Next time we lament how personality politics are so mind-numbingly relevant in the national “debate”, look no further than the esteemed “experts” who give such topics the time of day. We keep blaming politicians’ focus on their personal agendas for our society’s chronic troubles, yet take a look around the media over which the “national debate” is delivered. All the vacuous chatter revolves around trivialities on the very politicians these so called “experts”, “revolutionaries” and trajos (traditional “journalists”) claim to revile. Worse, they are not only trivialities, but trivialities around these politicians’ personal agendas!
All good if the time of day given by our esteemed “experts” is around evaluating:
the agendas of these politicians that are relevant to the nation’s development efforts;
the nature of the ideas and ideologies that underpin these agendas;
… and,
the consistency around how they plan to execute their agendas in the context of said ideas and ideologies.
Trouble is, the evaluation and “analysis” that remains popular in the Philippine National “debate” is aimed at easy targets — the slapstick world of politicians’ personal snafus, movements within and between political “parties” (never mind that these “parties” stand for zilch), who’s scratching who’s back, etc. Stuff that even morons can discuss amongst themselves.
Here is a small sample of the kind of pointless “analysis” we see across that part of the blogosphere I am most familiar with (note some formatting is mine for emphasis):
What is the most likely scenario after June 30, 2010? Who knows? Desperate people do crazy things. But the best scenario is for Gloria to realize that there will be a lot of noise to bring her to justice but it’s going to be only noise. She will get away with it because that’s the way it is in this Enchanted Kingdom.
So why speculate then Mr. Buencamino?
Many observers are convinced that the TRAPOS (traditional politicians) and manual election cheating operators, desperately want to, and can still scuttle election automation and force the usual manual election in 2010, so we are a long, long way off from a hoped for clean, honest and automated election that does not require over a month for the results to be announced while they are cooked.
If they are that desperate to cheat Dean, it will happen within a “computerised” system as well. Furthermore, I doubt if the number of “observers” that are “convinced” about something brings that something anywhere closer to being an even remotely sound assumption about anything.
At least one resident “reporter” put forth a promising vision in a recent piece:
On May 10, 2010 Filipinos need to stop voting on the basis of political favors and the put-on charisma of traditional politicians and pick the next President, Senators,and Representatives on the basis of their vision and platform of governance.
Sure thing Ding. I’m with you on that, 100%!
But we’d like to hear from you what, beyond tired old displays of “vigilance” and “indignation” using ocho-ocho tactics, you think this current crop of Philippine “Opposition” bozos should stand for. Apparently you do not shy away from a bit of name-dropping but then manage to remain silent when presented with but a sample of the wealth of ideas that the name droppee stood for.
Perhaps you should revisit your roots as a reporter, Ding — you know, those types of “journalists” whose opinion has no place in what they write.
Considering that this kind of “insight” (sampled above) pervades the national “debate” in value-crushing volumes, I find that there is an immense opportunity in each one of us as communicators to differentiate. You know, raise the bar to a different level for a change. For that matter, isn’t this how change is achieved — by doing something in a different way?
Allow me then to dig way back from my early days as a “blogger” and re-pose this challenge:
How do we as communicators aim to differentiate ourselves?
Communicators — both professional and amateur — compete for an audience. In the case of “bloggers” it is the fickle eyeballs that surf the Net. Each “blogger” is but one of hundreds or thousands of products sitting on a supermarket shelf beckoning to yummy mommies zipping along with their trollies down the aisles.
Because if we do not aspire to be different, how can we presume to be innovative in the insight and possible solutions we might offer?
There are lots of loud “voices” here proclaiming their hate for the Administration. Sure. Patalsikin na, now na, right? But how are we different from the so-called “Opposition” — united, fragmented, or associated, whatever the frig they consider themselves to be — who to this day have NOTHING new to offer in the way of innovative ideas and proposed roadmaps for us to take as a people?
To crystallise the inescapable reality of the utter lack of imagination of Pinoys (as evident even in the way we blog), I’d like to use a snippet from my book that is a favourite of mine:
Ambeth Ocampo described how a lack of an ability to imagine and dream is readily evident in Philippine industry in an Inquirer article he wrote in September 2005 after a visit to the marble-producing Philippine island of Romblon.
Of this island’s craftsmen, he wrote:
What did the people in this sleepy town do with their marble? They made them into tombstones, mortar and pestle. As a tourist, I asked myself: How many “lapida” [tomb markers] and “dikdikan” [pestle] do I want? How many lapida and dikdikan do I need? Come to think of it, how many lapida and dikdikan do they sell in a year? Here is a region that has skilled manpower and an almost inexhaustible natural resource, but their products are unimaginative. If culture comes in to introduce new designs and new uses of Romblon marble, that would go a long way in developing the industry and the province.
Indeed, one can draw similar analogies in the Filipino entrepreneur’s penchant for following a “me too” approach to getting into business. There is an almost lemminglike behaviour in the way Filipino entrepreneurs get on a business model bandwagon. This behaviour accounts for the lechon manok (roast chicken) and shawarma (Mediterranean wrap) booms in the 80’s and 90’s. The proliferation of jeepneys and tricycles also illustrates how such safe but low-returning (and, in the long run, unsustainable) ventures are among the favourites of individuals with a bit of capital to apply.
[NB: by the way, I'm exempt from offering anything different here because my stuff is in a class of its own.]
And so it is with the way Filipinos “debate” the issues, how we offer public transport to our compatriots, how we “oppose” an incumbent government. Same ‘ol, same ‘ol year in and year out, decade in and decade out.
There is a peaceful poignancy in the sight of a people aspiring to a different future as they plod along the same beaten paths…
============
Join us on Facebook!
Popularity: 4% [?]
“[NB: by the way, I'm exempt from offering anything different here because my stuff is in a class of its own.]”
What a tall poppy that needs to be cut down!
Quite far from Rizal as translated by Derbyshire
“And to this end, I will strive to reproduce thy condition faithfully,without discriminations; I will raise a part of the veil that covers the evil, sacrificing to truth everything, even vanity itself, since, as thy son, I am conscious that I also suffer from thy defects and weaknesses’
Yes you are a class of your own, Fair dinkum.
benigno,
If you were not so obsessed playing with yourself you would have noticed that my post was a dig at speculation.
“…playing with yourself…”
Could this mean “Intellectual Masturbation” with matching “Mental Orgasm” as expressed by the following moaning pride:
“[NB: by the way, I'm exempt from offering anything different here because my stuff is in a class of its own.]”
For the majority of pinoys (simply a brand)there is no Philippines to begin with. For the balance a superficial construct (delusional) placed there by the colonizers.
You cannot extrapolate from something that does not exist.
Hence the wish of some to simply sell it to whoever wishes to pay the highest price.
True.
A zero denominator results in an infinite value — probably why the vacuousness of the “national debate” rages on ad infinitum.
not true.
extrapolating from something that does not exist is called having a dream/aspiration/vision.
by definition, the thing doesnt exist when you dream/apire/envision something.
otherwise, you wouldnt have to dream/aspire/envision.
