Austero’s eloquence
It was only through Global Voices Online that I found out Bong Austero, who penned an open letter that’s been much-forwarded (sometimes even without his name), is a blogger.
Reading his blog was quite an experience. There are three entries that should be read by everyone, regardless of which side they’re on, not least because they give breadth and depth to the open letter that he says he never thought would achieve such a wide circulation (and probably, for that very reason: people could tell they weren’t crafted for any other purpose than to express the author’s feelings):
The demolition team becomes personal
All three entries are not just eloquently, but so honestly, written they remind me of something people have been chiding me about: the loss of civility in discussing the issues. I do not, and will not, regret a temper and biting words with regards to public figures, but perhaps that shouldn’t be the case with regards to private individuals, particularly in the blogs. Perhaps, but not always.
One thing, though: anyone should be able to say anything they like, for whatever side. When you try forcing people to shut up, you lose. Mr. Austero is speaking to his constituency, and obviously doing it well -and in a way no one can question. So read what he has to say.
The marginalized majority? The last time I looked more than 50per cent of the people wanted Gloria to resign. Her negative ratings have gone down steadily from +30 in March 2004 to -33 in surveys taken in the last quarter of 2005.
I don’t know Manolo but I’m not fooled by this guy. I e mailed you a detailed deconstruction of his famous letter so you’ll know why I am very cynical about it.
Let me just say that his letter lays the predicate for keeping Gloria. Hoever, his predicate is based on negatives about the opposition rather than the positive points, if any, of Gloria.
To me therefore the letter is a demolition job and nothing more. The fact that many people agree with him tells me that Malacanang propaganda works on certain people. The kind of people who make choices based on what they dislike more.
MLQ3,
Dmolition job, says M Buencamino and I believe his assesment is spot on. Demolition jobs entail intimidations.
Yesterday I read a post in Tagalog in Ellen’s blog saying she should also be arrested or something like that…today, over at your blog, someone posted a similar insinuation but against me (crazy thing to do really) saying perhaps my bank accounts should be inspected or some similar warped gibberish.
These “gibberish” reminded me of a call from someone I know very well at the embassy a few days ago informing me that someone (presumably that someone is also from the embassy) had been asked to check up on a person with my blog-emailID (yes, MINE!) Anyway, it’s easy for anyone in Gloria’s govt or her friends and supporters to track me if they are so eager or so scared because many in the embassy know my ID, besides there are many trails in the blogsphere about me so their task would be easy and that’s because I’ve never meant to hide…
Know what? I had already suspected that it might come to this – I’ve long alerted my MPs and friends in media here (and back home too) that Gloria’s govt might try some subtle and not quite so subtle intimidation tactics against overseas Pinoys who are staunchly anti-Arroyo.
If RP ‘authorities’ are hell bent on intimidating me or other Pinoys overseas like me who are staunchly anti-Gloria Mandaraya, they will have to try harder or opt for a different tack – as I said to that horrid creature over at your blog (who is undoubtedly a Gloria govt paid hack or a member of the Luli Arroyo internet brigade) that she and Gloria’s gov’t are welcome to do what they want so that I can take them ‘officially’ to the European arena of freedom of the press and of freedom of speech where my MPs will strip them naked, slaughter their egos and bare their extremely corrupt guts for the world to see.
Gloria, her friends, her supporters and members of her cabinet must be extremely careful about intimidating overseas Pinoys here, in the US or in Japan; that like at home, there are also good and righteous people here and elsewhere in the West but who who posses an advantage today over our kababayans back home because our governments here are democratic; that our freedom loving institutions – the media in particular – are equally ruthless and like the few good people in media back home, will NEVER, EVER kowtow to Pidalists, election thieves, corrupt pseudo-presidents, human rights abusers and freedom of the press killers.
MLQ3,
The REPLY from an AUSTRALIAN with FILIPINO husband to AUSTEROS OPEN LETTER is WORTH READING. Too BAD coming
from an outsider.
I have to respond to this. Write me off as an ignorant Australian if you will who only has Filipino cable and the internet to inform me but I can’t let it go.
1. Your concept of democracy is passive aggressive and weak. Silence doesn’t go anywhere – the world does not read minds. If you can’t be bothered to put your thoughts out there in the public arena, don’t blame others who will.
2. It is arrogant to assume that your brand of patriotism is more profound than others. You choose to sacrifice your “freedom and your rights” while others are sacrificing or risking at the very least their lives. The Philippines is second only to Iraq in killing it’s journalists – what does that tell you about the patriotism of those journalists who speak up about corruption? If it is a question of sacrifice, you cannot claim the higher ground.
3. You so flatter the activists, journalists, etc.. when you say they have brought down the hard work of GMA. No one needed to have lifted a finger or do you think it is the fault of the bleeding hearts that the Philippines is the 11th most corrupt country in the world? The political ideas most closely reflecting those in the Philippines in East Asia can be found in South Korea. I don’t think democracy has affected things too badly there. Another country in SE Asia who is also struggling to topple their president is Thailand. At present, it would take you 30 YEARS to catch up with Thailand. In the 60s, you were the “Pearl of the Orient”, the richest country in SE Asia, and since Marcos, the decline has been steady for decades. Now all your SE neighbours far outstrip you in terms of development and you are rating alongside war torn countries like Laos and Cambodia. Do you really think that is the fault of your activists?! Do you really believe that shutting up and trusting your illegitimate leader is going to solve things? Do you really believe that forgiving the rampant corrutption is going to make it alright?
If GMA is working so hard to put things right, my (Filipino) husband and I wonder why the Philippines is so consistently absent from trade and tourism fairs in Australia when even countries like Vietnam and Mongolia can repersent themselves? Perhaps the corruption takes it toll on the budget? The only ones to represent your country at the moment are the OFWs and were it not for those Filipinos working OS your country would certainly be bankrupt.
I have travelled around SE Asia and can certainly attest to how backwards things are in the Philippines. Considering that since the Marcos era, the same politicians, the same oligarchy of families are running the show and the same corrupt practices abound, I would imagine that they are to blame. Certainly the media in Australia demonstrated great respect and admiration for people power and I’m sure that is the case the world over. It is a shame that you’re so pissed of by citizens using their democratic rights to speak up about genuine grievances. The fact that even groups like the Makati Business Council and retired generals are telling people to protest demonstrates how desperate things are right now.
If you think the activists make you look bad, I say not as bad as a cheating president does or letting US soldiers rape your citizens without consequence. The rest of the world would probably say Jamaah Islamiah and your sluggish economy look pretty pathetic. Whatever happens now you need serious change and you need it fast because the way you’re going, you’re going to be pegged alongside African countries in years to come the way things are going.
Bushwalker – live journal
Whoa!
Dwarf_In_The_Palace, that was a simple but powerful post from down under.
Thanks for posting it.
We all don’t need to be enemies. In the biggest picture, we all want the same thing. We just see different paths…but yet they all lead to the mountain top. At least I hope so.
Thanks for the space to air my own thoughts, mlq3. I’m glad to have been exposed to the views of others. Peace be with you.
This is my last post here, and I bid all of thee adieu. Best wishes to all of us and to this flawed-yet-beautiful country we all love.
No war. No blood. Stop the hate. Please…..
#3 “1. Your concept of democracy is passive aggressive and weak. Silence doesn’t go anywhere – the world does not read minds. If you can’t be bothered to put your thoughts out there in the public arena, don’t blame others who will.”
Didn’t Mr. Austero put his thoughts out there in the public arena?
I agree mb, adb. On apologies first,I have tried to post my comments below in reaction to another blog, but seem it can’t get through. Here it is…..
I agree with adb, first things first as stated in item # 26, we need a President with genuine mandate.
By the way mlq3, are those wish list yours, that of your friend or simply a collection of proposals from various people? I have serious apprehension about the proposals and that serious discussions on the wish list should not divide and detract us from the more urgent issue of a President without real (or for those who not yet fully convinced, with questionable) mandate. But I can help but comment broadly on some fundamental issues in the wish list.
1. The wish list put so much limitation or restriction on the people who want to serve through politics or to choose its leaders although I presume I know where the proposal is coming from. It pre-supposes an unintelligent electorate and greedy politicians. My contention is that the electorate is not stupid, there’s just a dearth of willing, winnable, qualified, and decent politicians. Most decent and qualified people tend shy away from politics and responsibilities and that in many instances the choice is limited from among lesser evils, but the people shoul not be constrained to elect leaders who have proven themselves worthy of people’s trust. The people deserve the kind of leaders they have. The important thing is “genuine mandate†and the leveling of the playing field through electoral reforms; integration or rationalization of sectoral representation and party list system. The sovereign – the people is supreme above all else, even to be dumb.
2. Instead of putting up so many prohibitions, restrictions and limitations, focus should be more on developing a more responsive and accountable and transparent system of governance, checks and balances, and the system of reward and punishment (for public servants – politicians or government employee), and a system the encourages an active and responsible “citizenry.â€Â
3. Federalism? Regional Autonomous Government or federal state? It’s another layer, in our already bloated government bureaucracy. I’m a believer of decentralization and empowerment – devolution and de-concentration of powers and responsibility to LGUs, perhaps, we simply need to amend the local government code; equity should be made an important principle in the amendment to minimize high skewed disparity in income/resources and development between and among local government units.
4. The key to all these is education and an informed, active and vigilant citizenry.
Are these or those in the wish list possible with GLORIA? NO, not because the above cannot be legislated, but because she does not have the trust and respect of and the support and mandate from the people. FIRST THINGS FIRST.
mlq3 said: . . . people could tell they weren’t crafted for any other purpose than to express the author’s feelings . . . not just eloquently, but so honestly, written . . .
Abe: Eloquently written, yes. Mr. Austero is seemingly gifted. But honestly? Well, precisely because he has that gift of persuasion and the skill to express himself in style that he is succeeding to obscure the fact that he is politically active and, indeed, highly partisan instead of someone who is honestly pleading to “respect my silence.â€Â
Let’s take note of some of his pretensions to assure his readers that he is not a GMA defender by any guise:
“I do not like [GMA] too. I did not even vote for her. I voted for Raul Roco. But as much as I do not like her, I do not like you even more. I may not trust her, but guess what, I do not trust you even more.â€Â
Unfortunately for Austero, in his lame effort to fortify his lines, he was unable to hush up his single-minded bias for the President. Here’s just one sample: “From where I sit, she is the one who has been working really hard to move this country forward while all of you have been so busy with one and only one thing: to make sure she does not succeed. So forgive me if I do not want to join you in your moral pissing contest. Forgive me if I have chosen to see things from another perspective. You say she is the problem. I say, we are the problem, more to the point, I think you are a bigger problem than she is.â€Â
By professing in the foregoing to refuse joining the “moral pissing contest,†Austero apparently wants to present himself as politically neutral, uncommitted – a fencesitter. But here’s the dishonesty, witting or unwitting: first, the humility “WE are the problem†and then promptly followed by an arrogant self-absolution “I think YOU are the bigger problem than she is.â€Â
Now this: “While I felt outraged that she called a Comelec official during the elections and that she may have rigged the elections, I have since then taken the higher moral ground and forgiven her.†So, those who have chosen to take the cudgels of demanding more from the President – to clear the cloud over her supposedly rightful claim to the presidency – have taken the lower moral ground?
mlq3 said: I do not, and will not, regret a temper and biting words with regards to public figures, but perhaps that shouldn’t be the case with regards to private individuals, particularly in the blogs. Perhaps, but not always.
Abe: Please don’t fall for this guy, Manolo, because he is obviously hitting hard while complaining “Who’s hitting me in the back, don’t you know I’m just a spectator?
If Austero is not a hack writer, and I don’t think he is, he has at least taken the function of a political hack (like some of US, if to follow Austero’s self-abnegation) and therefore a fair game for equally hard-hitting exchange from any sides of the political debate; never mind he really said nothing new.
