I can’t help but think that Filipinos who blame former Philippine President and Congresswoman, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) for everything bad that has happened in the country have a squatter mentality. By my own definition, people who have a squatter mentality have this strong sense of entitlement. They believe that the government owes them benefits or privileges. This is why you will often hear people say, “It is GMA’s fault why there are more poor people in the Philippines”. Never mind that GMA had no control over people’s decision to have more babies they can’t afford to feed. Of course, GMA wasn’t perfect. But like I said in my previous article, the fact that the Aquino government can’t even charge her for her “crimes” using a case that could stick means that they’ve got nothing much on her.
People with squatter mentalities do not believe in hard work or in contributing to the betterment of society. They think that they can rely on the government to be responsible for their own happiness. It is quite a fitting description considering squatters by their very nature have no concern or respect for the rights or property of others. They also think that the laws do not apply to them and that they are entitled to disregard them. Some squatters can be arrogant, defiant and selfish. For some reason, the incumbent President, Noynoy Aquino (PNoy) and his minions come to mind when I think about people with squatter mentality. After all, PNoy and his mouthpieces keep blaming GMA for everything, including their own shortfalls and especially when they commit gaffes.
Take the case of singer and songwriter, Jim Paredes. He has been very active on his twitter account lately trying to vilify GMA every chance he gets. This is what he tweeted earlier: “Atty Topacio MD, better check her height. I think she may have stopped growing, too. She may need therapy abroad.” Judging by the number of crass tweets Jim has been sending in reference to GMA, I think it is safe to say that Jim may have lost the plot. Jim appears to be struggling to find his relevance in Philippine society nowadays. His jokes are so half-a-century ago – back when political correctness was non-existent and Tito Vic and Joey ruled the comedy scene. To be precise, his jokes do not belong in this day and age when making fun of people’s appearance or illness is a no-no and a sign of ill breeding.
As a self-proclaimed key player in the very first (and certainly not the last) people power, Edsa revolution, Jim seems to think that he still has credibility after lending his talent to the campaign for PNoy during the 2010 presidential election — PNoy, who most rational people know, was the least qualified of all the presidential candidates. Sadly, Jim used his popularity to help PNoy win the election. Jim’s action is something that I would consider “misguided” and his lack of remorse in supporting PNoy even after PNoy’s mediocre performance after almost two years in office is pathetic to say the least. Worst of all, Jim’s blind support for PNoy’s defiance of the Supreme Court says a lot about his character: arrogant, shows no respect for the law, and no concern for the rights of others. In short, he seems to have a squatter mentality.
There are many more high-profile personalities like Jim Paredes who still refuse to see the big picture. They fail to see that their continued ranting against GMA and some of the members of the Supreme Court continues to divide the nation between those who are being irrational and those who can think objectively, which in turn results in disunity and instability.
Ask the average Filipino why he hates GMA and you won’t get a straight answer. He’ll just spew the usual “she cheated during the 2004 election” or “she stole taxpayer’s money” drivel. It gets really boring to hear the same thing over and over without getting any of the specifics or details of their allegations against GMA.
Since some people have a hard time figuring out why they hate GMA, I have come up with a list of the most probable reasons why they do:
1. Most Filipinos think that blaming the late former President, Ferdinand Marcos is so passé so they have moved on to GMA. A quarter of a century after Edsa, the Aquinos and their supporters cannot keep blaming the original “bad guy” because blaming Marcos after all these years will highlight the fact that there was nothing significant about the so-called “people power” revolution that happened in 1986 to begin with. It becomes funnier when you hear them say, “GMA is worse than Marcos” because they don’t realise that this is the same as saying, “We were better off during the Marcos years”.
2. Most Filipinos need to blame someone for the lack of progress in their own personal lives. They might still be stuck doing the same dead-end job or in the case of some, still stuck waiting for government handouts.
3. Most Filipinos are actually angry with themselves, not with GMA. Underneath that arrogance is a people who are clueless as to why the country continues to be plagued by corruption and lack of progress. They don’t realize that it is the people’s lack of attention to how public servants do their jobs that is the reason why public funds gets mismanaged. In other words, people’s apathy and indifference to how the country is being run is the real cause of corruption and not GMA.
4. Most Filipinos need a diversion. They’ve got nothing going for them. In the case of PNoy for example, he needs to divert people’s attention away from his lack of leadership skills and lack of vision for the country’s future. It is beginning to be quite obvious to a lot of Filipinos that his only agenda for the entire duration of his term is to prosecute GMA. PNoy seems to think that he can simply continue to ride upon GMA’s economic gains while blaming her during his term.
5. Most Filipinos are suckers for drama. This is why they would rather believe hearsays or “tsismis” than facts. It doesn’t help that GMA was said to be not in good terms with some stakeholders of mainstream media. Allegations of GMA’s criminal activities probably gave them huge profits every time they printed stories of her “crimes”.
6. Most Filipinos are addicted to instant gratification. Instant gratification describes the short-term satisfaction gained from impulsive behaviour. And some of the things that can give Filipinos instant gratification are initiatives like “people power” revolutions and habits like defying the rule of law. It is much easier and quicker to get instant results when you throw the rulebook out of the window. But there are grave consequences when using shortcuts like defying the law as an option at getting something done. Most people have not realized it yet but removing an elected leader unconstitutionally the first time already set a dangerous precedent. It gave people excuse or reason to justify doing it again and again. Marcos, Erap and now the Supreme Court.
7. Most Filipinos are ignorant of their rights. 25 years after Edsa, Filipinos still struggle with their knowledge of what freedom is about. They don’t seem to know how to use their so-called freedom responsibly. This is evident in how some Filipinos keep throwing false accusations against their opponents left and right without thinking of the consequences. This is evident in how PNoy keep saying that some members of the Supreme Court cannot be trusted to do the right thing.
Some Filipinos are even ignorant of the law and individual rights, which is precisely the reason why they are gullible enough to believe people who claim to be doing the “righteous” thing like when DOJ secretary Leila de Lima claimed she was looking after the “national interest” in defying the temporary restraining order of the Supreme Court.
8. Most Filipinos are beholden to celebrities and sons and daughters of so-called “heroes”. If you don’t have a celebrity gene, you could end up the bad guy. But what’s so dysfunctional about most Filipinos’ way of thinking is that they keep voting into office the relatives of the public servants they say are corrupt (the Marcos’s, the Estradas, and the Arroyos among others) and most of their preferred lawmakers are showbiz personalities or are sporting heroes. Which is why precious time and taxpayer’s money are spent on trivial stuff like the proposal to rename Edsa to Cory Aquino Avenue.
9. Most Filipinos are still looking for a hero. The people who voted for him thought they found a hero in PNoy. But PNoy actually thought he could get some direction on how to run the country from the people. Both are getting lost in the process of looking at each other for clues on how to get to the quickest way to the “tuwid na daan” or straight path.
10. Most Filipinos still believe in “angels” and “demons”. This is unfortunately a legacy of peoples’ belief in superstition. Like those who believe in witchcraft, some will believe “evil” stories involving GMA even if these lack any basis or evidence to back up the claim. Because some things are very difficult to accept like the reality that they are also accountable for their own lives, some Filipinos would look at their problems, shrug these off and say that things happen for a reason because of interventions by “The Adjustment Bureau” or some heavenly being. Never mind that some things like politicians getting away with criminal activities happen because of their own negligence or lack of vigilance.
The most hated woman in the Philippines
So there you have it. It does make sense for most Filipinos to keep blaming GMA. They don’t have to do anything but send out “sick” jokes and feel good about themselves. Unfortunately for them, their lack of foresight can be their undoing. They fail to realize yet again, that even if they successfully prosecute and put GMA in jail, the way they did with former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada or even when they forced Marcos into exile, they will have no one else to blame but themselves for the lack of progress in the country in the end.
And that is why there are a lot of squatters in the Philippines.
It is funny how most of the arguments here are triggered by perceived misuse and (this for certain) misinterpretation of simple words.
What should be a person’s IQ in order to be able to understand that the word squatter as used in this post refers to the most basic traits of a squatter without which the squatter cannot be called one, and excludes the circumstances that caused him to become one?
Lest I be accused of not having the ability to express my point as well (although I’ve learned long ago that nobody in this world can please everyone naman kaya I won’t really mind opinions of me or my views given by people who are not in any way involved in my life)… the way I see it, Miss Ilda is not being insulting of squatters as individuals with their own experiences, principles and mindsets. It never occurred to me the entire time I was reading that she was being matapobre because I understood that she was referring to the concept of the squatter, na wala ngang pakundangang magtayo ng bahay sa lote ng may lote at pag pinaalis ay manlalaban na parang sila pa ang may karapatang tinapakan at mag-eexpect pa ng libreng relocation.
And that’s the basic definition. That’s the basic thinking of the squatter. Na sila ay nagsipag naman at some point or minalas lang talaga ng tadhana or kung saan saang papag sila natutulog are not the elements that define being a squatter, and it was easy for me to see that these are not included in Miss Ilda’s comparisons, as well. Therefore it’s not fair to call her matapobre as if she’s looking down on the positive facets of the squatter the individual. She was merely talking about squatter the concept in its most elemental form.
Then again others would probably say it’s stupid to separate the concept from the person. Which would only go to show that some people just can’t get it.
i agree.
it seems akosime has veered away from the point of discussion. perhaps if you forgo with the semantics we can gain insight on what ilda is saying. just sayin’.
I suggest you browse the earlier comments to see the reason for akosime’s comment. You can also scroll down to my conversation with Faith a few comments below.
@akosime
Thanks for the comment. You get my drift. Some people’s reaction to the article makes me want to scratch my head though.
Dagdag pa kung maaari:
Ang programa kaugnay sa repormang agraryo ay matatapos na sa taong 2014. Kaya naman ginagawa ng kasikeng pamilyang Cojuangco ay mga delaying tactics, tulad ng pagsasampa ng motion for reconsideration,habang tinatanggal nila si Corona at iba pang justices na hindi kakampi ni Penoy.
Sa ngayon, ayon sa mga Korean foreign investors na nais pumasok sa Hacienda Luisita, ang Hacienda ay nagkakahalaga ng P600 bilyon, samantalang sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema ay P189 milyon lamang ang dapat bayaran ng mga magsasaka sa mga Cojuangco. Ang Hacienda Luisita ang pinakamalawak na lupain na malapit sa Clark International Airport, na magiging premier international gateway ng Pilipinas, at sa SCTEX.
Sa tingin ba ninyo ay bibitawan ng mga Cojuangco ang lupaing ito nang ganun-ganun lang? Ipaglalaban nila ito, at ipagpapatayan nila ito. Tulad ng nangyari sa Hacienda Luisita masaker.
Isa pa, noong nagkakagirian sa piket line sa hacienda bago naganap ang masaker, nagpunta sa malakanyang ang mga abogado ng magsasaka upang humingi ng alalay dahil alam nilang magkakagulo. Ang kinausap nilang opisyal ay nangtangkang tumawag sa mga pulis at militar sa Tarlac, at pati na kay PNoy na noon ay congressman at security consultant ng hacienda, na kung pupuwede ay pakalmahin ang sitwasyon. Pero ano sabi ni Congressman Aquino na ngayon ay pangulo ng bansa? “Sorry, too late na. Naiutos ko na!” Pagkaraan ng ilang sandali, nag-ring ang telepono ng mga abogado at bigla silang tumayo at umalis. “Nagkaputukan na!,” sabi nila.
Pito ang namatay at madami ang sugatan. Bakit ko alam? Nasa gilid-gilid din ako noon sa pagkakataong iyon.
Paki-hatid ang impormasyong ito kay Jim Paredes, kay Noel Cabangon, kay Conrad de Quiroz. Sorry mga pare, pero ito ang totoo.
@Zorba
Thank you very much for the information. It is consistent with the other accounts that I’ve read elsewhere. It is really mind boggling how the relationship between GMA and Cory went pear shaped. They really got along before. And PNoy even chose not to play the “hello garci” tape. The Filipino people is so clueless about the real motives of the Aquinos.
This is something that should be spread by the mainstream media for a wider audience.
Nice analysis ilda. Very well written.
Some info. Ang puso at pusod ng usapin kaugnay kay Gloria at lalo na kay Corona ay ang Hacienda Luisita. Nag-away sina Gloria at Cory dahil tinanggihan ni Gloria ang pakiusap ni Cory kaugnay sa Hacienda — nais mangutang ng mga Conjuangco at hinihingi ang suporta ni Gloria. Nang di pumayag si Gloria, nananawagan si Cory na dapat mag-resign siya.
