Lately I’m reminded of the time when I was applying for a driver’s license back in my first month or two in Sydney. It took me all of three attempts to pass the driving test. At the time each attempt cost $30 in testing fees and half a day’s time off from work. I was particularly enraged by the failure of my second attempt. I was driving back the last 500 metres to the licensing office with the testing officer after an otherwise brilliant performance around the test route when a traffic light turned yellow just within that narrow gray area of ambiguity where one’s better judgment determines whether to drive on or pull back. I decided to drive on and even stepped on the gas to get me squarely past the intersection before the light turned red.
Needless to say, the testing officer wasn’t amused. The bang of the rubber stamp marking the words “Immediate Fail” in red on my application echoes in my head to this day.
As I was shipping out on another out-of-town assignement the following week, I faced another seven days of anxiety before my next shot at the test.
When we examine Pinoy “rage”, specifically how it is expressed and (mis)channeled, we gain further insight into the profound underpinnings of Pinoy-style dysfunction that remain beyond the reach of the minds of some of our renowned “experts” on Pinoy society. Rage can either focus the mind or see it unravel. In the days leading up to the most recent ocho-ocho “rally” last Friday, there was a lot of “rage” being expressed.
There was the quiet focused rage that drove non-self-serving and noble undertakings involving things like “organizing Pinoys [over] in Singapore for that final push to drive Gloria out of the palace”.
And then there was that kind of seething rage that given a bit of prodding with a few child-like queries gets expressed in a spectacular meltdown such as the way a prominent and well-regarded “political” blogger was driven to an anti-climactic fuck you moment.
Interestingly enough, the Inquirer.net‘s Op Ed for today jumps off from Mar Roxas’s own tang ina mo moment (at least that prominent blogger I cited is in good company). The editorial goes on to juxtapose this little factoid against some of history’s most elegant and classy comebacks spoken by some of humanity’s greatest statesmen.
Of Roxas, on the other hand (arguably the best “statesman” that a country of 90 million could produce), the Inquirer editor only had this to say:
The use of an expletive by the normally decorous Roxas drew mixed reactions. Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said, “We are saddened that he stooped so low in his tirade. We don’t think his crass language will help in his desperate drive to catch up with the popularity ratings of other leading ‘presidentiables.’” The public’s reaction was largely negative. But others, like Naga City Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado, said Roxas might have been exasperated over the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration’s repeated attempts to push through with Charter change.
When it comes down to it, our most illustrious statesmen and most learned “experts” are no better at handling exasperation and frustration than the Average Pinoy Schmoe. The very people who call for “decent” leadership find it quite a monumental personal challenge to exhibit it themselves. Never mind that the utter impropriety of officers of the Philippine government and agents of The System spending taxpayer-funded time walking with raised fists amongst such a rabble escapes our Pinoy-class thinking faculties. This lame attempt to grab media exposure points, low as it was, was out-plumbed by such a poignant display of flaccid indignation.
I hit on the idea that it is this unravelling of the composure of the pompous and the superficially-dignified that makes Pinoy politics the source of shallow amusement that it is. Apparently even the esteemed Dean Jorge Bocobo wasn’t above exhibiting his own version of that tililing rampage made famous by another “renowned” blogger:
Benigs,
All your umbrage against “experts” reveals a basically anti-intellectual stance, typical of lower management and the petit bourgeoisie. You think the grand solutions lie in org charts and trite slogans. Paradoxically, you berate experts while peddling yourself off as a power pointie operations managment expert. Expert at flow charts, vibrating clip art, and droll solipsisms. You are as crisp as a fresh ream of bond paper, and just as empty. You are full of plans and projects and folders and documents. But you are also on the other side of the world. In more ways than the physical.There! Now I can go Christmas shopping with a light heart!
[The last in a series of four "comments" that started here.]
At the end of the day, the only thing the esteemed “expert” on Pinoy politics achieved after that rampage was to prove that Yours Truly can’t spell — which so efficiently highlights the point of this blog entry…
Rage does not translate to results any more than a million-odd kilojoules of energy released in an uncontrolled nuclear reaction in one instance of foolishness is useful to humanity.
… which in essence is not too different from the message I hammered into Abe‘s head a few days ago…
Excuse me professor, but last I checked, we “ordinary citizens or non-leaders” do have the ability to have “control over [our] leaders”. All you need to do is to refer to The Constitution.
We just need to GROW A BRAIN so that we use these abilities WISELY.
You suggest that the system adjust — no, dumb itself down — so that it becomes “compatible” with the level of this “ability”.
