YES, I KNOW the title appears to be intriguing and seems to project an erotic and exotic aura.
I won’t disappoint you. It, indeed, does but before we plunge right into it, let’s take it slow and have a bit of foreplay, some sort of a striptease just to get into the right mood.
It seems contestants in beauty contests say they join to empower women. Even organizers say it’s all for empowerment of women. So why the hell call it “beauty contests”? They might as well just call it “women empowerment contests”.
I find it rather stupid to say that winning or joining “beauty contests” empowers women. Since when does getting the approval of other people (contest judges) that you’re “beautiful” empowers you? It’s the other way around. It actually puts you under their power and mercy.
And speaking of “beauty”, there should be a law against people wearing ill-fitting clothes in public. Please don’t wear slim-fitting tops or skinny jeans if you’re not slim. And don’t sashay in restaurants where people are eating. They will lose their appetite.
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Two public utilities institutions that were part of the history of “I Am Iloilo City” no longer operate.
Most natives of “I am Iloilo City” remember with fondness the pioneer shipping company that brought comfort, convenience and luxury in a time when sea travel to Manila was dreary, uncomfortable and boring – the Negros Navigation shipping company or NENACO. During its heydays NENACO was the epitome of a comfortable and convenient trip to Manila.
The other one was power provider Panay Electric Co. or PECO and all it left was a bad taste in the mouth. The natives of “I Am Iloilo City” remember not with fondness but with bitterness its poor service and customer relations perhaps because the owners never considered themselves as one with the natives until they lost their franchise and needed their support – a stark contrast to its successor MORE Power that takes pains in being transparent, reaches out and be one with the natives despite not being an Ilonggo company. It walked their talk and it is evident in the on-going rehabilitation and improvements in the power distribution infrastructure.
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Marijuana is now legal in Thailand. With the publication of the royal decree in the Royal Gazette on Feb. 18, 2019, medical cannabis was officially legalized.
The so-called “Narcotics Act of 2019” is a modification of the Narcotics Act of 1979 which classified cannabis a class-5-narcotic.
While the recreational use of the substance remains illegal, Thai citizens are now allowed to apply for cannabis treatment following the new legislation. However, they have to exhibit one or more of 38 registered medical conditions subjected to cannabis therapy.
Also, research, cultivation and processing, import and export of cannabisare now permitted.
What does this all mean aside from the fact that the Thais have shown to be more sophisticated and progressive than the rest of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines?
As the first Southeast Asian country, Thailand legalized medical cannabis in 2019 and made cannabis a top government priority.
Cannabis Catalysts estimates a total national economic value of $ 2.5 billion consisting of different market segments.
So far, more than 700 licenses for distribution, cultivation, and extraction have been granted.
While private companies have to operate with some restrictions, the state operates most ventures.
Meanwhile, it is still illegal here in the Philippines since 1972 by virtue of Republic Act No. 6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 which is a misnomer because it is a plant and not a drug.
There is currently in Congress waiting for approval House Bill 180 or the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act. Considering the hypocrisy and stupidity among politicians in this country, I say good luck in having this bill passed.
Marijuana is now legal in most First World countries i.e. Canada, United States, Spain, Netherlands, Australia to name a few. It is expected, of course, as these countries are more sophisticated and not perverted by stupidity.
Here, tobacco is legal while marijuana is not. Ironic./PN
