Bard Knows the Philippines
Analysis and Opinion
By Joe America
The picture is by Bing (“create a scene in the Philippines of combat between dynastic forces and rebellious voters with the President to the side watching”), and the language is by Bard, who recites my prompt and writes:
________________
I can’t draw a poster, but I can describe it to you.
The poster would have three circles, one for the President, one for the Dynasties, and one for the Voters. The President would be in the top center, the Dynasties would be on the left side, and the Voters would be on the bottom center.
There would be three arrows. One arrow would go from the President to the Dynasties, labeled “Pork.” This arrow would represent the way that the President gives favors and money to the Dynasties in exchange for their support.
Another arrow would go from the Dynasties to the Voters, labeled “Control.” This arrow would represent the way that the Dynasties use their money and influence to control the Voters.
The third arrow would go from the Voters to the President, labeled “Populism.” This arrow would represent the way that the Voters are drawn to the President’s promises of change and reform.
The poster would be a visual representation of the way that power and influence is concentrated in the hands of the Dynasties in the Philippines. It would show how the President is beholden to the Dynasties, and how the Voters are manipulated by them.
The poster would be a call to action for the Voters to break free from the control of the Dynasties and demand real change.
_______________
Is that brilliant, or what? The problem, of course, is that voters can’t break free. Only when they are punished so badly that they riot is change possible. Or a populist leader might conceivably come along who is actually competent at governance.
I’m of the belief that popularity can be manufactured, but only the bad guys know how to do it well. The good guys, like Leni Robredo, do not. They trust that their goodness will shine through, but it doesn’t. The bad guys dominate the media and the message of populism. They control the dynasties who control the local messaging, and it forms the foundation of populism.
The good guys need to do three things that they are not now doing.
- Build local networks (prominent influencers in every locality)
- Build social networks (cascading influencers in every major forum)
- Articulate hard-hitting messages (get down and dirty)
Then the chart can flip. Voters would be at the top, the President to the left side, and Dynasties at the bottom. Of course, voters would have to be smart enough to keep it that way.
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
“Totoy kumilos ka, baliktarin ang tatsulok
Tulad ng dukha, na ilagay mo sa tuktok”
“Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok
Di matatapos itong gulo”
This song played in my mind while reading the article. The songwriter pleads to a youth about doing something to invert the pyramid where the rich dynastic clans are at the top and the poor are at the bottom. The rich get all they want from the society and the poor get nothing, not even crumbs.
Your suggestions on how to flip the chart are great but manpower (leaders, organizers and volunteers), time and money are needed for a nationwide drive. Leni Robredo is very popular and could whip up enthusiasm everywhere she goes. People open their hearts and wallets for her. She has the power to deliver all the three factors for a successful nationwide network. The question is: Will she be willing to get involved? It is too hard to do anything good in PH. Too many trolls, critics and other hurdles. You can even lose your life trying to do the right thing.
Hum a few bars, haha. Yes, you cite the promise and the pragmatics that make success hard. Last time Leni Robredo delayed her decision until too late, and the structure was limited mainly to traveling, and what volunteers did on line. The time to start campaigning is now, as Sara Duterte is doing.
Plus the “cheating” was never investigated by the Robredo camp.
I’m reminded of the US FIBA team. Scrapped together and never full cemented as a team. Winning an election takes time, structure, and effort to craft messaging and build cascading pyramids of influence. The US does it through parties. There is no strong opposition party in the Philippines to do the things Robredo is disinclined to do.
Bleak outlook.
https://politics.com.ph/2023/09/09/heres-what-gloria-arroyo-robredo-discussed-in-buzzworthy-dinner/
dinner with gloria arroyo and arroyo was quick to capitalise, giving statement in social media as soon as. whereas leni is quiet on the issue.
leni had declined invitation to attend pbbm’s sona and yet here she is, smiling and having dinner with arroyo!
My take was that Arroyo was trying to explain away why she was with Robredo. Curt description of the meeting. Robredo will sit with the enemy anytime because she is not defined by them.
https://politics.com.ph/2023/09/09/avengers-assemble-gloria-arroyo-photographed-with-rody-duterte-on-same-week-as-robredo/
gloria arroyo has been busy! and still doing the fist. I would hate to see the day leni among the fisters, and doing the fist too.
She won’t do the fist, I’m confident.
they’ll try to get her to run for senator.
there was too much connivance! say now, or forever hold your peace, and they did not.
last election 2022, pbbm promised rice at 20 pesos per kilo and that got people’s attention. the economists and the moneyed, and those in the know kept quiet and hold their peace. and their silence helped let 20 pesos won.
and now that pbbm is elected and capped rice at circa 40pesos/kg, saka na lang itong mga economists et al nag-alburoto, akala mo sitting on anthill sila, the hypocrites! finance chief diokno among them. alam pala nila not feasible yang 40 pesos, let alone 20 pesos!
buti pa yang isang economista, nag-resign, a casualty of 40pesos. diokno ought to do the same. or maybe, diokno is allegedly a rice smuggler and uberly hurting at the hip pocket, haha.
Diokno makes something like 23 million pesos a year. All he wants is to keep his job.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/11/23/maharlika-board-should-be-headed-by-filipino-diokno
money man diokno has many sidelines, haha. his economist daughter is also high on the hierarchy.
maharlika for the filipinos, by the filipinos, of the filipinos, in short, marhalika will be prune to corruption mayhap and subservient to the world according to diokno.
and if pbbm appoints a higher achieving foreigner with qualifications better than diokno’s, to better able to handle both national and foreign investors, diokno will probly have a fit!
An entertaining arena for sure. Like, who holds the key to the jewell room at the Tower of London?
LOL. great AI write-up it reminded me of what happened here:
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/524482/gwen-technical-boo-boos-a-sabotage-recomputation-set-for-pasigarbo-2023
ahem, why should divine gwen garcia, the gov of cebu, be alarmed? even her darling daughter christina, who is supposed to be very smart and utterly savvy, got scammed big time; christina’s tourism ads that cost nearly 50million was hogwash! with footages copied from the internet and not from our own localities she was trying hard to promote!
sus, ginoo, history repeat itself yata and so soon for the garcias! it comes in threes, wonder what it will be next time . . .
