As expected, sifting through the responses to my challenge to identify the possible points I intended to make in my last blog post was a no-brainer. Only a few stood out as noteworthy, and as usual, I had to rely on, well, primarily myself for an injection of true insight into the matter.
Some of what I articulate below are the results of a synthesis across several of the more insightful comments I received, while those I quote verbatim are, of course, brilliant in themselves (and therefore better left unparaphrased).
So here they are:
Point 1: Every society has their unique sets of cultural quirks.
What sets the men apart from the boys, however, is how the hand that is dealt them is played. Just three or four letters differentiate the words “resource-rich” and “resourceful”. The Philippines is a resource-rich country yet it is amongst the worlds most chronically impoverished. Compare that to resource-poor Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, and it becomes obvious which between our lot and those societies is the more resourceful.
Ben Kritz in his usual excellent form put it quite well in this comment:
Apologists for Filipino society seem to have forgotten that cute quirks only can be regarded as such when they are not the ordinary pattern of existence and development. When everybody does them, they stop being cute or quirky or worth defending, and become crippling social flaws.
Indeed, Australians (and other societies with extensive trackrecords of achievement) embrace their cultural quirks while we Pinoys (who utterly lack the least bit of commendable collective achievement) lament ours.
Point 2: Prosperous societies build upon while degenerate societies are stuck with repairing.
Do it right the first time, and you spend a lifetime building. Take a pwede-na-yan approach and you spend a lifetime repairing.
As evident in the sorry way Filipinos “coped” with the multiple disasters that hit us, we cannot even catch up with the repair work! Yet we continue congratulating ourselves for the “bayanihan” spirit we imagine ourselves to possess. Worse, we so pat ourselves on the back for a misguided notion of what it means to be “doing something” even as we regard the poignant sight of our society merely stumbling from one crisis to another.
Efficiency and sustainability in what one “does” is a point often lost in that common rejoinder “What have you done?”.
Let’s step back to an example more real to us here who inhabit this corner of the blogosphere.
A person who lectures a class of, say, 20 or leads a picket line of, say, a hundred-odd protestors is seen to be “doing something”.
On the other hand, you write one insightful blog, one insightful essay, or one insightful article, or even one insightful book, publish it once and then get even just 40 to 50 readers per day, you get a recurring result that in the long run delivers more far reaching results.
Compare the latter with the one-action one-result effect of the earlier. The ratio of the effect per iota of energy expended by a lecturer, a leader of protest rallies, or even an activist that serves soup in a soup kitchen is far smaller than the effect per iota of energy expended by, say, a widely-read writer whose work remains potent and continues to influence actions long after the effort to produce it has been expended.
Robert Kiosaki described the same principle using a different example in his book The Cash Flow Quadrant, where he cited the difference between two people who make a living delivering water to a village from a distant source. One does it by going back and forth with buckets, while the other builds a fixed pipeline from the source to his distribution point.
The earlier is dependent on a relatively greater continuous effort to keep his business going while the other one built a system that generates recurring results for him with far less continuous effort over the long term.
This is not to say delivering water using buckets is not an important skill. Indeed, when disaster strikes, in the case of this example, say, an “act of God” destroying our hypothetical water supply pipeline, then those who make a business of delivering water using buckets steps up to fill an immediate temporary need. But then this solution becomes a problem when it is regarded as a permanent measure. As that all-too-familar argument goes, the village can make do with it. Pwede na yan.
That goes for just about any sort of disaster that hits a community. As we shall see in the third and last point, the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) is a disaster in its own right and Australia (thus far as we know) is responding to it relatively well.
Point 3: The GFC is a disaster that Australia responded to well, and the way it did was not about a simple matter of luck.
For now Australia is the first advanced economy in the world to gear up for expansion even while the rest continue to desperately claw their way out of the rut. It is an example of true resilience:
Here in Australia, the [financial] storm also battered, but it destroyed less. While a great part of the western world went into recession, the country seems to have survived, “riding the tsunami” as one headline put it. Although Australia’s unemployment rate worsened from 4.2 in 2008 to 5.8 (September 2009 figures), its financial indicators remain good. Economists are not attributing it to dumb luck though. It is a combination of everything from the excellent policies of the previous and current administrations (stricter banking regulations and timely interest cuts) to initiatives to stimulate every individual’s appetite for consumption. After all, isn’t the latter what Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s stimulus package is for? Some economists are saying that the financial crisis is over for Australia. Indeed, this is a lucky country – in this round.
Measure after measure put in place that contributed to the resiliency of the Australian economy were implemented over the terms of several governments. The poor man’s idea of resilience is about “coping” when disaster strikes. True resilience is engineered into a system to anticipate disaster so that it is able to side-step, bend with, and absorb its shock.
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The even bigger point
It is unfortunate that these disasters happened at a time in the democratic cycle when politicians are less likely to have the good of the greater public in mind. During the lead up to the 2010 elections, there will be less focus on governance and administration and more focus on politics.
As such, we as voters and, more importantly, the set of people in the best position to influence thought have a responsibility to induce the right behaviours and the right thinking in our society. It becomes more imperative now that we get a big boot up the arses of our politicians.
Voters are ENTITLED to be given a coherent and CONSOLIDATED statement of platform by their politicians, instead of us having to piece it together ourselvesfrom the various horsemanure exchange sessions they sit through to gain media exposure. Voters should DEMAND it and expect to GET IT.
It is only when customers are DEMANDING that service providers SHAPE UP.
That same principle applies to politicians. If their constituents engage them like morons, guess what: they behave like morons too. And I don’t think anybody here will disagree with the REALITY that Pinoy politicians have acted like morons over the last two to three decades.
In a democracy, especially, the quality of politicians merely reflect the quality of their constituents’ engagement.
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I’m with you benigs on your call for parties to present their respective platforms of government.
However, I would encourage all the major parties to first conduct consultative meetings with the public (i.e. all stakeholder groups) before formulating their platforms. Otherwise, these platforms would just be another product of their ivory towers, or worse a collection of meaningless motherhood statements.
apanfilo,
Good point, indeed. Dialogue, not preaching with some kind of God endowed greater wisdom.
Joe
bO and Australia can thank China’s insatiable demand for all those resources that it ships and also the need for China to hedge their dollars with commodities still in the ground in Australia.
It takes real talent to ship out resources you know. While the U.S. debases its dollars commodities naturally look very good thanks to those commies over at the PRC.
Yup this country should also follow Australia and simply cut down whatever forests we have left and every single ton of resources to get rich.
Name a well know finished product apart from Nicole Kidman that Australia supplies to the world.
Somehow this wacko b0 still does not get it. How does culture cause societal mal-development? Economic development gives rise to cultural development and not the other way around.
Australia and Canada are two of the most well known resource based economies on the planet. Like the present day Arabs they live off natural resources.
We love our politicians as we need them to survive. The ruling classes (merchant/banker) here have regulatory capture of the state. That is how we get rich here..