GabbyD:
a large number of pinoys vision is to become a dancer on Wowowee… ROTFLMAO
@bong
is there something wrong with wanting to be a dancer?
wanting to entertain?
what do you really want to say?
GabbyD:
sure thingie – being a dancer on WOWOWEE raises the bar..
susginoo.. pass the ganja dude
Social movements that want to create change is about finding the common denominators — or if there is few or none — creating them or strengthening or enlarging on them — the positive ones. So far, we have desirable common denominators — although they may be weak or probably “shallow” for now.
Can it be that it’s you who don’t share any common denominator with us “vacuous” folks? You are beautiful (a sui generis) sabi mo, and we chaka folks are just learning the art of being one. In any case, we don’t hate you certainly. You are one of us. In fact, Pinoys, certainly identify with every one, every single nation that exists on earth — and that’s one of our main strengths, and to an excess, one of our weaknesses.
Now, perfection or the obsession with it is the saddest thing in the world — because it doesn’t exist. It happens especially when we are very frustrated with things. Over the rainbow, which is nowhere in one’s lifetime, perhaps it does — as Judy Garland sung about it. (KAtherine Mcphee version): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmm2_rnl14I&NR=1
Grammar check:
Social movements that want to create change “is” —> ARE about finding the common denominators — or if there “is” —> ARE few or none…
Could not agree more! Any one can hallucinate, pero si Perfecto lang ang perfect, heheh.
Schools and universities stand out — really are quite visible — as institutions for social change.
If one is still confused as to what social movement to join,
then do this in the meanwhile.
(1) Work hard — earn more;
(2) Repeat step (1) above;
(3) Repeat step (1) and (2) above;
(4) SEND a one-time donation to the scholarship fund of
UP-Diliman or Adamson University or a school of
your choice;
(5) Repeat steps (1) and (2) above;
(6) Send a four-times-a-year contribution to the scholarship
fund of UP-Diliman or La Salle or Adamson University
or a school of your choice;
Or as institutions that perpetuate the status quo, or worse, dumb down the public.
Way I see it, it’s not the schools, but the students and teachers themselves who would promote social change, not as part of the school’s agendas, but of their own independent desire to see improvement in the country. I agree with BongV’s comment on schools… which is why we have to graduate.
Madonna,
I think separate the message from the messenger’s style, and Benign0 is making a legitimate point. The point is not his obnoxious style.
I tried to talk my wife into setting up a real estate agency. She has the brains to do well, and there are few about. All she could see were the problems, and had no desire to discuss how to deal with them. Self-starters should thrive in this economy . . . why don’t they? Where are they?
I think that issue is worth discussing.
I don’t get it myself. I don’t think it is education or intelligence, it is more that the “thrill of the challenge” is not here. I think that is B’s point.
Joe
Joe:
There are a lot of self-starters, but it is not enough. Offhand, I can think about two factors:
1 – Red tape – byzantine labyrinthine regulations; business registration and getting clearances from all the agencies before you can get a permit is a big TURN-OFF.
2 – Corruption as a driver that increases the cost of doing business – there is not much profit to be made when nearly all the net income is eaten up by costs of doing business
3 – High barriers to entrance – the prequalification process is a disincentive which does not give legit startups a fair chance to bid for lucrative government contracts.
Bong V, no offense, but aren’t those just the sort of ambition-crushing challenges Joe was just talking about? They’re not unique, either; starting a small business in the U.S. is a g.d. nightmare. The kind & number of steps one has to follow are approximately the same as they are here. True, the one thing that is missing is the extent of the corruption (although it does exist, in some areas & fields, like construction, much more visibly than in others).
And having had a bit of personal experience here with the issue, it seems pretty clear to me that the best interest of everyone involved is that businesses actually start & prosper. The corrupt officials, after all, get nothing from preventing businesses from thriving. So, there’s a balance to be found. Is it morally or ethically right? Absolutely not. But it is what it is, because there are enough business people who are willing to deal with it that it continues to exist. Now then, if enough of them could get together and tell the poorly-designed and corrupt regulatory structure, “Eff you. We’re not doing business and you’re not going to make any swag off of us until you correct things,” I bet things would change. But that’s a bit hyperbolic, so in the meantime, you adapt, adjust, work around, overcome – you find a way. Unless one is just not that determined, then fine, no need to bother.
Having identified the constraints, the solution therefore lies in addressing those factors mentioned:
1 – Reduce the red tape.
2 – Build procedures and processes which remove or eliminate the “touch points” conducive to corruption.
3 – Provide equal opportunities for legit startups to compete for lucrative government contracts.
The list is not exhaustive, but I think that implementing policy along these lines will go a great way in making self-starters flourish.
Ben K
I have done business both in the US and the Philippines – getting started (incorporation, business permits and licenses) – US wins hands down – by a light year.
the long and short of it – it’s not worth the hassle and the headache.
BongV: You just fell into the “Pinoy-in-Pinas” curse — to expect failure (or mediocrity of outcomes) and then to blame the hassle to justify not doing the effort.
The truth is — when it is worth it to you, then then it is worth the hassle. When IT is worthwhile to (a) feed the kids/family/self and/or (b) to have a large bank account for retirement……
what is worthwhile is worth the hassle.
UP n grad:
I have better returns from overseas – ROI mate.
Pinas is not worth the hassle for the ROI.
I have choices – I choose the better, productive, choice.
Why settle for a mediocre product called the Philippines.
For the same effort I exert, I get more from taking the overseas route:
* my retirement is taken cared of
* my children’s education is exceptional
* i don’t have to deal with bollock homeland pinoys. i don’t see the idiocy, i don’t get the anxiety from watching all the stupidity – it works for me
BongV: got it… you had two promising alternatives and you made a choice.
Then there are those faced between trying the hassle of doing better or remaining on a road to perdition.
Start-up effort is no different than getting a PhD in Australia. Even if you know you ain’t ever going to be a Nobel Prize winner, will NOT find the solution to global warming, will not even have a tenth of Lucio-Tan’s networth after 20 years, one still purses {THE GOAL} if one considers {THE GOAL} worth more than remaining a bachelors-degree-only employee of Pfizer or a high school teacher in Catanduanes.
UP n Grad:
there’s another thing, the forex and the compensation package allows for more net disposable income:
BongV,
Yes, red tape out the gazoo. That leads me to a couple of thoughts.
Why is it that Ms. Arroyo can’t hold in one hand the list of economies in Asia, showing the Philippines as the least productive, and the list of complaints about red tape in the other, long and heavy, and conclude, “well, we must do something here.”
Nothing is done to change, to repair, to build . . . the giant ship sits listing, listing . . .
I attribute this to two flaws. One, there is a housewife in an executive position (let me explain before housewives rail away at me). Two, the Philippine system of fee-taxes is destructive to value-creation.
