Ang State of the Nation Ayon sa Isang Tricycle Driver
Isang tricycle driver. [Photo by Greg Goodman, adventuresofagoodman.com]
ni Wilfredo G. Villanueva
Aaah, magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Binabati ko po si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte—binoto ko po siya—si Bise Presidente Leni Robredo—mas maganda pa pala siya sa personal—dating pangulong Noynoy Aquino—binoto ko rin po siya—dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo—binoto ko rin po siya pero bakit ang tagal niyang nakapiit eh kulang naman daw ang ebidensiya laban sa kanya—dating pangulong Fidel Ramos—binoto ko rin po siya pero bakit hanggang ngayon eh hindi pa siya tinatanong tungkol sa Fort Bonifacio sale—at dating pangulong Mayor Erap Estrada—binoto ko rin po siya pero alanganin ako sa kanya, kung bakit gusto pa niyang maging mayor eh naging pangulo na naman siya. Senate President Koko Pimentel, magandang umaga po. Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez, congratulations po sa inyo ni Senator Koko, magandang umaga po. Madlang pipol ng mahal na bayang Pilipinas, magandang umaga po sa inyo.
Ewan ko ba kung bakit ako nandito sa harapan ninyo para marinig ninyo naman ang dakip ko sa kalagayan ng bansa natin. Maliit lang po akong tao, ano naman ang masasabi ko sa inyo, pero sige na lang, andito na ako, paninindigan ko na ito. Paki dinggin ninyo po ako, inyong abang lingkod.
Unang-una, siyempre natutuwa ako at si idol Digong eh Presidente na natin. Mantakin ninyo, siya ang unang alkalde na naging pangulo. Ang galing talaga ni idol. Pero kapag nagkakakwentuhan kami sa tricycle station, eh napaguusapan lamang naman—bakit kaya tila maliliit na taong katulad ko ang pinagbubuntunan ng giyera laban sa droga. Parang over naman po. Yun ba namang snatcher na siguro wala pang limang libo ang halaga ng nadale niya sa EDSA eh patayin ba naman nang walang kaabog-abog, at ibinalot pa ng masking tape ba yun? Nakapangingilabot. Nakikita ko po kasi ang sarili ko, ang mga asawa’t anak ko at mga kamag-anak kong katulad ko ring dukha na walang boses, nahuling nagkasala, siguro tutuo, pero ‘di ba dapat eh mahatulan ako sa korte, yung may huwes, at may abogadong nagsasalita para sa akin, pero ayan, paktay, at binaboy pa ang bangkay. Sorry po, Pangulong Duterte, kung alumpihit kayo sa upuan, pero bilang pinuno ng bayan, ‘di ninyo po ba iuurong ang sinabi ninyong papatayin, papatayin ko kayo?
Aaminin ko po, medyo nabawasan ang bilib ko sa mahal na pangulo gawa nang patayang tila walang humpay.
Ako po, salbahe rin, pero alam ko bago ako mahatulan, alam ko marami pang pagkakataon na maipagtanggol ko ang sarili ko sa ilalim ng batas. Hindi naman po kami talagang walang pag-asa na papatayin na lang basta-basta.
Teka, tila nagtagal ako sa tinatawag na extra judicial killings po ba yun. Malapit po sa puso ko yun kasi nga, eh sa ating lahat sa bulwagang ito, kung may papatayin, eh ako po yata ang mauuna kasi wala naman akong kakilala dito. Napalilibutan ako ng malalaking tao, at ramdam na ramdam ko ang kaliitan ko. ang pagkawalan ko ng kaibigan, walang tatakbuhan.
Sa ibang banda, tama naman si idol Digong sa kanyang hataw. Naayos nga raw niya ang Davao na dati ay kinatatakutang lugar. Kinatatakutan din po ang buong Pilipinas, lalung-lalo na ang Metro Manila, kaya siguro tama ang istilo niya. Kaya ko nga po siya ibinoto para may dagok ang batas. Gusto ko nga po kung nagmumura siya, katunayan na kaya niyang gawin ang nararapat para tumino tayong mga Pilipino. Mabuhay po kayo, Pangulong Duterte. Salamat pa rin sa presensya ninyo.
Sa dako naman ng ekonomiya, ang tantya ko, patuloy ang progreso na natamo natin sa ilalim ng dakilang pangulong Aquino. Sinabi naman ng mga alalay ni idol Digong na wala silang babaguhin sa mga polisiya ng nakaraang administrasyon. Wala po akong problema sa kabuhayan, marami akong pasahero, kung minsan, lalo na kapag Pasko, eh keep the change pa.
Ang akin pong mga anak, eh patuloy ang pag-aaral. Bago nga ang kanilang building. Kitang-kita ang pag-aruga ng gobyerno sa edukasyon ng ating mga supling. Darating po ang araw, kagalang-galang ang dating nga aking mga anak, kahit na tricycle driver lamang po ako, dahil kompleto sila sa napagaralan, lalung-lalo na K plus 12 na po tayo ngayon. Pang world class po talaga tayo hindi lang sa larangan ng boksing (Senator Pacquiao, mabuhay po kayo) at beauty contest.
Senior na po ako, at nakatutuwa na may discount kami sa gamot, sa pagkain sa restawran, sa panunuod ng sine, sa barko kung bibiyahe ako sa Visayas kung Undas. Nakangiti po kaming mag-asawa kasi hindi po biro ang mga diskwento.
Ang generics medicine, malaking tulong din po sa amin. Maayos naman ang mga gamot na mas mura dahil hindi kilala o branded, nakararaos naman po ako sa aking arthritis at high cholesterol. Tingin ko po tatagal ang buhay naming mag-asawa kasi nga po may tulong ang gobyerno sa amin. At andyan pa ang Philhealth. Naku, ang laking tulong sa aking kapitbahay na nagkasakit. Halos wala siyang binayad sa ospital dahil sa katayuan niya sa buhay, hindi naman kasi siya sa aircon at ward lang.
Ang trapik po ay talagang problema nating lahat. Pag rush hour, hirap kaming mga tricycle driver na makarating sa kanto para magbaba o kumuha ng pasahero kasi nga po eh traffic sa Alabang-Zapote Road kung kaya traffic din sa subdivision namin papalabas. Natalo nga po si Mar Roxas dahil sa traffic, kaya nasasaktan talaga ang karamihan sa sitwasyon. Sana po ay gampanan ng bagong administrasyon ang kanilang mga plano para maibsan ang kagimbal-gimbal na trapik.
