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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| In One Generation II
By Antonio C. Abaya Written June 20, 2007 For the Standard Today, June 21 issue So, can the Philippines be transformed into a modern, prosperous nation and a strong state�..in one generation? The empirical evidence, as outlined in the first part of this essay, is that it can be achieved, as it has been achieved in neighboring East Asian countries. BUT. And one of the BUTs is that all our successful neighbors transformed themselves (and are transforming themselves) under authoritarian regimes. South Korea , Taiwan , Suharto�s Indonesia and Thailand (in the 1980s) under military rule. China and Vietnam under communist dictatorships. All of which can be classified as hard authoritarian states. Malaysia and Singapore under, effectively, one-party parliamentary governments with circumscribed political rights for the largely uncomplaining citizens. They can be classified as soft authoritarian regimes. Whether hard or soft, the authoritarian regimes kept (and some are still keeping) a tight leash on their people by controlling their media and limiting or denying the �democratic space� allowed to the political opposition, real or imagined. The fact that South Korea , Taiwan , Indonesia and Thailand have since liberalized their political environments does not erase the fact that during their years of transformation � under military rule � their regimes were as undemocratic as China and Vietnam still are today: no free press, no political opposition. To this day, Malaysia and Singapore tightly control their media, and do not allow communists and suspected communists to take part in their political discourse, under threat of the Internal Security Act, even though their communist insurgencies were squashed decades ago. (Of course, we had our dalliance with authoritarianism, under Ferdinand Marcos, from 1972 to 1986. But Marcos did not build an export-oriented economy for the Philippines as the other Asian authoritarians did for theirs. Thus he was not able to offer broad-based prosperity in exchange for reduced political rights. Furthermore, for reasons known only to him, Marcos allowed the communist fronts Bayan and KMU to openly organize, mobilize and proselytize against him, which would have been unthinkable in South Korea , Taiwan , Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand and Suharto�s Indonesia . Marcos gave authoritarianism a bad name and the Philippines a dicey future. But then the democrats who succeeded him gave democracy a bad name too, and our country a future just as uncertain, with their wishy-washy leadership styles). The Philippines is the solitary exception in this neighborhood in that we had/have a free (even an irresponsibly licentious) press. We have a lively, even rambunctious political opposition,. And we have even allowed the communists to organize, mobilize and proselytize in every sector of our society, including Congress itself. This would be equivalent to the Chinese Communist Party allowing the Kuomintang to organize, mobilize and proselytize in every city, town and village in Mainland China , and to occupy seats in the People�s Congress. Truli onli in da Pilipins. And we are this solitary exception because we are the only country in this part of the world to have been an American colony. Thus we are the only people in East Asia to have absorbed American-style liberalism into their consciousness. And I hasten to explain that by this I mean, American liberalism as filtered through the unique prism of Malay personal and social traits, which I blame for our culture of permissiveness, laxity and inordinate forgiveness � if the price is right � a reluctance to enforce or observe laws, a pronounced tendency towards anarchy and disorder among the under-classes, and a marked preference for the Rule of Lawyers over the Rule of Law, especially among the rich and powerful. Given this handicap of an American-style liberalism that is culturally embedded in our collective psyche but is deformed and corrupted beyond all recognition, can this country still be transformed into a modern nation and state, in one generation? I am not sure, even though there were very palpable signs during the recently concluded elections that our electorate has matured in many ways. There are just too many forces pulling in too many different directions to imagine a consensus being reached to pull in one unifying direction, as have been achieved by our more successful neighbors. Every do-gooder worth his or her salt, including the beloved Jose Rizal in his time, has prescribed education as the most effective instrument for nation-building. But even if our (flawed) education system � plagued by recurrent shortages of classrooms and desks, error-filled textbooks, and its best teachers gone to work overseas � even if our (flawed) education system were to overcome these formidable