Well you know GabbyD, good will always triumph over evil. Let’s say for example those who get away with stealing government funds at the moment, they might be living the high life now but deep inside, their conscience is actually eating them up. They know that what they’re doing is wrong but they can’t seem to win their battle with their own demons because society is tolerating them. Those who steal from the poor will have their day of reckoning and it should be soon.

This is why we have to speak up because they think that as long as there is no one complaining, they can continue to do their mediocre work and earn extra cash on the side at the same time.

Hi FreeSince09

What makes you say that? Isn’t there more dignity in toiling the earth or working for money than begging and roaming around without any purpose?

Which hacienda in particular? haha

What I find odd is how Filipinos don’t see that beggars are better off than farmers at any hacienda.

not to nitpick ilda, coz i actually agree w everything u write here. but oliver was tricked, coz of his naivete, and was subsequently caught. if he did his time, perhaps he wouldnt have had his happy ending.

i’m not sure we can learn anything from oliver’s principles. but certainly, we can learn from his family coz they were they ones who forgave him, and allowed him another chance at life.

Hi GabbyD

The real challenge to some people in sensitive positions like in government agencies in the Philippines is to maintain an unwavering adherence to their principles. Even if they are “ welcomed by a group of hardened petty criminals” in their place of work, they should still “manage to win the fight for what is right and decent.”

Not having enough money or salary should not be an excuse to succumbed to corruption.

the rest of the play/movie is also interesting its a story about how all kids want love and family, and indeed, it turns out that the boy does have a family (oliver’s story), its about how people make their own families if the fantasy isnt true (fagin, artful dodger), and the tragedy of prioritizing money over love/family (nancy and bill sykes story).

also, if you are hungry, i wonder if its right to describe it as principles to ask for more food if one is hungry.

its principles if you dont steal/lie/kill — i.e. to do anything for food.

in a sense oliver is lucky that wealthy people (his real family as it turns out) took pity and strove to teach him right vs wrong. imagine if he were to continue living the life of a thief — he might become the next bill sykes!

if anything, the story teaches me that charity by the rich to the poor is very important to turn lives around, and this charity must begin at a very early age.

I find it ironic that most of those who shout the need for “change” the loudest are the very same people who then react with outrage when really radical and in-your-face ideas are presented.

Our rather reasonable call/challenge to our so-called “presidential” candidates, Platform, plez™, has already drawn so much ire from the established cadre of political “experts” that currently infect the Pinoy blogosphere with their pompously-worded admonitions, some of whom actually show a strong preference for form over substance which I believe is the REAL outrage to begin with.

Good on you Hyden!

They say that the best way to preach is by using a narrative. I guess Jesus Christ himself used parables to preach to his disciples and it worked. I will try anything to get the message across to all Filipinos especially the non-believers of the Get Real Philippines movement.

Thanks!

Charles Dickens is one of my favorite author.