What’s quite obvious however is that after Austero had outed himself and received all the attention, he would decline to wrestle fair and square. Note how he makes a case: “Others can out-debate me, out-fact me, out-argue me – that still doesn’t make me wrong. I stand by my feelings and opinions.†To be a bit “biting,†one who is conveniently willing to leap from practical, factual and logical reasoning to moral or personal considerations can be as childish as someone who lacks of the needed “civility in discussing issues.†Is Austero really worth your time? Not mine, so I’m doing this exchange with you and your visitors, not him.
MLQ3,
I’ve just read Max Soliven’s and Jose Sison’s articles on the net in tomorrow’s (Friday) edition of the Star: Max’s one on one talk with Gloria and Sison’s discreet plea for a calm “surrender”. But both essentially defend to the death Gloria’s right to do as she pleases, right or wrong, good or bad, corruption and all.
I’m inclined to believe that the freedom of the press in the Philippines is gasping for its last breath. We all have a big problem because the nation’s civil society is more than ever firmly split right in the middle, the middle class is pathetically weak while most of the impoverished class is clueless.
Only the liars, the cheats, the corrupt and the greedy in government have some kind of devil’s determination and direction as to where they want the country to go – clearly to damnation but only few people care to stop them.
How do you propose to build a democracy with that kind of foundation?
“Is Austero really worth your time? Not mine, so I’m doing this exchange with you and your visitors, not him.” – Abe M.
Yes, it’s so much easier to exchange ideas who agree with everything you say. OK – sarcasm aside – frankly, the rationalizations here amuse me. For many commentators, Mr. Austero is simply a “hack”, or a “demolition job”, or (this is my favorite) a “member of the Luli Arroyo Internet Brigade”.
Psychologists call this “cognitive dissonance” – a mindset so entrenched in the idea that ordinary Filipinos want Gloria out of office cannot conceive that many ordinary Filipinos don’t want it at all. So instead of acknowledging the latter, they’d much prefer to believe that this guy is a partisan hack in Gloria’s pay.
It’s not just the lack of civility that disturbs: it’s also the opposition’s unwillingness to think, once one’s mind is made up, that the undecided pick up on and eventually reject. You reject this guy for being “partisan” – fair being fair, we can equally reject the opposition for being just as biased. You prefer the echo chamber of like-minded commentators to the dissent of an honest few – it makes honest individuals tremble at the thought of a similarly insulated revolutionary government, should your plans succeed.
You’re free to call Mr. Austero names, it’s your right after all – but please, don’t do this and expect to retain the moral high ground that seems to be crumbling under your very feet.
[...] (In response to this thread and its commentators – MLQ3’s site seems to be acting up where comments are concerned.) [...]
So we must not do an argumentum ad hominem on the guy because we must look at the message…
since I don’t know the guy all I can shoot is the message.
The message sucked!
I did not say Mr. Austero sucked.
Will that do?
Karl,
Heheh! You have the gift of the surgical gab – with a few words you clipped the guy’s beak!
Right on!
I was just testing how to post a comment on Austero’s blog and this is what I see: “Comment moderation has been enabled. All comments must be approved by the blog author.”
I looked at the comments on all three articles and, what do I see–nothing but comments agreeing with him.
In contrast, dito at sa blog ni Ellen, Ricky, PCIJ, etc, puedeng magpost ang mga “mickeytmoc” at sinumang kontra sa mga opinion ng blog owner/s and regulars.
Who is silencing who?
As communicators’ say, the “medium is the message,” but if I may add, the “source is also message.” Translated differently, I’m for GLORIA, and I’m gonna flood your blog’s.
Did you actually try to post anything before going off on your tangent about moderated comments? Dito naman din, ah. Look below: “Comment moderation is enabled and may delay yoru comment.” In fact, I see a lot of dissenting posts on Bong Austero’s blog as well. Are you suggesting Bong is silencing those who disagree with him, Tom? Can you provide any more proof?
Most people in the middle class are conflict averse, and would just want to continue working. They’re the type who blanked out the student leaders on the PA shouting “Makibaka!” as they studied in classrooms during college. I think Mr. Austero’s posts encapsulates perfectly how this segment of the population feels. I think the spin and mud-slinging dominating political debate right now is having its intended effect.
Interesting follow-up question: who’s been doing the most mudslinging so far?
What can you expect from an angry man like Bong Austero?
But it is worth to examine as I did.
1st paragraph, he doesn’t want anybody especially Tita Cory & others to represent his rights.He simply ignore that application of government policy inherently applies to all. If Ate Glue violated freedom of the press in Tribune, it is meant as an example to people like him once he turns against the government.
2nd paragraph, he vocalized that silence is a response. Typical of kids, as if silence can telegraph accurately ones messages. Another kiddie stuff, is leave him alone coz his rights are not at peril.
3rd paragraph, he had chosen to see Ate Glue’s perspective at the same time asking forgiveness. This is similar to Ate Glue’s admission and asking forgiveness as rhetoric.
4th paragraph, he had dispensed forgiveness easily to Ate Glue as he is convinced that Ate Glue had done nothing wrong at all.
5th paragraph, he believed that the political scene can result into bloody fight.
6th paragraph, he doesn’t trust anybody especially those against the government who started the fight.
7th paragraph, he believed that those against government are destroying the country. He cannot see that destruction started from within the government covering up her corruption and illegitimacy.
8th paragraph, he categorized that all those against the government as one and the same.
9th paragraph, he cast lot with lesser evil the government.
10th paragraph, he believed that those against the government are bullies. He forgot that bullies usually have power (like the government) that like to display to intimidate opponents.
11th paragraph, he can respect those who are willing to go to jail at the same time he had forgotten those who were arrested.
12th paragraph, he believed that opponents wanted to bring down the government (lesser evil)
13th paragraph, he believed that being silent can solve corruptions.
14th paragraph, he believed that seeking redress for corruptions is a graver threat than corruption itself and he needs protection from that.
Hehehe!
Thanks Karl for the support..
I am for the rule of Law No matter what happens to who.. I really don’t care..
What pisses me is that the impeachment was tried. The tapes if were illegal, and if the vodaphone incident in Greece is anything.. Then the CIA probably had something to do with this one..
Think about this Garci was traveling the country the Cell phones do not transmit even 20 KM so they had to have someone following him closely to get the transmission and not sitting is ISAF headquarters, which is always claimed.. Next the “CIA” is believed to have activated a program hidden in the Vodaphone network to copy and retransmit the calls to a different location.
The Black and White group was started in the US with connections to a US Agent.. That agent was then arrested..
What would be more embarassing to the US, that the agent gave the tapes to people here.. OR that they were spying on the Elections by using hidden technology in the Phone Companies..
There have been so many CLAIMS and Counter Claims about Fraud either to do with the elections, Contracts, and even alliances..
(I am meant to be part of some Internet Brigade.)
I don’t care who gets caught, If they are doing wrong like stealing, Pay offs, Closing their eyes to what others are doing. Then i think the law should be brought to bare and show who is meant to rule the country..
I have had too many people steal off me.. And then i pay my taxes and everything else and what do i get, a government who steals, The People Throw him out but give him a nice house to relax in…
Now there are all these claims like ADB yesterday saying stuff which if it is true then open another cell if not then open one for the person who started the lie..(Who ever that be)
We have to stop all the claims and counter claims we have to prosecute through the law those who lie, cheat and steal.
The Opposition took the impeachment case to the Supreme Court and it was thrown back at them, So it is over, We may not like their conclusion but so be it that is the law.
Now lets arrest those who break the law where ever and who ever they are..
Open the Bank Accounts.
ADB you may not know why i chose this name it was to say think about who you are aligned with or friends with… Do not get into bed with the wrong person.. If you must we must sleep alone than make the wrong connections with people.. In the long run one bad apple will always spoil the bunch..
With the coup plot i think alot of the people on the outside edges of it gave it some support, not realizing what some of the planners where really up to.. One part needed support from the CPP – NPA so they organized it, Annother part needed support from the US so rang the US and told them.. They both may not know what each did, and that is the worst bit as when it comes to splitting the country for the spoils i am sure the CPP -NPA would have expected to get the North.. Which others would never give up..
Thus we would have ended up with a civil war as no one would now know which side each other is on as there were more combinations than a rubix cube..
Would a snap election be legal? Especially a snap election in which Gloria will run? The law doesnt permit re-election, does it?
On the whole I agree with Mr. Austero’s letter except for the forgiving Gloria part. It’s not up to us. She has to answer for her crimes and she has to answer to them in the proper venue. The Black&White website states, “We have concluded that President GMA cheated.” That doesnt cut it either. It’s not up to them. That’s for the courts to decide. (A phone call to a COMELEC official, although highly suspicious, does not constitute proof.) Senator Legarda (I think) has filed a case. That case needs support (and money–a million bucks per ballot box?). Why hasnt the Black&White people thrown their support behind that case? Are they really hell-bent on extra-legal courses of action?
Is the strategy of groups like BlackWhite to shame Gloria into resigning? It won’t happen. She has no shame. The people won’t march because the last time they did it, they handed the presidency to Gloria, and they won’t fall for that again. Who will they hand the power to this time? Joe De Venecia? Please.
Mr. Austero and those who won’t join the so-called opposition (and myself, just so we’re clear where I stand), have decided to wait. Wait for 2010 when the law says Gloria should get out. Wait for 2010 when she cant hide behind immunity. Those of you who have the means and the power should make themselves busy building a case: election fraud, misuse of government funds, plunder–those charges need proof, and the proof won’t be found by marching on the streets of EDSA. It’s time for a new tack. It’s called the Law.
We put GMA where she is. We were stupid and we’re to blame for all this. Shifting all the blame on Gloria won’t cover that fact.
mlq3 got me (forced me?) to read the austero posts. here’s my nitpick comment:
ito ang sinabi niya
If his rights and freedoms are threatened, he will fight for them raw. Eh papaano naman kung yung freedom (of speech) at rights ng iba o ng kaaway mo ang na threaten, Bong? Will you defend their right too?
Take note he wrote that after the media crackdown…
Eto naman yung latest whine niya.
Heh.
i agree with MLQ3:
Jeg – good call! Those who are tired of rallies (and, considering that I’ve received Bong’s letter in the email about a dozen times just this week) haven’t given up on other means yet. It’s wrong to assume that since a majority want GMA out, that same majority will support the opposition’s coup attempts. The right way to look at it is: here’s an untapped majority who will support the opposition’s constitutional efforts against GMA!
I think the opposition is suffering a failure of imagination; c’mon, rally na lang ba ang makakatanggal kay Ate Glue sa poder? There are long-term solutions we can consider – forming a political party (assuming the opposition has certain principles that they can agree on) or take a page from Glo’s book and take over an existing party! Hit the Comelec – force an impeachment of Comelec officials! Send money and moral support to lawyers who can prosecute corrupt officials! Hey, just look in your own back yard – so much corruption in local politics, why the obsession with the Glow?
Thing is, people want to strengthen institutions. This will ensure our long-term survival as a nation. And we can do both that – and prosecute a corrupt government – if we pursue constitutional and legal means!
These people who write letters that end up getting emailed again and again – these aren’t your enemies. These are the allies who you can win back, assuming you have the imagination to propose a different solution to our common problems!
I’m no lawyer, so I can be corrected.
But I think if President Arroyo decides to stand in a snap election to choose who will have an unassailable mandate to lead until 2010, it is not technically a reelection, and will not violate the constitutional provision.
The main issue hounding her is legitimacy, and a snap election will offer her that, as well as closure to all these mess. Then, we can now all move forward.
mickeytymoc, i’m experiencing some of that cognitive dissonance right now since in this time of PP1017, ‘smiling martial law’ and press intimidation, you choose to express your outrage against an attack on the “dissent of an honest few” by a hypothetical “insulated revolutionary government”.
In case you didn’t notice, the link to Mr. Austero has been put up on a weblog whose owner is not exactly ‘likely-minded’. I think that was done by our Host precisely to avoid the discourse from congealing into “group think”.
