The Mosquito Net Becomes The Mosquito

 

In the masterclass of political marketing, few branding campaigns have achieved the mythical status of the "Kulambo Mythos."

For nearly a decade, the public was sold a meticulously crafted narrative of radical simplicity: a leader who sleeps under a mosquito net (kulambo), dines on dried fish (tuyo) at a roadside carinderia, rolls up his sleeves, and uses unprintable language to prove he is "one with the masses."

Fast forward to the impeachment hall, where NBI briefings and financial experts are presenting satellite imagery, official land titles, and financial flowcharts. The public conversation has suddenly taken a dizzying leap: from the humble mosquito net straight to mansions equipped with swimming pools and helipads.

[ THE CAMPAIGN BRANDING (ON-CAMERA) ] 

• Bedding: Worn-out mosquito net (*kulambo*). 

 [ THE FORENSIC AUDIT (OFF-CAMERA) ]

• Real Estate: Mansions with swimming pools & helipads.

[ THE CAMPAIGN BRANDING (ON-CAMERA) ] 

Culinary Preference: *Tuyo* and roadside *carinderia*. • Property Titles: ₱3.45M (Samal) & ₱6M (Matina).

 [ THE FORENSIC AUDIT (OFF-CAMERA) ]

• Property Titles: ₱3.45M (Samal) & ₱6M (Matina).

[ THE CAMPAIGN BRANDING (ON-CAMERA) ] 

• Mannerisms: Rolled sleeves, rough language. 

 [ THE FORENSIC AUDIT (OFF-CAMERA) ]

• Discrepancy: ₱817.87 Million in undeclared assets/income.

For years, the political playbook suggested a simple rule of ethical governance: If you eat dried fish in front of a smartphone camera, your financial declarations require no further verification.

           THE CAMPAIGN INTEGRITY MATRIX              

 PUBLIC PERCEPTION:                                     
 • "Nakatulog sa kulambo!" = 100% Honest.               
 • "Kumain sa karinderya!" = Immune to Corruption.     
 • "Nagmura sa speech!"   = Pure Authenticity.          
                                                        
 REAL-WORLD AUDIT STANDARD:                             
 • "Did the asset appear on your sworn SALN?"    
       
The greatest illusion of political branding was convincing millions that simplicity in front of the lens equals transparency behind it. Eating tuyo is not a legal substitute for an accurate SALN, sleeping under a mosquito net is not a tax clearance, and rough language is not a certificate of honesty issued by the BIR.

While the average Filipino family sits at the kitchen table counting loose change to stretch a minimum-wage paycheck across rent, rice, and electric bills, the impeachment trial presents figures that would take multiple generations of ordinary labor to earn.

                 [ THE WEALTH DISPARITY FLOWCHART ]

  AVERAGE FILIPINO FAMILY (Counting coins for daily budget)
                            │
                            ▼
  IMPEACHMENT FINANCIAL EVIDENCE (Land Titles & AMLC Logs)
                            │
                            ▼
  
[ LAND REGISTRATION RECORDS ]             
• ₱3.45 Million property in Samal.       
• ₱6.00 Million property in Matina.         

[ FORENSIC FINANCIAL TESTIMONY ]
• ₱817.87 Million alleged undeclared  assets & income presented by experts.

                    POLITICAL NARRATIVE vs. RECONCILIATION     
          
 A. =THE BRANDED NARRATIVE   - "Simple lang ang buhay namin!"                 

=THE DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENT - Match the land titles with the sworn SALN. 

B. = THE BRANDED NARRATIVE - "Makamasa at walang arte!"  
                  
=THE DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENT - Reconcile ₱817.87M   in income inflows.   

C. = THE BRANDED NARRATIVE "Inaatake lang kami ng mga kalaban!"
       
=THE DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENT -  Explain the helipad and property assets. 

Wealth is not inherently wrong. A private citizen or public servant can legally acquire assets. But when a public official builds a political empire around the mythology of poverty while official records reveal millions in unaccounted holdings, the problem isn't the wealth itself—it is the glaring lack of reconciliation.

The ultimate tragedy of the kulambo strategy is a misunderstanding of basic household physics.

THE DEFINITIVE KULAMBO AUDIT 

PURPOSE OF A MOSQUITO NET (*KULAMBO*):                                  
 • Designed to keep out mosquitoes, insects, and night pests.             
                                                                         
WHAT A MOSQUITO NET CANNOT DO:                                          
• Block Senate subpoenas.                                              
• Filter out AMLC bank records.                                          
• Hide registered land titles from the Register of Deeds.               
• Cover up an ₱817.87 million discrepancy in financial disclosures.

