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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Our Image
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Oct. 15, 2007 For the Standard Today, October 16 issue A country�s image abroad is created by a combination of fortuitous events and how its people react to those events, and deliberate efforts to enhance or destroy an image that has been created. In the past 20 years or so, the most positive image that the Philippines and the Filipinos have projected of themselves abroad was the People Power of February 1986, in which hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians stared down the tanks and machineguns of a two-bit dictator for four magnificent days AND WON. It was a watershed event in modern world history and contributed immensely to the triumphs of other unarmed peoples around the world in their confrontations with their tormentors, principally the largely peaceful collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe in 1989, the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa in 1991, and the implosion later that year of the �evil empire� that was the Soviet Union. In 1986, Filipinos basked in the adulation of the rest of the world. We were proud to be Filipinos and we held our heads up high as we have never done before, or since. Those of us who were privy to the information were confident that our beloved Cory Aquino was on her way to being formally recognized by the world community with the most sought-after honor on the planet, for which she had been nominated.. But a funny thing happened on the way to the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988. Mrs. Aquino freed from detention the communist leader Jose Ma. Sison in 1987, over the objections of the military who had spent countless lives and treasure in hunting him down. Mrs. Aquino no doubt followed her Pollyanna-ish gut instinct that if she were nice to Joma and his communists, they would in turn be nice to her and wind down their Maoist revolution. Nothing like that, of course, happened. Joma showed his gratitude by going into exile in Europe and, from his base in Utrecht ( Holland ), waging a campaign among Europe �s generally leftist media to depict Cory in the most despicable terms as a human rights violator and, being the most visible part-owner of Hacienda Luisita, a holdover of feudalism. It was a formidable demolition job and not all the novenas and supplications on bended knees of her Prayer Brigade saved the day for Cory, and she lost out to some relative unknown in Costa Rica . The point of all this is to demonstrate that we Filipinos are our own worst enemies. We have a bad image because our political leaders, from Marcos to the present, have given us so few pluses to be proud of, and so many minuses to be ashamed of. After the highs of People Power in 1986, it was downhill all the way. Consider the images that we have projected since then: Imelda�s 3,000 pairs of shoes; 30-push-ups punishment for coup leaders in December 1986; Gringo�s coup attempts against Cory in 1987 and 1989; Smokey Mountain as an iconic image of the country; ten-hour daily power outages in 1991-1992; massive electoral cheating in 1992, 1995, 2004 and 2007; a criminally inclined ignoramus as president; the only country with two (Marcos and Erap) �most corrupt leaders� in the Guinness Book of World Records; cheating over age-limits in the Little League softball championship in the US; the �Hello Garci� tapes in 2005; Joc Joc Bolante in 2006; cheating in the nurses� exams in 2006; �most corrupt country in Asia� in 2007; the ZTE scandal in 2007; etc.. Is there no end to our humiliation? It is in this context that I bring up the battering that our image has suffered in American pop culture in recent days. While I agree with the 85,000 Fil-Ams and Filipinos who signed an internet protest demanding an apology from ABC for the slur against Philippine med schools that one of the characters in �Desperate Housewives� uttered in one episode, I am surprised at the vehemence of the protest. Only three or four years ago, two American radio jockeys - one of them Howard Stearn, I do not recall the other�s name � broadcast some really vicious and nasty remarks against Filipinos: Filipinos are good-for-nothings, unlike the Japanese, the Koreans and the Chinese, whom Filipinos try to pass themselves off as their �fellow Asians.�. Or many, many more words to that effect. Compared to which, a snide one-liner about our med school seems petty. Yet there was no massive internet outcry against it. Was it because it was �only� on radio, not on primetime TV? Not having watched a single episode of �Desperate Housewives,� I cannot vouch for the counter-argument that the show has also made digs at Chinese, Jews, Blacks and other minorities. As if two Wongs can make a White. If this is so, then mainstream US TV may be rebelling against the prissy cult of political correctness, a trend long noticeable in the routines of stand-up American comedians outside primetime TV. I have a sneaking suspicion that that snide remark was inserted by a Filipino or a Fil-Am writer or researcher in the producer�s staff. Implicit in that remark was some familiarity with our very own University of Recto , where one can buy a diploma for any degree. Most Americans would not know that. Most Filipinos and many Fil-Ams would. As for scrawling the word �Slut!