Bard was just updated. See update
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Who is Joe america
Joe America is the pen name of an American-Filipino blogger who writes about the Philippines. He is a retired banking executive with degrees in Mathematics and Radio and Television Arts. He arrived in the Philippines in 2005 and now lives in a rural rice-growing area in the Visayas.
Joe America’s blog, The Society of Honor, is known for its witty and insightful observations on Philippine society. He has been praised for his ability to cut through the political correctness and speak the truth, even when it is uncomfortable.
Joe America’s real identity is unknown. He has said that he uses a pen name to protect his family from reprisal. However, there have been some speculation that he is actually Manuel “Manolo” Quezon III, the former head speechwriter of President Benigno Aquino III.
Whether or not Joe America is Manuel Quezon III, he is a respected voice in Philippine social commentary. His blog is widely read and his opinions are often debated. He is a reminder that even though he is an American, he is also a Filipino who cares deeply about his adopted country.
Here are some of the articles written by Joe America:
“The Society of Honor by Joe America: President Aquino: Like a beat up old car”
“The Society of Honor by Joe America: The Philippines is a nation of happy fools”
“The Society of Honor by Joe America: The Way Forward for the Philippines”
If you are interested in learning more about the Philippines, I recommend reading Joe America’s blog. It is a thought-provoking and insightful look at Philippine society.
My pal Bard. He’s got my back, I’ve got his. Thanks for that uplift this morning.
My pleasure.
Bard was just updated. See update
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Who is benign0
Benign0 is the online alias of Orion Perez D., a Filipino blogger and activist. He is known for his critical and often satirical commentary on Philippine politics and society. Benign0 is also a vocal critic of corruption and human rights abuses.
Benign0’s real name is not publicly known. He has said that he uses the alias to protect his family and friends from retaliation.
Benign0 started his blog in 2008. His blog quickly became popular, and he soon became one of the most influential voices in Philippine online activism. Benign0’s blog has been blocked by the Philippine government several times, but he has always found ways to circumvent the blocks.
Benign0 has also been arrested and detained several times for his activism. In 2011, he was arrested for inciting rebellion after he wrote a blog post criticizing the government’s handling of the Ampatuan massacre. He was released on bail after a few days.
Benign0 continues to write and blog about Philippine politics and society. He is a fearless critic of the government, and his work has helped to raise awareness of important issues in the Philippines.
I hope this answers your question.
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What did Karl Garcia write about in his article Institutionalizing people power in Joe’s blog
I do not have enough information about that person to help with your request. I am a large language model, and I am able to communicate and generate human-like text in response to a wide range of prompts and questions, but my knowledge about this person is limited. Is there anything else I can do to help you with this request?
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What did irineo b r salazar write about in Joe America’s blog
View other drafts
Irineo B.R. Salazar wrote an article titled “The Rise of Authoritarianism in the Philippines” on Joe America’s blog. In the article, Salazar discusses the rise of authoritarianism in the Philippines under the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. He argues that Duterte’s policies, such as his war on drugs and his attacks on the free press, have eroded democratic institutions and created a climate of fear and impunity. Salazar also warns that the Philippines is at risk of becoming a dictatorship if Duterte is allowed to remain in power.
Here are some of the points that Salazar made in his article:
Duterte’s war on drugs has led to the extrajudicial killing of thousands of people.
Duterte has attacked the free press and has called for the closure of critical media outlets.
Duterte has appointed loyalists to key positions in the government, giving him more control over the bureaucracy.
Duterte has threatened to declare martial law, which would give him sweeping powers to suppress dissent.
Salazar argues that these actions are part of a broader pattern of authoritarian behavior by Duterte.
He warns that the Philippines is at risk of becoming a dictatorship if Duterte is allowed to remain in power.
The article was published in 2017, and it has been cited by other journalists and academics who have written about the rise of authoritarianism in the Philippines. It is an important contribution to the understanding of this issue.
Bard got the wrong benign zero.
But quite impressive just the same.
Yes, direct him to Australia and his wife Whacknut. Different result, I bet.
Before even mlq3 call their advocacies as tough love, something Irineo has been showing every now and then but they are just Whacknuts and they are as Duffy Duck said “despicable
‘.
Yes, a third of the Senate is morally bankrupt.
That Bard guy, boy, he gets around.
Today, Richard Heydarian called the Philippines a feudal democracy in an article – that term describes pretty well what Bard told Joe about the Philippines.
So I decided to ask Bard this: “How can the Philippines transition from feudal democracy to real democracy?” and it answered:
“The Philippines has been described as a “feudal democracy” because of the strong influence of wealthy families and clans in politics. These families often control large businesses and landholdings, and they use their wealth and influence to win elections and maintain their power. This system has made it difficult for ordinary people to participate in government and to hold their leaders accountable.
In order to transition to a real democracy, the Philippines needs to address the following challenges:
– Reduce the influence of wealthy families and clans in politics. This could be done through campaign finance reform, which would limit the amount of money that wealthy individuals and businesses can donate to political campaigns. It could also be done by strengthening the power of independent oversight bodies, such as the Commission on Elections.
– Strengthen the rule of law. This means ensuring that everyone is equal before the law, regardless of their wealth or social status. It also means ensuring that the government is accountable to the people, and that it cannot violate their rights.
– Promote transparency and accountability in government. This means making government information more accessible to the public, and ensuring that government officials are held accountable for their actions.
– Encourage civic participation. This means making it easier for ordinary people to participate in government, and to hold their leaders accountable. It could be done by making voting easier, and by providing more opportunities for people to get involved in political decision-making.
These are just some of the challenges that the Philippines needs to address in order to transition to a real democracy. It is a long and difficult process, but it is one that is essential for the country’s future.
Here are some additional things that the Philippines can do to transition from a feudal democracy to a real democracy:
– Strengthen the judiciary. The judiciary is responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring that it is applied fairly. A strong and independent judiciary is essential for any democracy.
– Protect freedom of speech and the press. Freedom of speech and the press are essential for holding the government accountable. The government should not be able to censor the media or punish people for expressing their views.
– Promote education and literacy. Education is essential for people to participate in democracy. An educated citizenry is better able to understand the issues and make informed decisions.
– Fight corruption. Corruption is a major obstacle to democracy. The government should take steps to fight corruption, such as strengthening anti-corruption laws and institutions.