The Filipino public can no longer be sustained on a steady diet of populist folklore while waiting for answers to multi-million-peso financial questions.

Instead of another photo-op showing how simply you live, show the public how clean your ledgers are. Put away the camera crew, fold up the mosquito net, and open the spreadsheets. 

Because a kulambo is meant to keep out mosquitoes—it was never designed to shield unexplained wealth from the light of day.

Playing Scrabble Can Be Infuriating

Playing Scrabble Go is nothing short of an emotional roller coaster ride that injects a chaotic dose of adrenaline straight into your veins with every single tile you drop onto the board. There is a distinct, heart-stopping terror in staring blankly at your rack, frantically shuffling those digital wooden letters back and forth for three straight minutes, only to realize your brain has completely forgotten the English language and no actual words are in sight. 

But just when you are on the verge of a full-blown existential crisis, the board hands you a little miracle: you accidentally stumble upon a seven-letter word, smash the Bingo button, and watch in sheer disbelief as a glorious fifty-point bonus gets slapped onto your score. 

Luck works in mysterious ways, because right after that triumphant moment, another Bingo suddenly appears on the horizon like a blessed second wind, leaving you to marvel at your own genius while secretly wondering if your opponent on the other side of the screen is currently throwing their phone across the room after being trounced not just once, but twice in a row.

The bizarre joy of Scrabble Go lies in the sheer absurdity of the modern dictionary, where you end up learning words you never in your wildest dreams expected to exist. The English language on this app seems suspect, now heavily peppered with random foreign entries and full-blown Tagalog words—because who knew that dropping puna, puri, tao, tala, or kain on a double-letter score was totally legitimate legal strategy? 

To make matters even more surreal, the game arbitrarily decides that actual proper names are suddenly playable, so you find yourself racking up massive points by spelling out Oca, Rex, Sexto, Kier, Jane, and Joey as if you are reading the guest list of a barangay baptism.

Of course, the high-flying high of victory can instantly curdle into soul-crushing frustration when the Scrabble gods decide it is simply not your day. There is no special place of torture quite like looking at a rack overflowing with six vowels and a lonely letter Y, or worse, a tragic wasteland of solid consonants that defies all known laws of human speech. 

While you sit there clenching your fists, gnashing your teeth, and praying to form a two-letter word out of N, Z, R, and K, you are forced to watch your opponent’s score zoom effortlessly into three digits. You stare at the screen in impotent rage, knowing deep down that no amount of desperate tile-shuffling can turn a pile of unpronounceable letters into a winning move.

Yet, despite the heartbreaks, Scrabble Go knows exactly how to hook you back in by shameless ego-stroking. The app behaves like an overly proud parent, eager to highlight your performance and show the whole wide world every single glory moment you have ever achieved. 

It lovingly displays how many Bingos you have scored, catalogs your historical collection of 50, 40, 30, and 20-point plays, proudly immortalizes the single best word you ever dropped, and boasts about your highest total score and longest winning streak. 

These shiny little badges and vanity metrics lure you into playing just one more match, constantly chasing the high of a better score and turning your everyday spare time into an oddly productive digital obsession. 

It feels like a miniature game of life itself—setting micro-goals, hitting milestone points, and watching your virtual confidence grow. For anyone who craves a good challenge mixed with instant gratification, it fits into the day perfectly, teaching us subtle lessons in fairness, patience, and humility, while gently reminding us that life is not meant to be all work, and that sometimes a little strategic play is all we need to reset our weary minds and hearts.

When the Sacred Calling Meets the Highest Bidder

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:1–14), Jesus tells the ultimate story of event-planning chaos: A King hosts a grand wedding banquet for his son. The ancient decree also echoes across generations with its most unforgettable line: "Many are called, but few are chosen."

In its purest form, this filtering process serves a noble societal function. Consider the priesthood or the nursing profession. Thousands line up at the gates of seminaries and nursing colleges, but only a handful possess the genuine vocation—the rare willingness to surrender personal comfort, endure long night shifts, and maximize human well-being over personal profit.

[ THE TRUE VOCATION (NURSE / PRIEST) ]

• Inputs: Self-sacrifice, empathy, service.

