I Voted Inspired by the Conclave

And so, I have voted. I realized that our democracy, no matter how flawed, remains the best form of government ever conceived. It guarantees fundamental concepts such as rule by the people, checks and balances, separation of powers, human rights, and the election of leaders, among others.

 

Despite its imperfections, I still believe we are more fortunate than other countries where regime change is effected through violent means. Our way is the most peaceful method of establishing a regime and the most solemn means of transferring power.

 

So, I have voted, and I have voted for myself before anything else. I have voted for those who represent my core values and those who have the competence to run the office one is aspiring for. I voted while listening to that small, silent voice within me called conscience.

 

It is quite providential that the election nearly coincided with the Vatican’s Conclave. The process of choosing the new pope begins with the liturgy and proceeds through a process in which the cardinal-electors invoke the Holy Spirit to guide their discernment. The mode is solemn, as the cardinals undertake the entire process until they finally cast their votes and, afterwards, jubilantly introduce to the praying and watching world the new pope, the successor of Saint Peter.

 

The Christian community in the Philippines has watched the entire Conclave closely. The pope holds a deep connection to the Filipino people. We love the pope. Records show that the country holds the record for the largest gathering of people every time a pope visits the Philippines.

 

We have much to reflect on regarding the Conclave. If the selection of the pope requires the cardinals to undertake a solemn and prayerful discernment, why can we not do the same when choosing our country’s leaders?

To Vote or Not To Vote

To Vote or Not To Vote has always been the nagging question that bothers me every election season. There are just so many reasons flowing through my mind that somewhat convince me not to vote only to be tempered by some fundamental considerations.

As a student of political science in my undergraduate, we were told that the act of electing government officials is the highest form of democratic exercise. It is through voting that one expresses one’s sentiments and aspirations for the government and therefore, a vote is like a brick needed in the establishment of a strong and effective government. Choosing a leader thru an election is the highest manifestation of a responsible citizenship.  Over the years, I am hands-off to that ideals. And so, I keep on voting and I have held my single vote as important as all the rest. It may only be one but this can make a difference in an election result.

However, living day by day looking at various undemocratic practices from top to bottom, I cannot help but become apathetic and lukewarm toward election, short of becoming apolitical.

Political positions have all the more become the privilege of few families, of those who have the means of buying votes through whatever means.

Perpetuation of political dynasties is even more entrenched in the democratic system than it ever was. Members of these political clans act as if it is their birthrights to hold power, big or small. They assume roles no less than the royalties of a monarchical states whose names are preceded, not by royal highness, but by “honorable.”These political dynasties seemed to be unmindful of delicadeza and the constitutional prohibition against it.

Once elected, the vicious cycle keeps on running, the business of politics runs its dirtiest course, rearing its ugly head, unfortunately, fueled by public fund. The ordinary people continue to languish on the losing end. Democracy becomes a mockery.

A huge segment of the population seems not to learn. They keep on voting for the unfits. They are easily swayed by well-oiled propagandists and apologists that dominate social media platforms. Their sense of judgment is no longer of a discerning and responsible citizen rather of nothing less than a member of a cult. They evade facts and truths because they chose to believe in half-truths and lies.

Democracy is so fragile that it should be founded on a critical public that never tire in finding and deliberating on what is good for the state and the general welfare.

These are just some realizations that boggles my mind every election time. Is there still hope? Must I lose hope? Should I still cast my vote or not?

DREAMING ON THE ILOILO PLAZA

 Visiting Iloilo is a dream come true for me. I have been longing to see for myself the well-preserved historic plazas scattered in various Hispanic towns of the province. As a town planner, I am an advocate of creating and preserving public plazas because these are the focal points of the people in the community coming from various age groups and walks of life and it carries the image of the people and of the place. Plazas are the silent witnesses to historic events of a place, both the desirable and the undesirable as we know it.

 

Myself coming from a place with a low regard for open spaces such as public parks and plazas, I can only dream of sitting down quietly in a plaza of another place like the ones in Iloilo. Thank, God, a few months ago, the universe conspired to make my dream come true. I have not only sat on a bench on just one plaza but in four in all. Iloilo people seems to have an innate and impressive penchant for designing best plazas not only in the country but in the whole world.

 

Alone in my plaza escapade, I first visited the Molo Plaza. Pure love and romance consumed my mind as I was walking along the paths and the churchyard.  The church façade is an ideal place for making bonds with loved ones. The entire plaza was just enough to host people of all ages and their families and loved ones.