Personally, I don’t mind giving up some of that moral high ground for the privilege of calling Mr. Austero a fascist, although one who is admittedly sincere.
Anyway, since we’re on the matter of “cognitive dissonance”, i believe this applies best to those who continue to deny that GMA did anything wrong in the face of everything that has been revealed. If there was an Olympics for mental gymnastics, they would surely run away with the gold.
mlq3 got me (forced me?) to read the austero posts. here’s my nitpick comment:
ito ang sinabi niya after the media crackdown…
If his rights and freedoms are threatened, he will fight for them raw. Eh papaano naman kung yung freedom (of speech) at rights ng iba o ng kaaway mo ang na threaten, Bong? Will you defend their right too?
Eto naman yung latest whine niya.
Heh.
i agree with MLQ3:
What again is the title of his blog? He obviously parrots the government line. I must respect what he has to say, although I am in total disagreement with him.
If the majority of our people holds the same view as him, then we really deserve the kind of government we have.
What again is the title of his blog? Perfect description for all the posts there.
oops, paki delete na lang yung earlier double post ko.
“Anyway, since we’re on the matter of ‘cognitive dissonance’, i believe this applies best to those who continue to deny that GMA did anything wrong in the face of everything that has been revealed. If there was an Olympics for mental gymnastics, they would surely run away with the gold.”
I agree with you on this. While we’re on the subject, can you point me to anyone on this thread who denied that GMA did anything wrong? I hope you weren’t referring to Bong Austero or myself – because I’d have to prove you wrong.
Bong acknowledges that Gloria might be guilty; all he says is he’s forgiven her. I acknowledge that Gloria might be guilty, too – but I think she should be tried and found guilty by legal, Constitutional means.
I suggest you read our comments more carefully next time, friend.
baka naman kaya nag-ngingitngit sila kasi di sila tinawag ni eloquent ni mlq
MLQ3
Powerful post indeed that-a-one by dwarf_in_the_palace. Sure captured the unsaid thing about how we pinoys think and react in the face of political adversity. Only thing is, it might not have been written by an Australian at all but a Pinoy or Pinay, going by the, uh, straightand solid, almost scholarly way of expressing the thought.
No offense meant on te Aussies… but the post really sounded like some writer or professor with a brown skin.
More posts like that please, MLQ3, to prick the soul of the Filipino, from all colors of the spectrum.
MLQ3
Powerful post indeed that-a-one by dwarf_in_the_palace. Sure captured the unsaid thing about how we pinoys think and react in the face of political adversity. Only thing is, it might not have been written by an Australian at all but a Pinoy or Pinay, going by the, uh, straightand solid, almost scholarly way of expressing the thought.
No offense meant on te Aussies… but the post really sounded like some writer or professor with a brown skin.
More posts like that please, MLQ3, to prick the soul of the Filipino, from all colors of the spectrum
The last time I looked surveys were not the means employed to replace presidents. I believe we have elections for that.
I fin it amusing how the same people who cry foul for the infringement on civil liberties and due process by GMA’s draconian Proclamation No. 1017, are so willing to deny GMA those same rights. Apparently “ad hoc-ism” has been gaining ground in the Philippines.
Better for the guilty to go free than for an innocent to be punished, remember?
Here’s a longer quote on this:
TO ALL THE APATHETIC AND SELF-RIGHTEOUS:
You profess your care for society, or so you say, but are too suspicious of the other side that you would rather remain with the status quo. You always question the motives of GMA’s critics (dissidents and oppositionists) that you forget the fact that the status quo (GMA and those who benefit from her illegitimate rule) could be more guilty of the same motives for which you are precisely indifferent about. You are so engulfed in self-righteousness that you get blinded by your own selfishness and pride. There are quite a lot of so-called “opinion makers” who fall into this category. You can easily spot them in the opinion pages of newspapers or in, yes, BLOGS! Unfortunately, it is in this atmosphere of cynicism where tyranny is wittingly or unwittingly tolerated.
For me, the issue is simple: It’s either you’re pro or anti-GMA. I prefer the latter, because I cannot swallow a President who claims to be God’s annointed but whose sincerity is belied by all the lying, cheating, stealing and the creeping suppression of our basic rights.
To the apathetic and the self-righteous: I’D RATHER COURSE THE UNCHARTED WATERS OF THE DEEP BLUE SEA THAN REMAIN IN HELL IN THE COMPANY OF THE DEVIL.
Manolo, John, Anna, Bystander, this is not meant to sound defeatist, but all this to and fro-ing between the anti and pro Glo folk in the middle class has made me realize that the middle class that led the EDSA1 crowds has been decimated by the passage of time, fading memory, and death. Come to think of it, we make up a small percentage of Philippine society. Maybe we should shift our attention from winning the hearts and minds of this minority to the greater majority? Let’s not forget that “middle forces” doesn’t just mean middle class.
The more we try to convince those that don’t agree with us, the harder their stance against us. Why can’t we engage the folks with the numbers that matter? Maybe the masses we’ve ignored will be more wiling to listen, provided our engagement is sincere.
Micketymoc says in Comment #30:
“Bong acknowledges that Gloria might be guilty; all he says is he’s forgiven her. I acknowledge that Gloria might be guilty, too – but I think she should be tried and found guilty by legal, Constitutional means.â€Â
~~
Pare, ang hirap naman dito sa Pilipinas under gluemac, yang sinasabi mong “legal and ethical means†is whatever gluemac deems so.
Kasi naman..
SHE’s got the whole world in her hands!
{C’mon boys and gals!
Sing along with me, all you freedom loving people across this nation.
Be strong and let’s fight the forces of untruth.
Let’s be a country fit for righteous governance and democracy!}
Ah one..
Ah two…
Ah one, two, three, and..
________
She’s got the Justice system -in Her hands,
She´s got the Comelec officials -in Her hands,
She’s got the Cabinet members -in Her hands
She´s got the whole world in Her hands.
She’s got the Lower house -in Her hands,
She´s got the Police forces -in Her hands,
She’s got the Religious leaders -in Her hands
She´s got the whole world in Her hands.
She´s got you and me, brother, in Her hands,
She´s got you and me, sister, in Her hands,
She´s got the whole world in Her hands.
She’s got ev’rybody here in Her hands.
She’s got ev’rybody here in Her hands.
She’s got the whole world in Her hands.
Hi Helga. Re your call for ‘winning the hearts and minds of the greater majority…the masses we’ve ignored’. Is your group advocating an extra-legal transfer of power? A coup, so to speak? Im sorry but I find that ‘winning the hearts and minds’ thing a bit chilling. Has your group given up on the law? Ok so we’ve lost Congress (failed impeachment attempt), but we still have the Supreme Court. I just think we should strengthen our institutions like micketymoc said, not undermine them.
And has the Comelec gotten under everybody’s radar? We’ll need a credible Comelec for 2010. No one’s paying them any mind.
This whole ‘mass rally’ thing is so easy to hijack. Case in point was EDSA 2. If EDSA 3 succeeded, we’d have had Erap back in Malakanyang. EDSA 1 was a glorious, spontaneous expression. EDSA 2 was a mistake. It gave us a dangerous precedent (and a dangerous president). We broke the law in EDSA 2 and are now reaping what we’ve sown. Let’s not make that same mistake again.
off topic-
i don’t know if you are experiencing the same thing, guys, but i’m finding it hard to connect with this blogsite. i made several attemps and wordpress popping up message of database idsconnection before i finally get connected.
back to the topic:
like the rest, i don’t believe the letter writer’s claim that he is not a gma die hard while taking too narrow a view on how he had forgiven and accepted the presidents apologies for her transgression.
these words must not come from one who is taking an objective view on the scandals wrought by the gma government:
“Yet, you persist in one and only thing: making GMA look bad in the eyes of the world and making sure that this country continues to suffer to prove your sorry point. In the process, you continue to destroy what we painstakinly try to built “
micketymoc, no – i had in mind other mlq3 regulars. the word you used seemed appropriate. besides #10 above, i haven’t read any of your other material.
like you, i prefer constitutional means to resolve matters, but i also see the urgent need for GMA’s removal.
just curious, do share Bong Austero’s sentiments when he says in the open letter, “we are prepared to lose our freedoms and our rights just to move this country forward. “?
———
Geo, godspeed wherever you’re going.
I do notice a lot that when some people are not getting there way they start to name calling..
We are not in the Play Ground we are in real life.
I have been named a lot APATHETIC AND SELF-RIGHTEOUS are not normally thrown my way..
I am not apathetic and i don’t think alot of others are.. They have weighed the Pros and Cons of the Situation and feel that an Economic agenda by the present administration is better than no public agenda at all, or no government.
Self-Righteous is what i would have labeled Cory or the Hyatt 10..
Dictionary Term..
-Piously sure of one’s own righteousness.
-holier than thou.
-Exhibiting an attitude of superior virtue.
Some of us believe if we can get economic change, that this will help the poor than fighting on the streets.
If you had take 10 Peso’s From all the people at the rallys in the last 6 months and sent that to the poor it would have made a bigger difference than what they have spent so far..
If the 300 Pesos each for the HIRE A MOB had been used for social change we would all be better off…
Open the BANK ACCOUNTS that is all I can SAY
pig,
she has not got us.
cvj – dude, hebigat question yan, mahirap i-yes or no. Some countries (1 i’ve seen firsthand) implement a compromise of liberties in exchange for an efficient government, pero it varies on how each party keeps its end of the deal. Singapore is repressive compared to us, but the citizenry is quite prosperous. No so with Burma or Vietnam.
I wouldn’t blindly give up my rights just to move this country forward. Besides, both are rather ill-defined so far – ano bang nabibili ko kapalit ng rights ko? At magkano? All my civil rights? Or just a curtailment of my right to expression? Ano ba ang kapalit? And how would selling my civil rights get me that? Any answers would be welcome, kahit hypothetical.
I agree. I do not even consider myself as belonging to the “middle class”. The latter pertains more or less to economic status and the supposed influence it can wield on society. The term “middle forces”, on the other hand, refers more to one’s ideological principles, that he or she is neither “left” nor “right”.
The middle class or middle forces constitute only a small percentage of the 80 percent of Filipinos who want GMA to resign.
sleeping,
whose bank account needs to be opened and why? i dn’t get it. will opening a particular bank account change the fact that gma cheated, that she bribed the congressmen to quash the impeachment ?
I agree Helga. Most everyone here have made up their minds, so we’re pretty much preaching to the converted.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there are communities where the ideals of EDSA ’86 live on. When the widow of late Sen. Diokno posed the challenge of “showing us EDSA,” we can point to and celebrate their success stories.
Provinces like Bulacan, Oriental Negros, Bohol and Nueva Vizcaya; cities like Naga (where I come from), Tuguegarao and Vigan; and towns like Concepcion (Iloilo), Upi (Maguindanao) and E.B. Magalona (Negros Occidental) have effective programs that have been harnessing people power to mobilize community resources and build strong local institutions.
They have good, experienced leaders that will put GMA to shame kung accomplishments at commitment sa matinong pamalalakad lang naman ang pag-uusapan. It’s quite ironic that they are marginalized under our Manila-centric media and politics.
SLEEPING WITH WHO:
Why? Did you feel alluded to by the phrase “APATHETIC AND SELF-RIGHTEOUS”? For the record, I did not even bother to name names, so don’t accuse me of name-calling. But if you feel that way, I can’t do anything about it.
I am not and will never resort to name-calling. I am not like PGMA who is so fond of branding her critics as DESTABILIZERS.
AS you said … and people are agreeing with you….
Why can’t we engage the folks with the numbers that matter?
—-So you dont have the numbers of the people you claim you have?
Maybe the masses we’ve ignored will be more wiling to listen, provided our engagement is sincere.
—-So you have not been sincere in the past..
