Bakit Walang Agriculture Secretary?

Deal in Person

When we have conflicts at home dealing with the problem in person is daunting ... for fear that reaching out to the other party will escalate into a full-blown Battle of the Titans where nerves collide and temper flies in all directions.  As we said before .... have you forgotten to chill or calm down?

Reaching out through text or email or any social media platform is not an option. Writing in the messenger is a double edge sword ...  the person at the end may misconstrue the tone and the language used as self-righteous or angry or just plain pontification. Calling by phone can also be a welcome option but the other party will miss your body language - your empathy and sincerity ... that you meant what you say.

Another drawback of patching up with the use of electronic communication is that one will be tempted to email things he could not ever say directly to his face. This can open up old wounds - and the more reason you should not do it. So no matter how hard it is ... talk or confront the issues in person ... and maintain your composure.

Showbiz Oddities

Iron Heart is an action drama TV series produced by ABS-CBN and directed by Lester Pimentel Ong and Richard Ibasco Arellano, and starring matinee idol Richard Gutierrez. It has been aired since November, but nobody has reacted or written this nagging observation ... like I do.  Am I the only one observant ... or was everybody asleep ... or just smitten by this action powerpack ... their tongues curled up ... and they thought reacting to anything trivial or frivolous ... is irrelevant?

Come to think of it ... was there any reason why 98% of the cast were given names of either Greek or Roman gods and deities? There must be a reason for it, and I want to know why? Consider this:

1. Richard Gutierrez - Apollo - Greek god of music, poetry, healing, and medicine.

2. Albert Martinez - Priam - in Greek mythology, he was the king of Troy in the Trojan war.

3. Jake Cuenca - Eros - Greek god of carnal love

4. Sue Ramirez - Venus - Greek goddess of love, beauty, and procreation.

5. Dimples Romana - Selene - Titan goddess of the moon

6. Diether Ocampo - Echo - Greek mountain nymph

7. Maricel Laxa - Helen - Patron deity of the sailors

8. Meryll Soriano - Juno -Roman goddess of love and marriage

9. Baron Geisler- Janus - Greek god of motion and passages

10. Sofia Andres - Nyx - Greek goddess of the night

11. Pepe Herrera - Poseidon - Greek god of the sea

12. Al Tantay - Homer - presumed author of Iliad & Odyssey

13. Roi Vinzon - Hector - Prince of Troy

14. Enzo Pineda - Hero - Priestess of Aphrodite

15. Joem Bascon - Hermes - Patron god of flocks and the shepherds

16. Anna Marin - Delia - epithet for Artemis

17. Mitoy Yonting - Dionysus/Diony - Greek god of fertility

18. Louise Abuel - Troy - the setting of the legendary Trojan war

19. Andi Abaya - Maia - Greek goddess of growth

20. Ryan Eigenmann - Adonis -Greek god of beauty and attraction

21. Emmanuelle Vera - Athena - Greek goddess of wisdom

22. Rafa Siguion Reyna - Zenon - equivalent to Zeus - greek god of sky and thunder

23. Ronnie Lazaro - Oak - the symbol for Zeus for its size, strength, and longevity

24. Vivoree Esclito - Penelope - Greek goddess of nature

25. Anthony Jennings - Cronus - son of Uranus and Gaea

Frankly, I don't have any complaints about the series. The fight scenes were beautifully choreographed, the pacing tight and brisk, the storyline was James Bondish and the cast was a fine ensemble of the finest actors in town. What is there to complain?

However, my observation above deserves an answer from anyone, especially the director and the scriptwriter.  Was this just a passing fancy where the author uses names of Greek gods and personalities? Or was the story lifted from Iliad and the Odyssey? Or was it inspired by a Disney movie with a similar title? I THINK NOT!

The use of these Greek names makes it a little bit distracting. I find it a little bit un-Filipino. Imagine watching a Filipino TV series ... and you see the cast's discomfort delivering the lines as they tried to articulate Priam ... Cronus ...  or Eros.  It gives me a little hiccup suspending disbelief ... and allowing myself to believe in something that sounds too alien ... for comfort!

Pinoy Commentaries

Sa paghahanap ng trabaho ... dapat ang focus mo ay paano kung ka manalo and how you achieve your goals.

Kapag inisip mo ang hirap at sakit ... sigurado huli ka na .... bago mo marating ang finish line.

Discussing Problems at Home

When there is a problem at home, don't discuss it when you are too emotional and feeling upset.  The discussion will just go downhill, especially if you are one of those persons who still struggle to accept constructive criticisms or listen to advise.

A person who has high regard for himself and whose pride is high and mighty is egotistical, and will only resent any attempts of solving the problem. More often done not ... he will act DEFENSIVE when he smells signs of OFFENSIVE remarks.

Conflict In The Family

Conflict can have its toll on the household if the family members don't see eye to eye on certain issues and they have different mindsets and viewpoints that are at odds with each other. Conflict occurs when they misinterpreted each other and somebody assumed the worst in them and they quickly judge each other without knowing the facts. Unsettled issues between the two can escalate to annoyance and antagonism.

Animosity in the family is a part and parcel of living in a family. It is normal to clash, contradict and differ at some times. But if the conflict is unresolved ... it is irksome and can leave permanent harm to families accord.  Some members have a hard time processing the effects of the conflict and some became overtly upset, contentious, and combative. 

Peaceful resolutions can be done thru positive communication.

Burning bridges is a no-no. Either the party will AGREE TO COMPROMISE ...  or they will AGREE TO DISAGREE.

Short Circuit

At the first sign of an impending family dispute, our first hostile inclination is to push the point that we are right and our goal ... to win the argument at all costs. 

Finding an amicable settlement of the conflict is a thorn on one side and a Herculean task to some. It is mission impossible when both parties stubbornly resist ... hold their ground and stick to their guns. It helps if everyone decides as a family to try listening to each other.