[ THE COMMERCIALIZED PROFESSION (LAWYER / POLITICIAN) ]

• Inputs: Retainer fees, political machinery, strategy.

[ THE TRUE VOCATION (NURSE / PRIEST) ]

• Net Social Outcome: Maximum healing & relief.

[ THE COMMERCIALIZED PROFESSION (LAWYER / POLITICIAN) ]

• Net Social Outcome: Concentrated wealth & systemic harm.

[ THE TRUE VOCATION (NURSE / PRIEST) ]

• Metric of Success: Lives saved & souls comforted.

[ THE COMMERCIALIZED PROFESSION (LAWYER / POLITICIAN) ]

• Metric of Success: Cases won & budgets allocated.

When a nurse stays awake for 36 hours in a crowded public hospital ward to keep a critical patient alive, societal utility is maximized. Pain is minimized; collective human welfare increases. They were chosen because their intrinsic drive yields the greatest net good for the greatest number of people.

Now, apply the same principle to politics. Many are called. In fact, every three years, thousands of applicants flood the Commission on Elections to file their Certificates of Candidacy, donning white linen barongs and flashing well-rehearsed smiles.

[ THE POLITICAL CANDIDATE SELECTION MODEL ]

THOUSANDS APPLY (FILING CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY)
│
▼
THE ELECTORAL FILTER PROCESS
│
▼
ARE THEY CHOSEN FOR THE NET PUBLIC BENEFIT?
┌──────────────────────┴──────────────────────┐
│ │
▼ ▼
[ THE FEW GOOD ONES ] [ THE SELF-SERVING MAJORITY ]
• Drafts effective public policy. • Converts public tax funds into
• Allocates resources to the poor. private wealth.
• Increases societal wellbeing. • Maximizes personal net worth at
the expense of millions.

If the primary purpose of governance is to produce the greatest happiness and prosperity for the entire population, the current screening mechanism is catastrophically broken.

Thousands run for office, but only a tiny fraction operate as genuine public servants. The rest simply view the state treasury as an investment portfolio with guaranteed returns. Instead of reducing social suffering, their presence in office actively compounds it.

Perhaps the most tragic distortion of "vocation" occurs within the legal profession.

Lawyers are called to be ministers of justice—a role meant to protect the vulnerable, uphold truth, and structure a peaceful society. Yet, when legal skill is decoupled from moral outcomes, the utility calculation flips entirely.

THE LAWYER'S UTILITY DILEMMA

OPTION A: Defend the Public Good & Truth

• Outcome: Systemic justice, public safety maintained.

• Compensation: Standard professional fee.

OPTION B: Defend the Wealthy Corrupt Bad Actors

• Outcome: A dangerous criminal/corrupt official walks free; public trust eroded; societal harm

• Compensation: ₱10,000,000 Retainer Fee.

SKILL vs. SOCIETAL VALUE

-THE HIGH-PRICED "BRILLIANT" LAWYER

• Uses technical loopholes to stall trials.

• Suppresses evidence on procedural technicalities.

• Bends the law to protect illicit wealth.

-THE NET EFFECT ON SOCIETY

• Empowers corrupt actors to repeat harm

• Destroys public faith in institutional rule

• Generates massive net societal misery.

A lawyer may be "brilliant" in courtroom mechanics, but if that brilliance is deployed to shield a plunderer or an abuser from accountability, what is the net value of their talent to human society? It is negative.

When a defense counsel stomaches defending the wrong client not out of a constitutional commitment to due process, but because the check has enough zeros, truth ceases to be the goal. Truth becomes a collateral casualty, and the money offered dictates who gets to buy immunity.

"Many are called, but few are chosen" should not merely be a statement of spiritual destiny—it is the ultimate standard for evaluating human value in public life.

A nurse or priest is chosen when their service alleviates pain and builds up human dignity.

A politician is truly chosen only when their policies leave the majority of people better off than they found them.

A lawyer is truly chosen when their legal mind serves as a pillar of justice, not an expensive shield for bad actors dodging accountability.

Talent, intelligence, and a high-paying client list mean nothing if your life's work leaves the world poorer, less just, and more full of suffering. In the end, the ultimate measure of any profession isn't how much wealth you accumulated while practicing it—it's how much good remained after you stepped off the stage.

The ₱205,000 Gourmet Miracle: How to Eat Street Food on Camera and Fine Dine on the Taxpayer's Tab

 

Former Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV has struck again, blowing the whistle on the ultimate culinary contrast in Philippine politics: The ₱205,000 Single-Meal Fine Dining Incident.

