May I speak directly? Pinks aren’t doing enough.
Analysis and Opinion
By Joe America
I recently did a post that said people are either lovers, haters, or teachers. Some thought that was too simplistic. Haha, as if anyone would read an elaborate parsing of the modern human condition, which seems to me, being once again simplistic, rather shallow, gullible, and uninvolved.
During the discussion of that article, I explained:
“Are there any intellectuals left below the age of 40? Precious few I’d imagine. They hit their adult learning years around 2005, thoroughly steeped in social media shallow intrigues and nonsense. Now when I go out for walks the main risk is other people walking with their dirt devices in front of their faces. That’s the environment into which I write articles.
The over-simplification of three choices is meant mainly for lovers who are also haters and would do a lot better for the Philippines if they became teachers, and able to display the intellectual capacity to stop hating long enough to build a winning coalition of thinkers and doers.
I don’t actually believe the world is black and white and red, it is mostly greys. But we should think about what we are doing occasionally, and measure it against what we COULD be doing to build a great nation.”
I was talking to Pinks whose favored candidates are once again struggling to be noticed. What a dismal Senate we will have later this year.
Why?
Because Pinks, who are lovers in the main, are also haters and feudalistic. They simply do not work hard and smart enough at bringing outsiders into their sensible, well-principled group. They do as Filipinos have always done since Aguinaldo failed to build an effective government that showed the Americans that, indeed, Filipinos could govern themselves.
A hundred and twenty five years later, Filipinos of the Pink realm are still hating on President Marcos for his past rather than respecting him and building bridges with his followers for the future. And they are hating on leftists for their past rather than respecting them and building bridges with them for the future.
Geeze Louise folks. Don’t you see it? You can’t be petty and petulant like Aguinaldo and, from that, build a great nation.
BECAUSE A GREAT NATION RESPECTS ALL ITS PEOPLE.
Sorry not sorry for shouting.
Until Pinks organize, select a leader, and execute an INCLUSIVE plan filled with love and respect, 2028 will be just one more needless struggle in a history filled with them
_________________________
Cover photo from Channel News Asia article “Leni Robredo promises better future for Philippines in final rally before presidential election“. Photo Caption: “A sea of pink on Ayala Avenue in Makati, Manila on the final day of political rallies on May 7, 2022. (Photo: CNA/Pichayada Promchertchoo)”
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
I would be highly interested to hear KB give an overview of her on the ground campaign experiences, specifically interactions with DDS, dedicated LP voters, squishy moderates, progressives like Akbayan voters, and if KB had any run-ins with voters who believe in far left ideology.
very sorry to disappoint. I have forgiven that point in the time of the past. and like a good catholic who has the propensity to be forever guilty, always making sacrifices and forever atoning, I have surrendered to god the sacrifices, the hurt and the trauma of the past, a humdrum spiritual bouquet this humble servant could only offer. and he has answered! the uniteam is no more and duterte is in custody at the hague.
Forgiveness is great, so I assume you mostly met DDS. But as someone active on the socmed front abroad in 2022, I wonder how many Pinks actually went your difficult road and how many just had Starbucks and watched concerts?
I, for my part, tried to disseminate information, but one can only do so much. My impression of many Pinks here was too passive. Also tried to avoid useless online bargains which many of the Twitter and Facebook Pinks engaged in, some more for clout than to convince.
with you and historians like prof chua around, the past is in good hands.
But in the end, we are just like ICC judges and prosecutors.
The testimonies of the witnesses like you are very important, but of course, we cannot force anyone to testify.
no worries, god will provide. he is the prime witness. incidentally, there are 2 witnesses at the coming ICC hearing and around more than 8k testimonies to be heard.
I don’t believe in God, and do you believe he will if he exists tell Xiao Chua (who is born again and a Pink BTW) everything that happened? Fortunately, neither ICC nor the Nuremberg trials relied on God. But enough of that on this day.
That’s fair KB. On the ground work is always a trauma for me too, hehe.
I’ll have more thoughts on this topic later.
thanks for understanding.
This comment is mainly to JoeAm’s essay on the Pinks.
“I was talking to Pinks whose favored candidates are once again struggling to be noticed. What a dismal Senate we will have later this year.
“Why?
Because Pinks,…” – JoeAm
Joe, I’ve been thinking again about what you said—how disappointing the Senate slate is shaping up to be for the midterm elections. It really is frustrating.
But since PBBM is doing so well by your assessment, I wonder if there’s more he could be doing to help raise the quality of candidates we see. After all, a strong president can do more than govern; he can also shape the political landscape.
He might, for instance:
– Encourage his party and allies to promote more capable, reform-minded candidates
– Speak more clearly about the need to move beyond celebrity or dynastic politics
– Set a tone that inspires higher standards and a greater sense of responsibility in those running for national office
It’s hard to reconcile the idea of excellent presidential leadership with a Senate heading in such a disappointing direction. Maybe the challenge isn’t just with the Pinks?
Just a thought.
You’re right, the President is not active in election activities. Nor does he have a principled approach to building a great nation. I personally don’t think he’s an excellent President, but he has significantly exceeded my expectations, and he runs a stable government. I have no idea what’s in his mind, but tend to think reality provides the framing rather than perfection. I’d imagine that he is tired of the political dirtiness and fighting, and would rather be seen as above it. That’s why he advised the House not to impeach the VP.