Housewifery is a demanding, difficult task; I can’t do it well, and end up screaming at walls. It is especially hard if there are young kids in the house. But it is a job of routines and reaction, not what I would call creative pro-action. The baby knocks the sugar on the floor, you clean it up.
The guy who figured out how to put cold air in a box to keep the meat fresh was creatively proactive. If you look at most corporations, the top person, or a planning department, is responsible for designing change. The Philippines lacks this “structured” creativity.
Both jobs are essential. But Philippine government – even the Executive branch that runs all the bureaus – is stocked solely with housewives.
Second, the red tape is generally attached to fees which support both the local/regional/bureau economies (and the corruption that is rampant there), from the Barangay Hall (resident taxes) to the halls of justice (court fees) to the Bureau of Customs (book fees). This is a flaw in structure. Ban administrative fees, replace them with an increase in value added tax, allocated throughout government, and the tape would go away. Who wants to do all that paperwork if it is not really needed?
So two steps would vastly change things. The President needs an executive planner to design change, and service-fee-taxes need to be outlawed and replaced by taxes on wealth.
Please excuse the declarative sentence structure. These are 3 am thoughts. Thanks for ruining my sleep. ha
Sometimes this place is a bit of a nightmare . . . running in slo-mo through the snake-infested jungle chased by rolls of red tape . . .
Joe
Good point bongv
extracting the red tapes, reducing corruption and lowering barrier to entry are governable and manageable by way of policy transformations and execution. Government officials are expected to execute a higher degree of duty to promote growth for the country. Governing bodies are obliged/required to reflect of these “hassles” as a public liability and risk to our country’s economic health. It’s their STANDARD duty to make things easier for every pinoy entrepreneur. The results of their performances will be an increased in the overall revenue of this country through business tax and income tax. Since this country’s governance style is non-performance of STANDARD DUTY except increasing VAT, it can be inferred that public officials are lacking education, skills and expertise in the area of economic growth. This can be the result or product of a poor educational system. It remains below average to govern the public. Their skills are for kamote and bananas… :)
Just like this Benigno’s blog. He presses on his desire to raise the bar of debate, and yet he cannot raise the quality of his blog. He sounds like one of those public officials I am talking about. I wonder where Benigno went to school?
Bong V, those are excellent starting points for removing the obstacles businesses face. And your assessment of the comparative ROI between here and somewhere else is also very sound.
(Although there is a wide range throughout the US; some places are easier than others, and it depends on what you’re doing. One of my early experiences was helping my parents set up a small restaurant/catering business in Indiana — giant pain in the ass. Setting up an LLC as a consulting business in Arizona a few years ago — not such a big deal. So I’d have to edit my previous comment slightly, to say that the big problem in the US is inconsistency.)
But UP n grad makes a good point, too. You have the ambition + the choice to take it elsewhere, whereas the majority of the people are only equipped with the ambition. In the absence of clear progress toward some of the corrections you suggest, they have to be able to do something in the meantime. And I think it’s important to support those who are determined to, as I said before, adapt, adjust, work-around, and overcome, because the solutions they find to get over on the present messy circumstances also suggest ways in which it can be substantially corrected.
@leytenian – Why the snarkiness? Or more to the point, what about Benign0′s blog displays ‘lack of quality’ to you? Because this back & forth the rest of us have been having certainly represents a much higher bar of debate (otherwise I wouldn’t bother). I’d say mission accomplished on Benign0′s part. Yes, yes, he offered no pat answer to all your problems, so you said. Typical Pinoy in Pinas attitude. Unless someone hands you the solution, it’s too hard to face. Where’d you go to school, btw?
Actually, take stock of the mix of participating commentors here in the last 2-3 days and compare that with the mix late last week, and you get an indicative measure of where the bar is at the moment. ;-)
Ben K:
imho, this is where the political process comes in. people can elect leaders who have proven themselves in generating positive results in governance. the point being, electing proven reformers can provide a polciy environment that can generate returns for the electorate many times over the amount the electorate will receive if voters merely sold their votes to a bamboozling kleptocratic bozo.
but the electorate seems to have a hard time distinguishing bozos from the real deal. succumbing to the temptation of instant gratification is an expressway to perdition. can’t have the cake and eat it, too. juan tamad has to get off his butt – no one will hand him progress and development on a silver platter. no pain, no gain.
Bong V, that is *exactly* the point, and the only direction in which a solution lies. Now somehow convince 12 to 15 million other people to follow you down that road, and you guys will be in business.
Democracy is kind of discouraging sometimes, isn’t it?
joe, you better “believe” it.
I am just wondering, whether those 12 or 15 million other people have gray matter between their ears.
bongv, not to defend or justify any president (of any country for that matter) but one has to walk in a president’s shoes to realize that such a position of ostensible “power” could be not as “powerful” to give effect to his/her vision, as he/she appears to be. you can elect the wisest, cleanest, most upright, most sincere moralist, but from the moment of taking oath, he/she will be the target of sycophants, “pay-back” collectors, influence-peddlers, kamag-anak, inc., power-grabbers, conflicting interest groups, business cabals, janus-faced “advisers”, partisan bureaucrats, messianic ideologues, politicized military men of questionable loyalty, and just run-of-the-mill “political opposition” who are thirsting for the highest office of the land.
i believe even Jesus Christ, in His pure human form and unaided by His divine nature, would have a hard time being a “perfect” president, and could end up being nailed to the cross a second time around.
Bencard,
Barak Obama included?
Joe
Hey, this is a real gem of a statement, Joe. Honestly I think Nick Joaquin beat you to the idea by a few decades, but this succinct way you put it is priceless.
I agree. We as a people don’t see challenges. All we see are show-stoppers. That’s not to say it is not important to have a clear and deep grasp of the nature of the problems in such a way that the real nature of the challenge at hand also emerges.
Filipinos make good auditors, don’t they? Or they make good tra-jos. Finding complaints and faults is second nature to many a Pinoy.
– ———- –
Those not wanting to do the “self-starter” route will always find roadblocks, e.g. difficulty of getting licenses or lack of sufficient capital or “…but the big businesses will just stomp on us! How can the little guys win in this Pinas environment???”
The solution then becomes “… mag suwelduhan na lang, sigurado pa.” Now this (to be a bank- or supermarket- or construction-business- or government-employee) is A-okay (for sure, it pays the bills!!). The problem is when 5 months or a year later, the lament becomes “… but there are no jobs available!!!”. GMA, talsik diyan!!!
There is a 3rd solution – one shown by the diaspora many times over
Get a job overseas – Be selected based on merit and not due to connections.
Leverage the forex gap to generate savings and capital. More dollars translates to a lot more pesos.
Generate business contacts overseas. Identify trading partners and sources of venture capital (mostly friends and relatives)
Invest the capital in the Philippines. The venture capital will now be able to cover the cost of doing business
fixers
grease money for the petty alligators in the government booths – sampalin mo ng pera ang mga ‘tangina
There is a 3rd solution – one shown by the diaspora many times over
One of these days, BongV, you will also compare the ROI between (a) invest money in Pinas versus (b) invest money in USA.