And I’ve been accused of insulting Pinoys’ intelligence.
I SAY something a bit more real:
Ordinary Pinoys and non-leaders should STEP UP and elevate the savviness by which we apply that ability to “have control over [our] leaders”.
If our idea of what it means to savvily wield our democratic “power” cannot go beyond that half-brained measure of effectiveness embodied in how Conrado de Quiros apologises about last Friday’s flaccid numbers and instead highlights an anger…
[...] made all the more thunderous and luminous for being expressed in the wondrous colors of Christmas, in the vibrant tones of song and dance, in the barbed-wired words of parody and satire. Some of those who spoke there expressed their anger as well completely literally, in the language of curse and expostulation [...]
… then maybe it really IS time to explore a different approach to governing ourselves.
Then again, that in itself would be a monumental challenge given our society’s sorry track record of thinking outside the square. Apparently there is no university course that trains people to be non-experts. :D
———————-
EPILOGUE:
As I mentioned earlier, I hit a homerun on my third swing at the licensing office. I was $90 poorer but happy (I no longer needed to carry around my then Philippine passport as proof of identity as well).
Working the system didn’t give me instant results and cost me a bundle. But the results were sustainable.
Only when we learn to focus rage and passion on what is important rather than follow the lead of “experts” whose formal training imprisons their thinking causing them to go down deep and narrow into progressively trivial detail resulting in a chronic habit of comprehensively missing The Point due to an addiction to pompous verbosity, can we realise an unlocking of the vast potential that a country of 90 million truly deserves.
Like the jeepney that had proliferated in vast undifferentiated numbers as to devalue, we need to re-think our beholdenness to the Pinoy blogosphere’s equivalent of the jeepney. Ingenious at first, but now just part of the problem.
Problems cannot be solved using the same thinking that created them. – Albert Einstein
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Hey friend!
You probably need Joe Plumber for your “flaccid”
state!
Comments from a sloganeering bystander as always.
For one whose participation in political action is based on point and click it is really heart warming.
The temperate in the political spectrum is heating up.
Our sloganeering artist here reminds me so much of the leftist tendency at slogans and their Ibagsak one liners.
Roxas was simply trying to catch up. If you want to walk in the shoes of the majority who have a unsatisfied desire to strike back or speak out at injustice you speak the language of the streets.
Miriam was a perfect example of speaking for the quiet rage of most. Her raging almost gave her the Presidency. A culture that does not know how to say No seethes from within. The Malay word amok is widely used to describe this particular fact.
It is an old tried and tested format in political action. Agitate, organize and mobilize. In the case of this so called interfaith rally, no Princes of the church were observed.
The formal Church has put it’s focus on the Batasan and the issue of the CARP.
It is too bad most of the politicos missed the point once again.
Cha Cha is still for most in the abstract. Hilaw pa…The administration is still weighing the different scenarios it can use.
All the lawyers can simply talk themselves to death about which direction the game will take.
But on the plus side it is also an exercise in risk profiling.
Now how to make money out of this… Who to bet on?
Some may say that using yourself as an example may be called “solipsism” , for me it is saying that you are very much Pinoy like the rest of us.
But instead of asking for details on what happened on your first try and asking : wasn’t your third try a result of listening to experts rather than your own insistence and lack of patience(strictly follow traffic rules);I would rather not nitpick.
Roxas on …P ( ina) is a clear example of a product by its own -corrupt Senate, lacking the core ethical standards and principles as guidance for public service for example, a code of conduct. How can one reinforce and clearly define ethical behavior if one cannot even justify it on his own. Yes there are boundaries but this is in front of many people.
Manolo’s “fuck you” was acceptable especially when it was directed to Benigno… lol :)
i mean, intended for benigno :) am laughing at myself. sorry benigs.
leytenian,
stop pretending to be like me by speaking incoherently.
I saw your linked profile and you even conduct communication seminars.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/6/28b/8a2
you gave us your name in a comment thread:
http://www.quezon.ph/1963/crisis-management-immigration-and-devolution/#comment-937974
and you gave enough stories with regards to your background.
it is only now that due to my flaccid pinoy rage that i am having enough of your pretentiousness.
come on Carlota,you can do better than what you are typing in the comment thread.
that goes for me too,but I am no CEO of two companies and with background on training and recruiting people.
Benign0:
The word “flaccid” kind of refers to something else, and I think highlighting the word “rage” kind of doesn’t do much for…
Well… you know.
