Reciprocity
July 15th, 2008 by Jon LimjapMy wife, a travel agent, got fuming mad at a “friend” last weekend. Her “friend” inquired regarding passport renewal application with a caveat: “friend’s” birth certificate has some problems, preventing her from obtaining one from the NSO. My wife asked if she had consulted her local civil registrar or a lawyer to fix whatever her problems are. The reply (this was going on in SMS, if I recall correctly) made my wife hurl:
Nagpagawa na ako ng birth certificate sa Recto. Nakaprint naman sa NSO paper.
The “friend’s” excuse for taking desperate measures is the fact that she wants to become an OFW — our latest breed of national hero. And doubtless, nothing will stop her — if she has resorted to Recto to rectify (pun intended) her birth certificate issues and the DFA refuses to issue her a legit passport, she would doubtless return to those run-down shanties alongside the LRT Line 2 terminal at that avenue to obtain a fake one.
In a post 9-11 world, anybody with a fake passport can and will be treated as a terror suspect. But that hasn’t stopped Filipinos from faking passports anyway, or working in Iraq despite a ban, for that matter. What infuriates me and my wife, however, is that not only is she willing to commit (or technically, has already committed) a crime, she also has the gall to assume that my wife will willingly be complicit to the act without a batting an eyelash.
Tough luck. My wife just told her to consult a lawyer. Or approach a more desperate travel agent.
The irony, of course, is that the “friend” is just one of many Filipinos who, when asked why they’d choose to work abroad, will spit out the same standard complaints stating that there are simply “no opportunities” in this country because “the government is corrupt” and “the economy is bad” so on and so forth. In fact, there are many Filipinos who would complain about how corrupt, say, traffic enforcers are — all while driving a luxury SUV ignoring red lights, at twice the speed limit, without a fastened seatbelt and on coding day within coding hours to boot.
Meanwhile, two protests came up against them “big oil companies” the past few days, with very different results. The first one occurred last Friday, where militants threw bags of used diesel on the offices of Petron. The second, more successful attempt was at Shell last Monday, where they were able to hurl paint bombs and spray paint at the Shell main building.
Where’s the punchline, you might ask? When, at the first incident, security guards tried to beat off the militants who were hurling used diesel with their batons, the protesters had the gall to plead not to be hurt:
But the students suddenly began throwing plastic bags filled with used diesel on the walls of the building, prompting some security guards to beat them with sticks.
“Huwag kayong manakit, hindi niyo kailangang manakit [Do not hurt us. You don’t have to hurt us],” said Zarate. [Inquirer.net]
Emphasis mine. So, did they expect the guards to give them hugs and kisses?
It frustrates me when it is obvious that the very people who are supposedly moving towards “the betterment of the country”, being considered as “heroes” and “forces of change” and, belonging to the youth demographic, considered as “the hope of the nation”, will demand that establishments, institutions, and the system per se hear and respect their opinions while they do not display any modicum of decency towards them, and in fact commit the same crimes they accuse the elite of committing. It frustrates me when, while these militants expect the middle class (us, essentially) to rally behind their cause (lest you will be branded as “apathetic”), they display brash, ill-considered behavior more akin to acts of juvenile mischief than anything else.
What way too many Filipinos apparently miss is that, in order to defeat one’s enemy (in this case, the system, or at least the widespread corruption and decadence that characterizes it) one has to treat that enemy with respect. Not because it deserves respect, but because treating it with respect is a safeguard — to remind one’s self NOT to underestimate one’s enemies, and also because by treating it with respect one will remember not to become that which we hate — as in the case of passport-faking “heroes” or paint-bombing radicals.
It’s not just about anger. In fact it should never be about naked aggression. It should all be about respect.
I will leave you with a quote from Stan Tyminski, who ran for the Polish presidency (and lost by a narrow margin) in 1990, from a commentary he published regarding respect for one’s enemies [PDF]. Needless to say, you only need to replace “Poles” with “Filipinos”:
As much as I respect and even admire our enemies, I perceive the real problem with my countrymen. Having a strong, intelligent and deceitful enemy among us requires even more strength, intelligence and conceit. There is a saying that the value of the man (sic) is measured by the quality of his enemies… Unless we respect them and try to best them, we Poles will never win. We will always be slaves. [Stan Tyminski]
Let’s start treating our enemy with respect. And then, we could fight back.
July 15, 2008 at 1:15 am
Coincidentally, the need for reciprocity is also the basis for my saying that the Middle Class should have cared more that the masa have been cheated in the last Presidential Elections.
