Social Media’s potential As A “New” Platform Of Communication During Diasters

By 2017, there will be 4.77 billion mobile phone users . There will also be 2.51 billion users of social media. How crazy is that? Both forms of communication have made our society more connected.

And while mobile phones have existed for several decades now, social media has only existed for 13 years making its accumulation of users that more astounding. But unlike the phone, social media has been utilized in a multitude of ways. It has been used to start cultural trends, scroll through pictures, and now recently, respond to natural disasters. This last application may come as a surprise to many, but it could become a lot more familiar in the near future.

Source: USF Online MPA

Social media is starting to serve as a new platform for both authorities and citizens to communicate during natural disasters. Though traditional media is still around like radio, television and newspaper, having social media at your disposal is handy especially on emergency situations. You can even request for help on Facebook, just pin point your location and help will come in no time.

Netizens seeks help during Typhoon Harvey

Social media also plays a huge role during the Marawi siege. The netizens were the among the first to report about what is happening on the city before its occupation by the Maute-ISIS forces. They informed the world about on what’s about to be a bloody 5 month siege. Call for help immediately reached the evacuees, several nations also donated money for the rehabilitation of the city.

Across the world, help poured to help the citizens of Marawi.

I therefore conclude that social media has the power that could inform anyone within a short notice of time. We should embrace the change for the better and help it evolve to serve us better in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

Featured Song: Gloc 9 – Upuan ft. Jeazell Grutas

This is one OPM rap I loved eversince I first heard it over a radio station. We haven’t changed presidents back then so I thought this is a good reference to a politician who knows nothing but to spend public funds for personal use and personal gains!

I am trying to translate it but my mind is preoccupied for the moment. Let me just write down the lyrics and try to translate some words or at least give you the meaning of the words as they are used in the song.

Upuan – is a chair, referred to the executive chair either local or national
Tao po – literally translated is: “person” + po which is a Filipino word signifying respect
– this phrase is normally used when you go to another house that has no doorbell so we yell “tao po” a gesture for the person inside the house that we either want to go inside, or ask them something or to give them a letter etc. So my translation below is “knock knock!” which signifies that a person wants to come in.
Barong – is the national costume for males here in the Philippines.

Oh well, looking at the status of our country right now, with the current president who is equally rich but more down to earth than the previous one — I am just worried about this new found hope in our new president because of all the wealth that was amassed or stolen or unwisely spent by the previous administration, it would not be too difficult for them to make this president disappear with just a snap of a finger.

That chair in that palace is really so powerful but if you (Mr. President) are not too careful yourself, especially that you have expressed your disgust and dismay over the past administration, they can use all the money they got in destroying your current career. So be careful… We should all be careful and guard our ranks.

Overpopulation in the Philippines

Our overpopulated archipelago might ‘capsize’ any moment now! This is not a joke. It is not an exaggeration. The Philippines might sink in no time if we do not address the environmental issues not to mention our ever-growing population. Right now, we have too many problems brought forth by Mother Nature but caused by our people.

With too many people in Metro Manila and now more of the population creeping to the outskirts, our government has a difficult time serving the people. In other words, its carrying capacity has already reached its limits. The government cannot obviously continue to build more hospitals and schools. It has to control the population. And how else can it control the population – of course by supporting the RH Bill.

Growing Population of the Philippines

I really do not see anything wrong with this bill. If they want to change the name and edit some of its contents to strike a balance with our Christian ways then do it. But the bottom line is, we need to control our mounting population.

The Philippines can arguably support a population of 200 million — but only if the structural causes of poverty were addressed. Among these is the grossly unequal distribution of wealth, in which the 25 wealthiest individuals appropriate the equivalent of the incomes of 70 million Filipinos.

With more than 100,000,000 people and ranking as the 12th most populated country in the world, this little archipelago needs help. Big time! Even our electric supply sucks.

Living and working in the cities requires reliable electric service so that we can perform our daily tasks at work and at home. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to choose an electric company. We even cannot compare rates, plans and services to get the best or the cheapest electricity that suits our budget.

The Government Should Implement Family planning and educate the population about it. Education would make these classes aware of the threats of overpopulation and would also provide them and their children better remuneration, eliminating the ‘more hands, more money’ paradigm. These solutions are doable and incorporate macro-level as well as micro-level authorities. The key here is education, with the aid of which people can be made aware of the threats posed by overpopulation and to actively try to assuage that. The Government should act now before it’s too late.