Kay Corona naman, malinaw na ang dahilan ng kanyang impeachment ay ang decision ng Korte Suprema kaugnay sa Hacienda, na dapat na ito ipamigay sa mga magsasaka. Matigas ang posisyon ni Corona kaugnay dito — ang Stock Distribution Option (SDO) ay unconstitutional, nangangahulugan na nilabag ni Cory ang saligang batas kaugnay sa SDO para sa Hacienda Luisita at iba pang malalaking lupain. Consistent si Corona kaugnay sa usapin ng repormang agraryo. Siya ang nag-reverse sa decision kaugnay sa Sumilao. Binaglitad niya ang decision ng noon ay Executive Secretary Ruben Torres kaugnay sa Sumilao. Kaya nanalo ang mga magsasaka ng Sumilao. Ang kakatwa, si Baggao, na isa sa mga prosecutors laban kay Corona, ang abogado noon ng Sumilao.
Kaugnay naman sa isyu ng League of Cities na nagsirko-sirko umano ang Korte Suprema sa mga bagong syudad, consistent din ang posisyon ni Corona sa simula pa lamang. Hindi siya nagbago. Pero ngayon ay inaakusahan siyang siya daw ang dahilan ng pagbabago ng desisyon ng Korte Suprema.
Bakit ko alam ang mga ito. Nandoon ako sa paligid-ligid nang nagyayari ito. May isa pa akong alam — malaki ang kinita ni Cong. Miro Quimbo, dating presidente ng Pag-ibig sa panahon ni Gloria, kay Delfin Lee at Asiatique. Bakit ko din alam? Kilala ko si Quimbo at si Lee, at kilala do din ang nag-ugnay sa kanila!
Corruption in the Philippines is a tradition. Everyone of us, however we to try to defend ourselves, is a candidate of a corrupt politician. For example, Miss Ilda brought up the squatter mentality and clearly elaborated its effect to GMA’s image. This is a little one sided because she only pointed out the negative characteristic of that certain group and completely disregarded or failed to mention which level or group she belongs in the society with its corresponding negative characteristics. The failure to consider yourself in the picture would be an example of thinking yourself before others or seeing the mistake of others before examining yours, and it is a good manifestaion of corruption in your own little way.
ampao dhay orange mani..
Please read the article because you obviously missed the point. The examples I gave of people with “squatter mentality” are even those considered part of the country’s so-called “elite”.
Understand the concept carefully before making a comment. It is also advisable to ask questions first if you do not get the point.
“It is quite a fitting description considering squatters by their very nature have no concern or respect for the rights or property of others. They also think that the laws do not apply to them and that they are entitled to disregard them. Some squatters can be arrogant, defiant and selfish.”
Be it insensitive, stubborn, self-centered etc. etc..
Your Key concept is well understood.
For me, you’ve hit the bullseye in putting into words or using the “squatters mentality” to describe those people(in all walks of life) mention in your article.
No discussion needed on that.
But it is incomplete for me. There is no point of reference.
Its like you represent the good and they represent the bad. It sounds so idealistic, though im not saying you are. I just thought it wouldnt be one sided if you have also included the mentality that best describe you or your preferred mentality.
And for every bad scenario worth mentioning, give your suggestion. Because Usually its so easy to see the bad things around us but so difficult to find solutions to correct on them.
@ampao
I’m just telling it like it is. I don’t consider writing the truth being “insensitive, stubborn or self-centered” at all.
My personal circumstances is irrelevant because what’s important is the concept. Just look at me as a narrator if that will make more sense to you.
And if you are still asking for suggestions, you need to read the article again because there are plenty of suggestions there.
I agree with everything you said. Sana naman ay magbago na ang mga kababayan nating utak talangkang Pinoy!
I am netral with regards to PNoy versus GMA war, but I agree with Ilda’s main points in this article.
What little I disagree with has something to do with how we look at ourselves, the Pinoys of the world. It is not only Pinoys who would take advantage of a seemingly abandoned lot and squat in it. Even here in Washington State where I work, I am sure most people would squat in every empty lot IF THE RULE OF LAW IS LAX and the government does not protect property rights. The problem is not with the squatters per se, the problem is that our constitution’s concept of stewardship in lieu of clear and defensible property rights has made the government unable to enforce the rule of law to protect property rights.
finally some senses. sadly only few can read and understand. Wheres the like button so i can pressed a million times!!!
Thanks for spreading it!
I agree with a lot of points in your article… Couldn’t have said it better… I’m a 21 yr old medicine student..I know a lot of my classmates who share the same views.. Maybe after we go through the hellhole that is Noy’s term, the enlightened disillusioned youth can take over the voting polls and turn things around for our country…
You really wanna know the REAL reason/s why Filipinos keep on blaming Gloria for everything?
Lack of education/miseducation. Enough said.
I used to think that way until PNoy won. A lot of his supporters have law, doctorate degrees and went to prestigious schools.
true…which is why i have become so pessimistic and have practically lost all hope that we will be capable, at least in our lifetime, of making our country a better place for our children.
It was the biggest shock of my life too, Ilda. Talk about taking a step backwards. The deterioration was just glaring especially because I had returned to Manila after more than 10 years of living abroad. I left the country with a clear divide between the have’s and have not’s, the educated and intellectuals (who aren’t necessarily part of the have’s) and the ignorant masses. To my shock and awe I returned to a single mass of telenovela fanatics, where even Atenistas will defend local commercial movies, and alas…vote for a senator who has not one law under his belt and trust him to lead us out of corruption and poverty: just because he said so.
I noticed that those who fall for the Aquinos tend to be people who have no substance.
These are the kind of ideas that breed apathy and forgetfulness among Filipinos. I will admit that GMA must not be blamed for “everything.” But as the people of this nation, we have every right to hold her accountable for the crimes that she committed. We have every right to be enraged because when she stepped into position she promised to serve the country with honesty and integrity, two things that she failed to show.
These ideas you have, I beg you to keep it to yourself. At present, we cannot afford to be apathetic anymore. It is simply pathetic.
Arroyo must be held accountable in courts, not on court-wannabes like ABS-CBN
“These are the kind of ideas that breed apathy and forgetfulness among Filipinos.”
Where does it say in the article that we should ignore GMA’s alleged crimes?
i agree…and while we’re at it, we should be demanding accountability from those in the present (bs) administration. i am sure, faith, that you will agree with me when i say that there are those in bs’ circle who have some explaining to do themselves.
let us be fair. the constitution guarantees an individual’s right to be innocent until proven guilty. i, for one, would want this for myself ESPECIALLY when propaganda is being used against me.
And squatter mentality, you say? Way to go for your elitist ideas of poor=bobo.
*sigh* herewegoagain…
I suggest you read akosime’s comment above yours.
“most basic traits of a squatter”
“the concept of the squatter”?
This is what squatter means “a person who settles on land or occupies property without title, right, or payment of rent,” according to Dictionary.com
This is my concept of squatter. But if what you mean with squatters are mindless idiots who don’t work hard and blame their unfortunate lives to the the government, I don’t think were on the same page. It’s one thing to air opinions. It’s another thing to breed elitist ideas like this.
I quote Ilda’s article:
“It is quite a fitting description considering squatters by their very nature have no concern or respect for the rights or property of others. They also think that the laws do not apply to them and that they are entitled to disregard them.”
And I quote akosime:
“I understood that she was referring to the concept of the squatter, na wala ngang pakundangang magtayo ng bahay sa lote ng may lote at pag pinaalis ay manlalaban na parang sila pa ang may karapatang tinapakan at mag-eexpect pa ng libreng relocation.”
From the two I cannot infer a definition of the word “squatter” other than the one you provided. In fact I even defined the word in one of the earlier comments as such (taken from my laptop’s dictionary):
- a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land.
- (historical) a settler with no legal title to the land occupied, typically one on land not yet allocated by a government.
Is that a different definition? I don’t think so. We ARE on the same page.
If, perhaps, you find the word “squatter” to be politically incorrect then let us settle on a different name for “squatter mentality.” Let us instead use “a strong sense of entitlement.”
Well written, although you may have been totally lost on the Jim Paredes tweet. It was not a direct attack on GMA’s stature or lack of it, but just a form of sarcasm on Atty. Topacio’s wanna-be-medical proclamations and arguments (whatever they may be). Last time I check, sarcasm, as a form of retort, is not yet outmoded.
I agree.
Sorry, but I find people making fun of someone’s physical appearance a sign of their ill-breeding.
GMA’s economic gains?
What, creating more BPO-oriented jobs? I’d like to see how this plays out now that the USA’s economy has gone south and with the moves to block outsourcing in their legislature on the rise. Oh, and don’t forget, they’re bringing back those BPO jobs to the Midwest and other poor parts of the USA.
I guess she didn’t think long-term, huh?
And how about President Noy? Can you enlighten me with the jobs he brought for us to have a better economy? Even if it the BPO-oriented jobs were “short-term” plan, it did play a big part in our economy and helped a lot of people to have food in their table.
Another awesome article. Way to go ILDA!!
Thanks, Jenna!
Nice article…just want to add…my own perception….”the Problem is always the same….Lack of Leadership”
Too right. Thanks!
the Media is one of the reasons why squatter mentalities are very prominent. Pinoys tend to watch a lot of TV and are greatly influenced by it. I think change starts with Education…
Educate people to think things more thoroughly. Most of the people I know voted for Noy because they were afraid Erap would win, and most of them are from private schools… but seeing that the media reported other candidates that we so called “Endorsed by Gloria” were almost catching up to Noy, they decided to vote on Noy because he was anti-GMA. I’m glad it wasn’t Erap that won but come to think of it he and Noy ALMOST [and by that I mean not entirely similar] have the same capacities to rule.
In the end we are still in this mess because of lack of education, not in necessarily in school and stuff, but the ability to think outside the box and view a thing/issue as a whole. Morality is diminishing due to lack of information.
BTW, its a very good article. its nice to meet people who aren’t completely blind to everything happening in our country.
Thanks for the input!
You can find a lot of Filipinos hating GMA with no straight answers, yes, you are right because they blame her for their financial status….but…not all! Do you now about the cover-ups she and her minions are creating whenever they are almost getting busted coz of their crimes? You could say there are no evidence…if you are not connected with good sources, during Jose Pidal issue, they let one Indonesian terrorist escape the prison in camp crame…the news shifted, during Garci issue…you did know what happened in Glorietta, news shifted, 1 year anniversary of Maguindanao massacre…Nov…they let Hubert Webb free…news shifted. There are lots of cover-ups to fill this comment…but the issue here…why Filipinos hate her? she focused on getting rich with dirty hands…now choose the lesser evil!
A leader who steals and kills…or a weak looking, they say “doing nothing” leader?
@Patrick
You seem to know a lot. I hope you can volunteer as a witness or file the necessary charges against her. Until then, keep it to yourself because what you are saying hasn’t been proven in court.
“Those who are crazier enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who DO.” – Steve Jobs
All of your accusations are all hearsay as of now. Prove it in court. The keywords are…
“Blame Gloria and Corona for everything while doing NOTHING.” That is Noynoy Aquino. Just because he’s lesser evil doesn’t he’s good at all. It seems you want to say Mahathir and Lee Kuan Yew are “evil”, right?
TROLL HARDER.
thats what there doing now..putting gloria on trial..making her accountable for all those allegations..it seem to me that you just want us to let go of those allegations..find no one accountable for all those corruptions?
“Nov…they let Hubert Webb free…news shifted.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa! That happened under PNoy’s term, not GMA’s!
Auriga, you’re right, but it was the supreme court who decided on that and everybody knows who is the presiding judge till now.
@yopi
It seems you are not happy with the decision regarding Hubert Webb. That doesn’t mean Corona is corrupt. And Hubert’s case had nothing to do with GMA.
red herring much?
And just like patrick you’re basing things on ALLEGATIONS.
@Ilda
Well I thought this is going to be a place for free, healthy comments, it appears that you somehow attack people who have comments against your article, if you can’t accept others’ comments, might as well keep your article to yourself or to all those who agree with you. Squatters mentality has not even reached discussions in court.
Ilda merely pointed out that your argument was grounded on ALLEGATION. According to the dictionary, an allegation is
“a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof”
If you have proof then do our country a favor and testify in court. This isn’t an attack on you; we’re merely reminding you of your patriotic duty as a citizen of this country.
But if you don’t have proof… well, then your argument is flawed.
Which part of what I said do you consider an “attack”?
Like I said, you’re a TROLL.
Here’s another problem about us Filipinos: we see ALLEGATIONS as ‘TRUTH’. It makes sense because maybe you’re favorite pastime is TSISMIS. So most of those charges against Arroyo are mostly based on HEARSAY until now. ‘Guilty beyond reasonable doubt’, iho.
Or maybe you’re born dumb. I hope not.
Funny, I was just thinking of Jim Paredes today when I read quote “To be international one must be local” and then I thought “Woah! I agree with Jim! Was it something I ate?”.