ROI will depend on the industries you invest in and the profit in absolute figures not percentages.
let’s talk apples to apples.
if we were to look at the difference between the 20 year T-bond offerings of the US and the Philippines – US T-bond interest rates are lower by 50%:
however, the stability of the philippine government and its penchant for changing rules in midstream is a disincentive – thus it has to offer higher interest rates in order to get more investors.
as to a mutually exclusive US OR the Philippines proposition – i think that misses the point of global trade. trade and investments in the 21st century is a US AND Philippines proposition – US markets, Philippine Operations, senior management from US with mid-level managers in the Philippines or vice-versa whichever brings more profits.
Ben K:
i will have to disagree.
go to http://www.sunbiz.org/ – you can have your business registered and incorporated in less than an hour – for $125 only.
now, describe to me, the steps you have to do to have your business registered and incorporated in the philippines – and how long it would take.
Okay, point well taken. However, I’ll also stick to what I said before, in that there’s a variety of conditions that apply after that point depending on what you’re doing. Registration and incorporation are just two steps of many for some businesses; I suspect you’re probably in the same league as me (i.e., a business based largely on intellectual capital and little or not at all on physical capital like a store, workshop, restaurant – forgive me if I have made an incorrect assumption, tho). For other things, I think there’s a legitimate comparison – in which the US comes out as a far better choice, but that still doesn’t mean it’s *uniformly* easy.
Which of course actually doesn’t have anything at all to do with the Philippines’ *uniformly bad* situation. I think we probably agree on that; whatever the pros and cons of somewhere else, they don’t change the problem on the ground here.
I think incorporation is even cheaper in the Bahamas, too.
Ben K:
An investor wouldn’t even get to the point of checking out the other conditions if he is turned off by the LOUSY, ANTIQUATED, OBSOLETE, SPAGHETTI procedures of the Philippine bureacuracy.
What I learned in life and in running a company is: Good Ideas come
from everybody. Even the lowly laborer can have good idea. So, you
have to listen to everybody. Not because the guy graduated from such
Ivy League Universities such as Harvard Univ. or Yale Univ. That he has the monopoly of good ideas or solutions to problems.
We are citizens. We have the right to give our opinions of what is
happening to our country. Other people, no matter how good you think
they are. Do not understand how we feel. How we are affected by the
decisions of our leaders and politicians. We, ourselves have the
Best Viewpoints on our situations. We speak for ourselves. We dont
want any spokespersons.
Ideas are a dime a dozen. Both DingG and Primer can give advice to BayaniFernando on how to improve the sidewalk-vendor problem in metro-Manila.
Turning ideas into reality is where the big bucks lie.
Eto na lang, easy idea you can act on – if you have any of the following:
* old encyclopedias
* dictionaries
* educational magazines – national geographic, times, newsweek, health & home
* old computers
* old textbooks
donate it to the public school nearest you, right now.
your act will go a long way than writing a thousand blogs on how you will improve the philippine educational system.
when you guys are done talking… join the guys who are walking the talk.. assuming you really wanna do something other than flaunt your englitscheze on this site.
For me, our culture needs a good nip in the bud. Or at the roots.
And the result may be: if you do things right, some assed-up super-patriot may point a finger at you and say, “Hindi ka Pinoy!” Just point back a dirty finger and say, “At least I do things right.”
Nationality is a mindset. We are citizens of the world. Dwellers of
this Planet called Earth. Good ideas knows no nationality.
Yep.
It remains of tribal value, however, to band together to protect against warring neighbor tribes.
Lay down the guns and we can do important things together. Like stop the seas from rising . . .
Imagine . . .
Joe
how do you reconcile this with the 2nd. par. of your 11:14 pm comment, huh, toro? you have to be consistent.
At least Hyden said something agreeable here.
Nationality is not just a mindset… it’s a construct. We can destruct or reconstruct it, without much consequence to ourselves… only to our pride. F*** that pride.
Power does not come from pride. It comes from achievement.
We strengthen people, we strengthen the economy. Not the other way around.
Come on, leytenian. That is a nice slogan but even Pinoys in Pinas know better. That sign at the corner restaurant :
is more appropriate. Very quickly, the strength of a people depends on that community generating income for itself.
And the problem with the slogan “we strengthen the people, we strengthen the economy”
is that some Pinoys — a few tra-jos, bloggers and members of the CBCP — use it to preach the demagoguery of “… first, you give the poor their rights their rights their rights (Yes! They have the right to the human right of free medicine and retirement-income at old age). Only then can you (Malacanang, Gokongwei, Lucio Tan and rich guys). Only then can you ask for us to work harder or to risk the perils of working overseas.”
A Barber commited a crime, and had to go before a judge. Since it was his first time the Judge only gave him a community service in his own field.
He must give free hair cuts for one month, and every time a customer asks how much for the hair cut, he has to explain his crime, and that this is his community service.
Anyway, he was happy, because anything beats the jail.
first day he gave a hair cut to a Florist, the florist asked, how much at the end, he replied, oh nothing…….explained the Judge’s order.
Next day when he came to open the shop, there was a bouquet of flowers and a thankyou card.
That day a person came who owned a chocolate shop, after the hair cut he too asked, how much? the barber said oh no charge because…….. Judge’s order.
Next day when he came to open his shop, he saw a box of chocolate and a thankyou card,
That day he gave a hair cut to Pinoy, The Pinoy asked how mucH? The barber said nothing because…….. Judge’s Order.
next day when he came to open the shop there was a line of more Pinoys waiting to get a hair cut.
Bongv,
I interpreted your fairy tale as an execution of the RULE of law. The judge in this myth is practicing his standard duty to prosecute or prefer charges. When wrongdoings in high places are punished and penalized, community and righteous public service could have been the result.
The line of pinoys getting a free haircut is only humorous but fallacious. Ordinarily, a poor pinoy family will struggle to send one child to college, then the educated child gets a job as a servant or whatsoever it gets. Other children tie the knot to a foreigner. The child have replicated and has sent other family members to college. And that’s a fact.
This story, of course meant to be one of those sort of exaggerated fables, still demonstrates a true point… that there seem to be more people out there don’t just know how to say thank you and would rather abuse the opportunity given. I’m sure there are pinoys like the Florist and Choco Shop owner, or even the Barber (he did what he was ordered), but the thing is, when the abusive Pinoys came, there was a whole line of them…. few are the good people in the world.
UP N,
according to benigno: stidi ka lang dyan.. :) lol
how in the world do you “strengthen” people? operate on their brain, e.g. lobotomy, change their heart, their legs, their arms?
unless you consider them robots, you cannot re-design them to suit your needs.
exactly.
one thing we need — a culture of results.
our theory of action into “getting better” must shift from “magaling ang Pinoy”, “may yabang tayo”, “kaya naman natin ‘to” into actually doing things that will make us proud.
we really like to psyche ourselves up — inspirational masturbation if you will — but the truth is nothing beats actually getting things done.
pride stems more easily from doing something with results, rather than having it psychologically self-induced.