� on Cory Aquino�s portrait, this was unforgivable, not only because it was offensive, but also because it was not funny at all. I do watch John Stewart and �The Daily Show.� And I do enjoy the clowning and ribbing against George W, Uncle Dick and the other neo-cons. But sometimes, the humor is flat, forced and not worth a fiddler�s fart. This was one such case. In the context of the episode � Is America Ready for a Woman President? - Jon Stewart seems to be saying that it is not, and does so by mocking three women leaders: Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher and Cory Aquino. Scrawling �Slut� on Cory�s portrait is the comedic equivalent of scrawling �Genius!� on George W�s portrait, to emphasize the opposite of the word as it applies to the subject. Using the word �Slut� on Cory Aquino, however, reveals a poverty of comedic imagination, and the writer should be sacked for his failure to be funny at all. ***** Reactions to [email protected] or [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Our Image� More Reactions to �The God of Silence� More Reactions to �Fr. Ed�s Pampanga� More Reactions to �The China Card� Dear Tony, I watched the YouTube file of that segment of the Daily Show and I did notice a great number of reactions, mostly in Tagalog! I try to watch the Daily Show as often as I can because it has some very funny segments and the interviews are sometimes brilliant. I may not agree with some of its values but I enjoy watching them poke fun at intolerant bigots. However, at times the show can be very offensive, insensitive, uninformed and the comments of Jon Stewart even a bit too abrasive. Regarding that segment on "Is America ready for a woman president" its generally a funny piece, at least before Cory was ascribed as a "slut" in the graphics...(But she did look nice when her face was superimposed in the Desperate Housewives picture).. I did see some light in it. After the offence and annoyance had subsided, I felt some pride in the fact that our former president was placed in the same pantheon of strong women leaders like Golda Meir and Margaret Thatcher!!! The "not very funny" scriptwriter did blunder along but he did make a strong statement that we had a great world leader in our midst, strong enough to topple an icon of repression. Yours truly, Fr. John Ma. Cordero, MMHC, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I like the last part of your essay: If somebody makes fun of you, return the favor. Better yet, dish out some sarcasm. Pour it on, sir! It beats signing an online protest against something which might just turn out to be the proverbial tempest in a teapot. George T. Amurao, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, You mentioned all that is bad in past presidents, especially Erap and Marcos, but not a hint on the corruption, viciousness and callousness of PGMA, considering very recent events. Careful, the SLIP IS SHOWING. It would not be too obvious if no comparison was made though. Jose Regino, (by email), Zamboanga City , Oct. 10, 2007 (My article referred to a specific list (�Most Corrupt Leaders�) in a specific book (Guinness Book of World Records), which is published in the US and the UK . As far as I know, Marcos and Estrada are the only Filipinos in that list. Unless you can show that Gloria Arroyo is also in that list and that I deliberately did not mention her, your innuendo that my SLIP IS SHOWING is offensive and insulting. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: If you have never been an object of butt jokes then you will never understand. When Filipino activist, psychologist lecturer Kevin Nadal of New York initiated the Internet sign-up protest, it snow-balled unexpectedly. There is something in this purported silly joke that irked the Filipino sensitivity. Perhaps this is our group's coming of age. Sending a clear message we will no longer take butt jokes anymore. We are tired of it. Even O'Reilly the enormously popular O'Reilly Factor program at Fox tried to down play the slur comment. But Nadal responded by saying "small silly jokes will add up to something big. Then there is no stopping." ABC claims it was a satirical silly joke. Okay. so at whose expense? Why not directed to the Blacks or Muslims? Because ABC knew there will be repercussions. So they picked on the silent minorities, the Filipinos. They figure no one will bat an eye. Filipinos are placid people. Well, they underestimated our strength. It may seem so insignificant an event to galvanize a group of people. One never knows. Now that we've made a radical departure from a silent minority to a vocal activist perhaps the powers that be will now consider us a group to be reckon with and respected. I believe all the fuzz has to do with respecting our image. We Filipino Americans are descent and law abiding citizens. We also work hard with strong work ethics and maintain our strong family culture, educating our children with good values of good citizenry. We have made good contributions to our adopted country-America. We as a people are seldom under the radar but at some point we need to make a stand. This is a good one to demonstrate our feelings. Now the leaders who ignited this successful protests must now seize the moment and not carelessly throw away this achievement. They must now develop a good strategy and cautiously plan steps to attain a win-win situation from both short and long-term. perspective. Let us hope. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Roseville , CA , Oct.10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Our image is what Antonio Abaya writes about. That simple, diba? [email protected], (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, It is amusing to read all the hullaballoo caused by the snide remark about "some med schools in the Philippines ." I have just one answer to this. According to US news dispatches some 2 or 3 years ago, a Florida doctor amputated the wrong leg of his patient, and a couple of weeks later another same incident happened. The poor patients lost both legs instead of one. These do not happen here, not by Filipino doctors. My local doctor here says he was being asked to go back to a Texas hospital to head its critical care unit. He refused. He is here rendering service to our countrymen. As to our Cory Aquino, the accusation cannot be proved, unlike their president Bill Clinton who had to admit and publicly apologize for indecent acts right in his Oval Office! Edmundo Ledesma, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Very interesting. Thanks GMA and especially her husband are a shame for the country. They sit on top of the corrupt mountain. Where is the honest, clean, intelligent dictator, who can save the Philippines from continuing to go down the drain? Democracy here is a farce Fritz Jahns, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya.........BRAVO a hundred times.... Sincerely, Gabriel Ripoll Jr., (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Mr. Abaya, Your Philippines "image" is one barrier difficult to overcome for overseas Filipinos in achieving political empowerment. There are others, of course, lapped together in the saying that "we are our worst enemies". The commentaries on the Desperate Housewives' episode after an expression of indignation show FilAms' "lack of clout in Hollywood " and "not having or exercising any power". The image you so accurately portray is a baggage overseas Filipinos carry in their daily lives. Even as we assert ourselves, there seems a feeling or an undertone of "look who is talking?" Thus, even the second generation overseas Filipinos are happy to pass on as "Japanese", preferably "Spanish". Precisely, overseas Filipinos must continuously take interest in the political and economic development of the Philippines and such interest must translate into active participation and assistance to create a Philippines we can all be proud of, particularly the young overseas Filipinos. While in your assessment the Desperate Housewives' episode is not the worst racial slur, I am hoping that as Perry Diaz so passionately endorses a "call to action" it will result into a lasting coalition to engage the community to achieving political empowerment, i.e., electing a Filipino-American to the U.S. Congress and overcome the "image" problem. It is my view that unless overseas Filipinos are politically empowered, we would not see the end of the racial slur no matter how strong our indignation may be, or the number of petitions we are able to rally. Regards, Jess Diaz, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww WE Filipinos have a penchant for reacting vehemently to slurs, but only those directly named or affected take offense and react. But even they eventually forget about it if they know that the slur has some basis in truth. Sometime ago somebody called us Filipinos a wounded people, a nation with a damaged culture. There were sporadic outburst of righteous indignation but the criticism did not move us to prove to the world that we are not. Thus, graft, corruption, thievery, dishonesty, immorality, crimes continue unabated in our government and society. And the few good men continue to do nothing to overwhelm the forces of evil. As I once said in an Opinion letter, "we are resilient like the bamboo and tolerant of suffering and abuse to the point of masochism like a carabao". Do we need a baptism of fire to change ourselves as a people? Amado Cabaero, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Again, thank you for articulating and amplifying what most thinking Filipinos, I believe, feel deep in his heart. As for Cory being, sana, our first Nobel Prize winner for Peace, which I believed she well deserved at that time (sayang talaga!), include the Marcos paid hacks, Ninez Cacho Olivares - who was appointed then kicked out of the sequestered Ch 13 (for whatever reason) and egotist media persons who were hoping to get appointed in her Cabinet but were not. All