 

When I entered the church, I felt like I was transported to the time when Spaniards ruled the country. It was so wonderful to see the long pews, the antique images of saints, the paintings, and the well-preserved pulpit where the priests would deliver the homily; it was on top so everybody attending the mass can hear it.

 

Just on the side of the church yard is the gazebo which was surrounded by monuments of Greek goddesses adding more romance to the place.

 

When I sat down on the big cut-out of Molo Plaza, I can only surmise how it would be wonderful to be born and to live in this place. Across the plaza is the majestic and romantic Molo Mansion which I think is an architecture wonder because of its intricate and balanced symmetry and classic design. It was beside the Molo Mansion that I sipped a cool mango shake, my all-time favorite, savoring each drop of it while awesomely devouring the charm of the Molo Plaza.

 

My next stop is the Jaro Plaza which is just a few minutes away from Molo. The plaza was obviously newly-redesigned and modernized yet maintaining the old feel. The pathways were huge and it is so wonderful to see students, group of friends and families having their afternoon stroll and bonding moments. Again, I could only dream of this for my hometown. I walked leisurely to the towering monuments that dominate the plaza, one of which is that of Graciano Lopez Jaena, a Filipino writer and reformist who was born in Jaro. What got my attention was the giant Spanish-period belfry made of red bricks which stands like the leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It was so high anybody could be dwarfed by it. Across the plaza is the Jaro Church that looked so old with its façade blackened by moss thru the passage of time which has grand stairs on both sides that meet on the second level of the church’s façade which holds the grotto of Our Lady of the Candles, the town’s patron saint.

 

I consider my travel to Iloilo as not complete without visiting the Miag-ao Church, a  UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with four other Baroque churches in the Philippines. I was so astounded to see the church’s façade draped in various artistic carvings of local flora and fauna as well as images of saints. It was so unique I have not seen one like this anywhere. Whoever were the artists who turned the church’s façade into a whole wall of canvass were truly geniuses. Across the street from the church is the Miag-ao Plaza. It was so huge and designed to evoke not only love but also patriotism as what lies at the center is the monument of Jose Rizal.

 

While going back to the city, I passed by the town of Guimbal where the gates and fences of houses were designed uniformly and all painted in yellow. I endured the scorching heat brought by the noontime sun as I walked thru the town center. The place was all too typical of a plaza complex during the Spanish period characterized by being surrounded by the church, the town hall and on the other side by the hospital and some commercial spaces. The plaza of Guimbal is really one for the books and for me one of the bests in this part of the planet. Again, I have met Rizal in stone at the center of the plaza just steps away from the awe-inspiring marvelous amphitheater facing the town hall. I was really awed and astounded by its charm.

 

As I laid down to sleep that night, I was so happy another dream came to full view. But I know that my happiness would be more complete once a dream plaza takes shape in my own hometown. 01-10-2024

A FINE SUMMER IN BAGUIO CITY

 It is my childhood dream to one day visit the City of Pines and be able to feel the cold weather and roam around the city. For years, the scent and feel of Baguio were a reality to me but only in my imagination.

 

Baguio is dubbed as the summer capital of the Philippines. It is the perfect place to escape the scorching heat of the summer sun. Hence, I feel so blessed to come to the city right in the middle of the summer month of May.

 

It was three o’clock in the afternoon when our group left Manila on board a passenger bus to take us to Baguio. It was a seven-hour long ride but it was not boring at all. I have enjoyed the wide and smooth expressways as we traversed from Manila to Clark all the way to the provinces of Pampanga, Pangasinan and La Union then up to Baguio City. The sceneries of wide agricultural fields and the countryside along the roads were captivating and relaxing.

 

Serious and funny talks with our group mates and eating with them made us ignore time and distance until we reached Baguio City. We arrived there at 10 o’clock in the evening. The moment I stepped down from the bus, I took my first breathe and had my first feel of the Baguio cold night time weather. It was really cold as if the entire place has a centralized aircon. Our host took us for a late dinner in a cozy restaurant. The food tastes so good. Right there, we proceeded to our hotel and slept so deep the entire evening without turning on the aircon.

 

The following morning, we got up early and braced ourselves for a day long tour. Our first stop was the Baguio Cathedral. What a beautiful postcard perfect view of the church. It is so romantic lovers would fall in love with it and fell more in love with a partner. We went up through several stairs and had some pictures taken at the crucified Jesus. The cathedral’s ground was quite huge and the cathedral’s façade is perfectly-designed like those in Europe. I went inside it and prayed; of course, thanking God for making this childhood dream came true.