Trillanes bluntly declared: "Gising na ang karamihan sa mga Pilipino! Ito talaga ang lifestyle mo, Sara—₱205,000 sa isang kainan lang, hindi 'yung tusok-tusok na pagkain sa kalye na halata namang pakitang-tao lang!"

[ WHAT THE CAMERAS SEE ON TIKTOK/FB ] 

• 1 stick of fishballs: ₱20. • Imported Wagyu & Truffle Reduction: ₱205,000.

 [ WHAT THE AMEX RECEIPT SEES ]

• Imported Wagyu & Truffle Reduction: ₱205,000.

[ WHAT THE CAMERAS SEE ON TIKTOK/FB ] 

• Paper cup of fishball sauce (spicy/sweet). 

 [ WHAT THE AMEX RECEIPT SEES ]

• Vintage Champagne & Caviar pairing.

[ WHAT THE CAMERAS SEE ON TIKTOK/FB ] 

• Relatable populist smile for the vlog. 

 [ WHAT THE AMEX RECEIPT SEES ]

 •Funding Source: Taxpayer-funded representation allowance.

For years, the political playbook in the Philippines required one essential photo-op: The Fishball Method.

Nothing communicates "I am one with the masses" quite like standing near a wooden cart on a dusty street corner, holding a bamboo skewer, and dipping a fried fishball into a jar of sweet sauce. At the same time, five camera crews capture your raw, unpretentious humility.

            THE "TUSOK-TUSOK" COST BREAKDOWN 

• 3 Fishballs:                              ₱6.00      

• 2 Kwek-kwek:                             ₱15.00      

• 1 Gulaman drink:                         ₱10.00      

• Facebook PR mileage value:          ₱5,000,000.00   

 The problem with the "tusok-tusok" routine is that while the public sees a politician eating a ₱20 street snack on camera, the official receipts tell a vastly different story behind closed doors—where a single lunch bill can equal the lifetime fishball budget of an entire barangay.

To truly appreciate the magnitude of a ₱205,000 meal, one must translate it into everyday Philippine economic terms:

                 [ THE ₱205,000 EQUIVALENCY FLOWCHART ]

  ONE (1) OFFICIAL MEAL = ₱205,000

             │

             ├──► 10,250 sticks of street fishballs

             │

             ├──► 341 minimum wage daily paychecks

             │

             ├──► 4,100 sacks of NFA rice

             │

             └──► 1 year of free carinderia meals for a family of 5

PUBLIC CAMPAIGN vs. PRIVATE DINING   

PUBLIC RELATABILITY CAMPAIGN  

• "Kumakain sa kalsada tulad ninyo!" 

• "Simple lang ang pamumuhay natin."  

• Audience: Smiling voters taking selfies. 

PRIVATE GOURMET REALITY

• "Paki-pasa ng caviar at imported steak."  

• Receipt: ₱205,000 for one seating.     

• Audience: The BIR and AMLC auditors. 

Following Trillanes' statement, the online comment section transformed into a high-voltage, unfiltered comedy roast. Citizens abandoned all polite diplomatic language and unleashed a torrent of fierce, below-the-belt reactions:

                    THE ONLINE COMMENTARY SPECTRUM     

COMMENT 1: "Ang sarap talaga ng buhay ng mga magnanakaw!"             

(Translation: High-tier culinary review of public funds.)   

COMMENT 2: "Dami kasing bobotante na hanggang ngayon tulog pa rin!"     

(Translation: An urgent alarm clock for the electorate.)     

COMMENT 3: "Gutom ang mga kababayan, habang nagpapakasarap sa pera!"    

(Translation: The national nutritional disparity.)      

COMMENT 4: "Huwag muna istorbohin, kumakain pa ang buwaya!"             

(Translation: Wildlife preservation warning during mealtime.)

Trillanes’ exposé highlights the eternal tragedy of Philippine political theater: The public is fed street food narratives on social media while being billed for Michelin-star feasts behind the curtain.

So to every Filipino grabbing a quick ₱20 skewer on their way home from a 12-hour shift: enjoy your street snack! Just remember that while you're dipping your fishball in sweet sauce, someone else might be dipping their ₱205,000 steak in your tax money.

Deja Vu: When Your Favorite Afternoon Soap Opera Collides with Political Loyalty

History isn't just repeating itself in Philippine broadcasting—it is rerunning like an old primetime television series on a loop.