July 15, 2008 at 1:43 am
@ Jon,
You call it respect, I called it historical realism. Definitely not ‘defeatist’ as you would have it. Relax, I’m with you. We’re on change together.
Cheers!
July 15, 2008 at 3:36 am
cvj, when it comes to your “cheated” mantra, you are like the eveready bunny – going and going and going and going, ad infinitum, ad nauseam. for what? where’s the beef?”
July 15, 2008 at 4:43 am
Here’s a phrase I often find myself using to describe Pinoys:
Sila pa ang galit.
It’s like one’s daily drive to work in Manila. You honk your horns at jeepney driver’s who cut in your lane, and guess what?
Sila pa ang galit.
You wait patiently at a McDonald’s for a server to yell “Next please!” Then some moron slips past you and plants herself in front of that cashier. You politely tell her you were first in line, and guess what?
Siya pa ang galit.
The list goes on and on and on like cvj’s pathetic “I’m a victim” mantra. :D
July 15, 2008 at 6:22 am
cvj,
Ah, sure, but that’s precisely what I wrote against before:
http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2008/02/29/its-not-apathy-its-timing/
Sorry dude, but, I believe that GMA should be made accountable in court, not in the streets that your masa prefers.
And that’s precisely one example of how your masa lacks respect for its enemy, and yet another reason why they cannot defeat the wily president.
July 15, 2008 at 6:53 am
*nods in agreement*
July 15, 2008 at 7:01 am
PSI,
Glad to know that. I hope you, however, will understand that I don’t like the idea of peddling hopelessness because the concept does drain the best and the brightest away from the country and it does discourage people from doing anything to improve the country (I mean, why bother, it’s hopeless, right?). The belief that there is hope and that something can be done is requisite to start fixing things.
benign0,
A few months back I was at Mall of Asia lining up for a cab. The problem was that cabs were coming few and far between and naturally, some people are getting impatient. When a cab came moving towards the head of the line, the guy in front of me attempted to hail it right then and there (we were like, 25 people behind the first). I immediately gave him a sharp look saying “pare respeto naman!”
Ayun, nagalit sakin. Por que pulis daw siya, Tapos ini-intimidate pa ako asking me whether I came from the area etcetera etcetera. I just selectively answered yes and no questions, all the while sporting a game face. I guess it’s a good thing that I’m a relatively tall guy, and it was a public place. It was the one of the most awkward 30 minutes of my life standing his ire until we finally got to the head of the line. Fortunately by the time we were a few people behind the first, he had already calmed down.
Finally when he was to board the next cab, I told him two words: “thank you”. And he was caught off guard, only being able to mumble the words “salamat din” before closing the passenger door.
On hindsight I guess that, because of how bad things are (real or perceived) here, some people already believe that any form of kindness, decency or respect will go unanswered. Unfortunately they don’t realize that the best way to get those things back is to earn it.
July 15, 2008 at 7:26 am
jon:
i very, very respectfully agree; you do not throw the arrow that will turn against you. you are free to believe what you want, as long as you don’t shove it down anyone’s throat. if you have do… well, let’s just say that persuasion is a rare skill.
July 15, 2008 at 7:37 am
Jon,
I think what we describe based on our personal experience is a key factor in why implementation and stabilisation of systems that owe their success to a collective cohesiveness in a community usually end in failure in Pinoy society.
There is a lack of respect for rules and a lack of appreciation of how the quality of said rules determine the performance of a system. That is why our moron senators are able to get away with wasting tax money on no-results “hearings” instead of tweaking the rules (remember that aspect of their job) to enhance the performance of our governance framework.
It takes a cluey electorate to elect cluey politicians, and an accountable electorate to form a society that routinely holds its politicians to account.
Systems that work are for the most part rules-based. In societies with a highly-advanced systems approach to governance, the system is ROUTINELY evaluated and based on the results of the evaluation, the RULES are tweaked to correct flaws and implement improvements.
Compare that to primtive societies such as ours. Our systems are not critically evaluated based on measurable outcomes that are tied squarely with the nature of the rules applied.
Instead we react when the system breaks down and rather than evaluate the rules and the behaviour of the system around these rules, we skip that whole process entirely and simply take the low-thinking-applied option which is to take to the streets to dance the ocho-ocho (if you look carefully you might spot cvj in one of those fiestas :D ).
July 15, 2008 at 9:42 am
Jon (at 6:22 am), it’s that kind of tone that betrays lack of reciprocity on the part of the Middle Class.
July 15, 2008 at 9:48 am
The two processes need not be contradictory. I myself would not want to participate in regular street protests – save for crisis flash points, like EDSA dos.