 

On a rented van, we rode our way to the Baguio Botanical Park. We had some photos taken at the gate together with the natives wearing the traditional Igorot outfits. Then off we went to the Mansion, the summer residence of the president of the Philippines when he or she is in Baguio. We had some photos taken but only at the gate because people are not allowed to enter the compound.

 

Across the street, we had some photos on a standee of Igorot male and female figures with our face on top. We also have some photos with a gigantic and scary looking dog. All were allowed for a fee.

 

We proceeded to the Mines View Park which is a few minutes away from the city center. There were lots of merchandise like colorful flowers and souvenir items while walking our way to the famous viewing deck. It was really a sight to behold standing on top looking down at the layers of mountain ranges and ocean of greeneries below. The fogs were caressing the top of the vegetation even as I have to lock my thick jacket as it was too cold.  Then, it started to drizzle and so we have to move quickly back to the entrance. We gathered by the ice cream parlor beside the gate and tasted for the first time the strawberry-flavored coned ice cream.

 

Our next place to visit was the Bell Church, which is a Buddhist Temple. Huge welcome landmarks tower the compound. Once inside, you can see the tall and iconic pagoda but before reaching it you will be walking on series of stairs alongside which are some Buddhist’s religious figures. Bougainvilla mostly of red and pink were in full bloom adding more vibrance to this place of worship for Buddhists. A few minutes from here is the Tam-awan Village which we have explored as it features some traditional houses of the Igorots. We even went up the slopes of the hill for a bit of hiking adventure. Down the hill is a small store cum restaurant in which gallery of paintings of some local artists adorned the walls.

 

We rode passed the highways going to the town center of La Trinidad, Benguet. I was really amazed by the several kilometers stretch of walls that shelter the Benguet State University (BSU). I would assume BSU is one of the largest universities in the country in terms of land area. By minutes passed 12 noon, we were already at the famous Strawberry Farm which is located at the further end of BSU. What a huge farm it is. The strawberry plantation is sprawled on a huge flat terrain where strawberries are planted as far as one’s eyes could see.  There were these long lines of stores where we bought some processed strawberry jam and other sweet products for pasalubong. While the farm is the farthest in our itinerary, our leisurely trip did not end here. We are even off to some more awesome spots as we went back to the city.

 

We passed by the picturesque Colors of StoBoSa, La Trinidad, a hilly neighborhood of painted houses of varied hues as if turning the entire the village into a living canvas. We took some photos while in the middle of the hanging bridge and bought some souvenir stuff by the cliff’s edge.  

 

Minutes passed and we were already at the Stone Kingdom, a newest attraction in Baguio. By its entrance are two giant monuments of Igorot kings both clad in the traditional outfit made of loin cloth called bahag with headdress on top standing tall holding a long dagger the edge of which touching the ground. As I entered the man-made kingdom, I draw a sigh of amazement looking up the structures of passageways going up the hillsides all made of small-sized thousands of white coral stones symmetrically assembled on top of the other. At the other side is what I presumed to be the kingdom hall. These narrow stone pathways and kingdom hall were all carved on the slopes of a hill encircling the expanse of the square. We slowly and carefully walked thru the small paths layer by layer until we reached the highest point. I find it quite tricky walking down the hill thru the narrow paths as just a small misstep may spell an accident.

 

As if not yet contented with the little hiking adventure, we went up to the overpass that connects the two sides of the hill passing thru the square. While in the middle of the overpass bridge, we observed that it was getting darker and we saw from the west side mounds of moving fog carried by the gentle wind approaching from where we are. As it was getting nearer, we hurried down the hill afraid that the thick fog might engulf us as well as the entire place.

 

After a few minutes ride, we went to the haunted Diplomat Hotel and found it to be dilapidated and nearing collapse reason why visitors are no longer allowed to enter. We just satisfy ourselves walking around the yard surrounding the building and just looked at it imagining how it may have looked like when it was used as hotel and then later as hospital during the American and Japanese periods and in the succeeding decades and today when maybe ghosts of any kinds reside on it. Diplomat Hotel has been featured a lot of times on television shows along with spirit questors, hence, it was me now wondering in real life if horror stories in this haunted hotel were real.

