The child in us [Filipinos] lives in a mythic, magical world where we expect a handsome prince to save us at the last minute, or that things will get better with the wave of a magic wand, without any need for us to change.
These are words Jim Paredes wrote in his 2007 blog What child is this? where he lamented the the child archetype that rules the Filipino psyche. This Peter Pan in us may account for our refusal to “look at things in an adult manner”. Jumping off this, I go further to assert that it accounts for our imprisonment in 1980′s thinking even as we face the vastly different circumstances surrounding our society as we move into the second decade of the 21st Century.
In my recent blog article What freedom demands of us I described what I believe is the real challenge for us in the following five to ten years:
We are indeed long overdue for the emergence of a new set of guiding principles to help us along the next twenty years. For now we are still stuck onto applying the yellow adolescent “laban” romanticism of the 1980’s to the more grown-up imperatives facing our society in the 2010′s. Despite the basic institutions and processes now being in place (flawed as they may be), the imperative to build upon these seems to have not captured the spirit of the society. We are pretty much still looking for a fight where there is none.
Unfortunately we will observe today that the most popular contender for that much coveted job of ruling the Filipino people in the six years subsequent to 2010 is running on a pedigree “platform”. This is a pedigree that derives its value from the “glory days” of the 1980′s — “glory” that obscures its more ingrained feudal land-owning clan roots.
But I digress from the point I really want to make here. The point here lies in the ironic role Jim Paredes plays in today’s politics. In his recent concert with the Apo Hiking Society organised, it seems, to marshal support for the “Yellow Army” a Noted Blogger once giggled about on television, guest of honour Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr himself capped the night by coming on stage to assure the audience that “his Mom and Dad were looking down from the heavens and would be proud of the support generated by this campaign”.
But that is just Aquino being consistent with his pedigree campaign “platform”. At least someone is being consistent here. What is disappointing is Jim Paredes’s inconsistency in light of what he wrote in 2007. In fact he cited several points in that blog that run counter to the position he is taking today:
(1) Filipinos’ lack of a forward outlook:
We have an even shorter attention span. We do not hear of our government looking 20 years ahead. Even when other nations plan for the next 50 to 100 years, we don’t seem to go beyond the ‘5-year plan’. We like things ad hoc. Bahala na si Batman.
Excuse me, Jim, but Noynoy Aquino is running on an appeal to the retrospective rather than the prospective.
(2) Filipinos’ susceptibility to vacuous entertainment
Our politicians know only too well how child-like we are. They therefore give us entertainment in place of governance. And as if to exploit the ‘orphan’ in us, they like to project themselves as ‘Ama ng bayan’ (Erap and Marcos), Ina ng bayan (Imelda) and other parent figures.
That explains your recent concert, doesn’t it, Jim? Aquino’s calling to the heavens for his parents’ approval is a nice touch too. You can now add Ninoy and Cory to your list above.
Just one more question, Jim:
Is this how you plan to marshall the immense power of your celebrity for the greater good of the Filipino people?
And last but not least…
(3) Filipinos’ fixation to past “magical” moments
Writers have described life in the Philippines as ‘magic realism’, the same way Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ sees life in Latin America. The child in us lives in a mythic, magical world where we expect a handsome prince to save us at the last minute, or that things will get better with the wave of a magic wand, without any need for us to change.
Indeed, there is nothing more magical than a re-visit of the euphoria and the clear sense of purpose of the 1980′s, isn’t there Jim? So clear, in fact, that you tore up your Green Card in an act driven more by your gut than by your better judgment.
I should know, Jim, because I am a fan of your music (and even of what you had begun to write on your blog back in 2007). But please don’t mistake my admiration of your work for a blanket beholdenness for what you stand for as a public figure. Because for me, you stand for things that are inconsistent with what you say.
I remain with you Jim, but not the Jim Paredes of today. I am with the Jim Paredes who wrote these words in 2007:
Things will not change, not until the party wears out and a more responsible archetype takes over who will want to clean up the mess we’ve made.
==========
Epilogue
This is a demonstration, folks, of the power of a proper platform. Jim Paredes wrote the blog I cite above in 2007. It describes his position on certain matters, and it now comes in handy in evaluating his behaviour and the position he takes in his politics today.
Wouldn’t you want to have the same sort of dialogue with your politician midway through his/her term?
All roads lead lead back to this simple challenge:
Without one, we merely succumb to the archetypical childish character that Filipinos have become renowned for.
