Nang Sumulat si Rody Duterte Kay Rody Duterte
Reflecting on what to say in his letter? [Photo source: Philstar]
ni Wilfredo G. Villanueva
Ang liham na ito ay isang kathang isip lamang ng inyong abang lingkod:
Mahal kong Rody,
Pasensya na, hindi ako magaling mag-Pilipino, pero pipilitin kong gamitin ang ating sariling wika para sa kapakanan ng nakakaraming rehiyon. Pero kung minsan, mag-e-English na lang ako kung mahirap madakip ang tamang salita na nasa dulo ng dila ko. Sana Cebuano na lang, pero hindi ganun karami ang nakakaintindi nito.
Simula nang naiyak ako sa puntod ng aking mahal na Mama, tutuo naman na nagpunyagi akong maging mabuting presidente, hindi lang para sa mga bumoto sa akin kundi sa buong sambayan, maka-Duterte man o hindi. Talaga.
Dalawang taon na rin ako nanunungkulan. Iniisip ko kung minsan, naiayos ko ba ang bansa o lalo lang gumulo ito? Naging mabuti ba akong halimbawa o masama ang natututunan ng mga batang paslit sa kilos at pananalita ko? At ang ordinaryong mamamayan: naging palamura at bayolente ba sila sa isa’t-isa? Dumami ba ang sumasangguni sa akin, o nalagas na ba ang sumusuporta sa akin noong eleksiyon ng 2016? Naging masaya ba ako, nakakatulog ba ako nang mahimbing sa gabi, naniniwala pa ba ako na ako ang hinahanap na pinuno ng Pilipinas?
Oo naman, naiayos ko ang bansa. Ang Build Build Build program na kung saan ilulunsad ang mga proyekto na magdadala sa ating bayan sa modernisasyon ay hinihintay na lang ang release ng mga loans, karamihan galing China, ang bagong tuklas na kaibigan ng Pilipinas. Mahal ko ang China, mahal ko si Xi Jinping. True love ito, Rody. Akalain mo, ipagtatanggol daw ako ng China kung patatalsikin ako sa pwesto ng taumbayan, kasi daw we will go to the dogs. Ang galing, ano? Saan ka pa. Nakaka-inspire. At madali lang siya mag-approve ng mga requests for financial assistance. Wala siyang kuskos balungos, walang hinihingi kundi ang ating pagkakaibigan. Ang sweet, ‘no?
Ngunit, malakas ang ugong sa Facebook na malupit daw ang China maningil ng interes, may nagsasabing aabot pa sa seven per cent. Malaki nga naman ito kung ihahambing sa less than one per cent ng International Monetary Fund-World Bank at bansang Hapon. Pero ano ang magagawa ko? Hinihingan ako ng compliance sa nakakatawang nakakainit ng ulong human rights policies. P—-g i-a! Akala mo naman, lahat ng bansa tumutupad o sang-ayon sa human rights advocacies. Hindi! Hindi ako papayag sa mapanikil na requirements! Sana naiintindihan ako ng aking mga kababayan na kailangan kong sumandal sa China para mapuksa ang demonyong kahirapan na sumasakal sa sambayanan. Ano ang gusto nila, ganito na lang tayo ng ganito, hindi mapagdudugtong-dugtong ang mga bayan-bayan ng Mindanao, halimbawa, kung kaya kailangan natin ng railway system sa buong isla ng Promised Land?
At ano ang gusto ng mga bumabatikos, hindi ko na pupuksain ang drugs, itigil ko na ang drug war na kumitil at kumikitil ng mga buhay ng nakararaming Pilipino, na karamihan ay dukhang katulad ko? Pasensyahan na lang tayo. Ang mahihirap kasi kung maka-adik, magulo, pumapatay, nang-re-rape, gumawa ng mga karumal-dumal na krimen. Siyempre ang mahihirap ang masasagasaan ng drug war ko, kasi mali ang gamit nila ng drugs. Ang mga may kaya, hindi gaanong nato-tokhang gawa nang nasa isang lugar lang naman sila at hindi nambubulahaw, walang krimeng nagaganap.