Pinoys are generally happy with the system. He does not have time for anything else than breakfast lunch and dinner first. Disposable income is a luxury.
I wonder if anyone understands that social format. The peasants/peons do not want ideas they need food and access to incomes/livelihood to provide it.
A lot of people understand that social format. You simply articulate the utak ng tilapia resignation to it. A few people want something better than to wait for somebody to throw some crumbs in the water, but if that works for you, hey, best of luck to you.
BTW, you can thank Australia for most of your processed dairy products and beef. Might as well add wine to that list, too. As far as I know, those are all finished products. Check your grocery store before you make a smarmy assertion about what a particular country does or does not produce.
@J-AG
You make it sound like everything is A-ok in the Philippines. Probably because the waters have receded so you have forgotten about the disaster already. That’s twelve days after Ondoy and already your memory is failing you. The system in place is not OK at all.
I wonder what your basis in saying this? Last I heard the Chinese are the one’s holding the steering wheel of the Philippine economy and they have a different culture to the Pinoys.
In Saudi Arabia, there are so many people in the poverty line. The royal families are the ones who benefit most from the income generated from oil. Australia combines American type capitalism with the humanity of European welfare. Australia has an egalitarian policy so it’s not the same as any Arab nation.
Below is from the Sydney Morning Herald:
Read it yourself: http://www.smh.com.au/business/riding-the-tsunami-20090911-fkqx.html
Sweet Ilda, if you had not noticed the entire group of advanced economies of the world dropped their overnite rates drastically and to combat a massive drop in the monetary velocity of credit creation. When that happens you have a dramatic collapse in demand. So to combat that you stimulater demand by lending money for free.
China then also unleashed $1.5 trillion in new loans to stimulate demand and added another $500 billion in government spending for infrastructure projects.
That is the formula in How to Prevent Another Great Depression 101 for countries that have a massive financial blowout.
Where have you been the past 12 months.
In case you have not heard yet there are only four pillars of the world economy. The U.S., Japan, E.U. and China.
Australia, Canada, Argentina are basically resource based economies. Commodity prices drive their economies. Australia became the first country to reverse monetary loosening simply because they will be the first get to get hammered by inflationary pressures because of the fall in the value of the U.S. dollar which is putting pressures on prices of commodities.
“So China contributed to national resilience…..”
Ilda do you understand what it is you know?
J_AG
Sorry to have kept you waiting. Now, what were we talking about?
Ahhh…you were saying something about how Australia just happens to be sitting on great pile of commodities which helped the country avert a recession. So basically your saying, anyone can run the country even Pinoys and it will remain prosperous? What a laugh!!!
You’re basically saying the past and the previous governments had nothing to do with good international trade relations? You’re saying that Australia’s excellent economic policies and banking regulations had nothing to do with their resilience during the crisis? And you’re basically saying that their culture and foreward thinking had nothing to do with it as well?!
How can I not know about the four pillars of the world economy when in fact the crisis started from the US? And what is your point in mentioning them? Do you just want to say that Australia is insignificant because Benign0 is from there? Can we change the subject back to the Philippines and its problems please? I believe the only reason b0 mentioned Australia is because in the recent G20 summit, international communities are calling on adapting the Australian model due to its resilience during the crisis.
Do you want the rest of the world to follow the Philippine economic model? What is your point exactly?
I do not understand where you stand. Do you want change or since you think that it will require purging the whole society by committing genocide it’s too much work so let’s just leave it as it is? Man, you are so malabo man.
One moment you say: “Pinoys are generally happy with the system” and then the next you say : “A freak series of storms now shows us we need state mechanisms. Will we learn from it?”
Your knowledge is good but we need logic.
J_ag:
You are partially correct that culture is an expression of the underlying economic structure. However, you forgot to mention the dialectics of the equation – cultural intervention also affects the economic structure – that’s why you have revolutions – a massive outpouring of cultural behavior that redistributes and rearranges the economic relationships in a society.
If Pinoys were happy with the system – then they might as well shut the eff up, enough of the rallies, no more elections and just give Arroyo a pass to be president for life.
Bong, V
Revolutions as cultural intervention and behavior????? How is this possible. One of the most frightening aspects of any revolution is the fact that idiots believe that you can change culture overnite. A true revolution destroys a regime. It is not pleasant. The purging and cleansing will require genocide. That is why Pinoys are smarter than you think.
The poor are also smarter than you think. They know their choices are limited. So they will continue to play the game since these are the cards they are dealt.
Let Erap run for President in an open and clean election. He will most certainly win.
Do you see ferment in the streets based on the fact that GMA steals? What about Erap?
People vote their self interest. This is a long drawn out process. The Philippine state will prosper or not based on the time it will take for a critical mass to develop to change for the better. It may never happen.
Look at the Pinoys who emigrate. It will be the third generation who are more likely to be culturally distinct from their parents if they emigrate to the U.S.
This natural disaster has been an eye opener for many. Let us see if this catharsis helps us get, maintain and sustain a sense of community outside our familial interest. Right now we see government as a hindrance. That is why we avoid taxes like the plague since we believe that it simply enriches our royals.
All in all the general public see government and the state mechanism as the enemy.
So we purposely keep it weak by using the state for personal gain by simply beggaring it and bending it for vested interests.
A freak series of storms now shows us we need state mechanisms. Will we learn from it?
Look at the results of the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution and the Chinese Revolution led by Mao.
What changed the equation for China. Massive starvation.. So they introduced a market system where self interest of producers (Millions of them) were allowed to be unleashed.
They destroyed their feudal systems and poverty decreased a great deal and they allowed self government at the village level. From being a food importer they are now a food exporter.
But in relative terms the vast majority of Chinese are still poor in terms of disposable income.
J_ag:
Do not mistake the “intent” with the “implementation”.
The intent of revolution stems from the desire for change in values, attitudes, and lifestyles – which of course are expressions of the economic structure.
The other side of the dialectic is that a change in the values, attitudes, and lifestyles – from serving a feudal lord towards personal freedoms – liberte’ – provided the cultural momentum which was transformed into action – and in the end changed the economy from agrarian into industrial.
And as you describe the Filipino’s behavior – shooting yourself in the foot will make you appear smart – but its just an appearance, and it does not make you any smarter – perhaps to know that it is painful to shoot yourself in the foot :)
In a few weeks time, I am sure they will be cramming .
It is already campaign period.
I don’t if it is because of platform plez but I do hear the some of them mention platform.So siguro under study pa, or consultation in progress. o naghihintay ng kodigo.
I remember that program , where the presidentials were grilled by the lgus about the IRA,the local government code,etc. and one of them answered pag-aaralan ko pa.The others gave answers that did not satisfy the lgus. Sa totoo lang mas gusto ko yung umaamin na di nya alam pero aalamin nya kesa sa alam ko yan,ganito lang yan.
pero bilis bilisan naman nya, finish or not finish pass your paper itong platform na ito.