handicaps and impart the correct nation-building values in the classroom, it would have absolutely no control over what values the students imbibe outside the school. The advertising agency McCann Erickson determined through a survey several years ago that young Filipinos are influenced most, not by the Church nor by the government nor by their families, but by media, especially television and movies. And what values do our media impart to their viewers? I work out on my treadmill on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, in time for ABS-CBN�s TV Patrol World. I specifically watch this program to get a feel of what information and values the masa are getting from their TV sets. I can report without reservation that what the masa imbibe from TV is mostly garbage: saksakan, barilan, bugbugan, sampalan, suntukan, gahasaan. Aside from the latest episodes of political cannibalism, very little news about world affairs, nothing about science and technology, or art and music, or literature and history, or anything edifying or socially redeeming. The daily staple is saksakan, barilan, bugbugan, sampalan, suntukan, gahasaan. Spiced with juicy tidbits about who is sleeping with whom among our showbiz fornicators. The competition is not any better either. ABS-CBN and its rival GMA-7 are locked in a media war for market share, and each tries to outdo the other by debasing its program contents to the least common denominator that it feels would endear it more to the masa viewers, and the masa, it seems, cannot get enough of saksakan, barilan, bugbugan, sampalan, suntukan and gahasaan. So there is and will be no end to the nationwide diffusion of garbage. Print media are only slightly better. Aside from a proliferation of tabloids with similar diarrheic contents as TV, we have the anomalous situation where the most widely circulated broadsheet is deliberately pimping for the communist movement. Even though its owners and advertisers are capitalists, and the vast majority of its readers have no desire to live under a Maoist dictatorship of the proletariat. So, how can anyone possibly build up this nation successfully, given the media environment that we have, a presence deemed sacrosanct and inviolate by our cultural affinity for American-style liberalism? Not even Supermen Lee Kwan Yew and Mahathir Mohamad could have succeeded in performing the nation-building miracles that they did, if they had to grapple with a media environment like ours. Aside from the difficult problem of how, there is the additional problem of who. Are there any politicians or other public figures in the current scene who are capable of thinking outside the box and can come up with a formula for nation-building that can transcend the handicaps rooted in our cultural-political history? I don�t know. Perhaps the meteoric rise of Antonio Trillanes to sudden political prominence is an unarticulated longing by the broad mass of Filipinos for new leaders with fresh new ideas. The other political players are tired and tiresome, and have had more than their share of chances to show what they can do, in the years or decades that they have inflicted their presence on us, and they have failed to excite or inspire us. Can Trillanes make a difference? In one generation? I don�t know. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org. and acabaya.blogspot.com. If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send a blank email to [email protected], with the subject heading �Unsubscribe� and you will be removed from our distribution list. ***** OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �In One Generation II� I read your article about media, especially the networks. You hit the nail right on its head. For years the news delivery has been somewhat theatrical in presentation, it is vivid on crime details that shoo away investors from this country. One time they featured two women fighting in the street, nobody knows them and what for, it's silly. The announcers seem to be in a hurry and modulating their voices. Why not take a cue from CNN or News Asia? They delve on gossips in the entertainment world making us gossipers. Why not do something more productive in essence? They always say the world "exclusive" which I think the televiewers do not appreciate. Why don't they just telecast on an exclusive channel to an exclusive audience. How does one becomes a broadsheet columnist? I want to write and comment on stupid commercials and false advertising. (You generally have to be invited by the publishers or editors or both. ACA) Edna Beltran, (by email), June 21, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Professor A.C Abaya, Precisely, we have tried soft management in the Philippines via this so-called democratic way (or sometimes called, "democrazy way"). 