Rain-related news: Despite heavy rains, water supply remains a concern.Put another way, 3 days of rain cooled Metro, but still not enough. Meanwhile, Palace wants P500m released for drought. News like this aimed at justifying such requests: Dry spell impacts on poverty; cost to rice up to P1B.
On the economic front, 38 Cebu firms close, lay off 13,000 (effect of the appreciation of the Peso). Inflation rate inched up to 2.6% in July, the World Bank to double loans to RP, and our Forex reserves hit $27.9b.
The Rich getting richer faster than the poor. A ray of hope is this: Migrant philanthropy slowly transforming provinces, study shows. In his column, Tony Lopez says the auto industry is almost back to 1997 levels.
As Palace keeps hands off on ZTE deal, the buck merrily gets passed along: Ermita: Broadband deal is Mendoza’s baby.
Palace goings-on: Palace bares new gov’t appointments, including Senator Santiago’s husband joins Arroyo Cabinet. Moves include Palace replaces insurance chief. More executive tinkering: GMA transfers Toll Body to DPWH.
New DND head bares plans: speaks in tough terms about the Abu Sayaff, and says he’ll continue Nonong Cruz’s reforms. Meanwhile, Three rebels, 1 soldier dead in fighting. Read Patricio Diaz’s suggestion that there’s confusion in Basilan.
As for the continuing investigation of the massacre of the Marines: Esperon debunks ‘miscom’ report. So what happened? And now, pilots get blame for not firing a shot in Basilan.
In the Senate, Villar faces yet another sticky issue.
The Speaker soothes his erstwhile foes: Garcia, other solons assigned House committees: Cynthia Villar, for one, is officially out of the doghouse, returning as chairman of the committee (education) she’d be deprived of when she signed on to the impeachment complaints against the President.
Speaking of the Speaker, he reminds everyone that his party doesn’t intend to die (to quote Marcos): De Venecia to LP, NP: It’s romantic but get real. John Nery had pointed to an embargoed survey on who the public really considers the presidential frontrunners. The results are still embargoed, but this might be a sign of news concerning that survey, to come: Legarda leads 2010 hopefuls in survey . The Speaker may be on to something.
UNO: Impeach poll execs but Bedol offers help to reform polls. Comelec seems more interested in punishing those that exposed its goings-on: Comelec eyes electoral sabotage raps vs 2 media personalities. Much speculation who the two are. Everyone assumes Ricky Carandang is one. He says he isn’t one of those mentioned.
Newsbreak explains why the Estrada camp has lost its oomph.
Wacky news: ‘Bangungot’ linked to Asian skull shape. Not wacky, but well…. Continue with your ministry, Pope tells Rosales.
Overseas: why hasn’t the US Attorney-General not been impeached yet? Dahlia Lithwick takes a look. Roger Simon ponders the weaknesses of debating as a means of figuring out if a candidate will be a good president or not. In History Unfolding, an update and analysis of the situation in Iraq:
The experience of Anbar province suggests something very important: that an American withdrawal will not, as the Administration argues, mean the ascendancy of Al Queda, whom Iraqi tribesmen have no reason to love. But meanwhile, there has been no rapprochement between Sunnis and Shi’ites. Our strategy appears to be to try to fight the extremists among both groups while supporting the moderates, and it is angering the Shi’ite government while failing to please the Sunnis, who just withdrew their ministers. The need for some kind of partition seems to get more obvious every day, but we are not moving in that direction yet.
An interesting article: Japan’s Democracy Comes of Age:
Last week the opposition Democratic Party of Japan returned the favor, handing the LDP an historic defeat in the election for half of the House of Councilors, Japan’s senate.
To understand what has happened, it is necessary to look back to the situation that prevailed from the founding of the LDP in 1955 to the 1990s. Japan’s Diet was essentially gerrymandered to ensure that the LDP maintained a firm grip on government. Parliamentarians were chosen from large, multi-member districts. That meant that successful candidates often won with only about 10 per cent of the vote, or less. This system put a premium on local connections and pork barrel politics. Issues? Who needs issues?
In Indonesia, the public proves the pollsters wrong, by enthusiastically participating in the country’s first-ever direct gubernatorial elections. In Asia has Jeremy Gross saying the Indonesians are proving to have a strong civic sense. And, is there a Malay malaise? Rot and More Rot in Malaysia’s Judicial System. The Thais are engaged in debating the pros and cons of their new constitution: August 19 referendum: key issue is ‘legitimacy’.