Kaya ipagpapatuloy ko ang drug war kahit na habulin ako ng International Criminal Court. Ipahuhuli ko ang sino mang ponsyo pilato na pupunta sa atin at ihahabla ako. Ako, huhulihin? Sino ba sila? P—-g i-a! Ipahuhuli ko talaga sila sa mga pulis at sundalo ko.
Oo, inaamin ko, hindi ako mabuting halimbawa. Kung hindi ako si Duterte at may apo akong lalake man o babae, ipagbabawal ko siyang manood ng tv kung andun ako. Hindi ko talaga mapigilan ang sarili ko. Parang kakambal ko ang mura. Wala na akong magagawa duon.
Nadadagdagan ba ang 16 million na bumoto sa akin? Kung magbabasa ako ng Facebook, parang marami na rin suklam sa akin na bumoto kay Rody Duterte. Ewan ko kung tutuo. Meron akong troll farm, hindi ko ipinagkakaila, pero malamang ang Liberal Party at Dilawan mayroon ding nakatagong keyboard warriors kuno. Mga bayaran yan! P—-g i-a! Marami silang pera. Kayang-kaya nilang bayaran yan si Pinoy Ako Blog at iba pa. Pa-resibo-resibo pa. Wala naman ‘yan. Bakit hanggang ngayon, andito pa rin ako? Mga minor blogger yang mga yan, talo sila ni Mocha na may seven million followers. Kaya importante sa akin si Mocha. Ano? Hubadera lang naman si Mocha, sabi mo? Bastos ka naman, alam ko. Kunwari ka pa, Rody.
Pero, paano na yun kung tutuo nga na lumiliit na ang mundo ko? Ah, hindi. Hindi pwedeng mangyari yun. Ang galing ko yata. Tingnan mo, nung nakipag-lips-to-lips ako sa South Korea, ang lakas ang palakpakan at hiyawan. Nabuhay ang audience. Nakilig nang husto. Andun pa rin ang magic ko, yung magic ko na namumulaklak kapag nambabastos ako. Walang kupas. Rock star ka pa rin. Rody Duterte, inyong lingkod, tutuong tao.
Masaya ba ako? Of course! Presidente ako, nanalo ako, walang sinabi ang mga bayot sa akin. May sekreto ako, at sa ‘yo ko lang, Rody, sasabihin. Hindi naman seryoso ang Pilipino. Kahit ano, tatanggapin niya, basta happy lahat. Parang lasingan lang; tagay kayo dyan. Hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang hagalpakan nung sinabi ko na sana si Mayor ang nauna. Nagulat din ako sa reaksyon nila. Usually, sinasabi ko yun pagkainuman ng mga ka-close ko. Nag-alinlangan nga ako nuon sa rally kung sasabihin ko ba yun, pero hindi kasi ako ipokrito, so sinabi ko. Hanggang ngayon umaalingawngaw pa rin sa tenga ko ang tawanan sa aking rape joke. May diperensiya ba ang Pilipino, Rody? Diyos lang ang makapagsasabi niyan. Ay, oo nga pala, Rody, mahina nga pala ang Diyos, so okay lang ako. Wala pa ring tatalo kay Rody Duterte, ‘di ba, Rody Duterte? Kahit Diyos walang sinabi sa akin, ‘di ba? Minura ko nga ang Papa, may nangyari bang masama sa akin? Wala ‘yang Diyos ng Katoliko. Luluhod sa akin yan.
Pero may ikukumpisal ako sa ‘yo. Hirap ako makatulog. Mabuti may Fentanyl. Ayos lang naman ako, nakakatulog pa rin, kaya lang kadalasan, late ako sa appointments kasi hirap ako gumising. Mabuti andyan ang aking butihing alalay, si Bong Go, na gumigising sa akin. Dapat talaga siyang senador. Talaga. Malaki ang serbisyo niya sa bayan ko. Mahirap yata akong gisingin.
