“INGAT KA NENENG” This documentary made by the PROBE TEAM hosted by Che-Che Lazaro was about the very existent and real child trafficking practice in our country. The film featured minors from remote areas of Samar, a poor and seemingly desolate province, whom are subjected to sex slavery or prostitution. The parents and the children being tricked into thinking they were to be given a good job in Manila, instead the hopeful girls found themselves in a casa or brothel, a haven for prostitution. I am not surprised why these “Child Traffickers” chose areas such as that in the film. One could assume that the people in those kinds of places are in dire need for financial support, thus they would tend to grab any hint opportunity to earn more. It is just sad to know that even relatives, whom you would think as one who would share in the protection of your child, would be the perpetrator of such heartless acts. It is also a shame that there are not many programs or even adequate laws that protect the very vulnerable children. The watchdogs of government on this matters of concern are just not enough to safeguard our children from notorious individuals that are preying on their slum dispositions. As a member of the youth sector of society, I pity and feel bad for the children who have suffered this predicament, as I know the trauma and horror of their experiences in the brothels will mark them for life. In their age, they should have been busy in developing their talent or in enhancing a skill or discovering their identity. Instead they have been maltreated and are traded as mere commodities for the satisfaction of some peoples insatiable lusts. The damage done is so great that repair seems very faint. Thus in the long run, it would be society that would suffer the ill effects of a shattered personality coupled by possible violence and indifference towards betterment. The film is a call for more hands to be lent. Its is a call for the viewers to not turn the other cheek or simply pretend it does not exist, because we all know it does. Our society has grown apathy towards these pitiful conditions. Do we then accept that its is part of who we are? When will we act? When it would be our children's turn to suffer the same? We have become numb to horrifying realities but we weep with sincerity over fantasy and concerted drama.

23rd Psalm for Students

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not flunk
He keepeth me from lying down when I should be studying
He leadeth me beside the water cooler for a study break
He restores my faith in study guides
He leads me to better study habits
For my grades' sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of borderline grades
I will not have a nervous breakdown
For thou art with me
My prayers and my friends, they comfort me
Thou givest me the answer in moments of blankness
Thou anointest my head with understanding
My test paper runneth over with questions I recognise.
Surely passing grades and flying colours shall follow me
All the days of my examinations
And I shall not have to dwell in this exam hall forever.

- Author Unknown

i love this poem, since i read it when i was in grade school...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Prayer for Protection

Princes shall come out of Egypt,
Ethiopia shall stretch forth her
hand unto God. Oh thou God
of Ethiopia, thou God of divine
majesty, thy spirit come within our
hearts to dwell in the pasts of righteousness.
That the hungry be fed,
the sick nourished, the aged protected,
and the infant cared for. Teach us
love and loyalty as it is in Zion.

Single Woman's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man who's not a creep.

One who's handsome, smart and strong,
Who's not afraid to admit when he is wrong.

One who thinks before he speaks.
When he promises to call, he doesn't wait six weeks.

I pray that he is gainfully employed,
Won't lose his cool when he's annoyed.

Pulls out my chair and opens my door,
Massages my back and begs to do more.

Oh send me a man who will make love to my mind.
Know what to say when I ask "How fat is my behind?"

One who'll make love till my body's a' itchin'
He brings ME a sandwich too, when he goes to the kitchen.

I pray that this man will love me to no end,
And never compare me to my best friend.

Thank you in advance and now I'll just wait,
For I know you will send him before it's too late.

Amen

- Author Unknown