Let us wait for their platform, I hope I won’t eat my words when I say that the platforms will come campaign period. Only those in school are excused by typhoons.So the presidentials have no excuse.
Pag labas ng platform,
malalaman natin kung ito ay resulta ng pwede na yan attitude or not.
At kung sasabihin natin na pwede na yan,pasado sa akin to, O pasado sa akin to ang galing, O pakialam ko sa plataporma gawin mo na lang , O ano daw?
Cultural reactions to criticism:
Japan: work hard to prove it wrong; upon failing commit suicide
China: work hard to prove it wrong then go out for dim sum and tea
America: work hard to prove it wrong whilst simultaneously filing litigation
Australia: work a little to prove it wrong then toss another steak on the barbie
Iran: slam a nuke up your ass
Israel: slam three nukes up your ass
Philippines: blame someone, anyone, everyone, then go sing karaoke really really loud
Joe
There is blaming and there is blaming. Blaming becomes whining when the criticism is unexamined and indiscriminate, an earful of grating blather very much like the belting of a karaoke habitue who’s had one too many. Or some FV blogposts.
Blaming becomes a part of problem solving when it CORRECTLY and OBJECTIVELY identifies the source/s of the problem. Pinoys are good at blaming (of both kinds) but mostly can’t get their message across because there are only very few “grievance mechanisms” in place. Customer service, for instance, is still an alien concept.
apanfilo,
Yes, indeed. And the good will that so many have is cut off because, as you note,
“there are only very few ‘grievance mechanisms’ in place.”
The courts, even, are closed to the common man, so justice is available only to those with money. I had to pay P20,000 to the local police to file a charge of extortion against a guy who was trying to scam money from me. So I was scammed either way . . .
Joe
Joe,
You have to understand that we Filipinos do indeed sing karaoke, and loud too. So what if we love to sing, is that bad? If you don’t want to hear the singing, then go away, go home to your Biliran hill. Who’s complaining anyway? We do our things the way we love to, we work and proud to be able to sustain ourselves by our honest labor inspite of the harsh environment and the ineptness of our government. Who’s blaming you, or anyone, or everyone? Not us. You, the outsiders, are the whiners, benignO, Ben K, and their tsewarewarewaps the worse of the lot for perpetually blaming, complaining, bashing their people after abandoning them.
Thats right Joe. In the philippines we do things the way we love to, so quit your whining. Our drainage “systems” are clogged with trash because thats the way we do things around here. Have you ever wondered why there is no thing as an “appointment” around here? well actually we do, but it’s a between 11:00-5:00 type of thing. But hey, We do our things the way we love to. People like you will whine about the need to bribe or the need to know “somebody” just to get things done with banking, business permits and licenses. Just because you people have business plans and time cost money, We don’t care. Time may be gold to you, but it’s worthless around here and that’s the way we love to do things around here.
Isn’t singing loud karaoke at 3 am unethical to your neighbor? If you complain about the baho of trash, won’t you complain about the ingay of 3 am karaoke? It’s pathetic to defend the bad habits of the Filipino. But I guess you love ‘em, Bert.
Heheh, you guys are funny. Maybe benignO is right after all saying the Filipino are pigs living in pigsty if you guys indeed be the perfect example. You sure love digging and and gnawing at the muck and the mud, hehehehehe.
Bert:
it is okay to sing karaoke, but keep the volume to the confines of your living room and out of your neighbor’s house. That is very inconsiderate.
How would you like it if I played techno and trance music and had a rave party that will drown out your karaoke?
Sure thing bert, blame anyone except yourself – you jammed the canals with your trash and you want someone else to blame because the canals get stuck in your trash.
Ski,
Ouch . . .
Also, about that sense of humor . . . culturally, where do you figure Filipinos rank on the HBO humormeter?
Juices, Bert, lighten up a tad . . .
Joe
Joe,
This is just proof that we like it mediocre around here.
This is also proof that Filipinos are inconsistent. They say they have a sense of humour and this is part of their resilience and yet they cannot take a joke coming from an American.
I’m alright, Joe, not even being grouchy. Oh, I hate grouchiness.
But toilet humor at the expense of my people almost always get my goat, wouldn’t you also? Specially more so if my countrymen had abandoned their own country and from their adopted land acting as if they’re on top of the world, and from their shaky pulpit, started muckraking their own people.
Bert:
If Pinoys don’t want to be subject of toilet humor – then don’t do stuff which makes them the subject.
Simple as that!
BongV,
You totally missed the point, and the point is, that there are so many pleasant places and people to look at in your country, example you the diligent and resourceful dude. Why you guys love poking your noses inside the latrine is beyond me.
What’s worse, BongV, is that you love poking your noses in the Filipino’s latrine then trumpeting the smell to the world, while your noses are immune to the stench of your adopted country’s latrines.
Hey Bert,
This is what gets my goat. You travel and live in other countries and you realize how simple things can really be.
You commit a traffic violation, you get a ticket and pay your fine, no big deal. You commit a traffic violation in the Philippines, you take a stupid class somewhere, and you get your TIME taken away like you don’t need to work for a living. So what do people do? Bribe the f@@kers to get the license back. In developed countries, to get a Marriage License or permit for something, you pick up a form get in line pay the fee and you’re done. Now everybody knows how we do these things in the Philippines don’t we?
My point is, money was not the factor that made things easier in developed countries. It was just a matter of applying some COMMON SENSE. Are my people (the Filipino people) lacking in common sense? – Now that’s what gets my goat.
bert:
if the entire country wasn’t so full of latrines – there wouldn’t be much to poke about :)
Bert:
in case you didn’t notice – you can sleep on the floor of my adopted country’s latrines.
whereas in the philippines, you’ll be scared to go into the latrine even just to take a leak :)
that gets my goat.
Ski Tarub,
The word SIMPLE has no direct translation in Filipino or Tagalog. COMMON SENSE has a direct manufactured translation (sintido kumon) in Filipino but not in the other Philippine languages like Tagalog.
Ski Tarub,
Things can be really simple if ALL the people in government have common sense.
Take the case of the machine readable Philippine passport. It used to take 1 day to process the old Philippine passport now it takes 6 weeks. You know why? Because the Philippine embassies and consulates do not have the blank machine readable passports with them. All the blanks are in the Philippines because the machine that will put the information in those passports are also in the Philippines. Why not make that machine available in every continent at least is beyond me?
Supremo,
Things would be simpler if both the government and the people have a sense of ethics. A secularist sense of ethics.
@ski
in the philippines you also just pay. classes come later.
the problem is that its not convenient, as you (or your agent) need to pay for it in person.
this is an IT+political will issue.
Joe if you had to pay a cop money to do his job that would mean the law enforcement agencies of this country are in reality private mercenaries. You should try the judicial systems.
Money simply does not talk in this country. It screams!!!!!!