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Jim is inconsistent indeed, but what can you do?
Most Filipinos are just too melodramatic, overemotional and get easily swayed by a particular circumstance like a popular figure’s death. Even if it was a natural death.
I for one cannot imagine changing my political views just because someone passes away.
Maybe it’s the overexposure to too much soap opera on local television or it could be the victim mentality. But most of them undoubtedly like living in a magical world where everything will be okay because they are watching a song and dance number by their popular artista.
Popular actors and actresses are now lining up to endorse Noynoy so it’s a definite win. Let’s just hope Noynoy and Mar are consistent about leading the country into the road to recovery.
“the overexposure to too much soap opera on local television…”
Blame MSM. Too much Darna! kaya naging utak komiks na ‘yung iba. Possibly in scale and magnitude but is it really much different as when Madonna, Tom Cruise, Rosie O’Donnell, etc. give their support to candidate Obama.
Jim Paredes, like many Martial Law dudes, is romanticizing about what EDSA could have been but never was.
Hmmm. ‘Pumapatak na naman ang ulan.’ Ewannn.
They like to call it, HOPE.
The Filipino concept of hope is like a shot in the dark.
I’d like to pin my hope in something more tangible or something that has basis.
As in: I really hope that President ___________ will stick to his election promises or platform.
That way, if he doesn’t stick to his promises, we can then call for his resignation.
Noynoy is the best there is at the moment. Is he the ideal? Of course not. Show me someone better. Will there ever be an ideal candidate? Probably not. Boycott because the situation is not what you want? Nahh. That’s for sissies.
Hey BenigZERO, Get down from your high horse and DO something. You talk BIG, but I still have to see real initiatives. Am glad you formed your own forum kasi di k na tinatanggap sa iba. Wala ka naman ginagawa kundi magpuna ng ‘mali’ ng iba. Anyone who does not agree with you is on the wrong side of history, Right BenigZERO?
I stand by my writing. The child is growing up. It is not looking for a father figure in ERAP, a benefactor in Villar but someone else. It sees in Noynoy a person who will most likely not sully the memory of his parent’s legacy. He is honest. Let’s start from there.
Pilipino ba kayo sa isip, salita at sa gawa
Pilipino ba kayo na dada ng dada ng dada
–Minamahal kong Pilipinas- By APO
Jim Paredes
With all due respect Mr. Paredes, the name-calling was completely uncalled-for.
The points he raised are valid, and worthy of being raised and discussed among those willing to consider that common sense isn’t so common. The more, the better.
Because you are an opinion leader in your own right, most everybody here has much, much greater expectation of you and how you respond to these matters. You of all people should know better than to belittle the ways of discourse and enlightenment whether in print or online.
The real initiative is right there staring you in the face.
“The child is growing up. It is not looking for a father figure in ERAP, a benefactor in Villar but someone else. It sees in Noynoy a person who will most likely not sully the memory of his parent’s legacy. He is honest. Let’s start from there.”
What is that supposed to mean, exactly? Because this is what it sounds like to me: that the only good alternative the Filipino people are offered among the various candidates is the one who somehow represents a reprise of the sainted ‘legacy’ — which, in the case of the father, is nothing more than might-have-beens, and in the case of the mother is a tale of nice woman in way over her head, and under whose leadership the country was left saddled with an illogical, weak, and self-serving government framework and word of law.
Is that the best you’ve got? Honorable mediocrity? It is what it is, and it’s hardly good enough. If Noynoy Aquino has a enough commendable qualities for you to support him, fine — but don’t validate his shortcomings. You’re a person of influence, ask him to describe what he intends to do to lead the country out of the mess it’s in. Demand it from him. Stop wasting your good name and reputation actually acting like the child you describe, and show some REAL INITIATIVE of your own.
Ben K, *mediocrity* is your words, not Jim’s. What he said is that Noynoy is *not ideal*. Don’t twist his words to make your rebuttal easier.
“Not ideal” and “mediocre” lie at opposite ends of a very short road.
Hey Jim I love your songs!
But speaking of honesty, I want to ask this of Noynoy, and I hope he doesn’t choke with his answer: “who killed your father?!”
I’m afraid the above response from Jim is a classic example of a Filipino emotional outburst. His comments do not address the real issues.
This is a forum for debating ideas. People should behave in a more decent fashion regardless of their title or position in society and should not resort to name-calling when they become frustrated about the topics.