My favorite reasons: #5, they love drama, and #10 angels and demons.
When I read some of his articles, I get the impression that the guy understands what’s wrong with the Filipino culture. But lately he just says what everyone wants to hear. I really don’t understand why he had to endorse PNoy. It is such a turn-off.
I could be wrong but I think he wants to keep his fans happy lest they turn against him.
called him out on why he now acts like the people he despised before. His reply?
“So?”
Unfortunately, the masa look up to people like him.
galing… i like this article.
Thanks!
good article…worth reading….
Thank you!
Because I would never want to let go on how the concept of “squatters” was used on this article.
http://www.victorvillanueva.net/archives/2012/01/12/on-squatters/
You still think the article is referring to poor people. Please read it again.
I already showed that the article’s definition of “squatter” did not differ from yours. What else do you want us to do?
Kung gagamit ka ng matalinhagang pananalita, kailan man ay hindi mo mahahanap ang kahulugan nito sa diksyunaryo. Naintindihan mo na ba? Siguro naman maiintindihan to ng sinumang Pilipino, nag-aral man o hindi. Kaya naman sa tingin ko hindi masama ang paggamit sa salitang iskwater sa isang gawang pampanitikan tulad nito. At bilang isang artistiko, malaya tayong gamitin ang anumang pananalita na mas makapagpapahayag nang ating mga saloobin ukol sa ating sariling paninindigan. Naintindihan?
Faith, your article about squatters is at best a shallow analysis of the problem. Ang problema ay walang trabaho sa Pinas. Kung walang trabaho, walang income. Kung walang income, walang pambayad ng renta or walang pambili ng condo. Kaya mag-iskwat na lang. (Definition ng “trabaho”: yung above minimum wage, so hindi “trabaho” yung katulong sa bahay or tigapulot ng makakain sa basura.)
Kung ating pababayaan na mag-iskwat ang mga tao, siyempre dadami ang iskwater. Sa Pinas lamang maraming iskwater. Sa Indonesya, Malaysia, Singapore, etc walang mga iskwater. Mali ang 1987 Constitution tungkol dito: kinukunsinti ang ganitong behavior, kaya siyempre dadami ang iskwater. Ito ang isa sa mga dahilan na kailangang i-reform ang ating consitution. http://correctphilippines.org
Part of our big problem is that our 1987 Constitution has no respect for property rights.
Indeed. And it’s not just a lack of jobs; poor urban planning pretty much means whatever jobs and opportunities are available are concentrated at certain locations. People flock to these locations to take their chances; what if they fail?
Informal settlers are but symptoms of even larger problems. Tackle the root causes and you get to eliminate the symptoms.
worth the read.
articles like this should wake Filipinos from their ignorance.
NO MORE SQUATTER MENTALITY, PLEASE..
kung sino pa kasi yung walang trabaho sila pa ang may anak na pwede na pang basketball team at cheering squad.
I don’t know much about deeply analyzing things. But I very much agree with Ilda’s points. Most Filipinos think and act that way. I guess they are just being fanatic and do not look at things rationally. The media is the greatest contributing factor to this. Most of the times the media disseminate bias and fabricated news. Many uneducated people base their views on what they see on television and the government uses it to further manipulate things.
I think the issue about PGMA is just an escape goat to the Aquino government’s short comings and incapability of properly heading the country. PNoy is being too personal, he only looks after PGMA while neglecting the more important needs of the country. Look at poverty, look at the economy, does it have any difference with the previous government? It might be even worse. After two almost two years, should they still blame PGMA for these?
PNoy is incompetent, he is just being a figure president. It’s his incompetent cabinet that works. They were placed in position just because they are friends of the Aquinos.
PNoy is making use of his position to get back on people who may have caused losses to their properties and businesses. Like that of CJ Corona. He also uses his power to put his relatives’ businesses on top.What is Danding doing right now? Buying all the shares he could buy from GOCCs to further gain wealth. He takes advantage while his nephew holds one of the most powerful positions in the country. Many people don’t know it. They’re making different issues about the previous government to cover their own corrupt acts. He doesn’t follow the “Matuwid na daan” himself, besides he makes the country’s path even worse. That is what “squatters” don’t know.
I may not be that intelligent but that is how I see things in my simple perspective.
@James
Well said. I hope more and more people will see the situation for what it is. The Filipino people have suffered long enough in the hands of the oligarchy. It seems like PNoy and his minions will stop at nothing just to convict their political enemies.
Thank you. It’s a well written article. I can’t help but comment. Keep it up! Continue writing quality articles.
i can’t believe i read the whole thing. not very well written. some things valid, some things not.
Care to elaborate?
I can’t believe you bothered to write a pointless comment.
I actually agree with most, if not all, of what has written in this article. It points out a lot of relevant issues, especially reasons why this country is not moving forward when it does have such a great potential, without all these nonsense ‘mentality’. I would like to see more articles like this. Thanks Ilda.
Thanks, Henry!
That’s what happens when the ignorant become equipped with computers and internet connection. The game he was playing in the fan-cooled internet cafe was probably still loading and he wanted to get “kilig” from posting something in English.
Looks like it…lol
then who’s to blame about the fertilizer fund misuse?the zte deal?the election fraud?phil health fund misuse?sss,gsis fund misuse?pcso fund?pnp over spending?thos 2nd hand helicopters?the hello garci tape?etc,etc..what about those?
All of those are allegations made by the yellow minority when GMA was still in power.
They were not yet proven in court.
TROLL HARDER
dats whats their doing now..putting gma on trial..the funds are gone..dats a fact..and i cant swallow a reason that the head of the state dat time doesnt know about it..com’on..the coa report is there..wat about it???
Sorry, that still doesn’t prove anything TROLL. Your response didn’t answer my statement:
“They were not yet proven in court.”
You are a poor fool, brainwashed by the yellow media.
That is because COA right now is held by the neck of the current administration. The reason why Noy2 changed almost every Commission heads with family friends is because he want to manipulate things so that he will be able to haunt his political enemies.
FYI, here are the definitions of the word ALLEGATION
1.
the act of ALLEGING; AFFIRMATION.
2.
an assertion made WITH LITTLE or NO PROOF.
3.
an assertion made by a party in a legal proceeding, which the party then undertakes to prove.
4.
a statement offered as a plea, excuse, or justification.
In other words:
“NOT YET PROVEN”
Look boy, those kind of scams do have counterparts in the present administration. However, the current opposition is educated enough to keep silent and wait for the right moment and right place to discuss those things and not to publicize it through the media. The reason why there were controversies during PGMA’s reign was that the opposition then were so thirsty of power. And now that they are in position, they’re doing every means to go after their political enemies and keep issues burning to cover up their own corrupt acts. Look at some cabinets that have suddenly become richer. Relatives of those in position are abruptly gaining wealth since PNoy sat on position. PNoy administration is even worse when it comes to deceiving people. Throwing up blames on the previous administration is their escape from their incompetence and corrupt doings.
You missed the point. Ilda never said that GMA was innocent nor that she should not be tried for the allegations thrown at her.
All this article is saying is that some people obsess so much over GMA to the point that it’s becoming unhealthy.
i agree..wat i wanted to say is,we cant blame the people to hate gloria so much..we have to find someone accountable for all those allegations..its gloria labandera!!..lets start from there..
“we cant blame the people to hate gloria so much..”
So… Why do they hate GMA?
“we have to find someone accountable for all those allegations..its gloria labandera!!..”
And you know because?
so where are the funds now????tell me..i pay my taxes..the fertilizer funds are gone..
pang fertilizer funds lang ba ang buwis ng bawat Pilipino?
i heard her say “I AM SORRY” about the calling during the election period…
Selective memory ka talaga, di mo ba matandaan na ang panot mong presidente ay bumoto na wag gamitin sa senado ang hello garci as evidence?
Kaya lang naman bumaliktad ang mga Aquino kay Arroyo ay dahil lang sa HACIENDA LUISITA.
SORRY TROLL HARDER
im not pro pnoy nor anti gma..im am for the truth..but the fact na tumawag ang presidente kay garci ay mali na un..presidente ng plipinas hindi pinapairal ang independence ng comelec..ung fertilizer fund sasabihin lang di nya alam..anu un?kaw nlang maging tanga!!! wag mo na akong isama..
So… what happened to those cases?
yan ang problema sa sistema dito..lahat tecknical nlang..basta di kampanilya ang abogado lusot na..pag guilty napapakamatay nlang..like sec.reyes..glorias scape goat..
Ano kamo?
Tsk tsk tsk, wala kalang kasing masabing matino kaya nang pepersonal ka na.
Hahahahahahahahahaha
u started foul words..u get it back..
@Alex
Please explain why PNoy chose not to play the “hello garci” tape during a congressional hearing in 2005? Playing the tape could have helped unravel the truth about allegations of cheating during the 2004 Presidential election. It seems PNoy conspired to keep the truth from the public when he was still in good terms with GMA. He needs to be accountable for his actions.
ask Pnoy y..im not reprensenting him..ask also gloria y she called the office of garci during an election period,wen it is improper for her to call anyone from that office during those time..
this is not an issue kung Pnoy or Gma ka..ang buwis na binayad nawala na hindi alam ng presidente noon…sino ang sisihin?s gloria may hawak ng lahat ng agency sa panahon na un..
“sino ang sisihin?s gloria may hawak ng lahat ng agency sa panahon na un..”
Ergo sya na automatically may kasalanan?
she is accountable to people na bumuto sa kanya at nagbabayad ng buwis..sa kanya tau magsimula..
bakit sa kanya tayo magsisimula? hindi ba dapat sa mga nauna pang administrasyon na corrupt? o kelangan sa kanya na talaga, kasi sya yung pinaka-recent na corrupt? o di kaya kasi wala tayong napala sa unang paghuhusga sa mga nakaraang administrasyon bago pa kay GMA? at tulad mo, hindi ako pabor kay PNOY at GMA. eto ay pawang mga opinyon ko at sa mga nakikita ko sa paligid.
Ginawa na natin kay Erap yan. Ano ang naging kinahihinatnan noon? Nawala ba ang kurapsyon? Problema kasi sa atin masyado tayong nakapako sa mga personalidad.
magsisimula tau sa kanya sapagkat at one time she was the most powerful person in our nation..and yet she did nothing about it..one issue after another..public service is a public trust..nawawala ang tiwala ng bayan sa pamumuno na puno ng katiwalian..
ginawa na natin yan kay erap,totoo may corruption pa rin..pero hindi ibig sabihin na ito na tumigil na tau at hayaan nlang ang mga magnanakaw na yan..til the end until justice is serve and the purpose is clear..
Obvious troll is obvious.
Is Gloria the most powerful person in the country? Currently it’s Noynoy who’s leading the country right now.
Oh yeah, Noynoy always blame the past administration while he’s doing NOTHING. Kung talagang may kasalanan siya then prove it in court. But these are just trivial matters so we should focus on what’s more important instead.
ah.. so sa tingin mo.. ano kayang ginamit sa mga national calamities nung time ni GMA.. and ano din ginamit sa mga pag papagawa nia ng mga classrooms ng mga public students, sa pagtataas ng sahod sa ibang empleyado? Given the point, na nawawala yung fertilizer funds, yun lang ba ang priority na isang Presidente? Ngayon, hindi nga corrupt and administrasyon, eh bakit lumaki ang funds para sa pork barrel? at bakit maraming namatay sa CDO? at bakit hanggang ngaun, marami pa din ang nahihirapan sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo nung typhoon Pedring? Nasaan na ang calamity funds na dapat napapakinabangan ng mga kaawaawa nating kapwa?
lahat ng bagay dapat may importansxa sa presidente..maliit man o malaki..kung sa tingin mo maliit na pera ang nawala sa fertilizer fund sa akin hindi.its not because ur left hand did a good thing u have the right to do bad things on ur right..agen dis is not about Pnoy..lumalaki ang funds sa pork barrel ngaun dahl sa masikasig na coleksyon ng buwis ng BIR..at least linalagay sa pork barrel hindi sa jose vidal account..
eh sir, sino bang nakikinabang sa pork barrel fund? ang mamamayan ba? hindi ba dapat ang buwis eh nilalaan para sa mamamayan?
dapat lamang ang mamamayang ang makinabang sa buwis..ang para sa mga magsasaka dapat napunta sa mga magsasaka hindi napunta sa kampnaya para manalo sxa sa elecsyon..ang pondo ng phil health dapat sa mga mahihirap na nangangailangan ng tulong medical..hindi sa pangangailangan ni gloria o ninuman..
At ano ang patunay mo na ibinulsa nga ni GMA ang pera?
Sorry Alex, but you have to TROLL HARDER on that.
It seems you know a lot. Why don’t you want to testify? Better to keep it yourself because yours is basing on ALLEGATIONS.
