Wilfredo “Boy” Mayor, former whistleblower, was laid to rest yesterday. There was no fanfare, no one shouted praises to the man who exposed the links of the presidential family to jueteng. There were no politicos, no one came to tell the world how brave the man was when he went to the Senate and told what he knew about the First Gentleman and Mikey Arroyo’s monthly take in the illegal numbers game. And there was no government official who came and gave wreaths to his relatives nor assurance that justice will be served to their kin, a victim of an assassin’s bullet.
Mayor was no Chavit, who once whistleblew the illicit activities of a former head of state and lived to see his downfall. He was no Rose bud who exposed how the men of a former head of the National Police killed druglords and sold seized shabu, and now lived like a celebrity.
Had the public rose in uproar over Mayor’s explosive expose, he would have been declared a national hero. Mayor would have enjoyed a comfortable and peaceful life, knowing that he did something good and patriotic.
Had the patriotic elements of this country united behind him and rose against the immorality and criminality of this administration, that man from Albay would have been given a perpetual hero’s welcome. Medals, trophies and citations would have filled his house.
Yesterday, no medals were given, no trophies adorn his simple house nor citations filled his grave. Just simple and almost deafening silence, and a few streaks, almost a wail from those whom Mayor left behind.
The man whom many called “tigas” was laid to rest, a victim of injustice in a cruel and immoral society. Had the people of his town rallied behind him, Mayor would probably still be living. But no. In this society, those who trust and believe that dictum “The Truth shall set one free”, would have to bite the bullet, one day, literally from those pained by the revelations.
Had Mayor been a son of a Speaker, he would have been still roaming around town, with police escorts and a throng of sympathizers. As Fate would have it, Mayor only has his balls for a bullet vest.
Such is the fate of those who thinks that Truth is still a valuable commodity in this society.
Truth is nothing valuable here, no one gives a shit what is happening in this country, no one cares whether the presidential son gets millions from vices or does anyone care if drug money is used for someone’s campaign or if illicit money line the pockets of high officials.
No one cares if a police official gets a Pajero for being a provincial director or that the very head of the State gets a monthly billion peso for not rocking the boat.
No one cares if a reputed jueteng lord becomes deputy intelligence adviser of a president nor former police officials with blood in their hands become Executive secretaries.
No one cares if millions drop dead due to shabu or ecstasy use nor futures betted for that Small Town Lottery.
No one cares if the Philippines serves as the top supplier of marijuana or the favorite transshipment point of shabu or cocaine.
No one.
Those who care live dangerous lives, always looking behind their backs and just, trying to survive with support from nuns, priests and their relatives.
Think of Jun Lozada. Think of Joey de Venecia III. Think of Sandra Cam. Think of a few who dared. They all live deplorable lives, their reward for telling the truth. Truth rewards the brave, yeah, with bullets, if you live in this country.
This society has become one big syndicate, with a mafia heading a government that is no government of no real substance. What’s the policy? You are either in or out. If you’re out, silence be your prayer bead. If you can’t keep your mouth shut, and the truth burst within you, go buy a weapon and a bullet vest. Be ready to die for what you believe in. Otherwise, go to a cave and shout.
Such is the life of a whistleblower.
One of the many things people ask of me why I support Joey de Venecia III, I simply say one thing and one fact alone—we need some one like him to always remind us that there is still hope out there for those who dared and for those who want the Truth exposed.
When I vowed never to leave his side until victory is achieved, I meant it, like what I did for Rosebud.
Joey de Venecia III represents for me something good, a name that tried to stand up against the Powers-that-be. Never mind if people say the reason why he exposed it was that he lost. Never mind if people say that he was once part of the system.
The good thing was, Joey de Venecia III and all the rest of the whistleblowers of our time, they had their epiphanies and took a brave stance.
Never mind that government did not give Joey de Venecia III or Jun Lozada medals for bravery nor trophies for telling the truth.
Whenever I go to urban communities, the praises of people about what he did brings joy to my heart. That there are a lot of people out there who believe in Joey’s cause.