The transition to a real democracy will not be easy, but it is possible. By addressing the challenges outlined above, the Philippines can move closer to a more just and equitable society.”
Evaluation of Bard’s suggested improvements. 1. The Ombudsman is a political loyalist. 2. The Supreme Court is predominantly political loyalists. 3. Government wants more confidential funds and punishes honest people. 4. LGUs won’t let go. 5. See 2. 6. The press remain free; some are political loyalists but some are not. 7. Education is failed and under Duterte is meant to be controlled. 8. Government is so corrupt it cannot undo itself.
The press is the only hope for sense, and if there is a breakout voice like Hontiveros, it will get heard. When the President changes, all 8 suggestions are back in play.
AFP is patriotic moreso than corrupt. But it doesn’t shape governance.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/12/2295747/ombudsman-wants-coa-keep-initial-audit-observations-private
joeam is right about the ombudsman. so why is the honorable ombudsman hankydory-ing of providing late receipts to coa, knowing full well how dire important receipts are! unless the ombudsman need time to doctor receipts and obliterate them to render them meaningless and ineligible, haha.
maybe the honorable ombudsman does not yet know we now have the technology for faster receipts, use smartphones and take pics of receipts and sent them on to coa, right? and always keep the original paper receipts for perusal, in case of conflict.
it must be frustrating for afp, graduates of military academies, disciplined and principled, to be called to the senate to answer questions from self serving feral senators big on tiktok with no sense of decorum and un-informed that no matter how much factual info is given them, the senators still cannot comprehend and the afp is laughed off.
Padilla is a nutcase. I hope they know that.
water cannoning does not only happened in west phil sea, there is also water cannoning in the senate.
I read this morning that one organization that evaluates forms of government has the Philippines as a democratic autocracy. That suggests the power is at the top, not so much at the LGUs as in the feudal characterization. I think maybe Heydarian is closer to the mark.
https://politics.com.ph/2023/09/11/babangon-at-magma-martial-law-imee-imagines-dads-horror-at-bongbongs-rice-strategy/
power at the top in apparent disarray! our democratic autocracy in shambles and fragments.
while pbbm is hell bent on travels abroad chasing whatnots, his sister at home is mightily sowing dissent. it is apparent both brother and sister are playing bad cop, good cop and between them, they have the philippines up against a wall.
and blood being thicker than water and no matter how lacking the brother is, sister will see to it the brother will never be impeached.
as is, sister can only points out problems like everyone does, and magnifying problems like everyone does, but she does not offer solutions or defragment, unlike everyone.
Soap opera
watch it at your own peril!
https://www.rappler.com/nation/senators-question-united-states-help-west-philippine-sea/
our very own democracy is undermined from within the senate. and I thought I’m the only one asking stupid questions. and yet these very same senators are proponents of federalism!
I think, these senators should really sit down, they have a lot of catch up reading to do! keep themselves abreast with what’s going on in our country.
So Padilla is pro-China along with Sister Marcos, Bong Go, and presumably Rock Dela Rosa. Maybe one or two others (Gatchilian?)
too heroic ang mga ito, all heroes for china. and they want mandatory rotc with rotc cadets to be made patriotic just like them.
https://politics.com.ph/2023/09/12/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-ressa-concedes-philippine-press-freedom-improving-under-bongbong-marcos/
the 1st link I posted did not come out, this is the 2nd link.
under pbbm, our freedom of press in improving sabi ng our very own nobel laureate na si ressa. and our judicial law courts are also starting to become independent.
I’d like to crowdsource comments from this group about this:
“Are Filipinos still capable of choosing good over evil, right from wrong, decent over crass?
The results of the last two elections, the rise of social media driven propaganda and the declining intellectual/cultural capacity of Filipinos has made me pessimistic. I think they have chosen the dark side because they are hopeless and cynical which echoes the choices made by Germans in the 1930s in backing Hitler when they were poor and desperate.
The same can be asked of Americans, and Jews, and Brits. Humanity, reason, and community have been turned on their head by liars, thieves, and bullies. Media are complicit, going for the clicks.
filipinos will choose what they think is right for them and what serve their own best interest.
Before when Irineo is implying that the Philippines is hopeless, I get kind off defensive and this was still during the time of Pnoy. Duterte has passed and now I think that he is correct afterall.
If we are learning at all, we are not showing it.
What goodd wil this zoom meetings about Smartmatic driven massive election cheating, if right from the start Leni does not want to be a part of it. I know Col. Odono and he is not at all for Leni. So what are they fighting for?
We lacck good leadership both in the admin and the opposition. A good leader can make people stick together.
https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2023/03/17/2252243/namfrel-findings-support-generals-suspicion-2022-election-rigging
election malcontent, last presidential election won by pbbm.
https://politics.com.ph/2023/09/13/liza-marcos-smartmatic-president-reportedly-met-before-may-2022-polls/
scary this one!
Senator Hontiveros may get thrust into the leadership of the opposition by the VP as the Senator pursues good governance in the face of Duterte’s corrupt thinking.
During the Leni campaign I kept testing if Leni supporters would be willing to adopt tactics used by the evil forces, and it was always rebuffed. Can good still prevail when people are too dumb and too poor and too desperate?
Corrolary to this, are Filipinos still capable of learning and remembering? I’m not too worried say, about the UK betting wrong about Brexit or the US betting on Trump. They suffer, but they sure can learn. How about Filipinos?
Yes. Poverty is the barrier, not mental acuity.
They have to get aggressive or they will lose. They need local and social media armies. Armies, fighting, not nice people. But if they can’t fight for what they believe in, the odds are they will lose again in 2028. The same can be said of the “good” Americans. Fight or lose.
money is needed and lots of it. money can make the spineless grow spines! goodwill can only take you so far. money and sustenance, the sight of wealth being shared no matter how delusional the sight might be, workers ( be they trolls or not) paid and made appreciated with promises of more pay to come, is good enough motive to heave mountains and flatten molehills.
money commands adherence, loyalty even, and votes by the millions.
Money or issues that galvanize. China is a potential galvanizing issue where Duterte can get painted as a China-lover.
debt trap, china’s specialty.
Or maybe they prefer patronage over freedom and the responsibilities it brings?
Caliphman who stopped contributing in 2018 and still reads and occasionally comments wrote back then “what can we do if they prefer to be carabaos”?
