One billboard too many

Most of you are probably wondering why I’ve been writing a lot about what has been happening these past several weeks. Thank God for the newspaper!

This way, we still get updates on what’s happening around the world when TV is unavailable.

I’ve never been more concerned about watching the news than these last few days. I couldn’t help but get really affected with all the painful memories these things have left some people.

After all the memorable events that took place, the show must go on. It’s sad, but it is reality.

Everyday the sun rises. It gives us hope and another chance to make things right. I’m very thankful for that.

But at the same time, this rising of the sun means putting things behind, and setting new memories for the following days to come.

It somehow forces us to go on and literally start a new day.

We had no electricity for almost one week because of Typhoon "Milenyo." By the time I was able to turn my TV on to watch the news, a lot has been damaged and traumatized by the strong typhoon.

My reason for writing about such a thing is that I believe we should be more aware of things happening around us.

I didn’t realize how many families lost their homes and even their loved ones while I was sitting in my living room worried about the electricity.

I couldn’t believe the images I saw on TV, the trees and billboards scattered all over, especially people who got hurt and the vehicles on the street that were so unfortunate to have been hit by the billboards.

I couldn’t understand how those billboards fell off their place.

It’s just crazy. I’m not in a position to comment on this issue, but as an artist, these billboards falling off greatly affects me.

I’ve had a billboard before, and I didn’t want to even imagine if it was my billboard that fell over someone’s head and killed him.

We have more than enough problems to deal with in this country, and these billboards shouldn’t have had to be one of them.

I think we have way too much billboards being put up on the streets. These images have become like a popularity contest.

We have failed to consider the dangers these things can bring. I don’t understand why we always wait until something goes wrong or someone gets hurt before doing something about it.

There shouldn’t have been this kind of problem if these people were more sensitive and took more caution in advertising.

I hope both parties compromise peacefully, and maybe consider cleaning up the streets to somehow lessen the traffic.

All these arguments won’t make anything better. The sight of huge broken steel frames in the middle of the road should only be seen in the movies. We might as well move on and put this nasty memory behind us.

I’m hoping government could come up with a good law to prevent these things from happening.

By the way, I came across the news on TV about a house that got raided several weeks ago because of on-line prostitution which has come a long way.

I’ve got a little idea on how these things work.

The first film I made www.XXX.com, directed by Tikoy Aguiluz, was all about on-line prostitution. I thought I would only find this in foreign websites, but little did we know, this has turned into serious business with minors in it.

The most alarming part is that local Internet cafés cater to such business. I was surprised to find what they call "private rooms," while going on-line.

When I asked about it, I learned some women actually expose themselves on cam while getting cellphone loads in return sent to them.

What has this world come to? Only time will tell. I’m just another person hoping things will fall into place in due time.

Have a great and blessed Sunday!