Vice President Sara Duterte sent shockwaves through newsrooms and living rooms across the archipelago by casually threatening to sue GMA Network for ₱ 200 million over its investigative reports on Ramil Gracioso.

Then came the comedic punchline delivered with chilling precision: "Baka magsara kumpanya n'yo." (Your company might just shut down.)

For millions of loyal television viewers, a cold, familiar shiver ran down their spines. It was an unmistakable case of broadcasting déjà vu.

For those tracking the survival rates of Philippine commercial television networks over the last decade, the pattern resembles a reality TV elimination game. Here is THE BROADCAST NETWORK SURVIVAL AUDIT.

[ ABS-CBN (SEASON 2020) ]

• Offense: Critical reporting & franchise disputes.

[ GMA-7 (SEASON 2026) ]

• Offense: Gracioso investigative reports

[ ABS-CBN (SEASON 2020) ]

• Threat Level: Years of presidential attacks.

[ GMA-7 (SEASON 2026) ]

• Threat Level: ₱200 Million lawsuit + "Baka magsara."

[ ABS-CBN (SEASON 2020) ]

• Outcome: Off free TV; forced into digital space.

[ GMA-7 (SEASON 2026) ]

• Outcome: Currently sweating behind the anchor desk.

When Rodrigo Duterte went after ABS-CBN, die-hard supporters cheered as Channel 2 went black in 2020. They promptly adjusted their TV antennas to Channel 7, declared themselves lifelong Kapuso fans, and settled in for their daily dose of free afternoon drama and evening news.

Now, as the same political machinery eyes GMA, the loyal fan base faces a terrifying existential crisis.

THE DIEHARD FAN'S DILEMMA MATRIX:

CHOICE A: Protect the political idol at all costs.
CONSEQUENCE: Channel 7 goes dark.
RESULT: Forced to watch wall paint dry for fun.

CHOICE B: Protect afternoon television dramas.
CONSEQUENCE: Admit that news networks need freedom.
RESULT: Cognitive overload and severe confusion.

The political genius of threatening a ₱200 million suit against a major network is that it puts the entire household entertainment ecosystem on notice.

[ THE HOUSEHOLD TELEVISION FLOWCHART ]

POLITICAL LEADER THREATENS TO CLOSE DOWN GMA-7
│
▼
THE LOYAL FAN PROCESSES THE NEWS:
"Wait... if GMA closes down, where do I watch 24 Oras?!"
│
▼
INTERNAL LOGICAL PANIC:
▼
[ OPTION 1: SWITCH TO CHANNEL 2 ] - "Ay, sarado na pala 'yun noong 2020!"

[ OPTION 2: BUY A SATELLITE DISH ] - "Saan ako kukuha ng $1 = ₱62 pambili?!"

THE FREE TV SURVIVAL COMPARISON

A. 2020 NETWORK TAKEDOWN - "Okay lang mag-off air ang ABS-CBN, may GMA pa naman."

-2026 NETWORK WARNING - "Teka lang, wala na kaaming maapaaglipatan."

B. 2020 NETWORK TAKEDOWN - "Format: Legislative franchise denial."

-2026 NETWORK WARNING - "Format: ₱200 Million libel suit."

C. 2020 NETWORK TAKEDOWN - Audience Reaction: High-voltage cheering.

-2026 NETWORK WARNING - Audience Reaction: Nervous sweating.

The ultimate satire of the situation lies in the voter’s bargain. For years, citizens traded critical journalism for political spectacle, assuming that when the dust settled, there would always be another channel on free television to stream their favorite telenovelas.

THE VOTER'S BROADCAST CONTRACT
Clause 1: You may silence any news outlet that asks difficult questions.
Clause 2: You must accept that your television will eventually show nothing but static noise and government advisories.
Clause 3: No refunds on lost entertainment.

When a politician tells a news network, "Baka magsara kumpanya n'yo," it isn't just a legal warning to journalists—it is an eviction notice for the public's primary source of information and free enjoyment.

If every major news network that reports on government discrepancies eventually gets threatened with lawsuits, shutdowns, or franchise non-renewals, the future of Philippine television looks remarkably simple:

6:00 AM: Morning exercise with official government spokespersons.

12:00 PM: Variety show where politicians hand out canned goods.

6:30 PM: Evening news declaring that everything in the country is 100% fine and arithmetic errors do not exist.