Anong sabi mo, tagabitbit lang siya ang bag ko? Oy, hindi ah. Madalas kaming mag-usap niyan. Marami akong napupulot sa kanya. Sa kanya nga nanggagaling ang lakas loob ko. Araw-araw niya kasi ibinubulong sa akin na I am the greatest. Galing ano? Parang Ali. At ito pa: magaling siyang makihalubilo sa Chinese. Chinese din kasi siya. Go, ‘di ba? Kailangan siya ng bayan ko. Kailangan ko ang China, h’wag kakalimutan.
Ano ang gagawin ko West Philippine Sea? Sus. Dagat lang yun, wala naman laman yun. Hayaan mo na sa China yun. Gamitan lang yan. Gamitin natin ang China para sa ating Build Build Build at sa kanya na ang karagatang walang laman. Sure ako, tama ang ginagawa ko. Iniisahan ko lang naman ang China.
Ako pa rin ba ang kandidatong humalik sa bandila, ako pa rin ba ang pinunong pinakahihintay ng nakararami, kung kaya ang sigaw ay “Change is Coming?”
Inaamin ko, ang dami ko ring pagkukulang. Unang-una, hindi ako nag-metamorphose gaya ng promise ko. Alam naman ng lahat, palamura pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. Lumalala pa nga yata. ‘Yan ang kape ko, mura. Hahaha!
Ang dami na ring namatay sa drug war. Pero ganun din naman ang nangyari sa Davao, kung kaya nawala ang drug problem namin duon. ‘Di ba, ibinoto ako’t nanalo dahil sa ginawa ko sa Davao? O, ba’t nagrereklamo ang taumbayan if I apply my methods in Davao on a nationwide scale? Pero paminsan-minsan, meron pa ring nahuhuling mga prohibited substance sa Davao, alam ko. Kaya ba talagang puksain ang drugs? Hindi yata. Alam ko, sinabi ko six months susugpuin ko ang drugs. Kasalanan ko ba kung naniwala ang mga tao sa akin? Sus. Sino ang nagpauto? Mabuti uto-uto ang taumbayan at ‘di nila ginagawang issue ang six months laban sa akin. Mababaw lang talaga ang kaligayahan ng Pilipino. Magmura lang ako, manghalik, mambastos sa babae, hiyawan, palakpakan na sila. Everybody happy. Ang dali nila i-govern. Just be my vulgar self, at happy na ang lahat.
Pasensya na lang sa mga naapektuhan ng mga pamamaraan ko. Talaga namang may collateral damage at war time, ‘di ba? Kesa naman maging narco state tayo, ‘di ba, Rody? I really hate drugs! P—-g i—g drugs ‘yan!
Ano pa? Yung bank account? Wala yun. Wala talaga. Yung tattoo ni Polong? Wala rin yun. Itong si Trillanes, talaga, wala naman ito. Sa aming dalawa, sino ang mas may nagawa para sa bayan?
So, tuloy ang ligaya, Rody. Masaya naman ang Pilipino. Mura’t bastusan lang ang katapat. Wala akong problema. Maka-Fentanyl nga ulit.
Ang lubos na nagmamahal,
Rody Duterte
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
Masaya ang pambansang barangay ni Digong. Happy-happy sa Presidente. Presidente ng Senado komedyante din. Korte Supremo parang barkadahan, talsik ang di marunong makisama. At saka nagmamarunong. Iyan, anong napala ni Sereno sa sobrang pag-aaral. Ayaw ng barangay ng mga sobrang ambisyoso, pati na rin anak ni Leni na pa Harvard-Harvard, kala mo sosyal. Buti pa mga katulad ni Pacquaio, normal ang talino. Para sa ibang bagay, mataas naman ang Intelligence fund.
Pagdating ng 2021, masaya ang pagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng pagpapatay kay Magellan. Wala na sigurong mga puti na kolonyalista sa Pilipinas. Mga kaibigang Intsik na lang, at iilang Hapon.
Huwag kayong maingay – si Bong Go, pinakabagong modelo ng android robot na made in China.