Is that a joke or not? Then you have serious discussions about platforms?
Is everyone kidding ?
Bert,
Sorry about lighting your fuse. For me, it depends on the truth of the meaning of the joke. If I am Israeli, I know that I will not send three nukes, but my country can be vengeful, I laugh. If I am American, and the joke say I am arrogant or litigous, I agree, and laugh. And personally try not to be arrogant (failing miserably at times, though). If I am Filipino, and there is a reasonable reason for the karoake, I explain it.
Cheers again.
Joe
Forget it, Joe, nothing to be sorry about, the joke was just the catalyst that trigger the fuse, no harm done. It’s me who should be sorry to you for my outburst, so I’m sorry for that, really I am.
“Now that’s what gets my goat.”
Ski Tarub,
That’s better, Ski. Impress me with correct grammar and usages if nothing else. I need that. Thanks.
“Philippines: blame someone, anyone, everyone, then go sing karaoke really really loud”
very true…. thanks for the laugh!
Laugh when the singer gets really out of tune, hahaha.
benign0,
You must have been working smart and not hard when you did that book.
@Benign0
Those who provide aid during a disaster should be commended for their actions; after all, people took time out from their same-old-same-old stuff. However, this activity I agree is not sustainable because the victims cannot continue getting dole outs forever and the volunteers have to go back to their lives.
The squatters who were displaced by the floods need to think seriously about going back to the provinces where they came from and stop relying on any private or public agency for survival. If they don’t have a province to go back to, they still need to migrate somewhere. They don’t belong in the city anymore. Life is simpler in the country side. The government needs to give them incentives for them to do this. This is where the Filipino resourcefulness should start working, if we have any.
Likewise, the government needs to find real solutions in tackling this crisis soon or else the peasants might become restless and start charging the gated communities – remember Marie Antoinette of France?
A congressman (from Albay, I think) says that GMA should insist that the outside world provide US1-billion in aid to Pinas because of the recent typhoon disasters. He says do not raise taxes on the Pinoys but to ask for foreign aid to be administered by a commission consisting of Malacanang, Makati Business and other clubs, the Catholic Church, and a few NGO’s.
GMA is officially a lame duck President. No one in his right mind would give the Philippine government $1B in aid during her last few months in office. She should probably step down now and give way to VP De Castro (of all people).
Someone wrote about the 1972 flood in Luzon and connected it to the Martial Law declaration. Will GMA do it too?
We don’t really have any shame in asking for help. This is the sad story of our country’s life. I don’t think we will ever be self-sufficient because we have this mentality of lagi na lang tayong nakasandal sa pader ni GI Joe or Uncle Sam.
@ilda
i think this is an audacious suggestion, to relocate outside the city. the problem is that where will we put them? the law stipulates that a relocation ought to be accompanied by provisions for access to jobs, food, etc.
certainly some might welcome the opportunity to go home for free. but i think that the vast majority would want to stay.
how about a more direct solution ilda? if the problem is GARBAGE, why dont we have rules that say residence ought to be contingent upon proper HH maintenance, like garbage disposal, cleaning up the environs, parking only on one side of the street, etc…
we could have community enforcement and regulations.
GabbyD
It is partly wishful thinking and opportunistic. Since the squatters have already been displaced due to the flooding, the government should act quickly and decisively in providing employment and housing for them somewhere else. The squatters did not have the right to be living where they were in the first place nor were they contributing to the taxes. Their presence diverted relief effort from victims who were residing legally in areas hit just as hard by the floods.
We could start rebuilding our agriculture in the provinces and use the cheap labour available or maybe just provide free cheap housing for the displaced citizens somewhere in the city and give food stamps in exchange for working for free to rebuild the damaged infrastructure. These are just ideas. I know some people might find it out there but we have to make use of these labour force somehow because they are just sitting idle waiting for hand-outs.
How did we let our population get this big in the first place? What was the Catholic Church thinking when they kept saying no to the reproductive health bill? They should ask the Vatican to provide funds to feed all these people. What was the government thinking anyway when they let the Church walk all over their affairs?
Of course we should also address the garbage and environmental issues. It’s actually a shame the regulations were never enforced before.
HEY MATE, we appreciate the picture of Crocodile Dundee. Nations have
their weaknessess and strenght. We Filipinos are one of the most
hardheaded and undisciplined people living on this Planet. Look at
the Squatters. They build houses on canals, esteros and floodways.
You remove and relocate them. After a few months, for sure, they will
be back. People throw garbage everywhere. The garbage end up in the
sewerage drains. It clogged the passages during heavy rains. We all
get flooded. Public officials dont implement laws, and look the other
way. Each man for himself, is our motto.
Chino,
‘Things would be simpler if both the government and the people have a sense of ethics. A secularist sense of ethics.’
There is nothing more secular than common sense ethics.
Dont preach Ethics to these Squatters and Public Officials
involved. The Squatters dont have enough money to rent for
dwellings. Or they just want free rents. The Public Officials want the votes of these Informal Settlers. So that they can remain in office. Or even seek for a higher office. It is a lousy situation for all of us! Watch for the next floods again!
Being poor is not an excuse for being unethical.
Oh yeah, I missed your point. These guys don’t know any better. Squatters and politicians make a great team, don’t they?
a stimulus package is something that the philippine govt cant do much of coz of debt problems.
Mr. J_AG,
All I see in your comments are litanies of factoids…
(1) New market systems in China were introduced triggered by mass starvation but most of them remain poor to this day;
(2) Change is slow, requires a critical mass, and in the mean time the poor (I’ll for that matter add everyone) will vote with their self interest in mind;
(3) Freak storms reveal weak “state mechanisms” and are therefore eye-openers;
(4) There is no community spirit beyond the family or clan, the disaster brought about a more collective spirit to cope with the destruction and we should all aspire to sustain it; and,
(5) Interest rates drop and money is pumped into an economy to stimulate demand in order to mitigate deflationary pressure during recessions.
ad inifinitum
…. but nothing like some kind of point — or two — emerging from all of the above no-brainers.
Are you about to make one (or two)?
Or should we all just stop holding our breath?
That only confirms J_ag’s assertion :
You, Benigno, have no clue.
You keep on whining and ranting but…
YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU KNOW.
The Philippines is a very weak institution. Rule of law does not exist. Me and American Joe had a very good discusssion , click here please Thanks to Cocoy’s effort of blogging.
Environmental and Waste Managemen Law must be given priority or as one of the required platform that we must hear from any of the candidates. We have to demand it though. Please google search , Strict liability law on Environment and Waste Management so that we can discuss it like a pro… goodnite.
In effect you are validating the impact of culture (as expressed in the attitude and perception of the state mechanism as “the enemy”) on the state (and ultimately to the underlying economic structure).
In this specific case, the culture can keep the status quo (state mechanism is “the enemy”) – or the culture can change (state mechanism is NOT “the enemy”).