1. Now we compare it with the dictatorial ways of previously classified Third World countries who successfully industrialized their countries: 2. We are disheartened today, though, such as to try it again because in our hearts and minds the similarly-motivated group of then President Ferdinand Marcos tried it the dictatorial way but failed because some of his cahoots (not all of them) did self-serving gross graft and corruption due to lack self-discipline and lack of nationalism. We are therefore now having information overload and in a saturated position but we are still hoping we could always recover. The time to make the Philippines better is now - - - not tomorrow, not next year. We owe it to ourselves to proactively help in our own small way but, of course, we need a really good leader (dictatorial or non-dictatorial) to prompt us. The exercise of freedom has a parallel obligation that goes with it and we shun this by the so-called "palakasan" system. Manuel B. Valle, CPA,CGFM, MPA, Ed.D, (by email), June 22, 2007. Professor of the MBA and MPA Programs - California State University, (Hayward) East Bay - University of Phoenix, San Francisco Bay Area Campuses (Thank you for the �professor� honorific, but I am not a professor of anything anywhere. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr Abaya, Great article! I believe that the Philippines can be transformed in a time span of one generation! I do wish the targets were adjusted slightly such that the Philippines would be; A nation of healthy people, A nation of informed people, A nation of morally responsible people (not hard right religious fanatics) Prosperity, wealth (even good government) would follow naturally. You are correct in your observation that the news media's fascination with trash is excessive. We hope this would taper down in the future. Rico Rojas, (by email), New Orleans , Louisiana , June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww This one hits the spot on the malady in our country. Chuck Agustin, (by email), June 22, 2007 President, National Defense College of the Philippines wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Very interesting and thought provoking. By the way, may I request you to also send a copy of your columns to (my home email address) so that I can read in the house and not wait until I get to the office to access your e-mail. Thanks. Ruy Moreno , (by email), June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Yes, the Philippines can be totally transformed IN ONE GENERATION starting by the year 2020. Why? #1. We need a charismatic, intellectual/visionary and a decisive leader whom I do not see in the current political arena, including those who were given fresh mandate in the Senate, except perhaps in the person of Senator-elect Antonio Trillanes whose faculty needs to be sharpened and tested by time. Could he be ready by 2020? It's too early to tell. #2. This leader and the people must agree that the only effective type of government and style of governance, under the present Philippine context, is that with the Singaporean parliamentary system. Our Constitution was changed, revised, amended many times, and yet, under liberal democracy, we never attained the status of our neighboring countries. And # 3 The Filipino people must overwhelmingly approve #2 as stated above through a Constitutional Convention where its provisions shall be included in drafting the charter. Good luck to you and God Bless the Philippines ! Niel Enrile Narca, (by email), Davao City , June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Yes, it's sad but true. The nation is at the mercy of Sewer Journalism, which continues unabated in farther idiotizing the squealing Masa. Is it any wonder why the new generation is getting dumb and dumber ? And you cited a leading broadsheet, whose owners are burgis, blatantly pimping for the Communists ! Truli onli in da Pilipins.. . And the practitioners of Sewer Journalism are also corrupt to the core. They are using their profession for blackmail and extortion. I saw a sort of white list of journalists in both the print and broadcast media who are on the take. And they complain about journalism here as an extremely dangerous occupation. Of course it's dangerous if you are on the take. For the forthcoming messiah, who will lead us to the promised land of prosperity: it would take a Herculean effort to clean the Aegean stable of corruption and deceit and rid us finally of these predatory low-lives. But we will support you. Sincerely, Auggie Surtida, (by email), Tigbauan, Iloilo , June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, If you were a beautiful bird, where would you choose to stay? In a golden cage, with enough food and water and place hanging over the window so you can see the beautiful garden and have fresh clean air, yet safe from cold and rain. You are well secured from big rats and cats. Your master loves you so much that there is no day that she looks after your well being. Or would you prefer to be let out in the open fields, looking for your own food day to day, with eminent danger of predators roaming