By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
02 January 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – There is more to life than what the Yuletide Season and the New Year bring: life changing phenomenon!
Literally and figuratively, we Filipinos have experienced a lot of this: Out of suffocation we gathered at EDSA and without a drop of blood overthrew the dictator that ruled the country for more than twenty years; thereafter, EDSA 2 ousted the high-profile gambler out of the Palace; then third edition EDSA attempted to abort the presidency of the petite Lady.
In May 2010, another epiphany flashed in broad daylight of the arid Philippine sky: the second generation Aquino was mandated by majority of the Filipinos to rule the republic under the suit of true democracy.
The epiphanies of EDSA all happened because we wanted change; the epiphanies of the May 10 Elections cyclically happen because we want change. The question now is: Did change ever happen at one point? Or, are we good at EDSA Saga only?
Change is the hardest of activities a self-serving politician can do; yet, the easiest dictum he can always promise.
After EDSA 1, Cory Aquino introduced change. She carefully restored the democratic government back to the table that became once again our staple. She called for the constitutional assembly that led to the amendment of the Charter in 1986. Consequently thereafter, the democratic houses resurrected: the Senate and the Representatives. She carved a remarkable icon of democratic reforms the entire world watched and observed in awe.
One significant yet cunning change she made was creating a new foodstuff out of domestic animal called pork in a barrel disguised as country-wide development fund. This kind of pork takes precedence over other red meats that control economic, social, and political assemblies. Incidentally and arguably, this change did not improve the status quo of the time; it worsened the situation. This icon strengthened the pre-procreation vice of Adam and Eve called greed.
Perhaps it stands to reason why a different version of change was called for: coup de tat staged by now senator Gringo Honasan and his cohorts. This phenomenon gave birth to other coup attempts, military uprisings and adventurisms only the likes of Lim and Trillanes perfectly comprehended.
A notable change would have toppled down a system had the program been instituted sincerely by its agent. Erap aborted bureaucracy with his popular and controversial rhyme “walang kai-kaibigan, walang kamag-anak; wag n’yo akong subukan.” He installed statesmen and politicians sans consanguinity and affinity. However, he was short of making it acceptable to both houses. Shortly, his power was curtailed by EDSA 2 that was triggered by the deal-or-no-deal opening of the controversial bank envelope that produced a dancing queen in the Senate. This catapulted the then Vice Pres GMA to the highest position of the Land.
“Let us build the edifice of unity and topple down the walls that divide” was the popular change dictum the petite but feisty Lady of the Imperial Manila proudly and sternly pronounced. During her term, she manufactured her own change catalog: changing jueteng to small town lotteries, re-branding protectors to benefactors, re-naming austerity measures to cost-saving approaches, installing justices and ombudsman in a passion called political terms – and all these produced the totally re-scripted and changed political classics like the Hello Garci Drama, ZTE-NBN soap dish, the Ampatuans saga, the most talked-about Cha-Cha she and her lower house speaker strutted in a barn soiree, etc. This etcetera enumerates beyond infinity.
For about a decade, one hundred million Filipinos objected to this kind of change but never have successfully aborted the Imeldific game plan until one evening, a new star was spotted north of Malacanang by political shepherds that was believed to bring about the epiphany of the century, hopefully.
This star promised to bring the country to “tuwid na landas,” a popular campaign teaser that catapulted him to power. And shortly after he seized control of the Palace, several attempts to change have been introduced. Most of his change drivers were not fairly acceptable, others became controversial, and nonetheless, he managed to navigate the fields where customizations have to be made: Truth commission. It did not become a change driver; it will never be.
In his sincere and noble attempt to employ the same change vehicle his iconic mother used, failures stalled his Palace: August 2010 hostage drama, plagiarism over tourism brand, lousily prepared K+2, resurgence of Jueteng passions, morally-debated RH Bill, disabled and incapable cabinets, etc. – all these mimicked an unstable administration incapable of bringing about change, planned or imagined; all these portrayed a governance incapacitated to handle sensitive economic, social, and political issues laid down on the table.
Yes, too many epiphanies; phenomena that stirred and traumatized the noble nation. This is now the call of the New Year, new generation: No more EDSA, no more epiphanies. Institute real-time change!
But will Aquino be as effective as the Wise Men in aborting the political Herod called greed that is killing the political savior called good governance of the human race called Philippines?
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Barco et Santa
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
26 December 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The 39-member Philippine Balangay Expedition Team finally ended their more than a year of voyage across six countries in Southeast Asia. The flotilla of “balangay,” comprising three replicas of pre-Hispanic indigenous Malay water vessels docked at the CCP Breakwater where it first set off in September 1, 2009.
