Photo-shooting “Freedom”

Barely a week after our very own "Independence Day" were, for 111th time, commemorated, my blogging head remain wordless, brain’s empty as my eyes ogle slothfully before my virus-plagued PC. I ponder what to write in honor of the occassion - and of my History Professor who once taught our snoring class to never disregard the red day of liberation in the Calendar, even we, then the nation's hope and future aged or desert the Philippines for good.

.

Because myself is yet to be liberated from the yoke of my own "slavery" in its many forms and types, I resolved to post some of my 2008 vacation snapshots, which i find relevant for my kinda' late topic. The same I fortunately swim through the pool of my digi-photos which are all screaming to be published.

AJ the paparazzi,

Kindly note, the stolen shots I got here were taken in JUST ONE DAY from a tourist bus I rode in one of my “I badly need to enjoy” trip back home, there in Manila’s thickly-populated suburb. Luckily, my "hidey-hole" is well-elevated and well-tinted, perfect for my snooping task and great for concealing my prowling eyes from the latent wrath [and ugh, stone!] of my both blundering and innocent targets.

.

The virtual evidence I squirrel away, albeit are common "attraction" in the Island questions the faith & loyalty of even the most patriotic Pinoy alive as the pix attest the sad truth that ours, the so-called land of happy and free we're still the same chaotic state centuries ago - in dire need of cultural transformation - and the same kind of people, - in dire need of character renewal.

.

It is no secret, we're not yet FREE from -

.
- lowly neighbors who embody the country's deep and abiding poverty...
.

.
of ordinary citizen who've been fed up and worn-out in outliving each day ...
. of men and women who defy the road's peace and order rules ...
.

of assylum seekers promdi' smitten by the capital's charm but ended-up the city's eyesore ...
.

of society's bandits and thugs who are good at making headlines by their own criminal darkside..

.
of troubled young people who trail the outlawed path and emulate the self-governing stance of their seniors....

Care for Change, anyone?

Pardon my pessimistic thoughts. And for sounding like Im vilifying my own "ningas-kugon" race and conflict-prone community. But hey, im just practicing transparency and FREEDOM of expression here. Inshalla' (God's will) when I return home and take street photos next time, I'll be seeing Freedom or Independence na in a positive angle and in better light.

I'll let you know. T.G.I.F.