Marck, well, I used to use the term “limpdick” to describe much of the way Pinoys approach our petty politics. I just thought I’d use its more genteel synonym nowadays. ;)
Oh karl,
this owuld be the end of my being pretentious then. am sorry honey… I was going to hide myself and keep pretending. Now I have to behave. Bummer…
anyway, in fairness. I really do need to behave now.
here’s me and have fun: http://www.cjovenc.multiply.com
That’s cool, leytenian, and I again hear one of my favorite sentences — that “Life is good!”
Karl,
you made my day… Thanks Karl. I could no longer be the pinay that will do the ocho ocho. :)
The current situation in our country needs time and patience from all of us. But we do need to be very vigilant. Our country needs a full review of its rules and regulations. There are lots of weaknesses of which I have already shared by linking.
Our focus may be to correct those weaknesses and implement what’s right. But we are not the policymaker. We are few individuals that cannot change our system in a year or so. If you guys are frustrated, I have been but what can I do.
The press/ media is the most effective means of reaching the people.
I will behave as we go along. :)
Why did it take 3 times to pass the driving test? what was tough about it?
Does Benig0 really want to be known as that “flaccid” guy?
So where’s your favorite international consultant who’s pimping Filipinas, Benigno.
That e-zine had breathed its last, years ago. NO readers just like your website with ugly graphics which only you and some naive people would understand.
I also miss your other alternicks. I saw one a few weeks ago. The name is also Ben. If one is sharp, he will notice that he is responding as Benigno. Wrong log-in of gravatar. Tssk tsssk.
That’s why you hate me so much. hahaha
Where is kemo sabe…something something. Where are the trolls that you used to write the expletives for you? Classy?
Good cop, bad cop, the IPs were traced to your website. Didn’t I know that? Multiple personalities to debate in a forum. You have a bunch of rah rah boys before, Benigno A, Benigno B, Benigno C.
So the original Benign0 impresses a very composed gentleman while his alternicks do the demolition.
And you are still in your shameless promotion of your getreal. Don’t you get audience in OZ?
We should celebrate our PEX anniversary Benigno when you lost your cool with this Ca t and you summoned everyone including an editor of an e-zine. Sheesh. Pusa lang hindi pa kaya. MEow.
Lots of bad habits taken with me from the streets of Manila, GabbyD, not to mention having to learn how to drive on the wrong side of the road and on the wrong side of the car.
Then there’s all these roundabouts.
It’s a society made harmonious by a tacit understanding amongst people that rules are generally followed — which is why something like a license to drive is deemed a privilege that is granted only when the rules are mastered.
Kinda difficult to grasp for those who live in a society where rules are seen more as recommendations. ;)
Hey Ca_T, I dunno about me losing my icy cool, but it seems it is my collection of documented tililing rampages that seems to be the one that’s growing here. Maybe take some comfort in knowning that you no longer hold a monopoly on this interesting on-line phenomenon. :D
If its Ben Kritz it says below,that he was from the US then is now in the Philippines.
Maybe it is another Ben.
http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/david219
http://benkritz.spaces.live.com/
Hey Cathy,
You speak of alternicks, maybe its just me but some commenters sounded like you like: TAGA GUBAT pero di Magubat and TheGreatest
siguro guni guni ko lang yun.
That ganging up you got from benign0′s so called alternicks was unfortunate,but I a sure you handled yourself well.
Well, that is if you can call trying to turn into Darna handling one’s self “well”. :D
Karl,
You do not know benigno very well. I’ve known him for more than five years. Time and again, he’s kicked out from different forums and blog comment boxes.
This is Ben Kritz writing as Benigno in his multiply account.
http://bknc3867.multiply.com/journal
Did you not notice, the links are only for Get Real and Filipino Voices.
Is this familiar?
This is one of those moments when the world around me does something to prove a point I just made. In my latest rant in Get Real Philippines, I expressed my belief that the lack of substantial political parties in the “democratic” Philippines prevents the country from having a functional representative system. The latest impeachment circus act is a perfect example of how that lack is letting the country down.
I have seen that between five to ten times but have not fully read it.I will read it slowly this time. (if i recall i first saw this circa 2006 )and you always link it when there is a catfight.
Ok Pinoys are onion skinned,you too get pikon even in the comment threads and some times call people morons and remind them of their other inherent weaknesses.
This is not off topic because we are talking about the so called flaccid rage of pinoys.
There is no denial that girlie bars,beerhouses or whatever you call time nowadays exist,but not only in the Philippines you have women exploited.