Paminsan-minsan, inaayos si Bong Go kapag may nakitang weakness.
Noong bandang huli, nanghina siya kay Kris Aquino. Hindi kaya ng programa niya.
*******
1. These are the original Three Laws of Robotics by Asimov:
1.1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
1.2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
1.3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
2. These are Bong Go’s et al programmed instructions:
2.1. A robot may injure a human being and, by action or inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, especially when the human being is into drugs or is opposed to Rodrigo Duterte & Company.”.
2.2. A robot must obey the orders given it by RD&C especially where such orders comply with the First Law.
2.3. A robot must protect its own existence by various measures — such as through fraud and bribery, not offering apologies, and running for the Senate or higher office — which will afford RD&C protection in accordance with the First and Second Laws.
3. NB: The term “Rodrigo Duterte & Company” includes China.
*****
Naging maganda ba siyang ehemplo sa dalawang taon niyang panunungkulan? HINDI. Masama ang tabas ng bibig…sobra~
Sobra talaga. Thanks, Arlene.
Insan, may kasabihan ang lola ko tungkol sa namamangka sa dalawang ilog; pero hindi tugma sa problema na tawag sa Francie as menage a trois. Tatlo sila kasi habang ang presidente ay kaibigan ng Tsina at kaaway naman ng local na kumonista mawawari ba ng bayan kung talagang tatalunin ang kaaway ng bayan habang nakikipagtalik sa Tsina. Marami pa rin yata ang natutulog sa pancitan kung hindi nila nakikita itong mapagkunwaring sitwasyon. Mga Wakarang.,
Si Roilo Golez natatandaan ko Pogi bagong gradwayt ng Annapolis, nahirang na Administrator ng MARINA, nagsalita matapos ang isang training nagsabi, kung alam ko lang ganyan kaganda ang training na ito, sana kasama rin akong nagtapos at tumanggap ng certificate of completion. Nagpatuloy siya bilang marangal at masigasig na appointed at elected public official ng Filipinas. Sa diktadura o sa demokrasya man ang kanyang bansa, dalisay ang kanyang serbisyo sa sambayanan. Sumalangit Nawa ang kanyang kalulwa.
Mura, pambubulley, pambabastos lang katapat ng Filipino, masaya na.
Happy together sila. Thanks, Jun!
Terrific satire! thanks to W.G. Villanueva! “Change is coming?” — nonsense rather! Du30 has a very low regard for the Filipino — for his own people! He should apply for citizenship in China.
Thanks, Brod! (Will Villanueva ’70)
*******
1. Rody talking – or writing — to himself. Sounds right.
2. Can we go back to talking about music? That music interlude was too short.
3. This return to the National Horror is too much, too soon.
4. He has upped the ante: “Kahit Diyos walang sinabi sa akin, ‘di ba? Minura ko nga ang Papa, may nangyari bang masama sa akin? Wala ‘yang Diyos ng Katoliko. Luluhod sa akin yan.”
5. The Center for Global Education states in “Religion in the Philippines:” ”The Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. More than 86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations.”
6. In a Guardian article by Erica Chenoweth, there was this claim: ”Historical studies suggest that it takes 3.5% of a population engaged in sustained nonviolent resistance to topple brutal dictatorships. [Bolding mine.]
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/01/worried-american-democracy-study-activist-techniques
7. To this possibility, Rody anticipates: ”Mahal ko ang China, mahal ko si Xi Jinping. True love ito, Rody. Akalain mo, ipagtatanggol daw ako ng China kung patatalsikin ako sa pwesto ng taumbayan, kasi daw we will go to the dogs. Ang galing, ano? Saan ka pa. Nakaka-inspire.”
8. Rody has issued a challenge. Best of 9 games. By the end of the month, the score will be 2-0.
*****
A good time was had by all. It’s a keeper, all the comments on music. Gotta find time to click on the links. Thanks, Edgar!
OO, hindi karapat-dapat maging presidente si Rodrigo. Isa syang halimaw. Abnormal. Gago.