His success as President is not determined by legislative elections. He proposes laws that are for the most part sensible so will get the support he needs. He will end his term in good standing, and be entered in Wikipedia as running a stabilizing presidency that took notable steps to strengthen the Philippines (building international relations and defense, getting the PH off the money laundering gray list, closing POGOs, sending Duterte to the ICC, and running a sound economy).
Thanks, Joe,
You make a good case for PBBM’s stabilizing role, and I get the value of acknowledging progress when we see it. But reading your assessment, I couldn’t help but recall something you wrote back when you were more critical (The BBM I know) —about his stint at Philcomsat. You called Philcomsat “a beacon of corruption and crony capitalism” that funneled millions out of the country over 10 to 15 years, and noted Bongbong was its chair just before the cleanup.
That kind of long-running abuse went undetected—or unacknowledged—for years. So it raises a fair question: how do we know something like that isn’t quietly happening again? The absence of visible rot doesn’t mean there’s none below the surface. Corruption is often uncovered only long after the fact.
And while I don’t disagree that the Pinks haven’t done enough, I also think it’s fair to say that neither has the President. If their inadequacy helps bring about a weak Senate, isn’t it also telling that the person in the strongest position to influence that outcome seems to have stepped back? You suggested he’s tired of the “dirtiness” of politics and wants to rise above it—but we both know that comes with the job. You don’t get to rise above the fray and still claim strong leadership.
So yes, the Pinks could do better. But let’s not pretend the man in Malacañang doesn’t carry the greater share of the responsibility. That’s just part of the job description.
We can’t know if corruption exists and we can’t know if it doesn’t, so how can we conclude anything? We can only judge by what we see or is reported. I don’t do conspiracy theories myself. I think they are the root of a whole lot of bad thinking.
The President’s job is to run the executive branch, not to run campaigns. His reality is likely as I said, remain above something that does not help or hurt. Your perfection standard will always have him falling short.
I’d add that I ended a recent blog postulating that President Marcos loves the Philippines with this statement: “And the best way he can leave office a winner, the best way to solve his pickle dilemma, is to endorse a competent successor. Like, for instance, Leni Robredo.”
So can he do more? Sure. Will he? It’s up to him.
That’s an interesting turn, Joe. If you really believe endorsing someone like Leni Robredo is the best move PBBM can make for the country, then I’m with you. But I wonder—if he doesn’t take that path, or even something close to it, do we then acknowledge that he failed to rise to the moment?
It’s great to say “he could do more” or “it’s up to him,” but that can’t be where the story ends—especially when we’re staring at a potentially dismal Senate come mid-terms. We all see the consequences of disengaged leadership. The buck doesn’t just stop with the Pinks.
That idea about endorsing Leni as a successor is certainly bold. But if we’re serious about holding PBBM accountable now (which I think we should be)—not just imagining a graceful exit later—maybe we should ask something more immediate: Why not suggest he endorse a few Senate candidates that Leni herself might endorse, if any? If she represents competence and integrity, wouldn’t that be a real step toward “building a great nation”?
Otherwise, it sounds like we’re okay with the president staying above the fray—until it’s too late to matter. 🙂
I’m a realist. I think the job of President is hard and I respect that President Marcos is doing the best he can do in that difficult job. I don’t think the President is our Lord and Savior. I think he’s a guy doing work.
Fair enough, Joe. I agree we shouldn’t jump to conclusions without solid proof. But I also think we should be careful not to limit our judgment only to what’s immediately visible or officially reported—especially in a country where wrongdoing often gets buried or comes to light only years later, long after damage has been done.
As for the President’s role, sure, he’s not expected to run campaigns directly. But if we’re facing a dismal Senate, and the president is seen as the leader of the nation and of his party, then it’s fair to ask: where’s the leadership? It’s not about perfection—it’s about using influence and political capital for the long-term health of our democracy. If he’s just staying “above the fray” while poor-quality candidates rise, that’s a choice too—with consequences.
So while the Pinks may not be doing enough, it seems the President isn’t either. And if we’re going to talk about results—well, a bad Senate affects all Filipinos in the Motherland, regardless of who failed to act.
I think we’ve both made our points on this. Thanks for the discussion. I look forward to your next essay.
My next article is out so feel free to comment.
I tracked President Aquino’s work in great detail, President Duterte, not so much. President Aquino made a whole lot of mistakes and a whole lot of progress. We did not get Mar Roxas as President, instead of Duterte, because the sum of the complaints about Aquino in voters’ eyes out-weighed the good works an “elitist” like Roxas could bring to the job. It is convenient to blame voters for bad choices, but they only have the data they have, and when Rappler does hit pieces on Roxas it matters. It adds up. Right now, Sara Duterte is likely to become President because the critics are relentless in hammering Marcos, who is doing decent work. Much of the hitting is by paid trolls, but a lot is from older Yellows who simply cannot abide the son, because of the father. Who will call them out when Sara is elected? Accountability has lots of places to fall.
Nora Aunor’s death had interesting scenes of her being on EDSA in 1986 coming out. I was surprised that she was there, given her image as being a poster child of the Marcos Sr. era.
Now that PNoy and Nora Aunor are both dead, I wonder what made the former refuse to make the latter National Artist, leaving it to Duterte to do the honor. It wasn’t political purity after all, or is the new generation of Yellow and Pink less inclusive than yellow in 1986?
But yes, there is this sense that some Pinks seem to make the distinction who is “one of us” politically and worse “who can sit with us” in terms of education and social status. No way one can make a big tent if a lot of people don’t meet their prissy idea of purity.
On the other hand, PNoy himself gave an outsider, Grace Poe, a chance. How she returned that favor (sarcasm) shows the risks of allowing outsiders in a society that is indeed still very “feudal.”