@chino
whats wrong with filipino culture?
I think it’s deeply entrenched in Filipino culture to reward the wrong. For example:
Friends insist that you go with them to a beerhouse to screw some prostis. If you refuse, they’ll call you bakla, hypocrite or even un-Filipino.
People saying that it’s OK to cheat a little (politicos?). Di ka raw Pinoy if you can’t forge a document, etc.
The jeepney: try to change the design or try something new (like what they do in Iloilo), you’ll be accused of destroying a Filipino icon. But we need change (maybe a non-issue, but certainly symbolic).
If you’re in the U.S., and Andrew David Cunanan comes into your house, asking you to hide him because he murdered Versace. If you turn him over to the police, someone will accuse you of being un-Filipino.
Benign0′s classic example of Romblon marble makers. They all make tombstones. Then one maker decides to diversify by making pretty statues. His neighbors complain, “di ka nakikisama!” and may try to sabotage his business (hey, it could happen, right?).
And so on.
Forgive me if these seem exaggerated to you, but they’re not unrealistic, are they? I’m not washing my hands of my own faults, but don’t you think Filipino culture seems to love wrong stuff too much? That’s what needs change.
lets discuss point per point
1) calling names
name calling happens everywhere. peer pressure exists everywhere. the macho culture is in every country.
2) really, someone said thats unpatriotic? can you share the story? right now, the jeep industry is dead basically. i love the iloilo jeeps.
3) never followed cunanan, but someone accused the guy who turned over a murder suspect as anti-filipino? can you share? as far as i know, he killed himself and his nationality was never an issue.
4) ah, the marble carvers…
i’m pretty sure, the story you (b0?) are telling is 100% apocryphal. why would anyone complain?
GabbyD:
are you saying nothing is wrong with filipino culture?
susginoo, your smoking some powerful sh|t, pass the ganja dude.
@bong
i think these are general bad traits that ALL people have, which, when combined with external factors, and the fact that there is little reward (in general) to accentuate positive traits in certain situations, make the bad traits loom large.
so because ALL cultures have it, it now becomes OKAY?
all cultures kill, therefore it is okay to have killers in filipino culture?
all cultures steal therefore it is okay to have thieves in filipino culture?
therefore killing or stealing is not wrong, because other cultures have the same?
OMG. deeper and deeper in the rabbit hole.
Since some say stop complaining about the country and talk about action, I give as one proposed action, if it comes to this: when culture itself faces you with the temptation to do wrong, with the risk of being branded as “Un-Filipino,” then go ahead and risk being called that. Be willing to be “unpatriotic” as long you know what you’re doing is right. I’m sure you agree, in the end, you’re the one who’s truly patriotic. That’s what I wish to say with the above.
Chino F:
your thoughts remind of a parallel track – was talking with the deputy executive director in a previous stint. he and i were talking about doing the right thing – and at times it can be lonely when everyone else is not doing the right thing. and on that note – he said, “as an institution that does the right thing, we are ready to be alone” – true enough, by popular pressure from the various agencies who didn’t like the bar of performance to be raised, the city government terminated the institution – only… to reopen it.. kung hindi ba naman mga gunggong.
investors getting wind of the news that the one-stop investments shop was closed, promptly served notice of not going ahead with their investments. so the city was hard pressed to reopen it – by then its executive and technical talent had been headhunted by companies from overseas. ang nakuha tuloy e yung mga latak.
BongV,
Your story is a working example of my version of Benig’s marble makers story – classic crab mentality in action. Ayaw mahirapan ang agencies, so they pull the improver down. Inggit din. True, but sad.
True, but sad too is that often, you are alone in doing the right thing.
Then Go It Alone!
Yeah baby!
@Bong
its not OK. its just not a problem that is SPECIFICALLY filipino
@chino
you’ve just identified why its hard to DO THE RIGHT THING. :) but do it we must, right?
To crystallise the inescapable reality of the utter lack of imagination of Pinoys (as evident even in the way we blog) benigno
Well, benigs, you have to speak for yourself. Your blog does not offer relief nor inspiration. Your approach is very negative to the public, encouraging public officials to do what they have been doing- NON Performing of STANDARD DUTY in pubic administration. What your blogging is creating an alibi, misleading the people. Regarding the Romblon marble…The local people cannot be accused of having “no world view” of supply and demand except, they can simply think of local demand. If Philippines want to open its trade and supply the world of products made of romblon marble, then it must accept and allow access to international trade and remove red tapes at our borders… All these issues are governable and manageable- STANDARD DUTY, at least in my own world view. What are marbles for? What countries in the world demand these products. Who are the competitors? What are government steps and policies to support PROMOTion/ ADVERTISE at an international level?
The local demand may be are just for lapida and dikdikan? To compete the world, we have to think of the world supply and demand. Understanding it and educating the people is a function of any government administration. Why manufacture and produce if we cannot compete and control trade? Product Promotion is a skill. Do we have a public official who talks about promoting our product? Maybe? But what’s obvious is their promotion of “servants, bad diplomas and maid to order bride”.
Let’ say, for example, I am an entrepreneur, willing to invest and sell Philippine marble to the world. What do you think are my hassles of doing business in the Philippines? ( Bong said it), and I constructed an answer above… What does it take for this government to encourage OFW and other investors to invest? Is it not to cut off the red tapes, corruption and high barrier to entry? In the end, we can conclude that it’s still a PRIMARY function ( STANDARD DUTY) of THE Governing bodies.
I’m tired of you benigs, winks.
tell you what while you guys are talking lapida, kiko pangilinan’s dad sold a boat load of marble furniture in orlando, florida during an international exhibition sometime in 2003 to 2004.
also had boatload of marble-trimmed furniture from Cebu that an Ouano scion and I sold to liquidators in Kissimmee and OBT during the same period.
anyways, when doing business in the Philippines, you wind up accepting that the philippine government is the biggest obstacle to business success – puro pabigat, puro magnananakaw, mga walang pakinabang, mga empleyadong palamunin na wala namang output.
after you’ve gone through your stages of grief because you are doing business in the philippines, go on with your business plan as if there is no philippine government – our you will wind up depressed, frustrated, raving mad. the simplest solution to get things done in the philippines is to busalan mo ng pera ang lalamunan ng mga ‘tangina.
Tsk tsk, tranquil.
First my work is “insulting”, now it is “un-original”.
But then you haven’t yet substantiated your first assertion (that I write stuff “insulting” to Pinoys).
What then gives you the credibility to even make a second “assertion”.
Tough luck.
Trouble is, Mr. HYDEN TORO, is that Pinoy society is a credentialist society. Furthermore, there is a kind of hypocrisy institutionalised down to the deepest core of that most fundamental pillar of society — the family, one that involves a banal habit of bullshitting and patronising people perceived to be more junior or subordinate to one’s self.
