unequal power relations of the workplace system. Some groups of people within each particular workplace unconsciously adopt inflated feelings and attitudes of superiority.
(Sound familiar also where I work)
Some groups adopt unconsciously submissive attitudes, learned helplessness, within the workplace. The internal conflict, generated by conforming to structural pressures and, in some, subduing the desire for autonomy, whilst over inflating it in other groups, compounds the self-hatred and low self esteem of certain groups of people and perpetuates the cycle of horizontal violence (Taylor 1996).
Horizontal Violence is a symptom of the dynamics around oppression and a sense of powerlessness. It is to the workplace culture like water is to fish. It molds, shapes and dictates the behavior of those within the workplace culture. It is a form of bullying and acts to socialize those who are different into the status quo.
(All artists are different)
Horizontal violence in the workplace is the result of history and politics in western society and the ideology and practices associated with the socialisation and stereotyping of males and females in western culture. Horizontal violence is a systems and cultural issue, a symptom of an emotionally, spiritually and psychologically toxic and oppressive environment. Horizontal violence is not a symptom of individual pathology, although individual pathology flourishes in a climate that supports and condones aggressive behavior.
Horizontal violence includes:
All acts of unkindness, discourtesy, sabotage, divisiveness, infighting, lack of cohesiveness, scapegoating and criticism
For example:
Belittling gestures e.g. deliberate rolling of eyes, folding arms, staring into space when communication being attempted - Body language designed to discomfort the other
Verbal abuse including name calling, threatening, intimidating, dismissing, belittling, undermining, humorous 'put downs'
Gossiping (destructive, negative, nasty talk), talking behind the back, backbiting
Sarcastic comments
Fault finding (nitpicking) - different to those situations where professional and clinical development is required.
Ignoring or minimizing another's concerns
Slurs and jokes based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation
Sending to 'Coventry', 'freezing out' excluding from activities and conversation, work related and social.
Comments that devalue:
people's area of practice;
women;
others that are different to the 'norm'.
Disinterest, discouragement and withholding support
Limiting right to free speech and right to have an opinion
Behaviours which seek to control or dominate (power 'over' rather than power 'with')
Punishing activities by management e.g. Repeatedly sending someone out of area; bad rosters; chronic under staffing; lack of concern with mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health of employees
Lack of participation in professional organisations (a subtle form of self-hatred) however, busy family lives can preclude participating in professional organizations.
grrr. now I'm MAD. MAD. MAD. So it's all interconnected and I'm MAD, MAD, MAD. I don't even want to look at some people for a while ---- I miss Uwe, we used to talk about things like this
thanks! nahihiya tuloy ako mag-vent sa blog ko. but i promised myself I will be honest and uncompromising on this blog -- even if I know my uncles read my entries! My male boss, whom I admire really very much, and strangely, actually have fond feelings for (not in that way ha, but in the way I care about Manong Jack), hehehe, and who is the reason that I try to be civil in the workplace once said, "Maybe you need to release your anger?" Funny thing is, I don't think he knows the depth of that anger. (not anything to do with him or his office). But I'm sorely, sorely tempted to write another blog entry about THE source of that anger which traces way way way back....maybe one day I will.
age and experience truly are not the measures of wisdom/innocence....
they gave mang pandoy everything - look where he is now? back to zero, because they made him into 'the poor man' and he allowed it (because it was easier; i suspect, he also liked being 'the poor man')...
seems to me, being poor is not just a lack of material things, it is also a lifestyle. (i actually know what i'm talking about, never mind to other readers.. because private pa rin tayo :P)
i am also fuming, because your neighbors conned you. yes, they are poor but i'm afraid my observation is that so many poor people use this fact as an excuse to "mang-gulang,' a mindset that mutates into a "right" over time and repeated complicity by those who have more (out of guilt and pity, from being flattered...)
so i'm afraid, when you allowed them to tap into your water supply...
and if i knew about it the moment it happened i could have told you what will happen next. i would have been right. unfortunately, life is made up of patterns... it's also very unpredictable. what a conundrum!
take care. and please don't jump the gun. count to 10,000 muna. :P
All that you say is true. However, the hopelessness is inherent in the socialist model. In America where capitalism is more prevalent and social mobility (it does take decades) the norm that hopelessness is not the norm. People work together so every one rises.
Your country is in dire straights because powers in cahoots with the government hold the people down. It is an aristocratic/socialist model. And socialists are by definition aristocratic. They know what is best for everyone (except themselves).
