M.A.K.I.B.A.K.A. mamamayan – agriculture – kultura – industrialised – bayan muna – academics – kalusugan – aggressive economy
From: masta kwel
Response #: 85
Posted on: June 18, 2010 at 8:53 PM
tha noy gon run dis town awesum d PI reprzent
From: rico
Response #: 84
Posted on: June 18, 2010 at 3:15 PM
ito’y nawalan na ba ng saysay? “I don’t have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It’s always the people who make things happen.” – Corazon Aquino
From: rico
Response #: 83
Posted on: June 18, 2010 at 9:43 AM
pagisipan ng mabuti “I don’t have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It’s always the people who make things happen.” – Corazon Aquino
From: flash bisaya
Response #: 82
Posted on: June 18, 2010 at 4:37 AM
Hindi overpopulation ang problema ng bansa at lalong hindi global warming. I-convert natin sa usable manpower ang populasyon. Gawing kuryente ang init ng sikat ng araw sa pamamagitan ng solar power. Magpakalat ng wind farms sa mga probinsiya. Palakasin ang turismo. Enganyuhin ang mga negosyonte upang mapalakas ang ekonomiya at agrikultura. At higit sa lahat, dekalibreng edukasyon at tulong pangkalusugan para sa lahat.
From: mangmangs
Response #: 81
Posted on: June 17, 2010 at 11:07 PM
OFW ang solusyon. dagdagan natin ang mga ofw at migration pra magpasok ng pera dito sa atin. kasi alang pera dito. 10 million Filipinos for every 1st world country at 5 million Filipinos per 2nd world by year 2015. dito rin lalakas ang relations ng bansa natin sa mga ibang bansa.
Lalawak ang Filipino communities. kakalat ang lahing PINOY at dito tayo aangat at magsimula ang global power.
From: elvis
Response #: 80
Posted on: June 17, 2010 at 5:35 PM
alam NYo P0wH gNI2~ lng Ang s0LUxOn p0Wh.~ dAPt lng~ mGKaISA taynG LAhAt diB, N0H? TPOng TWla, 2LungN, BgyN P0Wh. YuN p0Wh.~
From: ANDI
Response #: 79
Posted on: June 17, 2010 at 11:54 AM
this has got to be the greatest challenge of all time: reunite the country.
From: patrick s.
Response #: 78
Posted on: June 17, 2010 at 6:50 AM
To the government and politicians, think of the people not your personal interests. To the business sector, think not of your profits but your customers and products. To the people, think of your fellow and the future generation. To everyone, think of of YOUR COUNTRY.
From: palos
Response #: 77
Posted on: June 17, 2010 at 1:42 AM
minsan sinabi ni ka joey na ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay. tama di po ba? bawat aksyon, desisyon at suhestyon ng bawat isa sa atin ay makakaapekto di lang sa isa kungdi sa lahat ng taong pumapalibot sa bawat isa sa atin.
From: Miguel
Response #: 76
Posted on: June 16, 2010 at 8:16 PM
I thinks we go for following the new administration because we must be united to succeed.
From: proxy
Response #: 75
Posted on: June 16, 2010 at 2:59 PM
salamt at meron ganito
sana lahat tyo magkaisa
kailangan natin to
tamang landas ang tahakin
uunlad din lahat
From: Bong Quinto
Response #: 74
Posted on: June 16, 2010 at 9:52 AM
Pilipinas kong mahal, kailan ka ba kikislap muli
Pilipinas kong mahal, paglaya moy tanging ngiti
Pilipinas kong mahal, halinat humayot magpakaligaya
Pilipinas kong mahal, isulong ang tagumpay
From: strawberry
Response #: 73
Posted on: June 16, 2010 at 4:42 AM
igalang natin lahat dahil tayo ay pantay-pantay. yan ang simula.
From: jeff solis
Response #: 72
Posted on: June 15, 2010 at 11:24 PM
sisikapin ko maging mas aktibo sa trabaho at pamilya para everybody happy!
From: mojamoja
Response #: 71
Posted on: June 15, 2010 at 11:57 AM
sino ang magaakalang matatapos na ang termino ni liit? bwahaha
From: magnolia
Response #: 70
Posted on: June 15, 2010 at 6:29 AM
to each his own, you cant please everyone….. meron at meron parin maninira….. pero ayos lang, yakang yaka ni noy yan! duhba? < (^.^)>
1) unconditional love for mother country
2) helping out w/o expecting for returns
3) keep the faith
From: 邁克爾蔡氏
Response #: 67
Posted on: June 14, 2010 at 5:54 AM
FYI nagawa na ni PGMA mga pangako ng mga kandidato
B – balanced budget
E – education for all
A – automated elections
T – transportation and digital infrastructure.
T – terminate hostilities with the MILF and NPA
H – heal the wounds of EDSAs I, II and III
E – electricity and water for all.