Obviously, this troll also doesn’t know the meaning of the word ALLEGATIONS much like the kapalmukha channel.
Sorry Troll, your logic is flawed.
@alex
hindi mo sinagot ang tanong ko kung sino ang nakikinabang sa pork barrel.. sabi mo nga kaya lumalaki ang funds sa pork barrel dahil sa masigasig na koleksyon ng buwis..
So, MAMAMAYAN ba ang nakikinabang sa pork barrel..
Ok lang sana kung malaki ang pork barrel nila.. pero sana may nakikita din kaming improvement sa bansa.. 2 taon na ata sya sa pwesto niya, ano ang nagawa niya para sa bansa?
hahahahahahaha tumpak- so this is a teachable moment for everyone: everybody get a life, work hard because no government can help you….no matter who leads the country, they have each own agenda for their own benefits and it will get worst when they exercised their powers to impeach a person that will hinder the fulfillment of their agenda.
Obviously, from the way this alex de los santos writes, he lacks education. Can’t even write proper words. His comments aren’t even making sense.
TROLL HARDER.
mga kapatid , tama lahat ang inyong mga puna, lagi natin tatandaan sa maselang posisyon na kagaya ng presidente, ay lahat sila ang kanilang layunin ay kung paano mapabuti ang ating bansa hindi ba? ni isa sa kanla ay wala akong masisi sapagkat, hindi na lingid sa ating kaalaman na ang mga naging presidente ay meron na silang kayamanan, pero pagdating ng korapsiyon , sila yong pinagbubuntunan natin ng sisi,ang hindi natin nakikita yong mga gumagawa ng kanilang kasalanan, si gma sa aking pananaw hindi niya sinasadya ang pagnanakaw ,kundi yong mga nasa palibot niya ,ganoon din noon kay marcos, kopya kopya lang ang nangyayari , ganoon pa man kung ito ang pamamaraan ni presidente noy2 na pigilan na niya ang mga ganitong pangyayari sa ating bansa bigyan natin siya ng respeto kung maari tulungan natin na isuplong sa kanyang kinuukulan yong alam natin na nagnakaw sa ating kaban ng bansa,para hindi na pamarisan pa, gusto ko ang ginagawa niya na puksain na niya ang mga linta sa ating lipunan na silang naging dahilan ng ating kahirapan ,ang mga eskwater hindi mapipigil ito hangat walang tamang leader na magbigay ng tamang disiplina at magpatupad ng wastong programa para sa kanila, magagawa lang ito kung ang namumuno sa ating bansa ay makadiyos at makatao ang layunin sa kapwa at higit sa lahat ay may takot sa DIOS god bless
Tama ang iyong suhewstiyon, pero sana, habang pinupuksa nang ating Presidente ang mga nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, sana marunong siyang mag multi-task. para kasing nka focus lang sya sa mga corrupt eh. Ilang kababayan na natin ang nasa ibang bansa na hindi
*makauwi dahil sa mga nangyayari sa ibang bansa? may bagong trabaho ba sya na ipinakilala sa atin? maraming bansa na ang nagbabalak na tumigil muna sa pagtanggap ng mga Pilipino at mag focus sa mga sarili nilang mamamyan. Paano na ang mga OFW natin na maaapektuhan nang ganitong pangyayari?
@dominador miranda
Ok lang na habulin ang mga kurakot pero dapat gamitin ang batas hinde ang pangba-braso ng mga kapartido. Hinde mo ba alam na ang pork barrel fund ay source ng corruption? Yan ang dapat mong suriin. Hinde pa din nag-babago ang paggamit ng fund na yan. Baka napupunta pa din sa bulsa ng mga congresso.
Squatter mentality si PNoy sa pang-aabuso nya sa pwuesto nya. Puro lang sya paninira sa mga kaaway nya. Wala syang nagagawa sa economy at sa ikaaangat ng Pilipinas.
i agree w/ u..dapat lang habulin ang mga kurakot w/ due process..ang problema,mga batas na yan ay hindi napapiral dahil merely of techncalities,.pag magaling ang abogado,lusot na on the basis of techical grounds not on the search for truth..
Ibig sabihin lang niyan mahina yun kaso.
Simple lang: kung walang evidence, walang kaso.
@ma’am, NARINIG KO = Hearsay = valid evidence sa Pinas.
The only evidence vs Arroyo, straight from TV. A few days ago. Nyahahahaha.
@anonymous
if im basing on allegations,then whats ur basis? my point only here is..ang buwis ng bayan ay dapat mapunta sa mga mamamayan..ung mga nawalang funds sa time ni gloria,it is only right to find her accountable to those..
@kitchie
sinagot kita dun sa tanung mo..
dapat lamang ang mamamayang ang makinabang sa buwis..ang para sa mga magsasaka dapat napunta sa mga magsasaka hindi napunta sa kampnaya para manalo sxa sa elecsyon..ang pondo ng phil health dapat sa mga mahihirap na nangangailangan ng tulong medical..hindi sa pangangailangan ni gloria o ninuman..
@daido katsumi
try to read what i said..at one point Gloria was the most powerful person in our nation..
i beg to differ.. ang tanong ko is sinong nakikinabang sa pork barrel funds? ang sabi mo, sinagot mo yang tanong ko.. sigurado ka? ang lagi mo lang sagot ay ang mamamayan ang dapat makinabang sa buwis.
sir, ang tinatanong ko ang pork barrel funds, hindi ang buwis, dahil alam ko na dapat tayong mamamayan ang nakikinabang dun.
hindi ko alam kung iniiwasan mo yung tanong tungkol sa “pork barrel funds”. yang ang hirap sa ating mga kababayan. oo o hindi lang ang tanong eh pinapahaba pa.
san ba galing ang funds na nilalagay sa pork barrel???..sa mga buwis ng mamamayan..bakit di ka ba nakikinabang dyan? ung kalsada na nilalakaran mo?ung ilaw sa kalsada..maraming pakinabang din yan kung gagamitin ng maayos,hindi ibubulsa at ilalagay sa jose vidal o jose pidal account..hindi gagamitin sa travel at dinner sa mga million dollar restaurant..
Wow, paano ka nakasisiguro eh ala naman accountability kung saan talaga napupunta ang mga pork barrel na yan? Kung alang itinatago mga iyan, dapat full transparency and accountability. Sa US, mga ginagastos nila duon accounted for dapat to the last cent, puwera nalang kung sa defense for security reasons.
Sa pinas, yun security ay yun mga private armies ng mga governor or mayor…hayayay. Isama mo na dyan budget para ipamigay sa mga kaaway ng gobyerno.
Paulit-ulit ka pang million-dollar resto. Magaling lang kayo sa tsismis.
@felipe
i think wer on d same page for tranparency on government officials..kaya nga sinasabi ko na maganda sana ang purpose ng pork barel kung gagamitin ng maayos..ang problema pag kagaya ni gloria,ginagamit lang sa travel abroad kasama ang mga tuta nya,at kakain sa mga mamahalin resto..ok sa akin ung point mo, dapat in black and white kung saan napupunta ang buwis ng mga tao..what it seems to me that u r more in the protection of gma..
“ang problema pag kagaya ni gloria,ginagamit lang sa travel abroad kasama ang mga tuta nya,at kakain sa mga mamahalin resto..”
At ano ang pruweba mo?
“what it seems to me that u r more in the protection of gma..”
Due process! Hindi mo ba maintindihan ang ibig sabihin noon?
@alex de los santos
Simpleng-simple lang. Our main difference is that much of your preoccupation is on personalities—especially GMA, while mine is on principles–’ala akong paki-alam sinong tamaan, unlike personality-centered people—puro double-standard—i.e. “selective justice” that targets only personalities they’re against. If you’re quite certain GMA is guilty, maybe you should help the prosecution by surrendering the evidence you believe you have. As for the Aquino-Cojuangcos, the way they been treating their farmers and the way they fail to honor agreements not only with said farmers but the Filipino people as well, by exploiting gov’t favors and people’s money, are far more glaring instances of corruption which is no secret to anyone. And yet attention and resources are being diverted away from them which smacks of double-standard lopsidedness however way you try to look at it.
The purpose of chasing suspected crooks is to improve on people’s lives, but the AbNoy gov’t appears to make this an end unto itself. Even the economy, cost and standard of living become relatively less of a concern for him. AbNoy can twist the arm of members of congress by dangling the pork-barrel carrot on them or through some other insiduous rewards—another instance of corruption (absolute power indeed corrupts absolutely). How convenient it is for hypocrites to look the other way!
It’s not easy to be neutral in all this, but let me try. I am also neither for PNoy nor for GMA. I do not believe for one minute that PNoy would knowingly decide against the people in favor of himself or his family. I also do not believe that GMA did nothing but amass wealth for her family at the expense of the people. The fact is that both PNoy and GMA want all the best for Pinas, like we all do. Both of them are no different from us. They have their flaws, yes, and they have made bad decisions also; but they both have made good decisions also.
The same goes for CJ Corona.
The same people who judge leaders too quickly and regard one as an angel and the other with horns on the head, are the same people who believe that Pinas can only be saved by the one savior, one personality who can fix things for us. I don’t think any one leader would fix our problems at the moment.
I also don’t believe that we Pinoys are not worthy of progress because we don’t have the virtues. Too many of us decry our qualities as a people. We belittle ourselves. We sell ourselves short. If we are so unworthy, why do we do very well when we are outside of our country? Look at how other countries value Filipino labor: how come OFWs are almost universally exemplary in performance?
I believe our problems lie in the system we have built ourselves in the past. We have instituted a flawed constitution in 1987, and everything has been going downhill for us since then. Let us stop bickering about personalities, and think deeply about the source of our problems. Let’s spend our energies where it would count the most, and right now I think we should spend it on reforming our constitution.
http://correctphilippines.org
Hi Carlos
Most GRP members have always advocated for respecting our institutions and the rule of law. Once Filipinos learn the importance of both concepts and live by it, it wouldn’t really matter much who is the President. The country’s leader can even change as frequently as they do in Japan and it shouldn’t affect us as long as most of us including the public servants abide by the guidelines set forth by our institutions.
Each individual should look at their efforts at following the law not as a small thing but as a big thing because if we as a people collectively follow the law, our country will become one among the best in the world. Law and order will improve and so will economic activities.
Yes, our constitution is flawed but correcting it is not the only solution to our problems. In fact, while we are waiting for the amendment of our constitution (which might not even happen), we should not stop advocating for the majority to change their mindset about how they treat their public servants. And a good leader who can inspire people to change can definitely help speed it up.
Hi Ilda, I enjoy reading what you write. When I read this particular one, I latched on to your use of squatter mentality to describe those who seek entitlements.
For most elites in any society, behavior is a matter of inner will and not environmental pressure. You are an elite. I am too, and so are your readers. Our mistake is in assuming that everybody can be guided at all times from the inside. It varies, but for ninety percent of the people, behavior is really a matter of environment. That’s why I don’t like to ascribe bad habits to people; I rather that the environment is to blame. The environment includes not only the physical milieu around us, it also includes most importantly the laws and rules that constrain our behavior.
The paradox of human behavior is that freedom begets good, while repression begets bad behavior. At one extreme, observe how people in North Korea behave. The rulers of North Korea, one of the most repressive countries in the world, must be proud of their achievement: a nation that reveres their leader, where behavior seems tame. But that is only on the outside. The fact that North Korea’s economy is in shambles and everybody is miserable is testament to a people unable to move forward. And that is a misbehavior that we can not even fathom, for it is a misbehavior more sinister than people in a melee: doing nothing. In North Korea we have a whole nation transfixed, mostly doing nothing. Some people try to escape the situation, and most of them get killed.
On another extreme, let’s look at America, the land of the free. Here I can do much as I please, as long as I don’t harm anybody else in what I do. The government is very limited in what it can do, but in that little area it is allowed to act, it does very well. For example, the police here is very responsive: if I complain about a neighbor, I can expect a policeman to come talk to me and then that neighbor. If the police hands me a speeding ticket, I expect to be fined according to how fast I was going, but I have the option to plead my case to a judge. Freedom does not mean the absence of rules because as much as I want to be free, I also have to respect the freedom of others. In this kind of society, Pinoys behave very well.
So more freedom can actually make people behave better. People are not rude to each other, and the streets are well maintained and clean. That’s why I don’t blame squatters per se. It is the system that allows them to behave that way, a system that does not respect property rights. This disrespect for property rights is written right into our 1987 constitution.
When I say that it’s not a leader that we need at the moment, I do not mean to say that we don’t leaderS, many leaders. That one leader at the top is important, but he can only do so much harm or good. The Roman Empire lasted for so long not because it was lucky that it had a string of good leaders, one after another. It lasted as it did because it established a rational constitution, a system that worked, a system that until now we emulate in the world in various republics and democracies.