These are reasons why alot of the public don’t support groups like the B&W and others.. because sincerity is only being used as a play.. and the morality card.. Only comes out as a last resort.. And this time so many have tried to play it when they have their own Skeletons..
Helga, all along i thought we were doing this for the masses? Democratic and other such values aside, if i wanted to look only after my own middle class interest, i would certainly look the other way when GMA does what she can to remain in power. In the meantime, i’ll support moves to change the Constitution so that the Head of State would never depend upon direct voting by the population. In that way, the trauma Erap presidency and the specter of an FPJ candidacy or a Noli Vice presidency would never be repeated. This is how the fascist framework fits so neatly with middle class aspirations. These are the new middle class values, post EDSA2.
It is therefore important to make the majority aware of the above agenda before it succeeds.
46. fencesitter wrote on March 10th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Fencesitter all people..
But especially involved with or have been involved with government either as an employee or as a lawmaker..
I am sure some of the truths of the past would become obvious.. As i have said i don’t care who gets caught congressmen, Judges, Fiscals, Amry, Navy, Airforce, Mayors, Secretarys to the Mayors. You name it… Businessmen..
One thing we would have to do is open them all up for inspection, for the past and for the future.. If we see large sums paid in.. See if it was legal..
Even if they put a limit on what could be investigated any deposits over 40,000 pesos in a month. (Not single but add them up).. We know what the Salary of the Congress – Senators – and President and Vice Presidents are.. Find out what the Families – Wives _Husbands _ Daughters and Sons..
Open them up lay them out for inspection to prove once and for all to see who is corrupt and who is not..
Not just 1 or two but the whole lot of them even if it means thousands of pages of documents so be it.. Let us see for ourselves, then prosecute those who have stolen..
NO LIMIT TO who, what, how, or when, lets go back all 20 YEARS.
I think that is fair..
jackryan, your blog’s been inactive for some time. perhaps you could tell us more about what’ s going on in the places you mentioned. i’ve been saying over and over the future is being mapped out in these places, the effort has to be, to integrate those efforts into a larger effort.
Why is that post so popular? Because it expresses the frustration, or at the very least, the ambivalence of many middle class moderates over the “GMA-resign” thing.
Once you ask your boss to resign you are telling him, “I will not work with you, I will not cooperate with you, I will only follow reluctantly orders reluctantly, because you are the boss and I’m not quitting – yet.”
It’s not like these moderates are enthusiastic, Atienza-style, for GMA. However they don’t wish to relinquish the option of a critical collaboration.
Moreover after GMA resigns, what’s next? More destabilization of course. In 2008 we’ll (THEY’LL) be demonstrating against de Castro. In fact GMA will be marching the streets with them, kapit-bisig, the way they are doing now with Imee and her ilk. Ganito na lang ba ang bansa natin? PI (Philippine Islands) talaga.
SLEEPING WITH WHO:
You know what? Wake up. For the record, I am not a member of the B&W Movement but I have to defend the members of that group if only to correct some fallacies in your arguments.
First, the B&W never claimed to have the numbers of the middle class. They are simply convinced that PGMA deserves to be kicked out for LYING, CHEATING and STEALING. Better check out their blog before making any judgments.
Second, your conclusion that the B&W Movement has not been sincere simply because Helga made a suggestion about the need to be “sincere” in convincing the masses is CLEARLY OUT OF SYNC, ILLOGICAL to say the least. Don’t just disagree for the sake of merely opposing. That’s not being SINCERE.
micketymoc – thanks, i appreciate your candor. i agree with your analysis. There does not seem to be a relationship between repression and prosperity that we can use as a rule of thumb. South Korea grew rapidly for 20 years under a dictatorship and continues to grow for 20 years in a democracy. This is in contrast to our experience were we achieved anemic growth under either system.
Actual country experiences aside, trading off the right to free expression would not be wise because the avenue for feedback will be loss. As you said above, there’s always the danger in the place becoming an ‘echo chamber, so where’s the good in that? I also hear the counterargument that seems to say that it is the ‘noise’ generated by such free expression that places in jeopardy our economic well-being, although i tend to suspect that those saying this have vested interests to protect.
Personally, i want my ights to be inalienable, just because i want it that way. But who knows? Mahirap din magsalita ng patapos. One thing though, i wouldn’t want my prosperity secured by someone else’s loss of liberty.
Hi cvj – yes, we’re doing this for the masses, but they’ve always viewed us with suspicion. They think we’re doing this just for ourselves, and this is mainly due to our failure of communication or engagement. BnW thought that the engagement of the middle class was and still is important, but I personally feel that wider engagement may give us the answers to the question – what is it really that we want? What affects you most? Apart from Gloria’s resignation, impeachment, or non-violent ouster.
I think your idea on changing the constitution is one good enough to chew on.
“Manolo, John, Anna, Bystander, this is not meant to sound defeatist, but all this to and fro-ing between the anti and pro Glo folk in the middle class has made me realize that the middle class that led the EDSA1 crowds has been decimated by the passage of time, fading memory, and death. Come to think of it, we make up a small percentage of Philippine society. Maybe we should shift our attention from winning the hearts and minds of this minority to the greater majority? Let’s not forget that “middle forces†doesn’t just mean middle class.
The more we try to convince those that don’t agree with us, the harder their stance against us. Why can’t we engage the folks with the numbers that matter? Maybe the masses we’ve ignored will be more wiling to listen, provided our engagement is sincere. ”
thanks helga. i see this fight as more about who can demoralize the other side. if the arroyo side can convince us na there’s no point in opposing her, if we lose the will… then talo na tayo.
OTOH, if we manage to demoralize the remaining civil society supporters of this admin (i believe that includes the CBCP), then babagsak ang admin na ito sooner or later and justice will prevail.
a variation of the demoralization tactics some arroyo supporters are using is called “Mobyism”
http://politicaljunkie.blogspot.com/2005/12/mobyism.html
helga, there you go again, i don’t want to be malicious but, engaging the folks w/ the number that matters means using the “masa” again.
so what will you promise them this time?
so you are also a good politician
poor masa they are like tiolet paper for characters who don’t have the numbers, much more the credibility
After what we did in EDSA2, we can’t blame them. DJB yesterday made a comment over at Ricky’s weblog about us sending a ‘loud and clear’ signal to the masses that this is *our* democracy. Hence their continued suspicion and non-participation. It sounds like we have to reestablish some form of social contract with them, the minimum terms i would imagine is to respect their right (as individual citizens) to vote for their leaders, but to make everyone understand the need for (actionable) vigilance against high-level corruption and crony capitalism.
Look at this for past and now and how two faced some can be..
http://www.cyberdyaryo.com/press_release/pr2001_0828_01.htm
Who’s afraid of Sen. Panfilo Lacson?
“The Court of Appeals,” says the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
This afternoon, members of Bayan, human rights group Karapatan and the Plunder Watch Network trooped to the Court of Appeals (CA) to condemn the Court’s decision dismissing the Kuratong Baleleng case due to a technicality.
“How convenient for the CA to use a technicality to get Lacson off the hook, considering that this is the strongest case so far, with the most damning evidence, against the senator,” said Bayan Secretary General Teodoro Casi�
Then he creates a group called Be Not Afraid?..
That is like saying come here nice kitty, then grabbing by the neck and placing it in a cage…
This group and Bayan are now together?
Then he said this..
“Or maybe they’re better off filing a complaint with the New People’s Army!” fumed Casi
This is why people from the public dont understand what is going on Cory and Imelda, Bayan and Lacson..
At least in The Marcos years everyone knew who and why.. now it is all confused and too mixed up..
People decided years ago never to support this group or that group and now they are being told to support them..
For what end.. What is the outcome, That has been decided for them..
This is a democracy we we have the right to decide for ourselves..
I don’t share Bong Austero’s view in his open letter. Nabababawan ako sa pananaw niya. But if I have to be honest, it looks like a lot of Filipinos do agree with him (though I wouldn’t say “majority” of them do). The same way that a lot of Filipinos voted for GMA in 2004 because they thought she was the “lesser evil”.
Sa totoo lang, kung epektibong presidente si GMA, kahit pa nandaya sya nung 2004, pwede ko rin syang patawarin. But she’s not effective because of her insecurities. She knows she’s not a charismatic leader, and has a lot of political debts to repay. Sa palagay ko nung una gusto nya sanang gawin ang tama, but the more she played the political game of power, the less focused she became on the things that really mattered. And morality matters, character matters. Your values define your actions, so if a person of low integrity gets to the highest position in the land, how hard do you think would it be for him/her to say no to a juicy retirement package?
Day by day, she seems to sink lower. I-praise ba ang GMA-7 on air? I-endorse ba ang allies nya na ilegal na binoto ang sarili nila sa LP leadership positions? These acts speak so loudly of her character, that it is difficult to keep “forgiving” her. God teaches forgiveness, yes, but not condonation of sins.
For me, the fact that GMA has done nothing to alleviate the public education system (and in fact encourages professionals to go overseas to earn almighty dollars!) nor address the burgeoning (literally) population issue is an even greater sin than “Hello Garci”.
My wish for her? Get out of Malacanang — if not to resign, then to immerse herself in places where 6 year olds have to haul sacks of cement all day just to help their family eat noodles. Maybe then, some sort of conscience will develop inside her.
MCMC wrote
Then to immerse herself in places where 6 year olds have to haul sacks of cement all day just to help their family eat noodles..
If you know about a place like this report it to DOLE.. The owners of these corporations who do this are disgusting.
The family’s can also then lodge cases and get some money to help their children that have been abused..
sleeping,
what a crazy idea – opening all bank accounts of private citizens just so you can know who is corrupt. ganyan ba talaga mag-isip ang rabid gma defender.
if you do not think kindly of those who are or were in government service, then you are giving us the reason to think the same way or worse of your gma.
uh… so now that i’m registered… where’s the logout button, manolo?
there is none.. It is a cookie i think..
You maybe able to delete the cookie..
sleeping, are you having the same problems with the missing logout button?
Fencesitter you wrote :
if you do not think kindly of those who are or were in government service, then you are giving us the reason to think the same way or worse of your gma.
Well every one is saying she and her family and government is corrupt..
Why not prove it one way or the other..But the same for the rest..
What was said by ADB a few days ago..
What is good for the goose is good for the gander..
As Lacson would put it BE NOT AFRAID..
nevermind…
here it is…
http://www.quezon.ph/blog/wp-login.php
lol, i had to use google cache to look for the “login” button…
The DOLE Raided some places in Makati today..
Eight KTV bars in Makati City have been closed recently following the rescue of 16 minors aged 16 to 17 years old found working in these establishments..
What have i been saying for months.. Also notice it is not news worth of ABS-CBN or others that something was found in MAKATI CITY….
For those kids with the concrete or other kids needing rescue..
If you need immediate assistance, you may call the DOLE Hotline 527-8000 and speak with live action officers.
mcmc wrote:
“For me, the fact that GMA has done nothing to alleviate the public education system (and in fact encourages professionals to go overseas to earn almighty dollars!) nor address the burgeoning (literally) population issue is an even greater sin than “Hello Garciâ€Â.
mr/ms/mrs,
i think you missed the point here – education,population and other issues must come secondary to legitimacy. only a legitimate president may address genuinely or legitimately the problems besetting our republic.
helga, it’s kinda a pathetic, since you can’t convince the middle class that you never will also then you turn to the “exploited masa”.
just like the same politicians who use them for their own reasons. here come those who say they are not left or right but will never condem the right & left for all the things they do to bring down our country but will sympathize for them insted of sympathysing for the majority hard working filipinos who wanna have a life but insted brand them indifferent.
now your even thinking of using the poor w/ a lil sugar coating of being sincer.
will you also make fantastic promices like the trapo politicians?
since the rightist where ready to work w/ the leftist out of desperation.
who knows what else other people will do out of desperation.
you are doing so much “hard sell”
probaly your not convincing or even credible.
fencesitter, to do something to solve our problems one among the many is just the public education system.
first we have to be a politicaly stable democracy.
we have to tell the world & show the world that we are serious people & not a bunch of emotional clowns that can never agree on anything
we have to make our democray work for us by not exploiting it for selfish ends.
we have to first learn to deal w/ things like mature people do.
we have to get rid of so many bad & wrong habits of freedom.
not until we use freedom w/ responsibility are we going anywhere.