O – opportunities for livelihood and ten million jobs
D – decongestion of Metro Manila
DS – develop Subic and Clark.
From: heherson
Response #: 66
Posted on: June 13, 2010 at 9:46 PM
akoy galing sa isang probinsya kung san ang karsada ay lupa at putik kapag naulan. napadpad ako sa maynila para magaral ng nursing. alam niyo ba ang hirap sa amin? ipinagmamalaki ng mga hangal sa gubyerno na napakalaki ng kita ng lugar ngunit wala kaming nadadamang pagbabago sa imprastaktura at serbisyo. nakikita lang namin ang pagbabago ng mga mansyn ng mga politiko at kanilang magagarang awto bago lahat. mga p*t*ngna nilang lahat. sa bawat milyon na kurakot ay libong buhay ang naapektuhan at katumbas neto. yung meyor lang namin dati rati ay isang palapag lang ang bahay ngayon nabili na niya ang mga katabi at nagpatayo ng mansyon. mula noon hanggang ngayon wala parin pintura mga silid aralan at kulang na kulng ang mga libro at upuan. titser ang kababata ko ngayon at sabi niya sila pa minsan ang nagaabono para sa gamit ng mga bata. ganito nalang ba lagi? alam ko hindi lang kami ang ganito pero madami at milyon din ang nakakaranas nito. samantala wla tayong magawa dahil sila ang nakaupo. our goverment is full of zombies and dogs.
From: Tim Ang
Response #: 65
Posted on: June 13, 2010 at 6:42 PM
To AN ANONYMOUS PINOY Response #: 63
I beg to disagree. Hindi tayo malas. Kung ano tayo ngayon tayo rin ang may gawa.
From: pronoy
Response #: 64
Posted on: June 13, 2010 at 8:57 AM
panahon na para magsimula muli … dekada 70 2nd tayo sa mga hapon ngayon kulelat tayo
kaya dear noy, ipakita mo sa amin ang tamang daan
PEACE!
From: AN ANONYMOUS PINOY
Response #: 63
Posted on: June 13, 2010 at 1:11 AM
WHAT’S the big deal when Lapu-Lapu killed Magellan in 1521? Nothing much really. During Lapu-Lapu’s time, Mactan was strictly tribal. Think small. There were no big ideas such as nationalism or geopolitics.
Lapu-Lapu was simply, the local siga-siga and Magellan was the culture-shocked Westerner, a native first-timer in the exotic east.
We lionize Lapu-Lapu as a hero and nationalist. Ang totoo, mayabang lang si Lapu-Lapu. But his defeat of a foreign invader, did not make a Filipino nation. The timing was wrong. And don’t you believe that bull that Spanish explorers came to find spices of the East to improve the taste of their bland cuisine. Their hidden agenda was to spread their kingdom through colonization, the euphemism for land grabbing.
During the 333 years of Spanish rule (1565-1898), hundreds of rebellions were waged by native firebrands in many parts of the archipelago. Not one succeeded. Our rebels were either caught, garotted, or simply ignored by the Commandante as nuisances. Puro malas!
The execution of Rizal in 1896 was a traumatic experience for Filipinos.
Those who read Rizal’s Fili and Noli were incensed by the abuses of the church and state regime of the Spaniards. Emotions ran high, from Aparri to Jolo. The critical mass needed for nationhood was formed. At ast we could rebel as a people, as a nation.
The Katipunan did their battle heroics, originally led by the firebrand Bonifacio and later on by the crafty Aguinaldo. With more Katipunan charges (Sugod mga Kapatid), freedom seemed possible. Between 1897 and 1899, stealth, betrayal, and skullduggery bedeviled our prospect for independence. The Aguinaldo and Bonifacio factions engaged in an ugly infighting (the talangka mentality)resulting in the execution of Bonifacio.
Meantime, an American Admiral named Dewey (not Dewey Dee, the fast one) entered Manila Bay and defeated a luckluster Spanish navy. Aguinaldo reneged on the pact of Biak na bato. He resumed the revolution by proclaiming the Philippine Independence in Kawit.
Meanwhile, American and Spanish soldiers held a “moromoro” battle in Intramuros with the Spaniards surrendering. Aguinaldo’s republic and his KKK patriots were left out and ignored. Naisahan tayo. Minalas na naman.
The Filipino-American War broke out. Tall American soldiers looking like Clark Gable chased and battled the outlawed Filipino revolutionaries, ending in the capture of Aguinaldo in Isabela. Thanks to the mercenaries from Macabebe. This was the mother of all kamalasan. At that time, our population was 8 million. The gap between the rich and the poor was estimated at 30% middle-class and rich, 70% low-class and rural poor.
During the Commonwealth period (1901-1941), which followed, there were lots of learning on democratic principles, its structure and governance.