Whenever I see the sparkle of people’s eyes when I give them Joey’s flyers or when they ask me if Joey is a genuine article, and I say that he is, they smile.
Those smiles melt every stress, every tired bone or muscle of my body. Those pat on the back, those admiring looks from the poor masses give me the energy to pursue the Cause of Joey de Venecia III.
Whenever groups go to me and ask me if Joey de Venecia III represents the People’s Cause, and I tell them what he is fighting for, and I tell them that Joey de Venecia III represents Hope. That we must allow him to win this elections because that will give a very strong statement to those who worship the Mammon instead of Truth.
BE FOREWARNED, THERE ARE STILL GOOD MEN HERE.
Popularity: 1% [?]
There are also still GOOD WOMEN too out there. Like the three ladies I recently spoke with on an island barangay in the Visayas. The three women were public school teachers who go every school day take a banca to school, on calm or choppy seas. They don’t stay on the island.
The women let us use the school for our research team as a rest stop. In exchange we talked to the kids about how valuable their environment is.
They try to make the school as a lighthouse of hope. They won’t see Manny Villar or Noynoy Aquino for that matter enter the classroom.
Dousing cold water to this rather sad if not fiery article. Whistle blowers and the “three teachers.” He he he. Good analogy. He he he.
Patriotism in this country, if not dying, is dead. The filipinos of today are so indifferent. Few patriotic ones are voiceless and most of them are hiding behind their notebooks…
If we want a drastic change…we need a drastic move…and we have to accept the fact that revolution, bloody it may be, is an option…
Our government has gone wild, or even better, Run amok!
Today, in the land we like to think of as the most free on earth, after the Marcoses regime. Once again, our own government reaches into every level of our lives. It controls and it coerces, it bullies and it brags, it browbeats and it blusters. It increases and it gradually feeding without restraint on the energy, the capacity for achievement, our hopes and beliefs, the anxieties, the futures and the condition of our people. Specially our lands.
Who are we to believe. There has to be someone, who is the lesser evil.
You may want to find out why Filipinos are not a patriotic people.
the experts say you are wrong. try googling NORC then google economics of happiness to get a different view
Oh yeah? who are they?
they are experts who make historical study and survey of countries. If they have been proven wrong or inaccurate? I don’t know. “NORC’s interest and involvement in international research began soon after its establishment in 1941, when founder Harry Field made efforts to convince the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to include a survey division”
from whistleblowing to patriotism. okay
Patriotism definition
surprisingly in 2008, NORC ranked Philippines at the top 10 World’s MOST patriotic country
In 2006, Philippines was at top 7th. The only Asian country at the top 10. The survey found that Patriotism is mostly a “New World” concept.
Maybe the “new world concept” has a connection to bagong pinoy?
Patriotism is love of country period. American says America, right or wrong.
This is the most bizzare story I’ve ever heard.
macapili,
Love of country is just a part of being patriotic but engaging yourself to a discussion like this is an ACT signifying that you love your country regardless if you only agree to one or two people. Your action speaks louder than words my friend. You may not know it but I recognize it.
cheers to Philippines Patriotism… happy sunday.
It’s a long shot but let’s give this election one last chance.
Very heartfelt tribute, Patricio.
I go back to what I wrote last week, and was resoundingly castigated for, cheating is an ethic in the Philippines.
When that is accepted, then one can set about correcting it. It is not meant to be a harsh judgment, just a fact. It takes three teachers and a lot more who hold to the principle of right over wrong, kindness over “what’s in it for me”. It takes a justice system and judiciary that can levee punishment so the cheaters can’t walk about in impunity. It takes a new law to end the biggest cheating of all, hiring and promoting friends, family, and favorites instead of the best qualified. It takes a lot more. Specific things.
My sense, there are a lot more who cheat hereabouts than do not, making it a national ethic. That’s why Mr. Mayor is not celebrated.
Sad.
Joe
Cheating as ethic? If it isn’t done all the time, it can’t be ethic, right? To stop this propagation of cheating behavior, parents should stop advising their children to fight fire with fire.