MLQ, I lost my voice because of my deep frustration with the impeachment process. I think I know how your dad felt during those dark days of martial rule.
But I found it back when GMA issued 1017.
We’re putting up an adjunct to the Naga City website (www.naga.gov.ph) exclusively dedicated to our School Board project. It should be up in a week or two. (By the way, Philippine Star came up with a good review of our little efforts at e-governance, which we of course posted at our site — http://www.naga.gov.ph/journal2/?module=journal)
My ten cents worth…
I have not forgiven Gloria Arroyo. How can I forgive somebody who do not ask for forgiveness? Somebody who believes she has done nothing wrong? Somebody who has done some coverup of the things that she did? Somebody who chooses to be dodgy instead of being straightforward?
The open letter writer was only speaking for himself. He definitely does not speak for me.
With all due respect, joselu, where in my statement does it say that we planned to “use” the masses? Engagement is hardly that. Problem is, you think that everyone’s got an ulterior motive, that there is no more room for understanding. That’s a bit too cynical for me. And it’s this cynicism that keeps us from looking further than our noses.
It sounds like we have to reestablish some form of social contract with them, the minimum terms i would imagine is to respect their right (as individual citizens) to vote for their leaders, but to make everyone understand the need for (actionable) vigilance against high-level corruption and crony capitalism.
Right on, cvj. The masses hate us because we’ve always set ourselves apart, always above them. We muzzled them. That arrogance has cost us the unity we need. Yes, they have as much right to their vote, it is the voice we can share. But we have to engage them, really listen to them. And I believe that through genuine interaction, we’ll learn from each other.
joselu – Not all the members of the Black & White Movement are white collar, upper middle class people. A lot of our members are from the lower middle class and varied urban sectors. They joined of their own free will. It is through listening to them that I’ve learned so much. That we do have the same fears, the same dreams, we are filled with the same disgust for Gloria. They saw through her far earlier than any of us. They are principled, proud, and pretty savvy about what’s going on. They’ve taught me how to be unafraid, and they’ve humbled me. See, they, unlike us, have nothing to lose
micketymoc wrote on March 10th, 2006 at 7:58 am
Did you actually try to post anything before going off on your tangent about moderated comments? Dito naman din, ah. Look below: “Comment moderation is enabled and may delay yoru comment.†In fact, I see a lot of dissenting posts on Bong Austero’s blog as well. Are you suggesting Bong is silencing those who disagree with him, Tom? Can you provide any more proof?
Sorry, mickeytmoc, ngayon ko lang nabasa yung post mo in response to mine. No, I did not try to post. But I just tried before posting this. And I couldn’t even get to first base, in a manner of speaking. Here’s what I get when I try to register Tomtomtom as my username: Sorry, this username is not available. I tried Tom, Tomtom, and then Tomtomtom, all the time getting the same message.
Here is what I want to post there sana kaya nga lang hindi makalusot.
Among other, sabi mo sa now-famous open-letter mo: “But you have tried to prove your accusations all these time and you have not succeeded, so it is time to let things be.â€Â
Para sa akin naman, paano ngang magsa-succeed e yung attempt pa lang hindi na pinapayagan. Yung impeachment, pinatay sa Congress by technicality. Yung Senate investigation ng fertilizer scandal, pinawalang-bisa ng pagtakas ni Bolante at mga kasama niya. Yung Mayuga report, ayaw pang ilabas hanggang ngayon. Lahat halos ng attempt ng Senate na magtanong sa mga government officials, EO464 ang supalpal. Kung baga sa contest, si GMA ay player, at the same time siya rin ang judge.
Of course, sinabi mo rin somewhere else: “I will not nitpick with those who disagree with my letter. I choose not to indulge in point by point, sentence by sentence, phrase by phrase, word by word analysis and counter analysis. I know this will sound condescending, but I will say it just the same because it is the truth: I have better things to do. Unlike some people, I have a life.â€Â
So kung hindi mo sagutin itong post ko, I will understand.
End of what I wanted to post in Austero’s blog.
Nung bisitahin ko sa blog ni Austero yung tatlong links na provided dito ni MLQ3, lahat pa rin ng comments ay agree sa kanya except for these two:
• This have been said before but I’ll say it again.
I do not totally agree with your letter, but rest assured I will not hound your blog, your e-mail or your mobile number for that.
In fact, I’m happy that someone like you has spoken-written up to say their piece unlike the silent majority which you now cleverly described as being marginalized.
I agree with you that it’s not your persona per se that is the issue, it’s your letter.
So I just hope the demolition team backs off and keep things above the waistline.
Keep writing and speaking your mind, it all adds up to the process of resolving this mess we are in. Whatever the outcome may be, it is because people like you spoke up and picked a side, for that you deserve every dignity, honor and respect as Filipino regardless of which side of the fence you are on.
By jhay, at 9:11 AM
• Just found out you were the open letter’s author through mlq3′s website. Thank you for speaking up for yourself and for the rest of us. The demolition team can say all they want, but each time your letter is forwarded is an affirmation itself of those views by your countrymen. Nothing could change that, so they resort to hurling insults.
In any case, it’s good to know that letter’s source. Will be able to properly attribute it from now on.
By Peter Valentine, at 12:22 PM
End of two comments from Austero’s blog.
Back to discussion with mickeytmoc. To answer your question, yes, I suspect he is silencing those who disagree with him. I have no proof of that, though. It’s just a suspicion based on what I saw on his blog.
Austero wrote:
“Because all you do is whine and sabotage this country.”
“Come on, you really think we believe that you did not want to bring down the government when that is the one and only thing you have been trying to do in the last many months?”
I can ask the same question you asked me. “Can [he] provide any proof?” He or you or anyone else can try, but cannot possibly prove those two statements above. In our haste, most, if not all, of us make statements that we cannot possibly back up with proof. Phrases like the above “all you do” and “the one and only thing you have been trying to do” are easy to utter but totally indefensible. I know I am nitpicking here so I ask for your indulgence.
He says that he voted for Roco. This makes me wonder why he voted for Roco. Certainly, the ideas he Austero espouses are not those that the late Senator would have stood for.
I dont understand what really is the big fuss over Austero letter? Is n’t the writer just expressed his true feelings about what is happening in the country? I know the writer 19 years ago as The HRD officer in charge of us the OJT trainees. He is just an ordinary citizen of the country. If his letter gets fowarded, it becuase there are people who read it who can very well relate to the letter. It was the same reaction I felt when I first read the letter. That is why I spontaneously forward it to my freinds and relatives her in the US and post it in PCIJ blog. And they very well related to message of the letter. But of course there are also some who disagree it. Pero sabi nga ng author, Then by all means disagree! Take it your leave it” ika nga But demolishing the person is really an over reaction. Now is’nt that the atttitude that you dont like about Mrs Arroyo and you reacted strongly every time he demolishes and shoot down her opponents? NOw I am even more convinced that, really the people throwing stones at Mrs. Arroyo are no better than her. So why bother replacing her with the same kind of people. It just a waste of time, money and efforts.
rego, you’ve just hit the nail on the head as to what all the is fuss about. it’s the reality that Austero’s letter (and others of it’s kind) has a constituency, which to me, says a lot. the contents of the letter itself can be dismissed as an incoherent rant which everybody is entitled to, but the extent of favorable reactions it has generated is definitely something that cannot be ignored.
on the whole, i read the favorable reactions as one more evidence of a trend within the Filipino middle class towards the acceptance of a fascist order. then again, there’s the possibility that such a conclusion is premature since a number of the commenters who support the open letter also bring up their own fears of a future undemocratic junta or revolutionary government. If the second interpretation prevails, maybe there is still some common ground that can be salvaged, in which case the observation and advice given by ‘Micketymoc’ in #24 above…
“These people who write letters that end up getting emailed again and again – these aren’t your enemies. These are the allies who you can win back, assuming you have the imagination to propose a different solution to our common problems.”
…is worth a second look. Unfortunately, this appears next to impossible to operationalize since the potential ‘allies’ seem to be predisposed to using silence and passivity as a tactic.
Thanks CVJ! BTW, Bong Austero has just come up with follow-up letter and Im very sure a lot of people can relate to it And I bet even more than the first letter. People can read it in his blog @
http://bongaustero.blogspot.com/
One of my favorite paragraph is this:
“We can all bitch and protest to our hearts content until we are all blue in the face and the whole country has burned to embers that there is nothing left to fight for anymore, or we can buckle down to work, make sure we do not ever get into this situation again, and resolve to fight harder and better another day. Consequently, I do sincerely think that GMA might just be able to keep her place in history as a competent President, but I doubt if she will be able to live down her place in history as a cheat. Clinton might have earned his place in American history as a great president, but you can not tell me that people have forgotten what he did with you-know-who. History is a better, fairer judge. There is someone and something more powerful out there than anyone of us combined. The answer is not always yes or no. Sometimes the answer is wait.”
rego, yes i was just over at Bong Austero’s site and have posted a comment. it’s good that he has come up with that follow up post as it clarifies a lot of matters. personally, i think the analogy with Clinton is not applicable since a personal indiscretion is entirely different from electoral fraud as far as its implications are concerned. By receiving a bj, Clinton did not have his mandate revoked. Also, just like other commenters, Bong is conceding ‘competence’ as a subsitute for ‘legitimacy’ which is inconsistent with democracic values.
cvj, if he is indeed conceeding competence over legitimacy, Im sure it is only temporary as what he said in Rina Jimenez David’s column today
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=69092&col=79
And I qoute:
“There are reasons why I have decided to cast my lot with the President despite the fact that I simply do not like her. You can say that this is “conditioned” and “temporary” taking of sides. There is a moral “marginalization” being perpetuated by some people who are so convinced of their righteousness and speak with such sanctimoniousness, they have succeeded in alienating people. That is what did it for me. That simply was the tipping point. There is something glaringly wrong with the way civil society is conducting this fight.”
Anyhow the bottomline is that Bong is not the enemy like what‘Micketymoc’ in #24 was trying to imply.
Rego, on the matter ‘competence’, comment #61 above has a take on how GMA’s ‘insecurities’ are affecting her ability to govern.
when you say – “if he is indeed conceeding competence over legitimacy, Im sure it is only temporary” , i hope you realize the implication of that statement. By dismissing legitimacy as an issue, the middle class as a group is turning GMA’s personal crime against the people into a collective one. we are not the only one with eyes and ears, the majority of Filipino society is aware of what we are doing.
For a related offense, the Left has been punished by the people, languishing in the political dog house for 20 years. by our inaction, we in the middle class risk the same kind of marginalization.
cvj, before we go on, i have to be very clear to you that personally i cannot really relate to the ligetimacy issue. Just like Winnie Monsod I believe that GMA won.
Ms Monsod explained it so well in her column below. Sorry I dont have the links. And Inq7 dont hav ean archive of more 7 days. All I have is the cut and version.
———————————————————-
Get Real : Truth is Arroyo won
First posted 00:25am (Mla time) Oct 29, 2005
By Solita Collas- Monsod
Inquirer News Service
Editor’s Note: Published on Page A12 of the October 29, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
IT HAS been said that if you repeat a lie often enough, people will start thinking it is true. And this has obviously been taken to heart by various groups and individuals, who peddle their lies as “truth.†Unfortunately for them, there is another saying: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.â€Â
Let us try to “unfool†the gullible and/or expose the weak underbelly of one of the “truths†being peddled.