The one leader at the top is important, but more so the leaders at the lower rungs of society, and that is us. You are exhibiting great leadership by writing, and we all are by discussing and talking instead of shooting at each other.
We can argue and raise good points to defend one leader and denigrate the other, but for me it is more effective to attack the problem where it counts. We can ram our bodies through an impenetrable door and thereby hurt ourselves, or we can simply find the key and open it effortlessly. It seems difficult to find that key, and indeed it is; but it is still much better than hurting ourselves. It seems difficult to change our constitution, and indeed it is; but it is still much better than having to die for freedom as Rizal did. All we have to do is convince intellectuals like us. http://correctphilippines.org
I wish I read this earlier. You are a genius and so spot on. Unfortunately, I can’t open the website.
Ten reasons why Filipinos blame Gloria
1. Corrupt
2. Corrupt
3. Corrupt
4. Corrupt
5. Corrupt
6. Corrupt
7. Corrupt
8. Corrupt
9. Corrupt
10. Corrupt
In case those ten reasons aren’t clear enough, let me explain further… Competence will just fade when a person is corrupt. You think GMA did a great job of running the country? Short term, yes but never long term. Why? Because she didn’t actually target the root cause of all the problems. And that is CORRUPTION! People judge a leader’s competence by statistics, projects they make, infrastructures etc. because it’s tangible. Something that gratifies vision and makes you think, oh the Philippines is definitely better now. But what do you think will happen to all these projects when it is governed by corrupt officials? Good as nothing, pitiful and forgotten. You say: people spew the usual “she stole taxpayer’s money” drivel. I know this gets really boring. But that’s all the argument I need. CORRUPTION may only be one argument but this means everything! Unemployment, poverty, illiteracy etc can’t be solved if you can’t at least lessen corruption. Don’t act like you see the BIG PICTURE. Because in reality the BIG PICTURE that you see is only part of a BIGGER PICTURE.
…And yet all that corruption is still unproven in court. Not to mention that you completely missed the point of the article. Perhaps your emotions are in the way, Mr/Ms MindVSHeart?
“Don’t act like you see the BIG PICTURE. Because in reality the BIG PICTURE that you see is only part of a BIGGER PICTURE.”
I can throw that argument back at you. Corruption isn’t a problem unique to the Philippines; you have countries that prosper despite corruption.
Face it: corruption may be a serious problem but it is not the root cause of our problems; it is but a symptom of even larger problems that run much deeper. Want proof? I’ll give you a simple and very logical one, Mr/Ms MindVSHeart: the 5-Why analysis. The fact that you can still get multiple answers to the question “why does corruption persist in the Philippines” is already more than enough to show that it isn’t the root cause.
I missed the point of the article? I thought this was about why people hate GMA. AND I HATE GMA BECAUSE SHE’S CORRUPT. I think I’m quite spot on on that. Nobody said corruption is a unique problem in the Philippines but aren’t you surprised we are in the top ten of the most corrupt government? I didn’t say we must eliminate corruption because that would be impossible. All countries have corruption in some form. I intentionally used the word “lessen” because there are just people born to be dishonest and evil which the Filipinos happen to elect(or cheat on elections). Couple of questions: if you can answer then, I will shut up.
If corruption is not the root cause of all problems, then what is? How can you prosper a country despite this state of corruption we are in?
“AND I HATE GMA BECAUSE SHE’S CORRUPT. I think I’m quite spot on on that. ”
Your proof being? That’s why I said “and yet all that corruption is still unproven in court.” As far as we are all concerned here all of those are merely ALLEGATIONS that have yet to be substantiated by concrete evidence and not mere hearsay.
“aren’t you surprised we are in the top ten of the most corrupt government?”
Not really.
“there are just people born to be dishonest and evil…”
Sorry, but I don’t believe people are born dishonest and evil. I find such thinking to be fatalistic.
“…which the Filipinos happen to elect”
“happen to,” as in it was merely coincidental?
“If corruption is not the root cause of all problems, then what is?”
Poor values formation and failure to think critically. “Dysfunctional culture” as Daido Katsumi below mentioned.
“How can you prosper a country despite this state of corruption we are in?”
(I must say that you speak as if it is such an impossible feat.) Simple really: work hard, persevere, save your money, obey the law.
In any form of government, there will ALWAYS be corruption. The difference is the progress made and how it is ran to meet the day to day and yearly goals. I think you should see the BIGGER picture, troll. Because our dysfunctional culture is the root of all problems, not just corruption.
Lazyness, too much partying, and stupidity. That’s much worse than corruption. Or it is corruption itself….
@MindVSHeart
Asus…eh corruption rin pala ang ayaw ninyo eh, bakit di yun pinaka-gahaman sa corruption ang habulin ninyo—sila Aquino-Cojuangco? Puro lang ba kayo mga plastik, igno, o parehong plastik at igno?!? Barya lang yan sila Gloria. Yang lahi nila AbNoy ang talagang gahaman.
Pa Big-Big Picture ka pa…lol!
@MindVSHeart
You probably think you are clever. But one item does not equal 10. Please go back to math school.
Competence can lead to economic growth, decline in jobless rate and increase in the number of middle class – the thinking class.
No. I didn’t say that in the article at all. But compared to PNoy, GMA did a better job.
You actually think that the public servants under the PNoy administration are not corrupt? You’re dreaming. Just look up the background of Congressman Neil Tupas. The Aquino-Cojuangco family can’t even let go of Hacienda Luisita and yet you think they are angels. Snap out of the Cory-Ninoy spell, please.
You seem to think that jailing GMA and her so-called cohorts is the only solution to fighting corruption. Please read this part again:
“…the people’s lack of attention to how public servants do their jobs that is the reason why public funds gets mismanaged. In other words, people’s apathy and indifference to how the country is being run is the real cause of corruption and not GMA.”
Follow your own advice and look at the big picture.
@Ilda
“You probably think you are clever. But one item does not equal 10. Please go back to math school.”
I was making a point. But you didn’t seem to get it. I apologize for overestimating your comprehension.
“But compared to PNoy, GMA did a better job.”
Don’t you think it’s possible PNoy would do a better job than GMA? After all, he still has four years left in office. You spoke too soon. But of course, that’s what an anti-PNoy always does. No surprise there.
“You actually think that the public servants under the PNoy administration are not corrupt? You’re dreaming.”
Nope, I don’t think that but I think PNoy isn’t(as of this moment). If he does turn out to be corrupt, I will hate him just as I hate GMA. Let’s be clear on that. The president is the highest official and for him/her to be corrupt would be unacceptable.
“Snap out of the Cory-Ninoy spell, please.”
So Cory and Ninoy are magicians now. Haha. Don’t worry. I’ve never been in a spell. I bet that’s just something you say to people whose opinions differ from yours.
“You seem to think that jailing GMA and her so-called cohorts is the only solution to fighting corruption.”
Not the only solution but definitely a good one. What’s the use of a blood sucking parasite?
“people’s apathy and indifference to how the country is being run is the real cause of corruption and not GMA.””
I don’t think so. People aren’t apathetic and indifferent, Ilda. If that’s the case we wouldn’t be having this argument, there wouldn’t be an impeachment trial and what not. Corrupt officials is the real cause of corruption -duh.
“Follow your own advice and look at the big picture.”
I never look at the big picture. I always look at the bigger picture.
@MindVSHeart
Any point you have gets lost in your excessive display of devotion to PNoy. Your idol is already exhibiting some form of corruption with his most recent one when he allegedly strong-armed his allies into signing the impeachment form against Corona. Going after corrupt individuals is ok but using short-cuts is wrong. The end does not justify the means. He has no qualms about vilifying his political opponents and badmouthing them in public, never mind that they have not been proven guilty in court yet. He just wants to look good by making people look bad.
He has 68 billion unprogrammed and audit free presidential pork barrel fund, which is reportedly equivalent to 15% of the national budget. It’s been said that he uses that to bribe congress into doing what he wants them to do.
How do you propose the people monitor that? He is not even approving the Freedom of information bill, which can help people monitor how the public servants manage their funds. In short, PNoy is not really for transparency.
PNoy’s late mother, Cory already devoted her term to running after corrupt individuals but it did not stop corruption. In fact, it was during her term when corruption was also rampant. Allegations of nepotism and cronyism was rife during her time. It’s no different to what is happening with PNoy now with his KKK.
This is a better slogan: kung walang mahirap, mababawasan ang corruption.
Of course most Filipinos are apathetic and indifferent. Try sharing this article on your Facebook wall and tell me how many people noticed it
“Nope, I don’t think that but I think PNoy isn’t(as of this moment). If he does turn out to be corrupt, I will hate him just as I hate GMA. Let’s be clear on that. The president is the highest official and for him/her to be corrupt would be unacceptable.”
it’s time for you to take the red pill…
The Incomplete List of Things Pnoy Doesn’t Give a Shit About or Will Not Apologize For
Just my two cents..
“Because she didn’t actually target the root cause of all the problems. ”
yes. corruption is the root cause of all the problems. but corruption starts within ourselves. and corruption is a vague word, kasama na diyan ang bribery at abuse of power. Namulat kasi tayo sa tinatawag na “utang na loob” at dun nagsisimula ang corruption. Usong uso ito sa mga nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno. Kunwari, may kamag-anak ka na gustong mag apply ng loan pero hindi ma-approve, at dahil sa kamag-anak mo sya at sabihin na natin na may utang loob ka pa sa kanya, hindi ba tutulungan mo sya? Hindi ba abuse of Power na yun?
and that is considered corruption. Kaya kung sinasabi mo na she needs to target the root cause of all the problems. She cannot do that, kasi nga hindi lang isa, dalawa o sampu ang nagiging corrupt. Bata pa lang tayo, we are exposed to corruption na in the form of BRIBERY. Para matigil umiyak, bibigyan ng candy o chocolate. Corruption in the form of abuse of power, Pag hindi mo sinunod ang magulang mo, wala kang allowance. tama ba ako?
Kung sasabihin mo na si GMA ay corrupt, sino bang hindi? Check the meaning of corruption and you will see na halos lahat ng tao eh nagiging corrupt at one point of their life.
I understand what you’re trying to say. That’s exactly the reason why you can’t blame dysfunctional culture, poor values formation crap. But the corruption that I’m talking about is different from what you want to impart.
calling it crap doesn’t disprove it, einstein. try again.
@auriga
YOU REPLIED TO MY COMMENT BUT NOT REALLY ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
“As far as we are all concerned here all of those are merely ALLEGATIONS that have yet to be substantiated by concrete evidence and not mere hearsay.”
Maybe I can’t really present a concrete evidence on her stealing taxpayer’s money but she’s proven to be fraudulent in the elections. She has presented herself as someone who lacks integrity. Stooping so low as to cheat. Makes me wonder why she badly wants to become president. Is it really because she wants to serve the country? Definitely, no. At the beginning, she already betrayed public trust. How can you not question her honesty during her term???!! Just wake up and smell the rotten fish.
““aren’t you surprised we are in the top ten of the most corrupt government?”
Not really.”
That was a rhetorical question.
“Sorry, but I don’t believe people are born dishonest and evil. I find such thinking to be fatalistic.”
Fatalistic or not. There are dishonest and evil people out there. Admit it.
““happen to,” as in it was merely coincidental?”
Who planned on electing corrupt officials? Only the corrupt, probably.
“Poor values formation and failure to think critically”
You must remember, not all Filipinos have poor values formation. I would even say we have better values formation than the Americans!! Most of them chose the same path: Psycho path. But are we richer than the most powerful country in the world? NO. We can’t avoid these people. Maybe all of us were born good(or bad). Either way, we can never be perfect. So blaming it on the values of the people will only prove futile. There will always be people with poor values and turn out to be corrupt BUT there will also be people with good values. There’s no cure for a dysfunctional culture. Maybe there is but the implementation would be impossible. I wish you good luck on that. However, fixing corruption isn’t as impossible as fixing poor values formation/dsyfunctional culture. Referring to my first comment, GMA wasn’t able to target the root cause of the problem: CORRUPTION because she herself is corrupt. If she wasn’t corrupt, she would have made an incorruptible system against corrupt officials. A system that would make it harder for them to cheat and steal money. Just like a virus software. That is how you lessen corruption. Once you have lessened corruption, everything else will follow.
“(I must say that you speak as if it is such an impossible feat.) Simple really: work hard, persevere, save your money, obey the law.”
Funny how you make it sound so simple. Let me quote this blog -Get Real. If it really is simple, why can’t we prosper? Therefore, are you saying Filipinos aren’t working hard, they aren’t persevering and obeying the law? I just can’t imagine how the OFWs, farmers, drivers, worker etc. would react to your statement. It would be an outrage.
