Is PNoy's Liberal Party preparing the ground for the return of the trapos? And some notes on surveys....

PNoy and the Liberal Party (LP) have just lost their chance at this opportune moment to effectively contribute to the movement for political reforms! Very disappointing. I hope that the fear that I had expressed before won't happen: the possibility that PNoy and LP will just prepare the ground for the return of the trapos!

PNoy and the LP could have gambled on the fresh and young in the national elections, namely, Erin Tañada, Joel Villanueva, and Ruffy Biazon—all decent, competent, young politicians who have long been doing very well including in their current posts in the House of Representatives, TESDA, and Bureau of Customs, respectively—rather than the trapos whose names are not worth mentioning here. They have underestimated their political-electoral machinery (especially that the administration is a strong force in 'local' politics); they have overestimated the trapos in the opposition and, in effect, insulted the Filipino electorate (leaving us no other choice but the rubbish); and they have listened to SWS, Pulse Asia, and other polling firms (instead of following their hearts and doing their mission for a new epoch of progressive politics formation).

PNoy and the LP may not be realizing consciously that in the coalition they are forging now, they are actually engaged in the process of political 'class formation' that has tremendous implications for the country's prospects for social change. They are building a coalition of a potential ruling class—in the process of becoming itself—for the current and future Philippine society. Our political-economic history tells that the vested interests PNoy and the LP have allied with in this election are not credible and deserving of being part of a true 'reform coalition' for the so-called 'straight path'. 

One big fail here for PNoy and the LP leadership! Boo! 

P.S.1. And this is why I'm against having personality-based surveys before elections. Again, who benefit the most from these personality-based results? Only the political parties whose decisions on who they should field in as candidates are determined by these surveys! In this sense, and in the context of contemporary Philippine money politics and electoral structure, surveys do not serve the interests of a kind of democracy where people are free to run for public office and where electorates are free to choose the best among willing and able servants of the people.  

P.S.2. Of course, as a student of the social sciences, I am not to question the integrity and accuracy of surveys—especially of the SWS and Pulse Asia—simply because I believe in the science behind them or their proven scientific methodology. 

P.S.3. But, time and again, a pattern of voting behavior has emerged among Filipino voters, a behavior that validates Keynes' 'beauty contest analogy' in the study of stock markets. In general, a Filipino voter has the tendency to vote for who s/he thinks the others will also vote for. In other words, they vote for who they think will win, and not necessarily the candidates with the best character, competence, intentions, and platforms. 

P.S.4. Here's my wishful thinking for Philippine 'electoral reforms' and political democracy: that personality-based surveys should be banned before elections; and that only surveys asking preferred qualities/character of candidates be asked to respondents. In doing so, elections in the Philippines will be like a 'horserace' where candidates do not know how much is bet on them. 

P.S.5. Oh yes, I acknowledge a philosophical point on how would I know anyway that horses in the horserace do not know who are llamados (leading) or dehados (trailing behind)! ;-) 

Thanks PNoy and LP for denying us the liberal freedom to choose the best people for the government, for the country, for our future! 

And BOO, more BOOs, and much BOOs to the crappy senatorial slate of the opposition - same names, same faces, same trapos who are part of the country's elites that have stolen the hopes and dreams of Filipinos for a better and dignified life in the past and at present!!! But, hopefully, not in the future.

Professor Eric Hobsbawm, 1917-2012

Thank you and farewell, the great Professor Eric Hobsbawm!

The other night I was just teased by my supervisor that I was discussing Hobsbawm with some friends in a farm north of Denmark during the wee hours. Sad, a great loss indeed, but Hobsbawm's ideas and contributions live on.

A moment of silence for you....

Here was Professor Eric Hobsbawm at 94, turning 95, still sharp and lucid:

In his last book, How to Change the World: Marx and Marxism 1840-2011, Professor Hobsbawm wrote what even capitalist and pro-capitalist political forces have now realized in this time of global crisis:

" Once again it is evident that even between major crises, ‘the market’ has no answer to the major problem confronting the twenty-first century: that unlimited and increasingly high-tech economic growth in the pursuit of unsustainable profit produces global wealth, but at the cost of an increasingly dispensable factor of production, human labour, and, one might add, of the globe’s natural resources. Economic and political liberalism, singly or in combination, cannot provide the solution to the problems of the twenty-first century. Once again the time has come to take Marx seriously. "

One of the most unforgettable conferences that I attended was the 2009 Historical Materialism Conference where I presented a paper on the global capitalist crisis in Professor Hobsbawm's Birkbeck College at the University of London. I did not see him there but it is wonderful to think that it was in that College where the great historian had his initial struggles to be an academic—rising from being a lecturer to become its President—and where some of the most important works on world history was written: the long 19th century (The Age of Revolution: Europe, 1789-1848; The Age of Capital: 1848-1875; The Age of Empire: 1875-1914) and the short 20th century (The Age of Extremes, 1914-1991).