My column for today is Sandbagged opposition (unedifying headlines like this don’t help: Cayetano-Lacson feud erupts over Blue Ribbon). The move by Francis Pangilinan to block Adel Tamano’s designation as counsel for the Blue Ribbon committee’s reported here: Tamano blocked in Senate, tapped for PLM presidency. Incidentally, this makes for interesting reading: Senators of 13th Congress: Far too many hearings, very few reports. I agree that at the very least, the public is owed a report after hearings have been concluded.
An interesting column by Emil Jurado on “Operation Big Bird.” Jurado refers to a recent interview on Ricky Carandang’s show: the original’s disappeared, but the interview’s been cached. Fascinating reading:
Carandang: And how many accounts did you manage to release?
Almonte: I think at that time initial I think eight or ten with a total of 213 million US dollars.
Carandang: Was there more?
Almonte: Yes.
Carandang: How do you know?
Almonte: Because at that time there were already so much cooperation from the people there. I hope I’ll just say it this way because I don’t want to jeopardize them.
Carandang: So you had informants in the Swiss banking system?
Almonte: Of course and they are the ones who know.
Carandang: So they were feeding you this information?
Almonte: Yes.
Carandang: And in effect, the Swiss government was confirming it by releasing the money.
Almonte: yes. They release it if they confirmed that what we are saying is in their document.
Carandang: So why did you stop at $213 million?
Almonte: We did not stop, that was the initial release. After that, because we have to present the other accounts that we like to release, we have to present it when we already have the complete documentation. Now we don’t have the documentation of all the accounts. That is why after this $213 million what came in later was about $3.8 billion and this we have the documentation.
Carandang: So you had the knowledge of an additional $3.8 billion in the Swiss bank accounts.
Almonte: Yes after the $213 million…and after that we had more information and our people there were working on another $4 billion. That is why by that time we had about all in all 3.8 plus 4 plus 3 we had about 8 billion immediately although of course the 4 billion is identification is being… The documentation it means is being worked on.
Carandang: But this whole time Marcos and Mrs. Marcos still thought that the money was being transferred to another account of theirs?
Almonte: Ah no more. By this time I cannot recall anymore. But I think it was July, it’s in the records. But the following day, because I think it was Friday. Saturday…Sunday…Monday is supposed to be the release of the $213 million nothing happen, Ordoñez disappeared. We cannot locate him. Later we’re able to confirm that he left Manila by himself.
Carandang: This was before you actually had the money released?
Almonte: No, after the money was released, the 213 million was released by the Swiss government but they transfer actually to export is what we were waiting for. Before they transfer there, Ordoñez disappeared and he is the only one according to the arrangement and the Swiss law as a constitutional officer who can receive this money in behalf of the Philippine government not me or anybody else.
Carandang: So without Ordoñez’ signature the money could be transferred out of Marcoses account but could not be transferred to the Philippine government.
Almonte: Without the signature of Ordoñez.
Carandang: And Ordoñez signed for the $213 million but he disappeared after that.
Almonte: No he did not sign yet. He just left without receiving the $213 million because what happened was this, when the$213 million must release and this is in the record, Ordoñez and of course Salvione and for Salonga that this going to be released, in fact we didn’t know because they kept it from us already. Anyway what happened is when Ordoñez disappeared we came home. I decided to leave immediately for manila.
Carandang: And what the money was left in an escrow account?
Almonte: Not yet. The money was.. You know the order was there but there is no execution. There was a decision but the actual execution of the decision was held.
Carandang: Pending the signature…
Almonte: Well pending the receipt…because what happened was this, Salvione and Salonga approved it and this in the annex, in the document… That he believed, Salvione, this money will be lost to the Philippine government. The implication is that Mike and myself will run away with the money, that’s the implication.
So he was telling Salonga that they should not be transferred to the export financier’s bank but it should remain in Credit Suisse and the fellow who suppose to take care of this…ironically was the man of Marcos but anyway it’s under their control. Now because of this the Credit Suisse informed Marcos that they have…they are helpless that this money, his money in the bank will be returned to the Philippine government. Because of his authority to de Guzman to withdraw his money…
Carandang: And that is when Marcos knew that he had been scammed.
Almonte: Yes that was the time. Soon after they decide to release this money, so Marcos claimed that “I don’t know of any de Guzman,” “I did not give anybody authority to withdraw the money” and he did not have any account in Switzerland this is Marcos letter to the Swiss. However if there is a money under his name and there is such I think as de Guzman who is withdrawing on his authority, he is revoking all of that.