Keep the status quo and get the same results, for keeps.
bO your clever cherry picking of varying contextual phrases is a sorry attempt to prop up your seemingly glorious attempts at intellectual nothingness.
Historical materialism to a greater part influences how culture is formed. (That is economic/political history to you.) We have the power to change history but first we have to understand what we know. The smartest people also know that it will be impossible to understand everything.
The rich will always remain rich because they can afford the best schooling and education and they can hire the best schooled and educated. The vast majority are schooled based on the needs of the rich. Education is another thing altogether.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/opinion/13brooks.html?_r=1
“Keely Muscatell, one of his doctoral students, and others presented a study in which they showed people from various social strata some images of menacing faces. People whose parents had low social status exhibited more activation in the amygdala (the busy little part of the brain involved in fear and emotion) than people from high-status families.”
“Reem Yahya and a team from the University of Haifa studied Arabs and Jews while showing them images of hands and feet in painful situations. The two cultures perceived pain differently. The Arabs perceived higher levels of pain over all while the Jews were more sensitive to pain suffered by members of a group other than their own.”
“Mina Cikara of Princeton and others scanned the brains of Yankee and Red Sox fans as they watched baseball highlights. Neither reacted much to an Orioles-Blue Jays game, but when they saw their own team doing well, brain regions called the ventral striatum and nucleus accumbens were activated. This is a look at how tribal dominance struggles get processed inside.”
“Jonathan B. Freeman of Tufts and others peered into the reward centers of the brain such as the caudate nucleus. They found that among Americans, that region was likely to be activated by dominant behavior, whereas among Japanese, it was more likely to be activated by subordinate behavior — the same region rewarding different patterns of behavior depending on culture.”
@ J_AG
I simply adapt my style to the person I respond to, dude.
True to form. You state no-brainers…
(1) “Historical materialism to a greater part influences how culture is formed.”
(2) ” We have the power to change history but first we have to understand what we know.”
(3) “The smartest people also know that it will be impossible to understand everything”
(4) “The rich will always remain rich because they can afford the best schooling and education and they can hire the best schooled and educated”.
(5) “The vast majority are schooled based on the needs of the rich”.
… but offer no point (and instead go off to quote stuff from your textbooks).
I have only this to add to your # 1:
The nature of our culture determines how we as a people respond to our predisposition to (and therefore humanity’s historic) materialism. The nature of our culture also determines how we apply whatever form of governance we choose to implement towards achieving our goals as a people (for that matter we aren’t even clear among ourselves what those goals are and exhibit no inclination towards stepping up to defining those goals).
As to # 5, that’s the way it is — because the State had not stepped up to the task of regulating the environment upon which the private sector play. And the way the State behaves merely reflects the collective ability of its constituents to take it to task.
And in case you haven’t noticed, at least I “cherry pick” several of your factoids and respond to them comprehensively. You, on the other hand picked one in this instance and drilled down to it in all your textbook-driven “intellectual” glory.
Try synthesising for a change, dude. It builds character, which it seems you are in a bit of a need of. :-D
benign0
I know the Philippine politics is bad. But i do think that blaming and nitpicking the culture, the people for the mistakes of the government is unfair and destructive.
You miss the point that because the Philippines is a resource rich country that many colonists, imperialist countries try to exploit and impose a system that seek to profit themselves at the exploit of local people. Not to mention to destabilize local politics to lower prices (even labor) for the benefit of foreign economies. The enemy is mostly external.
Try examples for Africa, one of the riches countries in terms of natural resources. But why are they poor? Because external imperialists, colonists try to destabilize their region to get lower costs of diamonds. How about Iraq? I don’t think you would even think of blaming the people and their culture of suddenly having a gigantic debt in which the people didn’t benefit.
Edward,
I suppose the question is, do you want to change things or keep them the same. You seem to be advocating the the Philippines is fine, which is an okay argument.
I think it can be more, better, and actually dynamic, for the well-being of its many impoverished souls.
So I blame people who blame others for everything, for the failure to move responsibly and pro-actively forward. For example, you blame Benign0 who agitates mightily for change, and you blame colonialists for wreaking havoc on the Philippines. No where do you accept any responsibility for things being as they are. It is very common in the Philippines, to point fingers and do nothing.
You may have missed my earlier synopsis, done in good cheer:
Cultural reactions to criticism:
Japan: work hard to prove it wrong; upon failing commit suicide
China: work hard to prove it wrong then go out for dim sum and tea
America: work hard to prove it wrong whilst simultaneously filing litigation
Australia: work a little to prove it wrong whilst grilling a steak on the barbie
Iran: slam a nuke up your ass
Israel: slam three nukes up your ass
Philippines: blame someone, anyone, everyone, then go sing karaoke really really loud
Joe
Thank goodness for your response Joe. It saved me the trouble. Now someone is blaming other countries for the flooding disaster! Whew! totally unbelievable.
What’s worse is blaming the people for the heavy rains, heheh.
Ilda,
Yes, I have taken up the cudgel of blaming the blamers, for they are indeed lacking the sense of personal responsibility that is required for progress.
By the way, my reading turned up the following excerpt regarding the, ummmm, matured set . . .
_____
Maybe George was fooling himself. Maybe old people always fooled themselves, pretending that the world was going to hell in a handcart because it was easier than admitting they were being left behind, that the future was pulling away from the beach, and they were standing on their little island bidding it good riddance, knowing in their hearts that there was nothing left for them to do but sit around on the shingle waiting for the big diseases to come out of the undergrowth.
“a spot of bother” by Mark Haddon
Good one Joe. They say the humidity affects the way people think. In a hot and steamy afternoon, people just want to have a siesta. It’s precisely the reason why air-conditioning was invented – productivity was very low in extreme humidity. We probably need to switch to a cooler environment before the situation in the country improves.
Ilda,
Humidity, of course!!! That’s undoubtedly why Ms. A flies off every now and then to sip cool cocktails in the bars of NY and Tokyo. The Japanese and Koreans, of course, have plenty of snow and cold, and no wonder China is glomming onto Tibet so ravenously. And humidity leads to storms and undoubtedly clouds the brain into not distinguishing between right and wrong.
By jove, I think you’ve found the root of the problem.
Joe
Have you seen Ellen Tordesillas blaming Arroyo for the storms.. hehehehhee
hehehhe, just like some FV commenters.
@ Joe
Well as I said, I know that the Philippine politics is bad so I don’t think the Philppines is perfectly okay. I am merely pointing out that not everything that we lack in good governance stems from our culture. I think misplacing blame is counterproductive in the long-term constructive goal of spotting the real mistakes. Yup, I missed those cultural criticisms.
BTW I blame Christopher Columbus for exterminating native American Indians. That probably makes me irresponsible and has nothing to do with it being accurate. Its just my culture.
@ Ilda
I fail to see how we came to flooding here. I blame the industrially rich countries as responsible but in the context of climate change which is somehow affects weather conditions. I acknowledge that our garbage dumping, lack of proper zoning, deforestation, flood control are the factors of the flood being a disaster.