Surprisingly, most of the major players are not certified mariners; some in fact are certified mountaineers who planted the Philippine Flag at the tip of the highest geographic protuberance on earth, Mt. Everest.
Arturo Valdez’ Balangay does not differ from the smallest political subdivision we have from where, Barangay, its forerunner. It projects more than its structure: Unity, power, and political will. And these national Barangays like Malacanang, Senate, and Congress must inculcate within their respective unit.
Apparently, Arturo Valdez and his colleagues applied the simplest form of teamwork to proceed with their expedition, to reincarnate the same pre-colonial Philippines’ spirit. The unity they used is the same unity the “Katipuneros” used during the Spanish occupation.
Looking back, authentic Filipino unity gave birth to EDSA 1. It was the basic element EDSA 1 mixed to successfully oust the dictator that has ever lived in the compound of the Palace; the same element added to a concoction called EDSA 2 that successfully ousted Pres. Estrada out of power; that catapulted Pres. Aquino to power via the 2010 May electoral process.
Sadly though, this value is dying; a lot has super-abused this ingredient for their self-serving political agenda. It falsely gave birth to EDSA 3 in an attempt to bring high profile gambler-actor and ousted president back to power. It wrongly gave rise to the three military adventurisms founded on the protectors-of-the-country ideology during the prime of the Arroyo government.
It would have been better if the PNP and the involved cabinet executives used the same “unity” in dealing with the August 2010 hostage crisis and thus shielded the president and the entire country from being ridiculed for ignorance. The tourism industry wouldn’t have suffered if it was used indeed. More to this, constituents of Barangay Malacanang should use the same brand of unity in coming up with a unified syllabus of good governance, not writing their own version of two houses separated by the historic EDSA.
The frail boats, which have journeyed for about 12,600 miles across high seas of Southeast Asian sphere, are a complete picture of power. Beating the terrible rough Asian waters and strong northeast wind is power by itself. And this power is by far no different from the power mandated to these political creatures robed in the glossy fabric of politics called greed.
Scarcity does not impede them from wheeling. Balangay re-defined scarcity as an opportunity to yield to the power of the scarce resource. Interestingly, the team employed ancient navigation methods of seafaring as their power to propel their iconic boats: Using the stars and the position of the heavenly bodies, the direction of the wind and the weather. These methods are by far no different from the ones used by pre-Hispanic and Hispanic colonizers of countries like the Philippines and its neighbors. They made it!
They reached their places of conquest; they survived. Balangay did! The voyage the Philippine politics is making does not guarantee to reach places of conquest; it does not guarantee survival. Which is why, political crisis is apparent; politicians kill their arch-rivals, journalists are murdered, whistleblowers are silenced. Money talks, walks, and works, and so power does!
Lastly, Balangay is a political will. The flotilla was propelled by its mandate: sail, conquer, and survive! Their spirit was their political will; their commitment was their governance.
The three replicated structures suggest the will to perform according to the mandate of the Filipino people without sacrificing the sanctity of the constitution; it purports the will to super-use this mandate; and it requires the honest commitment to uphold the ideals of the mandate.
Incidentally, this is not happening in the biased and greed controlled political arena of the country. Their political will is wrongly exercised along with the erroneous interpretation of the constitution to the extent of defining by themselves the danger lurking in the country’s bleak political arena.
Balangay was proud to say that they have reconnected the present with the country’s glorious, historical past; Barangay is proud to articulate that they have disconnected the past and re-created history for their vile niches. Balangay inspired and stirred national pride in the hearts of the Filipinos at home or abroad; Barangay frustrated and stained national pride in the hearts of the Filipino people elsewhere.
Convincingly, Balangay succeeded; Barangay didn’t. Balangay will always carve a remarkable icon in the annals of history; Barangay will always leave a despicable scar in the annals of history. In their future endeavors, Balangay will always succeed; Barangay will never succeed for as long as greed takes precedence over the genuine use of unity, power and political will.
Conceptually, Balangay is reality; Barangay is imagined only a child who believes that Santa exists can comprehend!
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
26 December 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The 39-member Philippine Balangay Expedition Team finally ended their more than a year of voyage across six countries in Southeast Asia. The flotilla of “balangay,” comprising three replicas of pre-Hispanic indigenous Malay water vessels docked at the CCP Breakwater where it first set off in September 1, 2009.
Surprisingly, most of the major players are not certified mariners; some in fact are certified mountaineers who planted the Philippine Flag at the tip of the highest geographic protuberance on earth, Mt. Everest.