Carandang: In other words Marcos was trying to tell the banks that he had revoke the authority of Mike de Guzman to withdraw the money but he is also trying to say that you cannot claim that I own the money.
Almonte: That’s what he’s trying to say.
Carandang: In other words Mike can’t withdraw but I don’t own it.
Almonte: Yes, that’s what his trying to say. “I don’t have anything but in the event there is something there in my name I am in control, Mike has no authority.”
Carandang ends by pointing out Almonte & Co. managed to get $213 million which was duly given to the government. By 2001, the money had grown to $680 million:
Under the law, all money recovered from the Marcos family is to be spent on agrarian reform.
In September 2005, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported that a portion of that $680 million was diverted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 2004 presidential campaign.
In March 2006, a Joint Senate Committee concluded that President Arroyo “be held accountable in the mismanagement of the fertilizer fund.”
Former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, who authorized the release of the fertilizer funds, is seeking political asylum in the United States.
(Brief backgrounder on Operation Big Bird, courtesy of the Manila Times). See Juan Mercado’s column today, which places the efforts of the Marcoses to recover their assets, in perspective.
In Inquirer Current, John Nery “impeaches” Francis Escudero. Gets a swarm of replies!
Words of wisdom, as he reminds us in a recent blog entry, from David Llorito, circa 2005:
All those who want to reform the Philippine politics and economy should therefore strive to remove the nexus between politics and the economy. This policy reform objective could be achieved through measures including low and neutral tariff rates (to discourage smuggling as well as the incentive to make deals with Customs officials), the removal of the pork barrel system, opening up entry and exit of all businesses including utilities and telecommunications without having to acquire franchise from Congress, and lowering of corporate taxes coupled with the removal of fiscal incentives, among many others. The central idea is to prevent political motivations to encroach in people’s economic decisions, subject to certain limited criteria such as environmental regulations and national security.
We should adopt the concept that doing business or engaging in entrepreneurship is an inalienable right on par with our freedom of assembly and speech as well as of pursuit of happiness. That way mayors, governors, and bureaucrats will not have any power to put barriers against people’s entrepreneurial energies. You remove political intervention in economic decisions and you can see that “public service” will only attract two types of persons, either statesmen or masochists, and that will be for the good of the country.
Agree? Disagree?
Technorati Tags: Blogging, constitution, elections, House of Representatives, military, philippines, politics, president, Senate, Thailand, Washington DC
“But that isnt an idea. That is a problem. (Yes Im aware you mean pinoys in general.) The idea we’re waiting for are those which propose to solve it.”
Nope.
It’s an idea.
Problems and solutions are just CLASSES of ideas. Kung baga:
(a) The IDEA that Pinoys are devoid of imagination is CONSIDERED to be a problem;
(b) The IDEA that education can contribute much to filling the imagination void in Pinoy society is CONSDIRED to be a solution.
Or i could also present it this way too:
On the basis of the IDEA that Pinoys collectively lack imagination, I make the assertions that (1) Pinoys lack originality, (2) are unable to grasp the bigger picture, and, therefore, (3) are unable to come up with sustainable solutions to their problems.
Fine. Consider it an idea. But it still isnt the idea we’re interested in. We’re interested in your idea that is CONSIDERED a solution.
Like I said, any schmoe can whine, complain, and point out what they see as the problem. You havent set yourself up as a schmoe, so we’re waiting for ideas from you. And the way youve marketed yourself, it better be a doozy.
“He’s Pinoy, so he’s devoid of imagination”
I think this is a fallacious statement though.
When one makes a generalisation as I do (i.e. Pinoys are devoid of imagination), it does not necessarily follow that all members of the group which said generalisation describes NECESSARILY bear said generalised trait.
For example, when we say that German engineering prowess accounts for the excellent quality of Mercedes Benz cars, it does not necessarily follow that all Germans are excellent engineers or, for that matter, that all Germans are engineers.
Yeah yeah Benign0, but you’ve been saying the same thing for years and haven’t really gotten down to specifics. It does not take a ‘big mind’ to realize that we need education as part of the solution mix, but you have to flesh out your proposals. Considering that you’ve been around for years, it’s unfortunate that you haven’t really contributed beyond generalities – which is not efficient, not very productive and not very imaginative.