Pero sya ay sintomas lamang sa pangkalahatang abnormal na sitwasyon ng bansa.
Isa ako sa maraming sumusuporta na sana ay mapaalis na sya.
Pero papano ang pamamalakad sa sistema pagkatapos sakaling magawa na natin yon?
Sa huli, hindi lamang ang halimaw na si Rodrigo ang kailangan nating konprontahin, kailangan din nating konprontahin ang halimaw ng kahirapan na tumutuklaw sa napakarami nating kababayan.
Chicken and egg, Micha. Did poverty happen first, or was it the politicians that caused poverty? We live in interesting times. I’d be surprised if nothing good comes out of this, because by all indications, this is rock bottom.
Nope, politicians are mere servants of the plutocrats – those suckers of wealth that makes everybody else poor.
Madame Butterfly though played both roles – as a deft politician and sucker of wealth.
The failure to provide, discuss, and articulate a clear alternative not just to Rodrigo’s horrible style of governance but to the systemic monopoly of wealth and power by the privileged few is the reason why, despite his horribleness, Rodrigo still commands substantial following.
We might call his followers deluded or stupid and ignorant but, all things being equal, they don’t see why going back to the established order – the so called “normal” – would be any better or make any difference for them.
“The failure to provide, discuss, and articulate a clear alternative not just to Rodrigo’s horrible style of governance but to the systemic monopoly of wealth and power by the privileged few…”
One of things that annoys me a bit is that the opposition appear as if they don’t even discuss much with regards to systemic alternatives on even just the political side of things, despite recent events and moves by the administration (i.e. Quo Warranto case) hinting at the possibility of very troubling cracks in the foundations of the political system.
That doesn’t even touch on the economic side of things—but the fact that we don’t have much of a discussion about the systemic issues with just our political system (outside of the academia and isolated pockets here and there) shows just how…poor our society as a whole is when it comes to just grasping and comprehending our problems as a society.
“We might call his followers deluded or stupid and ignorant but, all things being equal, they don’t see why going back to the established order – the so called “normal” – would be any better or make any difference for them.“
Populism is a lie—but the best lies, as they say, are deceptions with truth mixed in; a half-lie, a quarter-truth, nine-tenths a lie…
“…the opposition appear as if they don’t even discuss much with regards to systemic alternatives on even just the political side of things.”
Very true. Much of the ruckus was instead about Kris taking on Uson and then the popular clamor for her to run as senator.
Pathetic, given the scale of our political problem.
I think the opposition’s task is great given the way personalities and politics stand as a barrier to principled, unified opposition. I do believe, however, that there will be a slate of responsible senatorial candidates put forward from opposition parties in 2019. The trick is to get the public to understand the choice between fast fake gratification and real quality representation. Many see the former as satisfying and the latter as fake.
Also, a few months ago, I did a tweet “Kris Aquino for Senate” and it got almost no likes. If I did it today, I imagine it would get a lot of likes. So showmanship has to have a context to translate into popularity at the polls, and her standing up to Mocha Uson was the context that many found inspirational. That has little to do with economic matters directly, I think, but rather the penchant for instant gratification built into the Filipino psyche through centuries of need. It’s a problem for the competent and right thinking. Their audience wants it “now” and it is virtually impossible to deliver it “now”.
@Joe
That Kris’ favorability to run for senate remarkably increased after her confrontation with Uson may illustrate what Francis call the irrationality of humans when it comes to politics. There’s just simply not enough light out there to allow voters to discern clearly what’s in their best interest. And when we come to this point it’s easy to be swayed and be seduced by the pied piper’s tune of authoritarianism disguised in benevolence and lots of good intentions.
If, however, we decide to plunge through with the democratic project with all its chaos and pitfalls and charm and craziness, there’s no other way around it but to democratize both wealth and power. A healthy democracy requires a healthy citizenry.
Political enlightenment does not normally come to people who constantly worry about their basic day to day survival. This is the connection of politics to economics. Democratize wealth so you enable folks and voters to have access to useful and critical information that will guide their rational choices in democratic events such as, you know, elections.