Kung may mga batas na dapat pagukulan ng pansin ng Kongreso, sana po ay matanggal na ang kontraktwalisasyon, na hindi makapipigil sa progreso. Alam naman po namin na kailangang kumita rin ang mga mall kung kaya maraming endo, pero sana ay mabigyan naman ng katuparan ang mga pangarap at adhikain ng mga bata gaya ng panganay namin na nagtratrabaho sa mall. Matagal na rin po siyang contractual at tuwing limang buwan ba yun, eh ang bayag niya nasa lalamunan sa takot na baka ma-endo siya. Kayod siya ng kayod pero tila walang masyadong hinaharap na kaginhawahan sa kanyang katandaan o retirement.
Tama po ang hagupit ni General Bato (mabuhay po kayo, sir!) sa droga, pero kagaya ng sabi ko, sana kung ano ang higpit sa maliliit na tao, eh ganun din ang higpit sa mga may kaya o may sinasabing tao. Masakit po talaga sa akin kung ang isang kapatid natin na Chinese eh baka mas malapit sa tenga ng pangulo. Ang awa po ay dapat pantay-pantay.
Muli, mabuhay po kayong lahat aming mga pinuno. Gaya ng sinabi ko, lahat ng naging presidente, eh ibinoto ko, pero kung minsan iniisip bakit hanggang ngayon kayod pa rin ako sa ilalim ng init ng araw at patak ng ulan. Hindi po ako nagrereklamo, ito lang naman ang kaya ko kasi nga po hindi naman ako tapos sa kolehiyo, pero sana naman ang mga bagay na hindi ko na-enjoy eh ma-enjoy naman ng mga supling namin ni Emma aking mahal na kabiyak (ayun po siya, katabi ni Bise Presidente). Pero kung maipagpapatuloy ang progreso na sinimulan ni Pangulong Arroyo at pinagpatuloy ni Pangulong Aquino, kung maipapagpatuloy ang K plus 12 para maging world class ang mga bata, kung malilinis ang lipunan, malipol ang droga na walang pinapatay na parang hindi tao, malamang sa hindi world class na ang Pilipinas sa mga darating na taon, na buhay pa ang mga gurang katulad ko. Sana po naman. May awa ang Diyos.
Bago po ako magpaalam, ito po ang habilin ko sana sa mga pinuno. Sana po magkasundo kayo. Kadalasan parang running flat ang isang gulong ng tricycle ng bayan. Ang bigat po dalhin. Mabagal. Hindi maliksi. Kasi sobra ang banat sa isa’t-isa. Ang problema ng ating mga pinuno na hindi magkasundo ay mas grabe pa kaysa problema sa Tsina, sa droga, sa trapik, at kahirapan. Mawalang galang na po, pero kung minsan iniisip ko po para kayong mga magbabarkada na laban-laban.
Hindi po ba pwede na ang mabubuting tao, eh maitaguyod? Ang ginawa nila Pangulong Aquino sa Permanent Court of Arbitration, hindi ko natatandaan na napansin man lang ni idol Digong. Sana ang naliligaw ng landas, eh makaramdam ng hustisyang pantay-pantay, kahit sino ka man. Malay ninyo po, ang hinihintay na pagbabago ng bayan ay ang hustisya na maaasahan, hindi nakalilito, hindi para sa iilan lamang.
Iisa naman ang dugo natin. Ang tawanan natin, ang musika natin, ang sining at pinilakang tabing natin, ang mga anak natin, ang pagtayo natin sa pagkakalugmok, ang pagsamba natin sa Diyos, ang lahat nang mga ito ay patunay na isa tayong bansa na naiiba sa lahat. Nakaaangat. Kagila-gilalas. Natutuwa sa atin ang mundo. Sana naman ay natutuwa rin tayo sa mga nagawa at kakayahan natin. Iba ang Pilipino.
Salamat po at mabuhay ang bansang Pilipinas!
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The Society of Honor by Joe America 
Isn’t it that former President Erap was the first mayor who was elected as President of the Philippines?
I think it’s the direct mayor to president jump that he is referring to.
okay, thank you for the enlightenment.
Aguinaldo was actually the first mayor (Kawit) to become President, but I do not know if he went straight to President or had intermediate positions prior.
1895 mayor,1898 president.I guess he went straight to president from mayor.
In 1895 the Maura Law that called for the reorganization of local governments was enacted. At the age of 25 years old, Aguinaldo became Cavite Viejo’s first “gobernadorcillo capitan municipal” (Municipal Governor-Captain) while on a business trip in Mindoro.
the first Philippine election was in1895, a concession to give more rights to Filipinos. Aguinaldo was therefore one of the first trapos.
Before mayor he was an appointed cabeza de barangay or barangay captain.
Ty for the info
OOT, nephew: I sent you two emails. Same contents (reply to your inquiry), different email addr.
Ty unc.
oh, interesting
The Philippines is #2 in the list of 8 Countries Where Rampant Inequality Has Led to Violence.
“Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines’ new right-wing president, campaigned on a get-tough-on-crime platform and has vowed to restore the death penalty. Supporters of outsourcing like to pretend that corporations are being benevolent when they open call centers in the Philippines and other developing countries, but there is nothing benevolent about paying the type of slave wages they couldn’t get away with in Germany, Switzerland or Denmark. Taking advantage of cheap labor will not encourage true economic development in the Philippines, which, like many developing countries, has an ultra-wealthy 1%, a weak middle class, widespread poverty, and an abundance of violent crime (including kidnappings and carjackings).”
“The harsh disparity between the haves and have-nots has also led to extremist insurgent movements, ranging from the New People’s Army (a Maoist guerrilla organization that has been active since 1969) to Abu Sayyaf (a jihadist/radical Islamist group with ties to Al-Qaeda). The Philippines does not need more low-paying dead-end jobs, sweatshops or a strongman president, it needs real economic development, which it won’t get from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”
http://www.alternet.org/economy/8-countries-where-rampant-inequality-has-led-violence
We seldom top these list. Even with the ampatuan massacre we were only second to Iraq on reporters most dangerous countries.
The article hasn’t been updated to include and mention the war on drugs killings.
oh no
Duterte could say in his SONA that we are at the top.I will wait if he remembers that he said he will resign if crime is not solved in six months.
huhuhu
Micha you are always voicing against sweatshop labour n evil capitalism. I appreciate you have good liberal ideals but I wonder how you would suggest Philippines can step up from 3rd world to 1st world in one step. Some acceleration or great leap no doubt. Taiwan, Hongkong, China and Singapore all came through the sweatshop route in case you have not noticed. .
chempo,
In case you haven’t noticed, the quoted paragraph was excerpted from Alternet article.