Or how Akbayan was criticized for helping PNoy and was given the label of turning too yellow – it isn’t easy.
On most days, I detest both Poe and Escudero, who inspired her to wreck the nation.
on this good friday when senses are supposed to be sharpened, when the maw of hell opened, noticed how poe’s son is hugging the limelight lately? here, there and everywhere making his name known and being pictured at events and important occasions that seems to always end up in tabloids and social media. the young fellow is most probly making inroads into politics and making his name known to all and sundry like he is the one to watch, leaning much of da king’s legacy.
here another team to wreck the nation. couldnt help but have a laugh at this little nugget from mindanaw.
https://mindanews.com/mindaviews/2025/04/mind-da-noise-penitensya-kadiliman-ka-itiman/#gsc.tab=0
Perfectly lovely piece, for sure. Good to know there is a community of jaded Mindanaoans who see the nonsense with clear eyes and form jade by saying so. That article gets a 10 from The Society of Satirists.
Well put. Yes, sometimes President Aquino’s stubbornness got the best of him. Pinks should learn that lesson. Flexibility is important.
In terms of Senate effort, after Ocho Derecho got derailed they ended up with Dos.
Is money the answer? Money Villar is no longer sure.
https://bilyonaryo.com/2025/04/13/to-save-sagging-fortunes-of-favorite-child-manny-villar-bets-the-house-on-camille-and-sara-duterte-as-marcos-ties-unravel/business/
Simpleton suggestion: pay the survey companies first then the voters later. Skip Sara. Deal with her only if she wins later
Sorry about that.
That sounds complicated. heh heh
If Money Villar is the go with the glow type like hus track record would show.
His shift to Sara might be as temporary as the next survey
That seems to me to nail it. Classic opportunists with the primary mission to build family wealth and power. Like the rich people who backed Trump and are destroying all the good that America once stood for. I expect Sara would do the same in her own vengeance tour. But Manny doesn’t get it, evidently. Or does but doesn’t care. Wants to be powerful, a regular little Musk. We live in dismal times.
I won’t edit the wrong spellings. Go with the glow sounded better than go with the flow. hehehe
Actually, “go with the glow” is terrific. I’m going to use it in some of my forthcoming upbeat stuff. Thanks!
update
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/943339/sara-duterte-imee-camille-share-common-vision-with-pdp-laban-bets/story/
survey firms always makes a killing during election. candidates with the most money can always pay to have their names topped opinion polls. the very same names at the top, didnt digong once said, they are already billionaires! and although they have no need for more money, I say, they could never have enough! and is coming back for more.
I am not voting the names at the top, specially the one with small maw and small teeth like they are still baby teeth!
Fascination. It was a joy to watch Dennis Uy unravel. It would be nice if it happened to a few others.
Even the restaurant he took over got sold.
ahem, reminds me of the saying: man proposes, god disposes.
LOL
They are at it again. Some politicians who want to win by hook or by crook are engaging in surveys that would show they are at the top to make people believe that they will win. Mind conditioning at its best, they have the money whereas those highly deserving candidates to serve the country are at the bottom of those surveys. The Pinks are still there but not really as active as before. Complacent? Or just tired that as long as the Marcoses and Dutertes are still there, nothing good will come out of it. Just my two cents Joeam.
I can tell you why surveys as mind conditioning – or heavy bashing to make stars look “laos” – often work in the Philippines, it is because of the bandwagon mindset most people there have, wanting to be able to say they bet on the winning rooster in the cockfight.
There is also the joke that Karl might also know from his time in school, the question about how many copycats remain in a boat when one jumps out. The skill needed for the right answer isn’t mathematical.
latest survey had sara duterte’s trust rating going up, while that of president bong marcos is down. my take is that maybe sara out paid and out spent bong marcos. but sara is still shackled with a marcos, imee this time at nag-itim ang paningin. lumagim. Itim, nagluksa as in mourning gaya ng bagong ads. the grim reapers. reaping what they sow.
Worth a lot more. Goodness alone is not a marketing strategy.
people have that penchant, piling on the pinks as if the pinks alone are the god given designated saviors of our country, instead of helping the pinks tear down those hell bent on winning so they can pluck and plunder with impunity and further their own self interests.
the pinks need help not more finger pointing, how inadequate they are, how lacking, how unknowing, how lost, how stupid, how so out of touch, how so very yesteryears, how how the karabaw.
yes, everyone knows what pinks are, and if they want to do better than the pinks, dont just point the finger at them, but walk the talk and aid the pink. help the pinks put their candidate out front, support and vote those who are authentic, and not the pseudo authentic, in bringing better chances for the good of all. yell far and wide that those candidates who are working for their own clans, enriching themselves and enacting laws to benefit their own self interests are not to be voted at all.
support the pink, dont tear them down. help the pinks achieve. the pinks are not any better than you and me, and criticizing their inadequacies only helps dds, and further erodes the hard won confidence the pinks once had.
be the new pinks. be builders not destroyers. dont tell the pinks what to do. there are already millions of people telling pinks what to do, to go and drown themselves, to be what they are not, to punch when they can no longer punch, but if you want things done your way, do it yourself. and you can always offer your sacrifices to the pinks, or to the dds, whichever makes you happy, and be glad you have done your bit.
Sorry but the Marcos family got rich at the expense of our country’s development. There can be no compromise.
If you compartmentalize the past and put it on the shelf and just look at President Bongbong Marcos’ term in office, what would you list as his three main achievements and three main mistakes?
