False values lead to false targets

Truth based values are not materially quantifiable. But in a materialist world, many people have come to embrace false values that lead them to pursue unworthy goals.

Our education culture is one of the saddest example for this. In most of our public and even private schools, students can go through the motion of schooling for years without really learning anything.
It is said that some teachers are afraid to fail students because they are afraid that it will reflect badly on them as a teacher.

Instead of mastering how to read, write, speak articulately and calculate they go for grades and honors which at times can be spurious. 

True learning should be its own reward and can be recognized in the simplest of rites. But lately there is even a trend of holding noisy and very public graduation ceremonies in malls even if this is a completely unnecessary exercise.

In the end, students may earn a "diploma" even if in reality they are still virtually illiterate and innumerate.

Thoughts on the recently held National Food Fair

Every year, I look forward to the trade exhibits organized by the Department of Trade and Industry to get an idea of what our people are up to from around our country. More often though my expectations are way over what I find and I go home consoling myself that next time, things can be better.

For this year, my most interesting take home from the National Food Fair held in Mega Mall last 14-17 March 2019 was a sea food crackling called 'kibit' from Quezon. I had seen it before but it now comes in better packaging. It is quite unusual but does not really taste special. Not something to ook forward to buying again.


Another thing that caught my eye was the attractive packaging of chocolate from Mindanao. I am hoping that our local chocolate industry continues to improve and become competitive with international brand chocolates.

In this kind of exhibit, I see opportunities in areas of condiments and sauces, instant foods, innovative foods, etc. However, the success of our food industry depends on how we support and strengthen our agricultural sector. My question then is if we are doing enough for it.

Changing the minds of others

People who have gotten into an argument with other people may realize how hard it is to change other people's minds. This holds true in many aspects of life like in religion, business and even political decisions.

Most of us assume that it is a matter of stating our logic for something, complete with solid proof and evidence to persuade other people to abandon their belief and embrace a new one. However, most of the time, this does not happen even if the person holding on to a 'wrong' belief is already put at a disadvantage. And we become very frustrated.

The reason for this is logic is part of the higher function of the mind and often, one's belief is wrapped in a layer of emotion that one must also address first to proceed further in his mind. This is human nature because this is the way the human mind developed. First as a tabula rasa, then came emotions related to our personal comfort then finally, thought and awareness.

The way to change people's mind then is not to directly appeal to his intellect but to do this by appealing first to his emotion. But even before this, we must be able to make a good connection with the person we are trying to convince. We must establish to the person that we are allies with a joint interest. Then try to understand the emotional underpinning of the person's belief and work from there.

Political campaign as theatre

wip