So to every loyal fan currently clutching their TV remote control: enjoy the 6:30 PM news broadcast while it lasts. Because in the game of political revenge, once the channels run out, the only thing left to watch is the blank screen.

(O aka sabihin na naman ng mga alipores nila diyan ..."Nagibiro lang siya!" Please lang, huwag kami!

Stray Dogs vs. Neighborhood Gossips

 I

In the fields of Sociology, Zoology, and Barangay Street Economics, there is an ancient proverb that states: "Don't feel bad when people talk about you. Just remember, dogs bark when they don't know the person passing by."

It's a beautiful metaphor. Deep, thoughtful, and poetic. But if we analyze it carefully, it turns out to be a massive insult to actual dogs to compare them to your local neighborhood Marites (gossips).

Before we let our tempers flare, it is critical to conduct a formal Comparative Audit between Canis lupus familiaris (The Dog) and Homo tsismosus (Your Neighboring Gossips): Here is the comparison between the canine and neeeeeigorhod gossips.

[ THE ACTUAL DOG ]

• Barks when a STRANGER approaches the gate.

[ YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MARITES ]

• Barks even when they know EVERYTHING about you.

[ THE ACTUAL DOG ]

• Stops barking when given a dog biscuit.

[ YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MARITES ]

• Barks even louder if you buy expensive biscuits.

[ THE ACTUAL DOG ]

• Guards the house to protect the family.

[ YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MARITES ]

• Guards the window to see what time you got home.

[ THE ACTUAL DOG ]

• Runs away when you pick up a stick.

[ YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MARITES ]

• Joins a Facebook Live stream to spread the news

When you walk down your street at 7:00 PM, and the dogs behind the fence suddenly start a racket, the dog's reasoning is simple: "Who is this? I don't recognize this scent. Warning: Do not cross this line!" The dog operates on clear protocol and professional ethics.

WHEN A PERSON WALKS PAST THE FRONT GATE:

-[ THE DOGS ] ─────────► "WOOF! WOOF! (Who are you? Move along!)" │

-[ MARITES BEHIND TINTED GLASS ] ───────► "Look at what she's wearing... she looks tired. Where did she come from? Is that a secret affair?!

When a real dog realizes you are a friend and you toss them a small treat, they wag their tail and remain loyal forever.

As for the neighborhood gossip: even if you buy them a milk tea and hand them ₱1,000, the moment you turn your back, they’ll whisper: "Where did they get the money for milk tea? Is it illegal?"

If you currently happen to be the main topic of conversation at the local corner store or the barangay group chat, don't worry. Your name is simply serving as Free Entertainment for people whose own lives are far too dull to keep them occupied.

RULES FOR HANDLING THE "BARKERS"

Rule #1: Never argue with a barking dog; it lowers your IQ to their level
Rule #2: Don't change your walk just because the fence gets noisy.
Rule #3: Let them make noise. A barking dog rarely bites.

The next time you hear people talking badly about you or judging you as if they know your whole backstory, just smile.

Imagine you are walking down an alley flanked by caged dogs barking behind their gates. You don't need to stop and bark back at every single dog on the street—otherwise, you become the dog.

Keep walking straight, hold your coffee high, and let them tangle themselves in their own leashes.

Ang "Selective Blindness" Audit: Para Sa Mga Entitled Na Anak

Mayroong isang mahiwagang uri ng sakit sa mata na hindi kayang gamutin ng kahit sinong ophthalmologist sa buong mundo. Ito ang tinatawag na Selective Blindness o sa wikang pambansa: "Ang Sining ng Pagiging Entitled."

Ito 'yung espesyal na kondisyon ng paningin kung saan ang isang tao ay may $20/20$ vision kapag naghahanap ng kulang, pero biglang nagiging totally blind kapag nakalatag na sa harap niya ang mga biyaya at sakripisyo.

[ WHAT THEY SEE CLEARLY (100% VISIBILITY) ]

• The 1 prayer out of 100 that wasn't answered yet.

[ WHAT THEY ARE COMPLETELY BLIND TO (0% VISIBILITY) ]

• The 99 daily miracles keeping them alive today.

[ WHAT THEY SEE CLEARLY (100% VISIBILITY) ]

• The 1 gadget their parents couldn't buy.

[ WHAT THEY ARE COMPLETELY BLIND TO (0% VISIBILITY) ]

• The 1,001 meals and tuition fees given by their parents

[ WHAT THEY SEE CLEARLY (100% VISIBILITY) ]

• The minor inconvenience of a traffic jam.