Good question for any of us. Achievements:
1) somewhat restoring rule of law versus Dutertista lawlessness
2) keeping the economic momentum of the Philippines going
3) respecting the Constitution associated with his father’s rival
Mistakes:
1) letting Inday Sara do what she did for too long
2) being possibly long-term careless with finances
3) petty stuff like making February 25 a working holiday
So all in all, not THAT bad. Considering what the Philippines really IS as of now.
Thanks for providing your answers, Irineo. I did not expect the hater to respond. They never do. One pop stop.
I like your law-based positive achievements. I think that is overlooked by many. I agree entirely with your list of mistakes. In point 2 might be corruption that we cannot see. I would add that the sovereign wealth fund is a mistake (related to your point 2) and add good international relations as a top achievement.
ahem, I think our dearest president has choke on polvoron and was quiet about west philippines sea now no longer just a ghost, heard but not seen. previously, people the world over alarmed by the video of china’s mercilessly water cannoning of our hapless supply ship want to see where in the world exactly is the west phil sea, they cannot find its location in the grid, which longitude, or latitude.
so now, while our navy and military as well as filipinos were most ecstatic and celebrated west philippines sea is finally put on google map, on the grid where ex president noy said it would be, and while people in the world can now see the actual location of west phil sea, president bong marcos has summat taken the fifth, and not a comment from him. but if he did commented, I must have missed it.
He has the big voice and uses it judiciously, is my guess. The Coast Guard was out yesterday removing the barriers to entry to Scarborough that China installed. Plus they ran a survey ship off, so there is sovereign work going on.
Also, a few weeks ago he responded to China’s criticism of allowing US missiles in by doubling down on Sec Teodoro’s sharp retort that China could get the missiles out by obeying international laws. He’s handling things well by my calculation.
national maritime council release a statement that look like AI, sounded like AI, read like AI, must be AI then, unsigned too like AI, no name of the officer that issue it, else it is off with his dearly beloved head, methink, haha.
anyhow, gilbert teodoro is following the leader, not an eeekkkk from him too. na black feather din yata at na-encompassed.
No, the Leader is following the Secretary, I’m pretty sure. That’s how he keeps a steady government going.
Good point, Nationalist. I agree. FM, Sr.’s remains in the Libingnan ng Mga Bayani?! Heck of a compromise. And so many more.
at the rate our national greats are dying, makoy might soon gain the most venerable occupier of the libingan as co occupier. and who knows, new venerable occupier might even get the most honored plot next to makoy! their daughters are already bestest of buddies, their dads would too. tatay president and makoy, side by side. birds of a black feather.
incidentally, it took a supreme court order to hurdle all the legalities to have makoy buried at libingan via tatay digong’s intervention. ex chief justice of the supreme court maria lourdes sereno voted against the burial, and duly lost her job.
My mother wanted my dad to be buried at the Libingsn ng mga bayani since he was entitled to a plot under the General’s row, but I went against her will and decided on Manila Memomorial where my other relatives are. Oh, well.
Karl, I think the Libingan ng Mga Bayani is supposed to inspire the nation. Descendants should consider it a privilege to have the remains of a relative interred there. But with the burial of Marcos, Sr. there, I don’t believe that is the case anymore. But that is just a personal opinion, much like Nationalist’s “No compromise.”
Well, another example. IF you were from Heneral Luna’s faction and still hated Aguinaldo for having him killed, what would you do if your common enemy were Makapili in the 1940s?
Still no compromise, or defeat the Makapili first and deal with the rest later. Even USAFFE and Hukbalahap might have worked together when needed in 1942-44. But let us ask OG sonny as he knew USAFFE circles IIRC.
“IF you were from Heneral Luna’s faction and still hated Aguinaldo for having him killed, what would you do if your common enemy were Makapili in the 1940s?
Still no compromise, or defeat the Makapili first and deal with the rest later.” – Irineo
That would be a dilemma, if Aguinaldo was as bad as Makapili. If Makapili was the enemy, why did Aguinaldo have Heneral Luna killed? Aguinaldo himself might be Makapili in disguise.
I think we need another analogy, Irineo.
Let’s assume you don’t have a choice because it is war.
Well, I am being mean, I admit. These are questions similar to those asked of conscientious objectors in Germany during the Cold War.
“OK, you said you are against war. What if the Soviets came into your town and you had to protect the women of your family from them?” Questions in that tenor.
“Let’s assume you don’t have a choice because it is war.” – Irineo
If you don’t mind, let us not assume that because the Philippines is not at war. The Philippine is in a position where people can hold their leaders to account.
PiE, at my stage in life emphasize the O in OG. But here goes: Guerillas & HUKBALAHAPs after the fall of Bataan coalesced as true resistance fighters side by side had a single cause – survival. Resources were where you find them in the heat of conflict. Formally trained military Filipinos were caught in the middle of commands, following whichever made sense. My dad was a PC 3rd lieutenant who chose the jungles over surrender, saved by a Bataan couple sought succour with our relatives in a Sampaloc pharmacy; my wife’s father was a graduate of UP Los Banos 4-yr ROTC was promptly recruited by the USAFFE to train inexperienced Filipino recruits at Camp Allen in Baguio; My uncle, PMA Class ’38, and other PMA grads (officers) & recruits of the Offshore Patrol scuttled their PT Boats. This was 1941-42.
Thanks. Pop culture wise, OG is anyone who is an established personality. Ogie Alcasid or his wife Regine Velasquez, for instance, or Gary Valenciano, who happens to be married to Kiko Pangilinan’s sister.