Is that too much to ask?
Well, consider the alternative.
Consider the reign of one crazy maniac from Davao.
Seems to me you are “spot on”. No arguments today. 🙂
Joe, you might be suffering from the Cassandra effect: you foretell the future accurately but few believe. 🙂
The tea leaves line up, I report.
@Will
I suppose that what is crucial is not so much which factor came first—but rather the fact that our terrible political system (my view is that it is often not the politicians badness or goodness that ultimately matters, but rather the overall system they inhabit in) and the immense economic inequality of our system both feed off each other and produce a vicious cycle that leaves our society dangerously vulnerable to populist siren calls.
The point that @Micha emphasizes (and the point that I would agree with) is that true change or reform in society is a “two-front” war; it involves not just political change, but also economic change—though admittedly the particulars of the latter are much harder to pin down and often subject to especially contentious debate.
*******
Missing the moral factor?
*****
@Edgar,
I do not mean the morality or morals have no place in politics—norms are crucial. This is rooted in my strong disagreement with those who believe that politics should be “sanitized,” “apolitical,” and most of all, “objective.” I believes that politics has to tackle morality—and cannot avoid morality in any way—because politics is a crucial dimension of human life, humans are deeply irrational beings and find their logical (the mind) and irrational (gut) selves inseparable (heart), and therefore politics is messy subjective business, even if it involves a ton of objective facts.
What I mean is that the individual morality of a politician, i.e. the concrete manifestations of this individual morality, are ultimately constrained (or enhanced) by the characteristics and structure of the system(s) the politicians reside in. You can have a politician who is—as a human being—a good person (or bad) but his/her goodness or badness is ultimately restricted/encouraged by the system(s) he/she has to work in. A politician’s potential is essentially limited to what the system allows; no matter how good a politician may be, if stuck in a terrible system—that politician will be lackluster.
One can say Filipino politics is filled with such examples.
That’s why I said, “…my view is that it is often not the politicians badness or goodness that ultimately matters, but rather the overall system they inhabit in.” I am not saying that the individual morality is not important, but rather that in the final analysis—it is the general trends, the wider context that wins the “war” so to speak.
Francis,
I have posted the concept before, but presenting it again here with some variation. Please refer to the diagram below.
In the context of the diagram, you are undoubtedly right. Our “democratic goals” is the end we would like to get. The main element of the “means” is through our politicians. But they are not operating in a vacuum: they are driven mainly by the “current circumstances or situation or system” and the “constraints” they have to operate with.
Without knowing precisely what has to be done, the main question then is how to change the Situation/ System and loosen the Constraints so that the politicians as the main factor of the Means will help to achieve — rather than pose a barrier — to our desired Goal
edgar’s thought is important in the sense that in changing the Situation/ System, we do not lose our sanity or morality.
*******
Morality should inform politics. Not the other way around.
The overall system that politicians inhabit right now is one of corruption.
The overall system that the nation inhabits right now is one of corruption.
So, yes, the politician’s potential is “limited” to what the system dictates… but only if the politician allows it.
There are a few souls who not are allowing it, who are not limiting themselves to what the system dictates.
Robredo. De Lima. Trillanes. Bam. Pangilinan. Alejano. Belmonte. Bagao. Baguilat. Gascon. Carpio-Morales. Caguiao. Sereno. Hilbay. PNoy.
We have to lift the overall system to a level that approaches Singapore, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and others.
It is not a two-front war. Politics and the economy are being brought down by immorality.
*****
The word “economy” triggers a recollection of some of my readings today. The Philippine Peso has breached the 53 PHP per USD level today. No doubt there are external factors to this, but how much is the internal factor responsible for this? There are quite a few that may be mentioned, but I will leave the readers to consider the latter or not.
Of course, one of the implications of the Peso rate is obvious. Though the price of crude oil has gone down, the Peso rate may temper the positive effect of the decline of general prices.
From maxdefence.