Technology transfers were done on Constitutional Rights, Public Education, Transportation, Health, International Trade and Industrialization. The Americans turned out to be good tutors. Filipinos also went crazy over American brand products like Libby’s corned beef and Portola sardines,Hershey’s Kisses and Wrigley’s chewing gum, Camel cigarettes and Model T Ford for the hacienderos of Pampanga and Iloilo.
Hollywood films made Pinoy males fantasize on Jean Harlow, Betty Grable, and Mae West. Thus, Filipino colonial mentality began. We fondly called this period Peace Time. By the way, American troops massacred innocent people in Balanguiga. Mga hayup din pala!
1941. Disaster! world War II! After attacking Pearl Harbor, the Japanese army invaded our country defeating the combined American and Filipino forces (USAFE). General McArthur, the proud and handsome Army chief, fled to Australia at the height of the battle.
For four miserable years we suffered the sadism of the Japanese militarists rule. Torture, famine, and death were for us, the order of the day. Kawawa. Malas na malas!
The American forces returned in 1945 to liberate the country. McArthur, General superiority complex himself, sporting Ray Ban sunglasses and corncob pipe swaggered back to Manila. Piqued at his humiliation in 1941, McArthur ordered the bombing and shelling of Manila till kingdom come.
The whole-wide expanse South of Pasig – from Post Office to Vito Cruz, including all of Intramuros – was pulverized. Manila was the most destroyed city of World War II next to Tokyo. Our culture, our heritage, and historical assets (seven beautiful churches in Intramuros, hundreds of elegant Art Deco and neo-classical architecture in Paco) were sacrificed recklessly and completely erased from the face of the earth. Sayang na sayang!
In 1946, we gained our Independence from the Americans. We were a free nation at last. We had enough exposure and lessons on how to govern a democratic country, the first in Asia. Our population was 17 million. The dollar exchange was US$1 to P2.
But there was still no peace from 1947 to 1966. A widespread communist rebellion led by Taruc, the Lava brothers, and its armed guerillas called Hukbalahap waged bloody war with government troops. Filipinos killed kapwa Filipinos. Malas na naman!
Our politicians and bureaucrats learned to engage in graft and corruption (What are we in power for?) – such as the war surplus bribery, the Tambobong wheeler- dealing and the Namarco scam. Talo! Six presidents were elected to manage the country from 1947 to 1972, under the democratic system. They were Presidents Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, and Marcos.
Economists looked back to the decades of the 50s and 60s as the best years of the Philippine economy, surpassing Asian countries. The nostalgia was naiveté, a useless ego-tripping. The gap between the rich and the poor remained big. 30% middle-class and rich, 70% low-class, rural and urban poor. We were 27 million people. US$1 was to P4.
During the late 60’s, the Maoist communists led by Commander Dante intensified its drive to overthrow the government. Marcos added fuel to the fire by creating a communist spook. Violence and mayhem rule the streets. The youth went up in arms! Martial Law was declared in 1972 and Marcos became dictator. Freedom of assembly and expression went out of the window.
What followed were years of dictatorial abuse, crony capitalism, shackled free enterprise, near economic collapse and a demoralized middle class. The gap between the rich (30%) and poor (70%)remained in a quagmire. Pareho rin pala ang situation. Our population was 40 million. Exchange rate was US$1 to P7. Kawawang kawawa! Malas na malas!
In 1983, Ninoy Aquino, Marcos’ exiled arch rival,was assassinated upon his return. Push came to shove. Cardinal Sin egged on the people on to protest. Outrage, self-pity, shame and fury raged and rumbled like a tidal wave, culminating in the incredible People Power Revolution. The very sick and obstinate Marcos fled (hijacked by Americans from Clark) to Hawaii (sounds like Paoay) where he died. His alleged millions of stolen dollars intact and unresolved. Up to now… Peso to dollar exchange is now P20 to $1.
But People Power was our shining glory! The whole world applauded our saintly courage, our dignified defiance, our bloodless solution to expel a dictator. We were the toast of all freedom-loving countries, the envy of all oppressed people. In 1986, we placed Cory Aquino, Ninoy’s widow, in Malacañang. She was virtuous, sincere and full of good intentions for the country.
But what happens? Coup attempts by Honasan, power struggle, political squabbles, and the infighting for juicy deals harassed the amateur Cory presidency. So nothing happened. No progress took place. The economy was still bad. The poor suffered more and more. Sure we got democracy back on its feet. But the Filipino resolve didn’t happen. People Power pala was ningas cogon power. Sayang na sayang! Tha gap between the rich and the poor remained at 30% (middle-class and rich), 70% (lower-class and rural/urban poor). Exchange rate was US$1 to P25. We were 55 million people.
