The Barbie Doll

Type: Auto Biography
Category: Unpublished

"The Barbie Doll"
by Charito Chua

I would like to believe that I am a Barbie doll - A Barbie girl in a Barbie world.

Why so?

It’s not because of the perfect physique, nor the blond hair. I see myself like Barbie because she is always getting better and better every time. Ever since then, more and more different versions of this pretty doll are being made, only developing and varying for improvement. Barbie changes its features and character to satisfy the needs of different favors of consumers.

That is how I see myself. I try to keep myself developing for the sake of the people around me. I like to see myself as a people pleaser, in a good way. I always want to meet the expectations of everyone, even if it means I have to do certain things and sacrifice my own sake for others. I try to adopt to change based on what the environment wants me to portray.

Despite the metaphor, I age unlike Barbie. I am 18 years old as of the moment, born and raised here in Manila, Philippines. I have a pure Chinese father and a pure Filipina mother. I’m the youngest among five siblings.

With regards to my Barbie world, I grew up studying in a Chinese school, Hope Christian High School to be exact. I’m proud of my high school. Though we may not be one of the big Chinese schools popular around the Metro, I can definitely say that I have learned so many things that were probably not taught in other schools, like the value of faith, trust and morality. Though I’m not really fluent in the language of Mandarin, I was able to graduate understanding what my Chinese teachers were discussing in class, and able to have a simple conversation with fellow Chinese people.

Without the help of Hope, I could not have been given opportunities as big as what I have in the present. And now, I fortunately got in De La Salle University – Manila. I’m taking up two courses, specifically Communication Arts and Legal Management. Currently a sophomore taking up my majors in CLA, I have a first-hand testimony on how difficult Communication Arts really is. So to those who say that my course has no future because it’s as easy as pie, well I would most definitely like to see you try and go through the same hardships my batchmates and I are currently going through.

I just love my course. I would rather die in front of a computer doing my editorial articles than have a balance sheet in front of me as I account my revenues and liabilities. Definitely there is always something new to learn here, from different experiences in different places with different people. Hopefully, I would pursue the path of media after I graduate. Sure, it might be interesting to try out an acting career, but I have learned from this course that working off the screen is where the adventure is.

In the future, I would still like to see myself as a Barbie doll. Just like her, I would like to over go a series of changes for my own evolution. I would like to become better and better each time. I wish that I might be able to involve myself in different aspects and excel in those different aspects in life. I do hope that Barbie dolls do not become obsolete soon. Well, no matter what happens, I would still like to be like her, who has already left a mark in the world.

And oh, my name is Charito Chua. But call me Chat.

lawonline.com

Type: Essay
Category: Unpublished

"lawonline.com"
by Charito Chua

Writing about anyone and anything is as easy as a click of a button. That is how the Internet has made our modern world much easier. It has been crafted to make our communication faster, easier and more convenient for everyone around the globe. However, the Internet is too wide and free for everyone and everything that it has already been causing damage. If it were to be considered written, many civilians have already been sued for libel for a simple Facebook status. But that is exactly the problem, should we consider online journalism as print media, and apply the same laws as they have?

Up until now, laws have still not been clear with regards to online publishing. More and more things posted in the Internet should be considered libelous acts. But that is the main problem of this all, it makes it difficult for those who are defamed to obtain such rightful justice when justice cannot reach cyberspace. How would the people protect their rights, reputation and image in the virtual reality given to the entire world? The laws still cannot be applied in terms of the Internet.

In my opinion, media laws should definitely be implemented for online journalism. But then of course, our current libel laws cannot be acted upon online publishing. There should be a specific set of laws created to cater for online writers and journalists. That way, these rules and guidelines can fully match the characteristics of online journalism.

First off, I think that there should be laws implemented for online. This set of rules and regulations should be followed and known worldwide. Since the internet is accessed anywhere around the globe, and anyone can write about anyone from the other side of the world, the laws for online publications and other forms of journalism should be acted for global use and implications as well. Ethical values should also be given importance and significance for the online writers to realize how values are also applied in the Internet, like all the other forms of media.

Website hosting should also be responsible in terms of their users. Like the laws set for the television industry, the website host should also be held accountable for any of the unlawful things stated by anyone who posted in the website. The website host would also take part in the case, unless there has been an agreement between the website host and the users that the host would not be held accountable for any circumstances or posts created by a user.

Next, I think that there should be, if possible, an international sector that caters to the Internet needs and demands. This association should also be in charge of the implemented rules and regulations in terms of online journalism. They have to make sure that the internet world is regulated and handled carefully in order to maintain the peace and conformity of the websites, website hosts, writers, bloggers, etc. That way, everything that is posted would be maintained to be under the rules officially and universally accepted and strictly followed.