This is a classis example of consistency: I love the Apo Hiking Society’s music and lyrics. I think they are one of the best Filipino songwriters we’ve ever had. But it doesn’t change the fact that Jim’s political views differ from mine and I hate to say this but my image of Jim as a level-headed man has been shattered.
Errr… wait. So campaign fundraisers put up by performers pro-bono are a no-no because they’re vacuous entertainment?
We better inform the Democrats and Republicans. Quick!
Seriously, I think you can fault Jim for his support for Noynoy — that is a matter of differing opinions and a valid point for debate. I for one have serious doubts about Noynoy, precisely because he lacks a specific platform.
But a fundraising concert — and not one provided entirely free by a candidate to a squealing masa complete with Willie Re-villar-me and his ocho-ocho girls — I think it’s unfair to call that vacuous.
Actually, I think you’re right Jon. But there is that little matter of premature campaigning, if somebody cared to bring it up. That’s the other side of the Pinoy hero-worship coin; rules & process only apply to people who are not popular.
its not premature campaigning if ur not a candidate yet. to be a candidate, u need to file.
I for one believe that a campaign period of 6 months is too short to be able to choose a proper candidate. This is the precise reason people were saying it was ‘too late’ for Noynoy to join the race diba? Besides, don’t you raise funds before the campaign, not during it?
@ gabbyD,
Sophistry! Some of these candidates have been candidates for months already. One is a candidate when one starts to act like one; hence the need for the rule.
@ Jon,
I agree completely. The designated campaign period is too short for such an important office. The proper solution is to change the rule, however, not to flout it; that makes any other reasonable rule that much harder to enforce.
its ok. he admits in his essay he was throwing ideas around without thought:
“The concept is intriguing as it is for experts to write voluminous books and articles about it. Allow me not only to throw in my two cents worth but to bring the idea a step further, at the risk of being reckless and superficial. “
How clever of Jim to have a disclaimer, then.
“Epilogue
This is a demonstration, folks, of the power of a proper platform. Jim Paredes wrote the blog I cite above in 2007. It describes his position on certain matters, and it now comes in handy in evaluating his behaviour and the position he takes in his politics today.”-benignO
There you go, dude. Demonstrates that platforms are mere ideas and promises meant to be broken. No big deal.
Yeah it’s no big deal, specially in a society where keeping to one’s word is more the exception than the rule.
Hi Bert!
That’s exactly the sort of dysfunction we have pervading our society today.
Hi Filo! What dysfunction? Jim Paredes is not the Filipino people, he’s not even a government official. If he changed his mind about his political belief that’s his prerorative, changing mind is not the monopoly of any people, it’s universal.
but when gloria change her mind to run in the 2004 election afterher announcement that she will not run, the civil society is saying that she is a liar.
another problem here: inconsistency
rego,
ok, jim paredes is a liar. and gloria is a liar, too.
it’s their prerogative to tell a lie if they want to, ok?
if jim paredes and gloria are both liars, can you spot the difference?
clue, just in case it slips past through a single brain cell: one stood on a hero’s grave to make the oath.
Bert:
This demonstrates how a platform defines a candidate, and how it carries over into his presidency.
From BHO’s UN address this morning:
Now, if that were a Pinoy platform – well… if you have a Platform made of six planks made of vacuous platitudes – there aren’t even ideas to break.
Obviously, in the Philippines, breaking a promise is the norm. guess what – other countries aren’t the Philippines- thank goodness!
BongV,
We will let the American people be the judge on the results of President Obama’s administration. The next American presidential election will show us the light.
Let’s not rejoice yet on the eloquence of talk because talk is cheap.
It’s the achievement and the result that count.
We can wait for that, can’t we?
It has come to my mind as I read the beggings for platform that we expect to have candidates tell us the magic solution. I rather see the campaign period as one of dialogue, where the people, through their different forums or spokespeople, speak to the candidates and demand things. Like changes in the platform, or clearer focus on X, Y or Z.
Mr. Paredes is just one voice, whether consistent or inconsistent, an important one. Same as Benign0, though he is outrageously consistent . . .
Speaking of platforms, I also think it is unlikely that anyone will agree 100% with a candidate’s platform. So every voter at some point has to compromise on an issue, and we end up whoring ourselves on certain minor issues in order to get the big ones laid.
Joe
its ok to write private musings on one’s blog.
thats what a blog is for.
to criticize based on an attempt at Jungian psychology once on a blog is silly.