 

To cap our day trip, we had an unplanned pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto nearby. I took the more than 250 steps going up the grotto. Along the staircases are some religious statues of saints and sorrowful mysteries. I said little prayers while on a small stop on these statues. When I reached the grotto atop the hill, I was so happy at my age I can still make it and miraculously I have not felt any tiredness. I prayed for thanksgiving at the foot of the tall statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. I have also prayed on my knees on a chapel a few steps beside the grotto.

 

We went back to our hotel by dusk already. Tired as we are, we slept early.

 

On our second day, we strolled around the Burnham Park. It was a dream come true for me to be in this park that was named after its designer Daniel Burnhan, one of the world’s famous urban planners who came to the Philippines in the early period of American colonial period at the turn of the 20^th century. Burnham was also commissioned to design the city’s centers of Manila, Cebu, and Davao. For us environmental planners, he is considered as the forerunner of City Beautiful Movement. The park is huge enough to accommodate hundreds of daily visitors. Its green expanse is dotted with lines of pine trees, other native trees and long walkways. At the center is a picturesque huge lagoon where one can experience boat ride. At one side of the lagoon, one can wear for a rent some Igorot native costume. On the outskirts of the park, one can ride for a rent on bicycle or little jeeps for fun. My group just enjoyed ourselves walking around thru the pathways.

 

From the park, we walked our way to the Baguio Public Market which I consider as the cleanest wet and vegetable market I have been to. Pathways were spacious enough to accommodate huge number of market goers. Vegetables sold were all fresh and reasonably priced as well as pasalubong items. When we passed by a coffee store, I was allured by the coffee’s aroma wafting thru that portion of the marketplace. On a thrift store, I bought a used Adidas jacket that was lowly priced.

 

We rode on a bus that took us to SM Baguio. We spent several hours there and bought some more items. After taking our dinner, we leisurely walked our way from the street along the vicinity of the mall to the famous Session Road now transformed into a long avenue of night stores selling used apparels of all types. I bought myself a jacket. It was really a tiresome long walk passing thru humongous people that crowded the stores. Once we got off from the crowded stores, we turned to a stretch of food stalls gallery on an open space at the Burnham Park.

 

It was already passed ten in the evening and there were no taxis that were passing by. We decided to just walk our way to our hotel. We passed thru a steep road up. Our feet were already aching even before we reached the hotel. Laying my back on my bed, I felt so exhausted but it was worth it. I will never forget Baguio. It was so cold and so cool and awfully a wonderful city. If there is another chance, I would surely find my way to be here again. 01-23-2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

T’was a great 2018!

 Started the year doing my job as the designated zoning administrator of the municipality. Faced a lot of challenges and even opposition as I implement zoning regulations. I stood firm and yes the law prevailed.

 

My job took me to Surigao City, Davao City and Angeles City. Wandering through the streets of these cities has filled me with tons of ideas for local development planning especially in terms of environmental protection, urban planning and community resiliency.

 

Though I sometimes had to struggle with health issues, I was able to surmount it all. Thanks heaven, I have always been receiving undeserved leases in my life hehe. Perhaps, God has more plans for me hehe.

 

One important lesson I learned this year is to take life easy, anyway, no one comes out of this world carrying all the things that worry people a lot like money, career, and all worldly cares.

 

If the spirit is like an airplane, it would be easier for it to soar up to the greatest heights if it does not carry tons of baggage.

 

Living unattached to material things is essential to living a happy life. However, fighting materialistic tendencies is a constant battle between good and evil, call it the “armageddon” on a daily basis.

 

When the plane that we were riding on in Surigao hardly took off from the runway due to strong winds and heavy downpour caused by a signal number two typhoon, I thought the plane will not be able to pull it off. I thought it would smash through the grassy and muddy area. Our plane is just so good and obviously we have a good pilot.

 

Up in the air, turbulence was so scary. I saw my companion’s daughter holding on tight to his father’s arm. Admittedly, I was scared but here we are in a corner where all of us seemed to be helpless. I closed my eyes, said a prayer, relaxed myself and listened to a love song on my tablet. In forty-five minutes, our plane is making a landing in Cebu airport. However, our ordeal is not yet over. We are still in the middle of the storm. We are just half-way to our final destination which is our hometown of Lavezares in Northern Samar.  

 

We had the night passed in a cheap hotel in Cebu. At past 4 in the morning, we prepared for the airport. It was raining and wind is getting stronger as the typhoon is now in Cebu. From our room, I can see the country’s flag fluttering so fast with the strong winds. We went to the airport. There was no flight cancellation. Friends were calling me concerned of my flight as it was situation in my hometown is not good either. A friend even livestreamed the strong winds in my hometown ripping through the streets and banana areas. Several teachers were calling and texting me asking if the mayor would cancel classes and offices. I told them we have to wait for the provincial government notice of cancellation.