the garden, the forest trees and the unbounded skies you are free to fly. There is no one there to shield you from danger or to look after you, except your creator that you have never seen or heard. Last year I had the opportunity to go to Manado , North Sulawesi, Indonesia. People there are more disciplined and orderly, although they look very much like our Filipinos in Mindanao . When I talked with some of them, they envy our freedom and care-free life. Our corruption is much better under the table. Theirs is including the table. We still have a better country where we are free to tell the truth. This is in spite of some leaders who lord it over their subjects like in the ARMM region. Rex Rivera, (by email), June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww But not all authoritarian governments in Asia have been able to progressively transform their economy. Take Myanmar , for instance. I think the problem with the Philippines is not really on the type of government we are having, but on the welfare mentality of the majority of Filipinos, who look for leaders who can provide them with dole-outs. This mentality breeds a vicious cycle of patronage and corruption. I may be wrong, but I think this is an offshoot of our baranggay form of government (datu, sultan, etc), which would later be institutionalized by the Spaniards (gobernadorcillo, alcalde mayor, cabeza de barrio, etc). The Americans may have introduced democracy, but the pre-Spanish and Spanish system remains the same (this explains why incumbent officials field their kamag-anaks as candidates to replace them, or to other elective positions). Thanks and more power. Bong L. Alba, (by email), June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thanks for the article, Tony. Yes, I think and believe that Trillanes will and can make a difference. I just hope and pray, however, that that difference would be in the right direction--for God and country. Regards and more power. Jeremias Decena, (by email), June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: Yes, we can transform the Philippines in a generation and, in fact, can probably do it in five to 10 years. But it will take a lot of blood, sweat and tears as well as a lot more sacrifices. And many of the elite may have to flee - as they won't be able to take the new realities. But if it has to be done, so be it. Tito Osias, (by email), June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, It might take less than a generation to turn this country around but not with this current breed of political leaders who rule the country blindly and recklessly. The people too must change if driven by wisdom and fueled by a deep sense of nationalism. The strength of a nation is measured by how people hold out under adversity and not by transient prosperity. Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, I do not want to argue with you, I just read this article you wrote (pertinent portions copied below). I do not want to repeat what you say here. I just want to comment on all that you wrote describing, analyzing and �opinionating� as the what is wrong with this country. You write about possibly changing the status quo in ONE GENERATION of Filipinos. My comment in CAPS. // Elsa Bayani MR. ABAYA STARTS: So, can the Philippines be transformed into a modern, prosperous nation and a strong state�..in one generation? ���. Snipped ���������������������������. YES, IF WE ALL UNDERSTAND AND KNOW HOW TO MOVE ON FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER. THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COUNTRY CAN VERY WELL BE COMPARED TO THE DYNAMICS OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ONE GENERATION AND THE NEXT. WHAT I MEAN BY THIS � BEFORE THE U.S. GRANTED INDEPENDENCE ON JULY 4, 1946, IT HAD PREPARED (COMMONWEALTH) THE FILIPINOS FOR 10 YEARS (TRANSITION) ON RUNNING GOVERNMENT. THE U.S. SET THE RULES TO FOLLOW (1935 CONSTITUTION). I COMPARE THIS STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT TO THE STAGE OF EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN IN PREPARATION FOR LIFE AHEAD. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL IN OUR FAMILY � THE OLDER GENERATION FAMILY ORIENTATION STAGE - DEVELOPMENT. NOW, WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION � OF CHILDREN (PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES ) LEFT ON THEIR OWN TO DECIDE ON WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES ( INDEPENDENCE OF 1946). YOU SAY HERE (BELOW): Given this handicap of an American-style liberalism that is culturally embedded in our collective psyche ��.. LET ME INTERRUPT. I DISAGREE HERE WITH YOU. GIVEN THE 45 YEARS OF AMERICAN DOMINATION � 1901-1946 � THE FILIPINOS HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY WESTERNIZED THAT YOU ARE SAFE TO SAY, HANDICAPPED BY AN AMERICAN-STYLE LIBERALISM AND I GET BACK TO YOU SAYING FURTHER �� but is deformed and corrupted beyond all recognition, can