Further, the article, chempo, touches on the relationship between rampant inequality and violence.
I suppose you know how to click on a link. Read it.
Touchy touchy Micha. I just wanted your views that’s all
China is, by cold war system of terminology, not a first world country. You’re still using classification of countries that are now considered defunct.
And yes, rampant inequality is a natural feature, a natural outcome, of unadulterated capitalism.
In that sense, pure unadulterated capitalism is evil because among its natural tenet is the acceptance of the credo that greed is good.
reading and watching General Bato on the news,…hintay hintay lang kayo, marami pang big time drug personalities na mapapatay!…I guess the roller coaster ride is just on its first hump…we will eventually go to a loop da loop folks….
According to FVR the proceeds from the FT Boni sale is with ERAP.
http://www.philstar.com/opinion/100146/ramos-afp-fund-p5484-b-erap
According to ERap, FVR borrowed it.
http://manilamail.com/archive/2008sep/08sep04/
I hope he retracts some pronouncements like On AFP modernization concentrating on internal defense,because how can he reconcile this with peace talks with the rebels and putting a stop to fighting Filipinos.
He must realize that having a fully equipped military can also be used to help allies who have been helping in the past,every small contribution counts.That is one thing I can think of.
Those training planes are not a waste of money,why does he want us to stick with simulators?
I am not expecting so much for this SONA, there are reports that it made the Communications secretary cry. So it would be full of drama.
Still I hope to hear about,though not holding my breath.
Ecozones that are planned to decongest Manila.
Transferring of ports to Batangas maybe a look at all cargo by rail propsals.
Transfer of the airport to Sangley.
An explanation on why the Laguna Lake Dike project was scrapped.
Reengineering of bureacracy.
Plans to lower electricity rates.
And some legislation that we have been waiting for besidescharter change,death penalty,etc.
like enabling legislation for FOI,anti dynasty,the new penal code.Simplified tax laws.
For bills to pass,I hope they pass the attendance bill first.
Mr. Tricycle Driver, salamat sa mga sinasabi mo dito. Tamang tama po kayo sa mga tanong ninyo. Yon din po amg mga tanong at concerns ko. Msbuhay po ksyo. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!😇🎹🍀🌹
Sa ngalan ng tricycle driver, salamat at mabuhay ka at ang bansa nating minamahal, Georgette.
Pasensiya na po, mamang traysikel drayber, mukhang napakalakas ng bagyong pumailanlang sa kinalalagyan ng mga katulad ninyong mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Parang kailan lang halos at tumulo ang luha ng mga nakakaangat sa inyo sa buhay sa galit dahil hindi raw kayo tinutulungan nang maayos ng nakaraang administrasyon. Hindi ba panay nga ang sumbat nila sa gobyernong Aquino – nasaan na raw ang pondo para sa mga biktima ng Yolanda? Naroon din yung pilit na pagtangging umunlad and ekonomiya sa pamumuno ni Aquino, kasi hindi naman daw ito naramdaman ng mga mahihirap na tulad ninyo. Noong dumating ang Santo Papa, dami ring nagalit nang itinago raw ang mga batang kalye upang di mapansin ng mga banyagang bisita ang talamak na kahirapan sa ating bayan.
Nakakapagtaka ano? Parang naging panaginip bigla ang nakaraan. Yung dating nagsusumigaw para ipaglaban ang mga tulad ninyo, biglang nagsitalikod at tila nawalan na nang amor para sa inyo. Yung dating pagmamalasakit sa inyong kalagayan ay tila napalitan na nang pagkasuya at kawalang interes. Eh ano kung pinapatay ang marami as inyo. Eh ano kung tila wala na kayong karapatang ipagtanggol ang inyong mga sariling karapatan sa mata ng batas. Eh ano kung lumuluha ang inyong mga ina, asawa, anak, kapatid dahil sa mga buhay na siningil ng lipunang nagngangalit sa mga pusakal na gumagambala sa kanilang tahimik at maayos na pamumuhay.
Hindi rin pala sila naiiba sa mga naglayong itago sa mundo ang inyong kahirapan noong nandito ang Santo Papa. Sila rin pala ay walang maiharap na solusyon kungdi linisin ang larawan ng tunay na kalagayan ng bayan, walisin ang mga patapong buhay, at pagtakpan ang mga pagkukulang ng lipunang dapat sana ay nagbibigay kalinga sa mga maliit at mahina.
Pasensya na mamang traysikel drayber, marami pa ang nagbibingi-bingihan at nagbubulag-bulagan sa nangyayari. Pilit pa rin nilang pinapapaniwala ang kanilang mga sarili na walang mali sa mga nangyayaring pagmamalupit at pang-iipit ng mga karapatang pantao ng mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Tila ang Diyos na mahabagin, ang Diyos na mapagmahal at mapag-aruga, ang Diyos ng mga mahihirap ay nasapalan na nang diyos ng Malakanyang.
Salamat, Cha.
*******
1. In this post, Will perfectly captures the passive-aggressiveness in the Filipino character.
2. Note the circumlocutory politeness followed by the self-abnegation in the presentation and description of issues.
3. Passive-aggressive behavior is defined as:
3.1. “A deliberate and masked way of expressing covert feelings of anger.” – The Angry Smile by Long, Long & Whitson, 2008
3.2. “A defense mechanism that allows people who aren’t comfortable being openly aggressive to get what they want under the guise of still trying to please others. They want their way, but they also want everyone to still like them.” – Urban Dictionary
4. The Filipino avoids confrontation. His passiveness is shown in his ready submission to figures of authority. His aggressiveness in his actions of covert resistance and veiled criticism.
5. The remarkable perfidy of turncoatism is part of the passive aspect. The aggressive aspect soon emerges when the wheel of fate turns, when the victor is out of power.
6. The Aquino administration’s submission of the WPS dispute to the arbitral tribunal was aggressive. The Duterte’s administration’s reaction of meekness to the tribunal’s decisive decision was passive.
7. The meek may well inherit the earth, but they shall not inherit Scarborough Shoal. Neither will they earn the Rule of Law nor the right to due process.
*****
#6 – I believe The Aquino administration’s WPS legal team was assertive in filing the case for arbitration. The present administration’s reaction to PH winning the case was passive-aggressive towards the Aquino team and passive towards China.
