Masarap ang Bawal!

One of the important lessons in life is MISTAKES exist not to make our lives miserable, but to teach, mold and make us a BETTER person.

But... sometimes life has its own twists. There’s always a possibility that someone we met introduce to us the word “TIKIM”. For me, it’s one of the very dangerous words in the world. This word tempts us to try new things we thought exciting and pleasurable. It’s like the tag line of Pringles: ONCE YOU POP, THE FUN DON’T STOP.

I noticed that people are getting wiser, more knowledgeable and more aware of what is right from wrong, of what is safer from dangerous, and of what is healthier from 'junk' lifestyle. But the irony is, they know about it but they don't know how to apply it.

They know that "Cigarette smoking is bad for your health"... that it is advised to 'Drink Moderately"... But is it enough that they only knew about it?

How come they get used to smoking and drinking alcohol? Now let's dig for answers.

1. Peer Pressure - People never get enough until they have influenced others. And that others never get enough until they tried it. And when they tried, they never get enough until they get addicted to it.

2. Media - Nowadays, I noticed that there were no, or less, cigarettes' commercials. But what shocked me is that, every brand of alcohol has its own and that they have used BIG celebrities to promote their products.

Also, teleseryes and movies are now loaded with people drinking and smoking. The more disturbing is, these media are shown early in the morning or mid-afternoon, in which minors have the tendency to watch them and later on imitate them.

3. Newspapers, magazines, posters... - These are within the reach of many people. Even if a person is illiterate, if he/she see it, eventually they will have a taste of them.

4. Insufficient Laws - Oh what's new about the Philippines' legislative system? There are many bills about preventing and prohibiting such vices, but still none of them haven't become a law. How great was that, huh?

5. Availability and Affordability - There is no sari-sari store in the Philippines that doesn't have cigarettes and alcohols to sell. And I bet there is no day in the calendar that these vendors haven't sell such things.

Who said that they are difficult to remove in our lifestyle? In fact, the number ONE reason why are these substances are abused is that WE ARE WEAK TO RESIST SUCH THINGS. We make ourselves inferior to these vices. If we have the strength to try these, we also must have the strength to fight against it.

Our lives revolves in our hands, not on the cigarettes and alcohols.

Photos by:
De Gira Por El Mundo
lanier67
espressoDOM
Brookezilla
Walker Duke
ikissfootball
pinoy_bart