Off topic Benigs… How did you cope with the dust coming from Woomera SA? (Watch out, the dust may be radioactive still!)
yeah, saw that on yahoo news… kamusta na doon?
It’s ok now. It reminded me of Manila at some point. Only differences were:
(a) here the dust was red and in Manila it is blackish brown;
(b) here it is a once-off every-half-century-or-so phenomenon whereas in Manila it is a part of daily life; and,
(c) the danger here is in possible radioactivity whereas in Manila the danger lies in the dust possibly coming from dried sewage from open cesspools/esteros or rubbish dust from the mountains of garbage many Filipinos live on and eat off.
wow, ur never off-message eh. hehe
I wonder what’s more potent: you eat radioactive dust, or, you eat rubbish dust.
In the latter case, you die of an infectious disease and laid to rest after enough sakla money is pooled. In the former, you get cancer or some degenerative disease after 10 or 20 years, just before your ungrateful heirs shuffle you off to some nursing home.
Ah! Woe then to that horrible fate of the former for his/her lenghty ordeal. And not even sakla money for his/her trouble. Wawa naman.
Well with global warming, expect the Outback to come to the Australian coast. The climate modelers say that these dust storms will get more frequent (every year?) as Australia dries up even more. An Akubra may help. :-) Get the Snowy River kind!
Blackshama:
The Earth Solar Shield from the Radioactive Rays of the
Sun is already worn out. This protect us from Solar Radioactive Storms. It is due to continued pollution and degradation of our Planet. The Green House effect. This can lead to Polar Shift in Magnetism. North Pole become South Pole. South Pole become North Pole. I will not eleborate the effects of this. I dont want to scare people…
Jim is an old new ager. Daming pinoy na katulad nya at kahawig ang ugali. meron ngang pinoy na sabi daw eh number one na problema ng pilipinas TRAPIK!
Nak nang putchicks!
Jim Paredes lives in Australia, doesn’t he? benign O, give him a visit will you?
Fair dinkum mate! Jim Paredes took pride in getting round a roundabout while driving on the left, years ago. BenignO can easily kick his dunny door down!
TAMA.
mina-mind set nila ang filipinos na good vs. evil parin ang scenario natin…when in fact hindi na ganun ka-simple ang situation ng philippines…
This election is not a fairy tale story na sila ang knight in shining armor and the others are the wicked witches…
its starting to be nauseatingly funny…
Ladies and gentlemen, the venerable Jim Paredes is in the building.
@ Jim Paredes re your comment.
Indeed, Jim. The challenge to you is for the Establishment to “show [you] someone better”. Better in what way exactly? All you seem to be able to come up with to support your assertion that “Noynoy is the best there at the moment” is this:
Last I heard, Jim, what Noynoy stands for started waaaaay back in 1986. So are you therefore proposing we who are now in 2009 set ourselves back 23 years for us to get started?
I think Pinoys owe themselves something a bit better than a candidate who is known primarily for being perceived merely as “honest”. The fact that you’d latch on to that singular trait illustrates the sad sad reality of the ethical bankruptcy of Pinoy society — that honesty is such a RARE virtue in our country. But even more tragic, honesty — like good intentions — doesn’t necessarily make a great leader.
That you’d ask me to “show [you] someone better” simply shows that you haven’t done your homework Jim. Check out this matrix. It is a stocktake of various positions that various key politicians (that at one time or another have expressed interest in the 2010 presidential elections) have publicly taken across seven aspects of our society that are critical to our prosperity. Where is Noynoy in that picture aside from being on the first row of that list?
I have nothing against Noynoy’s character. The issue I take has to do with the substance that underpins his bid to lead us into the second decade of the 21st Century. Where is that substance, Jim? If all he is pitching is an appeal to his being an Aquino, and Filipinos are willing to be happy eating that up yet again, there’s not much I can do about that. But that will simply prove wrong your assertion that “the child is growing up”. On the contrary, it remains stunted and imprisoned in 1980′s thinking.
By the way I did not “form this forum”. Show a bit of courtesy to the owner of this blog. His name is Nick.
1980s thinking? I think one digit is misplaced. Shouldn’t it be 1890s? Or is it 1098s? hehehe. But seriously it’s one reason why the Philippines remains a big zero on the world map of progress.