What you have born witness to right now is what I suspected, even as these men might have stood on opposite sides when some became AFP and others continued as Huks after 1946. Possibly, the line was crossed when Quezon’s widow was murdered.
Forgot to include: the parting of ways (1945-46) – the surviving HUKBALAHAPS (led by Luis Taruc et al) were not invited in the partitioning of a wasted Philippines; a stumped Commonwealth, a Manila in ruins, a devastated infrastructure & countryside, and homecomings such as they were in various degrees of “wholeness”; MacArthur, colonels Eisenhower & Ord, the US 6th & 8th Armies go on to their waiting assignments.
Thanks. The FB video below BTW is of the 4th of July, 1946:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JeywqPAFC/
OG sonny, ROFLMAO, perfect +10 🏆
Joe, mine was mostly Life-101 stuff.
Honestly,
Marcos being there was part of my reasons why I do not want my dad buried there. Plus Rene Saguisag calls it libingan ng mga mandarambong.
But, I was very wrong to go against my mother’s wishes, but no regrets, MMP is nearer to the place where we live so visiting my old man was way easier than LNMB
I can’t believe this site has so many Marcos apologists. We are all cheerful that Duterte is facing justice but all the bad things he has done pales in comparison to what happened during martial law. Does BBM even acknowledge anything his family did wrong? Cmon guys, I am really disappointed.
If you have to ally with a Roman whose father has done wrong to defeat Attila the Hun, what would you do if Rome is at stake?
Or to defeat Romans allied with Attila?
Irineo,
If I were in this “Rome,” I would watch that Roman, who I would not have voted for, like a hawk, and work that our institutions in the “democracy” keep the democracy in place and prevent further deterioration and plunder.
I would work for as many people as possible to join me in watching the Roman like a hawk.
I like Nationalist’s attitude towards the Marcos family – “No compromise.” He had a good question, which I forgot to answer in my response to him earlier: “Does BBM even acknowledge anything his family did wrong?”
I believe the answer to that is “No.”
Folks can correct me if I am wrong on that.
Let’s assume I was a Roman of the old ways, not yet Christian, whose idea of virtue is virtus, a whole complex of traits associated with being a man and a patriot. Let us assume Attila is at Rome’s doorstep, and he is the Imperator.
I would support him, of course, and check the other stuff LATER. If you are a Roman Christian, whose idea of virtue was more like those martyred by Nero – even if that was usually not the case by then – you would deny him allegiance even if it meant Attila winning.
Bravo, you go to heaven, and I don’t know where I go in such a case. Kasambahay might pray the rosary in front of Attila’s horses, get trampled, and later be declared a saint. I guess I am truly going to hell now for writing stuff like this in days like these.
nah, I am not that demented to stand in front of a horse be they bucephalus or that of the headless horseman. have you smelled how disgusting horses are! they attract flies!
the horses I like most are smoked and quartered and sold at the delicatessen, by the kilo. horse meat.
who wants to be saint! you have to be dead first to be declared a saint. so it is best to take a raincheck and bypass the grim reaper. there is so much to be done specially now local and regional election is looming. already my friends overseas have sent me sneakers, apparently to replace the sneakers I ruined last election, even got sent a pair of clogs from holland. I’ll probly sell them, else they’ll make me stand out from the crowd and be easy target. I wish they have sent be boxes of spray paints instead! I could deface posters.
“Let’s assume I was a Roman of the old ways, not yet Christian, whose idea of virtue is virtus, a whole complex of traits associated with being a man and a patriot. Let us assume Attila is at Rome’s doorstep, and he is the Imperator.” – Irineo
Help me out here, Irineo. So Attila is Imperator, a Roman General? That is what I read in “Attila is at Rome’s doorstep, and HE is the Imperator.” I’m not sure I like the analogy, however. Who is the Atila facing PBBM?
Attila is at the doorstep of Rome, or let’s say in the just within sight of the Roman shoreline, so I am making Attila a pirate and making stuff almost obvious. The Imperator is the man whose father you don’t like. Gets?
“Does BBM even acknowledge anything his family did wrong?” – Nationalist
Welcome, Nationalist. Yes, there are pro-Marcos folk here. Live with it, unless you get booted out for anti-Marcos talk. Joe Am has the power to boot, and he is pro-Marcos. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
we do go near the lion, but poking its head is folly. good lion, here kitty, kitty . . .
that’s what we do, we fight and run and shout at the devil, to fight and run and shout another day. never confront, the consequences is not worth it. we have no use for dead heroes.
we choose our own battle and joeam’s battlefield is highly playable. he is editor, and give hints of how not to get snared. it is best to play by his editing rules, he can be generous and hearty, but.
Why thanks, k. I look at CV as a rookie Society member. He still has his spine rather stiff as Irineo once did, before I blocked him. Now Irineo is a veteran. I give CV about a year or two to grasp what’s going on here.
@CV, Liar. I am not pro-Marcos. I am pro Philippines but have the capacity to discern good and bad at levels below macro.
@CV, Here’s an article I did long ago about Brother Bongbong. https://joeam.com/2018/08/27/the-bongbong-marcos-i-know/
Turns out I was wrong. You can put “Marcos” in the search box on the home page to get a listing of other works, and how my views have progressed with the passing of time, and the reality it contains. I’m not locked into 2018 views, and certainly not 1986. You might consider data other than the mistakes that seem to occupy your cranial space and time.
This was my take on Marcos Jr. in 2021, a bit of a convo between my frozen in time 1982 self and my 2021 self.