Though I know you know this already, I just want to share it with others here to explain your points further. The link below explains the 4 communication styles (passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive and assertive) in brief but concise manner:
http://serenityonlinetherapy.com/assertiveness.htm
Guess what is PRD’s style of communication?
*******
Juana, thanks for the nuance on #6.
*****
NP, Manong.
Thanks edgar, JP. Instructive.
Re link and your question JP: certainly not passive or assertive as the link describes it. Also, not passive-aggressive as described.
But how about a Fifth Category: Aggressive-Passive by design or by implication. Let me explain. Aggressively communicate or act as described. But then “passively” let the subordinates act out what he has aggressively communicated. Meaning unlike the assertive who closets himself with the subordinates if need be and clarify the marching orders, let things go — cowardly in that sense; out of ignorance or shoot-first-mentality when he first communicated the matter; or wanting so much to be loved by their subordinates or rah-rah boys as seemingly aggressive people want to be loved in spite of their “don’t care” attitude. This seems to be the behavior of some reviled people in history.
It would be nice to have a translation of this I would presume to be a SONA if a tricycle driver were to deliver it. There may be useful gems of insight in the simplistic and mundane view of the state by a member of the poor working class that may be lost to those who are less facile and fluent in Pilipino. Unless of course this piece is deliberately confined to the insular Pilipino cognoscenti and literati posters on this site and was never meant to be read, understood, and discussed by the joeams, chempos, lance cplxs, caliphmans, and many foreign visitors who on occasion might have something to contribute to the topic. Will, I strongly suspect this piece is of the same fine quality like your previous literary works and I would like to thank you for it. Its a shame I did not understand most of it.
Will offered to do a translation but I declined in the interest of authenticity. I ran it through google translate and got a good idea of what was said.
Some of Will’s pieces have an esthetic quality and message that escapes any literal translation other than by the author. Its akin to using google to transcribe haiku poetry.
Right, as an English translation can never capture what the natural poetry of the natural language does. The target audience is Filipinos, and the article is getting strong readership. It is an editorial decision, my accountability. No need to badger me on it.
It is to Joe’s credit that he is open to all ideas, even if expressed in a tongue alien to him. He is a mile away from me not only in intellect but also in flexibility and a welcoming mind. Thanks, caliphman. However I turn your comments around, it does look like praise and recognition. Hahaha!
Hmm. The Professor totally got it. Even I didn’t know Mamang Tricycle Driver was passive-aggressive.
Well you are trained in law and dogs, not psychology. heh heh
Joe, did you mean love and dogs? Hahaha!
🙂
*******
Will, thanks. I am just an armchair observer. I am certain you practice and apply psychology more than I do with your ability to communicate and empathize with people from all walks of life.
*****
no ofens 2 d trike drivers. dey seem 2 control d national hiway (thanx God der s a tplex, sctex and nlex). dpwh has done expansion projects on the national hiway but is it being used properly? not even d trike drivers are using it who prefer the inner lanes. only d daredevil motocyclist use dem 4 overtaking. have any1 notizd d expanded national hiway. d expanded area is just used as anader parking lot n storage/display area of vendors and der is a big safety issue in using them. calling dpwh. and indeed we will have a bigger traffic problem and accidents if this safety issue is not addressed. thanx trikedrivers for opening up our eyes. i was once a trike driver and that was when you can count them with our extremities digits.
marami ring balasubas na no humps at no lubak,ang sakit sa ulo.Todo kapit ka dapat.
marami sa mga trike drivers ay nasa laylayan ng ating sociedad, isang kahig isang tuka. marami din sa kanila ang marangal pero meroon din sa kanila ang kumakapit sa patalim. sila ang mga modern kalesamen who provide rural transporter.
oo naman di ko naman nilalahat.
In my corner, tricycle drivers are kind, passive and obedient to rules and regulations. They’re like a part of the tricycle itself, like a wheel or the clutch, they hardly ever make their presence felt. Maybe when I cannot control my yabang (pride), I will be reborn a tricycle driver, to learn humility.
Good for you Wil.I know there are a lot of good people around still.You are one of them.👍🏻🎩
Oh, thank you, Karl. It takes one to know one.
Pardon. A bit off-topic:
When I went to Spain, I was a bit sad; I went into a bookstore—only to find out that I couldn’t read anything. Nevertheless, it was pretty amazing to look at a Spanish translation of Picketty’s Capital. Especially when I couldn’t help but compare that to Fully Booked, Power Books—heck, even National Bookstore, the most mainstream of all the bookstore chains!
Isn’t it a bit off-putting that there are all these interesting books from abroad on history, politics and economics—and that they are all translated to or left in original English. Whereas in Spain or Japan, books like “Capital in the 21st Century” would probably be translated in Spanish and Japanese—and Picketty is French!
Which is not to say that there aren’t any provocative or in-depth books in Filipino that tackle history, culture, politics and whatnot. But they usually only cover one cabinet (more precisely, half a cabinet—because a full cabinet takes into account both English and Filipino Filipiniana) in a bookstore (overwhelmed by a tidal wave of foreign books) or are downright arcane (for faculty consumption only—and representing only one reddish hue of politics). If our intelligentsia cannot produce enough discourse, then we must import; a subsidy of thought to be our training wheels until we can produce enough literature on our own such that Filipiniana will at least occupy a floor in the flagship BGC Fully Booked (right know, they have a few cabinets).
Where’s the pop-social science books that makes policy available to the common man? I mean no offense, but this is why Filipino discussion on important stuff sounds…no offense and without condescension…absolutely folksy…treating policy less as abstract stuff with concrete consequences that should be debated on and ideological underpinnings that citizens should assess what relationship it would have with theie principles and the way they live their life….and more…as I don’t know….abstract agimat or anting-anting for the politician.
This is why Human Rights is a hard sell. It is abstract. It is—presumes to be—universal. And the public—blocked by language from a lot of books—lives in a universe that is concrete and local.
—————————++++++++++++++————————–
Why I am writing this off-topic rant? Because I look though a few comments and see people who commented but who otherwise (if the article was in English) wouldn’t because of language. And it is quite a shame that this is the case—for discourse (on anything) is one just one of those where “more’s the merrier” ya know.
ADDENDA: Which is not to say that intuition and common sense (of which there is a plenty here) are lesser things compared to book knowledge, but that a well-rounded citizen—and public—equally needs both. Being an elitist, ivory tower snob is just as bad as being an anti-intellectual fool.