Kixz Alfonso Not the first time. Before 2016 election there was an incidence a mainland Chinese aircraft was spotted in Davao city.
https://joeam.com/…/mayor-duterte-and-china-a-demand…/
OT: Roilo Golez is dead early this morning.
Huge loss. I followed him on Twitter. By all accounts a rare, true, dedicated Filipino patriot.
Yes, a patriot. I followed him too — though not on twitter. He was a graduate of the PMA. What a waste: half of his political life at HOR (4 terms?) should have been at the Senate.
Popoy Del R. Cartanio says:
June 11, 2018 at 6:38 pm
medio pasingit uli. . .
Si Roilo Golez natatandaan ko Pogi bagong gradwayt ng Annapolis, nahirang na Administrator ng MARINA, nagsalita matapos ang isang training nagsabi, kung alam ko lang ganyan kaganda ang training na ito, sana kasama rin akong nagtapos at tumanggap ng certificate of completion. Nagpatuloy siya bilang marangal at masigasig na appointed at elected public official ng Filipinas. Sa diktadura o sa demokrasya man ang kanyang bansa, dalisay ang kanyang serbisyo sa sambayanan. Sumalangit Nawa ang kanyang kalulwa.
I saw Roilo Golez up close twice. The first was on the morning following the mutiny in Camp Crame. He was in the ramparts we were constructing at the corner of White Plains and Epifanio delos Santos avenues. Yes, he was one of the first ones to show his patriotism in February 1986. The second was about 30 years later, as he was discussing with me the benefits of a product for network marketing. He is versatile—a democrat and freedom fighter, technocrat, and an astute businessman. He was tireless, collapsing I suppose while about to deliver a speech out of town. He died with his boots on. Incidentally, he really wore cowboy boots in our second meeting. Farewell, Roilo Golez. You lived life to the full, forever looking for ways to make our country a better place in which to live. May you rest in peace in God’s embrace.
Impression from Wiki’s account: Cong Golez had markings of polymath in praxis. RIP.
A KILL JOY
I am being a kill joy here. But there is a historic event tomorrow (Manila time). If I understand it right the Trump-KJU meeting is supposed to happen in Singapore’s Sentosa Island on June 12 at 9AM (Manila Time).
Two strategies diametrically opposite are,
1. CVID = complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the NK’s nuclear program, including the missile system and refraining from proliferating the associated technologies.
2. Synchronized or phased — most probably slow process of — denuclearization, leaving wiggle room (?).
— the first, Trump’s desired strategy and the second, at the most, Kim Jong Un’s strategy.
Obviously, to insist on one of those strategies is a no-go, so a third strategy,
3. A creative strategy somewhere between the two is needed. What this will be is the question.
Just musing here on the eve of this historic meeting.
On leveraging from strength: Un has more need than the US side. Just saying.
Sonny,
The link is a short article you may find interesting concerning leverage. George Friedman, the author of the article, explains the leverage that comes from “asymmetry of interest.”
Essentially, Friedman explains why an apparently weak opponent wins over a stronger, big opponent. Friedman illustrates why Vietnam won over the US and the French before. Vietnam’s interest was existential, whereas the US interest is not on the same imperative need for existence, it has other world interest, so the latter can walk away, while the Vietnam cannot do that. This is asymmetry of interest. “Beware of that puny weakling who nevertheless is willing to risk his life versus a big bully who may have other interests — like his many girl friends, etc.”
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/war-asymmetry-interests/?utm_source=GPF+-+from+George+Friedman&utm_campaign=adafd3b5bd-GPF_Weekly_GPF_FREE&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ad288f5e57-adafd3b5bd-255866661&mc_cid=adafd3b5bd&mc_eid=64b85b474f
Thank you much for the article, NH. Off the bat the theme reminds me of the many configurations that result from both symmetry and asymmetry. Symmetry points to the myriad of chemical isomers that exist in organic compounds due to symmetry. The asymmetry of interests as described in the article gives the other side in the political arena in either national or international affairs. This accounts for the diverse dynamics that powers such as the US and others employ and deploy. Much insight all around.