By the way : very recently, GMA has raised the salaries of Pilipinas judges.
Mike H,
Good news about the judges’ salaries. I hope the increases are merit based, that is, those who are efficient at rendering quick, fair justice get the most. But it is for sure the right direction.
As to ethic, I would argue that “not-cheating” is not done all the time either, so it can’t be an ethic. There is certainly a level of acceptance of cheating that is so common as to influence people’s reactions to those who cheat, like Mr. Villar. They don’t object all so much, because they cut around the edges too, or they know people who do.
To me, that willingness to accept cheating is a part of the ethic. Even non-cheaters “let it be”.
Joe
JoeAm: Not necessary to cut expenditures on highways to put another P10B into the Judiciary. With 8-million OFW’s and a P1,300 tax per, that is P10.4Billion right there.
GMA thick-skinned that she is did NOT dare consider such an action. More popular is the battle-cry of “..raise the taxes on the rich!!!”
joe,
if joe’s definition of “ethics” is our equivalent term for “kalakaran”, (trade practice) i think “cheating” is indeed our “ethics”.
Cheating is a result of lawlessness. GMA enacted a whistle blowing law but a law cannot be implemented if the barangay kapitan doesn’t know or the mayor or even the people. The law is sitting in the office drinking coffee at the expense of the people. Worst, police forces are probably unaware of such law.
There should be an 8 hours seminar about this law and other supplemental seminars on ethics , conflict of interest and other work place related issues. Police department, civil service commission, dept of education, AFP, DOH, and the all other “corrupted” departments must implement as team in order for the system to work.
Leytenian,
I agree that cheating is the result of lawlessness, as the lack of effective punishment of a child results in continued bad behavior. One of the cures is indeed strong policing, but also a judiciary that is accessible to ordinary people, and that is quick at rendering judgment . . . rather like the flick on the wrist must be linked by the child to bad behavior; it must occur immediately following the misdeed.
My practical argument is that the budget of Judiciary needs to be doubled from P10 billion per year to P20, and cut defense and investment in roads. Good behavior is more important than getting places.
Joe
President Joe,
With your 10B proposal for Judiciary, does this include the use of technology to prevent crimes or employ more lawyers to facilitate the processing of old crimes? or employ more public employees and of course training our police force ? As a tax payer, I wanna know the breakdown of expenses and who is in charge to implement the financial aspect of this proposal? The judiciary department are not good in financial management. Historical facts say so. How can you assure the people that this 10B will be spent honestly without the cheating? How does your administration pay the people back for leveraging our future worth 10B? Quality service is very difficult to implement unless it is supplemented with EDUCATION. Please clarify your bogus proposal and explain it well to the people and to the media. :)
Sincerely,
CJC
CJC,
Leytenian neighbor to me,
The P10 billion is for the courts (Judiciary) and would be dependent on continuation of Chief Justice Puno’s drive toward transparency and the reporting, by court, of cases tried by type, resolution, and length of time to resolution. From that would come further guidance as to where waste exists (inefficient judges, and injudicious use of judges (like, if too much time on family law and not enough on corruption).
The law enforcement side of things in Justice is a separate matter. They have the resources already would be my guess, need the same mandate for statistics, and for law enforcement people who break the law, hung upside down on stakes in the lovely Philippine sun for about a week, rather like the Brits used to do with pirates.
Joe
A progressive income tax “table” on OFW income can be as follows. Zero-three-five.
+++ Zero if an OFW earned less than One Million Pesos yearly income.
+++ three percent on the portion of an OFW income in excess of one million pesos (for income between 1Million and 3Million pesos).
+++ P60,000 pesos plus five percent on the portion of an OFW income in excess of Three million pesos (for income over P3Million).
Thanks Joe… Good enough.
you may have all the laws, seminars, and penalties but, if people don’t have the right upbringing, the ‘attitude’, then all comes to nothing…
Only 5% for overseas income?? Don’t you know that the income tax for Pinoys-in-Pinas is at least 20% for income over P70,000 yearly? Here is tax cut-and-paste:
Over P70,000 but not over P140,000……..……… P8,500+20% of the excess over P70,000
Over P140,000 but not over P250,000…………… P22,500+25% of the excess over P140,000
Mike H,
Sounds good to me. The tax is on foreign earnings, right? Not what is transferred to the US.