*sigh*
Due process; how hard is that a concept to understand? I too am not sure of GMA’s integrity but I consider her innocent until proven guilty.
“Fatalistic or not. There are dishonest and evil people out there. Admit it.”
Like, DUH, of course there are dishonest and evil people out there. But they are not born that way. Congratulations for taking my statement out of context.
“Who planned on electing corrupt officials? Only the corrupt, probably.”
And who exactly are these people who elect corrupt officials?
“You must remember, not all Filipinos have poor values formation.”
Of course not. The question now is who outnumbers who: people with good values or those with poor ones?
“There’s no cure for a dysfunctional culture. Maybe there is but the implementation would be impossible.”
That’s why is called root cause. Addressing it would be difficult but when you do the effects would be drastic and lasting. On the other hand eliminating a symptom is easier but don’t be surprised if it pops up again. We already overthrew Marcos and Erap; where are we now?
“If she wasn’t corrupt, she would have made an incorruptible system against corrupt officials. A system that would make it harder for them to cheat and steal money.”
Let me just throw a red herring… The current system was put into place by PNoy’s mother, Cory Aquino. So I guess that makes her corrupt, too? Anyways, back to the program…
Didn’t GMA want to change the constitution?
I actually agree with what you want to happen, but even if you do have a good system you will still need disciplined people to follow it. I’ll give you an example. The business philosophies and practices of Toyota are considered among the best in the world and yet its implementation in Toyota Motor Philippines is hampered by attitudes such as “pwede na ‘yan,” “bahala na,” and “bakit ako? hindi ko problema ‘yan.” I used to work there so I know just how frustrating it is to propose a project especially to those in the frontline.
“Therefore, are you saying Filipinos aren’t working hard, they aren’t persevering and obeying the law?”
Most of us aren’t. Of course, I will concede that a corrupt system may make it difficult to prosper but it isn’t impossible. This was posted in one of the earlier comments by Mike Portes.
Re: obeying the law, all you have to do is go to a thoroughfare like EDSA; many of us can’t even obey simple traffic laws.
urk… don’t tell me my end tag lacked a slash. hahaha
“I too am not sure of GMA’s integrity but I consider her innocent until proven guilty. ”
Not proven guilty but not proven innocent either. Due process isn’t hard to understand. What’s hard to understand is how you REMAIN UNSURE of her integrity after she has been PROVEN GUILTY of cheating during the elections and she wasn’t even president yet at that time.
“But they are not born that way. Congratulations for taking my statement out of context.”
And what’s the point of your statement, exactly? Your beliefs about fatalism is irrelevant.
“And who exactly are these people who elect corrupt officials?”
You’re missing the point. People don’t intentionally vote for corrupt officials.
“The question now is who outnumbers who: people with good values or those with poor ones?”
Good question. Honestly, I don’t know the answer. But let me ask you a question. What are you going to do if there are more people with poor values? Change every one of them? Good luck.
“That’s why is called root cause. Addressing it would be difficult but when you do the effects would be drastic and lasting. On the other hand eliminating a symptom is easier but don’t be surprised if it pops up again. We already overthrew Marcos and Erap; where are we now?”
To address the root cause that you’re referring to is IMPOSSIBLE. I don’t want to burst your idealistic bubble but I will anyways. It seems like you’re describing Utopia.
Plus, like I mentioned, overthrowing the corrupt is not the only solution but it’s a start. The root cause of what I’m talking about is something that you can change. Do you think America, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Germany etc. don’t have a dysfunctional culture? What the hell is a dysfunctional culture, anyway?
“..but even if you do have a good system you will still need disciplined people to follow it.”
“Most of us aren’t.”
Yes, of course, discipline is important. So where does corruption come in? You’re saying undisciplined people are corrupt? And your proposal of a solution is for the Filipinos to work harder and persevere? Don’t be too harsh. Obviously, you haven’t seen the Filipino workers outside your office building. Maybe most of the people around you don’t work hard but the people around me work their ass off but still gets 275 pesos a day which would have been okay if they can receive free health care, education for their children, inexpensive food and water etc. But then again the budget for these services are in the pockets of who else? THE CORRUPT. And that’s why Filipinos are poor.
“Of course, I will concede that a corrupt system may make it difficult to prosper but it isn’t impossible. “”
Compare the countries you see in the list of top ten most and least corrupt government. All the countries that you see in the list of most corrupt are poor. Now, look at the countries you see on the least corrupt. All of them are rich. All G8 countries are in the least corrupt. Now, you say it’s difficult to prosper a country in a corrupt government. How then do you suggest Somalia to prosper or the Philippines for that matter. Don’t answer me with “hard work”. It’s just not holding much water. Filipinos even work harder than the Americans!
@Ilda
“Any point you have gets lost in your excessive display of devotion to PNoy.”
For you and all other anti-PNOy who thinks they know everything, maybe. But try focusing more to help you stop from getting lost and be objective for once. Also, please define excessive. At least I’m not obsessed about hating PNOy. I didn’t make a blog about it. Oh yeah… of course. Adsense by Google. And the merchandise tab. How smart.
“Your idol …”
Just because I don’t agree with you doesn’t mean PNoy is my idol. At least try to understand that.
“..he allegedly strong-armed his allies into signing the impeachment form against Corona.”
You see it as corruption. Your choice of words make it sound so hideous and unacceptable. Haven’t you considered that that is how people do their job efficiently? Of course not, because you’re one biased chick. And let’s not forget the word allegedly..
“He just wants to look good by making people look bad.”
Like you haven’t been vilifying people… Know the difference between badmouthing and telling the truth. Truth hurts, they say.
“It’s been said that he uses that to bribe congress into doing what he wants them to do.”
Let me guess who said that… An Anti-PNoy?
“How do you propose the people monitor that? He is not even approving the Freedom of information bill, which can help people monitor how the public servants manage their funds. In short, PNoy is not really for transparency.”
He is not approving the Freedom of information bill….YET. Again, you spoke too soon. He still has four years in office. There might be an even better bill for people to monitor funds. What are you really, a pessisimist or a person who wants change?
“Cory already devoted her term to running after corrupt individuals but it did not stop corruption. In fact, it was during her term when corruption was also rampant. Allegations of nepotism and cronyism was rife during her time. It’s no different to what is happening with PNoy now with his KKK.”
What Cory did during her term is irrelevant. Why do you always mention her? Well, I’m sorry that she failed. Can we move on now?
“This is a better slogan: kung walang mahirap, mababawasan ang corruption.”
Why do you think people are poor in the first place?
“Of course most Filipinos are apathetic and indifferent.”
Don’t include me in that bracket. The indifferent people are those who let the suspicious get away. People like you… the anti-Pnoy group who doesn’t want the Corona impeachment trial. And I’m curious as to why. He is, after all, going under due process. What are you so mad and angry about?
@MindVSHeart
What makes you think I am anti-PNoy?
I am anti-mediocrity. PNoy just happens to embody the word mediocrity. Yes, I write about various issues. Do you have a problem with that? Obviously you like writing your opinions too and between the two of us, you are the one trying to shove it down other people’s throat. This is evident in your rude behavior as a VISITOR of this site.
Which part of what I said do you consider “vilifying” people? I am merely writing my observations of other people’s behavior.
There is a lot to be said about someone who doesn’t see anything wrong with PNoy’s “alleged” strong-arming of his allies and yet see everything wrong with GMA’s “alleged” allies. Double standard comes to mind.
PNoy still has four years to decide on the FOI bill, you say? Hahaha!
Your statement reminds me of people who kept saying, “He’s only been in the job six months or one year or 18 months, give him a break…” lol. Don’t hold your breath.
It is important to keep reminding people about Cory’s performance during her term because majority voted for PNoy because of the “Cory magic”. They forgot the fact that Cory wasn’t a good leader in the first place. PNoy’s leadership style is similar to or some would even say, worse that his mother’s.
You asked, “Why do you think people are poor in the first place?”
There are so many reasons why and corruption is only a symptom not the cause of the country being poor. To help lessen corruption, you need to add more people in the middle class. When there are more people in the middle class, there will be more “thinking people”. This would lessen the likelihood of incompetent public servants being voted into office like PNoy.
So therefore, it is important to put our priority on the economy and in addressing our growing population. Unfortunately, you’d rather waste your time on something that actually causes division among us Filipinos.
Clap clap clap well said Ilda. Just tell them write their own blog. Bahaha
Thanks
And I am anti-corruption.
Whoever aims on fixing corruption in our government, be it PNoy, Gibo, Gordon, I support. I don’t believe in Ninoy spell, Cory magic and all those crap. Cory was not a good leader, I know. She was forced by the people to take the responsibility. But what’s striking is that, for her, being the president is not an ambition. Not something you would dream to become, knowing full well that it would be a burden to solve the problem of the Philippines. Too much ambition is what makes a person corrupt. You know that, don’t you?
I don’t have a problem with you making a blog about your opinions. But how unfair can you be? It’s okay for you to write a blog about something and not okay for me to make a point? Calling it “excessive”. I bet until now you haven’t got the point. An item may not be equal to ten but the item’s value can equal to ten. So, don’t tell me to go back to math school. And you call me rude. C’mon now.
I see all the wrong of GMA’s alleged allies. Do you know why? Because her integrity has been compromised after she has been PROVEN GUILTY cheating during the elections. She even tried to make a run for it. Going to Singapore to recuperate? Not all Filipinos are dumb, you know. Prove to me PNoy lacks integrity and then, maybe I will change my mind.
I like how you dodged on what I said about a better bill than the FOI and about the Corona impeachment trial. Do you know that other countries reported the Philippines as the most corrupt nation in Asia because our judicial branch is believed to be sloppy in punishing those corrupt officials? No, you don’t. For this reason, the people who are elected in office would think that it’s okay to be corrupt. They don’t get punished anyway. So let’s steal and be merry.
And you still haven’t figured out why the Philippines is poor….It’s so amazing for you to say there’s so many reasons why the Philippines is poor that you can’t even mention one.
I’ll tell you how to lessen corruption. First, oust the corrupt. So they may understand that when they steal money, they go to jail. This will discipline them. Second, make a system that will make it more difficult for them to steal.
You think Japanese, Americans, Canadians, Australians don’t call their leaders incompetent? You think Americans think highly of Obama? You think Japanese are happy of Naoto Kan’s performance when he was still a PM? You can call PNoy incompetent and mediocre all you want. That’s just an opinion of someone reeking of subjectivity anyway.
Therefore, it is important to put our priority in fighting corruption because there’s no economy to manage if your treasure chest is empty.
I’m causing division among us Filipinos? Get Real, Ilda, and read your own blog.
@MindVSHeart re what you said here:
I don’t think so. That is the symplistic tagline that’s been repeated ad infinitum across more campaign rhetoric than can be counted. People pitch the notion of rooting out corruption by “ousting the corrupt” because it is an easy concept for lazy minds to grasp. Unfortunately this sort of sloganeering makes a fatal assumption: that corruption necessarily originates only from the top. Wrong.
The big-time corruption amongst high-ranking government officials we see and read about on newspapers like the Inquirer and “news” programs like Bandila are mere symptoms — more appropriately reflections — of the society upon which these officials rule. But look around you, you can see a vastly greater number of instances of petty criminality, corruption, and thievery among ordinary Pinoys — in the banal way they nonchalantly jump queues, abuse handouts, put one over their neighbours, pollute, litter, and spoil their surroundings, ignore basic rules, etc. How then can you expect to “oust the corrupt” when the bedrock of corruption lies in the very grassroots of the society itself.
Tsk tsk.
You’re one of the sorts of people in which lie the very reason that corruption will never be uprooted in the Philippines — because people like you externalise the issue rather than internalise it. You see the problem as being caused by someone else rather than one that is evident in your immediate surroundings — even within your own family.
Tough luck nga naman talaga to Pinoys. So long as Pinoys do not recognise the fundamental dysfunction that is deeply ingrained in the underbelly of their psyche, they will forever be subject to those “corrupt officials” that they self-righteously call to “oust” for the next 100 years.
@MindVsHeart
Really? GMA has been proven that she has in fact cheated in the elections? I haven’t heard that “news”. Care to enlighten when this was in fact proven in “your world”?
I don’t think it is actually the judicary’s fault also as to why the cases are at snail’s pace. Keep in mind, prosecution should setup their cases to be as iron clad as they can before proceeding to court so that a verdict can easily be achieved. But it is a lot of things you fail to consider.
Case in point, the missing evidence in Mr. Webb’s case. Do you blame the judiciary for that when it was the law enforcement that handled it?
How about non-appearance of witness? A lackluster witness protection program?
Among the three branches, the judiciary is the least corrupt, that is of course not removing any and all concepts of corruption, but at least says something about them.