Off topic
Hours before the much awaited Meeting between Truimp and Kim Jong Un, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour had some 20 minutes of interview with Singapore’s PM Lee Hsien Loong — the host of the two Heads of States for the Summit. Amanpour questions ranged from Lee’s views of the Trump-Kim Jong Un Meeting; the recent G7 Meeting; the conundrum about China in the context of the Trump-JKU Summit; Singapore’s view of its relation with US vis-à-vis China; and the complaint about the “repression” of the Singapore’s Government against its critics. I stayed glued to the interview. I was very impressed how “Diplomat” Lee expertly answered the questions asked — even the last item: no cuss words used.
Very smart man.
I admire all of you who are contributors here and I gain much knowledge of what’s happening, reading your comments. Thanks Willie Villanueva for this post, I could almost see a musical satire where Duterte sings this ‘ soliloquoy’ almost and ended up very funny indeed with it. Seriously , Jose Rizal’s Fili could never be farther from the truth in every twist and turns of our country’s history. It almost look like a blue print for whatever ails this country and Rizal too could not come up with ‘ the clear alternative to the systemic monopoly of wealth and power to the privileged few’.
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Reminds me of standing at Baguio’s Mines View Park and shouting, “Halloooo!” The echo there is of the mountains reflecting back the shout. This time, there is another soul on a surrounding mountain signaling back, “Oooollah!” Good to know.
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Thanks, Zen. We need to have a conversation, something that didn’t transpire in the days leading to the revolution against Spain. We need to tie up the loose ends, and like Heneral Luna to persist in doing what is right in spite of great personal pain, even death. Where is the Philippines headed if VP Leni Robredo were to assume the presidency? We could be back to square one, bickering again instead of uniting with her and her sugo. The situation calls for nothing less than a personal transformation, a maturing, like the pilgrims from Plymouth did. As Prof. Edgar Lores is saying, he’s missing a Pilipino philosophy. We’re so easy to buy (votes, islands, political loyalties, anything that can be bought) because we don’t have a harbor, no comfort zone except for our own behalf. We’re like the banderitas we love to hang in fiestas, good for a day or two, and then is torn down, till the next fiesta, a cycle of highest happiness and lowest gloom. Maybe it’s our geographical location, that a storm can destroy in an instant anything that we build. We haven’t landed from balanghais, adrift in stormy seas.
“Dalawang taon na rin ako nanunungkulan. Iniisip ko kung minsan, naiayos ko ba ang bansa o lalo lang gumulo ito? Naging mabuti ba akong halimbawa o masama ang natututunan ng mga batang paslit sa kilos at pananalita ko? At ang ordinaryong mamamayan: naging palamura at bayolente ba sila sa isa’t-isa? Dumami ba ang sumasangguni sa akin, o nalagas na ba ang sumusuporta sa akin noong eleksiyon ng 2016? Naging masaya ba ako, nakakatulog ba ako nang mahimbing sa gabi, naniniwala pa ba ako na ako ang hinahanap na pinuno ng Pilipinas?”
If Duterte actually had that capacity and disposition to ask those questions of himself and answer them truthfully, his government would not have been where it is now. If this president and the 16 million or so Filipinos that voted for him had the habit of observing and examining their thoughts, ideas, and feelings, the Philippines would have been in a far better place a long time ago.
Unfortunately, they are like the wild animal with a thorn stuck in its paw. It is in pain, it is hurting but it doesn’t have the ability to investigate what is causing its suffering. And all it can do is act up, roar in anger, and lash out at anything that gets in its way. It reacts to the pain because that is all it can do.
“Without self knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself and he will always remain a slave. ”
G. I. Gurdjieff
To ‘lash out at anything that gets in its way.” I remember my dog Liz, when she was new and had her paw got stuck in a steel grill at home. I tried to rescue her, and she bit my arm full on. She wasn’t accustomed to loving touch, to a rescue. Everything is against her, because of the pain. We’re a people in trauma. We need to forgive the past and move on from there. When will we accept the pain and be open to rescue? But not from the Marcoses, Arroyos, China, okay?