Arturo Valdez’ Balangay does not differ from the smallest political subdivision we have from where, Barangay, its forerunner. It projects more than its structure: Unity, power, and political will. And these national Barangays like Malacanang, Senate, and Congress must inculcate within their respective unit.
Apparently, Arturo Valdez and his colleagues applied the simplest form of teamwork to proceed with their expedition, to reincarnate the same pre-colonial Philippines’ spirit. The unity they used is the same unity the “Katipuneros” used during the Spanish occupation.
Looking back, authentic Filipino unity gave birth to EDSA 1. It was the basic element EDSA 1 mixed to successfully oust the dictator that has ever lived in the compound of the Palace; the same element added to a concoction called EDSA 2 that successfully ousted Pres. Estrada out of power; that catapulted Pres. Aquino to power via the 2010 May electoral process.
Sadly though, this value is dying; a lot has super-abused this ingredient for their self-serving political agenda. It falsely gave birth to EDSA 3 in an attempt to bring high profile gambler-actor and ousted president back to power. It wrongly gave rise to the three military adventurisms founded on the protectors-of-the-country ideology during the prime of the Arroyo government.
It would have been better if the PNP and the involved cabinet executives used the same “unity” in dealing with the August 2010 hostage crisis and thus shielded the president and the entire country from being ridiculed for ignorance. The tourism industry wouldn’t have suffered if it was used indeed. More to this, constituents of Barangay Malacanang should use the same brand of unity in coming up with a unified syllabus of good governance, not writing their own version of two houses separated by the historic EDSA.
The frail boats, which have journeyed for about 12,600 miles across high seas of Southeast Asian sphere, are a complete picture of power. Beating the terrible rough Asian waters and strong northeast wind is power by itself. And this power is by far no different from the power mandated to these political creatures robed in the glossy fabric of politics called greed.
Scarcity does not impede them from wheeling. Balangay re-defined scarcity as an opportunity to yield to the power of the scarce resource. Interestingly, the team employed ancient navigation methods of seafaring as their power to propel their iconic boats: Using the stars and the position of the heavenly bodies, the direction of the wind and the weather. These methods are by far no different from the ones used by pre-Hispanic and Hispanic colonizers of countries like the Philippines and its neighbors. They made it!
They reached their places of conquest; they survived. Balangay did! The voyage the Philippine politics is making does not guarantee to reach places of conquest; it does not guarantee survival. Which is why, political crisis is apparent; politicians kill their arch-rivals, journalists are murdered, whistleblowers are silenced. Money talks, walks, and works, and so power does!
Lastly, Balangay is a political will. The flotilla was propelled by its mandate: sail, conquer, and survive! Their spirit was their political will; their commitment was their governance.
The three replicated structures suggest the will to perform according to the mandate of the Filipino people without sacrificing the sanctity of the constitution; it purports the will to super-use this mandate; and it requires the honest commitment to uphold the ideals of the mandate.
Incidentally, this is not happening in the biased and greed controlled political arena of the country. Their political will is wrongly exercised along with the erroneous interpretation of the constitution to the extent of defining by themselves the danger lurking in the country’s bleak political arena.
Balangay was proud to say that they have reconnected the present with the country’s glorious, historical past; Barangay is proud to articulate that they have disconnected the past and re-created history for their vile niches. Balangay inspired and stirred national pride in the hearts of the Filipinos at home or abroad; Barangay frustrated and stained national pride in the hearts of the Filipino people elsewhere.
Convincingly, Balangay succeeded; Barangay didn’t. Balangay will always carve a remarkable icon in the annals of history; Barangay will always leave a despicable scar in the annals of history. In their future endeavors, Balangay will always succeed; Barangay will never succeed for as long as greed takes precedence over the genuine use of unity, power and political will.
Conceptually, Balangay is reality; Barangay is imagined only a child who believes that Santa exists can comprehend!
Politico et Santa
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
19 December 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The word politics comes from the Greek poli, meaning “citizen”, and the Greek suffix -ics, which connotes a body of facts or knowledge. Literally, the word “politics” means knowledge of being a citizen.
If I may define the word, it will be done aptly with one word: Art. And The Encyclopedia for Philippine Arts published by the Cultural Center of the Philippines categorizes arts in eight forms: Visual Arts, Films, Theater, Dance, Music, Architecture, Broadcast, and Literature.
In the mind and eyes of a child, only one art exists: Santa.