Two of my favourite classic British historians have now left us — E.P. Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm — ideas and analyses of both have contributed to my thesis. I would have wanted to be a historian myself; I believe socio-political and economic analyses would have been easier for me. I feel that our current generation of students are too young to remember history. Unfortunately, many teachers are also either uninitiated or totally disinterested about the importance of history in understanding the present in light of the past for the benefit of the future. 

Long live, Professor Hobsbawm, and the history he has written!

Some classic video clips here of E.P. Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm:

Academic Profession: A Sad Reality

A sad reality about the academic profession all over the world.... Here's a reflective note from my former teacher, Walden Bello, a respected academic himself and awarded Outstanding Public Scholar by the International Political Economy Section of the International Studies Association (ISA), regarding a lesson that can be drawn from the Amy Bishop incident:

" Being denied tenure often ends an

 academic's career, and there are so many cases of denials being based on flimsy, questionable, and downright unjust grounds. There are so many capable and brilliant minds that are today part of the walking wounded, destroyed by the tenure process. It's time educational institutions ... review the tenure process so that it does not become a mechanism whereby the mediocre and non-productive defend their sinecures from younger, bright, and productive scholars. "

Sad that up-and-coming talents are often confronted with terrible personal insecurities of already 'tenured' (i.e., with job security) faculty members. Even sadder that there are many academics who need the energy that comes from bullying, senseless power play, and hating others intensely just to keep them going.

Luckily, whenever I encounter insecure and hateful academics, I just remember the most important teachers, professors, and mentors in my life who are very good—both professionally and as human beings—who have made me feel and experience an old-fashioned academic culture of generosity, encouragement, and inspiration. These are the academics with a sense of humility, not pride; philanthropy, not patronage; love, not hate.

Manny V. Pangilinan and Prospective Investors for the Philippine Economy

Reference to PDI news article 
"Pangilinan fumes, threatens to go back to Hong Kong: You're so unruly"

Manny V. Pangilinan
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Listen to MVP.... Not necessarily to follow exactly his will or what he says; but to read between the lines. There appears to be a point to believe in that one of the major reasons why the Philippine economy is bad for investments is that its state functionaries listen more to politicians as well as (neoclassical) economists than to businesspeople. To be perfectly frank, even from a capitalist point of view, the Philippine state does not know how to manage and develop capitalism properly so as to create wealth for the nation.

I find MVP's business and politics a really intriguing case for a study of Southeast Asian political economy.... I hope I can find the time, energy, and opportunity to do this research in the coming months.... 

In the Philippines, MVP is considered a business magnate who has diversified interests, holdings, and portfolio and who has become a patron of the country's sports, arts, and education. But there's more....

MVP is one of those very rare seasoned Southeast Asian capitalists who has thrived on and know how to deal with a variety of capitalist regimes in East and Southeast Asia - broadly speaking, be it the 'free market capitalism' of Hong Kong, the 'state capitalism' of China, the 'predatory capitalism' of Indonesia, the 'crony capitalism' of Malaysia, or the 'unruly' capitalism (MVP's word) of the Philippines. MVP has recently expressed disgust about 'unruliness' in the conduct of political-business relations in the Philippines. And this is telling about a fundamental requirement of any capitalist: a high degree of predictability, certainty, calculability, and security for capital accumulation.

With the way things are shaping up these days, including in geopolitical and geoeconomic terms, and with the few years left of PNoy's presidency, it seems that the Philippines cannot expect much investments in the coming years from Chinese capital. Other analysts argue that the Philippine political tussle with China does/will not affect the two countries' economic relations; but I disagree with this opinion because it does not accurately comprehend how 'the political' and 'the economic' are inextricable in Chinese political economy. I think that China has not learned capitalism from the English classical political economy of Adam Smith and David Ricardo (which normatively separates 'the political' from 'the economic'), but from the critique of political economy of Karl Marx (which structurally understands 'the political' behind 'the economic').

While the Philippines should still try to reach out to China, maybe it would be more strategic for the government to look to other investors outside the ASEAN like Japan, which also has intensifying territorial disputes with China and which remains the Philippines' biggest investor. Current news in the business pages are saying that more and more Japanese manufacturing activity/production are relocating to the Philippines in recent and coming years. Well, who knows, the 'anti-China' projects in Washington (and, possibly, in Tokyo) might revitalize the postwar anti-USSR Marshall Plan and the mid-1980s Plaza Accord - i.e., two historic capitalist development moments and plans that have dramatically (re)industrialized Germany (and West/North Europe) and Japan (and the economies in East and Southeast Asia). The Philippines could be a showcase for a Marshall Plan 2.0 and/or a Plaza Accord 2.0. 