@Edward
The culmination of everything the citizens of this country ever did or did not do in the past is the flooding disaster.
And we will continue to have disasters in the future if we do not accept our own shortfalls.
Everyday there are numerous disasters happening around the country that are deemed too insignificant to some and don’t get the attention they deserve anymore. One example of this are road accidents that could be minimised if we have excellent roads or if motorist follow road rules. It seems we have to have death tolls as big as the cast of Ben Hur before some of us can me moved to action (or not at all).
You can’t blame this one on climate change – No Siree. What is our contribution anyway to the international community in terms of averting the effect of climate change in our own backyard or our neighbours? Are we even changing our lifestyle?
You can’t blame this one on climate change – No Siree.
I fail to see when I blamed “this” on climate change. Look at my starting post and find “climate change” and “flooding”. You’re totally out of context and throwing accusations.
What is our contribution anyway to the international community in terms of averting the effect of climate change in our own backyard or our neighbours? Are we even changing our lifestyle?
Really? What are we not doing about it? Our community has garbage segregation. Have you seen the statistics of where we stand on global gas emissions? Or are you only pre-sensitized to the negative things about the Philippines.
Try some positivity sometimes. And no, I’m not promoting mediocrity.
http://goodnewspilipinas.com/
When you ask where we stand globally you probably only look at the top 5 and expect not to see the Philippines. In this category (gas emissions), its a good thing.
@ Edward
If the “enemy is external”, then whose responsibility is it then do defend us from external threats? Isn’t that the reason human communities had armed forces since time immemorial?
If we were invaded or dominated by foreign armies, colonists, or “imperialists”, well, that’s simply the way the world works. The weak get dominated by the strong. Even we as a people have preyed on the weak — in the way we have ourselves marginalised the Aetas, Igorots, and other indigenous people. As victors ourselves, we drew and continue to uphold the geographic/political lines around which the Philippines has been carved into and divided up — regardless of the traditional/ancestral domains of those indigenous communities. You step back and the picture is the same. Spain pretty much defined the Philippines’ political/geographic borders not to mention giving it its name.
If we want imperialism to end, we cannot do it by going around stomping our feet and crying “Injustice!”. We can do it only by ourselves becoming a strong nation with the economic and political clout to challenge and possibly beat (if not step up and be among them as peers) in their own game.
Geopolitics is not like a schoolyard where you can come running to the prefect whenever you get beaten up by the local toughie.
Well African-American people don’t think so. For example Marthin Luther King Jr. I don’t remember him making himself rich or recruiting militias to be heard. He technically just shouted “Injustice!”. But in the form of “I have a dream”. And JFK heard him and supported him. Unfortunately both were shot. But still their influence can be felt today.
The Filipino people cannot play their own game because we are not like them to begin with. We are peaceful, simple. We don’t believe in conquest and ambition. Ever since the beginning we just had everything we had. We cannot chastise ourselves of not being like western cultures who must be on constant dilligence and productivity. We don’t have winters. We can live off the land. Its just like saying koalas should be condemned because they are lazy unlike predators who must constantly hunt. Food is just readily available to us. We don’t have to fight for resources.
That was geopolitics then. Empire building is over or it should be over. I do agree with having the political clout. We just have to be united and shout the same voice in the global community of injustice instead of being secluded in self-loathing and self-deprecation which “they” want. Self analysis as a country not self-loathing. Self analysis is not being blind to our mistakes, self-loathing is being blind to our good sides.
Edward,
Very nice perspective. And I would say there is a lot about western (especially US) culture that should NOT be emulated. Ravenous consumption and show-off wealth for one, and partisan politics for another (somehow brute-force power politics is more honest), rather like Mafia ethics.
Joe
Edward, that’s the word…”self-loathing”, you got it right on the head!
It can’t be helped, Edward, perverts are part of ‘any’ crowd, even in FV.
@ Edward
Really? Is this why we let people get away with corruption?
Simple? Is this why some elites have F150s, Volvos and BMWs in the country?
How very honest of you to finally accept this. Then I hope you don’t get offended anymore when benign0 says again how vacuous we are because this is the reason why we haven’t achieved anything world class.
Really? How come there was a long queue for rice when we had a rice shortage? Oh, it’s because we don’t have ambition to be self-sufficient. We don’t have any ambition to improve our circumstances either.
Sounds like you are resigned to be mediocre. You can speak for yourself, thank you very much.
heheh, this is getting more interesting. the comparison. the ‘mediocre’ of the world, and the perverts of the world. i wonder who’s more despicable.
at least the ‘mediocre’ can be happy with what he/she can accomplish with his/her honest labor without having to hurt himself/herself and his/her neighbors.
well, the pervert/masochist can be happy, too.
by flogging herself/himself, and others, too.
@Bert
You might be happy but what about those who are homeless and with nothing to eat? I guess it’s ok for you since you are safe in your situation without anything to worry about.
Ilda,
What are we doing here in FV? My answer to the question is, we are here exchanging ideas. We are not here to reform societies or culture, for even if we sincerely want to do so, we can’t. We can’t because FV is just a blog forum, and us, the commenters and the bloggers, can only talk and discuss with each other our ideas, and we are just a motley group, we are not addressing a people.
Having said that, it hurts me hearing comments like, the Filipinos are morons and idiots, the Filipinos are pigs, the Filipinos this and that. Those are not balance ideas but derogatory and bias personal opinions confined only to the negatives of my people, the Filipino people, which include, ironically, the commenters.
Back to your question:
Is a mediocre person, that’s me, happy seeing my people homeless and hungry? My mediocre answer is no. No, no, no, I am not happy. I suffer when my people suffer. That’s why I do what I have to do, to the best of my ability, that I may be able to feed myself and my family with my honest work, and be able to help others as well, within my means.
When my means is limited that I cannot be able to extend any help to my people, I’m not going to disparage them by continually calling them morons, idiots, and pigs.
My mediocre opinion.
@ Joe
rather like Mafia ethics.
I see your point. I just don’t see the fascination of U.S. politics with secret societies.
@ Ilda
Really? Is this why we let people get away with corruption?
No. No one does
That’s why there are constant protests, filing of corruption charges and a mutiny. And FV. Peaceful protest mostly.
How very honest of you to finally accept this. Then I hope you don’t get offended anymore when benign0 says again how vacuous we are because this is the reason why we haven’t achieved anything world class.
I didn’t get offended. I don’t think most Filipinos live as if in a competition or struggle (unless its for entertainment or sports) as compared to world standards. Save yourselves the frustration.
The world measures competitiveness in terms of GDP and such. Mostly imposed by western-centric societies. GDP as a measure of productiveness rather than overall welfare and happiness.
Really? How come there was a long queue for rice when we had a rice shortage? Oh, it’s because we don’t have ambition to be self-sufficient. We don’t have any ambition to improve our circumstances either.