To cite an example from one of my favourite fan letters (please excuse the grammar):
Thus, I find it a bit quaintly hypocritical how our societies “experts” and self-described thought-leaders presume to slag government officials for lying, cheating, and bullshitting when all that merely reflects the typical upbringing of the average Pinoy schmoe.
But then considering that the above is such a fundamental problem — almost a show-stopper — in our pained march towards that elusive level of prosperity that is accessible to the general public, it is quite unfortunate that real prosperity is a bit more demanding. It requires immense leaps in imagination and forward thinking.
As Joe observes…
… not a very promising circumstance as far as Pinoy society is concerned.
Perhaps that is the reason that people simply overlook this hapless collection of volcanic rocks that made singaw between Indonesia and Hong Kong as an attractive haven for taking risks.
So, I have no disagreement with what the alluring Ms. leytenian says here:
My “blog” is the least of the problems besetting Pinoy society m’lady. If you think it “fails to inspire”, maybe you ought to look beyond it at the entire society that it so disturbingly but realistically depicts.
Stidi ka lang dyan.
Dear Benigs,
Even though you are not the people’s inspiration but you influence me to share my view- just keep blogging. I know what you’re doing. Did you not notice the ” winks” …? I thought you are unsusceptible and insensitive?
Hey Benigz, we are way too past in the observations on how rotten Philippine society is or how stupid Filipinos are.
On that score we almost certainly agree on most of the analysis/observations penned by different experts on reams and reams of paper or gigabytes of net data.
So your ranting is nakakapagod at nakakasawa na, especially with your signature arrogance and coconut insults.
What is bothersome is your proposition to set up authoritarian regime peopled by your so-called “elite” or the “enlightened ones”.
Convince us Benigz why we should be seduced as well with this “brilliant” idea of yours.
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll start listening to you.
N.B.:
BTW Benigz, TCB did not advocate elitism. He penned his hopes on the middle-class as the main mover of societal change.
The question is, tranquil, are you “way past” these observations?
Because if I recall right, you did mention that you found the various Truths about Pinoys that I articulate in my brilliant “blog” a bit “insulting”.
But then having said that, it seems you’re not even quite sure what specifically about what write can be construed to be an “insult” to Pinoys.
This circle of going-nowhere “debate” seems to be, well, stuck on you, dude.
tranquil, step outside yourself for a few moments and compare your reaction to Benign0 with the reaction of the authorities to the competitiveness survey results Joe America & I were discussing earlier in the thread. Do you see a similarity? If not, what are the differences?
trajos my eye. pinaiikot lang mga ulo nyo ni benignO, ikot naman kayo ng ikot, heheh.
Education is strengthening.
The dysfunction, the rottenness, the stupidity…we are all, more or less, in agreement these all exist in Philippine society.
To iron out..
..the dysfunction
..the rottenness
..the stupidity
do we :
* strengthen the Democratic space?
or, as Benigno proposes,
* bring in the Elitist Authoritarian Rule?
That is where we should focus our debating energies on this particular thread, at least.
You sound like a Cylon. How do you go about “strengthening the Democratic space”, if not to improve the discernment and critical thinking of the people who are responsible for choosing representatives?
Funny, I totally missed the proposal about bringing in Elitist Authoritarian Rule. You really need to think about holding that demagoguery seminar; you have a gift.
Yes Ben K, you are missing it by a mile. I suggest you go to Benigz’ website first before you hark out cluelessly.
If you’ve been to Benign0′s website (which you obviously haven’t – nothing like staying uninformed to prevent the corruption of preconceived notions) you will have taken note that I’ve been there already, and often.
If you’re representative of the common level of intellect of the democratic base which is expected to run this country, then as a representative of at least some of the foreign investment that you need to keep from starving to death, I’d say Elitist Authoritarians are a hell of a lot easier to do business with.
There, are you sufficiently insulted now? Go learn something, and bring back some reason and evidence to the debate instead of demagoguery and ad hominems.
Gotcha Ben K. Alright, so we rid ourselves of this democratic bull and work out the establishment of an Elitist Authoritarian rule instead.
The devil is in the details, says Benigz. Are you aware of those details?
Buddy, you hand me a straight line like that and I’ve just got to take it…
Wait for it…
>>Have you found your DICK yet?:
http://www.getrealphilippines.com/agr-disagr/delaney.html
;-)
I’d be the first to admit that it is *ultimately* an imperfect solution. However, given the constraints the country faces in terms of intellectual and ethical resources, I’d argue that it is the most *expedient* solution.
You admit to the stark impossibility of your model being duplicated here, viz. different people, different attitude.
So option “B” is using “gulpi de gulat”?
Again with the hyperbole. I did not say it’s a “stark impossibility”. In my article I said it is the more likely of two possible solutions…the degree of its likelihood (which is to say, slim) notwithstanding when the likelihood of the alternative (rational, ethical, and service-committed politicians to be found among the current population) is zero. And you seem to have fallen into the curious intellectual trap of assuming that any solution has to be the last solution. That’s a common mode of thought here – Exhibit A, your Constitution. Obviously, benevolent dictatorship is not the end-all. The dictator will eventually die, after all, and there’s no guarantee that his successor will be of the same temperament. But it buys you time. It provides a window of opportunity to clean up some messes, tear down some antiquated structures, and put the old order – which everyone agrees is no damn help to anyone but themselves – out to pasture. Or on the gallows, if you want to get nasty about it.
That way, when the dictator passes on, the people will look around them and say, “We do not want to give up all that we have gained. Let’s find a way to keep it.”
Think that sounds goofy? Well, it’s not really even an original idea on my part. One word: Singapore.
Counter Exhibit A : Ferdinand Marcos
For benign authoritarianism you need a benign (and, for Philippine temperament especially, charismatic) leader.
Who do you have in mind?
Ben K,
My first wife was Singaporean and her mother was a member of Lee Kuan Yew’s staff dealing with health issues. Lee indeed led in a visionary, disciplined, productive, respected, good way. Some people chafed at the nits of the rules, but what a dynamic citystate he created. I was a little dismayed by the Raffles Hotel, however. Kinda worn out and just a tourist trap, and the Singapore Slings are pink girlie drinks. Ahahahahaha
An out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new approach here need not be a dictatorship. It just has to be a government that replaces the people who are there now; essentially fires them lock, stock and barrel, for failure to perform.
I have, on my visionary drawing board, the ideal form of government, correcting flaws I see both in the US and Philippine government structure, but I don’t have the audacity to present it here. There is a certain resistance to the arrogance of outsiders who “think they can show the Philippines how to do better”, even though it is just a figment of imagination, a fiction, impractical for its boldness. But if anyone ASKS, I would be happy mow down conventional thought with outlandish ideas that might provoke fresh thinking.
(Working on my Benign0-style humility here.)
Joe
Joe, I’m offering GetRealPhilippines.com as an option you might consider for publishing your vision. I have a no-humility-allowed policy over there which I merely extend over here in FV to delight in how the style gets under the skin of average Pinoy schmoes (kind of like how part of the delight of burping and farting out loud is in seeing the expressions of revulsion in the faces of people over what are really bodily processes that EVERYONE possesses). ;-)
BenignO,
Interesting proposition. Let me reflect on it. I tend to have a loyalty here to FV, but maybe I can do both. I appreciate the offer.