“Tagakotta,Kimosabe”from Karl Garcia
Oh my goodness. Guess who gets the last laugh on this one. I wonder how long the Native Americans have known this one and have kept their lips sealed while busting a gut inside. This is worse than the Kimosabe joke in which Tonto uses this name for his white-man friend, the Lone Ranger, letting him think it is an Indian name of great repute. Later, Kimosabe realizes that his nickname means “horse’s ass.”
“Fine. Consider it an idea. But it still isnt the idea we’re interested in. We’re interested in your idea that is CONSIDERED a solution.”
I’m glad you asked! 🙂
I’ve got an entire PROPOSED solution framework drawn up to provide a kind of an architecture or roadmap to follow to systematically rid Pinoy society of its unproductive cultural baggage here:
http://www.getrealphilippines.com/solution/framework.html
The first step, it seems would be to identify elements in that framework that have direct impact upon the problem assertion that Pinoys are devoid of imagination.
That wasnt so hard, was it? Will check it out later. But, like I said, I dont think the lack of imagination is the problem, and you might be trying to solve the wrong problem. The problem is the underappreciation of pinoy ideas by their fellow pinoys. Our inventors for example have had to finance and market their own inventions (which isnt their expertise) since they dont get support from those professionals (financiers and marketers) that can help them.
Beningno:you are one of the top contenders in my ” Pataasan ng ihi” P.N.I award.
keep it up!just don’t wet us!!!!
“The problem is the underappreciation of pinoy ideas by their fellow pinoys”
I don’t think that lack of appreciation of Pinoy ideas is the problem. If that were so, then jeepneys Tito-Vic-and-Joey humour, the ocho-ocho, and adobo wouldn’t be the big hits that they are today.
I don’t think that lack of appreciation of Pinoy ideas is the problem. If that were so, then jeepneys Tito-Vic-and-Joey humour, the ocho-ocho, and adobo wouldn’t be the big hits that they are today.
Keep it up!PNI top contender!
“The first step, it seems would be to identify elements in that framework that have direct impact upon the problem assertion that Pinoys are devoid of imagination.”benigNO
You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you? Don’t you?
If that were so, then jeepneys Tito-Vic-and-Joey humour, the ocho-ocho, and adobo wouldn’t be the big hits that they are today.
I admit that the jeepney is inefficient and should be sent to ply the side-streets to support the rail-based mass transport we have and not to compete with it (a problem of political will, not creativity), but I dont have a problem with TitoVicandJoey humor. It makes pinoys laugh. And ocho-ocho? Uso pa ba yan sa Australia? Laos na dito yan.
Devils,
I have visited your blog. (Yeah, the tool works!) Well, I’m not sure if I can catch up with your brain wave. You are chimerical, quirky, far out, dreamy, fictive, crotchety, romantic, testy and of course way out IMAGINATIVE.
If Filipinos are “devoid of imagination,†you are proof that Bikolanos are not. (Hope no one berates me for “decentralizing†the race like amoeba.)
Uragon ka talaga noy.
Karl, salamat din. Mabalos. I’m really learning from your originative street-fighting. Just as from mb, cvj and now Jeg and tagakotta. Talagang mga Pinoy.
“everything under the sun is vanity..” – tagakotta, wahaha. kuhang-kuha mo bro. of course i wouldn’t deign to deny this one. guilty as charged your honor. the reason i write is bec its my therapy. the reason i blog is bec i wanna get famous. of course desire alone wouldn’t get me there. crap. it even remains to be seen if i even have anything to offer that anyone besides my wife will like. i used to abhor soliciting to be read, but that’s exactly what im doing eh? the shame of it all, reduced to begging… wahaha. don’t worry tagakotta, you didn’t offend me. you even made me laugh at myself. btw, am i included in ur PNI list? i hope im giving benny the run for his money… that’ll truly crack me up.
Benign0, i browsed at your ‘Solution Framework’ and it’s not a bad start. Except for the ‘use of english’ and ‘connect with the intelligentia’ portion, i find nothing objectionable with the recommendations. Since you came up with it five years ago (in August 2002) have you had a chance to flesh out each of the boxes?
BTW, in the context of your framework, opposition to Gloria (and her cheating) can be located in the box on the top left corner under ‘Right Philosophy’ i.e. ‘Create environment of trust’ and all the downstream effects that you identified. With this, i hope you understand where we are coming from and not just dismiss it as personality-oriented politics.
benignO,
Forget Nick Joaquin. In your own words, what do you mean when you say that Filipinos lack originality? So what if Aldous Huxley said that Filipinos were the “least original”? What proof did he show. Just because he was Huxley, should we believe every word he said as gospel truth?