I have already broken my mind over all these matters so I prefer to ask Bard about all this: “Do Filipinos prefer patronage to freedom?” and Bard answered:
“It is difficult to say definitively whether Filipinos prefer patronage to freedom. There is no single answer that will apply to all Filipinos, as there is a great deal of diversity in the country. However, there are some factors that suggest that patronage may be a more important value for some Filipinos than freedom.
One factor is the history of the Philippines. The country was colonized by Spain for over 300 years, and during that time, the Spanish system of patronage was deeply ingrained in Filipino society. This system was based on the exchange of favors and obligations between patrons and clients. Patrons, who were usually wealthy or powerful individuals, would provide their clients with protection, jobs, and other benefits. In return, clients were expected to be loyal to their patrons and to vote for them in elections.
The system of patronage continued after the Philippines gained independence in 1946. Today, it is still a major force in Philippine politics. Many politicians rely on patronage networks to get elected and to stay in power. This can lead to corruption and nepotism, as politicians may reward their supporters with government jobs or other favors, regardless of their qualifications.
Another factor that may contribute to the preference for patronage over freedom is the high level of poverty in the Philippines. Many Filipinos live in poverty and struggle to make ends meet. In this situation, they may be more willing to trade their freedom for the security and benefits that come with being a client of a powerful patron.
Of course, not all Filipinos prefer patronage over freedom. There are many Filipinos who are committed to democracy and human rights. However, the factors mentioned above suggest that patronage may be a more important value for some Filipinos than freedom.
It is important to note that the issue of patronage is complex and there is no easy answer. The preference for patronage may vary depending on factors such as the individual’s socioeconomic status, education level, and political beliefs. More research is needed to better understand the factors that influence the preference for patronage over freedom in the Philippines.”
Makulit ako so I asked Bard this follow-up question: “Doesn’t the Filipino patronage system date back to before colonial times?” and it answered:
“Yes, the Filipino patronage system can be traced back to before colonial times. The concept of patronage is rooted in the Filipino cultural values of utang na loob (debt of gratitude) and pakikisama (mutual cooperation). In pre-colonial times, Filipino societies were organized into barangays, which were small, self-sufficient communities. The barangay was led by a datu, who was a powerful leader who provided protection and support to his people. In return, the people were expected to be loyal to the datu and to help him in times of need.
The Spanish colonial period further strengthened the Filipino patronage system. The Spanish government established a system of caciques, who were local leaders who were appointed by the Spanish authorities. The caciques were responsible for collecting taxes and maintaining order in their communities. In return, they were given special privileges and powers.
The Filipino patronage system has persisted to this day. It is a major factor in Philippine politics and society. Many politicians rely on patronage networks to get elected and to stay in power. This can lead to corruption and nepotism, as politicians may reward their supporters with government jobs or other favors, regardless of their qualifications.
There are some efforts to address the problem of patronage in the Philippines. However, it is a complex issue that is deeply rooted in Filipino culture. It is likely to take many years to overcome.
– The small size and isolation of Filipino communities made it difficult for people to get by on their own. They needed the help of others to survive.
– The lack of a strong central government meant that there was no one to provide protection and security to the people. They had to rely on local leaders to do this.
– The Filipino cultural values of utang na loob and pakikisama encouraged people to be loyal to their patrons and to help them in times of need.
The Filipino patronage system has both positive and negative aspects. On the one hand, it can provide a sense of security and community for people. On the other hand, it can lead to corruption and nepotism. It is important to find ways to balance these two aspects in order to create a more just and equitable society.”
Well, that is enough for now I guess. Pati ako wala pang maisip na next question.
that’s funny, bard talking. I bet it’s the same bard that talks to and answer questions of the morally corrupt, giving them hints how to overcome the righteous, how to overpower the powerless, impoverish the poor, how best to slay the opposition and entrench themselves in society.
there are schools that limit the use of AI in their premises, students are getting lazy to think for themselves, becoming dependent on AI and are getting less creative. let alone debate issues on important matter.
Google and Wikipedia were the same thing and didn’t dumb anybody down. Knowledge is easier to get to. That said, Facebook dumbed people down by emotionalizing and simplifying debate. So AI can do that, too, I suppose. A recent test of 30 people entering the emergency room at a hospital showed that ChatGPT was better at diagnosing cases than doctors, but still made mistakes. As did doctors. I think AI will be an assistant, helping with knowledge. People will still drive the search for knowledge and they can use it well or badly. AI is innocent, always.
it’s helpful AI is but not all the time. humans still have to go over them, make sure rogue elements have not crept in.
AI used in hospitals for medical purposes, any mistakes serious or others, the hospital takes the blame, legal or vicarious liability see to it.
if anyone is adversely affected by AI’s malpractice, misdiagnosis and misinformation, sue the hospital! not AI, it’s signed under the supervision of treating medical officers on duty.
Bard over here in Europe has a huge disclaimer on it we have to click before we are allowed to use it, and one of the major elements is not to use it to get medical advice.
My doctor also told me about influencers on Youtube selling all sorts of drinks that are allegedly healthy but can cause a lot of harm.
As for me, I take Bard with a grain of salt as it simply compiles what it has read elsewhere, not really understanding any of it. One can see in some results that it gets stuff totally wrong or gives different answers to the same question or if you vary the question.
I am able to be selective with Youtube experts on music, languages and history as I already have general knowledge of these subjects and give myself time to see if they make sense.
Bard and other AIs can replace a research assistant as that person could also make mistakes but the one who uses it has to have at least some background and be able to verify facts to use it properly, but the same applies to Google and Wikipedia.
I had a lab report that I wanted to understand, so I asked Bard. Previously, I’d wade through on-line Med sites. Bard takes the drudge out of searching. He’s smart enough to say “see a doctor”. Better than my wife strapping a bullet amulet around my neck.
What does the following mean: Deep vein valve reflux of the bilateral common femoral vein?
Deep vein valve reflux of the bilateral common femoral vein means that the valves in the deep veins of your legs are not working properly. This allows blood to flow backwards (reflux) instead of flowing upwards towards your heart. The deep veins are the large veins that carry blood from your legs back to your heart. The valves in these veins prevent blood from flowing backwards. When the valves are not working properly, blood can pool in the legs, causing swelling, pain, and other symptoms.
