THE reason why cyber sex is becoming popular nowadays is not the thesis that we want to prove here. We mentioned this only to stress that the communication terrain has radically shifted and that we need to be prepared to adjust or conform to its speedily changing contours.

We should all be prepared to satisfy the sophisticated requirements of the prevailing cyber era, lest; we would fail to catch up with the speedily moving train of modernization. We must strive to catch up or face the risk of being sidelined upon the final emergence of the developing "cyber civilization."

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Socialization of the sources of knowledge and information

One of the important things that we should take into account nowadays is the ongoing socialization of the sources of knowledge and information. With the proliferation of internet cafes and other IT centers, coupled with the presence of global media networks, knowledge and information are now shared and dispersed among the wider segment of the population, regardless of social classes.

With data and information at the fingertips of almost everybody, the people’s reliance on their leaders for knowledge and information is largely depleted. This, in effect, has radically changed the contours of the leadership terrain.

Dominance of television in our mainstream thinking

Today, the people's mainstream thinking is already dominated by electronic media, which already has global coverage. Every day, people are seeing events as they unfold or as they actually happen on television.

They watch and listen to the best and brightest in the world, to include the wiliest and the most cunning, as they discuss their opinions on current political, economic, cultural and environmental issues and as they present new studies in various fields of science.

This is not to mention new discoveries in the universe, e.g. discovery of new planets, and formulation of new scientific theories, for instance, newly-discovered theories governing the solar system.

Modern communication channel is a two-edged sword

However, these modern communication channels can be used either for good or for bad. Spouses separated by national boundaries due to poverty are using these modern communications channel to nurture closer ties between them and their children.

On the other hand, pedophiles and sex-maniacs are also using these modern communication channels to scheme against their victims and, in effect, contribute to the destruction of the moral fibers of our nation.

I will continue with this discussion by the next issue.

By the way, I would like to thank Sec. Lito Atienza for nullifying the resolution of the Lormelyn Claudio, acting regional executive director of DENR, Region VI (Western Visayas), which could have deprived my family of a substantial portion of our private property in the village of my birth, Barangay Amparo, Municipality of Patnongon, Antique.

The resolution was handed down by Lormelyn Claudio, with the cooperation and support of Warlito Alemania, official of DENR Antique, under shady circumstances, totally without due process. This grave injustice was perpetrated through their series of acts repugnant of this basic element of human civilization.

Previous to this, a certain Warlito Alemania, acted as spokesperson of a moneyed resort investor in various barangay court proceedings for the settlement of a land conflict involving my family and said resort owner.

Later on, my sisters, deprived of education by poverty, were surprised to discover that the same Warlito Alemania who represented the resort owner in the barangay proceedings was the one who was tasked to lead the fact-finding team which DENR-Antique had organized in connection with the land conflict.

Consequently, when the acting regional director, Lormelyn Claudio, conducted a follow-up ocular inspection, she went straight to the resort owned by one of the parties to the conflict, where she, together with the members of her team, was treated with a sumptuous meal and, then, she later conducted an ocular inspection.

After few weeks, without conducting any hearing, Lormelyn Claudio issued a resolution depriving us of a portion of our property. She directed the Mayor of the Municipality to implement her order, without furnishing us a copy of her resolution

Fortunately for us, Secretary Atienza did not allow this injustice to happen.