South Korean capital also might be a good source of foreign investment especially that many of its citizens and businesses are already settled and in operation in the country for some years now. Just a thought, however.... When I asked Ha-Joon Chang about this prospect when he treated me for a drink in Italy two years ago, he told me that tapping South Korean capital is not at all a bad idea; but he warned me against the dismal record of these companies in labour and industrial relations. Indeed, Ha-Joon's reminder to me immediately conjures up the occupational abuses and hazards of the Hanjin Corporation in Subic recently, as well as the excesses of the Japanese Imperial Army-trained General Park Chung-hee during Korea's early industrialization experience. So consider this as a tip on how to do business with the Koreans in ways that protect and promote the welfare and a life of dignity of Filipino workers.

Other countries within the BRICS — particularly, Brasil, India, and South Africa have to be seriously considered as well as prospective investors. For instance, our neighbour Malaysia has laid out business plans with the BRICS, which mostly focus on China and India (i.e., the 'home' nations of about 40% of the country's multiethnic citizens).

And, of course, at this crisis moment, there are big opportunities to develop our own domestic manufacturing sector, local technological capabilities, national innovation system, and agricultural productivity with a view to food security. This must include alternative development strategies and the visions for ecological futures and sustainable communities. Big concepts and ideas, indeed, but we have a lot of brilliant, creative, and dedicated people in the Philippines who (can) make things happen. Hope!

Rediscovering Nationalism

BBC has reported on attempts at mainstreaming, or internationalizing, Philippine cuisine.... 

To me, while there are many factors why Filipino food has not been on a par with our neighbours Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian cuisines in terms of international recognition, I believe that some of the important explanations have to do with [i] our generally very adaptive cultural disposition; [ii] the incompleteness of our nation-building process; and [iii] the absence of a national development strategy.

Points [i] and [ii] may be self-explanatory, yet [ii] and [iii] are interrelated. On point [i] I remember Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations feature on Philippine cuisine when he made a comment about Filipinos: "I think you are just too damn nice. I think this is a problem." Watch below that particular episode.

But I would like to emphasize on the importance of point [iii] here. It might have been ideal to make identity flourish 'organically', but at this historical moment of globalization I think food identity for the international market can be created. That is to say, politics can actually create a culture, an identity. Creating a food identity can be part of a nation-building process and outlined in a national development strategy - both of which orchestrated by a truly democratic state (we, the people). It is actually good that in the Philippines, unlike in many European countries, the principle of 'nationalism' has a positive connotation. However, sometimes I have a feeling that our nationalism is most articulated in sports - particularly every time that our national pride Manny Pacquiao fights in the boxing ring - but we have not extended a sense of nationalism to our polity and to our economy.

We should not forget that development - i.e., capitalist development - from Europe and the US to Japan, South Korea, and China (and even Malaysia) were not built on the invisible hand of the market but on conscious state policy, not on 'liberalism' but on 'nationalism'. 

Finally, I very much disagree with these statements in the BBC report: 

Mr Laudico believes the reason why Philippine food is not well-respected is because Filipinos themselves do not respect it. They might like to eat it, but they do not think others will. 

"We have a lack of pride in our own cuisine," he explained. "For hundreds of years, when we've had guests in our homes, we've apologised and said to them: 'I'm very sorry, I can only serve you Philippine food'."

BBC News Feature Sources here:

— "Philippine chefs look to take national cuisine mainstream" by Kate McGeown
— In pictures: Philippine food seeks global appeal

Watch Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations episode on the Philippines here:

On PNoy's de-Gloriazation, China, APEC and ASEAN

References to Rappler's "DFA clarifies Singapore 'support'" and various news reports re PNoy's APEC meetings from Inquirer, Interaksyon, & GMA

Sometimes I wonder if our mainstream media is really that naive, or simply incapable of reporting news on international relations, even just the affairs (particularly, political economy) of our neighboring countries in Southeast Asia....

The other day, I watched in the news featuring PNoy's meeting with Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib as if Malaysia is also supporting the Philippine territorial claims against China.... Our media may be underestimating how powerful and important (economically, at least) China is now in the region (in the world, indeed) and how ASEAN does not want to antagonize its relations with China.... 

Here are the facts: China is now the biggest trading partner of ASEAN and will soon become the biggest investor in all ASEAN countries; and by 2009, Malaysia has become the largest trading partner of China among ASEAN countries. 