This was me trying to come to terms with Pink defeat in May 2022:
The Pinoy mentality of “if you know you know and once you decide you decide” worked in 1521 when the world was simple and ended in Samar in the West and Palawan in the East and Cebu in the middle of the Universe. Aw shucks, I know CV will nitpick that analogy. That’s life.
“..that’s life, that’s what all the people say
Riding high in April, shot down in May
But I’m gonna change that tune
When I’m back on top
Back on top in June..
..I say that’s life
And I can’t deny it
I may have thought of quitting
But my heart don’t buy it..” 🎶 🎵
Haha, yes, conceptual people have to adapt to a reality not of their choice. Perfect lyrics. I imagine us wandering down some narrow German street, arm on shoulder, drunk as a skunk at 2am, singing that song. LOL They should retitle it, “Writer’s Song”.
It is the safe sibling of My Way. 😉
Irineo, thanks for the link to your essay Filipinos and Unity. On reading it, and since we were talking about my nitpicking analogies. Your last paragraph in the article took me to your Attila the Hun and Imperator of Rome analogy. Here it is to refresh your memory:
“What has happened has happened – of course it would be better if COMELEC did all it could to clarify all reported cheating and incompetence, as unity is also found in common belief that elections are fair. Also, unity imposed only from above – or by blood and iron, or by lies – isn’t really sustainable. What colors and ideas regain traction with time remains to be seen, how they recombine or are redefined. Also what lessons are learned – or not learned – from history as it happens. Let us see.”
The election of BBM to the presidency I see as Attila the Hun as at the gates of Rome. I see Leni Robredo as the Imperator. Granted, she is not a traditional politician. But as I believe you want in your analogy. But like Marcos, Sr. in 1986 who “won” the snap elections, I fully expected the Filipino people to once again show their mettle and not allow an election to be stolen. I thought they would rally around the “defeated” candidate and demand a close review of the process to show that the election was indeed stolen. You point out that that COMELEC did not do all it could to disprove the allegations of election fraud. That is what I heard from others in the Philippines.
From my vantage point, the Marcos Family is a clear and present danger to the democracy in the Philippines. A member of the intelligentsia in the Philippines described Rodrigo Duterte’s reign as a “de facto dictatorship.” I use quotes because that was the term he used. This is a fellow who was a professor at the Ateneo when Marcos, Sr. declared Martial Law in 1972, so he KNOWS dictatorship and de facto dictatorships. He has lived through both. (Note: he still teaches at the Ateneo!)
I say the situation fits your analogy because I believe that with the election, the Philippines is on a war time footing, only in this case the enemy is from within. I recall when Marcos, Sr. declared Martial Law in ’72, it was not because of an external threat, but because of an internal threat. I believe Juan Ponce Enrile, decades later, has confessed that Marcos, Sr. manufactured the “threat.”
My hope is that you will not think ill of me for not embracing your opinion on this issue.
No, PBBM has by now proven he is “Roman” and has so far been loyal to the Republic. He has allowed others to jail Attila, but Attila’s daughter is still around as he initially opened the door for her. I thought you were willfully twisting stuff, but I see you don’t get it yet.
Irineo, I get where you’re coming from with the ‘Roman’ and ‘Attila’ imagery—it paints a vivid picture. And I do see that PBBM has made some moves that suggest he’s not fully under the Duterte thumb. But here’s where I’m still struggling (i.e. “I still don’t get it”): if we now see Attila’s daughter as a real threat, doesn’t that say something important about the original alliance?
I mean, PBBM didn’t accidentally open the door for her—he chose her as his running mate, knowing full well the kind of political force the Duterte clan had become (in fact, it was that force that BBM felt he needed to assure a victory in 2022). If Attila was dangerous, then using him to win power and now asking us to fear what comes next feels like creating a fire and then asking the rest of us to rally around the fireman who lit the match.
I’m all for pragmatism, but shouldn’t we hold leaders accountable for the alliances they make, especially when those alliances put the Republic at risk? 🙂
Thanks, this question does make sense, though we should be careful as the yellow side is not totally without sin either. I could ask why Leila De Lima investigated Duterte when she was HCR and when she was Senator but NOT when she was SOJ under PNoy? Duterte was an ally of PNoy then almost until the end, just saying. I don’t blame Atty Leila, and it is especially bitter that she was made the scapegoat to imprison as revenge for PNoy imprisoning GMA. There are so many twists and turns in Philippine politics that judgement is hard.
Let us also beware of the Ricarte trap. He was so fixated on his hate for the USA since 1901 that he came back with the Japanese in 1942 and turned into a co-oppressor of his own people. 40+ years is about as long as the time we two have been abroad.
Thanks, Irineo. Good perspective—Philippine politics really is full of twists and contradictions, and it’s easy to get lost in them. At the end of the day, I just hope we all stay mindful of the lessons of the past, however complex, and keep striving for more accountability and maturity in our political life. Let’s see where things go from here.
One thing I just thought of in the context of accountability: why is it so hard to collect taxes in the Philippines? Serious question, as we live in countries where the taxman is almost as unavoidable as the grim reaper.
And why are alleged tax evaders the apparent favorites of voters while Heidi Mendoza is far behind in the polls?
Good question, Irineo. Looking back, I remember when I was working in the Philippines, I didn’t even think twice about shading my income tax return. There was this sense that if our leaders could get away with stealing from the people, then getting a bit back through tax ‘creativity’ was somehow justified. 🙂 I also heard that if you were ever audited, you could usually settle with the auditor for a small percentage of what you owed—so the risk felt worth it. Basically, I was told, it was the system. I wasn’t in the meaningful tax bracket, i.e. didn’t earn that much, so I figured the BIR would go after the bigger fish.