The common femoral vein is the largest vein in the thigh. It is located in the groin area. Bilateral means that both sides of the body are affected.
Deep vein valve reflux can be caused by a number of things, including:
Injury to the veins
Surgery on the legs
Varicose veins
Pregnancy
Immobility
Obesity
If you have deep vein valve reflux, you may experience the following symptoms:
Swelling in the legs
Pain in the legs
Heaviness in the legs
Cramping in the legs
Restless legs syndrome
A feeling of fullness in the legs
Skin changes, such as pigmentation or eczema
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor. Deep vein valve reflux can be treated with medication, compression stockings, or surgery.
Here are some lifestyle changes that can help to improve symptoms of deep vein valve reflux:
Exercise regularly.
Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Keep your legs elevated when you are sitting or lying down.
Wear compression stockings.
Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.
If you have any questions or concerns about deep vein valve reflux, talk to your doctor.
joeam, in simple terms you probly have varicose veins, haha. the condition is uncomfortable, but not really life threatening. when watching t.v. try to raise your legs and rest them on pillows or cushions. and walk rather than ride, and if standing in long que and waiting to be serve like in the airport and bus terminal, wiggle your toes, pull your buttocks in, and shift your weight from one leg to the other. it helps blood to circulate, but you know all this coz they’re taught in the army, things you must do so you wont collapse while standing at attention in parades under the heat of the blazing sun.
surgery can cure and improve swollen veins, but it’s costly and there is no guarantee the condition will not be repeated in other parts of the body. and do as the wife says, dont stress her, she means well.
Actually, it’s not varicose veins, although I have a smattering. it’s the calcium channel blocker for high blood that creates the blockage in some way. Bard missed that one. So my choice is fat legs or stroke. Haha, fairly simple.
And thanks for acting as my wife’s co-counsel. 😂🤣😂
The opposition in the senate is a one woman army and backed up by Pimentel. I remember how Nick Ugtas of Filipino voices hated Migz Zubiriu for cheating Pimentel out if the Senate race. Pimentel later allowed himself and his party be used by Duterte.
In the lower house we have Edcel Lagman and some leftists who show opposition.
We need to change mindsets and hearts unfortunately we can not do that if they have empty stomachs and unli malcontentment.
you are right about empty stomachs and malcontent, things that most haves never experienced and hard pressed to understand.
when empty stomachs growl day in and day out, it make for hasty decision.
I think, there is a saying that says, the way to people’s heart if through their stomach.
What can we do if many after Sen Risa showed courage against Sara Duterte still might think (I fear they will ) “mas astig si Sara” and “di iyan nagpapatalo sa elitista at komonesta na si Risa na akala mo kung sinong magaling”..
The absurdity of the mindset of so many Filipino blows my mind to the point of nearly exploding. It is an action movie mindset that sees drama as reality I guess and doesn’t really get the big picture.
I go over the negas like I go over brackets in a sentence. they can be ignored, sure marami silang mga negas, e marami rin naman kaming hindi negas.
sometimes, we have to have the sort of clinical detachment doctors have when they cut up patients for surgery. it’s never right to cut up people with very sharp instrument while rendering them unconscious, but.
we ought to choose what to take on board and what to discard, the exercise is good not only for our mental health but also good for our well being. self preservation and the care of self is our number one duty.
there will always be negas, much as there will always be nice people.
good luck with changing the outlook of negas, for me, waste of time yan. negas loved it when people are made depressed and miserable. give them much joy!
and it gives me much pleasure to deny giving joy to negas. I am deaf to all their belching fat boys (harley davidson’s tambutso).
I actually have little idea as to whether these negas represent the real voice of the street in the Philippines or they don’t. In Germany I have an idea of who the negas are and even what kind of frustrations some are coming from.
The more I look at the Philippines via the remote lens of social media, the more I realize how out of touch I am with its present state. It is easy to get a distorted view of realities, much like there are fun house mirrors that make you look very fat or very thin.
It doesn’t help either that Philippine media suck in not delivering the big picture, and that different Filipino groups often act a lot like the half crazy fandoms of stars over there, overpraising their idols and giving a totally devastating picture of those they dislike.
social commentators, it’s their bread and butter to praise idols and celebs, lucrative exercise yan and very rewarding in terms of pesos, makes for many likes and wider readership too. until idols fall off their pedestal. and newer idol comes along.
I try not to get caught in the frenzy.
In the world of YouTube reactors to musicians I can easily see who is truly informative even as it is business – the most honest being real musicians who often started their online presence to earn extra money during the pandemic. Of course, on Youtube, you earn more money the more views your video gets. But there I can tell who understands music in specific aspects, classical or jazz or musical trained reactors will give tons of observations on vocal techniques, those who understand music production and performance will talk about mikes and mixes and special computer effects, while those who know about different styles will talk about them. Politics I have totally lost my way, my brain has short circuited. It is even easier for me know to discern more or less what happened in showbiz looking at chismis and fandom quarrels. Maybe at some point, I shall again be the confident analyst who writes more surely than AI. FOR NOW, I feel the need to realign my perspective as many assumptions might be wrong.
you seem to be doing well. just dont slip into depression.
“…popularity can be manufactured, but only the bad guys know how to do it well. The good guys, like Leni Robredo, do not.”
In the case of Leni Robredo the popularity worked against her because she ran against a ‘Marcos’, a well-established political name that is inherently popular and unpopular at the same time.
Thing that made the difference, aside from the Marcos brand, in the last presidential election was the incumbent Duterte administration which was able to reestablish and fortify the Marcos loyalists who have been trying for years break the ceiling to put a Marcos back in Malacanang.
As to the issue at hand, the build up of social and local networks as well as messaging strategy will make a difference but will not completely overturn or change the prevailing conditions in the country.
What is critically important to undertake to realize the political and social changes that we aspire for was to remedy, with serious effort and far-reaching goals, the persistent and prevalent poverty in the country. Every thing wrong and hard and immoral, socially and politically, emanates from it. That’s the hard reality.
So long as half or more than half of the country’s population is living in a quagmire and abject poverty any reform or change will not only be a tall order but realistically impossible.
Yes, that fairly characterizes the scene.
@JoeAM @Juan Luna
Re that last statement: That now begs the question how other countries did it- making serious economic gains/changes when so many forces are working against it?
How did the UK eliminate the “downstairs/upstairs” of feudal Britain and made the nobility/aristocrats lose much of their power and wealth?
How did the US eliminate slavery when all the elite including the founding fathers had them and all the economic power?
I think both the UK and US eliminated the class structure superficially and are now backsliding. As with unequal income distribution in capitalist societies, there will always be some haves and some have-nots, and it is helpful to see the future as a path, not a set point at which equality sets in. the Philippines needs better economic managers and drivers along that path. When the nation is richer and more productive, some of the classness will erode.
My little knowledge of what was reference to was that slavery, in particular, was outlawed by several factors that has to be undertaken because social and political instability back then demands that it be abolished. It’s a combination of religious/moral, economic and political theories that made slavery illegal.
While slave owners have used the Bible to justify slavery, the abolitionists seek clarity in their Christian doctrines and tradition, along with American patriotic and domestic ideals, to make their case against slavery. They argued that slavery went against the spirit of Christianity. They also saw it as a disgrace and an abomination to the entire country.
On the economic aspect, there were business owners who pay their workers wages and sees that slavery was unfairly competing with their businesses. Slave owners have advantages over them, profit wise, and only by leveling the playing field such disadvantage can be corrected.
But to go back on the issue of poverty in the country, the same components (political/economic/social/Church) may be utilized to address the concerns pertaining to it. The big question really is how do we do it and where do we start.
It was a long story in the Anglosphere from the Magna Carta, the autocracy of Henry VIII which according to some who analyzed Shakespeare’s writings was the true target of many of his plays even as he was seemingly a supporter of his energetic daughter Queen Elizabeth I, the Stuart Kings who were Scots but not Rod Stewart, Cromwell’s dictatorship, the ever stronger role of Parliament, John Locke’s liberalism, it’s influence on Thomas Jefferson etc etc
Ideas and principles that became fixed guideposts for what should be, whereas I wonder if in The Philippines it is all about patrons who pay your medical bills and send you a bday cake, and you hope they don’t mistake you for one of the junkies you want them to rid the streets of.
I ask and wonder whether that worst intuition is true as it would mean hopelessness.
Irineo, you hit upon a critical insight there – “ideas and principles that became fixed guideposts for what should be. ” I’ve been wrestling with this notion for some time now and I’ll see if I can turn it into a piece here.
My thesis: Filipinos struggle with “ideas and principles” or the abstract, hence the penchant for dealing with persons. This incapacity kills any chance for reform, since the only solution it leads to is to replace people.
Cases in point:
1. Problematic Gilas? Replace the coach. But it’s the same system, so same result. Same height deficit.
2. I am hard pressed to come up with great Filipino thinkers/philosophers who contributed significantly to philosophy/political thought/ideology.
3. do we have the equivalent of Parisian cafes where intellectuals/writers/artists gathered?
“Big minds deal with ideas, small minds talk about people.”
3. Parisian cafes.. there were once the Filipino ilustrados in Europe. But Rizal is merely venerated nowadays, his ideas ignored and his stuff hardly read.
2. The two biggest thinkers of the Revolution and Republic respectively were Jacinto and Mabini, though their importance was due to their having been “consiglieri” to their respective “capos” Bonifacio and Aguinaldo.
Of course the ideas of Jacinto and Mabini are mostly forgotten nowadays.
1. Sometimes it is the same people who hooted loudly about pork barrel and DAP in the time of Aquino who explain away confidential funds these days.
Even the concept that rules should apply equally to all seems too highfalutin for many.
The key insight is probably that people are fallible and thus checks and balances are needed and should not be taken personally. We have Sara Duterte getting mad at being checked by Risa Hontiveros and probably her followers think she is “magaling, di nagpapatalo” though Sen Risa is hitting back non-stop which is right in the context of present-day Filipino culture. Really wow how Hontiveros is able to do it without dumbing herself down or losing dignity, but still understanding what Atty Leni did not, that not reacting is seen as “ay umurong siya, mahina”.
Back to abstraction: plenty of Filipinos still live with the mindset of followers of datus, without realizing that the world of the ancient barangays or early postwar Filipino towns was simpler, so that no abstraction was needed to judge a leader’s success or failure.
Maybe the main abstract concept that does exist is kaginhawaan ng bayan, well-being of the town or country. That the word is the same for both is indicative of a mentality that thinks a good mayor is automatically a good President, not realizing differences of scale. Well..
darl, the good ‘uns lost at election coz there was massive cheating, and committee on election is too partisan to notice.
as always, all fingers point to the poor! the low hanging fruits are easier to pick. bad men prosper because of the poor, the country is in quagmire because of the poor, politicians are greedy because of the poor, laging poor na lang. gee, kaming mga pulubi are very famous pala.
This isn’t about poor people. It is about people who think in a poor / bad way. Many of those with the attitudes I mention are at least well off, if not rich.
Personal anecdote: when I was still in the corporate world, we were constantly amazed at how our Singaporeans and Malaysian counterparts would ferociously argue work matters with loud voices and red faces, but immediately go back to their amiable selves after the meeting. Nothing personal, just competing ideas.
Here, I had the misfortune of arguing for the boycott and pullout of businesses from Russia after the Ukraine invasion with someone who couldn’t deal with the idea and exploded at me. I was so surprised that an idea could cause so much animosity!
Can Filipinos handle ideas and concepts competently?
Instead of ‘grace’, the Filipino press needs to use this word more:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestration
Interesting. I’ve been working this theme this morning on Twitter. Democracy should be competing ideas, always building. But in the Philippines (and the US Republican Party), personal allegiance takes priority. So here, rather than the Legislature forcing the President to take strong actions, they acquiesce to impunity, loyalty, and even corruption. They spread his weakness instead of building.
twitter, dont we have X now? you’re right though, instead of the president taking strong action, if he knows what strong means, he is letting sara run amok with confidential and intelligence fund. 2024 will see sara running away with 500millions CIF! and not only sara, there are 30 govt agencies now having CIFs, all resistant to COA’s audit and accountability.
oh yeah, pbbm’s maharlika fund is going to be starve for the politicians are keeping funds to themselves, draining the country’s coffer, and not likely to invest. parang waste of time, pbbm inviting foreign countries to invest in maharlika just as politicians are hoarding money. maharlika will suffer if politicians get involve kuno, maybe pbbm does not know that many politicians are also astute businessmen with multiple national holdings, thanks to his patronage. chichen and the egg ang labas niyan. this is going to be fun!