 

Absence the flight cancellation, we proceeded with our trip back home. There were even more turbulence. To relax myself, I opened myself for a nice conversation with my seatmate who happens to be a bank manager of a local bank. In more than an hour, we landed at Calbayog Airport amidst worrisome turbulence.

 

Lesson learned through all these air turbulence is to stay relax by consoling oneself with the thought that man has no control. God has.

 

Turbulence comes in so many forms, both natural and real life in other aspects. Having faith in oneself and in the Supreme Being are enough to tame me no matter how earth shattering the turbulences are.

 

Great thoughts to live by as 2018 leaves and as 2019 beacons a new gravity-defying hope and positive vibes.# 01-02-2019

 

 

Do You Believe in Santa Claus?

 There are three stages in our life:

 

The first stage : we believe in Santa Claus

The second stage : we do not believe in Santa Claus

The third stage : we are the Santa Claus

 

I practically grew up in a family that do not observed with strict obedience the commercialized trappings of Christmas. Aside from going to Simbang Gabi, nothing was special for us other than the thought that it’s Christ’s birthday. This is so because of the financial hard-ups which seemed to court us through so many Christmases. How can we afford a decent Medya Noche and exchanges of gifts when our house was devastated by a yearender super typhoon?

 

Once when I was a kid, I was amused with my classmates who keep on bragging among themselves the gifts they received from Santa Claus. They received beautiful toys and money, to my envy. So, the next Christmas, I put a sock on our window anticipating Santa will stop and put a toy on it. When I woke up in the morning, I opened up my sock and found two pieces of suman and two peso coins. I was astounded to discover Santa Claus could make suman, all the way from the North Pole. I was so deeply disappointed I expected so much Santa would bring me a better gift than what my classmates had received.

 

Now that I am a young adult, I realized maybe that was the only thing Santa could afford me at that time. Now I realized more than anything else, Santa has given me a better life for me to take on.

 

Today, I am at the third stage of my life. Probably, the hardest of the three stages as you have no other choice but to give,give, and give more, especially with the ever-rising costs of toys and the decreasing value of peso.

 

Who do you think among your inaanaks would still be happy with twenty-peso bill?

 

Last week, I was in the tiangge. It was a big sale day. My five hundred pesos have to come up with twelve gifts for my godchildren. And you know what I’ve got, I was arguing with the tindera over the price of the gift wrappers, which no longer come for free as it used to be.

 

Geez! Christmas is just really for the kids to enjoy and for us adults to agonize with our budgets. 

 

I believe Jesus Christ never wanted these. What He wanted really is to simply celebrate His birth with prayers of thanksgiving for all the wondrous things that happened in the whole year. Isn’t it He chose to lay down on a manger to be a reminder of the simplicity of the event?

 

Do I still believe in Santa Claus?

 

The concept accompanying the existence of Santa Claus is still believable though Santa Claus is, as for me, only a creation of the commercialized world. Taken to the extreme, Santa Claus may invite greed and materialism, which Jesus as we know would not allow.

 

No matter what, Santa Claus should always be present in each one of us. He should be present in a child and the baby Jesus in us. Always be reminded about the spirits Santa Claus bring us: the joy of giving and the gratefulness of receiving.

 

Over the streets, I can see several images of Santa Claus. Some are made of plastics. I can also observed faked snows and Christmas trees. I just wish this Christmas I can find something real. (12-24-03)

A Government of Angels: A Delusion

 Today, the Philippines is simply ungovernable. The people are restless with so much politicking. The leaders are so corrupt. The media glorifies the ugliness of the society. No one seems to be telling the truth. People are confused whom to believe in. The economy is in shambles. People’s morale is at a decaying stage. The whole socio-political system is stinking.

 

I doubt whether this country can ever attain a strong republic status.

 

As elections come and go, candidates are just so proud to tell the people they will deliver them from impoverishment, only for the people to be disillusioned at the end. Politicos, along with gaudy trappings of a movie star, bragged about empty promises.  And the voters seem to forget their rumbling stomach. This is not to mention the thrill election brings to the people who are like spectators in a cockfight eager to know who is on the losing end.

 

The Pinoy society today represents a clearer picture of the Roman Empire at its decadent stage. Leaders are corrupt. People are corrupted body, mind, and soul. Thus, signaled the fall of the once glorious empire.