this country still be transformed into a modern nation and state, in one generation? ���.. Snipped ���������������������������.. YES, THERE HAS BEEN ATTEMPTS BY THE U.S. TO CORRECT THE CORRUPTED MENTALITY OF FILIPINOS STARTING FROM THE FIRST ELECTION UNDER THE NEW REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (POST-1946). BUT THE FILIPINOS WERE HUNGRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR NEWLY-ACQUIRED FREEDOM, THEY IGNORED ALL THESE ATTEMPTS. THEY SIMPLY RAN WILD GIVEN THEIR NEW INDEPENDENCE ! AGAIN, I COMPARE THE INDEPENDENCE (1946) AS A STAGE IN A TYPICAL FAMILY DYNAMICS WHEN CHILDREN OF ADULT AGE OF RESPONSIBILITY WERE GIVEN THE �LET GO � DO YOUR OWN AND DO IT WELL� BUT THEY (FILIPINOS) DIDN�T DO AS TOLD BY THEIR PARENTS ( U.S. ). THIS IS LIKE COMPARING THE ENTIRE NATION OF ADULT CHILDREN (THE FILIPINOS GIVEN THEIR FREEDOM TO DO WHAT ADULTS ARE EXPECTED OF THEM WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY), LIKE A CHILD GIVEN HIS OWN ROOM (PHILIPPINES) TO FIX, CLEAN, KEEP IN ORDER, IN THE SAME WAY PARENTS (U.S.) HAVE KEPT THE ROOM FOR THEM WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG (1935-1946). Now, I want to use lower caps, to continue: As responsible parents (the U.S. ), they left basic rules and regulations to follow (1935 Constitution) with explicit provisions to be continued by following such rules (operational) even after 1946 ( Independence ) However, the children (Filipinos) did not follow those rules (1935 Constitution) which they have agreed (drafted and ratified) with their parents ( U.S. ). They reneged! Instead of keeping their own room ( Philippines ) clean and tidy, orderly and neat, devoid of clutter of dirty clothes, crumpled paper thrown around indiscriminately, and other garbage, the children made it messy � throwing around all kinds of trash CORRUPTION, RULE VIOLATIONS, CRIMES, ETC.) EXPECTING THEIR PARENTS (THE U.S. ) TO COME BACK AND PICK UP THEIR GARBAGE AND CLEAN UP THE ROOM FOR THEM!!! Due to constant prodding, reminders, and all kinds of ultimatums, deadlines, time frames (agreements, treaties, foreign aids, loans and borrowings, etc.) to clean up their mess and to maintain essential services (govt programs, etc.) these children started out to abandon their room for other less stressful options � THE BRAIN EXODUS, THE MIGRATION, THE SEARCH FOR LESS STRESSFUL AND CLEANER ENVIRONMENTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES where the rooms are fully set up for them (industrial, modern, progressive, developed legal controls in effect) cleaned up for them, but they have to pay for services (TAXES) that they enjoy. In other words, it is better for them to work (have as many jobs) and go for what they want (choice of lifestyles) rather than cleaning up their room back home that they abandoned because there are no incentives (governance) for doing good work that they can fully appreciate.. Going back to Mr. Abaya�s article, he says here: The advertising agency McCann Erickson determined through a survey several years ago that young Filipinos are influenced most, not by the Church nor by the government nor by their families, but by media, especially television and movies. I DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THIS. HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS OF THE 91 MILLION FILIPINOS (2007 ESTIMATE) HAVE TELEVISIONS TO AFFECT THE FILIPINO PSYCHE?����DELETED ��..DELETED �����...THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH TVS IN FILIPINO HOUSEHOLDS TO INFLUENCE THEM. YOU DON�T HAVE TO REPEAT WHAT YOU SEE DAILY ON TV. Your examples: saksakan, bugbugan, gahasaan, etc. etc., etc. ����DELETE ���DELETE ������// Elsa Bayani Mr. Abaya continues: Perhaps the meteoric rise of Antonio Trillanes to sudden political prominence is an unarticulated longing by the broad mass of Filipinos for new leaders with fresh new ideas. ��. LET ME INTERRUPT MR. ABAYA HERE. TRILLANES REPRESENTS THE GENERATION AFTER MANY GENERATIONS (BORN AFTER 1946, 1970, 1990) LIKE AN OLDER BROTHER WHO UNDERWENT THOROUGH BRAINWASHING (PMA) AND GOES BACK HOME TO ESTABLISH ORDER AMONG HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO HAVE GONE HAYWIRE AND WILD WITH ABANDON OF ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS! HOWEVER, I THINK MR ABAYA IS PURELY SPECULATING HERE THAT TRILLANES COULD FIX THE MESSY ROOM AND CLEAN IT UP HIMSELF! HE CAN TRY!