In 1992, Cory’s choice, Fidel Ramos, West Pointer, soldier, and hero of the People Power won the presidency. He had the bearing, the single-mindedness and the vision to bring the country to a tiger economy status. Ramos was a terrific salesman of the Philippines to the world. He was able to hype a climate of an economic ground. He removed barriers to progress. He was an apostle of privatization. His mantra was, less government, more private sector! Fidel hit the right note and the economy went on a roll. Fidel wanted to run for reelection but failed to swing the cha-cha (an idiotic acronym for Constitutional Change) so he could run again.
In 1997, the Asian economic crises struck, triggered by a balloons burst of the hyper speculative Bangkok economy. The financial debacle created a disastrous effects in the investment institutions of Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Taiwan. All the Ramos gains evaporated into thin air. Malas na naman! The poor, specially Mang Pandoy, were poorer than ever.
1998 was showbiz time! The Erap para sa mahirap show opened to the chagrin of Makati Business Club. Pasensya na po kayo, mga elitists. Democracy is also weird. The choice of the masa must be respected.
Catastrophe! Chavit Singson exploded jueteng bombs! For days on end, a nation sick in the stomach, sat through primetime TV aghast at watching the bizarre drama of alleged bribery, gambling, drunkenness, womanizing, deceit, and corruption. A lantern-jawed witness and a sexy intelligence “asset” hogged the witness stand. Viewing the scandals on TV was like watching dogs mating in the public square. It’s embarrassing but you can’t take your eyes off them.
The impeachment trial serialized on TV was riveting. The defense lawyers, some wearing a canine sneer (ngiting aso) insulted our intelligence often. (Lokohin n’yo ang lelang n’yo). The whole country was stinking to high heavens. The prosecution produced its own witnesses Clarissa Ocampo, Emma Lim, Carmencita Itchon and many others.
Idols with feet of clay fell crashing into the dust. Those who voted against opening the enveloped were legalese, procedural, and sounding intellectually brilliant. Also heartless and thick-skinned. They couldn’t fathom the heartbeat of the nation. Cardinal Sin, aging and sickly, called the people again. It was People Power II! Same humongous and collective umbrage, same brinkmanship, and same staccato prayers! Generals Reyes and Villanueva simply joined the mammoth EDSA crowd. No US jets from Clark this time. Erap was out! Gloria was in!
Hope springs eternal. Malacañang regained its honor and dignity. Protocol was observed. Absurdity was gone. Grammatical English was back.
2001. More catastrophies! The peso plummeted to a horrifying P51 to US$1. The Abu Sayyaf (extremist ideologues? Or mindless barbarians) were into kidnapping and terrorism, gaining worldwide notoriety. Businesses are still closing shop. Thousands of workers are being retrenched. Prices of food and gasoline are very high. (Galunggong is P80 per kilo!) Our streets became permanent garbage dumps. Maggots multiply to spread disease. Our communities stink.
Again, the whole nation was witnessing sickening crimes attributed to people in the government. Talo na naman! We are now 75 million people but the gap between the rich, 30% (middle-class and rich), 70%(lower-class and rural/urban poor) remains the same for one century.
When will this end? It’s been more than 350 years since Lapu’s-Lapu’s victory, 100 years since Rizal martyrdom and we’re nowhere as a people, as a nation. Malas pa rin!
Some wise guy said the Filipino is a damaged culture. Bully! And what do you call other foreigners. They used slaves in their plantations, and landgrabbed from the natives! What should we call such culture? Predatory Culture? Bully Culture? What about another country? How many countries did it put under the barrel of its gunships, so they could gloat that the sun never sets on their empire?” What shall we call this culture? Sahib culture? Gunga Din culture? C’mon, give us a break!
We Filipinos have strengths and endearing values. We are Christians, God-fearing, and peace-loving. We are patient and tolerant (matiisin to a fault). We are musical. We sing our blues away. We have a sense of humor. (We concoct and text Imelda hyperboles and Erap malapropism.) We learn fast because we are bilingual and highly educated. We’ve got thousands of MBA’s and PhD’s in economics and management from AIM, WHARTON, HARVARD, UCLA, etc (most of them now overseas). We’ve got a surplus of technocrats for nation-building. We want to work if there are vacancies. We want to go into business if we have the capital. We want to obey the law if the law is being enforced. We want to live and die here, if there is peace and order.
But, but, and but. We have many shortcomings. We are immature in our politics. Given a choice on whom to elect: a handsome pabling movie star or an honest and brilliant political scientist, we’ll vote for the movie star. No brainer tayo dito. Talo! We have many stupidities. Like dogs, we pee (Bawal umihi dito) on walls and tires. Our driving is suicidal. Our service quality is inferior. Clerks at City Hall act arrogant. Sales ladies at department stores don’t know their product features. Tourists get mugged by thugs in uniform. Police lay traps so they can catch you and ask for bribe. What’s wrong with us? We don’t have a great leader and good governance. In Singapore, Lee Kwan Yu did it. The constituency profile is similar to Filipinos. Admittedly, this country is impossible, tiresome, and frustrating. But it’s the only country we’ve got. We live and die here.