It was more political than actual shortage of rice. Probably even a mismanagement of equality in distribution. Rice was being used as a political tool. It was to manipulate the poor into supporting GMA from her losing popularity.
The fact that we can still export rice to other countries proves this. Blockades like this from the President has happens when she wants to recover public polls.
I agree with the answer of Bert with the rest.
I would add that I would prefer the Japanese philosophy of “Kaizen” (continuous improvement). Its a bit different from ambition. I think. Since its like a “tingi-tingi” form we share with the Japanese. Just to let you know that I don’t support doing nothing about the problems.
blame this damn thing to all of you pinoys…. LOL
Laws of the land are made up guidelines or “rules” for each of us to live by; protecting us all. Laws are carefully thought out and engineered as need arises to provide basic safety and financial security. Once in place, they are enforced by various levels of government.
Here’s REPUBLIC ACT 9003 January 26, 2001: Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
Many of you are discussing about who is at fault but ignored the very basic policy- the rule of law. It has nevr been implemented.
Connect this ACT to our Land Zoning Act, you probably will notice that neither were not implemented since 2000. Who’s fault is that?
leytenian,
Really superior point. Thanks for the rendition of the law, making me at least a tad less ignorant.
Seems to be a gap between intent and accomplishment, eh?
Joe
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
If the citizenry does not hold the officers of the implementing agency accountable – guess what? Need a rocket scientist?
The people of this land are killed when they voice their strong opinion. Human rights and equality of Justice do not exist. When rule of law is weak, all policies are like christmas lights that only twinkles when lighted . After christmas, the lights go off…
Consistency do not exist for a country run by people who can only make laws but cannot EXECUTE the law.
The people at the bottom cannot be protected when DUTY at the TOP is BREACH. The chain reaction consist of many broken links. The positive result will never reach the bottom… because the bottom is their excuse. Buying of votes , political dynasty , conflicting interest and corruption in higher level are too ugly to see. I’m so glad that Mang Juan cannot see…
@Bert
I don’t know about you but I am here because these are exciting times. This is an opportunity that only comes once every six years. I sincerely believe that I can make a difference in voicing my opinions even if people like you have given up on our society. If I can convince one person that we as a people have the power to change the situation in our country through voting and not through street revolutions, that is good enough for me.
I believe in asking the candidates for their platform before I can decide who the right one for me is. It is so simple and yet a lot of the regulars here on FV cannot and refuse to get it. We shouldn’t vote someone to the highest position in the land blindly, regret it after a few months or years and then resort to going to the streets demanding they step down.
I don’t get insulted when someone labels an act stupid because I am the kind of person who is capable of internalising and engaging in self-reflection. I don’t get insulted because I know that it is not directed at me but rather on the actions that result in a disastrous situation especially when it involves loss of life. We are all a work in progress – there is so much room for improvement. Benign0 is challenging us to prove him wrong with his assertions, let’s not prove he is right by accepting that our fate is to suffer in mediocrity.
I know we are capable of great things because once a Filipino steps unto another country; he can follow rules and regulations and be the best he can be. Filipinos should do their best too in their homeland.
I noticed from your comments that you are not very serious and tend to just make fun of other people’s input especially when they tend to touch a raw nerve. To say that this forum is useless is an insult to its creator and the people who take writing their articles seriously.
That’s good, Ilda. I can feel you have a real and sincere advocacy to help your people and your country. That’s very good. I’m happy. That shows your beauty is not just skin-deep. If this goes on, I think I’m going to fall in love with you.
I have to warn you though.
Please avoid bashing my people.
You call it bashing but I call it being cruel to be kind. I lot of people are suffering right now so we cannot continue with this apathy. We only have a few months before the election – no matter who we support we should have one goal and that is to elevate the majority from misery.
We are relying on the masses because their votes count more than ours. We need to convince them not to sell their future and not to vote with their guts.
speak for yourself – not all “your people” agree with pigheadedness.
“speak for yourself – not all “your people” agree with pigheadedness.”-BongV
BongV,
If you think the Filipinos are pigs, then you think you are a pig. In that case, you are pigheaded. My people are not pigs, therefore you’re not my people.
As regard your saying that I’m not very serious, well, let’s just say that I’m not grouchy, that’s all.
I see your sincerity in making a change for this country and appreciate it.
I can’t help but notice that you automatically blame the people. I’m not convinced that the general people are at fault for the fault of the politicians. Failure of democracy cannot be isolated to the Philippines therefore you cannot pinpoint the problem to the Filipino masses alone. Cheating happens. That’s why as I said, representative democracy isn’t as representative as we ideally think.
I advocate always that not all our domestic problems can be sourced to ourselves. For example is the strategy of imperialism for having local destabilization by local sellouts. Its not promoting mediocrity, its promoting truth.
Protest for Iran’s president is being supported by foreign governments (especially the Allies) even though survey polls favored him 80%.
Just read Apartheid. I’m guessing the opressed people were blamed that’s why the debts are being paid by the people. Same thing happening here. Shouting to the oppressed instead of the oppressor is unreasonable.
I know we are capable of great things because once a Filipino steps unto another country; he can follow rules and regulations and be the best he can be. Filipinos should do their best too in their homeland.
It will be a top-down change. Not bottom-up. We agree there.
@Edward
If the world changes its measure of a country’s performance into overall welfare and happiness, the Philippines will still fail. I don’t really know how you can disagree with this statement because there are so many people living in misery right now. Their only source of joy is their noontime show.
The problem with some of the elite members of the Philippines is that, they are so happy with their gated homes and the number of servants in their household so they actually feel that everything is great.
This statement is proof that we are going to fail our overall welfare and happiness performance.
There wouldn’t be a need for too much street revolutions if they voted for the right person in the first place. You’ll probably say “I didn’t vote for Gloria anyway”. Yeah, you probably didn’t but the masa did who you do not want to help educate against corruption and voting process. People like Benign0 are giving us ideas on how to do something different this coming election but you dismiss it because you say you are happy with the system anyway.
You might also say, “I voted for Gloria but I didn’t think she would turn out this way”. Kaya nga this time, we have to ask the candidates for their platform before we can decide who to vote.
You might say too that “I didn’t vote at all in the last election”. Well then, you just forfeited your rights to complain about the country’s problems.
Are you a conspiracy theorist? The problem with people who believe in superstition is that they also believe that people can be so cruel as to let people die of hunger; so much for your claim that we are a peaceful and simple society.
As far as I’m aware, we import rice not export. Please enlighten me on where we export to.
here do some reading: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9B9FOBO0.htmhttp://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeR_Ma2PBhgIzKOkb2rLQmikuIhQ
Here’s another link:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aDoBw4vHqIlE
If the world changes its measure of a country’s performance into overall welfare and happiness, the Philippines will still fail
Happiness and welfare can be subjective in comparing to western perception of happiness.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20070908-87371/Measuring_happiness_and_freedom
14th happiest place on earth:
http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/infochat/post.htm?id=63012018
I’m guessing that is why Prozac doesn’t profit much here.