Benign0 makes a really good point. Filipinos are waiting for someone to pull them out of their misery. I suspect they want Noynoy to say, “Work no more! The government will subsidize you! You and your ten children, and the other ten you’ll make in the future!”
Unless Noynoy himself opposes that and makes the point that it’s the Filipino people’s own fault why the nation is in the pits, he doesn’t look too good to me either. I understand Mr. Paredes’s point about giving Noynoy a chance. But to me, anyone right now that you give a chance, they don’t make the bill. At all.
Noynoy is pro-reproductive health. Noynoy wants to say he is not for condoms and population control, but many priests and “loyal” Catholics (except politician Gov Panlilio) are worrying.
Sounds good. The next thing he should support is the Women’s Magna Carta. If the Catholic Church is worried, good.
Well, it’s a vote for the lesser evil, but I still won’t see Noynoy as the solution to the country’s problems. Change should be done from the bottom->up, not top->down.
perceived as honest?
what has noynoy lied about that its just a perception?
Peter Pan never grew up. And he traveled to Neverland. Michael Jackson did so. He cavorted with children, emulating Peter Pan.
And built his Neverland Ranch in California. The authorities
were suspicious that they subjected him with two Child Molestation cases.
We, Filipinos, should grow up. Take responsibilities for ourselves, our nation, and the way we are governed. We cannot solve our problems
by eternally flashing the “L sign”. Wearing the Yellow T shirt. And singing ” Ang Bayan Kong Pilipinas”. Marcos is long gone. The Martial
Law Era is just a bad memory. Our Politicians want us to remain in
the past. To get themselves elected. We have now the YELLOW JAUNDICED
EYES of seeing things in our environments. We are afraid and refuse to look at our realities. The next President must be a DOER, A REALIST and intelligent enough: to debate, deliberate and discuss with us all issues facing us. WE DONT WANT A TSOPE!
Look at the way Erap and his son Jinggoy, Lacson have turned the
Senate into a Ultimate Fighting Mudslinging Arena. I believe
these Criminal Politicians should have never been elected in the
first place. They behave like PIRATES in the Carribean fighting
for loots. What a Shame! They have no self respects!
The med student asks her teacher: “Doc, why is my score 0 in this exam, I got most of my answers right.” Teacher answers: “You had all your units in grams not in milligrams” Student: “at least I was consistent.” Teacher “Yes, and your patients will consistently be dead.”Being consistent is not in itself a virtue. I’d put more points in open-mindedness and flexibility.
It’s not an either/or problem. You have to set an absolute standard or baseline *and then* be consistent with that standard. In the example you cited, the student set a wrong standard and then remained consistent to that wrong standard. Therefore the outcome was wrong. Same thing with the Law. It can be flexible within a reasonable range (and it is open to change — which is why we have a legislature). But it needs to be consistent. Otherwise chaos will reign.
It depends on the circumstances, situation and environment…
benigs,
in your recent blog article what freedom demands of us, when you say we, are you referring to the we you are going to CAST their votes in the coming elections, because that too is what freedom demands from them. and if so, did you register with your consulate last month.
if not,…, oh well, answer this question first.
“Where is Noynoy in that picture aside from being on the first row of that list?”
who supplied the matrix? who refereed it? did the provider bother to seek additional inputs from those listed?
if not, kudos for knowing how to come up with a matrix. now, do the reliability test.
(1) Filipinos’ lack of a forward outlook:
(3) Filipinos’ fixation to past “magical” moments
I agree with these.
I think we need more forward thinking. We should stop living on the “glory” days such as when Cory was against Marcos.
I know its important to remember them, but we must not refrain from looking towards the future. Press forward. Why? Because we will lack for an ideal mindset. Our tendency will be of excessive caution. Of watching out for another corrupt leader. Of excessive fear.
When this permeates, another demagogue will be just around the corner wanting to exploit it.
We all know what we DON’T want in a leader. Why not go further, what do we want in a leader?
This gives us a broader perspective of not only looking at the past, but to the much distant future.
A quip quote my ear on NPR this morning – it’s no longer about what we are AGAINST .. but moving forward – what we are FOR, what do we want to achieve.
As BHO put it this morning at the UN
“The time has come to realize that the old habits and arguments are irrelevant to the challenges faced by our people…..
The choice is ours. We can be remembered as a generation that chose to drag the arguments of the 20th century into the 21st; that put off hard choices, refused to look ahead, and failed to keep pace because we defined ourselves by what we were against instead of what we were for. Or, we can be a generation that chooses to see the shoreline beyond the rough waters ahead; that comes together to serve the common interests of human beings.”