Item: “Gloria Arroyo is an illegitimate president [because she cheated to win].†This has been repeated most often, probably because the further claims of her detractors are based on this assertion, claims such as “she does not have to be impeached to kick her out,†“her illegitimacy makes it impossible for her to govern effectively†(so she must be made to resign or be kicked out), “she is not credible,†etc.
Let’s jog our memories a bit:
1. Voter preferences in the run-up to the 2004 elections, as recorded by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which conducted polls every two weeks since the start of the campaign period, showed that while at the beginning (Jan. 16-28) the lead of Fernando Poe Jr. over Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was almost 10 percentage points (36.3 percent vs. 26.5 percent), this was whittled down so that a month later, they were running neck-and-neck, and this continued into March. By the second week of April, the polls showed Ms Arroyo ahead by almost five percentage points (35.3 percent vs. 30.8 percent), although this was not statistically significant (i.e., it still could go either way). But by the week before the elections (May 1-4), Ms Arroyo’s lead over Poe was significant (37 percent vs. 30 percent).
The other major polling organization, Pulse Asia, also noted the same trend, although its polls were taken at slightly different time periods: an increasing trend for Ms Arroyo and decreasing trend for Poe. Its last poll, conducted from April 26-29, showed Ms Arroyo leading, 37 percent vs. 31 percent.
Note that a six-point lead in voter preferences, if translated into actual votes, would imply a difference of 2.0-2.5 million votes between the two candidates, depending on whether we use total votes cast or total registered voters as base.
2. Exit polls conducted on election day itself by at least three media organizations (although only one of them may have used acceptable polling methods) validated the run-up polls. All of them showed Ms Arroyo as the winner.
3. The final official congressional canvass showed Ms Arroyo getting 40 percent of the votes cast, while Poe got 36.5 percent (a difference of 1.1 million votes), while the Namfrel Quick Count, based on 83 percent of total precincts (the election watchdog group Namfrel was not present in all precincts), showed Ms Arroyo with 39.4 percent and Poe with 36.8 percent (a difference of 700,000 votes).
All figures from different sources are within the same ball park, and all indicate that Ms Arroyo won. For those who think that the poll results should not be accepted, it should be pointed out that the head of the SWS is the first cousin of Poe. More importantly, since they are now using the same polling organizations to point out that Ms Arroyo has lost the trust of the nation, or that she is not satisfactory, let it be further pointed out that they cannot be selective in the use of poll results.
What is more, other circumstances obtaining during the campaign period support the conclusion that it is the claim of “illegitimacy†that is a lie: after all, her coalition party, K4, won 58 percent of senatorial seats, 87 percent of congressional seats, 85 percent of gubernatorial slots, 87 percent of city mayor seats, and 85 percent of all mayor seats. Either they carried her or she carried them, or there was some combination of both.
Could this have been the result of a grand conspiracy to commit massive cheating at all levels? But that is not what either the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) or the Namfrel thought. Said the prelates: “Gathered for the 89th CBCP Plenary Assembly of July 10-11 at Pius XII Center in Manila the bishops reviewed the conduct of the May 10th elections and their consequences for the future course of the country. Each bishop present was asked to comment on whether or not massive fraud in the conduct of the elections was observed by him and the volunteers in his diocese so as to have affected substantially the results of the elections. With only one or two exceptions, the rest of the bishops answered in the negative. This confirms our statement of June 1, 2004: ‘that there were some instances of cheating and violations of election law by political parties in their areas but these did not affect the voting in general.’ It is the view of the bishops that the results of the elections reflected the will of the Filipino people.â€Â
Said Namfrel secretary general Bill Luz: “The results of the elections are credible and reflect the vote of the people. We didn’t see enough electoral anomalies at the national level to have a material effect on the national results.â€Â
Then there was the endorsement (albeit last minute  but this shows that they were jumping on the bandwagon) that Ms Arroyo received from the Iglesia ni Cristo and El Shaddai. And finally, it was generally acknowledged that Poe was shooting himself in the foot during the campaign, and that the opposition was split four ways. In other words, they did it to themselves.
Given all these, the bottom line is: Like it or not, Ms Arroyo is our legitimate President. Let us not allow ourselves to be misled by those who are themselves misled or who have their own political ambitions.
rego, i believe Solita Monsod and i believe in the reliability of credible exit polls so GMA could very well have won. Unfortunately, that’s beside the point. In an earlier column,
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=39904&col=62
Monsod determined that the Garci tapes were the ‘real thing’ and concluded:
“I hope I am wrong. But if I am right, Garcillano is dead meat, Gloria is going to sink in that muck, and worst of all, the country might sink with her.”
Now why would she have said that if she did not think this would be a problem? As a historical analogy, Nixon was forced to resign because of Watergate even if he won a landslide.
Earlier in this thread (in #30) micketymoc asked me “can you point me to anyone on this thread who denied that GMA did anything wrong?”, would i be mistaken if i point you out to him?
[...] (Also posted at Uniffors. More on Asterio at MLQ’s blog. ) [...]
cvj, this is good because we are talking….but have you noticed the dates when the columns has been written. My links was written on Oct 29, 2005 and yours was written on June 11, 2005….
Anyway now that I have clarified to you my stand on the legitimacy issue. Can I ask you about your real stand on the issue too? I just wanted to know your thoughts on how should people resolve their legitimacy issue with Mrs Arroyo. Do think it should do you think it should be resolve by asking Mrs Arroyo to resign at all cost? Or do you think its should be resolved through the process defined in our constitution, the PET, by challenging it in the SC or maybe impeachment?
rego, noticed that too, but the dates don’t matter as the messages are distinct. Monsod’s June 2005 column asserts that the Garci Tapes are genuine and that GMA & Garci may be in trouble because of this. Her October 2005 piece reproduced above makes a case that GMA won on the basis of supporting information such as exit polls, multiple vote tallies, CBCP etc. I don’t dispute this, in fact i believe Monsod as far as the facts are concerned. Where i part ways with her is in taking into account ‘Hello Garci’s effect on GMA’s legitimacy. In fact, as can be seen, Monsod may also have parted ways with her earlier self. I’m looking forward to an explanation from Monsod on this seeming inconsistency.
On the options to resolve this matter, i prefer constitutional avenues (impeachment, SC rulings etc.), and other nonviolent forms of expression such as rallies, civil disobedience and the like. But that is just my preference. Regardless of how she gets ousted, i prefer immediate snap elections…none of this nonsense about revolutionary transition councils or juntas of any stripe.
cvj,
personally, i believe that people who have legitimacy issues with the Arroyo government should only stick to the constitutional process. I believe it would be orderly and peaceful that way and will not hurt much the country and its economy. I am definitely against using people power again. I have nothing against rallies and other protest action for as long as it is non violent and orderly. Rallies should not be held in busy streets where traffic is impeded. And no “hakot” and bribery please. I prefer non violent protest like “flash mob”. Is snap election clearly defined in the constitution? If not then it should be clarified. But my main issue with election is the same as Bong. And I prefer that first we should work with electoral reforms particularly its computerization before any election should be held and strenghten the impeachment process and the PET. That way we miminized post election issues and whenever their will be election issues then everything should be resolved orderly in the COMELEC, PET and Impeachment court.
I definitely would not want Mrs arroyo to extend beyond her term limit. So I believe it would be best for us to start looking for her replacement now. So anytime she is gone, that replacement should be very ready to take over. As matter of fact, The Opposition shoudl have done this before they start “rocking” Mrs Arroyo’s government. For 8 months now, they havent really presented or articulated well their replacement plan. And I belives unless they do that, they will never suceed.
Im still very positive on what is going on in our country. I see it as very important process that we must undergo towards acheiving maturity. I can see that we are heading towards that maturity. One good sign for me is the rejection of the never ending call for people power. It seems to me that people are now really thinking and examining their options.I would like to see more order in the protest activities. There must be a rules that must be agreed upon by the two sides. All criticism towards the government and the opposition should definitely be given enough space. Consequently I would like to see all allegations being thrown to each other reaching the proper venue and resolved legally. And i definitely would like to see more debates or discussions without being too personal about it. Dapat iwasan yung name calling and just stick to the issue at hand. And best of all, the economy is moving well despite the so many crisis that we are having. I would definitely love to see the country moving forward while the debates and discussion continues to rage on. I hate it when everything hinges on Mrs Arroyo’s resignation or stay in power. Like the statement issued by Sen Pimentel ” no COMELEC computerization until Mrs Arroyo resigns”. And when Prof Randy David insinuated that Charter Change debates should not happen during Mrs Arroyo’s term. Why should our life and our nation stop moving on while Mrs Arroyo is in power?
Now going back to Mrs Monsod, I dont really see her contradicting herself in all columns that I have read. My impression is that she is a data driven opinion writer. ( being an engineer and a data driven myself i can very well relate to her style) Her opinion progresses or evolves as the data came in. That is why I pointed out to you the dates of her column. As of now i dont see her exonerating Mrs Arroyo of her crimes but I dont see her haphazardly covicting Mrs Arroyo either. I am expecting that she may end up concretely doing either of that when the right data comes in.
rego, there’s currently some comments on snap elections over at micketymoc’s site. i’m also positive on the whole as far as people’s political maturity is concerned, but i believe that the poor are maturing faster than certain sectors of the middle class. however, even with those who i don’t agree with, i see that a lot of their disagreements is rooted in concern for the institutions of democracy. if they can only realize that GMA is the primary contributor to the rot of these institutions.
i don’t believe Monsod rejected the existing data as much as taken in new data and weighed the probabilities. she’s more wary of military adventurism and the resulting junta-led dictatorship that might follow. in this sense, the few people who went to Fort Bonifacio were also kindred spirits. they were there to ensure that in the event of a GMA ouster, power would be handed back to the people.
cvj,
how did you come up with that thoughts that the poor is maturing faster than some sectors of the middle class?
Definitely, I can very well see some attempts of GMA to go against the principles of democracy. But its is not suceeding though. This is the part where I can appreciate the opposition and the media. And thats is why I believe that the current situation is actually very good for the country. We have a president who is not afraid to do anything and we have an Opposition who counters her and continously exposing her evils. And with that, I believe there is really no need to oust Mrs Arroyo at all cost and subject the nation to so much torture.
We can really make it work. Let Mrs Arroyo do a job that will benefit us while the people should maintain its vigilance toward all her moves. Anytime a wrong doing is spotted, go to court right way! Or even better, let Malacanang be Mrs Arroyo’s jail and subject her to a very intense “hard labor” to make the country move forward.
On the other hand, let the opposition continue what they are doing too. And the poeple shoudl also be very vigilant and cautious towards them. If the Opposition is over doing it. Tell them to stop them right away. People should really raise the bar so that the Opposition can come up with a very good if not excellent alternative to Mrs Arroyo. Dont just hand the power to them that easy and cheap. Like, Mrs Arroyo they should also pay the high prices for what they wanted.
Personally , I really believe that the only way to go is to really stick within framework of the constitution, to the principles of democracy, and to principle of civil liberties without so much emotionalism, over reactions and hypocrisy. Thats the only way to go!!!!!
Below is my response to Mr. Austero’s latest blog entry in
http://bongaustero.blogspot.com/2006/03/how-that-letter-came-to-be_11.html
***
You said, “sometimes the answer is wait.”
Wait for what? Wait until when? The 2010 elections? (IF GMA voluntarily gives up power by then and doesn’t do a Marcos.) Suppose we wait until then, and a new president is elected. And suppose that after some time we learn that this new president actually committed massive electoral fraud, illegally used billions in government funds for his/her election campaign, then attempted to cover-up all these misdeeds, even using repressive and illegal measures to continually evade accountability.
What should we do then? Just forget all about it, too, and again, just move on with our lives?
You challenge those protesting against GMA to prove their sincerity by going after her allies as well. Actually, there’s no lack of effort on their part in this regard, but your president is coddling and protecting her partners in crime. Do you not see that GMA is brazenly violating laws at will and with utter impunity? Right now, GMA and her allies ARE the law.