What we feel—our intuition and common-sense—should work together with what we know.
Agree with the need of Filipino authored books.Here we have mind blowers like you, Edgar,Intuitive,etc. if there are people like you who write books,what a joy it would be.
The long hanging question here about Filipino philosophers might be addressed as well.
Sometimes it needs a thick face. My dad is writing a book which seems like a memoir but covers a wide range of topics. He only has ten people committed to read it, the rest would be up to that ten people.
This is an issue I have been puzzling over the past 8-9 months. I am a book lover..I have 4-5 sets of bookshelves.of books…covering a huge range of issues and a bit of fiction. have spent time in various National Bookstores and in Solidaridad in Ermita…But the range is limited whether in English or Tagalog, and even Amazon books is unavailable….Maybe most folks in the Philippines are plugged into electronic books via their Ipads instead..
The Tagalog versus English is a separate issue….There are relatively few Tagalog speakers outside of the Philippines..It is not an international language….That means a limited market. .So English is the avenue for Filipinos to access to the rest of the world..Ideas, science, history, fashion, literature whatever. But that is not reflected I suspect in the teaching of English in school. A pity !
The utter lack of public libraries is a terrible travesty. Most people are now getting more information than ever, but much of it is online trash promoting anti-intellectualism, snake oil and sensationalism.
I did not see a single public library while I was there in the Philippines. Not good in my opinion. But one Sunday morning we went to Intramuros on an outing. At Plaza Roma there was a tent set up with shelves of books..We could take any book provided we left another one in exchange. What a great idea ! I have never me that before..Excellent…We did not have any books with us.But a friendly older lady, also brousing the shelves, gave us a book that she had already read that we could leave in exchange for one that we wanted..I walked away very happy that day..
It is sad that it took a few brave individuals to do something more in a world where typical daily reading of the common man consisted of nothing but a black-and-red tabloid or the Bible.
There was this guy who had books in a cart and he teeaches thise interested.after bring featured in CNN and interviewed in talk shows,I never heard from him.
There are others who try to offer portable libraries,I read it somewhere maybe it was in Quiapo or Recto,I can not recall.
That’s Efren Penaflorida, Karl. He has partnered with DepEd in replicating his concept if the Kariton Klasrum. He now heads his own company.
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia-0
TY Cha, I forgot his name,But I remember what he did and what he is doing.
There is a public library near the Manila city hall.
http://thepoc.net/index.php/metro-manilas-10-best-public-libraries/
The Philippines used the cell phone to leapfrog past the land line phone, and is using social media to leap-frog to gross mass ignorance ahead of even the developed nations like the US.
El Presidente extolled his personal war against the demon named narcotics, and yet there was no mention about education or even plans on how to eliminate mass ignorance that is far more cancerous than drugs. Maybe later, his spin doctors would say.
Nonetheless, Bam now sits in the Committee on Education, and thus has the ear on the youth.
He did mention teaching the dangers of drugs in the schools, I believe.
Yes, sir, the only catechism he values much.
I was waiting for him to say that he would rewrite the history books, to teach children about the horrors of martial law, but maybe I’m from a different galaxy.
It is stated in his speech that he does not want to be “stuck” in the past. Which means a lot of things… such as burying Marcos as requested, or worse, deciding the fate of the PCGG.
17TH SENATE COMPOSITION
Majority Bloc at Senate numbers 20. Minority Bloc definitely includes Recto, Trillanes, Escudero. Cayetano a no-show at 17th Senate Opening. I may count him as part of the 4.
It is strange to me if after a year Cayetano is appointed DFA Sec when he is part of the minority considering that the DFA is such an important and sensitive position. What gives?
http://www.rappler.com/nation/140753-koko-pimentel-senate-president-17th-congress
Here are some of the confirmed committee chairmanships for the 17th Congress.
Agriculture and Food – Francis Pangilinan
Education – Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV
Energy – Sherwin Gatchalian
Environment – Cynthia Villar
Finance – Loren Legarda
Rules – Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
Public Services – Grace Poe
Labor, Employment & Human Resources Development – Joel Villanueva
Public Order and Dangerous Drugs – Panfilo Lacson
Ways and Means – Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara
Justice and Human Rights – Leila de Lima
Health and Demography – Risa Hontiveros
National Defense and Security – Gregorio Honasan
Trade and Industry – Juan Miguel Zubiri
*******
NHerrera, thanks.
Two questions:
1. Still no chair for the Ethics and Privileges Committee? If so: Boo!
2. Is old man Enrile truly no longer part of the Senate? If so: Yehey!
*****
Enrile has graduated with finality. Ethics and Privileges Committee (see my note below) — why not Gordon. Certainly not to Binay or Pacquiao. Not that there will be takers for that.
i nominate pacman for committee on attendance and binay for committee on refreshments…cakes anyone?
🙂
Re: Legarda,hope no more slashing RH budget.
Hope too that Hontiveros wont let that happen even with Tito Sotto around.
Sharp of you. Hontiveros has a handle on health. And the bossman is for implementation of RH. So no monkeying around from Legarda and her twin, Sotto.
Honasan is a good choice for the defense committee,I hope the one in the house cooperates with him.
Ler us see if Delima will block Death penalty and push her penal code.
No reported Committee Chairmanship yet for
Binary
Ejercito
Gordon
Pacquiao
I love it when Binay autocorrects to binary
Right. Hahaha. Beware this autocorrection. One can get into trouble. 🙂
Getting funnier this autocorrection. When I wrote Hontiveros it wanted to write “hunt tigers.”
😜😉
Here is the latest from Politiko:
Senate Pro-Tempore: Frank Drilon
Majority Leader: Tito Sotto
Public Order: Ping Lacson
Finance: Loren Legarda
Blue Ribbon: Dick Gordon
Agriculture: Kiko Pangilinan
Justice: Leila de Lima
Health: Risa Hontiveros
Education: Bam Aquino
Energy: Sherwin Gatchalian
Public Works: Manny Pacquiao
Housing: JV Ejercito
Trade: Migz Zubiri
Defense: Gringo Honasan
Public Services: Grace Poe
Tourism: Nancy Binay
Environment: Cynthia Villar
Ways and Means: Sonny Angara
Labor: Joel Villanueva
If it is up to me, I would have Pacquiao for Attendance and Binay for Food and Beverage. 🙂 Recto, Escudero and Trillanes are supposed to be the three musketeers for the minority.