So what if I enjoy the benefits of the Mercedes Benz of the Germans, the Whirlpool freezer of the Americans, the Sony television set of the Japanese, or the Samsung camera of the Koreans? Do I have to reinvent the wheel every time I have a problem, just so I can be “original”?
In your own words, without quoting from anybody else, define what you mean by “originality” in a people.
Again, forget old and cold dead Nicky. In your own words, what do you mean by “lack of scale and regard for the bigger picture”. The tingi evidence is fallacious. In fact, it is an imaginative solution to a very real (as in: get real) problem. God help the Filipinos if stores didn’t sell tingi!
So, in your own words, not quoting anybody else, show me the evidence.
Why should I believe the opinion of “an admired Filipino economist based in New York” as gospel truth? Show me, in your own words and not quoting anybody else, the imperical evidence (not just an opinion) that Filipino = small mind.
I’m waiting.
DevilADVs: your style is ok;straight from the heart!keep it up young man!
The main criteria for the PNI awards:
1)writes or blogs toIMPRESS others.
2)Listens only to HIS point of view.
3)craves for others’ attention by endless discussions about ocho-ocho! (pas·sé na iyan dito!)
Tagakotta,
I know ignorance excuses no one,no intention to call you that kung yan talaga ang ibig sabihin,was stuck with it meaning friend!
Siraulo pala yung mga nag produce ng the lone ranger eh! kundi ba naman sila %&&#@? producers of lone ranger,tarzan,since youve mentionmed it are all but supremacists, and ignorant at that.
I will refer to the long post of HVRDS about slavery and
whatnot.And also to Abe’s post on how Europeans survive in the tropics.
I have to apologize,deeply!
KG: no prob! relax lang! take care of your high blood and diabetes!
1)Avoid stress
2)Listen to good music
3)Have a positive attitude!
4)Make fun of others(and yourself)
5)Enjoy sex.
Don’t worry you are not in my PNI list.
take care(as they say in French…”Inga’t)
“Show me, in your own words and not quoting anybody else, the imperical evidence (not just an opinion) that Filipino = small mind”
I’m glad you asked!
I’ve got lots to say about this. But out of respect for MLQ3’s blog, I’m not really inclined to clog it up with my DETAILED thoughts on the matter.
I might refer you to my book instead which you can download at:
http://www.getrealphilippines.com/book1
Specifically, check out the text on page 54 under the heading “Imagination capitalises wealth”. 😉
awww, tnx Abe. with my discovery (yeah, so stupid of me not to realize some poster’s names here are actually linkable), i’ve been visiting most of the peep’s blogs here. like back reading Manolo’s articles, it’ll take me time to finish browsing all of it. hope you weren’t offended that I called you “old.” wahehe. i was actually imagining you to be along Manolo’s age bracket. it also dawned on me (when cvj used a post’s permalink) that comment’s date and time here link to its permalink.
btw, kadakulon nagbibirikol digdi. hare baya, pira kita mga Bikolano digdi. Oragon talaga. incidentally, why have we never had a Bikolano president? if you go to Manolo’s presidency project (or something) you’ll notice most of our presidents come from northern Luzon, a few from Visayas, but none from southern Luzon and Mindanao. what’s up with that?
“btw, kadakulon nagbibirikol digdi. hare baya, pira kita mga Bikolano digdi. Oragon talaga. incidentally, why have we never had a Bikolano president?from Devil adv.”
Kit Tatad
Gringo Honasan
Joker Arroyo
Chiz Escudero
Sonny Trillanes
all Bicolanos,ex or current Senators,What else do they have in common(analyze and you will know the answer to your question!)
Abe,
Walang inumin,este walang anuman pala.
At Diyos Mabalos.
Devils,
si Roco sana eh,nataon lang madami masayado yung mga nakasabay nya on two ocassions.Tingnan lang nating itong LP NP rivalry kung ano mangyari,baka di rin mapunta kay Villar at Roxas ang slots. Malay mo isa sa mga ex and current Bicolano senator maging pres.
Bilog ang mundo.
tagakotta, you forgot Raul Roco, also a former senator. as for what they have in common aside from that, beats me. other known politicians you missed are Lagman, Villafuerte (who really puts Bikolano’s name in shame) Andaya, Robredo.