As for why voters seem to favor tax evaders, I think it reflects our moral failure. Maybe it’s a kind of moral numbness—or even, as Padre Florentino said in the Fili, a tendency to admire those who get away with wrongdoing. I include myself in that, by the way. So forget that moral purity stuff. We have a long way to go when it comes to civic maturity and integrity. But recognizing the problem is already a step forward, I hope.
“Turns out I was wrong.” – Joe Am
And to be wrong is to be a liar?
As best I recall, a liar is one who knows the truth, and yet tells what is not the truth. Someone who is mistaken is not necessarily a liar.
More sophistry from me? I don’t think so, but you may explain to me if it is.
If you read the article, you’d know what I meant, and you’d know I am not pro-Marcos. I projected that Marcos would have a hard time winning the presidency. But don’t let information get in the way of your beliefs.
“there are pro-Marcos folk here”
————–
Not quite true, I think the blog is more on pro-good governance. The blog is somewhat like a “carinderia” offering the menu of the day/week offered mostly by JoeAm and also by members of this community. Opinion and analysis sometimes differs from our own… too much salt and pepper may ruin the dish being served.
“Not quite true, I think the blog is more on pro-good governance.” – Istambaysakanto
Thanks for sharing your view, Istambay. From what I’ve seen, the blog definitely supports good governance in principle, but the way discussions are handled can sometimes be a bit one-sided. It seems like criticism of PBBM isn’t always welcomed, and when people raise concerns, the conversation often gets steered away or shut down.
I think having open and fair discussions, even when opinions differ, is really important for understanding the full picture of how the country is doing. What’s your take on how the blog manages different viewpoints? Does it encourage honest dialogue in your experience?
We are an online tambayan and everyone is welcome, the istambay, the kasambahay, the Marine coming from the motel after sex or from the bars just drunk, the Vietnamese mogul who is in street jargon a 666 (6 feet, 6 digit income and the third I forgot 😉) as opposed to the Marine who is a 555 so he is coming from one of his many girlfriends, the unwashed Pilosopo Tasyo that I am, the pilosopo and abogago CV, and of course the barkeeper Joe. There is Karl, who is actually the barangay tanod with AFP roots but rarely uses his bamboo stick nowadays. There is the blog admin who is an INC, so di siya madaling matukso ng kamunduan.
It can be useful and harmful that we are such a small group. We want newcomers but aren’t used to them anymore as it sometimes feels like the Bar at the End of the Universe here.
P.S. Maestra Arlene talks to us in the afternoon when we aren’t that drunk yet. 😀
Love the tambayan spirit here, Irineo—feels like a cast of characters straight out of a teleserye meets stand-up night. 😂 But I gotta be honest, sometimes I feel like the tahimik guy at the corner of the sari-sari store, thinking twice before speaking up, kasi baka mapagalitan ng barangay tanod o ma-asar ng tropa. 😅 I know it’s all part of the fun and real talk, and I’m not here to pick fights—just hoping there’s space for the contrapelo views too, minus the walk-on-eggshells feeling.
„as opposed to the Marine who is a 555 so he is coming from one of his many girlfriends,“
LOL. no money, no honey as Mango ave girls are prone to say, Ireneo.
ps. — you should see my kitchen cabinet filled with nothing but canned goods, just sardines and soup (campbells ) mostly. asian noodles too (korean mostly). a lot of Quaker oatmeal too. i think i still have some quinoa too.
The blog is the blog. It accepts different viewpoints but not preaching or trolling. It encourages honest discussion but not open discussion. It’s like a magazine, with a direction and editorial vision and execution. It hosts probably the most intellectually diverse and robust conversations in the Philippines. If you feel you don’t fit in, you are welcome to find a different forum that fits your style. But you are not empowered at this point to cast judgment on the proceedings, or encourage others to enter the tasteless arena of petty judgment.
Thanks for the clarity, Joe. I can respect a space with a defined editorial direction, even if I may not always align with how it’s enforced. I’ll take your feedback in stride and reflect on how best to participate within the boundaries you’ve laid out. Just know that if I occasionally sound like I’m wrestling out loud with ideas, it’s never meant as trolling or preaching—just part of my process of learning from others here. Peace. ✌️
@istambaysakanto, I like the carinderia description. I’m enjoying writing again after several years of near flatlining. So we’ll keep serving up new dishes. Thanks for being here, and seeing the process as beneficial.
I like carinderia too, Joe. i remember in Cebu there would be dishes in the front then dishes lined up in the back. I thought at first maybe theres no room in the front, but then noticed the really popular dishes were in the back, especially Humba and Dogo‘-dogo‘ (dinogoan). so then i realized maybe that the most unhealthy (but also most delicious food) are placed here as to not entice customers cuz potentially would cause heart attack or artery blockage (life changing even life ending). andcarinderia owners were conscientious of that. then i noticed thats where the ladels were. which probably means logistically its easier to clean up in the back. occams razor and all. then at some establishments i noticed street kids pointing at the food and touching it, and thats how they were given said food (cuz they’ve already touched it with their dirty hands) for free. which got me thinking… did kids also touch the humba and dinogoan? thus those dishes placed away from street kids‘ grubby hands placed in the back? I dunno. all i know is that Jesus has risen today. So HAPPY EASTER!!! everyone.