Politics is Visual Arts. Politicos simply love to stone-carve their achievements through the vehicle called schools, public edifices, churches, roads and bridges. They fancy too much on building schools purportedly to educate constituents for the fabled “brighter future through world class education” sans the relevancy these politically built academic structures serve. They paint with pastels walls that have been dividing Filipinos, walls that even the EDSA Saga failed to topple down. They capture images of the multi-faceted political arena and post them to websites, social networks and pages that have been ornamented with their biases and prejudices.
Writing defines politics with sense. Political Literature expresses twists and turns that Political Visual Arts don’t. Laws are written whether or not it serves the majority, or whether or not with purpose for the majority. It is re-written after vividly seeing one consequence after the other sans the wit to comprehend. Streets and structures, offices and functions are named and renamed to establish a niche in the pages of history; to register their own cliché in the trash bin of Political Literature. This art is the body and soul of politics.
The end product of Political Literature is either Films or Stage. Magnificent politicos love to make films out of what was written to portray roles like The Hacienda Luisita Story, The Ampatuans, Morong 43, Suu Kyi, NBN ZTE Deal, the Melo Commission, and the Hello Garci Scandal. Politicos have the passion to re-make classic films like Vizconde Massacre in the hope of twisting the original twist to garner innocence to live happily ever after and put The Jessica Alfaro Story to waste. Whether depicted on Films or brought to life on Stage is a choice. Undoubtedly, politics control the masses through these avenues. Most often than not, political actors produce films or stage plays that essay the modern-day colored biography of Andres Bonifacio cum Emilio Aguinaldo customized to depict the self-serving and socially ruined political platforms these political parties have created.
And as the tux-robed politicos walk the isles of executive and legislative houses, they deliberately control the artistic soiree performing the centuries old it-takes-two-to-tango political dance steps only the classic South American duo Juan and Evita Peron masterfully and artistically donned so far. As of even date, no one has ever performed The Last Dance to retire gracefully or has executed with flair The Last Waltz to be in the House of the Commons thereafter. Even National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa Goquingco will never appreciate the steps these flat-footed politicos introduce. Seriously, Political Dance is actually what a troubled socialite and a self-declared statesman do when he is in Rome.
Surely, Mozzart, acclaimed to be one of the greatest musician-composers who have ever lived, will disagree with the mischievous Filipino politicos’ claim that their own musical pieces are better than his’. When Barry Manilow announced that he “write the songs that make the whole world sing,” the whole world listened and repeated the rhyme after him. When our maestros kept on singing the same old song that already sounded like unwanted hullabaloos, nobody dared to; instead, the entire Filipino community switched off their stereo sets and composed their own. Truly, I will appreciate if their songs are archived; let alone time classifies them as classical arts or not.
Politics is by itself Architecture. The platforms these machineries carry are architecturally designed in such a way that no space and money go unutilized. In fact, our Political Architecture projects a design that most of the proceeds in the sale of these animals disguised as pork in a barrel are safe-kept in the pockets stored in house closets. If Leandro Locsin, the greatest poet of space and National Artist for Architecture were alive, surely he will condemn himself for making Architecture his passion.
Undeniably, whatever is written, filmed or staged, broadcast media gets into the way. For what is the most effective medium of catching the sixty-minute spotlight if not through this? Everyday in the shop floors of these one-hundred-million-Filipino-made houses, all forms of hodgepodges are broadcasted live. Not only this, all the politically flavored and self-assessed from-the–bottom-of-the-heart assistance, nuisances and commentaries are broadcasted live via the country’s top terrestrial giants.
Politics and Santa: The only difference lies in the truth. Politics lives in the mind; Santa does not. For a child, yes, Santa lives in his heart.
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
19 December 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The word politics comes from the Greek poli, meaning “citizen”, and the Greek suffix -ics, which connotes a body of facts or knowledge. Literally, the word “politics” means knowledge of being a citizen.
If I may define the word, it will be done aptly with one word: Art. And The Encyclopedia for Philippine Arts published by the Cultural Center of the Philippines categorizes arts in eight forms: Visual Arts, Films, Theater, Dance, Music, Architecture, Broadcast, and Literature.
In the mind and eyes of a child, only one art exists: Santa.
Politics is Visual Arts. Politicos simply love to stone-carve their achievements through the vehicle called schools, public edifices, churches, roads and bridges. They fancy too much on building schools purportedly to educate constituents for the fabled “brighter future through world class education” sans the relevancy these politically built academic structures serve. They paint with pastels walls that have been dividing Filipinos, walls that even the EDSA Saga failed to topple down. They capture images of the multi-faceted political arena and post them to websites, social networks and pages that have been ornamented with their biases and prejudices.