Will we ever see the dawn?
Dios na mahabagin, Kailan pa kaya? Ubos na ang aming luha. Katog na ang aming mga tuhod. Tuyot na ang aming utak. Hingal na ang aming puso. Dios na mahabagin, isalba Mo po kami. Hindi po kami talunan. At lalo pong hindi kami tanga. Sunod-sunod lang po ang malas.
I once read a book stating that the perfect society is not triangle but diamond. We must follow this and I hope people at the top may do something about this. I want to share this image to everyone by the way: http://tinyurl.com/3xxq99l this is not a joke.
hindi na ako magpetiks araw-araw at gagalingan ko na lagi bawal ang tamad :)
Hello, the best thing to do is give peace a chance. Stop the hating and quit whining. Just do your thing.
a showcase of local talent and ingenuity
we need discipline, remember the marcos era?
M.A.K.I.B.A.K.A. mamamayan – agriculture – kultura – industrialised – bayan muna – academics – kalusugan – aggressive economy
tha noy gon run dis town awesum d PI reprzent
ito’y nawalan na ba ng saysay? “I don’t have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It’s always the people who make things happen.” – Corazon Aquino
pagisipan ng mabuti “I don’t have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It’s always the people who make things happen.” – Corazon Aquino
Hindi overpopulation ang problema ng bansa at lalong hindi global warming. I-convert natin sa usable manpower ang populasyon. Gawing kuryente ang init ng sikat ng araw sa pamamagitan ng solar power. Magpakalat ng wind farms sa mga probinsiya. Palakasin ang turismo. Enganyuhin ang mga negosyonte upang mapalakas ang ekonomiya at agrikultura. At higit sa lahat, dekalibreng edukasyon at tulong pangkalusugan para sa lahat.
OFW ang solusyon. dagdagan natin ang mga ofw at migration pra magpasok ng pera dito sa atin. kasi alang pera dito. 10 million Filipinos for every 1st world country at 5 million Filipinos per 2nd world by year 2015. dito rin lalakas ang relations ng bansa natin sa mga ibang bansa.
Lalawak ang Filipino communities. kakalat ang lahing PINOY at dito tayo aangat at magsimula ang global power.
alam NYo P0wH gNI2~ lng Ang s0LUxOn p0Wh.~ dAPt lng~ mGKaISA taynG LAhAt diB, N0H? TPOng TWla, 2LungN, BgyN P0Wh. YuN p0Wh.~
this has got to be the greatest challenge of all time: reunite the country.
To the government and politicians, think of the people not your personal interests. To the business sector, think not of your profits but your customers and products. To the people, think of your fellow and the future generation. To everyone, think of of YOUR COUNTRY.
minsan sinabi ni ka joey na ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay. tama di po ba? bawat aksyon, desisyon at suhestyon ng bawat isa sa atin ay makakaapekto di lang sa isa kungdi sa lahat ng taong pumapalibot sa bawat isa sa atin.
I thinks we go for following the new administration because we must be united to succeed.
salamt at meron ganito
sana lahat tyo magkaisa
kailangan natin to
tamang landas ang tahakin
uunlad din lahat
Pilipinas kong mahal, kailan ka ba kikislap muli
Pilipinas kong mahal, paglaya moy tanging ngiti
Pilipinas kong mahal, halinat humayot magpakaligaya
Pilipinas kong mahal, isulong ang tagumpay
igalang natin lahat dahil tayo ay pantay-pantay. yan ang simula.
sisikapin ko maging mas aktibo sa trabaho at pamilya para everybody happy!
sino ang magaakalang matatapos na ang termino ni liit? bwahaha
to each his own, you cant please everyone….. meron at meron parin maninira….. pero ayos lang, yakang yaka ni noy yan! duhba? < (^.^)>
this is very informative tnx
1) unconditional love for mother country
2) helping out w/o expecting for returns
3) keep the faith
FYI nagawa na ni PGMA mga pangako ng mga kandidato
B – balanced budget
E – education for all
A – automated elections
T – transportation and digital infrastructure.
T – terminate hostilities with the MILF and NPA
H – heal the wounds of EDSAs I, II and III
E – electricity and water for all.