Technology is shaping the Internet fast, and our laws should quicken the steps to catch up. Hopefully, there would be a world pact in order to maintain the order not only the physical world, but also on the extension we call the Internet.

Just Political Ads

Type: Editorial
Category: Unpublished

“Just Political Ads”
By Charito Chua

“Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura?”, “Galing at talino”, “Ipagpapatuloy ko ang laban”. Here are most of the lines we hear from our radio programs, in between our favorite television shows, beside our Facebook wall posts, and probably even on the walls of our own homes. Politicians consider advertisement as a very crucial and critical instrument in terms of their political campaign for the upcoming elections this May 2010.

There have been several expose’s on television and on newspapers regarding the various political ads by all sorts of people vying for government positions. It has been stated that there are numerous politicians disregarding the rules implemented by the Commissions on Elections with the Republic Act No. 9006 or the “Fair Election Practices Act” which was implemented last February 4. In this act it states the different rules and regulations in terms of political advertisements, limitations, sponsorships, etc. The most controversial part is with regards to the allowed budget. According to section 5 of the said act. According to this, the total amount of a candidate running for the positions of President and Vice President is P10.00 per voter. Those running with the support of a political party have an amount of P3.00 per voter, while those without have an amount of P5.00.

Villar remains to be the candidate with the highest expenses. According to Inquirer’s sources, Villar has already spent an estimation of P120 million in his political campaign. He is still questioned as he is assumed to have spent P250 million more, which would mean he exceeded the given budget limitation.

Aside from the expenses limitation, there is also a limit with regards to the campaigning period. According to the code, anything before February 9 (and March 26 for the other government positions) is considered premature campaigning. But stating the obvious, television has been full of political ads released by various candidates before the said campaigning period. Well, it is because the Supreme Court has released a statement beforehand that, “The effective date when partisan political acts become unlawful as to a candidate is when the campaign period starts. Before the start of the campaign period, the same partisan political acts are lawful.” And so in conclusion, all those political ads are legal, as well as all of the tarpaulins that bombarded our communities for our fiestas, Christmas, and even our Valentine’s, with huge names and faces of the corresponding politicians who want to “greet” us for every occasion. Now, then what is the point of the campaigning period if these candidates already started beforehand? Instead of putting up all those posters and releasing all those TV commercials to get exposure, why don’t the politicians simply do their job by governing our country? It feels as if they are not contented with having a position in the government; they want to be part of the showbiz industry as well. Wouldn’t it be better if the Filipinos would recognize them as people who have helped develop the nation and its citizens, rather than the younger brother of Kris Aquino? Or the man in orange with the catchy tune?

R.A. 9006 also dedicated its section eight (Lawful Election Propaganda) to state the size limits of the advertising posters, pamphlets and such. And yet, we still see several political ads that are big enough to say that it does not follow the rules stated in the Fair Election Practices Act. I can also remember this billboard I see when I am on my way to school, a billboard of a big picture of Eddie Villanueva. Though I really am not sure if the billboard is for his church organization, or for his presidential campaign, but still it is not allowed. But then again, on second thought, the act never said anything about not using billboards for the campaign. The Comelec should really be stricter and more specific with regards to their rules and regulations.

One thing I really want to ask all these candidates is, Why? They would spend millions and millions of their “own hard-earned money” for a position that would not even give half of the quantity spent for his or her campaign. If they do claim that they are not corrupt, then what is the reason behind all this? What is the motivation for all these candidates to spend this much of money for something that would not even give them as much as they had lost. There is only one possible way to do so, and that is if these future leaders of our country do take the country’s funds illegally for their own benefits.


So what is the Comelec doing with the candidates with ads not under the standards nationally set for all the candidates? They have assigned election officers to handle such illegal posters and advertisements. “This is why we will be strict in enforcing campaign rules, especially rules on the posting of campaign materials,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. Well apparently, not strict enough. Why do we still see some oversized posters and steamers all over Metro Manila? And why is the Comelec doing the dirty job? Those particular politicians who violated the rule should be the ones to remove it. Candidates like those should be given a sanction or stricter limitations regarding the political campaign.

I just hope the voters for this coming election would see these candidates as more than just good advertisers. Let the rest of the world see that aside from these politicians’ photogenic and most likely well-edited ads, they have what it takes to lead our country globally. Aside from all the flashy commercials, catchy taglines and last-song-syndrome jingles, let all these candidates show what they can really do for the betterment of the Philippines. One more important thing we have to ask ourselves Filipinos who are voting for our next future leader, “Would you follow a law implemented by someone who does not follow rules themselves?”