 

What can be done now?

 

I would suggest that there should be an honest to goodness pursuit for good governance and a genuine values reorientation of the people through education.

 

Good governance. According to Remigio Agpalo, the political system of the country is comparable to the human body. To simply put it in Filipino, “ang sakit ng kalingkingan, sakit ng buong katawan.” Hence, all parts of the system are affected even if just a small portion is inflamed. As in the case of Pinoy politics, any irregularities are blamed on the leader or the ulo. This is maybe the reason why call our president pangulo. This led to the people’s lack of initiative and the hesitancy to accept responsibility as they look upon what the president can do. Thus, all wrongs in the echelons of powers are blamed to the president.

 

A presidential son was once quoted as saying, “Kulang na lang baha, lindol, at bagyo, ay isisi pa sa pangulo.”  

 

Real change in the government’s system should start from the high-ups down. Rank and file employees look up to their bosses. Local leaders look up to the national leaders. If the leaders are conscientious with their job, everyone else down will follow. Corruption is rampant in the local level because it is a tradition being practice by the national leaders especially the tradpols.

 

Moral Recovery. Corruption if to be understood well emanates from the lower form of value system of the people. When the people in a society are brought up in families who are materialistic, one should expect a corrupted community. This is because everybody who holds the reins of powers and the government coffers will be ups for the grab of everything there is to satisfy their insatiable perks and caprices.

 

Our school system in the country is not really serious in doing its job as values educators. The educational system is so very removed from the reality. It teaches things which are impossible to apply in the daily lives of the people. And teachers do not seem to practice what they are teaching. Students are confused. Hence, when they are already in the real world, all the best theories they have learned in the four-cornered room collapse.

 

Real changed should be inward-bound otherwise everything will be superficial. It would be like repainting the facade while maintaining decaying interiors. (12-22-03)

 

 

After A Hundred Years

 Next year will be the commemoration of the centennial of Philippine Declaration of Independence. Its primordial goal is to relive the spirit of nationalism and heroism among the Filipinos which our forebears had perpetuated in their upheaval against Spanish colonialism through blood struggle that led to the attainment of freedom and independence aspired for more than three hundred years.

 

Indeed, the proclamation of Independence was not a work alone of one man or a single organization. In fact, it was the collective efforts of many Filipinos who could no longer endure the cruelty and abuses, oppression and exploitation. They had succeeded. Primarily because of their adherence to their ideals strengthened with faith and vision, courage, sacrifice, solidarity and determination.

 

After the long one hundred years that passed, was the dream of our heroes realized? Or was in vain? Does the spirit of nationalism our forebears extolled upon us remain? Or did the Western imperialists who mentally and psychologically colonized us wipe it out? In these contemporary times, can we still show nationalism amidst challenges?

 

There are different challenges in different times. If during the Revolutionary period, we were confronted of foreign oppressors, today we are now faced with multitude of problems like bureaucratic inefficiency, environmental degradation, poverty, political instability, burgeoning foreign debts, and human rights violation. Not to mention massive graft and corruption. All of these require nationalism to be solved. Nationalism, which our Asian neighbors say, “must be used as an instrument of change and honest-to-goodness reforms.”

 

Three years is left, we will be facing the next millennium. If we will remain passive and inactive, problems will go unabated. It will continually multiply and just like microbes eventually deteriorate the system. Then, we will lag behind from the intense and dynamic clash of economies. Would we just say bahala na when these are already unleashing destruction on us.

 

Finally, in the spirit of nationalism we must strive hard to reevaluate our history and rectify mistakes in the past and learn from it.

 

We must be guided by moral values our heroes had extolled to us that provide us wisdom to forge ahead with vision and energy.

 

We must do our share by using our reservoir of intellect to provide solutions to the countless problems of our times. Specifically in shaping a better future for the majority of our people languishing in poverty. We must reach out to them.

 

We must be a part of the solution not of the problem. We must possess determination and sacrifice as what flowed in the veins of our heroes during the dark days of colonialism.

 

At this point in time, we should reaffirm our dedication in our quest for progress, peace, and prosperity now and in the posterity to come. (Published on the 2^nd sem issue of The Spectrum, 1997. I was 18 years old.

Copycats

 One Saturday morning, I stroll around the stalls called SM to look for a pair of slippers. I amuse myself by looking on their so very affordable buys in the hope I may be able to find out better things for myself. You know, my budget cannot go elsewhere but SM.