Also, if you want to oust the corrupt, well, you have to start with a clean slate. Redo everything. A great idea but not really that easy to implement. You need to remove everyone in power as everyone is indebted to someone in one way or another. Heck, even the Brgy Captain has his own set of “sins”.
So you get real =)
Anyway, I doubt any discussion with you will lead anywhere, but I hope it does someday.
@MindVSHeart
Try putting a bit more structure to your comment next time coz you are all over the place. It’s a bit hard to understand where you are coming from because you keep denying you are a PNoy fan but you also seem to think that he is infallible. Give up the pretense, please. The double standard is too hard to ignore.
I’ve already said what I need to say in the article and in my previous responses to you. Benign0 and Sphynx were kind enough to expound on it too so I think that should be enough for you to absorb for the rest of your week or life. I hate repeating myself you see and it looks like you are not going to accept any other point of view anyway. Don’t hold your breath waiting for me to agree that PNoy is doing a great job because he is not.
Just a reminder: GMA has not been found guilty of her crimes yet. It was even PNoy who voted against playing the “hello garci” tape that could have helped unravel the truth about the 2004 election. He is more accountable to the people than Corona in my opinion.
And please, YOU need to read the article again to help you understand why the country is still poor.
Adios.
@MindVsHeart
My goodness! What a SHALLOW view on how to curb Corruption, ha ha ha!
Better Educate yourself deeper, so that you will have a Deeper and Meaningful Insights about what you’re talking or suggesting. Or better yet, Stay where you are, under hidden Rocks, and don’t you come out from your hole ’till Kingdom come!
My apologies for taking my time on responding to this creature, just can’t help it.
but anyway, you made me lol!(Scratching my Head though)
“Not proven guilty but not proven innocent either.”
What the? Ok, I’m not even going to bother anymore.
It’s like reading a half a empty and a half full hehe
@auriga
Yeah, that statement almost forced a popped vein.
It’s either guilty or innocent. You don’t have to prove your innocence in the defense. It is the job of the prosecution to prove you are guilty. Innocent until proven guilty. That has always been the case.
These type of people with that type of reasoning just want to keep on insisting their irrational thought process.
It is not a neither-nor/either-or situation, it’s one or the other, you can’t have both in your favor (the “not guilty yet not innocent” idea)
I expected you to react on that. So predictable. This proves that you’ve been looking for loopholes in my argument just like a lawyer would do. Lawyers do not necessarily defend the innocent you know. Not really knowing what’s right. Good try. Smart.
Whatever floats your boat.
Because you need proof of innocence, it means you have passed judgement of someone else’s guilt prematurely before guilt was even established, which is therefore wrong.
It is not that what we did is predictable, but your mindset was wrong. I dare not use the word flawed because it may imply there was something right in that logic to begin with.
What is right is presumption of innocence, not guilt. If the evidence does prove his guilt, then so be it. But, going about it the wrong way is also wrong. Remember, the end doesn’t justify the means. (kind of like saying you are acting for what is holy yet kill people, like the crusades – for example only)
Cheers!
I understand. Thank you.
whatever blows your skirt up, mister.
not innocent = eh di GUILTY. dalawa lang yan eh. Mahirap bang intindihin yung INNOCENT-UNTIL-PROVEN-GUILTY?
apparently oo. hehe! =) Gusto niya may third choice. =)
The only thing here that scares the hell out of me, is when smart folks vote dumb people. That’s when people turn a blind eye to the real situation. Some are okay with mediocrity thinking it’s better or would lessen corruption.
Well hell no corruption is here to stay.why?
Because it’s human nature to be greedy and selfish and we contribute to it and accept it by putting people who aren’t cut for the job to lead.
That is the ugly truth
In our history they just needed one catalyst to shout “crucify him!” And all the people were chanting the same phrase even if they don’t understand the hell of it.
right on!
People tell me what is the outcome if Filipinos are divided? Can we see a good result? Filipinos should focus on something that is more productive to benefit the masses.
What you do at home with your family is none of PNoy’s business. I am talking about the government and not about what, where and who you are. If you are corrupt at home, stealing 20 pesos from your mom’s purse then that’s your mom’s problem to discipline-or punish- you. That is no longer the president’s job. If you are found vandalizing your school walls, it is your teacher’s job to suspend you. If you are found polluting the streets of your hometown, it is your conscience that bugs you. NOT THE PRESIDENT. NOT ANYONE ELSE. What the president can do to help you stick with your conscience and “internalise” the issue is make rules and jail those who disobey. How is everything the president’s fault?
I understand what most of you are trying to say. Believe me, I do. But I’m talking about the governmental level here. What’s the point of internalising the issue if you don’t do anything with what’s around you(to externalise)? So let’s say I “internalised” the issue, changed for the better, followed traffic rules, obeyed the law, picked up trash, worked hard, ate healthy food etc. Now what? Can those things change the people around me? Do you actually think people will follow your example? I know Jesus is having a hard time getting followers. Man, you are talking about Utopia. Where everything is perfect, where everyone has “internalized” the issue. I’m just being realistic. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?
Let’s have a scenario when we internalise the issue: Juan is honest and hardworking at work because he read the blog in getrealphilippines.com but Pedro isn’t(he read the blog too but decided he wants to be a rich man than become a saint). The manager tells Juan and Pedro that the company is losing sales. Juan keeps on being honest and hardworking but Pedro still keeps on cheating and stealing money until finally the company got bankrupt. And that is the end of the story.
Now, let’s have another scenario where we “externalise”: Juan and Pedro are both cheaters. They steal money from the company. The accountant realised that there is a discrepancy in their report. She “externalised the issue” knowing that it’s absolutely someone else’s fault why their budget is short. She then forwards her report to the manager. So, the manager asked the accountant to investigate. So, the accountant investigated and traced the money. Finally, the accountant found out that Juan and Pedro stole money from the company. The manager then fired them. He “ousted the corrupt”. They hired a new employee. The new employee knowing he will lose his job if he steals money decided to be honest at work.
The end.
Gkapoy nako ninyo.
@MindVSHeart,
Nope. I’m not saying it’s the president’s fault. I’m saying this impeachment thing is but a small cork being tossed around in an ocean of profound Pinoy dysfunction. It’s in fact ironic that you now say that Noynoy is acting in the interests of laying and enforcing the rule of law when the way the campaign against Corona is being mounted follows anything but that approach.
In effect, the position you take in the context of Noynoy’s actions that you cite lacks consistency weigh the principles you apply.
Are you talking about the expedited process in which the prosecution filed a complaint? I don’t know if you know this but everyone in my family knows that in our constitution, no impeachment proceedings will be initiated against the same official more than once within one year. The prosecution was concerned that the defendant will have the time to react and file a bogus complaint to dodge the real impeachment complaint. Just like what GMA did every year during her term. She always filed an impeachment complaint to herself to get ahead of any real impeachment complaints. Every year. That’s why the prosecution fast tracked the filing of an impeachment complaint against Corona. It’s not difficult to file an impeachment complaint mind you. A citizen can even file an impeachment complaint to the president. No rule of law was broken by the prosecution. Filipinos feel like they have broken the rule because we are just so used to long proceedings that we no longer understand the meaning of efficiency anymore.
Yeah, they fastracked it even if the claims were baseless. They did a “shoot first, ask questions later” move.
The prosecutors do not have anyone to blame if and when Corona gets acquitted.
So let me get this straight, Ms MindvsHeart, are you therefore making excuses for this rather amusing instance of presidential arm-twisting?
Not making an excuse. Just telling the truth. And if it’s so hard for you to accept, I’m not forcing you. People like GMA and Corona are so damn smart that they can twist the law into their advantage. So it’s always best to be a step ahead. But you wouldn’t know that. Your world revolves around searching for an imaginary perfect society. Fools have gone that road, you know. And I don’t want to see you do the same. I got a suggestion. You didn’t ask for it but I’m going to suggest anyway. Change the name of your blog to GET IDEAL. That way all your articles will make sense.
@MindVSHeart
Here’s a better suggestion: look up the meaning of double standard and you might be able to understand what you are doing. You just can’t go around the Net with that kind of attitude.
Instead of lauding PNoy for going after “alleged” corrupt individuals, more and more people are getting disappointed that he is turning out to be worse than his predecessor because of his blatant abuse of power.
There’s a lot to be said about people who support his dirty tactics.
@MvsH: excuses and more excuses (and just insisting they’re not excuses). nice job, genius.
wow, that suggestion of yours couldn’t have been any less earth-shattering if it came from a commenter named MindVSHormones since your comments are all bells and whistles but they don’t get the job done.
“expedite”? that’s just euphemistic bs for “steamroll”. try harder, kid.
due process (referring to your other comment elsewhere)? who are you kidding? sorry but if you’re looking for people who’re as gullible as you are, you’ll have to look for vincenzo’s cave and maybe you’ll finally have a home.
get ideal? seriously? pnoy’s daang matuwid is an overpromise to attain an ideal society by way of underdelivery masked by the pretentious pursuit of justice. if you think all this discussion is the unrealistic pursuit of perfection and the ideal, it only reveals your ridiculously low standards.
try to look up “common decency” and maybe you’ll understand how your (phony) righteousness is misplaced.
come back when you’re ready to be further embarrassed by your own ignorance, mmkay pumpkin?
Indeed, I know of many fools who have gone down the road of searching for a perfect society where the “people’s will” is always necessarily right and where their Roman Catholic God looks down upon them with starry-eyed favour above all other Asian people just because we are the only ones in the region who predominantly bow to the wishes of a pope cloistered in Rome. I also know of people who’d like to think that their “president” enjoys not only that nebulous “mandate” from “the people” but also one coming from that God in the sky who every now and then supposedly manifests himself in quaint little statues that throngs try to scramble all over during one or the other fiesta.
@MindVsHeart
BINGO!
Throwing this back at you: How is everything GMA’s fault?
You should apply some of the things you just said to GMA. That way you will understand she couldn’t possible control everyone’s behaviour during her term especially since she had to dodge baseless accusations from her political opponents left and right.
We have nothing against removing corrupt public servants as long as it is done within the bounds of the law. PNoy is no different from the people he is accusing of criminal activities when he “allegedly” used dirty tactics to prosecute GMA and Corona. Also, removing a corrupt official is not a guarantee that corruption will stop. Remember Marcos and Erap?
The Filipino people’s vigilance in watching how their public servants do their jobs will be more effective in minimising corruption. Transparency in government can help the people be more vigilant.
You need to read more articles to understand why the Filipino people are also accountable for the state of the country:
Filipinos cannot progress if they cannot follow even simple guidelines
Filipinos and happiness: why we need to be serious about it
Malacañang to GMA: PNoy’s popularity is better than your economic growth rate
The RH Bill: Economic growth alone will not solve overpopulation
Philippines: Stuck in reverse since Independence Day
I can’t believe that after everything I just said to you, nothing went through. Do you want me to provide a flow chart to help you connect the dots? I don’t want to explain myself again. I feel like I don’t make sense and that your just trying to find loopholes out of every statement I make. Thank you for providing links but if I want to search for real information, I’d rather not read it from a blog.
You need to search of REAL information and not from the biased media or Yellow Propaganda. And not on SESATIONALIZED information.
@MindVSHeart
You can start with a flow chart that would connect all this to Hacienda Luisita.
And that statement is enough proof that you only want to read stuff with a one sided viewpoint.
Cheerio!
Hey Ilda,
You are a one-sided ***. Analyze the valid points raised by MindVSHeart.
Excuse me, but you seem to be trying so hard to shove down your views on other people’s throats. That’s not how it works.
Where are the valid points?
Obvious troll is obvious.
Sorry “IldaBiasedOne”, that is way way too pathetic. There was no VALID point in your ramblings.
GTFO, TROLL
@ildaBiasedOne, a single person being not guilty AND not innocent AT THE SAME TIME is NOT a valid point (from MindVsHeart).
Hahahaha. This is so hilarious and frustrating at the same time. No need to fight please. This is what happens in a political debate every time. People get so emotional and nobody ever gives in. Except me. Yes, I give up. You win. My point never gets across, anyway. All of you are just so blinded by this cloud of hate. At the point of even protecting Corona. He is under due process. If the prosecution’s complaints are so “baseless”, he’ll get through it.
Don’t want to wast more time now. Bye.
due process huh?
check out tupas almost begging to not be subjected to the same treatment they’re giving cj corona:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjv8rIarir4&feature=player_embedded#start=0:00;end=7:27;autoreplay=false;showoptions=false
talk about monumental double standards. pffft.
so before you preach about being “blinded by this cloud of hate” look at yourself in the mirror.
then get a refund from your alma mater, okay pumpkin?
come back sometime to “waste” more of your mindless time mmmkay?
Who the hell says “mmmmkay”? So gay.
mmmmmmwah. chorva.