This looks sooooo stoopid, what ‘s going on here?
you should see the beefeaters in buckingham palace! they stand straight and stare into space, not interacting with the crowd taking pics of them and having pics taken with them. same with the swiss guards in vatican city, they dont interact with the crowd but stares into space.
Sen. Risa’s combative pushback on Duterte’s failure to rationalize the allocated millions for confidential fund is a winner. I hope she’ll do more of it because the issue of abuse and lack of transparency in public finances will resonate politically among the normally passive populace like what we’ve seen unfold in the Napoles scam.
I think she’ll do more of it. Her questioning of the VP was purposeful, and powerful. Her responses to the VP’s attacks are videos, not written statements. Very powerful. It’s planned that way, I’d guess.
I’m glad ACT teachers’ party list and also makabayan bloc are one with risa in calling for accountability and transparency on how CIF (confidential and intelligence fund) are being spent, liquidated or made to disappear into thin air. poof!
though ACT teachers party list can go further and question sara’s bare wall classroom policy and how anti social and anti child the policy is. young children like to play, they like to collect things, having palamuti and toys around, they like to dress up and pretend in magical world like in fairytales.
sara is such a nazi! so superficial too. if she thinks bare walls can make children focus on their studies, she is so wrong! bare walls cannot stop children from escaping into a fantasy world of their own where their imagination run wild and free, riotous even.
and sara wonders why 2million children did not enroll this school year. and I wonder in return why she did not make use of her CIF to find out the real reason why 2million children opted out o school.
“Or a populist leader might conceivably come along who is actually competent at governance.” – JoeAm
That line reminds me of moments when my mind plays tricks on me every time I think about the Philippines and the never ending saga of corruption, revolving doors of incompetent and amoral politicians and just pure dirty operations in public governance: Maybe we’ll be better off with a benevolent dictator running the country. For at least, maybe 50 or 100 years?
I mean, democracy, like the US kind, is fine but I don’t think the Filipino character or culture is apt to it. Democracy and the ‘bahala na’ thinking just don’t mix that well.
I know I’m provoking rebuke and criticisms to what I just said but I said it, so I’ll own it. At least it’s now out there to be pick on and weigh in by those who have better view and perception than me.
If we count only all the positive accomplishments of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., it would be hard to disagree on the assumption that he was the greatest president we ever had. But that is not reality. We all know what happened to him (and to the country) for staying too long in power. He could have been the benevolent dictator I was talking about but he simply outed himself by proving that Lord Acton was right when he said, “Power corrupts and absolutely power corrupts absolutely.”
A benevolent dictator, a strong-man ruler or a mass-based political party that will really have the interest of the country at heart is the only way that can really reform, revolutionize, transform, reengineer and revive the country from its economic and political stupor.
Do I see anybody at present that represents what I was thinking? None.
For transformation, you sometimes need someone who bridges the old and the new mindset.
Singapore had Lee Kuan Yew. It also had his political party. Yes, often the right group of people has to be behind things. Post-dictatorial Sokor had Chun Doo Hwan, controversial as he was.
Plenty of other examples – postwar Germany had Adenauer, postwar Bavaria had Strauss, post-Franco Spain had King Juan Carlos. Many may have hoped FVR would have been something similar for the Philippines, while others say that Tabako wasted that chance.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/03/10/15/jose-almonte-bares-fvrs-woman-problem
sometimes, I think, tabako was just that, a stick of cigar.
I’ll just leave the links to these two John Nery blog articles about FVR here.
thank you for the link.
below is link about fvr that stays foremost in my mind.
https://interaksyon.philstar.com/breaking-news/2017/11/13/108524/gusto-ng-pogi-points-duterte-disowns-signature-gesture-says-fist-bump-started-by-fvr/
@Irineo
Not clear what chance Ramos had because his major contribution was to throw the country to the wolves of globalization. Our succeeding difficulties and stagnation can be traced to that woeful policy, including the shifting of political grounds favoring fascist character like Duterte and the rehabilitation of the Marcoses.
A straight line can be drawn between neoliberal Ramos and the landslide victory of Marcos Junior.
There are a number of people who see him as the best post-EDSA president.
Those are the ones we should ask why they see it that way.
There are also some who see GMA as “the best” for her economic policies.
Well yes, of course, it’s called who benefits from the spoils.
Even Kim Jung Un will have die hard supporters. Same goes for Bolsonaro in Brazil. Heck, even Adolf H could count on folks who thinks he’s the best fuhrer Germany had ever seen.
But did the country, overall, became a winner for having policies associated with their reign? Have we made inroads towards creating a more stable, progressive, and egalitarian society?
Did the emergence of a fascist thug like Duterte made the country a winner? Because apparently he’s got lots of supporters too.
Who were the folks who could say Ramos’ neoliberalism was the best thing that happened for the country since the invention of sliced bread?
My hunch is that many saw FVR as a Third Way between Marcos and Cory.
Just like the illusionists who saw Grace Poe or Isko Moreno as Third Way candidates in 2016 and 2022.
That is only logical if you believe Loyalists and Dilawans are fandoms just like Noranians and Vilmanians.
Third Way is intellectually at the level of the 1970s commercial “mga misis, ang Royco Chicken Noodle soup ay sopas at pang-ulam”.
Seriously, the believers in FVR could be those who saw the short-lived economic boom of his period or his temporarily unifying diverse interests as success.
It is just like there are many Filipinos who credit PPP projects started in PNoy’s time to Duterte because they finished in his time.
Or blame Mar for an MRT3 that broke down as it was neglected before his time.
Most folks over there do not even try to think in terms of long-term causality and big picture like we try to.
I might add Marcos Sr.’s failure to use statism to industrialize properly to Tabako’s fire sale. And mention that Marcos Jr. might be the worst of both worlds, but we are yet to see.
One such Ramos fan and apologist is Stephen Cuunjieng, international investment consultant and Manila Times opinion writer who is being considered now to be the CEO of Junior’s Maharlika project.
