Living away from my home country which is 4290 miles far is hard. Lucky for me that I am an OFW in the era where the internet is very important and accessible. Even better that my family and friends has complete access to the same things I have access with. It brought the homesickness to a lower level with the advent of e-mail, video calling and social networks. I must admit that my day won't be complete if I would not check my social network accounts. Lets just say that it somehow grew as part of my routine and life specially here abroad. These networks connect me to my family and friends back home and even to the other parts of the world.
During the past days, I have noticed that my friends in the Philippines were so into the issue of passing the Cyber Crime law. As what I have read from their posts and social network accounts, the law would somehow violate and stop one's freedom of expression specifically in the world wide web. Other netizens started a movement to protest and even stop the law from being approved by the President. According to them, once it will be approved, everything in the internet will change and freedom will never be achieved.
In total nohesty,I haven't read the totality of this Republic Act 10175. Although it has been in the news and such, I never had enough information to know what are the Pros and Cons in passing this law. All the information I know comes from the posts, tweets and statuses of my social community.
Many are now using the BLACK BLANK PICTURE as their profile or display photo in their social networking accounts as a sign of protest in passing the law. Some even created pictures that many have shared through the net in support of the protest. What struck me most is the violent, foul and offensive thoughts and words that people are expressing regarding their disgust of this R.A. 10175. It made me smirk and think about what these people really have in mind regarding the law. It made me recall the etiquette and manners that my parents, school and friends shared whenever some issues would arise. What made them react this way? Are they justified?
With what I know, R.A. 10175 talks about the protection of a citizen against organized crime done using the internet. It covers pornography, large scale swindling, human trafficking and libel. These are the strongest points of the law which for me is very reasonable and useful during this time. The punishment for violating this law can lead to 6-12 years of imprisonment and other fees. Like I said, I have not read everything about this law and what it covers. I am stating what I know and I stand corrected to any inaccurate information I have mentioned above regarding the law
As a netizen, I think the law covers a great deal of protection to everyone. In this age of identity-theft, black mail and cyber bullying, R.A. 10175 serves as the ace for those who are abused in the realms of the world wide web; where everything and anything is possible and can be done.
It's downside: the unclear provisions of the law and the punishment that follows for any specific violation. To what I have read, the Cyber Crime law has a heavier punishment than Sexual Harassment which I think is a bit uneven and made me unsure.
With all these in mind, I still have full confidence to the freedom of all netizens in the Philippines. I am sure that the government will do its best to make this law equal to all. The internet is public domain but still as a citizen, there are limitations and laws to all that freedom, specially to those who know that they are using it the wrong way.
To my fellow netizens, let us be open and be educated about this R.A. 10175. I am sure that the government is open to talk to us and listen to what we think about this law. She is not deaf and blind. Democracy is forever alive and will never be dead in our country. We have to believe in each other's capacity to push our country upward and live the days that will prove that the Filipino is a great race and our country is a great nation. All the bashing and bad mouthing won't help. The sarcasm, finger-pointing and foul-offensive opinions won't bring us somewhere closer to this "Great Nation" idea.
Let us all open our ears and eyes on what is really happening to what was once a great nation. We are whining yet unsure if we have done our part of make this nation great. We still have many issues to tackle but have you done your part to lessen corruption? Have you promoted to save our country from pollution? Were you able to purchase and praise the local products that we create? Have you been a very good citizen to fight this law with such foul, offensive and barbaric reactions? Please stop blaming the government for every misfortune that happens to you. I am not clean and I am not a perfect citizen. But is it right to use these reasons to bad mouth the government? To what I believe, the Government is as good as its people; and the people is as good as its Government.
I don't think our freedom is at risk with this Cyber Crime law. React the right way and say it like a proper Filipino would. I am sure that it would be different but change is inevitable. I know we can adapt to this change.
Hey, WE ARE FILIPINOS! WE ARE EVER ADAPTIVE AND RESILIENT. WE CAN DO THIS!
Just take a chill-pill and join me sip a cup of this aromatic, Camomile tea.
:)
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