For the organised masses, they may see these protests as the only way to articulate their grievances. For us, we have the internet yeah? I see both strategies as essentially the same. We are essentially engaging in anti-politics.
Anti-politics is a new type of politics because it is not about the capture of state power; it is the politics of those “who do not want to be politicians and don’t want to share power; it is a counter power that cannot take power and does not wish to. Power it has already, here and now, by reason of its moral and cultural weight…”
July 15, 2008 at 9:59 am
cvj,
Even guerillas choose their battles, and plan their tactics well. Hindi sugod lang nang sugod na ang armas mo ay itak samantalang naka-Remington at Springfield ang Guardia Civil.
sparks,
With the kind of leadership the opposition has, I doubt if they can even begin to imagine what you have just stated.
July 15, 2008 at 10:02 am
jon,
who said anything about the opposition? anti-politics does not speak to politicians. this is all about us. you and me.
July 15, 2008 at 10:08 am
hmm, with regard to ‘respect.’ i do not think we are in the position to make judgments as to how these people behave without having ourselves experienced such confrontations.
that said, a good friend who organised such rallies in his youth said they are “pumped up” before a rally. i don’t know what he meant by that exactly, but we can probably assume they went to these things angry. and then they expect to be treated harshly by the police (or whomever), so they’re already on the defensive – uber-paranoid and uber-sensitive.
i agree, this is hardly the right frame of mind to peacefully express grievances.
July 15, 2008 at 10:18 am
Jon, you think that GMA wouldn’t be adequately prepared by the time 2010 comes? Would that then be the time to charge with our itaks?
IMHO, lack of concern is as much a sign of disrespect as throwing a bag of used diesel.
July 15, 2008 at 10:24 am
sparks,
Then it appears that even I cannot digest what you have talked about, I apologize.
Re: pumping up — the real irony is, when they are treated harshly by the police, they shout “abuse” and “harassment”.
cvj,
The more that we have to be prepared. Eh hanggang sigaw lang naman ng slogan ang kaya nila (ninyo?) gawin eh. Meron pa ba? Yun lang diba?
Ganun sila (kayo?) ka-smalltime.
July 15, 2008 at 10:51 am
Mockery is not a sign of respect, much less reciprocity.
I think that conceptually, this is what underlies the differences in our respective worldviews.
July 15, 2008 at 11:01 am
Don’t try to strawman me, Chuck.
I do not believe it is disrespect when I point out that the measures your beloved masa are taking are not enough for the situation at hand. It’s not mockery, it’s reality.
These people are trying to apply small-time solutions (protests, propaganda, hurling of paint bombs) to try and bring down a big time problem (Oil companies, the oligarchy, GMA, small as she is, has a big time FG backing her).
That approach has only worked before through big-time numbers, and clearly you have become addicted to that kind of support, and blame the very people who have supported you before for not supporting you again — and accuse us of apathy to boot.
Is that the way you command the respect and support of the middle class? Throwing tantrums?
July 15, 2008 at 11:17 am
Jon, just to be clear, i’m not from the masa, i’m from the middle class and i couldn’t care less about getting the respect from the masa because i know how much respect we really deserve.
The reason why the protests remain small-time is because those who normally know the difference between right and wrong have chosen to remain silent. By definition, that silence cannot be attributed to these small-time noisemakers.
Come 2010, it will be clear that the same people who will be blogging about and advocating good governance, reciprocity and all that are the same people who ignored the injustices that have been staring them in the face.
July 15, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Jon,
Like I said, I do not see the difference between screaming out on the streets as they do and “screaming” online as we do.
July 15, 2008 at 12:30 pm
sparks,
Touche; however, we do not hurl used diesel and blue textile paint at establishments either.
And that, along with other disruptive, pointless acts of violence, is my main pet peeve as far as “respect” goes.
July 15, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Ok, I finally read the news items.
I do not think they meant to hurt anyone. They did mean to deface those buildings. These public protests – and these ’stunts’ are classic strategies for postmodern political action – i.e. attract press coverage in order to generate public discussion.
It is the same tactic used by INGOs such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
I am not saying it is right to deface private property. However I do think these people know the risk of getting arrested once they do these “senseless” acts. And yet they still do it.
You ever wonder why?
If enemies were of the same size, then they can battle it out on an equal playing field. And if they are not?
I do not want to be an apologist. I am trying to see from their point of view. Just so you know I have never felt a need to march out on the street. The only time I did was during EDSA Dos. I have never been part of any youth groups either. I guess I am just not a joiner. :)
July 15, 2008 at 3:38 pm
sparks,
Indeed, they do get media attention. Which is no different from, say, the hearings “in aid of legislation” wherein the legislature can grandstand while the cameras click and roll.
