Parents often remind us to stay away from trouble. Because of this advice, some Pinoys avoid compromising or difficult situations. When an issue is considered trivial and does not directly affect oneself, they ignore (dedma) the related situation or event.
Due to our polite nature and "avoid hassle/trouble" attitude, Pinoys usually would rather suffer in silence than be combatant on what they perceive as trivial matter. However, there is a limit to such tolerance and ,when the limit is reached (kapag puno na ang salop or ,equivalently translated in English,when the cup is full), one can expect a nasty eruption or explosion of some sort.
In the crib which I currently reside and before my mother's death, four (4) out of the seven (7) residents smoke. The non-smokers included my 91-year old mother, an older cousin and myself. Predictably, my mother had an allergy to dust and cigarette smoke. Thus, smokers were requested to puff cigarettes in designated areas so that the smoke will not be inhaled by the elderly.
During my college years, I smoked to relax in-between examinations. When my father died of lung cancer, I stopped the habit. However, my air space has not been smoke-free since my sister is fearless in not kicking the habit. Also, I encountered smokers at work and other places. Fortunately, most of these smokers respect my breathing space.
What happens when I encounter nicotine dependents who are A-holes? With almost a perfect success rate of regaining a smoke-free zone, I have done the following: covered my nose to prevent inhaling the smoke, coughed a couple of times to signal the smoker that he/she is polluting the air which I breathe, and moved away from the smoker.
There were a couple of instances when the smoker followed me after I moved away from him/her. By doing so, the smoker cum prankster (alaskador in Filipino) who pissed me off deserved a dagger look. With such reaction, the prankster then maintained a distance. Good thing was that I don't have to seek assistance from a security personnel or a law enforcement officer to get rid of the nasty smoker.
Due to our polite nature and "avoid hassle/trouble" attitude, Pinoys usually would rather suffer in silence than be combatant on what they perceive as trivial matter. However, there is a limit to such tolerance and ,when the limit is reached (kapag puno na ang salop or ,equivalently translated in English,when the cup is full), one can expect a nasty eruption or explosion of some sort.
In the crib which I currently reside and before my mother's death, four (4) out of the seven (7) residents smoke. The non-smokers included my 91-year old mother, an older cousin and myself. Predictably, my mother had an allergy to dust and cigarette smoke. Thus, smokers were requested to puff cigarettes in designated areas so that the smoke will not be inhaled by the elderly.
During my college years, I smoked to relax in-between examinations. When my father died of lung cancer, I stopped the habit. However, my air space has not been smoke-free since my sister is fearless in not kicking the habit. Also, I encountered smokers at work and other places. Fortunately, most of these smokers respect my breathing space.
What happens when I encounter nicotine dependents who are A-holes? With almost a perfect success rate of regaining a smoke-free zone, I have done the following: covered my nose to prevent inhaling the smoke, coughed a couple of times to signal the smoker that he/she is polluting the air which I breathe, and moved away from the smoker.
There were a couple of instances when the smoker followed me after I moved away from him/her. By doing so, the smoker cum prankster (alaskador in Filipino) who pissed me off deserved a dagger look. With such reaction, the prankster then maintained a distance. Good thing was that I don't have to seek assistance from a security personnel or a law enforcement officer to get rid of the nasty smoker.
As a regular Juan, I ride public utility vehicles - jeep, bus and mass/light railway transit MRT/LRT. In one instance, I went to a supermarket and took the jeep to go back home. It was the very first time that I encountered a nasty creature who attempted to smoke inside the jeep's main passengers' area.
Before the signing of the Tobacco Regulation Act or Republic Act No. 9211, smoking in the outermost seat of the jeep's front passenger area was tolerated. Even when the law was signed, passengers tolerate such smoking activity. Smokers rejoiced when the former President Noynoy Aquino took office because they expected the relaxation of RA 9211 implementation ,at the least, or the law's repeal. Thus, the bravado of the creature that I encountered in the jeep.
In his face, I told the creature not to smoke. The creature became creative and went to the outermost seat of the rear main passenger entrance. Instead of throwing his butt outside, he continued smoking. I reminded him that he cannot teach direction to his cigarette smoke and the smoke will inevitably reach our breathing space. The remark seemed to fall on either deaf ears or low mental comprehension.
Left with a stubborn nicotine addict, I resorted to something which I avoid as much as possible - that is, use my gadgets for legal documentation. With my antique mobile phone, I took photos of the smoker and recorded his excesses. Of course, I did the shots carefully and appropriately not to invade the smoker's and other passengers' privacy. Shame campaign is not in my agenda.
The creature sensed my activity and threw his butt outside. But if he had persisted with his session, I was ready to use the recorded material for a complaint which I can lodge at an upcoming police checkpoint set up along the jeep's route.
Now, I will just use the photo to prove a point - inconsistent and difficult implementation of Philippine laws.
The creature sensed my activity and threw his butt outside. But if he had persisted with his session, I was ready to use the recorded material for a complaint which I can lodge at an upcoming police checkpoint set up along the jeep's route.
Now, I will just use the photo to prove a point - inconsistent and difficult implementation of Philippine laws.
The tobacco regulation law was created with the best intentions and expected end results. Unfortunately, political negligence and inconsistent implementation rendered the law ineffective. I only heard in the later part of 2016 about the drafting of an Executive Order which will implement smoking restrictions.
Last May 16, 2017, Philippine Executive Order No. 26 Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-Free Environments in Public and Enclosed Places was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte and took effect 23rd of July 2017.
Unfortunately, I still see nicotine dependents inconspicuously holding their cigarette sticks in public places and even while walking in the streets. Again, the executive order will become ineffective if people who are designated to implement the order are quite tolerant of such action or view the smoking issue as trivial.
In the end, no law or no order can deter a person's action. What a person does is always his/her CHOICE. Even if smoking is hazardous to one's health, it is still the person's choice to LIVE or DIE. What we can do is to make people aware of the law (executive order in this case) and pray that smokers choose to RESPECT the rights of others for a nicotine-free breathing space and a tar-free surrounding.