You also complain about the trapos who are trying to exploit this crisis for their own ends. Yes they do exist, yes I do not like them too. But who said that by protesting against GMA you necessarily have to side with the traditional (Erap etc) opposition? What about those who are protesting for legitimate reasons, those who are just outraged by such serious wrongdoings and feel that these shouldn’t be tolerated? It seems that you fail to acknowledge them, focusing instead on the opportunists and the discredited politicians. Why don’t you cite the likes of Oscar Orbos, Ramon Magsaysay Jr, Randy David, and many many other credible and sincere persons who have called for GMA’s resignation and are continuing to speak out against her other grave crimes and abuses? (I won’t even mention those who are considered to be “progressive”, as you seem to have no love lost for them.) Or is it that in your mind, anyone protesting against GMA is automatically a power-hungry opportunist?
You profess to not have faith in our elections, even if they were to be clean and relatively fraud-free, because you predict that only the likes of “Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Ping Lacson, Joseph Estrada, Noli de Castro, Loren Legarda, Eddie Villanueva, Mike Velarde, Susan Roces” will win. (Not that I agree that all the other names there are necessarily worse than GMA.) But then you refuse to see such things as creeping martial law because you “refuse to argue on conjecture.” You play seer one moment then deny being a Madam Auring the next. You venture a guess about electoral outcome based on your reading of recent political history, but refuse to do the same when confronted with GMA’s tyrannical manifestations.
Also, who said that kicking GMA would solve all the country’s problems? Of course it wouldn’t. But it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Finally, you say that “we are prepared to lose our freedoms and our rights just to move this country forward.” (Who are the “we” there, by the way? Since you claim to speak for no one but yourself.) To quote Benjamin Franklin, “Any society that will give up a little liberty to gain a little security would deserve neither and lose both.”
rego, i’ve come to that conclusion because among other things, in terms of political judgement, unlike me, they were not fooled by GMA. In contrast, you have people from the middle class who should know better saying things like “we are prepared to lose our freedoms and our rights just to move this country forward…” and many in the middle class agree with him! How can you fight for something so hard and offer to give it up just like that?
Let’s outline the tactics of the government, Rego:
1.) the government detains the likes of Randy David does not call it “arrest”, they call it an invitation.
2.) the government disallows the EDSA 1 celebration, disperses the crowds violently in certain cases.
3.) the government raids the Tribune, temporarily inconveniences their operations, and then lets them continue their operations.
It goes on and on, but let’s just consider the above. The “coup plot” has not yet been substantiated by independent sources (the media, in this case) other than the government.
The situation right now has gone beyond civilized debate between the opposition and the administration. When the government is using “bullying” tactics, are we to assume that the administration is still using fair tactics?
There are specific legalities and procedures that the military and police must employ so that the government confines itself to activities that protect the public. It will be the duty of the courts to see if the military and police have gone beyond those legalities and procedures. But the government “bullying” can only be interpreted as meant to pursue administration political objectives, giving GMA an unfair advantage.
ABS-CBN came out with the plot..
It goes on and on, but let’s just consider the above. The “coup plot†has not yet been substantiated by independent sources (the media, in this case) other than the government.
What constitutes a “coup”? Who were their sources? Only the government so far is shouting the line that they nipped a coup in the bud.
cvj,
first of all i’d to tell you that like how you expound in clear logic the consequense of the ligitimacy issue against the president. we need more people like you who are able to express the truth minus the rancor.
I find mrs. monsod unprincipled at times specially when she was trying to defend and see nothing wrong with the bail out of maynilad by the governement during the election. It was obvious that gma let the lopezes off the hook of the maynilad’s debts which led us to believe that the arrangement had something to do with noli de castro’s tandem with gma.
Mrs. monsod likewise, readily believed the statistics of the then secretary of labor and employment, carlos lorenzo, of the reported 1 million jobs generated by the arroyo governement after edsa dos which turned out to be an empty statisctics becasue it counted the “cargadors” as part of the employed class.
CVJ,
On the contrary, I believe that those group of middle class are the ones who is not giving it up that easy. They are the ones who is not so easy to hand down what they have fought so hard and won to the group of people that include the very same personalities tainted with issues they fought for. My impression is that they are the ones who are really raising the bar.
JCastro,
But still those ugly tactics was eassilly exposed and was arrested early. Isn’t it? And withregards to the coup, you may want to read the article in Time Magazine written by Robert Walsh who witnessed it all. http://bongaustero.blogspot.com/2006/02/denials_27.html
Because it is written by the Time magazine, does it constitute the truth? The other personalities involved deny their participation in a coup. What this means is that it’s their word against Nelly Sindayen’s.
Then why dont we just let justice take its course? Let the accused face the court to prove their innocence. And the accuser also to present all the evidence
It has been argued before that GMA should have let the impeachment process take its course. But history tells us that she did not. In so doing, she appeared to be masking the truth (an act done by somebody who is guilty).
Legal redress is a legitimate means of finding justice, but the courts can only act if a wrong has been done. Does this mean we wait for the government to trample on the legal rights of the opposition before we act?
The courts is not the only place where the opposition can find justice. Politics also has its part to play.
Jon Mariano,
We all know that some of the opposition were absent during the plenary voting. So the impeachment proceeding did not push through not just because of Mrs Arroyo alone. Both sides failed to make it work.
JCastro,
The legal court is also a good place for the accused to clear his name and prove his accuser wrong. And I would love to see our country positivie using it to make our country more peace, orderly, and progressive.
Hi Rego. I agree that it would take peace for development and progress to occur. It will take equilibrium in politics for businesses, investors, including micro-entrepreneurs, to feel safe. Who will dictate the terms of that peace? I don’t think we should leave the GMA administration alone in this. When the smoke has cleared, we will know what the terms of that peace is going to be.
maraming sumangayon kay bong dahil totoo ang sinasabi nya. ganun din ang naramdaman ko nung nabasa ko yung blog nya sa inq7. napakaraming tao na nagpupumilit na magmukhang makabayan, pero sa totoo lang wala naman ginagawa kundi ngumawa sa gobyerno. sawa na kami. yung mga tao na nakikita mong pasimuno sa rally e mga mayayaman yan. pag uwi ng mga yan e may mga katulong sa bahay yan na maghahain ng hapunan. tapos mahihiga sa malambot na kutson at silid na may aircon. akala nyo ba e iniisip nila yung mga mahihirap. ang ipinaglalaban ng mga yun e ang kayamanan nila, kung paano mapapadami, at pag maitumba yung yung gobyerno sila naman ang sasalakay sa kaban ng bayan. e yung mga mga masa na naiwan sa daan uuwi ng gutom…mabuti kung may uuwian pa. sawa na kami. magtrabaho na lang tayong lahat para umunlad ang pilipinas.
supermario, sawa na rin ako sa mga angal ng mga katulad ninyong nagbubulag-bulagan. mahirap man o hindi higit na nakakarami sa sambayanan ang naniniwala na malaki ang katiwaliang ginawa ni Gloria Arroyo. huwag ninyong asahang kaawaan ko kayo at wala akong masyadong pasensya sa mga taong puro na lang angal lalo na sa mga bagay na hindi naman dapat pag-ukulan ng angal.
Rego, the opposition never had the numbers. Even if those opposition members that were absent attended, they still wouldn’t have the numbers. As you can see the opposition’s stand for the next impeachment move they’re planning against Gloria Arroyo, they said that they’ll proceed once they get the 79 votes first.
On 93, rego wrote “Anytime a wrong doing is spotted, go to court right way!”
Unfortunately, it seems that this regime already owns the courts, or that the courts are deathly afraid of it. I hope I’m wrong, but consider these:
How come the Supreme Court is taking SUCH a long time in deciding petitions that question the legality/constitionality of several of GMA’s acts/orders? Such as:
FLAG’s petition questioning the constitutionality of the calibrated preemptive response (CPR) enforced against rallies and the “no permit, no rally” policy under Batas Pambansa Blg. 880.
http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=445
IBP’s petition to declare EO 464 unconstitional.
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news03_feb14_2006
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=66645&col=61
The Roque and Butuyan Law Office’s petition seeking to nullify House of Representatives’ junking of the impeachment complaint.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/sep24/news7.htm
http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=409
Has the Supreme Court ruled on any of these yet? I believe we should also task the Supreme Court for the excessively lengthy (and suspicious) delays in the resolution of these cases.
Based on these previous cases, any chance that they’ll rule soon on the Proclamtion 1017 case? Or that case which was filed by media recently? It seems highly unlikely.
And worse, mukhang wala ng pakialam sa korte ang administrasyon ngayon. Right now, they ARE the law. Yung kay Rep. Beltran, he was illegally arrested, pero up to now naka-detain pa din, despite a release order from a QC court. Si Bolante pinatakas nila, kahit na pina-watchlist na ng senado sa immigration. Yung kay Rep. Baraquiel, I can’t believe that the police chief had the temerity to say that she wasn’t arrested but in fact was only secured for her own protection! Ganun na kalakas ang loob nila ngayon, they feel like they can say and do anything with utter impunity. Wala na talagang accountability, and all calls for such are just being simply ignored.
Four more years of this? Huwag naman tayo pumayag.
sige guluhin nyo ang bansa hanggang gusto nyo! freedom ang gusto nyo, tingnan ko lang pag nagtagumpay yung mga junta jan. baka pati blog nyo e masara. ang pinoy kasi gusto ng may aksyon parang pelikula ni fpj(sumalangit nawa+) at erap(ewan ko kung sa langit din sya). di ako magugulat kung si ka roger e maupo sa malakanyang, puno na ng komunista ang kongreso, pork barrel nila ang gamit ng kaliwa. magtrabaho na lang kayong lahat para umunlad ang bansa. akala nyo ba e malasakit sa inyo yang mga elitista na sumsama sa rally? puro pansarili lang ang gusto ng mga yan.
Here is my nitpicking on the so called middle class letters.
NOTE: Di malinaw yung organization nung paragraphs niya kaya brineak-down ko na lang at nag-quote ako from his divisions. Ni-recta ko na rin sa kanya yung mga argumento ko para mas kabit kung sakaling mai-forward sa kanya itong response ko.
Sana makiliti rin ang konsyensya niyo, hahaha!
Mula sa introductory paragraph niya: “Buwis (ng middle class) ang nagpapaikot sa bansang ito. Pag may gulo na nangyayari, (middle class) ang tinatamaan.”
Hindi lang buwis ng middle class ang nagpapatakbo sa bansang ito at agree ka naman siguro na hindi lang middle class ang tinatamaan pag may gulo. Mas matindi pa nga ang epekto ng kaguluhan para sa 70% ng mga mamamayan nating below the poverty threshold (70% kung independent at hindi government figures ang pagbabasehan)
Sa mga Pulitiko: “…sa dami na nang nakurakot ninyo di na ba kayo makuntento kelangan nyo pa ba manggulo.”
Malabong makunteto ang nangungurakot kasi alam nga niya na naproprotektahan siya ng patronage politics. Kung susuriin ng mabuti ang statement mong ito, isa nga sa mga matitinding dahilan kung bakit tayo patuloy na nagkakagulo ay dahil nga patuloy na nangungurakot ang mga pulitikong pinagsasabihan mong dapat makuntento na. Kung nakapaloob sila sa isang sistema na nagpapatunay na hindi nila kailangang tumigil kasi malabo naman silang mabobokya, eh bakit nga ba? At kaya di sila tumitigil ay hindi dahil hindi sila namamatay pero dahil ang sistemang pinaiiral nila ay pinapasa at ipinamamana rin lang nila sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga miseducated Filipinos na patuloy pa ring mag-iisip na ganun na talaga ang kalakaran dito sa bansang ito.
At isa pa, hindi sila lahat kurakot, pero by your standards, mukhang masama rin siguro ang impresyon mo sa mga di-kurakot bastat kasama sila sa mga maiingay na bulag ang isip, haha.
