Philippine Suggestions

With the election coming in and with all the things that have been happening around us, one stop and wonder how is the Philippines going to recover from where it has slumped decades – or probably centuries ago.


So allow me to impart my craziness on how I think we could pave the way to start the renewal of our country and hopefully our rise to fame once more rather than shame..

Leaders

I think we’re a country of celebrity fans. It has been inculcated in our psyche to “idolise” people. I’m pretty sure we got this from our colonial past, where those whose skin is lighter than ours, whose nose is sharper than ours, and whose built is bigger than ours is considered “better” than us. I think it also explains why a big number of big named celebrities run for politics and win. Even the old political clans win because of their own celebrity status in their own territories.

And so we end up with a well-loved leader but not necessarily an able leader, think President Estrada hehehe or we have an able leader yet hated think GMA (common regardless of what you think and feel about her, you must admit that she did lead the country like an able president should)

How do we balance this mentality burned deep in our culture?

We should have a royalty and a prime minister. Yes, we should vote for a king or queen every after a certain period of time. This would allow people to vote based on “emotions”. That they can relate to this person. That this person is for the poor or the masses. This king or queen is nothing but an opium to the masses. A symbol of the country and it’s people, just like any other constitutional royalty at present. And if they do good at being this symbol, then the people could vote again for them and for their offspring and could continue to be the Philippine royalty albeit voted by the populace.

And then we have a prime minister voted by parliament. Hopefully, this guy would not come from royalty or a celebrity but someone who does wield power and influence. Well, I guess to have parliament vote you as their prime minister already shows your power and influence.

And yes, it should be a two-party system. It’s easier to label one as good and the other evil. Or conservative and liberal. Better and worst. Rather than good-bad, bad-good, goodie-baddie, baddie-goodie. You know what I mean.

Political Landscape

Congress, The Supreme Court, Ombudsman, COMELEC are some of the constitutional bodies that have been established to ensure the check and balance between the government agencies and the people who govern these agencies as well as their responsibilities. But come on, how can someone check the very same person who put them into power. Filipino culture dictates “utang na loob” “pakikisama” and all its variants. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but the other spectrum of these Filipino values could result into what we have today in Philippine politics and society as a whole.

So what’s the solution?

Have these offices up for election. And if they all come from one party and we find that they are in collusion with people in government, there is no one to blame but ourselves and hopefully the voting public would know how to vote the next time around – Wisely.

And because they were voted by the general public, in theory they owe no allegiance to those in power – of whom they should “check and balance”.

I also think that the country should be divided into “states” based on languages. While it looks divisive, it actually is more unifying since people could identify to one another more rather than a Filipino, which honestly is a vague concept. People would identify more as an Ilocano, Visayan or Tagalog than a Filipino. Probably overseas this is evident, but we’re not trying to change the landscape of the world, we are trying to change our country for the better. And once we have identified ourselves with something, then the real Filipino would rise and then we truly could be proud of being Filipinos, not because one or two of our countrymen excel and got the world’s attention, but because we as a nation excelled.

Then probably we could build something to marvel the world. Or we probably have what nature gave us to marvel the whole world.

Is this the 13th Century?

The next time I hear about some foreigner write that the Philippines is a backward nation, I’ll sing to his tune. Because what happened in Mindanao, and I’m sure elsewhere in the country sans media coverage, is but a concrete example of how backward our government, our political institutions are. It reminds me of feudal times when there were warlords, when a surname equates to territorial ownership, and when that ownership passes from father to son.


Yes. In other more developed – and democratic - countries families also tend to be politically-inclined as well over the years. The Bush’s were, the Kennedy’s, and there are more. But they don’t behave like warlords – or at least openly display their power among their citizens. To other countries probably, but never with their own.

And here we have Filipinos terrorising fellow Filipinos. Correction, we have Filipinos killing fellow Filipinos. All for the sake of keeping oneself in power. This is worst than the Holocaust.

What’s even harder to understand with the recent massacre down in Mindanao, is that we here in Northern Philippines believe that these people stick together. That they’re like one big family under their religion and that they would go through everything for their religion and their people.

Of Heroes

Manny made us all proud to be Filipinos…


But Efren Penaflorida humbled me and encouraged me become a better person…

This must be a bit late but I was just inspired to write this thanks to Batangistik’s own posting about the subject.


Ever since Pacman rose to fame, every singer of the Philippine national anthem during his title bouts would end up in infamy for the way they sang the anthem. All allegedly singing the anthem contrary to law.

For one is there a law specifying how the Philippine national anthem should be sung?

There is first the Philippine Constitution under Article XVI Section 2 specifies that Congress can by law adopt the national symbols, ie name of the country, anthem, seal etc. This then gave birth to the actual law or regulation which is Republic Act 8491 which is the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philppines specifying that the anthem shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.

A problem with this though is that Julian Felipe’s composition required that the time signature is 2/4 and is on C major. But now it was changed to 4/4 time signature and on G to facilitate singing.

The anthem was a march. This is because it was conceived during the war periods and therefore soldiers or those fighting for our independence could be inspired. Think of those drummers in front of a cavalry attacking, the beat of their drums is intended to inspire their comrades to fight and inspire fear naman with their enemies. The same with our own national anthem, that’s why it was called Marcha Nacional Filipina.

And so why do our singers change the melody when they sing it.

IMHO I think that they’re just a bit of insecure whenever they do it on the international arena. They would be unable to display their vocal prowess if they stick to the “march” and so they need to exercise their artistic license.