And they can spray paint their slogans in any blank wall in the metro — which is no different from your favorite trapo posting up his projects and plastering his edifice in areas visible to his constituency.
Which brings me back to my point: the same people who complain about the wrongs of the establishment commit the same offenses in a different form.
It’s hypocrisy at its finest.
July 15, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Jon, in an unjust society like ours, decorum cannot be the highest value. That’s part of the Middle Class’ myopia.
July 15, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Chuck: you hit the nail right on the head re “decorum”.
That is why those pesky tricycles cannot be told to move their terminals elsewhere even though they cause congestion in already-narrow side streets
That is why it is okay for a jeep to belch smoke, ignore traffic signs, load/unload passengers in the middle of the street and likewise cause traffic with nary a hint of concern
That is why it is okay for vendors to sell their wares in the middle of the street
That is why it is okay for squatters to stay on land that is not their own
That is why it is okay for OFWs desperate to leave the country to subscribe to illegal recruiters and fake their passports
Indeed, your argument justifies the crap thrown out by the “victims” of this grossly unjust society we have. They need not display decorum, nor offer respect to anybody — it is their right as victims of injustice to commit injustice to everyone else.
I like the way you think Chuck. Really.
July 15, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Jon, i think it’s the other way around. The Middle Class uses the Masa’s ‘lack of decorum’ as a reason to nullify the latter’s calls for Justice.
July 15, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Yes Chuck, it IS lovely to be devoid of responsibility by virtue of injustice, isn’t it?
July 15, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Not as lovely as being able to blame the victim.
July 15, 2008 at 7:29 pm
cvj,
Right. I see that we have reached that lovely deadlock cherished by 8-year olds when they scream “but you started it!”
Thanks a lot.
July 15, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Yeah, fits the title.
July 15, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Jon,
I don’t think it is fair for you to compare the militants protest actions with the instances you mentioned. It is clearly illegal to deface private property. It is a willful action on their part. They do it anyway regardless of sanctions or prohibition. And they do it to advance a public, political cause. If they go to jail, then they go to jail.
The examples you gave occur because of lack of governance – a lack of enforcement of rules. They only happen because their private actions go unpunished.
July 16, 2008 at 6:26 am
One sad and scandalous reality is the existence of what people call ‘the other DFA’.
Mr original post of this in my blog is quite long, so am sharing the link:
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/lauro-baja-and-the-other-dfa/
July 16, 2008 at 6:42 am
sparks,
I was just reacting to Chuck’s assertions when I stated that. Clearly, I am not trying to absolve the middle class of its sins but rather, I’m talking against the notion that it is okay to disrupt society simply because a person perceives to be a victim of injustice. Besides, as far as paint bombs go, it’s not the oil company that is inconvenienced; it’s the janitor who’ll have to work overtime figuring out how to clean their mess.
As you have stated, decorum vis-a-vis public acts have nothing to do with subverting institutions or the system. But there will be a lot of people where such mentality will be deeply ingrained into their minds, because society spoiled them into believing that “victims” are a type of faultless, privileged class. Ergo in the Philippines, everyone claims to be a victim.
July 16, 2008 at 9:28 am
The reason why many in the Middle Class give Macapagal-Arroyo a free-pass is because she has maintained a certain level of decorum vis-a-vis public acts.
July 19, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I know this one of the last things you want to hear because you hate them but if you were an American you would be a Republican.
July 22, 2008 at 3:06 pm
sparks: “These public protests – and these ’stunts’ are classic strategies for postmodern political action – i.e. attract press coverage in order to generate public discussion…”
Do these guys imagine that getting coverage this way encourages the man on the street to discuss their issues on their merits? I find it hard to believe that – these “postmodern political actions” are often taken at face value by their target audience – i.e. “these are crazy fucks who seem to like destruction for its own sake.”
I often wonder why our organized Left cannot think out of the box, and create new “postmodern actions” that don’t involve paint, burning effigies, or banners.
July 23, 2008 at 12:34 pm
parang ganito rin ang mangyayari ngayon sa kasama kong ofw,ang sistema ganito,natapos sa kontrata niya nitong buwan,so end contract na siya,umuwi upang magbakasakali ulit sa pinas,abay nagulat at natulala,isang lingo palang ubos na ang ipon,hayun at nag-email sakin na babalik daw sa employer namin,kaya lang kailangan ngayon ng papeles at diploma.at yung ang tinatrabaho nya ngayon..ewan ko kung papasa.
August 4, 2008 at 6:45 pm
often the militant groups cannot distinguish what is the difference between authority and authoritarian.