Writing defines politics with sense. Political Literature expresses twists and turns that Political Visual Arts don’t. Laws are written whether or not it serves the majority, or whether or not with purpose for the majority. It is re-written after vividly seeing one consequence after the other sans the wit to comprehend. Streets and structures, offices and functions are named and renamed to establish a niche in the pages of history; to register their own cliché in the trash bin of Political Literature. This art is the body and soul of politics.
The end product of Political Literature is either Films or Stage. Magnificent politicos love to make films out of what was written to portray roles like The Hacienda Luisita Story, The Ampatuans, Morong 43, Suu Kyi, NBN ZTE Deal, the Melo Commission, and the Hello Garci Scandal. Politicos have the passion to re-make classic films like Vizconde Massacre in the hope of twisting the original twist to garner innocence to live happily ever after and put The Jessica Alfaro Story to waste. Whether depicted on Films or brought to life on Stage is a choice. Undoubtedly, politics control the masses through these avenues. Most often than not, political actors produce films or stage plays that essay the modern-day colored biography of Andres Bonifacio cum Emilio Aguinaldo customized to depict the self-serving and socially ruined political platforms these political parties have created.
And as the tux-robed politicos walk the isles of executive and legislative houses, they deliberately control the artistic soiree performing the centuries old it-takes-two-to-tango political dance steps only the classic South American duo Juan and Evita Peron masterfully and artistically donned so far. As of even date, no one has ever performed The Last Dance to retire gracefully or has executed with flair The Last Waltz to be in the House of the Commons thereafter. Even National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa Goquingco will never appreciate the steps these flat-footed politicos introduce. Seriously, Political Dance is actually what a troubled socialite and a self-declared statesman do when he is in Rome.
Surely, Mozzart, acclaimed to be one of the greatest musician-composers who have ever lived, will disagree with the mischievous Filipino politicos’ claim that their own musical pieces are better than his’. When Barry Manilow announced that he “write the songs that make the whole world sing,” the whole world listened and repeated the rhyme after him. When our maestros kept on singing the same old song that already sounded like unwanted hullabaloos, nobody dared to; instead, the entire Filipino community switched off their stereo sets and composed their own. Truly, I will appreciate if their songs are archived; let alone time classifies them as classical arts or not.
Politics is by itself Architecture. The platforms these machineries carry are architecturally designed in such a way that no space and money go unutilized. In fact, our Political Architecture projects a design that most of the proceeds in the sale of these animals disguised as pork in a barrel are safe-kept in the pockets stored in house closets. If Leandro Locsin, the greatest poet of space and National Artist for Architecture were alive, surely he will condemn himself for making Architecture his passion.
Undeniably, whatever is written, filmed or staged, broadcast media gets into the way. For what is the most effective medium of catching the sixty-minute spotlight if not through this? Everyday in the shop floors of these one-hundred-million-Filipino-made houses, all forms of hodgepodges are broadcasted live. Not only this, all the politically flavored and self-assessed from-the–bottom-of-the-heart assistance, nuisances and commentaries are broadcasted live via the country’s top terrestrial giants.
Politics and Santa: The only difference lies in the truth. Politics lives in the mind; Santa does not. For a child, yes, Santa lives in his heart.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Signe et Santa
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
12 December 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Undoubtedly, the 378 politico-military actors who staged the classic war epic that did not hit the Malacanang box office during the Arroyo years will be released before Christmas; the 43 community health workers suspected to be rebels in the classic military literature maybe; and the detained hundreds of OFWS suspected to be offenders of the Islamic laws of countries of host may never be.
These stories will, without any single skepticism, become classical precedence. Will keep my fingers crossed!
When President Aquino attended the ASEAN Summit in Hanoi this year, he requested the Prime Minister of Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi, a democracy icon just like his mother. Although it took days after Suu Kyi was released, undeniably again, his request has had impact on it.
These politically troubled mutineers cried for release after their failed adventurism. Their plea was “not guilty” and their basis the constitution; their proverbial conviction: They are protectors of the country. Foolish is this isle of corrupted, corruptive and corruptible men to believe that these government-fed “protectors of the country” cheated the people and threatened the stability of the government, literally and figuratively. What a noble act from ennobled men for a troubled nation of a socially confused race!
Nay, they will be freed soon.
On the other hand, the cry of Morong 43 seems to bawl an unwelcoming tune; their hunger strike did not even stir the political orchestra of the Imperial Palace. Their plea was “not guilty” and their basis foul play; their proverbial conviction: They are the protectors of human lives, of humans that provide healthy mandate to mentally-ill legislators and executives of an ailing democratic nation. Foolish is this isle of dirt controlled government of corrupted, corruptive and corruptible men to believe that these un-fatigue-able modern-day “Florence” were cheated and threatened by these “protectors of the country,” literally and figuratively. What a failure to recognize who is who; what a failure to believe which wrong was right, which right was wrong!