I don’t really know how you can disagree with this statement because there are so many people living in misery right now.
I agree with you on this. But not as in misery as you think. I think this case is the sort of pity that is a vice not a virtue.
As far as I’m aware, we import rice not export. Please enlighten me on where we export to.
We imported rice to countries like the U.S. but I was referring to the crisis back then and way before too. But of course now is different as I usually state that we don’t care much for our farmers anymore (being eliminated of leftist’s voice and lack of agrarian reform). With influence of course by imperialism/feudalism/capitalism.
Self-sufficiency:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080426-132782/Marcos-Masagana-99-made-RP-rice-exporter-self-sufficient
We can be self-sufficient. Unfortunately gov’t policies are not implemented because of urbanization,feudalism and such.
Are you a conspiracy theorist? The problem with people who believe in superstition is that they also believe that people can be so cruel as to let people die of hunger; so much for your claim that we are a peaceful and simple society.
Sigh. You’re so quick to get so personal. Read it. Its a bit long but worth it.
http://www.upiasia.com/Economics/2008/04/02/why_a_rice_shortage_in_the_philippines/6495/
Seriously Businessweek and Bloomberg? I can’t believe you get your news from financial sources. The businessweek is not working but I think I get the point.
Kaya nga this time, we have to ask the candidates for their platform before we can decide who to vote.
I agree with you here.
The problem with some of the elite members of the Philippines is that, they are so happy with their gated homes and the number of servants in their household so they actually feel that everything is great.
Well I find it disturbing that you’re knowledgeable with the status of the elite that you don’t even know about what the real status is of the general poor which you so holier-than-thou pity and defend.
I’m sure calling them names, and nitpicking at their cultures, values, favorite t.v. shows alleviates their pains no? Very uplifting really.
@Edward
A part of me just wants to ignore you because you are sometimes inconsistent, always in denial and you keep changing your stance on stuff you cannot give a straight answer to. An example of this is your reply to me on our rice production:
At one point you said “The fact that we can still export rice to other countries proves this….”
I replied with “As far as I’m aware, we import rice not export. Please enlighten me on where we export to.”
And then your reply was “We imported rice to countries like the U.S. but I was referring to the crisis back then and way before too. But of course now is different as I usually state that we don’t care much for our farmers anymore (being eliminated of leftist’s voice and lack of agrarian reform). With influence of course by imperialism/feudalism/capitalism.”
What the heck? Give me straight answers will you please!
Your link to the article on the Philippines being one of the happiest people on earth was before Ondoy; before the disaster exposed all the neglect the citizens of this country did – not just the government officials. Filipinos have always been in denial about what’s really going on around them that’s why they think they are happy. Why do you think there is a website called Good News Philippines? It’s because the only news that ever comes out about the country is bad! Frankly, I’d rather visit websites like Get Real Philippines because it will give me a more realistic picture of the condition of the country. The author of that website already highlighted all that is wrong with the Phils even before Ondoy.
You need to move on from history. The problem is here now and we need to solve it. Stop blaming other countries. Look inwards and do some self-reflection.
The glass is not half-empty if it isn’t half-full. You gotta take the good with the bad.
regards
Question: As far as I’m aware, we import rice not export. Please enlighten me on where we export to
My Answer: The U.S….
I gave a straight answer but I am careful not to give an oversimplified answer which you expect which can be taken out of context or misunderstood.
It’s “critical” that you understand that the roots of feudalism/imperialism affects our rice production. We cannot simply ignore it or move on from it or simply label it as “blaming other countries”.
Please read the article on why we still import rice.
Why do you think there is a website called Good News Philippines? It’s because the only news that ever comes out about the country is bad!
Not really, I watch local news, and they still report good stuff.
Frankly, I’d rather visit websites like Get Real Philippines because it will give me a more realistic picture of the condition of the country.
Why do we always define reality as something negative and bad. If people help people, doesn’t that constitute as reality? If people are happy, doesn’t it mean that its real?
You need to move on from history. The problem is here now and we need to solve it. Stop blaming other countries. Look inwards and do some self-reflection.
Well, the problem is that we don’t look at our history at all that’s why we repeat the same mistakes now. We only blame ourselves as solely responsible for things that imperialism is partially responsible for. That’s why it still remains and we are still vulnerable to it. You cannot simply deny its existence.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081226-179998/Rebellion-against-US-imperialism
Filipinos have always been in denial about what’s really going on around them that’s why they think they are happy.
That’s an purely on assumption. If that’s true, then the inverse can be true that people can be unsatisfied/sad because they’re in denial/unappreciative of the good things that is really going around them.
Your link to the article on the Philippines being one of the happiest people on earth was before Ondoy
I beg to differ.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091003-228116/US-GIs-wonder-Filipinos-still-smiling
“We’ve seen things here [in terms of the destruction] that we haven’t seen before. This is really the least we can do. We wish we could stay longer,” said Lt. Commander Todd Endicott, the mission’s leader.
Endicott also shared one interesting observation: “We all wonder how [Filipinos] keep smiling through all this.”
“Americans probably wouldn’t handle this as well. Here, people are smiling, saying ‘Hi’ to us, giving us high-fives. This is a pretty miserable situation, how people keep smiling, I don’t know. It’s probably a testament to the culture,” Endicott said.
I don’t even think the victims are in denial of the fact that their homes and property are destroyed by the storms and flooding that they’re smiling and saying “Apir tayo Joe!!”.
You can have the last word.
@Edward
Your simple answer to my question should have been, “I made a mistake. We don’t export rice anymore to other countries, we actually import.”
You see, there is nothing wrong with admitting you made a mistake. Just like there is nothing wrong with Filipinos admitting that there is something fundamentally wrong with our culture. A real man is someone who is not afraid to admit he made a mistake. It’s an admirable trait to be able to admit wrong doing because it is easier for all parties to move on. And just like the point of this whole article of Benign0, great societies like Australia have no qualms about
acknowledging their shortfalls and at the same time addressing them. That’s precisely the reason why they have progressed.
Your quote below is an example of why Filipinos are in denial and how we do not see the sense of urgency of the situation. You think that just because the victims are smiling and doing high-fives they are coping well and things are cool and we’re ok. There are so many people now with diseases due to the flooding and our hospitals are not coping with the numbers – things are far from ok.
Edward,
Filipino reactions to Americans fall into three categories: (1) overly attentive and respectful, (2) mistrustful and possibly angry, and (3) unconcerned. The smallest of these is the latter, the largest the first.
Rice is a major crop in California. They plant it with airplanes flying over the expansive Sacramento River delta. Most Americans eat potatoes. My guess is Philippine rice would be a niche product for the large Filipino populations in the US, mainly in California.
Joe