Is Cayetano waiting for the DFA or DILG post?
Huwag daw syang intindihin ika ni cayetano,sabi naman ni Pimentel di huwag.
Mahirap ang DFA,gusto ba talaga nya ito?
IDK, ‘yan ang bulong eh. Palagay ko, he will be better at it than who-shall-not-be-named. 🙂
On Public Works:
* Pacquiao is in there rather than sports or some such thing?
* Meaning a cambio with respect to the young Villar?
If true I do not know which is worse — having the young Villar with competence but with conflict of interest, or Pacquiao there.
Sorry, walk up on the wrong side of the bed. Mistaking cabinet with senate. Got see the doctor soon. 🙂
Ok lang yan manong.Paquiao public works? Buti na lang laging buong senate ang naghahandle ng budget,dahil anong gagawin nya dun? Di nga totoo ba yan?
Let us hope that Pacquiao is above patronage politics. Filipinos have his back so he should not let them down.
A headline coverage at Inquirer.com May kurot sa puso….Will is right now at the Batasan area with sharing pics of those rallying against extra judicial killings….Go, Will !
https://fullman.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/the-war-against-poor-filipinos/
No one, as far as I recall, died from tanim-bala in NAIA, and yet it infuriated many of us,and we were angered by an apparent scam condoned or perhaps even operated by airport officials. Many were mad at President Aquino, too, for gaffes made by some government officials and by government inaction that was affecting Filipino travellers and migrant workers. But since July, hundreds have already been killed due to the so-called war on drugs and crime, with most deaths appearing on TV or our FB timelines in the same sickening narrative: killed by hitmen, their bodies wrapped in garbage bags or paper with a cardboard that says the victim is a drug offender, or killed by policemen in a buy-bust operation or inside police stations, where the police had to fire and kill them because they were fighting back or because they tried to grab arms from the police while in custody.And yet the same public outraged by tanim-bala is silent this time, despite the deaths. Hindi lang sa hindi galit, we are actually happy to repeat and mimic the stories given by government officials – Pusher kasi. Adik. Nang-agaw ng baril sa pulis sa presinto. Nanlaban. Kung hindi sya adik, bakit sya kasama ng pusher?
And we’re happy to exempt the government of any responsibility of this incident. When Abaya said that tanim-bala was being blown out of proportion, many called for his resignation, many blamed PNoy. But with what’s happening, Duterte or PNP Chief Bato can’t be faulted – even though Duterte promised this bloodshed during the campaign period, or that, after the inauguration, he said shabu addicts should be killed, and that local governments and local police should deliver dead bodies in his war on drugs. Bato said he’s against extrajudicial killings, and yet he’s not doing anything to stop it – but it doesn’t matter, not his fault. Tanim-bala is PNoy’s fault, but we have wired our minds to believe that Duterte can’t be blamed for the killings terrorising the Philippines these days. Never mind that, regardless of who you voted for last May, the government should always be held accountable for omission if it fails to address human rights violations.
I actually don’t care who you voted for last May. What I wish to understand at this point is if your silence demonstrates the limits of our common sense, of our respect for life, or of our world-renown sense of compassion. Are we not outraged, and are we willing to exempt the government of any responsibility, because those who were killed are impoverished – not exactly the type who’d have credit cards to purchase piso-fare trips and therefore unlikely to be inconvenienced by tanim-bala? Is it because we also blame the poor for the ugliness in our daily lives, for the systemic poverty and crime that fester in our streets, and therefore killing these vagrants is better? Is it because we think that some lives do not really matter, and that we’re happy to give those with guns a blank check just to make us perceive that we are safe and secure?
I hear no one saying that they feel more secure and safe these days, these days when tanim-bala is no longer happening. For me, my sense of insecurity isn’t just about safety in our streets: mas nababahala ako dun sa naiisip ko na may aspeto ng pagiging Pilipino na hindi ko kilala, yung aspeto na kayang lunukin at tanggapin ang nangyayari ngayon. That we can even throw out our sense of justice and respect for life and be wilfully blind. I try to recall some words that have helped define my own understanding of what being Filipino means. That the Filipino is worth dying for. Ang mamatay ng dahil sa’yo. Maybe by reminding myself of these words, I’d feel less insecure and disturbed by this realisation: na kaya pala natin itong gawin sa isa’t-isa.
(Photo from Mark Z. Saludes: Jennelyn Olaires refuses to let go of her husband, Michael Siaron, a 30-year-old pedicab driver and an alleged drug offender who was gunned down by unidentified assailants along EDSA – Pasay Rotonda area in Pasay City, July 23.)
The author of this blog article …Will
The failed post shows Will with the marchers against extra judicial killings in the background
Anyways, just visit the FB page of the author, Renée Will Villanueva for his updates
Thanks, Gracie! It’s a different world, the world of the Left. The group I joined weren’t Extreme Left. That segment is cozying up to President Duterte inside Batasan. The group I joined, they admitted they were the Moderate Left. Didn’t know there was one. Talked to Rose Tajonera of the Citizens’ Council for Human Rights. They don’t share the Extreme Left’s detente with the Prez, shouting as we went, “Hanapbuhay… Hindi Patayan!” and “Pagbabago, ‘Di Pang Trapo!” (Work, not Killings; and Change, but not by Traditional Politics). My password was Joe America. They were suspicious of me, but when I mentioned the blog, they eased up. It helps that you live in a country that loves America, even when you’re inserting yourself in the ranks of the palaban (fighting) Left. There is a groundswell going against EJK, and we’ll see if the remnants of the yellow army will rise to the occasion.
At least now I know hris suggesting a French Style Parliamentary and Federal Form of government.
I wonder how he reconciled value for human life and the drug deaths.
I like na nakikipag kwentuhan sya.
It was a false alarm that it would be short.
All out war against Abu Sayaff. I hope they finally vanquish and defeat them.
Good luck to the peace talks.
He still asked for emergency powers for traffic
I change my mind about the story telling, it is becoming a drag.
“I wonder how he reconciled value for human life and the drug deaths.” – karl
Here is your sign:
“Human rights must work to uplift human dignity. But human rights cannot be used as a shield or excuse to destroy the country.” – PRD
Who is destroying the country under the cloak of human rights? Who is using the freedom of speech to encourage the culture of impunity and violence? Who is using the government to trample on the people’s rights to the rule of law?
JP, got that one with your bow and arrow — right to the heart, using PRD’s SONA words against his previous pronouncements and actions!