O – opportunities for livelihood and ten million jobs
D – decongestion of Metro Manila
DS – develop Subic and Clark.
akoy galing sa isang probinsya kung san ang karsada ay lupa at putik kapag naulan. napadpad ako sa maynila para magaral ng nursing. alam niyo ba ang hirap sa amin? ipinagmamalaki ng mga hangal sa gubyerno na napakalaki ng kita ng lugar ngunit wala kaming nadadamang pagbabago sa imprastaktura at serbisyo. nakikita lang namin ang pagbabago ng mga mansyn ng mga politiko at kanilang magagarang awto bago lahat. mga p*t*ngna nilang lahat. sa bawat milyon na kurakot ay libong buhay ang naapektuhan at katumbas neto. yung meyor lang namin dati rati ay isang palapag lang ang bahay ngayon nabili na niya ang mga katabi at nagpatayo ng mansyon. mula noon hanggang ngayon wala parin pintura mga silid aralan at kulang na kulng ang mga libro at upuan. titser ang kababata ko ngayon at sabi niya sila pa minsan ang nagaabono para sa gamit ng mga bata. ganito nalang ba lagi? alam ko hindi lang kami ang ganito pero madami at milyon din ang nakakaranas nito. samantala wla tayong magawa dahil sila ang nakaupo. our goverment is full of zombies and dogs.
To AN ANONYMOUS PINOY Response #: 63
I beg to disagree. Hindi tayo malas. Kung ano tayo ngayon tayo rin ang may gawa.
panahon na para magsimula muli … dekada 70 2nd tayo sa mga hapon ngayon kulelat tayo
kaya dear noy, ipakita mo sa amin ang tamang daan
PEACE!
WHAT’S the big deal when Lapu-Lapu killed Magellan in 1521? Nothing much really. During Lapu-Lapu’s time, Mactan was strictly tribal. Think small. There were no big ideas such as nationalism or geopolitics.
Lapu-Lapu was simply, the local siga-siga and Magellan was the culture-shocked Westerner, a native first-timer in the exotic east.
We lionize Lapu-Lapu as a hero and nationalist. Ang totoo, mayabang lang si Lapu-Lapu. But his defeat of a foreign invader, did not make a Filipino nation. The timing was wrong. And don’t you believe that bull that Spanish explorers came to find spices of the East to improve the taste of their bland cuisine. Their hidden agenda was to spread their kingdom through colonization, the euphemism for land grabbing.
During the 333 years of Spanish rule (1565-1898), hundreds of rebellions were waged by native firebrands in many parts of the archipelago. Not one succeeded. Our rebels were either caught, garotted, or simply ignored by the Commandante as nuisances. Puro malas!
The execution of Rizal in 1896 was a traumatic experience for Filipinos.
Those who read Rizal’s Fili and Noli were incensed by the abuses of the church and state regime of the Spaniards. Emotions ran high, from Aparri to Jolo. The critical mass needed for nationhood was formed. At ast we could rebel as a people, as a nation.
The Katipunan did their battle heroics, originally led by the firebrand Bonifacio and later on by the crafty Aguinaldo. With more Katipunan charges (Sugod mga Kapatid), freedom seemed possible. Between 1897 and 1899, stealth, betrayal, and skullduggery bedeviled our prospect for independence. The Aguinaldo and Bonifacio factions engaged in an ugly infighting (the talangka mentality)resulting in the execution of Bonifacio.
Meantime, an American Admiral named Dewey (not Dewey Dee, the fast one) entered Manila Bay and defeated a luckluster Spanish navy. Aguinaldo reneged on the pact of Biak na bato. He resumed the revolution by proclaiming the Philippine Independence in Kawit.
Meanwhile, American and Spanish soldiers held a “moromoro” battle in Intramuros with the Spaniards surrendering. Aguinaldo’s republic and his KKK patriots were left out and ignored. Naisahan tayo. Minalas na naman.
The Filipino-American War broke out. Tall American soldiers looking like Clark Gable chased and battled the outlawed Filipino revolutionaries, ending in the capture of Aguinaldo in Isabela. Thanks to the mercenaries from Macabebe. This was the mother of all kamalasan. At that time, our population was 8 million. The gap between the rich and the poor was estimated at 30% middle-class and rich, 70% low-class and rural poor.
During the Commonwealth period (1901-1941), which followed, there were lots of learning on democratic principles, its structure and governance.
Technology transfers were done on Constitutional Rights, Public Education, Transportation, Health, International Trade and Industrialization. The Americans turned out to be good tutors. Filipinos also went crazy over American brand products like Libby’s corned beef and Portola sardines,Hershey’s Kisses and Wrigley’s chewing gum, Camel cigarettes and Model T Ford for the hacienderos of Pampanga and Iloilo.
Hollywood films made Pinoy males fantasize on Jean Harlow, Betty Grable, and Mae West. Thus, Filipino colonial mentality began. We fondly called this period Peace Time. By the way, American troops massacred innocent people in Balanguiga. Mga hayup din pala!
1941. Disaster! world War II! After attacking Pearl Harbor, the Japanese army invaded our country defeating the combined American and Filipino forces (USAFE). General McArthur, the proud and handsome Army chief, fled to Australia at the height of the battle.