KG, ang mali ni Roco, he wouldn’t sacrifice his principles for a shot at presidency. If he ran for VP either during the 98 or 2004 elections (which I believe he would’ve won), he would’ve been president when either sitting presidents (ERAP and GMA) were assailed with controversies. civil society then wouldn’t be too allergic to removing GMA and asking all that sino ipapalit promo. people were then telling him to run for it (VP), but he wouldn’t take it. He said he’d be too hypocritical and that he’d be failing those who were supporting him to run for president. even to his last breath, he stayed true to himself. that’s why even if it was apparent he’d lose, i still voted for him. whatever is my vote for if im jz going to waste it on someone i dnt believe in? and people who believe in practical voting are fools.
Not bad at all, benny.
(1) Right philosophy — subscription to a philosophy (or set of philosophies) that will put said society in a collective state of mind that is conducive to sustainable prosperity.
(2) Efficient communication — a shared strength in a chosen language (proficiency of which is not monopolised by an elite class) that provides the society access to as big a body of knowledge as possible
(3) Wealth creation ethic — the capability to sustainably create and accumulate wealth domestically
Item 3 we can do something about immediately. Our policies are geared toward attracting foreign investors while at the same time not giving the same incentives for local investors. Item 2 would take some time but doable. Item 3 has to throw off years of division forced on pinoys from outside and from within. But economic prosperity would take care of that more or less. I mean look at the Belgians.
btw, kadakulon nagbibirikol digdi. hare baya, pira kita mga Bikolano digdi.
My mother’s family is from Pili and Naga. Bikolano man giraray. 🙂
Dae siguro nindo aram, pero si Bencard Bicolano man yan.
Here’s another quick fix for “(3) Wealth creation ethic†the Filipino people should demand a reasonable way for aspiring entrepreneurs to set up shop. The people shouldn’t tolerate incompetence. Nobody seems to be pissed of at the idiotic and needless hassles of acquiring a business permit. It seems like people in general have accepted the layers of red tape as the norm. The initiation for most common folks trying to run a business happens when they realize why they need to bribe fire inspectors, city and barangay officials. We have dozens of activist groups and had Edsa rallies but I wonder, has there ever been a mass protest against a local clerk from the Registry of deeds or against a municipal government office for incompetent services?
benignO,
Your book was an analysis of the ills of Philippine society as a whole – ills that are already widely known and acknowledged. Nothing original there.
But let me quote something that you said that, I believe, points to the area on which mitigation of most major problems will hinge:
“If Filipinos cannot even imagine a fundamentally different society that will underpin a prosperous
future, there can be no inspiration to drive deep systemic change. We have delegated the courage to dream and work at fulfilling these dreams to politics and our
politicians. This is a monumental tragedy because Filipinos lack any context to hold to account the politicians they elect to office.”
My reading is that you seem to denigrate the role of politics in bringing about a “society that will underpin a prosperous future…” And yet, you credit Lee Kuan Yew, a political leader, for the great transformation of Singapore. You cited the progress made by the Malaysians and the Chinese, but who were the catalysts of rapid development in Malaysia and China? They were the political leaders Mahathir and Deng Xiao Peng.
There is no lack of ordinary Filipinos dreaming of or imagining a “fundamentally different society that will underpin a prosperous future”. There are many pockets of excellence in the private sector that are products of visionary corporate leadership that prove that Filipinos have the imagination to attain world-class achievements. But unless political reforms are achieved that will enable a Filipino Lee Kuan Yew or a Mahathir to rise and forge a government that will work and create the needed structures and conditions, that will “drive deep systemic change”, that will unleash the Filipinos’ innate capacity for excellence, we won’t make any time soon the quantum leaps that our neighbors have made.
That’s why civil society must never tire in its political activism “to hold to account the politicians they (Filipinos) elect to office” as the first step on the road to that “fundamentally different society”.
That’s why civil society must never tire in confronting cheating, lying, and stealing in government, instead of just turning its head the other way and “moving on”. Otherwise, nothing will change. We will just be moving on to more of the same. But we are not getting any help from the Bencards, the Regos, and the Austeros.
You have the ideas of what ails the Filipino society, that a lot of other people already share.
Now, if only you can take a second look at how you market your ideas. Perhaps, you may want to take some lessons from the Cat.
Benigno,
Congatulations. It was actually a nice that you were able to put all your ideas in a book. How I wish I have the time to read it now so I can give some reaction. But just the same Im getting a copy.
Another enteresting person that I believe should write a book too is HVRDS….
Or maybe shaman should write a book too , even just to refute all your ideas and present another point view. would’nt that be enteresting?
So lumabas ang tunay na pakay ni benign0. gusto lang pala magbenta ng libro. bwahahahaha. ano yan walang gustong bumili kaya dito sa blog ni mlq3 mo gustong iadvertise.
may endorsement pa ni mlq3, thanks a lot for the warning. meron ka ba diyan? benign0, you’re a “big stinker!” bwahahaha.
rego, ano kayo ni bencard, mga pala ni benign0? pare-pareho talaga kayong mga tagahanga ni gloria, mga tuta.
“But we are not getting any help from the Bencards, the Regos, and the Austeros.”
———————————————————
Oh please shaman, you have no idea what we are doing outside these blogs just to be help in our own small way. Rather than asking help from us, how about presenting your own small undertaking that you believe can be help. Just to remind you, you dont have teh monopoly of a civil society involvement. I hope you are not just a non performing member of any of these civil society groups.
I dont know if you are aware, that I m very much involve in a college scholarship project for 7 years now. Which is the best that I can do in my sitiuation. But if you expect me to join any civil society groups to over throw a government. That will never happen. I believe much in educuation as one of at least alleviating poverty. so I believe educating poor but deserving youths is one to help.
I dont know too if you are aware Bong Austero is very much involve in helping HIV victims and prevention. He is I believ is holding a top position in Remdios AIDS Foundation.
I dont know about Bencard, but a nice and decent person as he is, Im sure he also doing his share.
Ikaw shaman can you tell us what have been doing to help? Aber nga?
Im waiting shaman!
realist, im very sorry pero dont expect na patulan kita sa yong kababawan…you better look for other people that will stoop down so low to your level. alrighty???
I agree with S of M.
I believe we should concentrate first with improving the efficiency of our law enforcement, justice and electoral system. I am also dreaming of a society wherein we are all free and can do our best and being kept honest by efficient enforcement of laws and justice system. The same is true with choosing our leaders and the path we should push through. Walang mangyayari kung magkakampi-kampihan at magtatakipan lang tayo.
kung kamong mga lalaki oragon, pano naman akong babaye, oragan?
wow, rego must be special. malalim ka ba? masakit mabisto, ha. magaling-galingan ka man, ang bottom line ng parada mo e BULOK din. alam mo yan diba. garbage in garbage out. lagyan mo ng pabango ang baho mo, mabaho pa rin. hehehe.
ganitong klaseng comment style ang bagay sa inyong tatlo ni bencard at benign0. small mind pinoys, eh!
rego,
di mo ko kaya, tuts.
Rego, it’s in the context of your opposition to make the Gloria administration accountable for all its wrongdoings. I’m sure you are making a great contribution in your professional and personal life.
Again, unless there is a “hotstove” discipline at the highest levels of our political life, where wrongdoings are penalized with unrelenting consistency and immediacy, we can never realize that “fundamentally different society that will underpin a prosperous future” that benignO is talking about.
Garong bakong magayon, Cat, as in “Oragan taka!”
Shaman,
“Widely known and acknowledged” nga ba? Judging by the conduct of a number of people here it seems Pinoys haven’t even gotten past the denial stage yet. It seems many still can’t handle the truth.
Regarding what you said about the achievement of Mahathir, Lee, and Deng, yes they are “political leaders” but if you look closely at what underpins the achievement, you will see that Lee and Deng are both leaders of largely ethnic Chinese communities, and Malaysia’s economy is propped up primarily by ethnic Chinese business. In fact his issue was mainly with how to bring the majority ethnic Malay “bhumiputras” up to speed so that they could be on an equal footing with the ethnic Chinese minority of his country). Refer to his lament of the continued lag of ethnic Malay performance despite his efforts:
http://www.geocities.com/benign0/agr-disagr/17-1-newmalay.html
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Excerpt:
“The answer lies in the culture of the Malays. They are laid-back and prone to take the easy way out. And the easy way out is to sell off whatever they get and ask for more. This is their culture. Working hard, taking risks and being patient is not a part of their culture. It should be remembered that in the past the Malays were not prepared to take up the jobs created by the colonial powers in their effort to exploit the country.
Because the Malays were not prepared to work in rubber estates and the mines, the Indians and Chinese were brought in. At one time, the migrants outnumbered the Malays. Had they continued to outnumber the Malays, independent Malaya would be like independent Singapore.”