LIKE. Ang isda sa bibig nabibingwit di ba? 🙂
ok,he was not able to reconcile it,full of contradictions his Sona was.
Waste to energy.. yess!
Streamlining permits. yesss!
iba bilis ng pagbasa nya.
It started well. After the first 45 minutes, I now know now what “captive audience” means. But if the masses like it why not. I can imagine some in the Diplomatic Corp may be fidgeting.
*******
I find the sound effects entertaining.
*****
90 minutes already, looks like it will reach past 100 minutes.
Nope, Karl, short by 5 minutes.
Good,manong.But it was very extensive.
1 hour and 33 minutes.
There you go: 94 minutes give or take a minute. Thanks madlanglupa.
I was going to leave a long review of the SONA but I saw the Tweet Blog and decided to instead fully agree with it.
“Tweet review of SONA: good cop, bad cop, comedian, doddering grandpa, problem solving pragmatist and passionate protector of the poor.”
Could not have said it better or with such brevity. Given that Duterte might as well be Hobbes and you might as well be Rousseau–very objective on your part. 🙂 May I re-post it on my wall?
—————————————————————————————————————————
If I could add a bit of my own impressions: Duterte is probably what happens to superheroes after a few decades–once-idealistic crime-fighters who realize, in age, the horrifying truth: crime will never end for as long as humans are so wicked. This fits well with his roots: a prosecutor who eventually went on to become mayor in a once crime-ridden city.
A sympathetic interpretation would be that the testosterone bluster is just for PR show and that the real Duterte is just resigned to believing that this is simply a “job” to do and is what is simply necessary. That interpretation would be that the real Duterte isn’t arrogant, just irritated and tired.
Yeah,I think so too.
Sure, Francis. Spread it around, all is good. Twitter is fun, how to be profound in few words. I’m working on my likes-to-tweets ratio, and it looks like this one will help. 🙂
As for your characterization, I actually get lost in the contradictions and can’t find any themes that are definite. I did note that he seems to be liked, as well as respected, by a lot of people. He is the down home Filipino big shot, everybody’s buddy. The speech had some very strong elements, the tension between him and the Church one of the more interesting.
Now the starting point and map is clear: PRD has
* An excellent initial trust rating according to the Pulse Asia Survey, beating all previous Presidents when such survey was started;
* A comprehensive to do list (yes, with some inconsistencies as you note and unclear sense of priorities since he keeps saying priority — as is said if everything is a priority, there is no priority) from his first SONA, which reminds me of Amazing Grace with her kilometric campaign programs and promises;
* Struck fear (?) into all branches of government: “abuse your authority and there will be hell to pay.” I know it was addressed directly to the PNP, but we may as well include the whole bunch including the snail-pace Judiciary, and snail-pace public services of the executive departments.
That makes me recall something Bruce Wayne said in BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE while he and Alfred are arguing about whether or not Superman really is an enemy: “Twenty years in Gotham, Alfred. We’ve seen what promises are worth. How many good guys are left? How many stayed that way?”
Drug users & pushers good for you.
you mean, good for you?
Are you trolling or being mysterious, Rubjub. Kindly elaborate or grow up. Either works.
Somewhat offtopic (but more like gallows humor): Having watched The Last King of Scotland months ago… Is it just me or is General Bato — his somewhat and public, eccentric tendency to showboat on social media and television becoming more widespread — now a spitting image of Forest Whittaker’s character?
He is one part lovable goof and another a snarling sinister thug and one part syncophant. I don’t know about professional cop; haven’t seen it yet.
“Sa ibang banda, tama naman si idol Digong sa kanyang hataw. Naayos nga raw niya ang Davao na dati ay kinatatakutang lugar. Kinatatakutan din po ang buong Pilipinas, lalung-lalo na ang Metro Manila, kaya siguro tama ang istilo niya. Kaya ko nga po siya ibinoto para may dagok ang batas. Gusto ko nga po kung nagmumura siya, katunayan na kaya niyang gawin ang nararapat para tumino tayong mga Pilipino.”
(On the other hand, idol Digong is right about his pronouncements. He supposedly turned Davao from a scary to a peaceful place. People are scared of the Philippines too, especially Metro Manila, so his governance style maybe right. That is why I voted for him so the rule of law would have some teeth. I relish him cursing, it’s proof that he can do what is right so Filipinos will become decent people.)
Mamang Traysikel Drayber,
Tama po ang mga datos na inihayag ni Ginoong Roxas tungkol sa Davao. Marami pa rin pong krimen doon pero hindi ninyo siya pinakingan dahil tuwang-tuwa kayo sa pagmumura ni PDigong nuon. Lumalabas po yata na binoto ninyo siya dahil kanyang salita at hindi dahil sa mga ebidensya ng kanyang gawa? Ang lumalabas po na istilo niya ngayon ay ang magsalita ng magsalita para maingganyo ang mga uto-uto na gawin ang nais niya. Sinakyan nyo po ang mga pahayag niya nuon dahil gusto ninyong umiral ang batas. Nakuha po ba ninyo ang gusto ninyo? Mainam po ba na minumura at tinatakot ang mga tao para tumino?
Gumagalang,
Juana
(Mr. Tricycle Driver,
The data Mr. Roxas laid out about Davao was accurate. The crimes in Davao were far from gone but you did not hear the evidence because you were so entertained by PDigong’s cursing. On the hindsight, it looks like you voted for him based on his words and not based on evidence of his performance? His emerging style seems to be just to talk and talk to influence the vulnerable to do his bidding. Did you get what you want? Do you really think it is good for the people to be cursed and intimidated to decency?
Respectfully,
Juana)
President Duterte said something in his speech about the nation not being able to move forward if the past keeps holding us back.
Then I see him being chummy with Bongbong Marcos and I think about how he pretty much venerates Bongbong’s father.
I hear the PNP chief take an “If you are not with us, you are against us” stand against criminality while proclaiming his endless loyalty to President Duterte.
I recall how the Solicitor General says that he is “the Neutralizer” who will stand against anyone who might dare oppose the administration’s war against crime.
During the reign of presidential pal Bongbong Marcos’ father, the enemies of the regime were called communists. Now they’re called “drug addicts”, “drug pushers”, “salot sa bayan”, and they’re gunned down after “resisting arrest”.
The past isn’t holding us back — it’s the inability or the unwillingness to learn from the lessons taught so painfully by the past that is holding us back.