// Elsa Bayani MR. ABAYA CONTINUES: The other political players are tired and tiresome, and have had more than their share of chances to show what they can do, in the years or decades that they have inflicted their presence on us, and they have failed to excite or inspire us. My comment � Mr. Abaya is right here which means that the Filipino nation compared to a family must MOVE ON in harmony with the later generation the just as parents (THE TRAPOS) who grew up under the obsolete old world order (of parenting by old folks, manipulation by old politicians) must back off and leave the children to decide on what to do after years of education, experience, hoping to realize their dreams and aspirations in accordance with what they have learned (degrees, professions, training and expertise). The way this can be done is to allow this generation of Filipinos to govern � lead their own lives apart from their old parents (TRAPOS) whose orientations are totalitarian and obsolete � refusing to grant the freedoms to their children (young generation of Filipinos) to manage their home (Philippines) and raise their own children (new family of nations) independently in an atmosphere of love and prosperity! Instead, these old parents (THE TRAPOS) bleed their children (Filipino nation) with all the money that they earn (CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION BY STEALING WHAT THEY HAVE SAVED FOR THE FUTURE ) IN SHORT, I WANT TO SAY � TRAPOS BACK OFF!! STOP STEALING FROM YOUR CHILDREN! YOU MAKE THEM BANKRUPT, UNHAPPY, AND VERY DISGUSTED!!! // Elsa Bayani Can Trillanes make a difference? In one generation? I don�t know. COMMENT: GO FIGURE IT OUT!!! // Elsa Bayani, (by email), Little Rock , Arkansas , June 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww If an infant's development to physical maturity can be measured in years, maybe a people's development to political maturity can only be measured in millennia Rolf (of Norway),can trace his people's development in political maturity from more than a thousand years ago. The Filipinos are still divided by class today as they were before the white men came. The feudal barons, such as the Marcoses, Cojuangcos, Estradas, Arroyos, are not faring shabbily compared to the lords of other countries. They can take very well take care of themselves. The serfs are worse off than they were under the Spaniards or the Americans. Many of the serfs would rather be OFWs in Spain or America than wait for the barons to improve their quality of life. There is no attempt by the lords to provide quality education, health care and other social programs for the masa. To each his own, for the lords as well as the serfs. The mindless media�s eye candy only help take the masas' minds off their wretched existence, that's all. It is not the problem. The lords are the problem, not the serfs. Bobby Manasan, (by email), Burke , Virginia , June 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. In an interview in Time Queen Raina of Jordan said "Democracy is a process, not a prescription." The Philippines was not given the conditions that allowed democracy to be a process we all went through. We were like children let loose in the candy store even before we had learned the discipline to behave properly under the situation. A rambunctious media was just one of the problems. But there is hope, if someone like you is on to the problem. Remy Marmole�o , (by email), June 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir, do you think a president can do something to transform and make a prosperous nation? If you are the President, what would you do to accomplish this. Regards, Vince Enriquez, (by email), June 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Your article complements a similarly well-written and timely article by Randy David in his Sunday Inquirer column entitled "The Idiotization of the People". Kudos to both of you. Shame on the Lopezes, Duavits, Jimenezes and Gozons. Mari Javier, (by email), June 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, The rise of Trillanes and the rebirth of Honasan, both chracterized by the powers-that-be as rebels for their Oakwood experience is a sign of awakening of the larger portion of our voters. If there were other rebels in the senatorial line-up, maybe they would also have won because they would have become the only alternatives to the old trapos who continue to be blind and numb. Had General Miranda and Col. Querubin been in the opposition line up, I believe they would have replaced two old trapos as senators. Maybe even General Palparan would have won. I do not mind having military men in government if they are imbued with idealism and driven by the desire to change the current rotten political culture into a socially and economically enlightened political thrust. But we need strong men to accomplish this. We cannot hope to change our people's outlook in one generation if we have so-called leaders who do not know even their own strengths. Look at those senators and other political figures that found it "necessary" to get the blessings of a former president ousted for the capital crime of plunder, not to speak of his shameless womanizing. A president who was and still is the object of jokes about his ignorance and ineptness. What values are working here? You are very right in having the local media bear its share of the blame for the current mind-set of the public. Not only of the masa, the public in general. If, and that is the big IF, the media practitioners were