I’m now engaged in polishing up a few words on the draft.
Joe
No problemo Joe. Consider the offer made. I’ll leave it up to you to decide the course that best suits you. :-)
All right, Joe. Consider yourself asked. :)
Ben K,
Thanks for the invite. I’ll let you know when it’s up, and where.
Joe
Hmmm…not sure to agree with this entirely BongV. Obviously we are not entirely running around in a merry chaotic state of anarchy, are we? Certain degree of “rule of law” exists but it is selective. We could perhaps reign in the petty thieves of Quiapo but the corporate and Imeldific thieves go scot free.
That’s why the need to apply rule of law across the board.
tranquil – in case you didn’t the Philippines is already under elitist authoritarian rule – look at you b}tches trolling the streets like hos =)
Istedi ka lang muna dyan BongV, we are giving Ben K here the chance to make his case for their little authoritarian project.
I intend to enlist if their details are not full of devils…hahaha
anong istidi – the point is the philippines is already under elitist authoritarian rule – the local economic elite has already put its seal on the charter and has locked the philippine economy under its atuhority
the local political elite has already locked the positions by through dynasties and cronies.
cmon guys – elitist authoritrarian rule is already staring at you right in the face.
ano ba yan
That’s just the whole idea of dysfuncionality BongV. Because if we go by your observation that we had been under elitist authoritarian rule all along, it is not really authoritarian in the strickest sense of the word.
And conversely, when somebody asserts we’re having democracy; it too, is not democracy in the real sense of the word.
So we need to decide clearly what is best for us, agree on it, and buckle down to work to make it work..
That’s why i wanted Ben K and Benigno here to make their case for their rightest, elitist authoritarian project.
Is it really a “brilliant” idea coming from a narcissistic Benigz or just a whole lot of crap?
tranquil:
– as ping lacson puts it – it is a feudal society trying to pass itself off as democratic – or if you go by utrecht – semi feudal semi colonial if you go by bretton’s euphemism – it is a “developing” nation
Correct. So which way do we proceed? What form of government is best suited for us to rectify this anomaly? The rotteness. The stupidity. The dysfunctionality.
Constitutional Democracy or Authoritarian rule?
We cannot have a hybrid or a combination of both, right?
Either we strenghten democratic institutions (restore rule of law across the board) OR we take the shortcut towards authoritarianism as herein proposed by Benigz and company.
tranquil,
The real problem, I think, is not whether there are more constructive forms of government than what is here now. There are. The problem is how, practically to move to it when the entrenched are just that, entrenched. Either they have to agree it isn’t working, and transform. Or some other way has to occur. I have not heard anyone currently in government say it is not working.
Most people who travel to Europe or the US and return to the Philippines can see that something is not right, but the empowered are blind to it. Or choose to stay blind because it suits them.
So the problem is not what form of government is better, it is how to get there.
Joe
So the problem is not what form of government is better, it is how to get there.
Joe,
What makes Arroyo’s sins so revolting and so reprehensible is that we were made to believe that we were suppose to be having a constitutional democracy (i.e. fully functioning tripartite branches of executive, legislative and judiciary). And then here she comes ramming through all sorts of authoritarian flirtations and machinations. What comes out is dysfunctional governance. Stagnation. Paralysis. Status quo. Identity crisis. Neither here nor there.
So I have to disagree with you. The matter of deciding which way to move in the manner of governance is as important as, or even a requisite for, getting there.
tranquil:
what “restore rule of law” are you talking about – the philippines has yet to get it to work in the first place.
first,, get this “rule of law” thingie to work.
personally, i am averse to authoritarianism and i prefer my democratic space. which means i am inclined to strengthening the institutions that nurture a culture needed for democracy to happen.
To iron out..
..the dysfunction
..the rottenness
..the stupidity
do we :
* strengthen the Democratic space?
or, as Benigno proposes,
* bring in the Elitist Authoritarian Rule?
That is where we should focus our debating energies on this particular thread, at least.
BongV, maybe you were comparing apples and oranges. Because if the florist and the choco shop owner are Pinoys then it’s three out of three Pinoys having good manners and good attitude.
If the Pinoy third customer is neither a florist nor a choco shop owner then it’s clear he’s a potential philanthropist, which is not a bad thing.
If the florist and the choco owner are foreigners, it follows that they do not have any kababayans around to recommend to go to that free barbershop so rather just had to be content with giving something in kinds, their own product…ang babarat namang foreigners mga iyon.
Since you were trying to project Pinoys in such a bad light in your story, may I ask if you are now a Pinoy basher imitating benignO?
Bert:
There’s bashing – and there’s factual observation.
I may not like the implications of the observation, but, it has been observed,
you have a problem with that.
do you ever notice that the areas which have a sign bawal umihi dito or bawal tumae dito is like a magnet for people – the sign becomes a come-on for a restroom .. =)
bakit doon napunta reply ko sa kwento ni bongV?
Tranquil,
I have had previous encounters with Benigno. I hope you don’t mind if I accept his dare.
Benigno,
Since you are an advocate of the Japanese manufacturing engineers’ advice of “Do it right the first time”, if you were citing something to condemn it; you would have stated or implied that you were citing it to condemn it. Anything else should logically have your support.
You claimed that Filipinos act nonsensically when they offer food to others when the fact is that everyone eats. (Some Filipinos even offer drinks to go along with the food)
You mention nothing about the cultures of other people offering a cigarette to others when not everyone smokes. Some cultures even expect others to smoke “peace pipes” without asking first if such persons actually smoke. Obviously such a practice is of no use to you in insulting Filipinos because Filipinos are supposed to buy single cigarettes at a time so they’re not likely to offer a single thing that they are already consuming.
“Offering cigarettes to guests is a traditional Chinese way of showing respect to them. A cup of tea and cigarettes are perhaps the most common way of welcoming a guest in China, especially during festive occasions such as the Lunar New Year.” Please do add http: when needed.
//www2.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-02/13/content_6450298.htm
Saying “no” to cigarettes: a reappraisal of adolescent refusal skills
//www.faqs.org/abstracts/Psychology-and-mental-health/Saying-no-to-cigarettes-a-reappraisal-of-adolescent-refusal-skills.html
“The pack is designed with the understanding that quite a large component of smoking cigarettes in a social setting involves sharing and gifting them to other people. Silver slide develops a story around that potent experience hook. Offering the cigarette, overlooked usually but now prominent because of novelty, becomes part of the experience.” //www.tobaccojournal.com/Objects_of_desire___the_latest_in_cigarette_packaging.48416.0.html
“Offering a cigarette is as common as a handshake in Egypt, where the culture of smoking is so entrenched that patients and friends sometimes light up in hospital rooms.” //blogsofbainbridge.typepad.com/jackie/2008/06/egypt-intoduces.html
“There are no physical reasons to start smoking. The body doesn’t need tobacco the way it needs food, water, sleep, and exercise.