 

I finally found a pair of slippers, the brand is Icelander, and the appearance really was an obvious imitation of Islander.  I look randomly for more items along the line of stalls. I come across with a backpack which has a label called Neki, the bag looks good one would mistake it as an orig Nike. I look on the lines of jeans. I found there Lives which is ostensibly a desperate attempt to copy everybody’s craze, Levis.

 

As I continue walking to nowhere, I go inside a music store to find out vcd sets, one of these is branded Sany. Maybe, they are the offspring of Sony and Sanyo. The thing which I wouldn’t surely miss is the truckloads of cassette tapes and vcd`s. There, I found out local and foreign titles ranging from movies,cd`s,videoke discs, and mp3`s. I imagine how many record companies here and abroad missed large profits and how many artists were deprived of their royalties. This is only actually one of my apparent concerns.

 

When I look at the titles and covers of the albums, I could hardly identify which is a local or foreign material. I suppose they all look the same. And to hear the sound, styles of the local artists are almost the same with foreign singers. This is, however, with the exception of Yoyoy Villame and Freddie Aguilar whose voices are distinctively pinoy sounding.

 

Really, Pinoy will always find a way to copy things and characteristics, which are foreign. From slippers to jeans to music.

 

Well, this country can be said as a country of copycats. Today, inside a mall or a university you could easily find clones of the latest hot item over the MTV. They were like vampires as if pulled out of the boob tube.

 

And now, who are we to scream out for more tourists and foreign visitors? Do they have something new and exotic things to find out here in the Philippines?

 

The Americans and the Europeans would likely choose our neighbors Malaysia and Thailand as their ultimate destination. Why? Because these two countries have unique things and people to enjoy with. In the Philippines, how can they enjoy our styles of architecture when our buildings in Makati are patterned after the buildings in their homelands? Singers? There`s nothing new to find in the Philippines. Our tiseltown is filled with Streisands, Mariah Carey, Houston, Elvis Presley, Barry Manilow, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion,Ricky Martin, and Shakira. Name any foreign artist and you will find yourself groping with so many impostors. You may not know it but the Americans just simply love the music of Yoyoy Villame whose voice sounds so exotic to their ears. Not only the Yankees but also twenty-eight countries love the song Anak of the famous Freddie Aguilar.

 

As I continue with my funwalk as I would call it, I pass by a bookstore. My eyes began to drool as I, myself, a self-confessed wide reader and really wild at that, ha-ha, went inside and glazed my eyes over the stacks of books on the shoulder-high shelves. I was amazed to find out so many books authored by foreign writers I could hardly find books written by Filipino masters. Well, Pinoys really just can`t have enough of Ludlums, and Kings`. When I stepped out of the bookstore, I have with me some Sheldon`s , uh-hu.

 

As I went back home, I am so glad I can now answer the challenging question posed on me by a professor. What is the distinctive identity of this nation? I guess, people who are no less than copycats. Whew! (11-03-03)

Bahay Kubo, etc.

 The Yankees are just so proud to tell Pinoys for bringing unto their shores the blessings of public school system. Pinoys in return, are so proud to be Americanized in many ways. All because of the public school system, which Americans used as instrument to continuously, subjugate the Filipinos. May it not be through physical presence, more importantly, through cultural influences, which is more powerful than the former.

 

The thing is infuse a higher dosage of ideas on persons` forehead, and you’ll have him entirely through the end.

 

Public school system may either be a boon or a bane to many. Parents would be happy to send their children to school without any penny going out from their empty pockets, yet also damn the government why their children have to be taught with incompetent teachers under the mango tree. Thus, ending up jobless or underemployed after twenty years of either burning candles or beer guzzling. However, these half a million grads each year is still lucky they were able to finish out of millions of out-of-school youth doing nothing at all. At least, they still have that greater opportunity of going outside the country to work as DH or caregiver or as skilled worker though their credentials speak highly of them.

 

Well abroad, Pinoy intellectuals are nothing greater than those who speak carabao English. They’re all just second-class citizens, huh!