I share with your awe, BongV, and with President Obama’s optimism. But talk is cheap, achievement is better. So let’s just wait and see what the president hope to achieve by his administration before we rejoice from his words of wisdom. I sincerely hope he succeeds.
Bert,
Nah,
I’m with Kaadafi of Libya, make Obama President for Life. He’s good, really good. As for results, (1) stopped financial crash (note he went for stability rather than uprooting things for politics), (2) new foreign policy easing tensions with Russia and Europe, (3) killing Guantanamo and government spying and torture (give transition a little time, please), (4) has whole country focused on health care (a GOOD thing; the debate is constructive; the health care system now is lousy), (5) superb first Supreme Court Justice nomination (Republicans could do nothing but spit and grab for desperate straws), (6) following through on commitment on getting out of Iraq, (7) new Afghanistan strategy, (8) energized the whole of government, (9) has the US committed on global warming, (10) taking the lead on nuclear non-proliferation, (11) stopping the destruction in National Parks (roads, etc.), (12) has Russia and China aboard on pressuring Iran, (13) the first President with the backbone to stand up to Israel’s non-cooperation, and (14)still finds time for his family, sports, faith. Just to name a few.
Screw-ups: (1) inserting himself in the white-cop on black professor incident, (2) China trade war over tires (he’ll get it calmed), (3) some appointments that bear ethical scrutiny.
Joe
Nice words for your manok, Joe. I believe you. But that’s just one side of the coin. I heard the other guy’s words, too, they’re not as good, in fact they’re bad for your manok, and it’s the other side of the coin. Which makes me a hell lot confused so I’d rather wait for the next American presidential election and not be dazzled by glib talk like our BongV here is. I’ll just let you and your countrymen be the judge on election day.
Bert,
I think BongV is not enamored of glib talk, but on the clear sense of purpose articulated by “my manok”. There are definitely two sides of the coin, often driven by political ideologies that differ, and desires to win elections. That is why you are correct to look at accomplishments. And it helps to follow events over the years so that when the “other side of the coin” tries to lay the blame on Obama for economic problems, for political gain, you know what really happened.
But the facts are, he has accomplished a lot in less than one year, he works hard, he is intelligent, and the US is held in higher regard around the world under his leadership than before. Conservative Republicans will attack Mr. Obama like crazy because their ideology is offended by a lot that he does (like advance stem cell research). And a lot of regular Americans are upset because they don’t have jobs, their houses are burdens rather than assets, and the pace of economic improvement is slow. They don’t like seeing the Fed government throwing money at big companies while they suffer. But that is why we elect leaders who are responsible for the broad public good. They do what is right, not what is popular. Like Mr. Obama’s stance regarding Israel.
The Philippines needs such a president. One focused on public good, not personal glory or enrichment.
Joe
That’s good, Joe. I agree with what you’re saying except one. And that is that mental state of “doing what is right, not what is popular”. I’m talking about the mental state of President Obama, if that is his mental state.
You see, Joe, our president also thinks that way…”doing what is right, not what is popular”. Now you’ll see that if you kept on doing things not popular, you’ll reap the fruits of your labor. You are yourself witness to what have been happening around here, being a keen political observer, and I’m sure you’re well aware of our president’s popularity and approval ratings in the surveys…it’s zilch…negative. We are lucky she’s not allowed by law to run in the election again (hopefully). But, as you may have noticed, her manok Gibo, being of the same mindset as hers, having made a categorical avowal to continue her kind of programs of governance therefore will also “do what is right, not what is popular”, is not doing any better in the surveys either.
Now, Joe, I’m not an elite so very poor in your language so might be talking giberish now, but I’m hoping you get my drift.
I hope too that your president does not follow in the footsteps of my president by “doing what is right, not what is popular”.
Bert,
I would define “right” as “what is in the highest public good”, not “what is good for my re-election, or my reputation, or my bank account”. There is always room for debate as to what is in the highest public good: as in yes to stem cell research, or no to it. But the notion of public interest vs self interest is generally not very strong in the Philippines; unless public interest coincides with self-interest.
Joe
A leader who can lead. Intelligent enough to have vision
where we want to go. If he can articulate and debate with us.
Then, half of our decision is finished. We will catch him or her off guard by his mouth, like a fish. We know by his body language.If he or she is lying. We will read his mind or inner
thoughts. We know how to do it. So, watch out. We are not fools!
