Thomas Paine, an American patriot once said that “an army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.” And what force do people with principles use to conquer the old world? It is the force of compassion and of Reason.
We, ordinary human beings, are always in constant search for the sublime. We often wonder why our reality is worse than others and we often aspire to take that grain out of someone’s hand.
Ah, principles! Such are those who often blind those who have perfect sight. Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote how we abolish old ideas and transform them into new ones only to realize that by abolishing the true world, we have destroyed the apparent one. Principles are things which the pauper does not understand. For him, that constant struggle for the next morsel of food has deprived him of the luxury of creating abstracts out of nothing. For those deprived or forced into a life of poverty and wants, abstracts do not exist, and principles are just promises from a crazed mind.
It is this realization that I fear for the worst for such brave, honest and patriotic men like Nicanor Perlas. Perlas is running for the presidency. Perlas is running for the highest post of the land, armed only with Reason and of genuine compassion for the poor and the oppressed.
Hungry souls know no philosophy—it is only those whose bellies are filled who understand the causality of things. When someone as honest and as principled as Perlas preach to them about Right and Wrong, it always lead to one question—how will Right or wrong fill satiate my hunger?
Beyond the thickets, Perlas saw how misery has degraded the human condition.
An ordinary citizen whose father was victimized and falsely accused by a greedy dictator, Perlas was forced to swim into the dirty lake of politics for one reason–to disprove that dictator who saw himself as an ubermensch.
Perlas fought for truth and justice yet in all of his life, Perlas devoted most in reaching for the sublime. For thirty years, Perlas dedicated his life making our world a better place to live. Perlas lived like that Prophet of 3,000 years ago who was praised by others, not of his own country. The whole world knows his struggles, but only a few million Filipinos know of Perlas’ advocacy.
In a society where the first question to a politico is “how much?” or “how would you be able to help me?” Nicanor Perlas cannot offer anything more but his life.
How can he explain that the reason why less people die of tuberculosis is because of his environmental advocacy? How will Perlas explain to the people that the reason why they are able to breathe more easily now is the result of years of struggling against Big Business by lowering carbon emissions?
Perlas is not a billionaire like Manny Villar; yet he is richer than the real estate magnate because he knows the human condition. Perlas was born with a proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, yet his heart is more proletarian than Villar’s who claims to have been born among the poorest of the poor. Villar stopped being poor when he got his first billion. Perlas became one of the poor when he helped his first thousand.
Perlas sees the world like Noynoy Aquino does but unlike the scion of the country’s top political brand name, Perlas struggled hard to carve his own. Thousands believe in Perlas because he lived and breathe what he preached.
Millions share his vision because they see, and feel it. Perlas is someone crying out in the wilderness and asking people to come to him and share his vision for the Nation. Perlas wants to unite people and fight against poverty. Perlas wants to eradicate graft and corruption. Perlas will exercise strong political will to fight the forces that weaken the Motherland. And Perlas will see to it that those who have committed grave injustices against the People are put behind bars.
There is something terribly wrong when people like Nicanor Perlas who once lived peacefully in their rich hamlets are suddenly seen in the streets, preaching the Gospel of Salvation from poverty and wants. When people who hate politics are suddenly going around town, preaching of “New Politics”, that’s surely a sign that things have turned for the worst.
It just means that the exploitation, the degradation, the immorality, the amorality, the misery of the human condition, has seeped into the comfort zones of those who are not of the hungred kind.
And I laud Blogwatch.ph and the Vibal Foundation for allowing me to partake of Nicanor Perlas’ vision even for an hour. Meeting him just makes me realize that the end is definitely not near, because there are still a few good men left who will sacrifice everything, just so that others may live better lives.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Patricio Mangubat (AKA RR)
I’m totally lost on what you’re trying to do. First Gibo, then Noynoy, then Perlas.
Let me be blunt: people will suspect that you’re getting paid to write all these blog advertorials? Para ka kasing putakti…lahat kinakagat.
If I may pose a different point of view of what Patricio Mangubat is doing in his articles?
First, I will say upfront that I myself have only recently (November 28, 2009 to be exact) CHOSEN by my own volition and answered Perlas’ call to a shared vision of a new Philippines. And in choosing, I have come out of the wilderness to co-create that same vision with him and a growing number of responsible and practical visionary citizens.
My interpretation of what Patricio Mangubat is doing is he — as all responsible and thoughtful citizens and voters actually should be doing — is researching, exploring, talking out loud his own understanding of each presidentiable. I don’t know Patricio Mangubat personally, but from the train of writing that you point out, Phil Manila, I am glad he is not a lemming who follows where the masses go, without thought or question.
In my opinion, there are too many people who are on automatic, voting because they have debts/’utang’ to and, worse yet, ‘utang na loob’ to their family, church, boss, company, hometown, etc.
Patricio Mangubat is testing all waters. As his piece indicates he himself is “challenging the comfort zone of those not of the hungred kind”. My hope for him is that, as he makes his own riches from Manok King, that he, like Perlas (and unlike Villar), he too becomes “one with the poor’.
(PS – it is impossible for PM to have written a blog ad on Perlas because Perlas and his whole campaign has no money. They are running on pure volunteerism. Volunteering, not for pay nor for a later reward, but for the principle, belief and call to serve the country and the planet starting with putting in place a leader who is committed to that same path.)
It only shows that people and also writers and bloggers are searching for the true candidate of the people… and there is nothing wrong to search … people will find their way.
There are many Presidential Candidacy.
I’d like to find out, who, they really are.
Great work Patrcio!