Hey, fair justice is what they deserve! No, it is not tomorrow, not after tomorrow but now!
The plight of these more than a hundred overseas contract workers detained elsewhere in the Middle East and of the world cry for help from the administration of Pres. Aquino. Their plea was “not guilty” and their basis unfair labor practices, unfair justice system for the expatriates; their proverbial conviction: delivery and performance of the contract, adherence to international human rights. Foolish are these states of men to believe that overseas Filipino contract workers do not perform the contract in good faith, do not follow the conservative rules of these nations. What a sad consequence; what a tragic loss of lives if the government fails to respond!
These modern-day heroes deserve more than their convictions.
Suu Kyi and the mutineers versus the Morong 43 and the OFWs: What peculiar, substantial and political difference does the President get from believing in the innocence of the former and the latter?
In his campaign, the young Aquino vowed for change. Where is it now? Is releasing these AFP functionalists a way to bring us to his promised change? Is keeping mum and insensitive about the plight of the Morong 43 a way to bring us to his desired change? Is the seeming indifference and reluctance of his administration about the plight of the overseas contract workers a way to bring us to his politically-colored change?
“Change” has been the most popular and super abused electoral promise of all times; it has become the classic word of political greed and a comfortable vehicle to personal gains expressed in a medium called “ballots”. Whew! What a better way to capture the naiveté of the Filipino masses, indeed!
Technically, change connotes defect. Which one is and which one is not?
Christmas is for everybody; even Islamic communities acknowledge that. It does not belong to these abusive members of the military who maliciously soiled their mandate and relationship with the government; nor does it to Suu Kyi only. It belongs more importantly to the Morong 43 and their families, and to the detained overseas Filipino workers and their families, too.
Everybody deserves the freedom to walk on God’s green earth notwithstanding how foolish mortals are in making trash of it. And so these creatures like the Morong 43 and the overseas Filipino workers do!
Whimsically, when Santa Claus gives gift, he does it to everybody; otherwise, he will be guilty of neglect: the worst of crimes most Christians commit.
Signe et Santa: If the latter does not happen, surely, the former does!
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
12 December 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Undoubtedly, the 378 politico-military actors who staged the classic war epic that did not hit the Malacanang box office during the Arroyo years will be released before Christmas; the 43 community health workers suspected to be rebels in the classic military literature maybe; and the detained hundreds of OFWS suspected to be offenders of the Islamic laws of countries of host may never be.
These stories will, without any single skepticism, become classical precedence. Will keep my fingers crossed!
When President Aquino attended the ASEAN Summit in Hanoi this year, he requested the Prime Minister of Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi, a democracy icon just like his mother. Although it took days after Suu Kyi was released, undeniably again, his request has had impact on it.
These politically troubled mutineers cried for release after their failed adventurism. Their plea was “not guilty” and their basis the constitution; their proverbial conviction: They are protectors of the country. Foolish is this isle of corrupted, corruptive and corruptible men to believe that these government-fed “protectors of the country” cheated the people and threatened the stability of the government, literally and figuratively. What a noble act from ennobled men for a troubled nation of a socially confused race!
Nay, they will be freed soon.
On the other hand, the cry of Morong 43 seems to bawl an unwelcoming tune; their hunger strike did not even stir the political orchestra of the Imperial Palace. Their plea was “not guilty” and their basis foul play; their proverbial conviction: They are the protectors of human lives, of humans that provide healthy mandate to mentally-ill legislators and executives of an ailing democratic nation. Foolish is this isle of dirt controlled government of corrupted, corruptive and corruptible men to believe that these un-fatigue-able modern-day “Florence” were cheated and threatened by these “protectors of the country,” literally and figuratively. What a failure to recognize who is who; what a failure to believe which wrong was right, which right was wrong!
Hey, fair justice is what they deserve! No, it is not tomorrow, not after tomorrow but now!
The plight of these more than a hundred overseas contract workers detained elsewhere in the Middle East and of the world cry for help from the administration of Pres. Aquino. Their plea was “not guilty” and their basis unfair labor practices, unfair justice system for the expatriates; their proverbial conviction: delivery and performance of the contract, adherence to international human rights. Foolish are these states of men to believe that overseas Filipino contract workers do not perform the contract in good faith, do not follow the conservative rules of these nations. What a sad consequence; what a tragic loss of lives if the government fails to respond!