 

Before, parents would say to their child, “dahil bobo ka, mag-titser ka na lang.” Today, they would advise, “ dyes mil na ang sweldo ng titser, kaya mag-education (course) ka na lang.” Maybe these were the reasons why public education system is deteriorating as reflected on the incompetent, half-baked graduates. Why? This is because these teachers have no strong solid moral and philosophical foundation regarding their chosen profession. Hence, no love lost on what we call social responsibility of educating the ignorance and the entire society. They would just look upon their profession as a means of having a better lifestyle. Thus, the tocinos, longganisas, candies, rtw`s, and the 5-6`s. Tomorrow, we would not be surprised if parents will tell their children, “mag-education kayo, in-demand ngayon sa Amerika ang maraming teachers. Mataas na ang sahod. Dolyar pa.” This is not impossible with the growing “market” for teachers in the US and Europe. Currently, nurses are the most needed. Coming soon are the teachers. Most probably, in the next five years the Philippines will have a shortage of nurses. And in the next ten years, teachers.

 

This is what the colonialized system of education has done for us. Pinoys are taught not how to serve the Philippines; they are taught how to better serve other nations through their multi-national corporations and trans-national corporations. Pinoys are taught how to use the computers but not how to make one so that we will always be at the mercy of the Silicon Valley. Pinoys are taught about the philosophies of the Westerners and Chinese’ but was never taught about the ideal society from the viewpoint of a Rizal or a Bonifacio, which I think would be more applicable to us because they have lived and understood what it’s like to be a Filipino.

Americans entice us with the lure of finding white-collar jobs so that our agriculture sector will always be lagging behind from theirs. They translated “magtanim ay di biro” to “planting rice is never fun,” hence, Pinoys have that impression that being a farmer is never a funny job. Anyway, who likes to be working with no fun at all. They translated “bahay kubo kahit munti,” to “my nipa hut is very small” so as to overemphasized that Pinoy houses are so very small to the mansions of the Americans. And to debase more our English proficiency, they translated “bayang magiliw,” to “land of the morning.”These whole things might have given birth to the carabao English. Of course, magiliw is different from morning. The Yankees would just laugh at the Pinoys knowing Pinoys would still love them even though they were already saying the wrong things. Pinoy yan , eh. I remember when the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against Italy for defining Filipina as domestic helper in one of its dictionaries.

 

Would we call it the miseducation of the Noypis?  Hmmm. Let`s ask the government.

 

And its answer would be: foreign-debt servicing is a much-needed priority. Privatization of the education sector is the most viable alternative. We need bigger bucks to buy more gunpowder in the military. But, aren`t we already have enough of gunpowder in our schools and government? Tsk…tsk…tsk… (10-17-03)

 

 

 

 

 

BROWNOUT

 One night, I had that great opportunity of holding my head up high on the skies and behold the majestic and spectacular view of the heavenly bodies. That night I was actually grateful it was brownout. Otherwise I would have lay down on my couch and watch stars made up of flesh and lies til I finally rest down to slumber. At least with the occurrence of brownout, I, for a long time enjoyed again the splendor of the universe and reminded myself of the reality that my existence is just a speck of dust in the whole scheme of things.

 

Again, thank it was brownout.

 

Staring up the vast skies made me forget of the topsy-turviness and the craziness of the world. It made me forget the world, which is already teeming with growing six billion people in which more than half are starving in abysmal poverty, famine, and malnutrition. It made me a little less concerned of the endless political dramas, sexual hanky-pankies involving people of power and pulpit, and the financial and moral corruption of the society.

 

Really, the experience leaves me exhilarating in awe and wonder while all at the same time I know many people around the world are so preoccupied on searching for wonderful things they could hardly even find.

 

Thank, heavens, I was sitting on that wonderful green-manicured lawn while all the rest are still finding for themselves what I already found, which is the simplicity of life and the enjoyment of little things which only nature could offer.

 

Thank God, it was brownout. I was able to gaze at the meteors and find my way of believing in dreams again. I wish I may and I might…lucky stars would fall on my knees.

 

In the wilderness of this universe, I imagine myself how do I look like from the moon. Maybe my body would be as tiny as a microbe and my problems so very tinier than it. If so, heck, why do I worry a lot? Why do I fear so much when in fact I am only an almost non-existent thing in the whole cosmos? Why do I have to complicate my life when in fact I am just a misnomer in the vast and countless oceans of galaxies?

 

I suddenly remember a gross and mouthy comedian of the 70’s and 80’s in the person of George Carlin who wrote one of the beautiful pieces I have ever read. It says: The paradox of our time and history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more but have less, we buy more but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge but less judgment, more experts yet more problems, more medicine but less wellness.

 

We`ve learned how to make a living but not life. We`ve added years to life, not life to years. We`ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space, but not inner space. We`ve done larger things, but not better things.

 

We`ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We`ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We`ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

 

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn`t cost a cent.

 

Remember to say “I love you,”to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

 

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.(10-16-03)