We finally got DEMOCRACY back to the system.
And thank you, for signing the Petition.
hi mario,
for the record, i never signed any petition for or in support of Mr. Perlas. I just met him courtesy of Blogwatch. And for PhilManila,
I do not write endorsements. I do not endorse any politician unlike you, err, persons I know.
These articles that I write about Villar, Noynoy, Gibo, Perlas and soon, Gordon, are based on the invites of other bloggers. I just write based on what I saw, heard and my own perceptions of the messages these candidates carry.
patricio,
I was actually giving thanks, to those that participated on the petition signing.
patricio,
It’s an open debate.
Whether it be the Presidential candidate’s, Blogosphere’s, or Commentator’s alike. To the columnist of FV site, I salute you, for your relentless, and tiresome work.
I am not affiliated with any campaign group, nor am I endorsing Nicanor Perlas for the Primary. Just like to share an e-mail that I have received from Mr. Perlas. For those who have signed the formal petition for his re-activation for Presidential Candidacy. Also, received the same thank you note .
But, I am supporting an open “DEMOCRACY” Fairness is a Fair play.
Food for Thoughts:
• You can take this as a “Grain of Salt”
• Or, cast it aside…[...]
I’d say that there is hope that the crooks will eventually be marginalized by a thinking public.
Joe
This is the best article about Nick Perlas I ever read. I hope there should be a filipino/tagalog version of this write up for publication and distribution for public consumption.
This is in response to Phil Manila’s comment above questioning what Patricio Mangubat is doing. He said “I’m totally lost on what you’re trying to do. First Gibo, then Noynoy, then Perlas. Let me be blunt: people will suspect that you’re getting paid to write all these blog advertorials?”
I’d like to offer a different interpretation of what Patricio Mangubat is “trying to do”. Though he can always speak for himself! First, let me say upfront here that I myself have just very recently (Nov. 29, 2009, to be exact) CHOSEN by my own volition to support Nicanor Perlas for President in the May 2010 elections.
In reading the articles that Patricio has written, what I see is that this man is doing what truly responsible and thoughtful citizens should be doing anyway – that is, researching, listening, going through real and valuable track records of serving the country to come to a choice that is conscious, thoughtful and free. Patricio, unlike much of the population, is not a lemming who, unthinkingly and automatically follow the lead.
Most people cast votes out of their survival needs, in fear of being punished by their boss, their company or organization, their church, or their own family members, for voting out of their “clan” or community.
Many others vote out of misguided loyalty to people they are in debt to. ‘Utang na loob’ is a Filipino’s unpayable, mostly emotional debt to individuals, groups, organizations they feel indebted to for past kindnesses or simply for being a member of the group. And still others just want to choose the lesser of all evils and get on with their lives, hoping the one who wins is the least corrupt. (oh my, how our lives can only sink from here from that way of thinking…that is the true wilderness!)
So, I applaud Patricio’s efforts to keep the channels open for the true and right candidate to arise who has and will serve the company fully…and well.
And for those willing to help surface that right candidate, do check out http://www.nicanorperlas.com.
PS: As to any question at all about “blog advertorials” and being paid by Mr. Perlas to write blogs or campaign for him. Nothing could be further from the truth. That language or concept does not even figure anywhere in the new politics we are aspiring for. I know of no one — including myself — in the Perlas community who is receiving a centavo or cent out of what we have fully and freely chosen to do with our time and our lives. As Patricio Mangubat entoned, we are acting, campaigning, gathering ourselves, not out of any monetary or other worldly reward, now or in the future.
We are here solely for our principles and for a vision of the Philippines worth fighting for.
Now that I read this article in full I cannot help but cry and realize that finally there is hope for our country. Finally my children can see a bright future and their children and children’s children. I for one have endured pain and suffering just to give back to my country and fellowmen. Ito ang tunay na BAGONG UMAGA! Salamat sa Panginoon! Salamat kay Allah! Salamat kay Bathala!
Pwede ba magrequest ng Filipino version nito? :) Salamat po!
Shen,
Kung gusto mo nang Tagalog version nito. The man to ask, and to translate this post for you, with a great charismatic na utak. That dude to be, would be marocharim He’ll dissect the living daylight out of this column, and bring it into light. The dude is freaken sick, when it comes to this! That’s if, he is willing.
errr… okay.
Hope to see the translation too :)
Hi guys,
Did the translation thing for the sake of my own personal amusement:
http://marocharim.tumblr.com/post/342806580
Hope it made sense.
Thanks Marck!
I mean serious translation from the author himself. I can translate this as well in Filipino without destroying the original intent and sense of the article.
Shen,
You mean Perlas translating his visions to reality? I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little time more after the election when he starts his job as President of the Philippines.
bert, Nick Perlas has been working on that vision since he has been radicalized by his father’s experience with the Marcos government. It has been more than 40 years. His track record, even outside of government, speaks of it.
Yes! He has translated his vision to reality. Just look at the last 40 years of his life. That’s what makes him different from all the other candidates. He walks his talk. Everyone else are talking about what they can do- wipe out corruption, eradicate poverty, etc. Nick Perlas has been doing that his whole life, and imagine without being in public office.
Pero kung ang iyong ibig na matunghayan ay iyong translation mismo na ukit mismo ng malikhaing kaisipan ng ating butihin at masipag na blagista na si Pat, aba, namnamin mong mabuti itong likhang translation ni Marocharim at baka iyong matanto na mas malalim ang kanyang mga pananagalog.
Marocharim made a direct Filipino translation.
http://marocharim.tumblr.com/post/342806580