These modern-day heroes deserve more than their convictions.
Suu Kyi and the mutineers versus the Morong 43 and the OFWs: What peculiar, substantial and political difference does the President get from believing in the innocence of the former and the latter?
In his campaign, the young Aquino vowed for change. Where is it now? Is releasing these AFP functionalists a way to bring us to his promised change? Is keeping mum and insensitive about the plight of the Morong 43 a way to bring us to his desired change? Is the seeming indifference and reluctance of his administration about the plight of the overseas contract workers a way to bring us to his politically-colored change?
“Change” has been the most popular and super abused electoral promise of all times; it has become the classic word of political greed and a comfortable vehicle to personal gains expressed in a medium called “ballots”. Whew! What a better way to capture the naiveté of the Filipino masses, indeed!
Technically, change connotes defect. Which one is and which one is not?
Christmas is for everybody; even Islamic communities acknowledge that. It does not belong to these abusive members of the military who maliciously soiled their mandate and relationship with the government; nor does it to Suu Kyi only. It belongs more importantly to the Morong 43 and their families, and to the detained overseas Filipino workers and their families, too.
Everybody deserves the freedom to walk on God’s green earth notwithstanding how foolish mortals are in making trash of it. And so these creatures like the Morong 43 and the overseas Filipino workers do!
Whimsically, when Santa Claus gives gift, he does it to everybody; otherwise, he will be guilty of neglect: the worst of crimes most Christians commit.
Signe et Santa: If the latter does not happen, surely, the former does!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Protecting the rebels
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
05 December 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Recently, Pres. Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation No. 75 proposing to grant amnesty to the participants of the three failed coup during the Arroyo years. Briefly, three military uprisings were staged in separate episodes: The 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, 2006 Marine Barracks Standoff, and 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege. The controversial palace pronouncement is still under deliberation within the legislative houses and is expected to harvest a congressional nod shortly before Christmas.
The three aborted military uprisings produced 378 political and military actors each one playing different role under one artistically written screenplay that did not hit the Malacanang box office. For one, the military support of Arroyo was stronger than what these mutineers thought of; her own articles of war were unequalled and psychologically responsive to these unsung political artists’ tactical game plan.
Politically, the move is taking turns and raking in material amount of criticisms to date: For one, the grant undermines the legal process; two, it sends off an invitation for another military adventurism; and three, it upholds their erroneous orientation of being the “protectors of the country.”
What absolutely bothers the public is the act of the President that seems to undermine the legal process. Currently, an appropriate court hears the rebellion charges against these “men in uniform” that will soon promulgate a verdict. The President’s move only shows matter-of-factly the culpability of his administration. Surely, he has the constitutional right to grant amnesty but in a democratic parlance, amnesty, clemency or pardon can be better afforded after a decision has been promulgated by the judicial court. This would purport his statesmanship; it would be reflective of his respect to the judiciary; a proof for due process exercise. From that standpoint, he can endorse his program of amnesty based on petitions from a number of sectors of the society, if there really are.
Former Pres. Corazon Aquino granted Presidential Pardon to all participants of several coup attempts that threatened to overthrow her government. But her power, vested upon her by the people through a revolutionary government, was both executive and legislative. On the other hand, Former President now Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Arroyo granted Executive Clemency to her predecessor veteran movie actor and EDSA 2 ousted Pres. Joseph Estrada. These two grants were made prior to promulgation of its respective verdict from appropriate judicial courts. Obviously, PP 75 was based on these.
One political analyst claims that the amnesty gives members of the military a signal to stage another adventurism in the future. They would have their philosophical and legal basis to believe that while these are criminally punishable by law, pardon is after all available at the end of the activity. Presumably, we cannot discount the possibility, if not proximate probability, that history will repeat itself. For what would stop those from doing if political discontent becomes the aggravating arm, as in those cases.
The amnesty upholds the academic orientation about the constitutional right these so-called “protectors of the country” steadfastly defend for: that the AFP has the right to determine if there’s cause for uprising. As ordinary citizens, these rebels have all the right provided for in the constitution but do not have the right to determine the cause of military uprising as losing senatorial candidate Danilo Lim claimed. The copy of the constitution he’s based his defense has been amended.
Surprisingly, these people forgot their obligation to protect the country from all forms of danger. They are duty bound to curb uprising and not to initiate it; they caused harm and danger to the government. These armed factionalists should not forget that they live in a democratic nation. Essentially, civilian authority takes supremacy over military rule.