Why would they be insecure? Because those who sing the US of A’s national anthem are able to display their vocal ranges. How come? Because their national anthem was set with one and a half octaves thus difficult for singers to sing (again musically inclined individuals – of which I am not – would be able to understand this).

And since the tune was set to a popular British drinking song, it’s not a wonder why it would appear a drunk person is singing the song hehehe

Probably if our singers would know about this bit of information, they would stick to the original beat of our national anthem proudly displaying how sober they are while singing hehehe

Anyway, I also thought about including the original poem in Spanish written by Jose Palma. Have a go singing the lyrics to the beat of our anthem. Enjoy

===========

Felipinas

Tierra adorada

Hija del sol Oriente,

Su fuego ardiente

En ti latiendo esta.

Tierra de amores,

Del heroismo cuna,

Los invasores

No te hollaran jamas.

En tu azul cielo, en tus auras,

En tus montes y en tu mar,

Esplende y late el poema

De tu amada libertad.

Tu pabellion que en las lides

La victoria ilumino,

No veranunc apagados

Sus estrellas y su sol.

Tierra de dichas, de sol y amores,

En tu regazo dulce es vivir,

Es una gloria para tus hijos

Cuando te ofenden, por ti morir.

Let's Now Hear From the Honourable Gentleman From...

Hmm so it’s finally out – though not official – that the world’s current Pound-for-Pound King, PacMan, will soon be Honourable Gentleman for Saranggani. I heard it over the TV when he was being interviewed and he said he would like to do what he can to help the people of Saranggani.


While his first attempt in politics went down in shambles, I’m certain that this time around, he’d be one of our Honourables (aside: I personally think this reference to Congressmen should be abolished). Everything is on his side at the moment he just need to play his cards right until election day. Still my fearless forecast is he’d be a congressman. A further reason to reinforce my belief that our political system and electoral process is not effective.

But but I’m not saying that people the likes of Manny doesn’t have to right to enter politics and help out our countrymen. I think it’s a noble reason and should be the reason why people should go into public service. It is PUBLIC SERVICE.

Manny has the millions to be able to help out his district, his province, even the country. He could set-up a foundation like the Rockefellers if he really want to help. Afterall people would come to the office of a politician to ask for financial assistance most of the time. Wouldn’t it be easier for him to use his funds for such a noble task?

And there lies the problem. One needs to use HIS OWN funds to do so. So enter public service and you have government funds to dole out to people and still have them thank you for the assistance. Put your face up in posters, sheds, school facades declaring it was through you that all these were made possible.

For all we know years from now the surname Pacquiao would not only be remembered as a great boxer, but a political clan. ‘Cause I’m certain that once they have a taste of the power that comes with PUBLIC SERVICE it’ll be hard for them to give it up.

Unless of course we have a voting public that thinks out the issues and sees beyond personalities. Then our Honourable Congressmen and Senators needs not worry about legislating an Anti-Dynasty Law…

Weak-End

It was a crazy weekend to say the least. For one, I forgot that I was supposed to be on training last Friday!! Kung hindi pa nabanggit ng co-participant ko as she passed-by the pantry na may training kami, I would have forgotten and would have paid the training fee. So in five minutes, I had to inform my staff, re-direct my calls, set-up my out of office messages and leave last minute instruction… and yeah, finish my wheat bread toast and ginger brew before heading off… Hit the gym afterwards to de-stress. Would have opted for a pampering massage and body scrub, but just had one a week ago, so it’s a bit early to indulge again hehehe


Same pattern of crazy-ness over the Saturday. Usapang nagkagulo-gulo, mga taong di sumipot sa usapan at kung anu-ano pang ka-weirduhan…including sundan-sundan sa gym floor..hay naku, di kasi nila alam na ako pag gusto ko di ko na pinahihirapan hahaha

While the rest of the country (and the world I guess) was occupied watching Manny’s latest fight, I went to the gym coz I knew I would have the gym all to myself kasi everyone nga is busy. Besides I’m going to see 2012 the movie with someone special so dapat pump na pump wahahaha 3pm ng magtext sya kung asan na ako so I replied na gym na and would finish by 5pm since we got the 6pm screening time. Pero dahil alam ko na malapit na sya or at least on the way na, I finished my routine and took a shower.. and waited.. 4pm we met up na and there dala dala na nya ang puso ko all throughout the day harharhar probably why the reason why I haven’t appreciated the movie that much… coz I was busy looking at my side pinapanood sya instead and asking every now and then kung ok lang sya coz may sipon sya and was sniffing and coughing.. gusto ko sya yakapin bka kasi nilalamig sya kya siya inuubo hehehe

Dinner and kwentuhan after. Pero dahil nga di maganda pakiramdam nya at may pasok din naman the following day, I decided to call it a day khit na ayaw ko pa.

Pero I need to keep my emotions in check…mahirap na

The Philippines naman is a democratic country, so if I would ruffle some feathers, eh I hope you understand that this is MY opinion and if you don’t agree with it, I DON’T CARE coz I don’t care about YOUR opinion as well…


If C. Escudero wins the forthcoming election, promise I would migrate to another country kahit na I don't even considered being a tourist elsewhere…hmm guess appropriate ang “Bagong Umagang Parating song nya”… but just for me and my family…in another country…

Why my disapproval of him? Simple lang…

Ang latang walang laman, maingay PERIOD