Happy Easter, LCX.
The privilege is all mine Sir JoeAm. There’s a lot to learn. Thank you.
It struck me in my various ponderings this morning that Marcos haters are going to get Sara Duterte elected, how about that bucket of chicken bones? There are no Marcos Apologists in the Society of Honor that I am aware of. It is of course common for haters to see any semblance of recognition as apologistic. Emotional issues, I suspect. Read more, is always my advice to people who are factually impaired. And for sure read more articles at this blog before assuming all-perfect knowledge about it.
Sara Duterte may get elected in 2028, but the 100%’ers can always ride high on their moral purity. That’s how Digong got elected out of relative obscurity as well, except now the Dutertes are even more dangerous by having a national network albeit temporarily weakened. Every political party, or even factions within parties, want their own man/woman to have the top position. Divided thus they are conquered. No wonder the “masa” don’t go with such displays of weakness.
Filipinos should be politically educated to start seeing politicians as but tools to achieve the means to a political end, and vote accordingly. No man lives forever, and even saints are sinners. Searching for perfection that doesn’t exist to cater to XYZ concerns of every citizen complaint only leads to disappointment. The idea should be to have continual progression, even if the wins sometimes feel incremental. A foot forward is foot gained, until quite a distance has been traveled.
That is a realistic assessment of the now but getting to the common man’s enlightenment seems unachievable to me. It’s a wonderland to me as a truly horrid potential Queen is seen by many as strong, ala Trump, while a perfectly normal President is stricken down in polls for reasons of history, not future, and smart liberal people are not smart enough to band with other Constitutionalists to get the people acting in their own best interests. Perhaps my wife is sneaking the wrong kinds of mushrooms into the pancit. But nevermind, my son speaks enough Mandarin to get by, and I can be quite happy growing vegetables and chickens and musing about the ways we helped, and the ways we were impotent.
My analysis of “the Philippine condition” as a “national village” where people think they can scale up mayoral governance, essentially datu leadership, to a country as diverse as the Philippines, still stands as of now.
Magsaysay was still able to run the Philippines that way as the mambo dancing national datu as the Filipino mainstream (Christian lowlanders) was still a relatively homogeneous lot, educated the same way, and there were 1/6 of the Filipinos of today.
Unfortunately, even the likes of Xiao Chua circulate the idea of pinunong bayan as someone to bring kaginhawaan to the people. It was easier to regulate behavior in the old barangays. It was even somehow possible for civic society in Davao to push the Dutertes a bit, I was told.
if the current civil society in dabaw wants to push the dutertes further off field, the link below tells how that might be possible. as we bear down to polling day may 22, paid bots, fake identities with multiple fake accounts on social media are already spreading duterte charis-mi-as-ma how apparently unbeatable the dutertes are, how well liked, how important, and how far reaching their influential is – that they are sure to win on polling day. money speaks loudest. all trolls in existence apparently duly bought already.
my uberly twisted take is the confidential funds that the dutertes had amassed all the while lame tatay was president is probly far beyond what makoy had amassed.
https://mb.com.ph/2025/4/21/house-leaders-concerned-over-disinformation-caused-by-fake-pro-duterte-social-media-accounts
anyone who wants to cut off dutertes far reaching tentacles, my uberly twisted advice albeit uninformed, is not to vote any candidate endorsed by the dutertes. nor vote any duterte that run for public office. no matter how likeable and orchestrated trolls run their campaigns.
Joey, I hear you on the need for political maturity among voters—learning to treat politicians as tools rather than idols is a big step forward. I agree that waiting for perfection often leads us nowhere, and incremental progress is better than none.
That said, I think we also need to examine how politicians themselves often treat other politicians as tools—for personal gain, not public good. Take PBBM choosing Sara Duterte as his running mate. Was that about shared principles or better governance? Or was it a tactical alliance with a powerful dynasty that had influence over COMELEC and other institutions that can influence an election? It feels to me like a move made out of fear of a strong opponent, not a bold vision for the country. The strategy obviously worked.
So yes, voters should be pragmatic. But they also deserve to be clear-eyed about the motives of the politicians they’re voting for. Otherwise, we’re not choosing tools—we’re being used as tools.
OT. I hope the poster below does NOT represent TSOH. Happy Easter y’all.
Image retort
Actually, it does, I’m the guy in the upper left. Happy Easter.
For any labels thrown at me, very thankful for the cast the first stone and look at the mirror retorts in addition to swearing the hypocritic oath.
My give Duterte a chace lasted only a week or even less, now my give BBM a chance is still iffy, but I appreciate not to be called an apolgist.
Happy Easter
Past Easter season posts
https://joeam.com/2015/04/05/rising-from-victimhood/
https://joeam.com/2023/04/17/christ-is-risen-when-will-tsoh-rise-again/
And
[https://joeam.com/2014/04/21/impatience-rising-in-the-philippines/]
My my, thank you, Karl. Your 2023 review of blogging in the early days is a classic. Thank you for providing content during those days when I was very diligently inspecting medical facilities in the Philippines. I frankly don’t remember writing a lot of older posts, but I see I properly expressed frustration with Secretary Abaya’s work performance, although, as a person, I rather suspect he is top-notch.
Welcome.
Even more dad had a few unsolicited proposals from friends shot down.
I admired Jun (Abaya) for that because that move is a Pnoy directive Solicited proposals only.
If there were a few then that would be NEDA’s fault. Another good move by BBM to institutionslize NEDA at the risk of another thick layer of bureaucracy (red tape)
True, true.