So yes, it does seem more likely that Marcos Junior is poised to continue along the path of neoliberal tinsel town.
Ever wonder why he’s doing squat on the agriculture department despite surging prices and domestic shortages.
marcos junior is credited for making the philippines fast becoming the number one rice importer in the world, even overtaking china!
It would take a moment of riot and rebellion to provide a platform for such a person to emerge. The moment would identify the person.
I dont really like rebellion where all scums and opportunists rise to the surface, vying for wealth and influence. a hero coming to the fore would be severely hampered, compromised even.
The one that comes close to mind with regard to a populist leader who could have steered the nation to a better place would have been Joseph Estrada. Only if…..
He has the potential of a good leader in terms of what he projects to the people. Being popular as an actor, he has the advantage of being treated differently from ordinary politicians because people sees in him the good and heroic qualities he projects on the big screen. And his being a mayor of San Juan for a number of years and senator enabled him to show and project competency and leadership that would be his ticket to the presidency.
Not really a good communicator nor an intelligent kind, Erap’s influence or power lies purely on his charisma, his appeal to the working class or masa. His being not a good communicator did not prevent the people to understand him, to get him and to appreciate him because they consider him as one of them.
If only he had the ideology, philosophy that accompanies the adulation and the vision to where to take the country to, we could have had our own Lee Kwan Yew on our hands. If only he had the self-discipline, the courage to wall off the negative influences, the political baggages he brought to the presidency to pursue the kind of future he had for the country we could have had a better version of Macoy.
Alas, everything good has to come to an end and it started when Erap eventually succumbed to his weakness and exposed him for what he was: a trapo, a traditional politician. He was not really a competent and skilled leader but he could have learned and adjusted to the demands of the office had he allow his better angels to prevail. That and the vices, the personal connections to shady characters has hounded his presidency that led to his eventual impeachment.
It would take years and years again to see another leader with the blessings Erap had as a politician and as a person. I even doubt to see one in our lifetime. Sayang talaga.
One good thing about Estrada’s presidency was that he had advisers like Tiu-Laurel who advocated for a more nationalist (thus, protectionist) economic policy.
That nationalist bent of his administration might have been one of the major triggers for the globalists to dig up his dirt in the jueteng payola.
The only somewhat authoritarian and paternalistic President with a certain degree of self-control was probably Quezon.
It might well be that he placed what became EDSA exactly where big mestizo families had holdings: Ayala, Ortigas, Tuason.. but he had a grand plan it seems.
And the present structure of the Philippine state is his legacy, and I don’t think it is his fault that that old structure was insufficiently modernized in the years after.
As for a good populist, Magsaysay was it in the eyes of many older people. The first President to wear a barong instead of a Western suit. “Those who have less in life should have more in law”.. and his handling of the Moises Padilla case as a showcase against impunity.
I don’t want to fall into the nostalgia trap, and I recognize that another issue in the Philippines is too much reliance on the President and his/her enormous executive powers, with the fatal belief that one man alone can move change the course of the huge ship the archipelago is.
I think, that’s what is needed a paternalistic and autocratic president. many filipinos are behaving like children and liked to be treated as one, that things have to be painstakingly explained to them time and again, rewarded with pat on the back, and be given brownie points for job well.
though children can be recalcitrant and liked to push border, experimenting and forever pushing border and sometimes, challenging them. if the president cannot stand his ground and play favorites, he’s doomed.
the president pbbm has all resources at his fingertips, all wizened advisers at his beck and call, control of the congress populated by his kapartido, senate as well. the all encompassing machinery of the communication group under his command sees to it he is always on top of things, answers ready.
as well, he now has apparent total control of the kaban ng bayan that his appointed comelec commissioner garcia comes running to him to ask for more funds instead of asking congress for bigger budget allocation. and as the president sees fit, he can and he did move funds around with nary a word to budget committee, and give 120million to his vice for her to squander as she likes! and she did squander it in 19 days. the fund gone with no trace.
so if people has too much reliance on the president, the president ought to be very proud he is not only liked but trusted and much sought after. if he does not like to be thrusted into near idol status where the bucks stop with him, he ought not have run for president.
May we request that the widget indicating the latest comments on the blog be restored? It used to be on the upper right hand corner. Thanks, makes tracking easier.
I second the motion, yes let’s have the widget again.
“…another issue in the Philippines is too much reliance on the President and his/her enormous executive powers, with the fatal belief that one man alone can move change the course of the huge ship the archipelago is.”
Right or wrong there is perception that points to that view with regard to the power of the president to influence, if not outright control, the course of the direction of the country.
Such kind of relation or arrangement can only be attributed both on the inherent effect of the system we have and the family patriarchal tradition that governs family structure.
In our presidential form of government the executive power lies in the Office of the President which means that any governmental activity falls within the authority of the president.
On the other hand, the ‘Ama ng Bayan’ label is really not an empty slogan. It is the true representation of the kind of family structure we have, which is centered on the head of the family. The local government units (province, city, municipality) also shows where the center of power is. The same can be said to the baranggays where the captain/chairmen heads the unit.
The long tenure of Ferdinand Marcos not only cemented but also magnify the perception of too much dependence on the head of the office simply because he was a one-man ruler during his watch. Even though the term limits has been effective since 1986 the view that the presidency alone can make or break the country remains.
I think so long as the power structure remains the head on top will always be the center of it all unless we turn parliamentary.
the voice of truth edcel lagman said the phil is not ready for parliamentary form of govt with only 4regions able to stand on their own out of the 13regions in the country. yep, many can foresee economic refugees from poorer provinces quickly converging on the 4 richer regions and avail for themselves of richer pickings that the regions may have to put up walls and checkpoints to limit the entry of refugees.
the low intelligents (dumb as hell!) in the senate so wanted to immediately change democratic govt for parliamentary govt the moment their bums hit their seats so soon after they won election! dream on!
parliamentary form of govt will mostly likely be run by the same people currently sitting as govt officials, the same personalities with the same foibles, having the same dynastic clout and connections, nepo relatives, etc. dont expect much change, if at all.
and our election is not always honest! vote buying has now gone viral with money changing hands not with cash, no more money in envelopes, but by apps and straight to bank accounts.
Learning with Chatgpt
https://technology.inquirer.net/127916/more-schools-promote-learning-with-chatgpt