…. The only thing that really helps a person avoid the problems associated with smoking is staying smoke free. This isn’t always easy, especially if everyone around you is smoking and offering you cigarettes. It may help to have your reasons for not smoking ready for times you may feel the pressure, such as “I just don’t like it” or “I want to stay in shape for soccer” (or football, basketball, or other sport).” //kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/smoking.html
You support Nick Joaquin’s claim singling out Filipinos as acting on a pygmy scale backed by statements of Filipinos engaging on buying/selling a single cigarette, a single banana, a single egg, etc… when there are other cultures/people doing quite the same and probably even worse with packages those “singles” come in.
http://filipinovoices.com/wanted-empire-builders/comment-page-1#comment-74683
Bananas without the bunch- //www.retailwire.com/discussions/sngl_discussion.cfm/11245
//www.hellodamage.com/top/?p=1606 (Do take note that many comments center on the packaging of the items. Sooner or later someone is going to equate this lengthily with JPEPA )
In the article in your website titled “Dependence on foreign capital? Scratch your head no more!”, it is stated that “Further to that, a society that finds no merit in frugality, simplicity, and self-reliance will forever remain financially bankrupt.”
And that is backed up by your support of TCB’s article “The worst, best of times…” (which you reiterated also in your FV article “Re-elevation of the Philippine National “debate”) where TCB wrote of Samuel P. Huntington’s “Frugality is the mother of investment and financial security” .
So your claims are either contradicting each other again; or worse, they are made to gratify whatever possible “deviation/s” for which your so called brilliant book was probably created to satisfy.
When the Filipino does not practice “frugality”, the Filipino is in a static culture.
When the Filipino do practice “frugality” by buying one egg, one banana, etc… the Filipino is Liliputian or operates in pygmy scale.
When the Filipino allows other Filipinos to practice “frugality” by selling them the one banana, the one egg, etc… the Filipino is Liliputian or operates in pygmy scale.
So the Filipino on the frugality issue ends up damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t and you get to victimize the Filipinos whatever option is chosen. (Victimizer wins!)
From Benigno’s article titled “Solving world hunger and implementing world peace”
Yet in the same TCB article “The worst, best of times…” incorporated in your FV article “Re-elevation of the Philippine National “debate”), TCB writes:
So when the Filipino rich cares for things other than just getting more rich or decides to do philanthropy work; his/her company does not deserve the investment of your hard earned cash.
However if the Filipino rich does not care about anything except getting more rich or doesn’t engage in philanthropy; the Filipino rich has a static culture.
So this time the Filipino rich ends up damned if they do and damned if they don’t and you get to victimize the Filipino rich whatever option they choose. (Victimizer wins!)
And still you are using this “never given straight answers to kids” comparison which I rebutted way back in MLQ3’s “its how you play the game” in 2008 by displaying that even the UK and the U.S. have difficulty telling their kids the truth about sex.
The UK now even had to enact a law so the kids would a least get those straight answers in school.
You even had to admit that you never contradicted it in your post on Thu, 3rd Apr 2008 8:51 am at http://www.quezon.ph/2008/04/02/before-the-bar-of-history/#comments
You will persistently use/re-use an issue you never even bothered to defend when it was addressed just so you can put Filipinos in a bad light without indicating that it is a problem also of other cultures .
You must certainly remember that part of the story. I know another poster mistook you for the original author of that letter and claimed that that is the reason why you are full of SH-T.
But then the mistaken identity has been long inconsequential since you have once previously admitted that you are indeed full of what he/she claimed you are full of!
The no-humility thing is quite easy to understand.
Now I haven’t read all of the articles in your website or all of your statements and I can’t even remember every specific thing you wrote about (if I thought you’d be foolish/brave enough to issue out such a challenge; I’d probably jotted every single thing down) but I think there is enough above to show that you do write “stuff” insulting to Pinoys. And though you may be able to invalidate a number of the issues above as insults to Pinoys if you try, unless you are able to invalidate all of them, I guess even one is enough to answer the issue.
But just in case I am in the mood and have the time to read and re-read through all articles in your website and your statements; how many of your insults to Filipinos do you want to be exposed?
And you can show everyone how triumphant that return is by confronting the issues above.
But then you might want to be thinking again of your so called brilliant “Law of Conservation of Credibility” right about now for yourself. (if you think there is anything to conserve)
ChinoF and anyone else interested in Philippine marble works,
It might be beneficial if you take Benigno’s claims with a grain of salt.
Unless those statuettes Nick Joaquin was referring to in Benigno’s so called brilliant book are statuettes of tombstones and mortars and pestles; there are actually other Philippine works of art made of marble. You can even view it in the net. Ambeth Ocampo may have unfortunately omitted any mention of such statuettes.
And if the problem is the scale; that has been addressed in an FV link above on “Wanted: Empire Builders.”
Joe America,
Do what you must. Hoping to see your proposals.
Clarification:
After trying to look for Ambeth Ocampo’s original article (unfortunately even the Inquirer archive section says Ambeth Ocampo doesn’t exist. Probably not a writer there anymore.); I came upon an old post of MLQ3. It appears he already discussed with Benigno on the Tagalog translation of efficiency earlier than I did. Apparently Benigno continued on with the issue.
thats a nice, exhaustive response JL.
GabbyD,
Cheers.
Bert,
Do you know why my post went in the middle?
Joe,
What makes Arroyo’s sins so revolting and so reprehensible is that we were made to believe that we were suppose to be having a constitutional democracy (i.e. fully functioning tripartite branches of executive, legislative and judiciary). And then here she comes ramming through all sorts of authoritarian flirtations and machinations. What comes out is dysfunctional governance. Stagnation. Paralysis. Status quo. Identity crisis. Neither here nor there.
So I have to disagree with you. The matter of deciding which way to move in the manner of governance is as important as, or even a requisite for, getting there.
tranquil,
I agree that a new form is just as important, but it simply requires a piece of paper to document what that form will be. Getting there requires moving immovable people. I hate revolts, and prefer civilized transitions. I think the Constitution has provisions for the “People” to take legal action apart from the Legislature, but I’m not familiar with those steps. I guess I’ll have to do some reading . . . or find a FV legal pro. Both are important, no doubt.
Joe
Joe
“ramming through all sorts of authoritarian flirtations and machination”.
name one, tranquil.
Bencard, if you chose to be blind there is nothing I can do to make you see.
what a cop out. just name one, tranquil, and assuming i’m indeed “blind”, i can have a friend read it to me. but it better make sense.
Hmmm…not sure to agree with this entirely BongV. Obviously we are not entirely running around in a merry chaotic state of anarchy, are we? Certain degree of “rule of law” exists but it is selective. We could perhaps reign in the petty thieves of Quiapo but the corporate and Imeldific thieves go scot free.
That’s why the need to apply rule of law across the board.