a little bit more discerning of the influence they have over our people, they - TV, radio, and newspapers - would not have to devote half of their efforts reporting on what you called show-biz fornicators. Problem is, these TV, radio and newspapers need listeners and readers for wider subscription or readership so that advertisers can use them to reach consumers, and there, we find the beginnings of how financial profits can overcome the moral objectives of media management, if there are such objectives. If only more journalists, including editors, would shift their focus into something similar to yours, we should not lose hope of changing in the next generation. Edmund Ledesma, (by email), June 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Once again, tocayo, I am happy that you now have a "forum-like" session online and quoting the feedback from various sources, locally and internationally, on every topic of significance re our country's political existence. (Tocayo, I have had these reaction letters archived with my articles in www.tapatt.org since 2002. It is only in 2007 that I have sent them out by email. The responses have been very positive. Tony) The next thing one can do - perhaps another entity - would be to (a) anthologize each subject + all relevant comments into a book-like repository (b) issue it as your own generated columns and (c) have an angel [one of the large national funders, or a taipan who has extra millions] to print enough copies for all major high school and colleges in the country as supplementary readings for our youth, on their way to citizenhood and possible future leadership roles in the country. Make sure you own the copyright on all of these. Many, many years from now...all these will be relevant back-stories to current political life and they will be happy you did it, Tocayo. As the bug exterminator commercial goes "We need you!" Tony Joaquin, (by email), Daly City , California , June 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony Abaya: Obviously you know a great deal of past and present goings-on in the Philippines . I do enjoy reading your articles run in the Balita USA version. I like your choppy style of writing paragraphs. It alleviates boredom and provides clarity to what you are writing about. While I certainly like your style, not the typical long-winded style Filipino writers love to do; (to impress their readers) however, I find it rather blase' You provide so much information and in the end I come away with nada. I am looking for the beef! Where is the beef? In response to your Generation articles, I will suggest a sweeping change (not a piece meal one as it will never work; too many pseudo-leaders, intellectuals and dynasties who will protect their status quo) in the Philippines is what is needed to establish AUTHORITY. Be it a complete take-over through revolution, a take-over by the military or a declaration of martial law. The country and the people need DISCIPLINE and AUTHORITY. To analyze the current problems is a total waste of time and energy. The Martial Law imposed by Marcos showed many possibilities that could be implemented. In 1980 when I visited, the country was like the Caribbean , clean and beautiful. No piles of garbage in every corner. As we already know, American democracy is a misfit in the Philippines because of cultural differences, rule of law, ideologies, the Filipinos vinyl values and gullibility. It subscribes to the me (individual) approach rather than across the board mentality. To begin to correct the ills and errors (too deep seated and complex to undo) of the country which is unable to do so over he 60 years of kindergarten government is a total change in one sweeping move, I do love my country of birth and accepted I cannot return and live there which is sad. At best I visit it every year. The people remain nice even after enduring so much abuse from the government. The country can be great if Filipinos would work and make the change. It is a long road ahead. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Roseville , California , June 24, 2007 (I have been advocating a non-trapo, non-communist revolutionary government since 2002. See my articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com. Obviously, I cannot do it alone, and I have to walk a fine line between advocacy and inciting to rebellion. It is so much easier to be brave if you are 6,000 miles away from the frontlines. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Yes, Mr. Abaya, we can transform our country in twenty-five years. A Better Nation in 20 Years (A Blue Print) The government has never been able to save the people. Flipinos here and abroad will as in EDSA I and EDSA II again save the government and themselves. How? Export � Continue to export OFWs Funding � Each OFW and Filipino expats will buy $10 shares in Filipino Global Fund Management of Fund � by a Newspaper headed by a Board of Stewards The Fund will defray expenses to: Teach entrepreneurship to our children and adults out of school. Set up a Microlender Bank to finance small business startups Set up a Newspaper corporation (like Rizal's La Solidaridad) headed by fearless journalists who will expose ineptness and malfeasance in the army and government Pay rewards to whistleblowers and citizens and attorney's fees to lawyers who will assist in the prosecution of dirty politicians and public servants. Proposed Board of Stewards of La Solidarided Proposed Chief Steward - F. Sionil Jose - Laureate of the Philippines in Literature, Nationalist, Enterpreneur (current proprietor of Solidaridad Press) Proposed Managing Steward - Antonio C. Abaya Proposed Stewards of the Board (1 vote each) for a term as determined by the Board consisting of 11 Stewards. F. Sionil Jose - Chairman Antonio C. Abaya � Vice-Chairman Eugenia Duran-Apostol � Education Fr. Benigno P. Beltran ( Smokey Mountain ) Hector Quesada (Gawad Kalinga) [ Antonio Meloto refuses to join any commission) John Gokongwei, Jr. � (Business) 1 representing the POEA 1 ex-Supreme Court Justice 1 Asian Institute of Management representative 1 representing the Banking Group 1 Small Business Administration expert The transformation you speak of, Mr. Abaya, can be achieved in 25 years. And why not? Lionel Tierra, (by email), Sacramento , California , June 24, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Excellent article! Please keep it coming. Pons, [email protected], June 24, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mahihirapan yata talagang umasenso tayong mga pinoy habang nananatiling mahigit pa tayo sa mabaho at malansang isda.. L. Kirk Galanza , (by email), June 24, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I just arrived from a 2 week family holiday in Sabah , through Kota Kinabalu. A few things amazed, and bothered me: Amazing: (1) Malaysia is really getting their eco-tourism act together and you can see the focus, and resulting efficiency and quality of the tourism package, ie, transport, natural beauty, conservation, density of wildlife, ease of reservations, etc. I have back-packed Palawan , which is really beautiful and worth seeing, except you hardly see any wildlife, and the tourism infrastructure is poor. Bothersome: (2) I would have would be lack of world class service in hotels in KK, although the service in the wilderness lodges/resorts was actually very friendly and efficient. Amazing: (1) There are over 600,000 illegal Filipino immigrants in Sabah , in addition to a legal population of 2,500,000 Sabawanons. Among the legals are well assimilated first and second generation Filipinos who now consider themselves Malaysian. Bothersome: (2) The KK folk say that the Filipinos illegals are responsible for the big (6) - murder, drugs, smuggling, illegal fishing, rape and robbery. Amazing: (1) Malaysia and the Philippines have designated six islands as turtle sanctuaries. Malaysia is fully committed to the project and tourists come in droves. Bothersome: (2) A few kilometers away is the Philippine border. You will know it's the beginning of the Philippine territory because the border is lined with illegal fishing pens. Our turtle islands are populated and exploited and not conserved. Malaysia has a population of 24,000,000 in a huge territory. The Philippines is breaching 90,000,000 soon in an area that is maybe 1/3rd the size of Malaysia ? Amazing. Best regards.... Dondi Joseph, (by email), June 25, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Will a program that appeals to a more educated segment of the population ever succeed if there is no "more educated segment of the population?" Nobody will watch a program that they can't understand. Last week, I gave a P30,000 loan to one of my employees, because he was going to pay for his sister's COLLEGE tuition. I told him I wanted to meet his sister. I told her how good her brother was, and how she should work hard in school. During the course of discussion, I realized that she did not understand English. She did not even know the difference between such simple words as "When" and Where"!! And this loan was for College??!! I thought maybe I should offer her a job as a janitress instead. But then I realized that the janitorial instructions on the back of the cleaning bottle, were in English. The point is not that the world should change the janitorial instructions into English. It�s that we have to get our heads out of the sand and teach people a language where they can get past being janitors. China , Singapore , Japan , etc, they all had dictatorial governments, yes. BUT they invested in education. It�s not the political system that�s the problem. It�s the people who are incapable of making educated decisions, statements, and complaints. Education is what we need to work on, and it is the educated people that have to push for it. Peter Capotosto, (by email), June 25, 2007 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |