This was supposed to be my column for today.
Barangay Bansot’s Silent Majority
KAPITAN Calabasa was late, and so, he missed most of the fun. But he got to hear Madam’s thank you remarks.
“Thank you, Eminensh, Your Exshelenshiesh. Thank you fathersh and shishtersh. Here are your love offeringsh, let ush continue to do the Good Lordsh, I mean, my hushband’s, my childrensh, and my, work. We are the Holy Family. God put ush here.
“Thank you, congreshmen. Thank you, governorsh. Thank you, mayorsh. Thank you, kagawadsh. Here ish your fork barrel flush an attendanshe bonush, and yesh, your frojektsh are shafe.
“Thank you, columnishtsh, for your dedicashion to our truth: don’t worry, your hushband will remain in charge of our penshionsh, and you, your board sheat in our bank ish shafe. Oh, and ash for you, shorry, no more readersh shince you moved to our crony fafer but I appreshiate your effortsh anyway, but shtof throwing water in feofle’s fashes, ha? To all of you othersh, fretending to be objective, your veshted intereshts are one with mine!
“Thank you clashmatesh, I don’t regret giving you jobsh in my adminishtrashion.
“Thank you generalsh, thank you bushineshmen, we will all froshfer together. I shay to all of you… We will not be dishtracted by the folitical noishe!”
When everyone was through falling to the floor to demonstrate awe and delight, the hard-working Madam tackled other business.
“And now, we need to work on our meshaging. Shecretary Fabili?”
“Dukutin ang pang matrikula, ituloy ang aming ligaya!”
“I don’t like. Too honesht. Shecretary Calburo?”
“Sa laki ng matrikula, turo ninyo pamumulitika!”
“Good. Plashter along the shcoolsh that hate me. Shec. Madaya, you can charge it to the nutrishion frogram. Nexsht?”
“Itrabaho natin ang panggugulo!”
“No. Shec. Hormiga?”
“Trabaho hindi gulo!”
“Good (give my regardsh to Mala Bihon). Theshe will be the shlogansh of Kashabwit sha Kalokohan. Charge their adsh to the Dishinformashion Agenshy. Nexsht?”
“Patabain natin ang mga pulitiko!”
“Hay nacu. Shec. Nalito? Imfrove, pleashe?”
“Pagkain hindi politika!”
“Clever. Slogansh for Kongresho ng Mambububulong Filipino. Charge the adsh to Metro Gago. Nexsht?”
“Ikuryente ang media, lokohin natin para sa presidente!”
“Too blunt. Shec. Bungi?”
“Ibaba ang kuryente, hindi ang presidente!”
“Good. Slogansh for Fartylisht Kakuntshaba. Charge to Frovidentshal Bashtushang Fambanshang Liaishon Offishe. Nexsht. Our latesht innovashionsh in fromoting the Rule of Lawleshnesh? Shec. Shiraulo?”
“Madam, since we are fighting the Truth, we decided that even if we have to sacrifice Executive Ordure 464 and Mambobola Circular 108, we simply issue new rules accomplishing the same thing.”
“Ish Monkey Gotme drafting them?”
“Yes Madam!”
“Your Eminenshe? Queshtion?”
“Aren’t we insulting the intelligence of our flock in Barangay Bansot?”
“Wait, my shon will anshwer that.”
“You ha. Wait ha. We’re not bastos, ha. Shut up ha? I don’t care what you say, ha? You’re giving daddypoo high blood pressure, ha. Just obey-obey us! We give you na nga eh why are you so demanding pa, ha?”
“But the desert, our sea, the Israelites…”
“Ah. Desshert? Meaty Forflavor will get for you, Eminenshe. Chocolate or vanilla? Anyway. Yesh, Mr. Juramentado?”
“Santa Palanggana! Madam, there are destabilizers from… from… all your alma maters! In Putakti City! Evil, awful… what do you call them, oh, students!”
“We are shafe here in Campo Carne. Yesh, Mareng Meanie? Thank you, by the way, for shuforting me, but (he-he) get real. My darling hushband ish staying.”
“Oh. But. Madam, the young people, their requests?”
” I hereby decree, a No Hover Zshone in Futakti Shity. Becaushe if you don’t shee them, they don’t exshisht. Shimfle! Yesh, Father Imbyernash?”
“But… reform… strengthening… institutions? Help?”
“Tell them to take it uf with my shonsh. They are the youth, too. They are the pillarsh of the inshtitushionsh we’re building.”
“Mommy, only if they’re pretty, ha? I don’t like talking to the pangit-pangit, ha? Or the brainy ones, ha? They can make a date with me in my restaurant, plenty-plenty food there.”
“OK you heard him. Go away. Yesh, Mishish Faidroshash?”
“I bloody support you, eh wot!”
“Cheaf, you shound like your daughter. But I already shaid, thank you columnishtsh.”
“But Madam…”
“Yesh, Shfeaker Jar-Jar?”
“Waza boutda peepol? They issa hates youse!”
“Sho? We have the Shilent Majority shuforting ush! The besht! They don’t need to be bribed, they don’t vote, becaushe they don’t exisht! Ferfect! More for all of ush! Anymore queshtionsh? None? Dishmished!”
***
I see the wisdom of Jun Lozada’s view that the call must be elevated from mere “resignation.”
He said that GMA, anyway, will not resign.
My own view goes beyond that. Anti-Gloria forces always ask that the military join them in calling for Arroyo’s resignaton.
What if the military is really waiting for her resignation, too?
Kung baga, nag-aantayan lang. Sa wala.
Madonna,
I don’t know how to make blog, this is what my son taught me to make, hehehe…
I observe that if there is one thing this country is heading to, it is gearing towards a possible civil war.
The signs are there:
1. Massive corruption.
2. Great distrust for the government.
3. Use of force against the people by military and police to those who are airing their grievances.
4. Seeming helplessness of the Justice system and the church.
5. Continuous decline of education and social services.
6. Harassment against farmers and peasants by landlords.
7. Continuous brain drain from the number of intelligent people leaving the country.
8. High number of murders in the name of the government done against activists and journalists.
9. Rising prices.
10. High unemployment and poverty rate.
magdiwang, because it’s for the whole to sort it out. and for the leaders to play their different roles. recently someone with long experience in politics reminded me a leader can play three roles:
1. advocate
2. administrator
3. arbitrator
the truly great leaders are those who can fulfill all three roles equally well. some leaders can only be one of the three. others of course, can’t be any of the three at all.
frombelow,
Personally, I don’t want the military to get involved if we can help it. If they will be, its not a show of strength on their part but admission our weakness…
Floyd,
Ikaw lang yata nakakita niyan. Some would like us to rejoice because of high GDP growth = 7.0+ % or something? Bottomline, I can’t make the street children eat GDP right?
mlq3, the maximum is the sticking point, because as far as i can see, most people will only go as far as calling for resignation (that’s still a legitimate activity). pushing for ouster has an unclear ending. beyond that, only the people with political agenda stand to gain. the ordinary people lose. that’s what is unacceptable.
mindanaoan,
You of little faith. We have MLQ3 and company to make sure of that. We support the move with open eyes and ears…
MLQ3, well hopefully we can get someone elected with those attributes.
If I may pick your mind. When can the truly reform minded citizens achieve some sort of strength to push their own agenda. Will they lose their focus once again after GMA?
Kung hindi magreresign si Gloria and she finishes her term? Who will succeed her in 2010?
mlq3 –
it’s good that piece didn’t get printed in your column. people might read name-calling at best, arrogance at worst. may not get the intended effect.
mlq3,
I believe I met someone who has those qualities already. Unfortunately, if we have no electoral reforms, people like him won’t have a chance.
I would like to see a president who is really of plebian origins and succeeded in rising up the societal ladder without compromising integrity. If he runs, I’ll vote for him…
mindanaoan, indeed, if it’s the sticking point, it’s essential for people to push back and resist ouster calls, clarifying along the way what’s at stake. this is what is very heartening about how young people have entered the fray. of course it will leave other people sore. again my personal view though is that the more the administration resists all the many potential ways to the defuse the situation, it will drive people to hardening their positions. this is something entirely in the hands of the president.
think back to where we might be if she had created an honest to goodness truth commission, or submitted to an impeachment where evidence came first and then she could use her power of numbers later, or if she’d revamped her cabinet after the may 2007 polls, or fired people implicated in zte, or… or….
“Personally, I don’t want the military to get involved if we can help it.” – ramrod
I don’t know and I could be wrong but I think the military is now polarized, many of them have taken sides already. A soldier that has been trained and molded to love and protect our country with their very lives cannot be neutral in times like these. They are just waiting for a clear signal and answers to some pertinent political questions.
“The problem with reform is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to reform from without.”
magdiwang i think a reform constituency is being formed, which is composed both of those who decided to oppose the president and those who feel its too risky to exchange her for the vp now. if things calm down between now and 2010, it can be a formidable force in 2010. if things get radicalized even more, it will still be a formidable force.
which is not to say it will win in 2010 but it will gain valuable experience and possibly really start shaking up the landscape in the 2013 mid terms and in 2016.
mlq3,
Good thing that wasn’t printed, its way out of your character. Leave the namecalling to us, hehehe. You might be Editor-in-chief someday… 🙂
ace,
I think so too, but I’m hoping it won’t come to that, but if it does we’ll do what we always do, survive and build…
ramrod: Thing is I think ramrod the people are tired of People Power because they thirst for blood… Yes blood of those who bombed glorietta and killed innocent people, blood from jocjoc bolante, and blood from the activists and priests wo were murdered… I pray that I’m wrong… and talk about growth… yes the growth of the poor… =(
istambay_sakalye,
“i’ll be in makati celebrating then, way before 2010! i’ll even send you pics!”
promise ha? post them in a web site, then just post the link here so i can access them! 😀
frombelow,
“Kung baga sa finals, tayo tayo din magkkita.”
sorry my friend, ako lang ang makakapasok sa finals 😀
(congrats Realtors! sorry James! go Celtics! Kobe sucks!)
Calling all local execs:
Davao City’s Mayor, Rodrigo Duterte vows loyalty to the people, not Arroyo.
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83081/Duterte-vows-loyalty-to-the-people-not-Arroyo
mlq3, that’s why i like this blog. amid the frenzy, variant and even contrary opinions are still entertained.
the situation is also in our hands, though. we move because we want to get somewhere. check the blinding rage, or we might fall in a ditch.
2010! concentrate on 2010. that’s correct.
ramrod,
****stands in attention****
sir yes sir! heil ramrod!
request permission to rebut your wordy reply sir!
anyway, even if not given, here’s my rebuttal (appearing after quotes from your post):
good heavens! you have a friendster account! 8-0
(paano ba maging member?)
leveling the playing field is always part of the advocacy. yet a true entrepreneur never waits for a level playing field to start, and flourish.
it is dead wrong to wait for a level playing field before any effort to create jobs is started.
benignO would always cite that the Chinese Pinoys never had it going for them, yet how come they are business owners now.
again, it is dead wrong to wait for the vaporizing of ‘corrupt leaders’, for the institution of reforms, before starting job creation efforts
oh really? how sure are you that it will only benefit a few? unless you mean it will only benefit those who are prepared and are open enough to admit that opportunities abound here
you can start congratulating the members of the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP) and the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) – some of the unsung heroes of the Philippine economy
whoever said that i have to do it alone?
yes, a lot more work has to be done, but you cannot deny the benefit enjoyed by someone who was previously unemployed.
because a lot more work has to be done that we don’t have time to senseless endeavors such as ‘patalsikin na now na’, rallies, people power, senate ‘investigations’ etc.
one thing is sure – no job can be created by ‘patalsikin na now na’, by rallies, by people power etc.
asus! thats a dead wrong conclusion. the Chinese Pinoys have shown that they can flourish without waiting for the level playing field
madonna,
I met Duterte in one of the hotels in Davao once, he seems to be a decent person though a bit machiavellian in some respects. But as businessmen, we maintain a respectable distance…
ramrod,
“8-0”
(di ko alam gawin yung emoticon na surprised)
anthony scalia,
I never said business did not flourish. If you read my previous comments, I said business will go on INSPITE of government.
When we say leveling the playing field, we mean honest and decent functioning customs, licensing departments, bir, etc. When businessmen don’t have to maintain two books – just to compete (cost wise).
Do this, and business will flourish. Right now the impression is “corruption in government is tolerable at a certain extent, but not at these levels.” this came from a prominent chinese businessman…
mindanaoan,
this blog is a million light years a lot better than the mob blog of ellen tordesillas
and mlq3 personifies that famous statement of Voltaire – “i don’t agree with what you said, but i’ll fight for your right to say it!”
anthony scalia,
Pasensya ka na, I don’t know how to make a decent blog site (no time din). My son taught me how to make one, hehehe and don’t ask me how because I still don’t know.
anthony scalia,
Look around you. Our businessmen are buying low grade material because the market can’t absorb high grade, and if they do buy high grade, some have to resort to a bit of manipulation depending on contacts in the government. You are aware of this aren’t you? And then how can these local industries compete regionally or globally if they don’t have access to these material?
I sincerely hope that you are one of those who actually is involved in the business sector so you will see the situation as it really is, not just reports from banco sentral or NSCB (as I did before), or newspapers or the government owned tv channels.
Ramrod, i also don’t think the military should be involved in the civilian leadership change. Their role should be limited to cleaning their own ranks of the corrupt officers (e.g. Esperon et. al). In that field, i think we should give them a free hand on how they think they should go about doing it.
cvj,
My thoughts exactly, but it may not be shared by all. Anyway, I’m not in the service so I don’t matter probably. What I’d really hate to see is when this situation escalates and push comes to shove, I can’t imagine buddies, classmates, brothers killing each other just because they are situated on opposite ends…its a waste really…
Making things simple for one particular sticking point, some people want the blocks for a proper investigation installed or maintained while there are those who wants the blocks for a proper investigation removed.
There are those who wish to stick to the existing “system” so that they can control the flow of justice and redress of grievance and the others who are fed up of the hypocrisy of corrupt government officials and pro-corruption groups wishes to separate from the binding corrupt system this administration created.
One of the lesson of Manolo’s story is simple. If there is abuse of authority and corruption in high positions, this administration uses E.O. 464, MC 108, Executive Privilege and create other blocks to properly investigate what really happened. Therefore, the administration lack credibility and transparency, that is why it is in this sh*t now.
That is even currently lamely reflected on the flight ban of helicopters over rally events. Whatever is not seen, its not there… again a lesson in the story of Manolo.
Some keep on harping about 2010, but we cannot be deceived to concentrate on that year while currently the administration is making moves to extend their term through manipulation of Charter Change. Nor are we blind to the consistent corrupt practices being done, up to the point of literally selling out our country.
All the pro-corruption individuals are throwing smokescreens but they never really answered the 47 major known abuses of this government and this list is currently rising.
But no matter, the whirlwind grows stronger and those who abused the people shall reap it in full.
ramrod,
you never said that idea in your reply to me, unless you were referring to your other posts in other threads
if businessmen are honest, they will pay the correct assessments, taxes, won’t maintain 2 books. this is already outside the sphere of government. if there are corrupt people, its because there are corruptors.
and leveling the playing field means opening up to competition. the local airline industry is not yet a level playing field, because its regulatory body is under ‘regulatory capture’
ramrod,
it requires more creativity on the part of the local industries.
i am. thats why i can say with full conviction that opportunities abound here, that one need not be an OFW or migrate to a first world country
anthony scalia,
So your’re now putting the blame on businessmen who are just trying to survive and still keep people employed at the same time. The business environment can be influenced by government, we have the institutions in place but they are not functioning as they should.
You blame the coruptors? Ever experienced being hailed by the MMDA? Even if you insist on getting a ticket because its your fault anyway, they will insist that you arrange with 100-200Php…What can ordinary people or businessmen do but pay up just to avoid hassles? The burden of responsibility lies heavily on the leaders’ shoulders not on the constituents…
Here’s a bit of fallacious logic just for laughs:
America granted independence to “the Philippines in 1946
40 years later Marcos was ousted by “people power” in 1986.
15 years later, Erap was ousted in 2001.
7 years later a pathetic attempt at “people power” was mounted in 2008 against Arroyo.
The trend seems to be a general halving of the period in between “revolutions”
So following this trend, the next “revolution” is due three years hence in 2011.
That’s good timing. We elect a new president in 2010 AND THEN oust him or her in a 2011 ‘people power’.
– 😀
“Kaya join na lang kayo;
Let’s all have a good time…”
Above are lyrics from that famous song by Pinoy rocker Sampaguita that was a hit in the 70’s.
Maybe this would be the rallying cry for the next street “revolution” in 2011. 😀
Madonna,
really milady? i sound exasperated? how? paano?
maybe ‘exasperated’ applies to those expecting EDSA 4 out of last Friday’s interfaith rally (spoiled by the appearance of Erap, Lozada and Tita Cory!)
whats wrong with ‘banging’ into each other’s beliefs? in the process of ‘exchanging views’ a ‘banging’ into a belief may be inevitable (though not deliberate)
God bless you milady! Sadly, the mob bloggers at ellentordesillasdotcom spoil the serenity of this blog!
anthony scalia,
Its good to hear that you are in the local business community and in the “bullish” part of of town. I’m glad to hear from people like you, ever optimistic but “grounded.” I make it a point to be with such people as mush as possible.
I agree it takes some imagination, but I don’t blame you guys whatever course you take. I am in the supplier side, and I must say that the people in the local industry who are slugging it out are to be respected, even honored. I am supposed to be neutral to all these issues (as my boss requires) but I am first and foremost, a Filipino.
There are some cases where we lost our dominant foothold on some industries because of unchecked corruption strangling raw material sourcing etc. But I leave it to you to find out as you go on with your business…
anthony scalia,
Sadly, you are so used to your “comfort zone” you are easily irritated by mob bloggers. Mob/mafia or the like goes where the money is, if you follow the money trail you’ll see it leads to Malacanang and not to mob bloggers. So you my try to visit Luli’s blog and stay there, you will be welcomed with open arms… 🙂
another good one… i couldn’t stop laughing…
benign0, check your math, one half of 40 is 20 (not 15).
benigno,
Yes. Join in, try to be Filipino for a change.
“benign0, check your math, one half of 40 is 20 (not 15).” — cvj
cvj, so sue me. 😀
ramrod,
only the corrupt businessmen
agreed. but they should not be an obstacle
ehem, we are talking about doing business, not getting apprehended by the MMDA.
whoever pays the MMDA a bribe is a ‘corruptor’.
you can contest the call of the MMDA. yun nga lang, you have to go through the hassle if going through the adjudication process, just to avoid paying a P300 fine. pero at least, you lived by a principle, and in a modest way, fought corruption by refusing to pay off an MMDA enforcer
thats the problem. everything or primarily on the government. a recipe for failure. worst, it becomes a lame excuse for not taking the initiative
the Chinese Pinoys have shown that ‘leaders’ are a negligible factor in growing and maintaining a profitable business
So how do you explain the failure of the Chinese Pinoys (as well as non-Tsinoy businessmen) to move into manufacturing and industry just like their South Korean (or Taiwanese) counterparts. Why are they still into trading, real-estate and/or rent-seeking activities?
ramrod,
That’s a nice idea 🙂
Manolo, would you consider including the Self-proclaimed Son of God Quiboloy in your Barangay Bansot Empire milieu?
“the Chinese Pinoys have shown that ‘leaders’ are a negligible factor in growing and maintaining a profitable business” – anthony scalia
True. But we need to look beyond the current scenario, believe me, it could be a lot better is we can address this issue of “accountability” with our leaders…Why not put it to the test? Replace our corrupt leaders with decent and honest ones, see where we will be in the regional even global arena?
kabayan,
I’m really wondering why no one in the church sector is rebuking Quiboloy for blasphemy? It was documented on video that he said god spoke to him, I don’t remember even our Pope saying such a thing?