For four miserable years we suffered the sadism of the Japanese militarists rule. Torture, famine, and death were for us, the order of the day. Kawawa. Malas na malas!
The American forces returned in 1945 to liberate the country. McArthur, General superiority complex himself, sporting Ray Ban sunglasses and corncob pipe swaggered back to Manila. Piqued at his humiliation in 1941, McArthur ordered the bombing and shelling of Manila till kingdom come.
The whole-wide expanse South of Pasig – from Post Office to Vito Cruz, including all of Intramuros – was pulverized. Manila was the most destroyed city of World War II next to Tokyo. Our culture, our heritage, and historical assets (seven beautiful churches in Intramuros, hundreds of elegant Art Deco and neo-classical architecture in Paco) were sacrificed recklessly and completely erased from the face of the earth. Sayang na sayang!
In 1946, we gained our Independence from the Americans. We were a free nation at last. We had enough exposure and lessons on how to govern a democratic country, the first in Asia. Our population was 17 million. The dollar exchange was US$1 to P2.
But there was still no peace from 1947 to 1966. A widespread communist rebellion led by Taruc, the Lava brothers, and its armed guerillas called Hukbalahap waged bloody war with government troops. Filipinos killed kapwa Filipinos. Malas na naman!
Our politicians and bureaucrats learned to engage in graft and corruption (What are we in power for?) – such as the war surplus bribery, the Tambobong wheeler- dealing and the Namarco scam. Talo! Six presidents were elected to manage the country from 1947 to 1972, under the democratic system. They were Presidents Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, and Marcos.
Economists looked back to the decades of the 50s and 60s as the best years of the Philippine economy, surpassing Asian countries. The nostalgia was naiveté, a useless ego-tripping. The gap between the rich and the poor remained big. 30% middle-class and rich, 70% low-class, rural and urban poor. We were 27 million people. US$1 was to P4.
During the late 60’s, the Maoist communists led by Commander Dante intensified its drive to overthrow the government. Marcos added fuel to the fire by creating a communist spook. Violence and mayhem rule the streets. The youth went up in arms! Martial Law was declared in 1972 and Marcos became dictator. Freedom of assembly and expression went out of the window.
What followed were years of dictatorial abuse, crony capitalism, shackled free enterprise, near economic collapse and a demoralized middle class. The gap between the rich (30%) and poor (70%)remained in a quagmire. Pareho rin pala ang situation. Our population was 40 million. Exchange rate was US$1 to P7. Kawawang kawawa! Malas na malas!
In 1983, Ninoy Aquino, Marcos’ exiled arch rival,was assassinated upon his return. Push came to shove. Cardinal Sin egged on the people on to protest. Outrage, self-pity, shame and fury raged and rumbled like a tidal wave, culminating in the incredible People Power Revolution. The very sick and obstinate Marcos fled (hijacked by Americans from Clark) to Hawaii (sounds like Paoay) where he died. His alleged millions of stolen dollars intact and unresolved. Up to now… Peso to dollar exchange is now P20 to $1.
But People Power was our shining glory! The whole world applauded our saintly courage, our dignified defiance, our bloodless solution to expel a dictator. We were the toast of all freedom-loving countries, the envy of all oppressed people. In 1986, we placed Cory Aquino, Ninoy’s widow, in Malacañang. She was virtuous, sincere and full of good intentions for the country.
But what happens? Coup attempts by Honasan, power struggle, political squabbles, and the infighting for juicy deals harassed the amateur Cory presidency. So nothing happened. No progress took place. The economy was still bad. The poor suffered more and more. Sure we got democracy back on its feet. But the Filipino resolve didn’t happen. People Power pala was ningas cogon power. Sayang na sayang! Tha gap between the rich and the poor remained at 30% (middle-class and rich), 70% (lower-class and rural/urban poor). Exchange rate was US$1 to P25. We were 55 million people.
In 1992, Cory’s choice, Fidel Ramos, West Pointer, soldier, and hero of the People Power won the presidency. He had the bearing, the single-mindedness and the vision to bring the country to a tiger economy status. Ramos was a terrific salesman of the Philippines to the world. He was able to hype a climate of an economic ground. He removed barriers to progress. He was an apostle of privatization. His mantra was, less government, more private sector! Fidel hit the right note and the economy went on a roll. Fidel wanted to run for reelection but failed to swing the cha-cha (an idiotic acronym for Constitutional Change) so he could run again.
In 1997, the Asian economic crises struck, triggered by a balloons burst of the hyper speculative Bangkok economy. The financial debacle created a disastrous effects in the investment institutions of Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Taiwan. All the Ramos gains evaporated into thin air. Malas na naman! The poor, specially Mang Pandoy, were poorer than ever.