Sa Administrasyon: “…pinatawad na namin ang pandaraya…pruweba dito e di kami umaatend sa mga panawagan ng people power, sana naman gantihan nyo kami ng magandang serbisyo…”
Tinatanggap mo rin pala na nandaya si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa eleksyon. Hanggang ganun na lang ba yun? Hindi ito simpleng pandaraya lang na katulad ng kulang na sukli sa tindahan o pamemeke ng edad ng anak mo para makasali siya sa Friendster. NATIONAL ang scope ng pandaraya na ito at sa pagka-PRESIDENTE ng PILIPINAS ang isyu! So, para sa iyo, ang isang taong nang-goyo at nang-ulol na lang ng ganun sa dangal at tiwala ng sambayanan para manalo sa eleksyon ay babawi na lang sa atin through good and honest governance? Chong, ikaw rin pala bulag ang pag-iisip.
Pero wag kang mabahala, patatawarin pa rin naman kita, di ko lang nga palalampasin ang pagkakalat mo ng mga ideya na lalo lang nakatutulong na manatili sa kapangyarihan ang mga sinungaling at kurakot na opisyal na pinatawad mo.
Sa Administrasyon pa rin: “…i-announce mo (GMA) mag-step down ka kapag parliamentary na tayo, resounding YES yan sa plebiscite at tigil pa ang mga coup at people power laban sa yo.”
Mukhang sinasabi mo ata na ang pulso ng bayan ay resounding NO kay GMA kaya “resounding YES” ang isasagot nila sa pagkakataon na hinayag mo. Kung ganun na pala ang sitwasyon at negatibo na talaga ang pagtingin ng nakararami sa kasalukuyang administrasyon, bakit ka pa nagtataka at naiirita sa patuloy na pag-angal at pag-protesta ng mga maiingay na bulag ang isipan na katulad namin na kasama (by your logic) sa “resounding” majority?
Sa Oposisyon: “…dalawang klase lang ng tao ang nakikinig sa inyo…bayaran na mahihirap kungdi man ay tangang mga excited na reporter…”
Sa dakong ito, eh nakaka-awa ka na, chong. Kasama ako sa EDSA 1 at 2, at kasama ako sa hanay ng mga pinagpipitaganan mong middle class. Dun sa pangalawang EDSA sumugod pa kami papuntang Malacanang kasi hindi naman kami tumulong patalsikin si Erap para ipalit lang ang pinatawad mong mandaraya na si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Ang palpak sa argumento mong ito ay nag-generalize ka. Napaka-unfair at condescending ng statement mo sa mga libu-libong kasama namin na whether may mga kaya o wala, tunay at sinsero pa rin ang naging hangaring mabago ang sistemang pampulitika dito sa bansa nung mga panahon na iyon.
Sa Oposisyon pa rin: “…paresign kayo ng paresign wala naman kayo ipapalit na maayos.”
Isa na siguro ito sa mga pinakanakakatuwang dahilan para panatiliin ang pinatawad mong si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa kapangyarihan. Para sa iyo, dinaya niya tayo sa eleksiyon, kabahagi siya ng sistemang pulitikang patuloy na nagpapa-iral ng patronage politics at corruption, at “resounding YES” ang isasagot ng sambayanan sa plebisito basta’t mag-step down siya. IN SPITE OF ALL THESE ARGUMENTS TO THE CONTRARY, YOU BELIEVE THAT KEEPING HER IN POWER AT THIS TIME IS STILL THE COUNTRY’S BETTER OPTION?!?
Mas may integridad at katapatan pa ang aso ko sa kanya! Ibig mong sabihin wala nang ibang Pilipinong mas may integridad at katapatan pa na pwedeng pumalit sa sinungaling at kurakot na “presidente” na pinatawad mo? Akong bulag ang pag-iisip may nakikita. Ikaw WALA? Kung wala, kawawa ka naman kasi mukhang di ka bulag – nagbubulag-bulagan na lang.
Sa Oposisyon pa rin: “Advise lang galing sa isang middle class na syang tunay na pwersa sa likod ng matagumpay na People Power…”
Muli, kaawa-awa ang pananaw mong ito kasi hindi siya bagay sa diwa ng nilahukan mong People Power. Malaki ang naitulong ng LAHAT NG SEKTOR – HINDI LANG NG MIDDLE CLASS. ELITISTA ang dating ng argumento mong ito.
Besides, bakit ba patuloy pa rin tayong napapako in spite of having already ousted two ignoble presidents? Simple lang: EDSA 1 and 2 never really gave the power back to the people. Both events simply paved the way for new leaders who were/are primarily cut from the same opportunistic cloth as their predecessors in the sense that their collective sympathy has never really been for the starving, disenfranchised masses – it was and still is with the social, economic, and political elite. Sa madaling sabi, hindi nabago ang maling sistema, nabago lang ang mga taong patuloy na nagpapatakbo nito.
Sa Oposisyon (huli na): “Kung gusto niyo tagumpay na People Power (middle class) ang isama nyo…pero pagod na kami e, sori ha.”
Ang kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, mula pa nung panahon nina Bonifacio at Aguinaldo, ay puno na ng mga “pagbabago sa sistema” na nilunsad pero hindi na tuluyang nasundutan. Tulad na lang ng kinahinatnan nung 1896 Revolution, pagkatapos gamitin ng mga mga middle class/elitista sa kampo ni Aguinaldo ang lakas ng masang Pilipino, binitin naman ang mga walang malay na Indio sa ere habang nag-balimbingan sa hanay ng kalaban ang kanilang liderato.
Ang mga “People Power” na pinagmamalaki mong nagtagumpay dahil sa mga katulad mo ay siya ring pinabayaan ng mga katulad mo kasi hindi rin siguro nakita ng mga katulad mo (o baka nakita naman pero nagbulag-bulagan at nagpatawad na lang kaliwa’t kanan) ang pagkakamali na ipaubaya sa kamay ng bagong hanay ng mga lumang klaseng pinuno ang pagpapatakbo sa bansa habang nasa kritikal na kundisyon pa ito.
DAPAT PINAGPATULOY MO PA RIN YUNG LABAN KASI HINDI PA SIYA TAPOS. Sa mga katulad mo siguro na may ari-arian, pamilya, at trabaho na babalikan, quits na – pwede ka nang maghintay na lang ulit sa susunod na di na matitiis na pambabarubal na gagawin ng gobyerno sa middle class. Pero sa higit na mas nakararami mong mga kababayan na sagad sa kawalan, nagpatuloy pa rin ang kawalan nila ng mga oportunidad at options kasi hindi naman sila tunay na ginantihan ng good and honest governance ng mga tinulungan nilang maluklok sa pwesto!
Ang sagot tuloy sa angal mo, kaya marami pa rin kaming nag-iingay ngayon kasi ang mga “matagumpay” na mga People Power na ni-resbakan ng mga middle class corporate officers na katulad mo ay hindi nagdulot ng tunay na pagbabago kasi, sa tema ng mga argumento mo, MUKHANG KASAMA KA SA MGA NAGPABAYA SA MGA PAGBABAGONG NAGING RESULTA NG MGA PROTESTANG AYON SA IYO AY IPINAGTAGUMPAY NG URI NINYO.
Ang naunang People Power na nilahukan mo ay maaaring bansagang “culminating activity” na lang para sa mga tunay na nakibaka at nag-BUWIS (one of your favorite words) ng DUGO at BUHAY nung mga panahon na tunay na nakakatakot mag-ingay laban sa gobyerno. Maaaring mong sabihin na kasama ka sa “end game” pero `wag na `wag mong ipagmamalaki’t ipangangalandakan na ikaw at ang mga katulad mo ang tunay na pwersa sa likod ng tagumpay ng People Power.
Patawarin mo na lang ako ulit, pero WALANG PAKUNDANGANG KAKAPALAN NG MUKHA ang tawag diyan.
Sa Military: “…dapat ang sundalo di nagtatanong sumusunod lang.”
Marami pa sana akong isusulat pero masyado nang mahaba ito at nailahad ko na naman ang mga pangunahing punto ko kaya iiklian ko na lang ang sagot ko dito:
NAU-ULOL KA NA! Magpasalamat ka at nag-isip at nagtanong ang mga sundalo nung panahon na nasa EDSA ka kundi baka di mo na nae-enjoy ang middle class corporate officer lifestyle mo ngayon, hahaha!
Sorry, natawag kitang ulol. Alam ko namang patatawarin mo pa rin ako.
“Walang libreng kalayaan. Ito’y pinagbabayaran.”
(Sayaw Sa Bubog -The Jerks)
Signed:
Eric Regalado “Cabring” Cabrera
Dating Iskolar ng Bayan na ngayo’y titser sa high school at kolehiyo, nagkakandarapang entrepreneur, pursigidong manunulat, galit na bokalista ng bandang Datu’s Tribe, at isang naghihikahos na Lower-Middle Class Pinoy na naniniwala na mas masahol pa sa bulag mag-isip ang taong nagbubulag-bulagan na lang.
[...] I needed to rest my eyes from reading all the blogs, counter blogs, reactions and counter reactions re: the open letter of the eloquent writer/blogger Bong. Dami kasing marunong (at nagmamarunong sa Pilipinas kaya lalong walang nangyayari). [...]
TSK TSK TSK.
Dame epal.. manahimik na lang! mga pakeelamero! nag bubulag bulagan bingi bingihan kayo! ito singkwenta.. pambili ng cotton buds at eye mo
to those who are protesting..look at the people around you..count your numbers. Its very obvious you don’t represent the whole filipinos.
You are just the noisy few who don’t respect the democratic process. There is no end to this if these attitude is not corrected. Enough of this intellectual pretensions!
obviously, those shitty oppositions are out numbered and their arms are sky high to defend themselves.
numbers (survey’s) are meaningless to me and they can be easily fabricated. Yet when you jump in a community you can all feel those sentiments that they’re not against with the current government.
These people (oppositions) are like an empty can. Maingay pero walang laman. People like me who are silent. Di maingay pero MERONG laman. Now that someone has _PERFECTLY_ pin point what these “silent majority” was longing to say.
Sorry mate,
Its _OUR_ time.
I do not speak on behalf of people who hasn’t spoken yet. But I know for a fact and I can definitely sense it that many of these people have the same sentiments as I do.
So please, step back. Look at the _REAL_ problem. Its a simple analogy.
Pag may kanin ka sa mukha, malalaman mo bang may kanin ka? unless someone tells you who is away from you. Well I’m one of those. I may be overseas, but yet I’m constantly see/update myself with our beloved country’s problem and then later on I realise.
Teka… tama nga si Mc Arthur, there are times you _HAVE_ to _RETREAT_ to solve/see the detailed birds eye view of the problem.
why the anger? Bong Austero is just expressing himself. If that letter is a piece of crap like what some peeps are portraying it to be, then why is it wildly popular? The way some reactions here are, I won’t be surprised if they drag some shrink and ask him to identify whether there was some subliminal coercion hidden between his lines.
I got news for you, that blog reflected my view, my sentiment, my friends’, my family’s. Call us shallow-minded, i don’t care. Of all the intelectual pep talk here, I haven’t seen any argument better than the one’s laid out by Mr. Austero. I have seen a ridiculous post here about how comment moderation would explain the positive responses on Mr. Austero’s blog. To the one who posted it: Please go to the Inq7.net’s Inq7@5 and see for yourself the Letter peppered with positive feedbacks. And yes, you are free to brand the Inquirer under Bong’s pay, too, or Gloria’s for that matter.
Expose Yourself!
That’s what you need to do, if you want to maximize the traffic
to your website. You need to expose yourself to as many pairs of
eyes as you possibly can.
Hei! luogo che interessante avete fatto, ben cotto!
Leggo ed imparo sul vostro luogo. grazie!
Buon luogo piacevole senza qualsiasi cosa dispari, ben progettata!
Valentine Gift Idea…
I know!…
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