A top down model always fails in the way you are seeing. The drug war is a perfect example.
The capitalist model does seem cut throat and the socialist model benevolent. But look at the results. In America the poor people are fat.
Do you know what our current biggest problem is? Too many houses.
i am also fuming, because your neighbors conned you. yes, they are poor but i'm afraid my observation is that so many poor people use this fact as an excuse to "mang-gulang,' a mindset that mutates into a "right" over time and repeated complicity by those who have more (out of guilt and pity, from being flattered...)
Right on. That's what gets me mad. With myself also. Because I'd like to think of myself as an advocate of the poor and the workers... But the longer I stay among them, I don't have fond feelings for them. So now I'm confused. Who am I and what do I stand for?
All that you say is true. However, the hopelessness is inherent in the socialist model. In America where capitalism is more prevalent and social mobility (it does take decades) the norm that hopelessness is not the norm. People work together so every one rises.
Interesting... but I thought urban poor communities, especially in our country, are a product of a history of colonialism -- thousands of families dispossessed of their lands by the Spanish Crown, given to the Ilustrados inexchange for loyalty... the landless moving to the city and getting poorer...Here's an interesting link: http://www.marxists.org/subject/students/index.htm
I am wondering how Isis reacted to this? Was she mad ?
hello. hehe. actually she enjoyed. because when we moved places I was absent, so she ended up watching cartoons the whole day while I tried to get well... but you should ask her. she's very independent, and speaks her mind. usually she likes it when I am sick or she is -- that's the time I have time for her --
anobuzz!!! wag ka naman paabuso! ok lang tumulong pero naman, sobra na yan! umalis na kayo diyan.
I'm tired of moving. But yes, we will; will just finish the deposits (two months kasi). At the risk of sounding self-pitying, wherever we go, we will be target. It's just me and my girl. As my editor Ariel says, Isis and I should live WITH A FAMILY. And there's the deep well of anger comes from: Where's my family?!? where?! Where?! hehehehe. Where?!? Ok, I'll stop now---Have to go home.
The fundamental question is: how hard is it to start a legal business?
Think about this: it is 60+ years since the end of WW2. Japan, Taiwan, South Korea etc are rich. The Philippines are poor. What is the difference? It can't be because of inherent material wealth. Japan imports almost everything that goes into their products.
Thanks Simon, I have a daily subscription to the electronic version of the Economist. I agree the development path is wrong. And for sure the way the government runs this country is a huge cause of the problem -- but this government, or any past Philippine government, is hardly socialist. And in terms of comparisons, even China does better than us, and it's been socialist for a long time.
I'm tired of moving. But yes, we will; will just finish the deposits (two months kasi). At the risk of sounding self-pitying, wherever we go, we will be target. It's just me and my girl. As my editor Ariel says, Isis and I should live WITH A FAMILY. And there's the deep well of anger comes from: Where's my family?!? where?! Where?! hehehehe. Where?!? Ok, I'll stop now---Have to go home.
dito ka na lang sa UP/teacher's/sikatuna village :) it's a relatively safer, cleaner and water-tapper (?) free :) there's actually an apartment for rent here in our compound :)
makes you wonder, were you ever with them or just with the idealized poor and idealized workers?... i've always known that people are just like you and me, mayaman man o mahirap. mahal ko ang iba, ayaw ko rin sa iba...
you know a few weeks ako, i also experienced alta-presyon... it burned the allergic rhinitis out of me. how about you? what good came out of your high-blood? :P
makes you wonder, were you ever with them or just with the idealized poor and idealized workers?... i've always known that people are just like you and me, mayaman man o mahirap. mahal ko ang iba, ayaw ko rin sa iba...
you know a few weeks ako, i also experienced alta-presyon... it burned the allergic rhinitis out of me. how about you? what good came out of your high-blood? :P
You did?! And you're so young... It has something to do with working in front of computers. What did mine make me realize? That I'm sooo fat and have not exercised in over seven months.
Huh? This is Dani again with her self-imposed hell. (Soooorry, but I can only be this frank to a good friend [who is so hard-headed -- hahaha -- she always wants to learn the hard way.] Another way of saying it -- "You don't have to go to the four corners of the world to find out the truth.")
I would like to imagine (imagine lang , ha...) "Horizontal Violence" as a block of something heavy falling on my head...(am I making sense?) Nah, I am just making fun of how some intellectuals make sense of something that would most probably be better understood in other terms than verbosity. Ha-ha!
Let us talk about this over a cup of coffee, Dani...
my stepdad always said never idealise the poor . However, no explanation was given regarding such behaviour, thanks for the info. I commiserate - and I think, that was the last straw with all the cumulative little thingies that irritate everyday...
If there is no avenue for the little guy to make use of his accumulated capital you get stagnation. If you blame colonialism you are stuck. Because without stealing from the rich (something they very much don't like) there is no path for improvement.
Marxism scares the rich. What you need to figure out is a way to improve conditions without theft. How to do that is beyond my capability because it depends on local conditions.
High taxes are always a problem. Subsidies are a problem. A government need not be socialist in name to be socialist in fact.
For instance - why doesn't the Philippines have a high tech industry?
Any way think about it and do a blog post or e-mail me. I'd love to help.
Nah, I am just making fun of how some intellectuals make sense of something that would most probably be better understood in other terms than verbosity. Ha-ha!
Yes, you are right. I feel trapped because I'm a woman. If I'm a man, nikipagsuntukan nalang ako sa mga iyon! Tapos.
Your stepdad, I admire. He says, never idealize the poor, but to me he was the epitome of the socialist man. I remember I gave him a polo shirt on his birthday in 1994-- and it was one of maybe five shirts. He really internalized the "simple living" thing. Fat, yes. the pounds accumulated when I stopped smoking. Thanks for posting a response.
A government need not be socialist in name to be socialist in fact.
Like the social welfare states in europe, for instance. No, I don't intend to whine about colonialism-- am merely identifying it as one of the historical reasons of landlessness, and landlessness in the philippines being a main cause of poverty. Then of course there's rapid population growth, environmental degradation, and yes, as Maydiwayata points out, a "culture of being poor." that's also a reason why I cannot stop being angry about the "water incident." It's not so much that the victim was me, but the fact that many poor still choose to "act poor", to feel apathetic and to oppress each other, when acting in solidarity -- like the urban poor communities around UP Diliman, for instance -- would get them out of the mess they are in. And then, frustration with myself for not being the "organizer type" because there are people (NOT ME!) who can inspire and motivate poor communities to address their problems.
dito ka na lang sa UP/teacher's/sikatuna village :) it's a relatively safer, cleaner and water-tapper (?) free :) there's actually an apartment for rent here in our compound :)
Thanks, but I'm actually kinda stuck here in Pasig because my daughter has grown roots in her school. She's in section 1 and is quite popular... So I'll have to stick it out for the next two years. We talk about it, and she and I agree that she'll have to go to high school in a better place-- if not the usual Science Highs (Quisay, Masay, Pisay), then Quezon City. But thanks, thanks.
Huh? This is Dani again with her self-imposed hell.
You know, I don't know where I picked it up -- from Catholicism, or from Pisay where your teachers tell you over and over again that you're a "scholar of the people" and you must give back, or from the activists' circle, or from my wonderfully pious sister who forever talked about being there for others-- but there is an element of self-flagellation in what I do, yes. Thanks for pointing that out.
There are decent places in Pasig if you are planning to stay there for two more years. You can perhaps look for an apartment or a room inside a compound where your little daughter may ask for help (God forbid) in case of emergency and you are not around. She's an intelligent girl who has learned how to adjust to life's impermanence but she should somehow be shielded from potential harm. Living in an urban poor community is -- pardon me for saying this -- idealistic especially when it has not been "aroused, organized, and mobilized" by socially conscious entities. Somehow, we have to think of our own welfare while caring for society's underprivileged sectors.
By the way, you can develop this concept of "horizontal violence" into a wonderful essay for our magazine. Nalula naman ako sa scholarly footnotes and citations. Hehehe. Kuwentuhan na lang ulit tayo sa Binalot kapag nagkaroon ng pagkakataon.
I feel trapped because I'm a woman. If I'm a man, nikipagsuntukan nalang ako sa mga iyon! Tapos.
You got me wrong again, darling . Nothing, not even gender, can trap a genuine free-spirit. And I detest too much philosphizing and labeling. Kape na lang nga...
and that's what so infuriating, this sense of entitlement of the poor. pareho-pareho lang naman nating pinaghihirapan iyong kinita natin. Why do they think they deserve to get a break from life's miseries and not you. Why do these jeepney/FX holduppers pick on people who worked hard for their money - why not pick on those tongressmen or those living in forbes park?