contributed in putting her in a bad light but most of all the allegations about her family�s treatment of their workers in Hacienda Luisita and their response to land reform (by the leftists). The country sadly lost a golden opportunity of being honored with a Nobel Prize. It could have been an eloquent testimony of the Spirit of EDSA- a unique Filipino Peoples� initiative for social change. A mechanism for redemption of Freedom and Electoral Recall. (Oh, if only it was not sabotaged, also by the �coup pals�!). Mabuhay, amigo! Ed J. T.Tirona, (by email), BF Homes, Paranaque City , Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I did not vote for GMA when she ran for the Presidency the first time because her first act as a candidate was to tell a big lie to the whole nation. She promised not to ran for the Presidency, changed her mind, then ran for the Presidency as if it was no big deal at all. Succeeding blunders that lay questions about her credibility simply appeared as one would expect the sun to rise every morning. But when GMA goes out of the country, she represents our country whether we like it or not. If we want to be respected as a people, our President has to be respected by the international community. While our president was out of the country last week, we were talking about her impeachment. How then can other leaders take GMA and us seriously? Can't our so called "leaders" see that this is another way of shooting our own foot...well, if we have some foot left at all. Best regards, A.P. Paras, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony: I just want to add my two cents' worth to your article by saying that our deteriorated image as a nation is reflected in our modern sports history as well. RP (or PI then) won championships in basketball, baseball and football - all team sports- in the pre-war Far East Olympics against the only other Asian superpower sporting nations then, Japan and China . Our teams continued to do well in these sports up to the 50s. But now baseball and football here are dead and ready to be buried. And, in turn, where do our modern sporting heroes come from? From individual sporting events like boxing, billiards and bowling. Indeed, we have become so "kaniya kaniya" and project no team effort as a people anymore. Mari Javier, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I agree 101% !!! Nonoy Yulo, (by email), Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony: On "Our Image," I agree with you that we have "blown up the controversy". I think, it is a diversion more than anything. We have not exactly set good examples, as your article point out. I don't watch "Desperate Housewives". I do not intend to be desperate. heh.heh.heh. There are better TV programs and channels. One other thing I noticed, there were FilAm organizations, which came out of the woodwork. Not really bad. There was only one national physicians' FilAm organization involved? What about the medical alumni associations like FEU, UST and UPMASA. There is an organization of Philippine. "concerns"?. I guess, unless those organizations are "directly" attacked, they will hold their fire. Sad. Max Fabella, (by email), Florida , Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Another classic column, Tocayo, for our country's socio-political history book. The more feedback I read about your columns from proven Filipino thinkers, mostly, the more I can see how broad your cyberspace forum has widened. And international at that..or shall I say global. Bravo, Antonio! Tony Joaquin, (by email), Daly City , CA , Oct. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Yes, I fully agree that Filipinos are "our own worst enemies" as what had happened to then President Corazon C. Aquino not winning the Nobel Prize because of the demolition job that the despicable Jose Maria Sison did after Cory released him from detention. Sayang. The Nobel Prize could have given the Filipinos the much- deserved accolade, instead of the unknown Costa Rican whose name nobody remembers today. I am also reminded of a similar situation during the Marcos regime. Rafael Salas, the highest ranking Filipino official in the United Nations, was nominated to become the Secretary-General of the UN and - like Cory - was sure of getting the much-coveted position. He had the support of most countries, including the superpowers and other developed first-world countries. Yet poor Paeng Salas lost it because his own Government did not give its endorsement. The unlamented Marcos must not have forgiven his former Executive Secretary for abandoning him. Perhaps you can write on why Paeng Salas suddenly left the country in 1971 to accept a high UN post when he was a senatorial candidate. I read somewhere that Salas could not accept the terms of support for his candidacy. But the story does not end there insofar as Paeng Salas and Cory Aquino are concerned. Ever wondered why Cory did not avail of the offer of Paeng Salas to help the country when she became president? A friend told me what she says Cory herself told her. Cory could not forgive Paeng Salas for meeting her husband Ninoy in "back alleys " or some place where people could not see them - and not in public places like in restaurants or hotels. Cory apparently considered it as a shabby treatment - an affront! - although I think that Ninoy understood since Salas was still with the United Nations when the Aquinos were in exile in America in the early 80s. Regards. Ric Ramos, (by email), Santa Rosa , Laguna, Oct. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, In September 1993, when I met the lawyers of PepsiCo in Wall Street Manhattan New York they, astute and imperial attitude, gave me the impression that "nothing happens in the Philippines ". Now after 16 years I really appreciate this impression of US lawyers. With a judicial system that is a direct mockery of democracy peopled by judicial mafia (so corrupt right in one of the division of the Supreme Court headed by Leo Quisumbing and his allies). Can we really expect anything from a justice system, patterned after the American republican system but without the grand jury and trial by jury system in place. This accounts foir the main social cancer in the Philippines where crooks and irresponsible corporations out to cheat, exploit and dupe poor Filipinos consumers go free.This should be the main selling point of th Philippines . Business, expecially multionationals can ravage and corrupt the judiiary and get away with it. (see www.pepsi349.com). Theyt can only do it in the Philipppines. The present justice system is a big joke. Grinding fast for the powerful and the rich, but moves like a snail by milliinches for the average and poor consumers. At least we can hope for divine justice (psalm 9:10 to 11 ). Without even a thread of evidence, a US multinational like PepsiCo (www.pepsi349.com) can make your life miserable by multiple persecutions in court. Even a mere fart could be used for persecution by a giant corporation like PepsiCo because controls the judicial system, from persecutors to judges, associate justices and justices are all beneficiary of the extreme generosity of PepsiCo. Of course, this gnerosity comes with a price like a a legal fiction of "undisputed facts" to arrive at a Supreme Court Resolution of a precedent (ponente like Justice Quisumbing) in G.R. 146007 of June 15, 2006 which makes the SC an incredulous institution of justice so uniquely Philippines since it is based and anchored not on truth and fairness, but on legal technicalities and maneuvers. , r With that nothing can really happen to our country. At least, the chastisement of living in the Philippines can look forward to a glorious path after life with Our Lord, without passing through Purgatory fdr we have not tasted the good life here in the Philipines side of this planet. To date (last October 5, 2007), SC Chief Justice Reynato Puno has received psrsonnally from me our proposal for a grand jury and trial by jury in the Philippines. He says we need an enabling law to provdie for a jury allowance budget. This could mean a measly P5 billion or P10 billion a compared to the annual lost of 45% of the annual trllion peso budget of the country. Will any lawmaker be interested in the jury proposal for Congress I can send them a CD by responding tomy email address [email protected]. . Vic del Fierro, Jr, (by email), Oct. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Dear Mr. Abaya, Thank you for sending your articles to me regularly. It's a big help to my ministry. I am pastoring a Filipino church (Assembly of God) here in Hong Kong for the last 12 years and for me, the only source of news are the Inquirer, and Philstar Online. Your article usually comments/evaluates/dissects the news which gives me the right perspective on how things are going on in our beloved country. In our church, I not only share the Word of God but also the facts of life, the reality that we face everyday. Most of our members do not read the newspaper, they prefer the movie magazines and tabloids that abound in Hong Kong . So, what I gather from the news and from the columnists, (I have two favorites: You and Mr. M. Soliven, but Mr.Soliven has gone ahead of us). I share with our members during our fellowships because educating them would result in balanced understanding of things in life especially those things that concern their plight and their families. Thank you once again and God bless you richly! � Pastor Nes Baricante, (by email), Hong Kong , Oct. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww As what was headlined today at the PDI, Oct. 12, 2007, I�m just sick and dead tired about our congressmen and how dirty the politics of the current government. Whether it is true or not, the bad image and stigma that our congress has still makes me feel bad, lalo na every time I see my pay-slip and looking at the tax deductions. Lalo na when I gas up and part of what I pay goes to the e vat. Mapupunta lang pala sa lagayan... Wow, nakaka iyak, Tony. And these corrupt people are numb already. Kapal muks na talaga..Naniniwala ako if the head is corrupt, the body will also be corrupt.It is never the present government system that is at fault. I firmly believe.. Grabe na talaga, Tony... Mike Delgado, (by email), Cainta, Rizal, Oct. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thanks for sending a copy. It was indeed very informative. I love reading it. Continue on your good works...Filipinos are so proud of YOU... Rachel Chavez, (by email), New York City , Oct. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Yes, we basked in the glow of that People Power revolt that toppled the mad dictator, Marcos, in 1986. But from then on, we have been tumbling rapidly down that slippery slope. Things have not gone well as expected, and 21 years later, it's hard to look at that mirror without seeing a cracked image. The recent slur against Philippine-educated doctors in the U.S. does not necessarily reflect what is going on back home, just ignorance or bigotry of those who wrote those scurrilous lines in the TV script of 'Desperate Housewives,' something akin to a jerk like Jon Stewart portraying Cory Aquino as a "slut." As one of those 20,000 doctors practicing here, I can only say that all of us have passed stringent requirements equivalent to or exceeding those of native doctors here, often spending five or more years of post-graduate training and fellowships. Did we get hurt by this racial slur? Sure we did, not so much because patients would abandon us in droves but a false perception like this, like a lie, could circulate endlessly and, at a later time, inflict permanent damage on our image. And I believe that's the reason for the outrage that followed, with over 130,000 signed petitions against ABC gathered in one week, with no sign yet of abating. Filipino doctors have acquitted themselves well in America , which is one reason why we are fighting on all fronts to assure that this slander against us will never happen again. Regardless of what others think of the Philippines , the image of its doctors here has been generally spotless, and we need to preserve that. Remigio G. Lacsamana, M.D, (by email), .Daytona Beach , Florida , Oct.12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir: I agree with you, but the cultural wars here in the U.S. have made each ethnic group more politically sensitive and ready to defend their rights. I posit that the neo-conservatives attacks on "illegals" and "illegal immigration" to detract from the Iraq debacle and economic impacts of NAFTA have triggered defensive stances from ethnic groups. Am-Fils and other other Asian Americans will not, in this day and age, accept or tolerate widespread and institutionalized discrimination again (such as the attacks on Filipino labor in the U.S., the Japanese-American WWII internment camps, the Chinese exclusion act, the almost 300 racial attacks after Sept. 11, etc.). Asian Americans and Hispanics are organizing themselves. There have been many protests and campaigns launched against racist media personalities. The Asian Media Watch and the Asian American Journalists Association are organizations that monitor ethnic slurs in media. They have good track records. Let us also not forget the ongoing suffering of Dr. Chua. See: Good Men Deserve To Have Their Day In Court: Dr. Noel Chua's Case The other point is that Am-Fils and Filipinos are increasingly spending a lot of time online. Their presence and membership in online communities can only but increase over time. This is a phenomenon that should be noted and studied. With their talent and available online time and their how they are connecting with one another, their online presence will be something to contend with in the future. The Malu Fernandez saga, the online petition and the e-bombardment of ABC.com are clear examples. Third, we need to encourage more Filipinos and Am-Fils to be more aggressive in defending their rights as an ETHNIC COMMUNITY. Meekness in this day and age, especially when other groups, are pushing their agendas to our detriment, can be disastrous. This is a good exercise in demanding governance, which can and should be replicated in the Philippines . Lastly, if we consider Filipino doctors/ medicine as a brand, the DH slur has economic and professional implications. As Rodel Rodis noted, the Philippines is promoting itself as a medical tourism destination. The slur undermines this global effort. ABC and its Marc Cherry should not get off lightly with an apology and an offer to "explore" ways in which Filipinos can enter show business. Let some economists and lawyers calculate the damage in dollar and lost opportunities terms. That should be the starting point of negotiations. Let us be prepared when we meet with ABC. Yes, we have the Recto diploma mills, the nursing scandal, and the occasional grumpy/lazy medical person, but that is nothing compared to the tens of thousands of competent, dedicated, and nurturing Filipino doctors, nurses, and medical technical staff all over the world. Hecky Villanueva, (by email), Tucson , Arizona , Oct. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya: Filipinos have their own way of uniting to build Filipino image. I've seen from the Internet and TV news how a group of Filipinos built the longest "parilla" or "ihawan," tailored the biggest national flag, built the biggest Christmas tree, gathered together to build the largest group with partners kissing each other on Valentine's day - with one purpose - to be recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. And these records were actually awarded to the Filipinos by Guinness. That's image-building. The latest protest in the Internet by Filipinos against "Desperate Housewives" show was just another way of building and protecting Filipino image. In "YouTube.com" I've seen also a movie clip of Filipino prisoners, wearing orange prison uniforms, dancing at the tune of Michael Jackson's "Thriller," which is viewed by millions all over the world - a way of image building, by showing that even criminals know how to dance the "Thriller." Boxers, like Manny Paquiao, are doing their best fights not for themselves but for the Filipino image. Filipino contestants in beauty contests do the same for the Filipino image that we wanted to build to the world. Even OFWs and other Filipino immigrants around the world are working hard at their countries of assignments or locations to build a Filipino image that "if it's a Filipino it's a good worker." As a matter of fact, Filipinos all over the world had been trying their best to build a good image to the world, and we are successful and proud of it. The only group that tarnishes the Filipino image are the politicians, who never cares about this good image that we are speaking about. All they care while in their seats are their own personal interests. To hell with these dirty politicians! I look at them as the images of demons and evils, and voltures eating up the flesh and image of Filipino people! Jess Guim, (by email), New York City , Oct. 13, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The other night, I was watching the teleserye Marimar on The Filipino Channel (TFC) where it was depicted that a doctor was paid by a scheming patient to say that she had an abortion when in truth she was not pregnant at all. Isn't that a worse depiction of the medical profession than the remark in Desperate Housewives? The problem with the protest against the remark in Desperate is that the University of Recto does exist. A few months ago, the Citizen Pinoy program also on TFC showed a segment about that University. Why no protest then? Jaime de Leon, (by email), , Illinois , Oct. 13, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Sir Tony, Your right that perceptions were based on how we react, and the things we've done. compared to other developing nations we are at part more better-economically politically socially. We have also super rich people like Lucio Tan, the Marcos wealth...etc. At one time, we have moved the World with our style of liberating it from a Tyrant (?) Martial Law dictator thru People Power which served as a pattern for other countries. What more.....WE HAVE SO MANY ATHLETES BRINGING GOLD MEDALS, PRESTIGE AND PRIDE TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE! WE HAVE A CHAMPION... A REAL CHAMPIUON...MANNY PACQUIAO CHAMPION THE FILIPINO PEOPLE! HEPHEP HURRAH! Your right... POLITICIANS SPOILS THE DAY. I DONT BELIEVE IN THEM! When I was with them, with advocacy, I am poor as a rat. They just watch when I starved and beg for help. My advice KEEP AWAY FROM POLITICIANS THEY WILL USE YOU LIKE A FURNITURE! Rodolfo Cada, (by email), Oct. 14, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �The God of Silence� (Sept. 11, 2007) . How refreshing to read, amid all the claptrap from your religiously hidebound correspondents, Doug Adam's message to you about the futility of Pinoy religiosity. Why is it more people don't wake up to the fact that the endless prayers and bahala na mindsets permeating our society achieve absolutely nothing and mainly keep the country mired in superstition and feudalism? Why is it that all those centuries of religious indoctrination by Spain have had such a long-lasting effect? What if the country had been colonized by Muslims instead --- would ours be as progressive as Malaysia is today (viz., Joseph Stiglitz's analysis) ? Isabel Escoda, (by email), Hong Kong , Oct. 06, 2007 (I doubt it, Isabel. Malaysia is progressive mainly because, aside from having the right economic policies and good leadership, it also has a large Chinese community, estimated at 24 to 30% of total population. Without this large and entrepreneurial Chinese community, Malaysia would probably be only slightly more progressive than Pakistan or Bangladesh . ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww To many GOD is a given, to others IT�s a need to be assured that there is somebody out there who can comfort and love them when everything is gone and out. But belief in GOD is grounded on faith. Faith supposedly is dependent on the WORD. The word is man's creation that is always subject to doubt. For me faith in god is fairly grounded on what we see, hear, feel from the people around us. Our faith gets stronger when we see more people around us manifest some faith in god. We lose our faith when the seed of doubt is planted by people who got religion along the way. Either way, for those who strongly proselytize their brand of religion and those who pose the question 'imagine if there is no heaven or no hell...?", each person is faced with a mystery that can only be answered in the beyond. Felix Zamar, (by email), Oct. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Fr. Ed�s Pampanga� (Aug. 28, 2007) Mr. Abaya, I would like to congratulate Fr. Ed for his success in bringing about reforms that are beneficial to the lives of the people of Pampanga and for all of our countrymen as well. If your figures are accurate and factual, then I strongly believe that the victory of Fr. Ed in the recent gubernatorial elections, running against two heavyweights, is clearly an act of God to liberate the people of Pampanga and allow them to enjoy the available resources of the province and to uplift the living standards of the people of Pampanga. It is also interesting that you mentioned that volcanic ash is a superior construction material and there is clearly an abundant supply in Pampanga. I�m optimistic that with Fr. Ed at the reins of the provincial capitol, the whole country would have access to this natural resource that would generate income and even open up export possibilities. Let Fr. Ed serve as a flag carrier to give hope to the Filipinos and to make us realize that we do not deserve to live in poverty and that the other provinces and their abundant natural resources are waiting to be liberated from the hands of heartless tyrants and oppressors. I am hoping that once Fr. Ed has implemented his moral reforms in the province of Pampanga , he would also share his time and thoughts to other provinces as well. Let us continue to pray to the ALMIGHTY GOD for FREEDOM and LIBERTY . GOD bless us all. Thank you for your time. Miko Magsaysay, (by email), Oct. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir, What can we say about this blatant (garapal) mismanagement and qualified theft perpetuated by the Lapid family comibination? They should account for the billions that they got from Pampanga. There should be a serious investigation by the people and let the Lapids throw out from their bellies, intestines, liver those money that should have gone to the Pampanguenos. This is a very classic example of how much the rulers, the governors, congressmen etc., fleeced their constituents dry, ignoring their needs. Do we have to wonder why the educational quality of our children have lagged behind the more progressive countries of Asia ? Why our Philippines is considered the sick man of Asia ? Why the Filipino businessmen never got beyond putting sari-sari stores, pushing carts, tricycles, barber shops, tailoring, small carinderia, carpentry etc? It is because of these corrupt, kapal mukha, and despicable politicians that govern our country. Remove them! Do not vote for those who are known and suspected corrupt officials, be they senators, president, congressmen, down to barangay officials. Thank you, Father Panlilio, you have shown the way.Thank you and best regards, Cita B. Garcia, (by email), Sept. 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �The China Card� (Sept. 27, 2007) Dear Tony, Whenever there is a multimillion or billion project in the Philippines the finger points to Malacanang as the ultimate beneficiary of a huge bribe. Congress is always kept in the dark and the people are always the last to know. There is no such thing as transparency. The Bataan nuclear plant is a classic example of a huge project where no oversight was exercised and millions of dollars in grease money changed hands. Generations of Filipinos will pay the price to retire this huge loan denominated in foreign currency. Ditto for the national broadband project. Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , Oct. 09, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, 1. Why is everyone praising Miriam when in fact she blatantly lied and admitted to the whole Filipino nation thereby making her the greatest liar of all times. From then on I will never believe anything she says. Parang sinabi pa nya thru Body Language, E ano? May magagawa ba kayo sa akin? E binoto pa sya ng mga stupidong Pilipino...e sori kung dinaya nya pala, naloko rin sila. Friend ko pa naman ang taong nagkampanya sa kanya. 2. We are still lucky that the Chinese brought in the Broadband craze otherwise, imagine if it were the Americans, Japanese or the Finns. It would have cost us the entire budget of the nation. I guess the reason why these politicians chose China because it would give them room to charge "for the boys" and "pikture" and "SOP", etc. and come out as if nothing went under the table or over the golf course. 3. Chinese goods shall be the biggest factor for economic prosperity in the Philippines . The EVAT kills the poor Filipinos and forces some to become crooks. The higher the cost of a commodity, the higher the taxes, therefore, with Chinese goods proliferating, cost is lower thereby providing the Filipinos the chance to improve their lives instead of paying more taxes which pass through the tonggressmen. Raymond Tumao, (by email), Oct. 09, 2007 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |