THANKS TO FACEBOOK

The other night as I was going over the news feed on Facebook, I saw the picture of an old woman who was searching for her lost husband. That picture was taken by a good samaritan who uploaded it on Facebook in his desire to help the old lady find her husband.

This lola had been searching for her husband who left their house two weeks ago and had since then never returned. She pasted the picture of her husband on her back and for the past two weeks would leave their house at 5:00 a.m. and start looking for him. She would go home for a quick lunch then go out again until late in the evening hoping to find him. She would ask people on the street if they saw her husband.

A kind soul saw the old woman sitting on the street and took her picture which he then uploaded on Facebook together with her story.

An ABS-CBN reporter saw the post on Facebook and went to the old woman's house yesterday morning to fetch her and bring her to DZMM at ABS-CBN where she was asked to narrate her story. She was also asked by the news anchors of the program to send her plea on air hoping that if there was anyone who has seen her husband, he or she may get in touch with the family or the station thru the contact numbers given.

Last night it was reported on TV Patrol that the woman was reunited with her husband because someone heard her plea on Teleradyo and called the station to inform them of the whereabouts of her husband. A DZMM reporter went to the place and brought the old man home. This morning the couple went back to the station to thank them for their help. She also thanked the guy who uploaded her picture on Facebook.

That is one of the wonders of social networking sites. People get to react quickly to situations like these.

And to think that just recently, the CEO of Facebook sent a warning to Filipinos that we would lose access to this site because of the proliferation of pornographic materials being uploaded which allegedly originated from the Philippines.

I hope Mr. Mark Zuckerberg gets to know about this incident and how an old couple were reunited thanks to Facebook.

It only goes to show that Filipinos do not only allegedly use Facebook to spread pornographic materials. They also use this to help those in need. After all we are a compassionate people.

THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE

I am not exactly a fan of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In fact, I am inclined to believe that all the allegations hurled at her and her husband are true. Based on the statements of the resource persons / witnesses about the Arroyo couple's so called unscupulous deals, there is no way I could say they are innocent of the charges against them.

But then there is a rule of law which dictates that a person is innocent unless proven otherwise.

I am wondering what is going on in the mind of GMA right now. It must be truly depressing to be sick and at the same time being under arrest, be it hospital or otherwise. Not only is it depressing, but very humiliating as well, especially for a former head of state.

Add to that is the painful truth that nobody seems to care or believe them except for her family,lawyers,her ever faithful spokesperson and some justices of the Supreme Court. People don't really give a damn if she is getting better, and worst, most if not all believe that this is some sort of karma.

This only proves that no amount of wealth can buy dignity and much more, peace of mind. I think the latter is something she will never get to experience in the coming days or even years for that matter.

I am reminded of the verse " For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but suffers the loss of his soul ".

But despite everything that she has done, I can only commensurate with her misery and the Christian in me still hopes that her condition improves soon and that nothing untoward happens to her. But that is not to discount the fact that we have to know the truth and justice must be ultimately served.