The culture of being poor is at its root "you owe me". Which is foundational in Socialism/Marxism.
Despite my difficulties, I will not agree with you. In fact, I would blame myself more for not being able to organize the poor community and protect myself at the same time. None of the brilliant people I know who have given up their lives for socialism acted in a "you owe me" fashion. In fact, most of them --including and especially Jade Worldwide's stepdad -- are polymaths and extremely warm and goodhearted people. I know about 50 people like that-- who have given their lives to something larger than themselves. At the root of socialism is a belief that human beings are essentially good and are not solely motivated by profit. Another root of socialism is an analysis of the dynamics of capital, labor and society. The United Nations is hardly a socialist group -- it was set up by the world powers at the end of World War II -- but it recognizes the right of all human beings to decent livelihood. That's not a matter of "you owe me". Here are links for all to enjoy because the declaration is a beautiful piece.
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
By the way, you can develop this concept of "horizontal violence" into a wonderful essay for our magazine. Nalula naman ako sa scholarly footnotes and citations.
That's a good idea, but the essay is not mine! I lifted it -- with footnotes, too -- from off the web. It's from a piece by Carolyn Hastie. Here's the link: http://www.acegraphics.com.au/articles/hastie02.html Didn't acknowledge earlier, as I normally do quickie blogs, merely sneaking time away from the work.
Why do they think they deserve to get a break from life's miseries and not you. Why do these jeepney/FX holduppers pick on people who worked hard for their money - why not pick on those tongressmen or those living in forbes park?
Because I'm easier to victimize. Trabaho lang, walang personalan. And they have to be very, very brave to confront their oppressors. Do you think any of these people have any chances of "social mobility." At P200 a day, what do they eat -- noodles? rice? I tried that diet once, and my brain got eaten, haha. What if that was your diet everyday. There's a great deal of unexpressed anger among the poor -- and there's got to be an outlet -- Salman Rushdie says it best: There's a huge amount of pressure when you're at the bottom of the garbage dump.
the culture of being poor may have nothing to do with being poor at all... i have relatives who will be poor for the rest of their lives (even when they just got a windfall in the form of a house-and-lot or brand new van from a loving mother) and i know people living in squatters and barrios who are so rich even when they can only afford to eat tuyo once a day.
i truly believe that some people would prefer to be always miserable, are in love with it, because any other thing is too scary to contemplate--it could jolt them out of their comfort zones.
here i am again going off on a tangent, connecting two points with tesseracts and building on on fugues, haha.... re KL, 2m na :P
Secure rights to property and capitalism makes people rich. The evidence is everywhere.
Even Marx said so - if you are going to build capital capitalism is the way to go. Higher invested capital is the only thing that can raise wages on a general level. Economics is not a zero sum game. However, not all winners will win equally. That drives overall performance. Think in terms of baseball players. If they all got paid equally would the teams perform as well? The same is doubly true in economics. The best performers drive economies forward.
here i am again going off on a tangent, connecting two points with tesseracts and building on on fugues,
Because I'm easier to victimize. Trabaho lang, walang personalan. And they have to be very, very brave to confront their oppressors. Do you think any of these people have any chances of "social mobility." At P200 a day, what do they eat -- noodles?
Did it ever occur to you -- that maybe you have a "victim consciousness"? There seems to be a pattern...
And yes, at P200 a day, on a regular basis in Baguio -- one could have a stable life, esp if you don't need to rent a roof over your head, if you don't need gas for a car to move around, esp if you are a vegetarian. You can even afford a feast of cat food for 5 or 7 cats...
Did it ever occur to you -- that maybe you have a "victim consciousness"? There seems to be a pattern...
And yes, at P200 a day, on a regular basis in Baguio -- one could have a stable life, esp if you don't need to rent a roof over your head, if you don't need gas for a car to move around, esp if you are a vegetarian. You can even afford a feast of cat food for 5 or 7 cats...
Unbelievable?
I can and have survived on P100. a day if I am only feeding myself. In fact, I survived virtually on that amount when I was editing a Baguio newspaper, especially since I did not accept the extra money from interesting sources (such as jueteng). When I mention P200. a day, I am referring to the people around me. I earn much more than that, otherwise, why will I stay in Manila? I am referring to the average construction worker who earns P200 a day, but has a family of at least two children and a wife to support. When you have mouths to feed, the ball game changes. And in the city -- and for those who have no political consciousness -- poverty is equated to self worth. So they also begin to see themselves as lesser beings in the scheme of things.. and it makes it easier for them to vitimize others. That's a theory.