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So it may be some comfort to you that whilst the problem of Pinoys in general are not unique, they are issues nonetheless. And the reality is that we will never prosper as a society unless we face these issues squarely.
Regarding the Ca t, I owe her much of the knowledge I gained on the true extent of the underbelly of the Pinoy psyche. This is a whole different story which is immortalised in this article:
http://www.apmforum.com/columns/orientseas47.htm
Cheer-yo! 😉
“has there ever been a mass protest against a local clerk from the Registry of deeds or against a municipal government office for incompetent services?” – ptt, none. but there has been a very hot outburst of emotion (courtesy of yours truly) and an equally motivated public servant (SSS) suddenly “enlightened” as to what doing her job really means. what most of us lack is enough spine to fight for our rights. pinoys, accustomed to centuries of colonial rule, have been bred to be servile, even when rudeness and people obviously undeserving of respect slap them smack on their faces. i think we should kill politeness in cases where it clearly does not benefit us. tang ina, paghintayin ka ba naman ng isang oras, magsa sabi ka pa ba ng “please” sa kanya? swerte lang sya kung mura lang abutin nya sakin eh. oh sya ineng, ipalaganap ang ebanghelyo ni Avdc8. Murahin at bastusin ang mga di kagalang-galang sa gobyerno. Amen.
benigO,
Widely known and acknowledged are the ills of Philippine society (what society does not have problems?), but what is unacceptable is your view that makes Filipinos a congenitally inferior race because of these problems.
So, why is it that despite the ethnic Chinese control of business in Malaysia before Mahathir, the economy languished? The answer was found in astute political leadership. Chinese business control, per se, did not bring about rapid economic development.
If you will look closely at the Philippine economy, the ethnic Chinese domination is almost complete. They are not called “taipans” for nothing. But, then again, why isn’t the economy shooting through the roof? Look at the political leadership and you’ll understand why.
All those issues confronting us won’t be tackled squarely unless we first win the battle for wide-ranging reforms in our political life.
Have I known that Benigno is going to paste that ugly flow chart of him, I should have saved my rebutall on that issue five years ago.
I just remembered that it was the time I realized that he knows nothing about cause and effect and he has to be lectured in flow charting and other chartmaking.
Regarding the forum that he always links in this forum, I have never been ashamed of what I did to that expat who thought that just because his article about Cebu prostitutes got a lot of hits, he was already a popular writer. He did not realize that his business articles were never popularly read. Essays and articles with keywords that insinuate sex and women paid by the hour for pleasure will always attract traffic. Some celebrity blogs are in top list because of their sexy photos of the celebrities.
Why don’t you link also the museum of hoaxes where my name would be forever etched?
shaman, i don’t think we are lacking in “hotstove” treatment of our leaders at the highest levels. most, if not all, of our presidents had faced the harsh judgment of public opinion (both just and unjust)and made to account for actual and perceived wrongdoings not only by him/herself but by people around him/her. some, like quezon, roxas, and magsaysay died in office under tragic circumstances and were spared the penetrating scrutiny of a judgmental public. some were definitely deserving of their fate, and some others are still awaiting the verdict of history. i reserve my judgment on pgma, and hope she will continue doing well till 2010 for the good of all of us.
btw, bicolano man nang gad ako (camarines sur). ca’t,
ma -urag ka!
peace to all bloggers!!!Be it strong views or opposing opinions…
Be it brilliant or outlandish schemes…
Be it truth seekers or just the plain curious
All these and more are welcome in my online office.
More than just a venue for finding out more about my public and personal life or the latest news on the campaign trail, consider this as a free zone for exchanges of ideas and insights. I appreciate hearing anything and everything from you.
Huwag kayong pumayag na manood,pumalakpak, ngumiti at kumaway sa isang gilid lamang. Sana’y makilahok kayo sa paghubog ng ating kasaysayan.
Sincerely,
say cheese
“”The problem with the Americans is that they are overpaid, oversexed, and over here.”â€Â
Miriam Defensor Santiago quote
“Have I known that Benigno is going to paste that ugly flow chart of him, I should have saved my rebutall on that issue five years ago.”
Oh are talking about your famous tililing rampages of those days?
And I don’t think I have a flow chart of me, much less an ugly one (or is that just your appalling grammar at work again?). What I do have is a flowchart illustrating the solution framework that may underpin a prosperous future for Pinoy society. 😉