Americans living abroad pay taxes on their earnings. Or are supposed to. The difficulty is sometimes non-reporting of that income, I suspect, as the IRS has no way to know.
Joe
Joe Am: My comments are for Filipino citizens. A Pinoy network engineer as OFW in Texas would earn ten to fifteen times a Quezon City elementary school teacher salary. Quezon City full-time public school teacher would pay P15,000 in yearly income taxes (probably more). OFW engineer in Texas : taxes paid to Pilipinas equals zero. The OFW may say “But I’m already sending money to my family!”. A Filipino public school teacher would say similar words about what she does with her salary.
JoeAm:
I cannot accept that by and large, Filipinos think and believe that cheating is ethic-al. Most Filipinos most certainly can distinguish between the principles of right and wrong in ethics. That cheating occurs, even granting on a very large scale and universally in Philippine society, is more the function of a people “tolerating” the evil, or being apathetic to what is moral.
I am reminded of many educated Filipinos going to the US while nonchalantly having declared spurious statements to get the visitor’s visa and violating its restrictions once in the US. But most of them know it is wrong. Why they do it? That’s the problem. The wrong is tolerated and its gravity blunted. It is hard to imagine that they do it because they accept it as right.
Or I yet have to read or witness any cheater of consequence in the old homeland acknowledging publicly his act of cheating, because deep down he/she knows it is wrong and is ashamed of it. Shame is an unmistakable response of one who has “missed the mark”.
That belief of the existence of an innate conscience, or call it, inner voice, makes it difficult to disregard the distinction between universally accepted right and wrong.
Rather, if cheating is rampant let’s call it a social disease or a dysfunction. I bet you many prayerful Filipinos unload their cheating acts in the confessional.
Amadeo,
Fair enough. Not an ethic then, but a social disease or dysfunction. Yes, I agree that makes more sense.
In a way, that makes it more tangible. And perhaps within the reach of “doctors” to find a cure.
Joe
Now you can tell me Patricio if there is no such thing as a “perfect crime” in the country.
Now you are breaking my heart Patricio. JDV III is a scion of a Marcos regular who went ahead exposing the ZTE-NBN because he did not get the contract himself. The same way you admire Lim and Trillanes.
Get out of politics man so you can view political events in the country without the blinders of a maggot trying to be on its own yet being nurtured by the corruption of its decaying coccon.
Finally! Somebody here is saying something about JDV3! Oh yes, the same Joey de Venecia who is pushing for a contract to rehabilitate the BNPP himself!!! Why don’t we ask this guy to relocate with his wife and children (if he has any) right inside the BNPP compound for a few years, himself seeing to it that all the safety nets are in place as they bring in the radioactive materials. Then let’s see if he would have a grand relaxing time admiring such structure which sits very near an active fault.
When we speak of GOOD MEN, let’s just leave the de Venecias out of it please? *@!+#!^?%!*
I agree and my barbero agrees.
Mr. Pipit,
He is single. So I suggest that he should move into the compound with his father.
Dean
“These men have an education of an Occidental sort, the literature they read is Occidental, and their social and political aims and ideas are Occidental. Brutal as were some of the attendant circumstances of the recent warfare, unmistakable as was its accompaniment of race-hatred, and imperfect as was the realisation of republican ideals by the ” Filipino Government,” yet the political revolution of 1896-7 and 1898-1901 in the Philippines which is still going on, under another aspect stands as something unique in the Orient. That there was sincere patriotism evinced during this struggle, and that to some extent an ideal of nationality has been attained even among the masses, is beyond question. ” – Leroy, p.146
We sympathize with the family. The trouble with us all is: if somebody
expose misconducts of Public Officials. We become interested, at first.