You are right. A lot of people are afraid that PRD’s MO is taken out of the Marcos’ book. That he is fomenting civil unrest so he can claim a state of emergency to declare Martial Law. Some will call it paranoia but for a country that keeps doing the same thing then expecting a different result, I think there is substance to the fear.
I agree that he surrounded himself with people who are very protective of him and loyal to him to a fault. Most of them are from GMA’s administration and that association raises a red flag for some people too.
I don’t think it is a studied approach but the natural thinking and rationalizations and contradictions of a manipulative totalitarian. It is the same across history.
> I hear the PNP chief take an “If you are not with us, you are against us” stand against criminality while proclaiming his endless loyalty to President Duterte.
The only looming archenemy the “showbiz” General would be facing soon is Senator Lacson.
Hi Juana,
I talk to people from all walks. A car wash attendant was wearing the blue baller, so I asked him if he was satisfied so far with the performance of President Duterte. “Yes,” he said. Then he added, “I’m from Mindanao.” Regional ties that bind. A friend in my company, we are both Christians, and we revel in transformation stories, like “I was like this, and now I am this way…” He is a neighbor of the mayor. A neighbor. Swears by his simplicity and vow of poverty. “He didn’t enrich himself in office, lives in the same house.” Reading my anti-Duterte posts in campaign, he disengaged from FB altogether. Today, we still greet each other in brotherly embrace but we don’t talk politics. Is he proud of his choice? I don’t know. He must be. He wears the blue baller, too. We’re a funny duo, me with my yellow baller, he with the blue. Take a picture of us. That’s the Philippines. (Although we’re down to nine per cent, a statistic that doesn’t make sense. President Duterte has 90 per cent? As Popeye would say, “Well, blow me down.”)
Will
Thank you, Will. It is a great article. Gives us a birds-eye view of the life in PH right now. Your response also provides a touching picture of reality there.
I have a feeling that a lot of people over there right now are walking on eggshells. The PDI editorial cartoon on July 25th says it all:
Will. will you be posting this article in English ? I hope that happens as I really have no clear idea or feel of it yet, being in Tagalog which do not understand…
He asked if he should do an English translation, and I said no because I thought there was greater authenticity by having the article stand in its native tongue.
Bill, hi! Thanks for your love for things Philippines. I appreciate your good person.
senior citizen na pero nagpapaaral pa rin? ng mga apo o mga anak? mukhang late bloomer pag mga anak pa lang ang pinapaaral
mas kapakapaniwala po sana kung hindi nya binanggit ang kontraktwalisasyon kasi di naman sya apektado maliban lang kung sya ay kontraktual nuon at di napermanente o di kaya ung esposa nya
DAgimas, hi! Salamat sa pagpuna. Pwede rin kasi second marriage. Hahaha! Pero, I’ll be more careful next time. Napansin ko rin yun, pero hinayaan ko na lang. Mahirap din kasing maging creative writer habang nababagabag sa dami ng EJK at collateral damage. Mabuhay ka!
Natural lang magkomentaryo ng samut saring paksa,dito nga nagkokomentaryo ako kahit di ko pa gets masyado.
ang kontrakualisasyon ay nasa dyaryo at tv.
siguro nag eempathize sya,ewan ko lang.
Sharing a comment from Moonglowplanet e-group:
Re: [MOONGLOWPLANET] Ang State of the Nation Ayon sa Isang Tricycle Driver
Marlowe Camello
Today at 8:31 AM
Kagalang-galang na Wilfredo Villanueva,
101% hangang-hanga ako sa inyong articulo. Talagang tunay ang mga sinasabi ninyo. Maraming salamat sa inyong payhag.
Maaring mapalapit tayo sa inyong hinahangad kung may-ayos natin ang ating hustisya. Ang ating bansa ay demokratiko, pero ang problema ang hustisya natin ay hindi ayon sa demcrasya. Ang hustisya natin ay sariling kontrolado nga mga mayayaman at ng mga maykapangyarihan. Upang matamo natin ang tunay na demokrasya, tayong mga ordinaryong mamayan ay dapat magkaro-on din ng buto at kontrol sa hustisya upang maging pantay-pantay ang hustisya para sa mga pobre at mga mayaman. Para sa kanilang mga opisyalis ng gobyerno, tayong mga ordinaryong mamayan ay wala daw tayong paki sa hustisya. Sila lamang po ang maykapangyarihan ng hustisya. Ang ibig sabihin, ang demokrasya ay para lamang sa kanilang proteksiyon, at secondary lamang tayong mga ordinaryong mamayan.
Ang pinakama-ipictibo na sulosyon sa problema na inisaysay ninyo ay dapat mabigyan ang mga ordinaryong mamamapayan ng buto sa hustisya. Ang tawag ng sistema na ito ay Jury System na nabubu-o ng dalawang klasi: Ang una ay ang GRAND JURY at ang pangalawa ay ang TRIAL JURY. Ang mga jury ay nabubu-o ng mga ordinaryong mamamayan at binibigyan sila ng instruction kung papa-ano ang kanilang gagawa-in kapag naging miembro na sa mga jury. Mayro-ong mga grupo na nagpapalakad upang ipatayo ang mga sistemang ito sa para-an ng people’s initiative. Ikuntak lamang po sila Daisy Bretholt at si Sixto Kilatis. Makontak ninyo sila sa kanilang mga facebook.
Maraming salamt, Peace be with you in the name of Jesus, our Lord.
Marlowe
—–Original Message—–
From: A1.Moonglow@shaw.ca [MOONGLOWPLANET]
To: MOONGLOWPLANET
Sent: Wed, Jul 27, 2016 12:45 am
Subject: [MOONGLOWPLANET] Ang State of the Nation Ayon sa Isang Tricycle Driver
—snip—
No one is an unjust villain in his own mind. Even – perhaps especially – those who are the worst of us. Some of the cruelest tyrants in history were motivated by noble ideals, or made choices that they would call ‘hard but necessary steps’ for the good of their nation. We’re all the hero of our own story. – – Jim Butcher
Thanks, Winda, for the share. It still comes down to corruptibility. There’s this novel, it details how the jury is corrupted. Not a very good prospect for the Philippines, knowing how the big guys can tamper with just about everything sacred. Please convey my felicitations as well to Marlow Camello.
The peace of Christ be with you as well, Brother Marlowe. Watched Ignacio de Loyola last night. Your peace greeting and the movie makes me believe that God has a purpose for us, if only we followed His principles to the letter. Justice can only happen when each one of us is willing to obey the law ourselves, stop the blame game and be humble enough to follow authority.