I don’t think you fully got my message. It’s this kind of thinking which brushes aside idealism forcing focus more on the avoidance of bad leadership rather than on pursuing good leadership.
I would share an anecdote for an easier comprehension.
“…As the head of Scotland Yard opened up under her genuine interest, he revealed that the departments under his authority had included those for forgery and counterfeiting. When she surmised that he must have spent a lot of time studying counterfeit signatures, he corrected her.’On the contrary, Mrs. Graham. I spent all of my time studying the genuine thing. That way, when I saw a counterfeit, I could immediately detect it’”
My normal criteria for identifying the best presidential candidate are: character, capability, and intent (platform). But they can be eclipsed by a fourth: moment.
“Moment” recognizes that destiny, fate, God’s will, or whatever force you prefer, decides that certain outcomes are correctly aligned with need, and thus, the Titanic was bound to sink, Martin Luther King was destined to martyrdom, Hitler would never win, and Noynoy will be President. Filipinos have had quite enough, thank you, of conniving back-room raids on the public good will and treasury. The dreamy force of hope becomes starkly tangible when a man of possibility is identified by the people, people with all the checks and balances turned squarely against them – no forthright leadership in the Executive branch, no justice in the courts or ombudsman’s office, and no care-taking of the public trust by the legislature. No agency of government save the Human Rights Commission correctly reads that it exists to serve the people.
As for Mr. Aquino, he starts clean, and no man such as this, understanding that it is not he the people are electing, but hope itself, would dare let his people down.
Platforms are largely irrelevant in the tide of moment.
Joe
Hey Joe America, I had just written a reply backing up benign0′s call for a clear platform from Noynoy, but your comment made me think! The power of the Moment, we can all relate to it… the Moment one realises his or her partner is ‘the one’, the Moment one realises he or she wants to quit their stinking job, Edsa I, The Titanic, assassinations… all defining Moments. I can rally behind that, for sure!
I think though, that the election of a president who will sit for 6 years is rather different from the above situations. Unlike the sinking of a ship or a gun fired from a crowd which are singular chance events or Acts of God, Noynoy winning and MORE IMPORTANTLY (let’s not forget the end game here) turning out to be an effective leader (agent of change/saviour of the people/candidate for sainthood etc.) – would require MULTIPLE Acts of God (I do believe that Divine Will plays a part in all this, so count me in on that), prolonged efforts of various groups of people, and Noynoy’s own ability to endure and grow and learn.
Looking at life as succession of glorious moments encourages a cinematic view on it – in the movies endings are neat and satisfying. But a movie is 1.5 hours long, and life must continue for much longer, through all the messy and, worst of all, boring stuff. History is full the disappointments that followed a Crowning Moment – where all present thought that things would be better because of what they had achieved until that point, but in reality they had failed to plan beyond – the Communist revolution in China, and…Edsa I would you say? Going back to concerts, so the feel good feeling lasts what, a day? A week even? But Noynoy, should he win, will have to govern this country for 6 years – and he will need more than the power of a Moment to do this well.
And this is where things like platforms come in. As Beningn0 rightly put it, a platform can be like a road map – way for Noynoy and his team to check if they are on track with their goals, which I’m sure are very noble. And so, a GOOD platform is even better. A Good Platform would identify the most pertinent goals, demonstrating the candidates understanding of the country’s situation and his or her vision for its future. A Good Platform would also outline the proposed projects and programs in line with the objectives, which would show that the candidate has an idea of how their obkectives can be realised. How can something like this be irrelevant? It’s basically the document that tells us what to expect from our president, it’s like the presidential Bible!
Thinking about it a bit, I guess it can be irrelevant if 1) “well all the candidates say the same thing anyway” and 2) “What’s the use if probably they won’t stick to it anyway”. I think you guys can see why these are not very good reasons why not to have a platform. In business they say “Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail.”
But there’s another point raised by Primer about the vast majority of Filipinos being some kinda illiterate – so a platform on a piece of paper may as well be the ingredients of Martha Stewarts latest low-carb, zero-glutten, muesli bar. It occurred to me that maybe this is where celebrity endorsements and star studded concerts come in – reaching those who haven’t had the chance at a quality education and ongoing improvement opportunities! Duh I guess that was obvious so slap me if I’m being redundant here.