[ WHAT THEY ARE COMPLETELY BLIND TO (0% VISIBILITY) ]

• Having air to breathe and shelter overhead.

Tumingin ka sa panalangin ng isang taong may Selective Blindness. Hindi ito panalangin ng pagpapasalamat—ito ay isang Urgent Refund and Exchange Demand Letter.

ANG MGA PANALANGIN NG MGA INGRATO

-Panginoon, bakit hindi mo ibinigay 'yung promo code?

-Bakit hindi ako nanalo sa raffle? Bakit ako mahirap?

-Bakit mas maganda ang sasakyan ng kapitbahay?!

Habang nakatutok ang mata niya sa panalangin na hindi pa nasasagot noong Martes, nakakalimutan niyang ibinigay ng Diyos ang mga bagay na hindi naman niya hiningi kailanman:

Ang pusong tumitibok nang $100,000$ beses araw-araw nang walang subscription fee.

Ang utro't utrong hangin na libreng nalalanghap.

Ang katotohanang nagising siya ngayong umaga na buo ang katawan at may fully functioning na kidneys.

Pero siyempre, bale-wala ang lahat ng 'yan dahil hindi dumating 'yung inorder niyang branded shoes sa Shopee.

Ang Resibo ng Magulang vs. Ang Memorya ng Anak

Kapag lumipat ang usapan mula sa Langit patungo sa mismong tahanan, lalong lumalala ang Selective Blindness ng entitled na anak.

[ ANG PARENTAL SACRIFICE EVALUATION FLOWCHART ]

GUMAWA ANG MAGULANG NG 1,000 MGA SAKRIPISYO (Nagtrabaho, nagtipid, napupuyat)

▼ ISANG ARAW: HINDI NABILI ANG GUSTONG SNEAKERS / IPHONE NA HINIHINGI NG ANAK

▼ ANG REACTION NG ENTITLED NA ANAK: "Napakadaming pagkukulang ng pamilyang 'to! I am traumatized!"

-ANG MGA GINAWA NG MAGULANG (IN-VISIBLE TO CHILD)

• Nagtrabaho sa malayo, nagtitiis sa traffic at sa bus (sa biyahe) na lang natutulog.

• Nagtiis sa lumang damit para may pang-tuition ANG ANAK.

• Nag-alaga sa anak noong may sakit at nilalagnat kahit siya ang dapat alagaan..

• Nagpa-aral at nagpakain sa anak sa loob ng 20 taon.

-ANG IISANG PAGKUKULANG

• "Hindi ako pinayagan mag-overnight sa Boracay

Ganyan kalupit ang math ng entitled na anak: $1,001{ na sakripisyo} - 1{ na hiling na hindi napagbigyan} = {ZERO (Toxic parents na ang tawag sa kanila!)}

Ang taong nagdurusa sa Selective Blindness ay nabubuhay sa isang permanenteng ilusyon: na ang mundo, ang Diyos, at ang mga magulang niya ay may utang na loob sa kanya.

Ito ang revised entitlement laws ng mga anak:

Rule 1: Kapag may magandang nangyari: "Magaling kasi ako!"

Rule 2: Kapag may kulang sa buhay: "Kasalanan 'to ng magulang ko/Diyos!"

Rule 3: Ang "Salamat" ay para lang sa mga taong nagbibigay ng regalo.

Nakikita nila ang bawat maliit na lubak sa kalsada, pero hindi nila nakikita na may kalsada silang nilalakaran. Nakikita nila ang bawat ulam na hindi nila paborito, pero hindi nila nakikita ang magulang na nagpapakapagod para lang may maihain sa hapag.

Ang pinakamabisang reseta sa Selective Blindness ay hindi salamin o eye drops—ito ay isang simpleng Attitude Adjustment Check.

Bago mag-post ng panibagong hugot sa social media tungkol sa "kabiguang ibinigay ng tadhana" o "pagkukulang ng pamilya," subukang kumuha ng papel at maglista ng dalawang bagay:

1. Ang mga hiningi mo na wala pa.
2. Ang mga ibinigay sa 'yo na hindi mo man lang naisip hilingin.

Kapag mas mahaba pa rin ang listahan ng reklamo mo kaysa sa listahan ng pasasalamat mo—huwag mong sisihin ang Diyos o ang magulang mo. Ang may problema, 'yung mata m