Then, the Filipino “ningas cogon” atitude sets in. We simply do not
care. Evil prosper in our country, because some few good men never give
a damn about what is happening. Apathy is our desease that is still in
us.
It is not exactly that filipinos do not care. It is just there are “more” important stuff that they have to think about. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs you, needs can be visuallized as a layers of pyramid piled on top of one another. Physical needs like food, shelter, air, all the basic necessities for basic survival comes down at the bottom of the pyramid. On the otherhand, other things such as love, security, art, and on this case we can add PATRIOTISM are located up above the pyramid. According to the theory we have to satisfy certain needs and answer certain problems before a person can actually satisfy the needs and find solution to problems on the upper level of the pyramid. We are sick, hungry and homeless. as much as we want to dedicate our life in fighting for truth, justice and honest governance, personal necessities must come first.
Leytenian,
I’ve been web surfing for NORC and Harry Field you mentioned but unsuccessful. Maybe you should direct link. Anyway, to say that Filipinos are among the top 10 most patriotic people in the world to me is nonsense if not completely absurd. Because if that were true, then Joe and you and a few more can’t be right. The lack of patriotism, in my opinion, is the cause of the present deplorable conditions in this country. That is why, I commented in my blog: “But today, ineptitude,helplessness, indifference and disregard for law and order prevail. Seekers of favor, privilege and position outnumber those who are willing to make sacrifices for the country. And not one among contemporary public officials show any real interest in leading the people out of poverty, ignorance and
apathy.“, precisely because Filipinos in general are not patriotic.
Mac
Sorry for the link error. Here’s the correct link: Why Filipinos are not a patriotic people
Patriotism is an OUTDATED and AMBIGUOUS concept.
People should do good for the sake of doing good. Patriotism does not need to figure in that.
Yes, as old as man itself, but not outmoded or outdated. I once visited Fort Ticonderoga in NY and Williamsburg VA, and I was touched by the faithful reenactment of the historic battles for American independence being performed by costumed volunteers every now and then. Visitors and school children come and watch and I am sure pride out of a great heritage that equates to patriotism is kept alive and sustained. Theoritically, man must come together or be doomed. But the world is not ready to be a single country for every man. I believe this is only possible theoritically, but not practically. In the meantime, each country demands loyalty and patriotism from its citizens for the whole country’s well-being and survival.
renactments and preserving heritage and culture is one thing…there’s also the olympics and other sporting events that are excellent places for flag waving.
but fundamentally, should it even cross your mind to do the right thing just for ‘patriotism’ and ‘loyalty’? to what exactly? should my standards and convictions for doing what is ‘right’ defined by circumstance (ie my ethnicity/nationality) or geography?
i teach my nephews and nieces to use the trash can and not throw litter anywhere because it’s the right thing to do not because they are filipino and should keep the philippines clean.
Patriotism and doing good are not mutually exclusive. I do not think the reenactments of battles like those at Ticonderoga and Williamsburg and similar historic national day celebrations are purely for show or entertainment. I believe these are directed at the more sublime, to inculcate pride in American heritage and love America more. Your concept of a world without barriers is a utopia, which only exist in the mind, or in the Christian doctrine of “mansions’ in heaven. Jean Jacques Rousseau who always signed as a citizen of the world never made his dream to this utopia. Lastly, I don’t understand why you would teach a child to use the trash can and not teach him or her to sing the national anthem.
JDV III????
Lumantad lang naman yang JDV3 na yan because he got cut off from lucrative kickbacks. He was bidding on a project his so-called company did not have the capital nor resources for…but only because he was using daddy’s influence.
Everyone will have their 2-centavos opinion and critique about everyone – that’s democracy; that’s life.
Regardless of your level in society or even being the speaker’s son, the point is clear: it is dangerous to be a whistleblower in the Philippines. It is like a “freedom fighter’s” fight.
I quite agree with jcc, that Lim and Trillanes are themselves a class of whistleblowers – for reasons known only to them.
Will anyone please revisit Trillanes who is supposed to have written a paper exposing scams or anomalies in the AFP procurement system?