Arguably though, this is the risk of running a democratic state, and this risk is triggered by a corruptible political system; the system that is powered by greed.
For as long as greed reigns over the land, there will be adventurism. For as long as greed controls Imperial Manila’s Palace of the Few, military adventurism will always be initiated by these extreme ideologists. For as along as greed rules and takes superiority over good governance, deviations like these will always surface.
Undoubtedly, these will always be the same plots the icons of military theater will stage; the same gist the icons of political literature will write about; the same twists and turns the icons of political entertainment will produce and brag about. All these are attributed to the same behavioral pattern: adventurism through post-modern commercialism geared towards obtaining a sixty-minute spotlight for personal political advantage like those of Trillanes and Lim.
What a corruptive way to fame and a destructive way to grab the power though!
If Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino can speak from his grave, do you think he would agree with his son?
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
05 December 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Recently, Pres. Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation No. 75 proposing to grant amnesty to the participants of the three failed coup during the Arroyo years. Briefly, three military uprisings were staged in separate episodes: The 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, 2006 Marine Barracks Standoff, and 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege. The controversial palace pronouncement is still under deliberation within the legislative houses and is expected to harvest a congressional nod shortly before Christmas.
The three aborted military uprisings produced 378 political and military actors each one playing different role under one artistically written screenplay that did not hit the Malacanang box office. For one, the military support of Arroyo was stronger than what these mutineers thought of; her own articles of war were unequalled and psychologically responsive to these unsung political artists’ tactical game plan.
Politically, the move is taking turns and raking in material amount of criticisms to date: For one, the grant undermines the legal process; two, it sends off an invitation for another military adventurism; and three, it upholds their erroneous orientation of being the “protectors of the country.”
What absolutely bothers the public is the act of the President that seems to undermine the legal process. Currently, an appropriate court hears the rebellion charges against these “men in uniform” that will soon promulgate a verdict. The President’s move only shows matter-of-factly the culpability of his administration. Surely, he has the constitutional right to grant amnesty but in a democratic parlance, amnesty, clemency or pardon can be better afforded after a decision has been promulgated by the judicial court. This would purport his statesmanship; it would be reflective of his respect to the judiciary; a proof for due process exercise. From that standpoint, he can endorse his program of amnesty based on petitions from a number of sectors of the society, if there really are.
Former Pres. Corazon Aquino granted Presidential Pardon to all participants of several coup attempts that threatened to overthrow her government. But her power, vested upon her by the people through a revolutionary government, was both executive and legislative. On the other hand, Former President now Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Arroyo granted Executive Clemency to her predecessor veteran movie actor and EDSA 2 ousted Pres. Joseph Estrada. These two grants were made prior to promulgation of its respective verdict from appropriate judicial courts. Obviously, PP 75 was based on these.
One political analyst claims that the amnesty gives members of the military a signal to stage another adventurism in the future. They would have their philosophical and legal basis to believe that while these are criminally punishable by law, pardon is after all available at the end of the activity. Presumably, we cannot discount the possibility, if not proximate probability, that history will repeat itself. For what would stop those from doing if political discontent becomes the aggravating arm, as in those cases.
The amnesty upholds the academic orientation about the constitutional right these so-called “protectors of the country” steadfastly defend for: that the AFP has the right to determine if there’s cause for uprising. As ordinary citizens, these rebels have all the right provided for in the constitution but do not have the right to determine the cause of military uprising as losing senatorial candidate Danilo Lim claimed. The copy of the constitution he’s based his defense has been amended.
Surprisingly, these people forgot their obligation to protect the country from all forms of danger. They are duty bound to curb uprising and not to initiate it; they caused harm and danger to the government. These armed factionalists should not forget that they live in a democratic nation. Essentially, civilian authority takes supremacy over military rule.
Arguably though, this is the risk of running a democratic state, and this risk is triggered by a corruptible political system; the system that is powered by greed.
For as long as greed reigns over the land, there will be adventurism. For as long as greed controls Imperial Manila’s Palace of the Few, military adventurism will always be initiated by these extreme ideologists. For as along as greed rules and takes superiority over good governance, deviations like these will always surface.
Undoubtedly, these will always be the same plots the icons of military theater will stage; the same gist the icons of political literature will write about; the same twists and turns the icons of political entertainment will produce and brag about. All these are attributed to the same behavioral pattern: adventurism through post-modern commercialism geared towards obtaining a sixty-minute spotlight for personal political advantage like those of Trillanes and Lim.
What a corruptive way to fame and a destructive way to grab the power though!
If Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino can speak from his grave, do you think he would agree with his son?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)