But wait, there's a happy ending to the story, you can mine it psychologically for all its worth.
Last Friday, I met up with an ex-school mate of mine, long-lost friend and former NPA chief. I unloaded my frustrations, and of course he scolded me for not being "realistic" about living in a "lumpenic" community (from the term lumpen proletariat).
So I asked him, so the language most understood in places like this is "sindakan" or force? and yes, he agreed.
So the very next day, I went to Manila Water, made friends with the territory manager there and told him my situation. He told me to padlock the meter when I'm not using the water. I did this, but a day after, someone around the neighborhood broke the elbow connector between two pipes, so I could not turn on the main switch even just to bathe, without wasting cubic meters of water.
So I went again to Manila Water, and asked them to send a mobile (they have mobiles) to check on our meter -- as a deterrent to anyone still interested in tapping water. Well, he did not only come and check out the meter in full view of the neighbors (which is one of the best deterrents in any Pinoy community because the word will be spread-- he also sent a team to fix the connector. All that, for free!
I actually wanted to send his name out to some TV station wanting to feature everyday Filipino "heroes". Actually, I will find some editor who'd want that story. In the meantime, the Engr's name is MARCELINO P. GARCIA. Territory Manager. Pasig Business Area.
at the rate I am growing, fatscot. hehehe. like the jollibee bee. damn, can't seem to stop eating in front of the computer... it must be something Freudian...
my my my....water problem???hindi ka naman nag-iisa Danilova,here in our apt.,that's my crucial problem, if i am delayed with my monthly rental, water is cut-off, I wonder why??? same is true when we are in a condo unit near SM Megamall......I remember my law mentor on my first semester in a college of law (not your uncle's college of law), First day of law class in that U and he let me stand and he asked me with a loud voice "What is a Bill? The first thing that I remember was my WATER Bill...I told him,sir, "what kind of bill are you referring to?I thought it is WATER bill !he he he.he.This lawyer let me stand for an hour and let me recite," How Congress or Senate bill is made"...kindly ask your uncles or whoever made it in the Congress that they author a water bill so I can justify how a bill is made through lowering our water bill....this law mentor do not have a course outline...lesson of the story..if you are in the academe,specially in the college of law,you should be prepared with your course outline..hello kay atty......=) see http://legalpassion.com and click on any topic that you want....if I am depressed,I make new blogs...blogs and more blogs....=)richelda.com
see http://legalpassion.com and click on any topic that you want....if I am depressed,I make new blogs...blogs and more blogs....=)richelda.com
Hmm. sounds like hypergraphia to me, (joke lang, no offense): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergraphia Depression has its uses, Sting wrote most of the songs in my favorite album, the Soul Cages, in a depressive fit. Here's sending good wishes and happy thoughts your way...
i think, gonna hire you in my school, apply in my school,ok ba? ha ha ha .... ask your uncle Raul, he is familiar with Agoo, three decades ago...IRAA 1976,not yet born at that time??? me trying to be a lawyer...but talk to much in class,that's why this lawyer let me stand more that hour, he thought yata that I am from UP,College of Law 'coz I was wearing a UP,College of Law T-shirt with i-blog summit frontage shirt when I was enrolling in that U in CAR
and I am right here in Veniz Hotel,seen that CHED has a seminar,and so happened that I like what they are writing, the technical panels,representing the different State U in the Phils.,MSAgriculture Engineering. My dad is a graduate of Agricultural Engineering course in DLSU-GAUF now,first batch..his classmate at that time was JoeConcepcion of NAMFREL."nangongopya lang daw si JoeCon sa kanya ha ha ha..purpose aral sa AU,para ligawan me ari AU,...and they really mean for each other,katuloyan...reason JoeCon cannot resist my dad when JoeCon and his wife have to visit my school in Agoo during the time of Cory Aquino..JoeConcepcion was the Secretary of Trade yata at that time while my dad was OIC-Mayor,Agoo...forgot his kakambal,,,,they own the Concepcion Industry and Sarsi Cola...and other big companies. see my tribute to my dad in my blog http://rich.pinoyforum.net
i am also fuming, because your neighbors conned you. yes, they are poor but i'm afraid my observation is that so many poor people use this fact as an excuse to "mang-gulang,' a mindset that mutates into a "right" over time and repeated complicity by those who have more (out of guilt and pity, from being flattered...) 