@MindVSHeart
I believe you have some points, but they are contestable. Take for instance, the 1 impeachment complaint per year. The reason for the limitation is so that it will not be abused and prevent the impeachable officer from doing his job. Also, the complaint should be reviewed/verified first whether it has merit before it proceeds to trial so as not to waste time and supposedly, not just a wishing expedition (which is a time waster anyway).
Second, the externalization scenario you put in place. Granted, the “externalizing” through investigation and once with valid proof/evidence removed the “corrupt” individual. However, the merits of having proof/evidence existed first prior to actually having a reason to remove (or in our relevant case – impeaching) him/her. Also, the “ousting of a corrupt” predecessor does not in any way limit or prevent the new blood from having the means to be corrupt. I am not saying the new one is corrupt, but rather, his means of corrupting himself are not really reduced/made to 0(zero value) just because his predecessor was found/accused of being corrupt. Case in point, Estrada was accused of corruption (it was not proven, but people marched to the streets). His successor, GMA, is now being accused as well of corruption.
By the logic you had of externalization, after Marcos (who other than dictator was accused of amassing wealth), any and all successors should have not been corrupt as Marcos was ousted, and that logic extends to any/all successors thereafter.
Anyway, just keep in mind MindVSHeart, as long as it is not proven in the court of law, no one is guilty yet until it is proven. A person’s innocence shall remain even under extensive media biases.
Do I believe GMA is not corrupt? Well, I think, it still remains that is up to law enforcement and prosecution to gather evidence to prove that she was. Until then, my perception stands, “INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY” (the way it was intended for everyone)
I like you because you are very sensible and you seem objective. Not a waste of time to say that.
I’m so tempted to give a comment about that right now but if I do, Ilda, benign0 and the rest of the gang would just fire back in all different directions and I have to explain again and again. It never ends.
Thank you, though.
mahirap ba intindihin ung “INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY”…no ifs, buts, either, neither, other choices, etc…wag naman sana mangyari sa mga hindi nakakaintindi, ikulong kau dahil lang sa allegations and reports that you are such and such…maybe by then maiintindihan nyo…INNOCENT UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY hindi GUILTY BECAUSE THE MEDIA SAID SO
I am tempted to wish that MindVSHeart become a victim of baseless accusations that he is corrupt and stole money from someone. Maybe then he will understand and appreciate the concept behind “innocent until proven guilty”.
*sigh*
you’re too late, ilda. i’ve already wished that on this point-misser many comments ago.
I am tempted to wish sana magkatotoo.
*sigh*
sana’y magdilang anghel ka, ilda.
Oh, I remember that. That also happened to Doy Laurel but still, he stood firm.
Pasabat ulit. Hindi lang ako makatiis. May your readers forgive me for using Filipino. I was hoping you, and probably the “squatters” would understand me. (Honestly, I wanted to protest your condescending regard on the “squatters.” But I understand the context. However, not all squatters are lumpen.)
Ang pinanggagalingan ng kasikatan ni PNoy ay ang mito at alamat kaugnay sa kanyang nanay at tatay. Si Cory daw ang kampeon ng demokrasya, at siya ang dahilan ng pagpanumbalik ng demokrasya sa bansa, matapos bumagsak ang diktadurang Marcos. At ang kanyang tatay ay pambanang bayani at martir na nagsakripisyo para sa mga Pilipino.
Paumanhin po. Pero hindi si Cory ang nagpabagsak kay Marcos. Si Cory ay benepisyaryo lamang ng maraming taong pakikibaka, sakripisyo at pagbubuwis ng buhay ng mga ordinaryong mamamayang lumaban sa diktadura. HINDI SIYA ANG DAHILAN NG PAGPAPANUMBALIK NG DEMOKRASYA SA BANSA. Siya ang nakinabang, tulad ng iba pang ilustrado sa ating kasaysayan na siyang umani sa ganansya mula sa sakripisyo ng taongbayan.
Si Ninoy ay bayani? Malayo sa katotohanan.
Bago pa man niya nakaharap si Marcos, naging administrador siya ng Hacienda Luisita. Panahon noon ng mga tinatawag na Beatles at Monkees. (Pasensya na kung di naiintidihan ng mga bata ang “Beatles” at “Monkees” noon. Kung maaari ay saliksikin na lang.)
Si Ninoy noon ay maraming kaalyado sa mga rebelde, mga HMB, bago pa man itatag ang NPA. Marami sa mga HMB noon ang lantarang nagpapagamit sa mga pulitiko bilang private army at mga “enforcers.” Ang mga ito ang ginamit niya upang “masawata at mapatahimik” ang mga magsasaka sa hacienda. Marami silang ginawang “pataba” sa lupa. (May balita na sa hacienda itinago ni Victor Corpuz ang mga armas na nasamsam niya sa armory ng Philippine Military Academy.)
Hindi kumunista si Ninoy, gaya ng bintang ni Marcos. Pero marunong siyang makisama — ibig sabihin, isa siyang oportunistang pulitiko na marunong makibagay sa paligid. Si Kumander Pusa, si Kumander Dante, Juantio Rivera at iba pa ay malalapit sa kanya.
Kaya naman nang binalak ni Joma Sison na bombahin ang rally ng Liberal Party sa Plaza Miranda upang “pabilisin ang sitwasyong rebolusyonaryo,” sinabihan ni Pusa si Ninoy na huwag muna pumunta sa naturang miting de avance. Habang nagrarali ang kanyang mga kasama, nagpahuli si Ninoy kahit na siya ang secretary general noon ng Liberal. Nandoon siya sa bahay ni Doy Laurel, at paulit-ulit na pinakakanta si Cocoy Laurel, na noon ay isang sumisikat na manganganta.
Hanggang sa sumabog and dalawang granada sa Plaza Miranda, na kaagad na ibinintang kay Marcos. Karamihan sa mga kasama ni Ninoy ay malubhang nasugatan, kasama si Jovy Salonga. At wala doon si Ninoy. Nakikinig sa “mini concert” ni Cocoy.
Ang tanong: kung alam at sinabihan si Ninoy kaugnay sa mangyayari sa Plaza Miranda ni Kumander Pusa, bakit hindi niya pinigilan? Bakit hindi niya sinabihan ang kanyang mga kasama at kaibigan?
Kasi nga naman, siya ang makikinabang. Sa bugso ng galit ng mamamayan sa “kagagawan” ni Marcos, tiyak na ang Liberal ang mananalo sa halalan, at baka maging presidente pa siya.
Ang problema, mas tuso si Marcos. Nagdeklara siya ng batas militar, at pinaaresto si Ninoy, kasama ang marami pang iba.
Kakaunti na lamang ang maaaring magpatunay nito. Halos patay na lahat ng mga aktor, tulad ni Danny Cordero, ang pinuno ng grupo ng NPA na nagsagawa ng pambobomba. Siya ay pinatay ng kanyang mga kasama sa Isabela. Hindi magsasalita si Dante, dahil nakinabang siya kay Cory. Tiyak na hindi rin aamin si Joma.
Samantala, mabuhay ang mga Aquino! Sana ay magtagal sila sa kanilang duguang trono!
Baka naman magsalita si De Qurioz dahil inamin niya na siya ay itinanim ng mga kumunista bilang ahente nila sa rehimen ni Marcos? Baka nga. Ngunit kung di niya alam ito, peke siyang ahente. Baka mas totoo na ahente siya ni Marcos.
Sinabi mong malapit nang mawala sa alaala ang mga nagawang kababalaghan ng mga Aquino-Cojuangco dahil tumanda at mamamatay na ang mga may-alam nito. Higit pa sa mga testimonya nila, may iba pa kayang ebidensya na maaaring makuha, mga dokumento o forensic evidence na di mabubura ng kamatayan? Ito ang mga kailangan bantayan.
@zorba
Your accounting helps to unravel the mystery behind their motives. I’m sure a lot of Filipinos appreciate it.
Regarding the term “squatter mentality”: Indeed, not all poor people have squatter mentality. Even some wealthy people have squatter mentality as evident in the case of Hacienda Luisita.
It seems like his son has inherited that trait.
Much appreciated, Mr. Zorba. No, you are not a squatter, since you actually took the time to look into things rather than rant, rave, and moan.
Marunong makisama sa mga komunista si Ninoy not only na makikinabang siya kundi nagbago ang kanyang pananaw sa komunismo when he was a war correspondent during the Korean War. That was well documented in Nick Joaquin’s “The Aquinos of Tarlac”.
You should also read Bobit Avila’s editorial on the ruckus that JoMa Sison will have a cabinet post under Noynoy. All hell breaks loose if that is to happen.
Daido, your mention of the Korean War puts you way close to what have been told to me and something I would like to be proven. Would you have an online copy of Nick Joaquin’s work? Does it mention something about treason that led to the death of soldiers in Korea?
This gets interesting everyday
Oh guys,
I just want to ask, since this is a GMA Article, and as can be ascertained, allegations of corruption against her and her family are present. Among this is the ZTE Scandal (ZTE-NBN Deal).
Anyway, she may be tried for this as long as there are facts/evidence that are not made up. If she is guilty, then she is. However, I would like to ask, what happened to filing a case against JDV and JDV Jr pertaining to the same?
They are also technically participants to the alleged deal that never came to fruition, not under the same “team” as GMA but as a competitor for the same project. However they lost.
Now, I would like to step back from this because, aren’t government officials and their immediate family barred/prevented (by law) from participating in these types of deals since they will surely have a vested interest? Yet JDV Jr. did not see it fit to step away from it, nor did JDV tell him to. What I am wondering, why is there no case when they have, esp. JDV Jr, admitted for their participation as a bidder for a national project, when they should be immediately be barred from doing so?
The only obvious reason I can think of is because he is one of those who were speaking against GMA. And anyone who blew the whistle on GMA becomes exempted from prosecution or the rule of law.
Yup. I am (at present) under that impression. They should clearly define what it takes to become a state witness. And even if the other person/entity, can corroborate as part of his testimony, the validity of the accusation, this should only reduce his penalty/sentence, but never remove it from him as he is also guilty in the whole of the word (perhaps of the same/an entirely different matter altogether)
Nice article Ilda! I read all of the comments under this topic, and all i can say is, I wish that all Filipinos would just wake up one morning and say “pagod na ko sa nakita at nakikita ko, panahon na para gumawa ako” and DO.
In our office, i see a lot of people who always points a finger on who’s to blame when someone does something wrong, and not stating clear basis and when they have basis, they shove it on that person’s face (even he/she had already admitted their mistake), as if they’re TOO perfect not to commit one. That simple scenario in a small setup symptom is already an example on how the Philippines is becoming, and i bet, one time in our lives witnessed something like that, or worse, be one of the casts on that scene.
MAN UP PILIPINAS!
“ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” -JFK
@Aidz
Thank you. It’s always good to know when someone understands my point.
Some Filipinos are becoming used to judging others based on “haka-haka”. Good on you for not being one of them.
Interesting article! Visitor here. Sometimes the weather we experience preconditions our attitudes. In Japan, where winters get chilly — if they don’t work, they die! Here in the Philippines, where the weather is mostly fair — we’re more relaxed and tend to get lazy. We are blessed with a lot of resources. Thinking about it, nomads come to mind. Nomads use up the resources then move elsewhere. The learning curve with regard to their living conditions never mature. They never learn. Nomadic thinking is — this is not my responsibility. I eat, sleep then move out. Nature will provide me with everything. I have not a care what happens around me. This thinking led to their demise as well, their numbers started dwindling, attacked by wild animals because they do not have shelter, sick, dying. They could not reproduce as well because of their lifestyle. Imagine lugging a pregnant woman around. Because after exhausting everything, they have nowhere to go and nature as we know needs time to replenish its resources as well. Because they were a dying race, some decided to stay on an area and worked the soil. Then they stopped being nomads and only then did they become useful citizens.
Many of our countrymen are still attached to this “nomadic”, “welfare-ish” thinking. The government will provide everything. Why work? There is welfare.
It’s easier to blame someone or something — excusing ourselves to hide our ineptitude and our weaknesses. Most are not ready to face responsibilities, why work when I can beg. It’s easier. “Baka manalo sa lotto”. As long as the majority of our countrymen think like nomads, easy life, easy money — whatever promises this president makes ( no matter how popular he is), it is not going to happen in his term.
I read some of the news regarding the earthquake in Visayas region — ang kakapal ng mukha ng iba nating kababayan — nag-looting pa? Ano ba yan?!!!!!! So discouraging — mga nomads talaga!
and that kind of thinking is exactly why “Its more fun in the Philippines” will never work. Unless Pinoys realize that they are stakeholders of their land, and not just beneficiaries, tourist spots will remain poorly maintained – a sort of tragedy of the commons.