1998 was showbiz time! The Erap para sa mahirap show opened to the chagrin of Makati Business Club. Pasensya na po kayo, mga elitists. Democracy is also weird. The choice of the masa must be respected.
Catastrophe! Chavit Singson exploded jueteng bombs! For days on end, a nation sick in the stomach, sat through primetime TV aghast at watching the bizarre drama of alleged bribery, gambling, drunkenness, womanizing, deceit, and corruption. A lantern-jawed witness and a sexy intelligence “asset” hogged the witness stand. Viewing the scandals on TV was like watching dogs mating in the public square. It’s embarrassing but you can’t take your eyes off them.
The impeachment trial serialized on TV was riveting. The defense lawyers, some wearing a canine sneer (ngiting aso) insulted our intelligence often. (Lokohin n’yo ang lelang n’yo). The whole country was stinking to high heavens. The prosecution produced its own witnesses Clarissa Ocampo, Emma Lim, Carmencita Itchon and many others.
Idols with feet of clay fell crashing into the dust. Those who voted against opening the enveloped were legalese, procedural, and sounding intellectually brilliant. Also heartless and thick-skinned. They couldn’t fathom the heartbeat of the nation. Cardinal Sin, aging and sickly, called the people again. It was People Power II! Same humongous and collective umbrage, same brinkmanship, and same staccato prayers! Generals Reyes and Villanueva simply joined the mammoth EDSA crowd. No US jets from Clark this time. Erap was out! Gloria was in!
Hope springs eternal. Malacañang regained its honor and dignity. Protocol was observed. Absurdity was gone. Grammatical English was back.
2001. More catastrophies! The peso plummeted to a horrifying P51 to US$1. The Abu Sayyaf (extremist ideologues? Or mindless barbarians) were into kidnapping and terrorism, gaining worldwide notoriety. Businesses are still closing shop. Thousands of workers are being retrenched. Prices of food and gasoline are very high. (Galunggong is P80 per kilo!) Our streets became permanent garbage dumps. Maggots multiply to spread disease. Our communities stink.
Again, the whole nation was witnessing sickening crimes attributed to people in the government. Talo na naman! We are now 75 million people but the gap between the rich, 30% (middle-class and rich), 70%(lower-class and rural/urban poor) remains the same for one century.
When will this end? It’s been more than 350 years since Lapu’s-Lapu’s victory, 100 years since Rizal martyrdom and we’re nowhere as a people, as a nation. Malas pa rin!
Some wise guy said the Filipino is a damaged culture. Bully! And what do you call other foreigners. They used slaves in their plantations, and landgrabbed from the natives! What should we call such culture? Predatory Culture? Bully Culture? What about another country? How many countries did it put under the barrel of its gunships, so they could gloat that the sun never sets on their empire?” What shall we call this culture? Sahib culture? Gunga Din culture? C’mon, give us a break!
We Filipinos have strengths and endearing values. We are Christians, God-fearing, and peace-loving. We are patient and tolerant (matiisin to a fault). We are musical. We sing our blues away. We have a sense of humor. (We concoct and text Imelda hyperboles and Erap malapropism.) We learn fast because we are bilingual and highly educated. We’ve got thousands of MBA’s and PhD’s in economics and management from AIM, WHARTON, HARVARD, UCLA, etc (most of them now overseas). We’ve got a surplus of technocrats for nation-building. We want to work if there are vacancies. We want to go into business if we have the capital. We want to obey the law if the law is being enforced. We want to live and die here, if there is peace and order.
But, but, and but. We have many shortcomings. We are immature in our politics. Given a choice on whom to elect: a handsome pabling movie star or an honest and brilliant political scientist, we’ll vote for the movie star. No brainer tayo dito. Talo! We have many stupidities. Like dogs, we pee (Bawal umihi dito) on walls and tires. Our driving is suicidal. Our service quality is inferior. Clerks at City Hall act arrogant. Sales ladies at department stores don’t know their product features. Tourists get mugged by thugs in uniform. Police lay traps so they can catch you and ask for bribe. What’s wrong with us? We don’t have a great leader and good governance. In Singapore, Lee Kwan Yu did it. The constituency profile is similar to Filipinos. Admittedly, this country is impossible, tiresome, and frustrating. But it’s the only country we’ve got. We live and die here.
Will we ever see the dawn?
Dios na mahabagin, Kailan pa kaya? Ubos na ang aming luha. Katog na ang aming mga tuhod. Tuyot na ang aming utak. Hingal na ang aming puso. Dios na mahabagin, isalba Mo po kami. Hindi po kami talunan. At lalo pong hindi kami tanga. Sunod-sunod lang po ang malas.
I once read a book stating that the perfect society is not triangle but diamond. We must follow this and I hope people at the top may do something about this. I want to share this image to everyone by the way: http://tinyurl.com/3xxq99l this is not a joke.
happy araw ng kalayaan sa lahat!