But that leaves us, the ‘literate’ and ‘educated’ with a greater responsibility. We can’t be won over by the same devices that is used on those who have been less blessed than us. We have a responsibility TO THEM to use our minds as well as our hearts to ensure that THEIR next president is not some suave guy who knows how to say the right thing at the right time. Some PR specialist who can smile and kiss babies, but who doesn’t really have a plan on how that baby will eat/receive good schooling/avoid being abused by sex tourists and or drowning in catastrophic floods. (Dapat our president can smile and kiss babies AND ensure all of that)
So let the masses have their entertainment and touching moments. Unfortunately we – the educated, the ‘lucky’ – need to demand more from ourselves and from our candidates. I’m with Beningn0 in saying that emotions have their role, but should be kept within check. And that a Comprehensive, Concise Platform is the place to start in understanding a presidentiable, and if they don’t have one, well it’s not a good sign.
Sorry this was so long! This blog and all the comments have really got me thinking. Thank you to everyone who participates!
(If I can just insert a short anecdote and you can skip this if it’s too long… but my mother once mentioned that she wouldn’t vote for Mar Roxas because she doesn’t like Corrina. “Why don’t you like her mom?”, “basta! she’s so nakakainis!”. My mother completed a BA in Business and went on to work for law firms and airlines. She’s traveled the world and met all sorts of people. Yet, taking cue from her comment, her decision process for choosing a vice president is probably not too different from our labandera’s. This anecdote is not about dissing my mother [love you mom!] but just about showing how it’s easy to slip into a way of thinking that betrays our level of exposure and education – which are gifts not to be wasted, esp in a country like ours)
@wanderwoman
I like what you wrote here and below, they say haste is waste and this saying should apply too in choosing one’s presidential candidate. There is still so much time from now until the actual voting day to get to know our candidates if only they put forward their platform.
We’ve all been taken in by some actor or a crush some time in our teenage years only to be brought back down to reality once we find out their true colors along the way of getting to know them. Let’s not be taken in by slogans of the past and get to know Noynoy first before we say “Yes, he can!”
For some unexplained reason, I don’t like Corrina as well – haha! Maybe it’s the fact that she has been in such an influential position for so long but she doesn’t use it to draw more awareness in promoting discipline in our society.
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Platform is out.
Intelligent choice is out.
Everything is predetermined.
Latest surveys made in the area of education validates that 5 million Filipinos are ‘basic illiterates’ and 11 million are ‘functional illiterates’.
Would you wonder even if the people just vote for Noynoy?
Well, if they just vote for BF… ;)
@jim paredes
The use of archetypes to describe policy/culture if fraught with the danger of being misunderstood.
Archetypes, such as the child, mean different things to different people. the interpretation of these symbols can change. a child image can be good; for instance, a child is curious.
on the other hand, a child can be bad; overly dependent on other people.
its this ability to be ‘flexible’ that makes it inappropriate to use for social/political analysis, but great for telling stories.
i think that supporting noynoy because he took on his parents advocacies as his own is a fine reason for supporting a politician.
i’d just like to caution you to think clearly what these advocacies really are — i.e. and if and noynoy really are on the same page on many issues of the day.
Ilda – right on. This is a forum for debating issues, and that is what makes reading it such a joy. I’ve just discovered fv today and can’t get enough – but seriously, there’s no need to get personal, this isn’t GMA’s last SONA.
It’s always hard for people to scrutinize the past, because it may mean finding fault and then dealing with the subsequent shame and regret. So let’s look instead to the what can still be done in days to come.
Mr. Paredes – you are close to Mr. Aquino. Help us learn more about him and his vision and plans for 2010-2016. Perhaps he has not had as much time to think about this as the other candidates as his bid to run was a very recent development – but we still need to know. He stands for honesty, we know this much, that is the legacy of his parents. But unlike his parents, he has the opportunity to be more than just a principled politician with good intentions. I don’t know about the others here but personally, I would like to vote for Mr. Aquino, it would be poetic wouldn’t it. But I can’t be won over by cool graphic design and retro yellow shirts, nor concerts and celebrity endorsements. Benign0 was right about that, and I would say his contribution was and is very great – helping people to see past the obvious and the distracting. And urging us (with the use of rather colourful language, I admit) to think for ourselves and to think for the future. Well not really urging us, more like coercing us… but hey if it works.
Hope to read more of everyone’s comments and entries! Thank you to Bening0 and Mr. Paredes for this interesting thread!