I won’t be plastic and say that I have not been to such places, I have and it is more than once.
It is unfortunate,but they do exist .
Ok, I stand corrected but can I blame her for that so called Darna moment?
I will be the judge of that.
Ok benigs, ’til next shawarma ocho ocho or what ever cravings you have.
maybe he’s trying to be “one with the masses” by using masa cursing language. sadly, that doesn’t count to his favor.
korina should have been enough.
just maybe.
Sorry Cathy,
I was reading the ezine, when you replied.
Ok, got your point.
I wish benigno will divert his topic to an easier path to many solutions. I am not comfortable at all of blaming the majority and its flaccidity. Many have said that it’s the people’s attitude, sure but that’s 90 million. This website is not reaching them and worst, the media is weak.
The cat is very good … so watch out benigs. she has a world class thinking and she will never use a framework :)
Depends on how you define “world class thinking”, Ms leytenian.
And just because something feels “uncomfortable” doesn’t mean it is necessarily not the right “path”. Sometimes you gotta get out of your comfort zone in order to get a bit of clarity.
Madcat for example remains stuck in speculating about alternicks and alter-benign0′s – even latching on to Ben Kritz’s blog and making it out as some kind of “evidence” (a trick called narrative fallacy that small minds tend to fall for). That is her comfort zone kung baga.
if i react then I will be onion skinned like most of the pinoys, but I am pinoy.
so I will repeat: ako na bahala kung maniniwala ako.
Tulad ng sinabi ko.
I will be the judge of that.
I am not taking sides,if and when the Cat has a point,I listen and conversely if and when benign0 has a point I also listen.
That goes for everyone.
still denying benigno? tssk tsssk. huli ka na naman.
What was worst when you copied the articles of teddy benigno in your getreal website creating an impression that you were teddy benigno.
kaya nga benigno ka di ba?
when asked if you were the columnist, you did not deny.
What a rotten strategy to make your website popular.
you were forgotten benigno after the pex changed ownership. no more forum to self-promote your getreal until you surfaced to the comment boxes of renowned bloggers who promptly banned you because of your style.
The Ca t,
Why am I not surprised he ripped off the TeddyMan?? Like a Boor that shows up at a Dinner Party and is intent on poisoning the conviviality by goosing the ladies and peeing in the soup, B-0 is interested in nothing more boring than calling attention to himrself. Must be KSP.
But here I must admit defeat by exasperation. He really is too good, too perspicacious, , too compulsive, too obsessive, too starved for attention, and needs too very badly to prove something (God only knows what twisted thing it could be). So I am promising myself to just ignore poor Benigz. He needs professional psychiatric help. I’m not helping him any by humoring him.
So I’m gonna try to ignore him…steadfastly.
(But just think, from now on until forever, Benign0 will check every word he posts for correct spelling and will never forget me, even in bitterness. Forever! What a compleat and delicious accomplishment!)
Ciao! See you if and when you grow up, Benigz.
take it from djb on how to pat yourself on the back. he gets my vote for spelling czar of this blog, if we have to elect one. i don’t think one misspelled word can bring the unsinkable benigno down (lol).
the cat,
so benigno is white? lol
DJB,
I have been ignoring him, don’t I ?
He loves my attention. It gains him attention mileage. And now he’s doing it again with other FV
regulars.
You’re right. He has an AADS or he is just too lonely at the OZ.
I am on an ignore mode.
HUwwwwat??? This is the scandal of the year!
You mean benigno is like the rest of us filipinos and lacks originality?? he ripped off someone’s flaccid ideas and passed it around as his original flaccid idea? perish the thought!
Do you believe that it is his picture? He doesn’t even have a profile.
BK essays were the same as his articles in Get Real. BO uses other aliases to make it appear that he has other contributors in his blog who agree with him.
quick question. what does bencard and benigno have in common?
wait, wrong grammar pala, before djb corrects me. what DO bencard and benigno have in common?
well, he looks broke in the picture:)
tsk tsk. People are grasping at straws. :D
Sure you have, Ca_t. That is of course if dedicating a blogs post as a guest here in FV dedicated to moi is your idea of “ignoring”.
I’m too irresistible. :D
DJB, you can correct the grammar and spelling errors above. :D
people, let us discuss ideas not personalities, grammar syntax, prose, attitude, and peculiarities. if we keep doing that we are no better than the politicians we deride about. :)
well, the personalities explain why certain people espouse the ideas they do (like our corrupt extortionist lawyer de kuleleng above)