The point is: authoritarian-capitalist states of Singapore and Malaysia will never ever antagonize their authoritarian-capitalist counterpart benefactor and idol, China, at this point. And the truth is: not for the Philippines, which is really not that important for these emerging and industrializing economies.

There is a difference on the reception of China between PNoy and Najib when both assumed state leadership in 2010 and 2009, respectively: PNoy visited China; Najib was invited by China. The Philippines does not have a clear development strategy towards Chinese capital; Malaysia is more conscious of integrating Chinese capital into its accumulation regime. This is where having national industrialization as a development strategy (i.e., Malaysia) makes a startling difference in, among others, international economic and political relations.

I don't think that PNoy should have spent that much (PHP 15 million) for the attendance of his economic team in the APEC. PNoy only got a meeting with who - Chile and the three ASEAN countries Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam? Countries which PNoy's team could have met outside the APEC? The team was frustrated when they were not able to meet with China, whose appointment books must have been full as all APEC countries would like to secure a share of Chinese capital.

I would have hoped that even from a capitalist point of view, PNoy's economic team would be able to strategize a Philippine capitalism with Chinese characteristics. Aside from the well-recognized problem of the PNoy administration on the implications of the territorial disputes at the West Philippine Sea for Philippine-China economic relations and even though we are doing better now in 'good governance', I believe that a more fundamental structural problem why the Philippines is having difficulties in attracting Chinese capital has to do with our economic development strategy.

My sense is that, thus far, PNoy's 'de-Gloriazation' efforts have been limited to 'political' reforms - i.e., the restoration of integrity in our democratic institutions - but has not yet extended to 'economic' reforms. Here is my framing of PNoy's economic strategy: it's basically, neoliberalization à la Gloria with good governance. To be candid about it: PNoy's good governance is simply a thin icing on a largely neoliberalism-à-la-Gloria cake. Remember Gloria's formula to gain positive growth rate computation, mainly: OFW-dependence (labour-export strategy) + huge public spending + BPOs (call centers). And yes, lest we forget, add CCT initiated during Gloria's presidency as a central poverty reduction programme. But how about exports of value-added manufacturing goods - a big question mark??? 

I am not saying that these economic strategies of Gloria should be abandoned altogether, but it is to challenge PNoy to have some value-added on his development strategy that directly alters the economic structure. Our service-oriented economy is already a very depressed market that does not offer a great variety of labour specialization and which is not able to sustain, let alone increase living standards of, 90+ million Filipinos. No wonder that we cannot attract Chinese capital or generally increase FDIs and international private capital flows into the Philippine economy.

I have always argued that it's the 'mode of production' that should be the foremost concern of our development strategy. We have to produce things and ideas. Things and ideas with value - that is, technology-intensive and conducive to innovation. At this historical moment of global economic crisis and climate change, there are big windows of opportunity for alternative futures — towards ecological production systems, green technology, sustainable communities, etc. We have to produce wealth first for the nation before our promises of redistribution or redistributive justice earn credibility and legitimacy from the hopeful people of the Philippines.

Cheering and Jeering in the Philippine Elitist Political Structure

The RH Bill is in peril of being killed by Senate leadership filibustering and other legislative delaying tactics. Both Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Majority Floor Leader Tito Sotto, known anti-RH legislators, are obviously engaged in this old trapo (traditional politician) trick. Another inconvenient truth: These were the senator-judges who we cheered on during the Corona impeachment trial and the same politicos we jeered at this time as regards the RH Bill. 

Alas, such is the nature of our elitist political decision-making structure! But this also tells us exactly who we should not anymore vote for and against whom our opposition should be mounted.

Part and parcel of the political reform process towards social change is to stop electing these trapos. As we press on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to ensure institutional integrity of our electoral decisions, we — the citizens — also have to make informed and wise votes.

To be for RH. To be for reforms. To be for hope.

The Curious Case of Mar Roxas

Reference to Interaksyon headline "Aquino, Roxas Insist: Country over Party"

Mar Roxas' political slogan these days is "Country above self". Ethically, as in the original Greek signification of a 'polis', it must be country (common good) over party (parochial interests). But in contemporary realpolitik, we have idiots or 'idiotes' (selfish, self-interested politicians) in the polity.

The deep sense of loss that Filipinos have felt with the untimely departure of Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Jesse Robredo is highly evocative of the sad reality of the corruption of the vocation and profession of politics as a supposedly noble art of public service. There has been a general expression of thanks and appreciation for the life of Mayor Pogi, Sec. Jesse, for reclaiming ethics in 'politics' and for bringing back the demos (we, the people) in democratic governance.

To continue with the reforms in local governance that Robredo had started off, the President has appointed his party-mate Mar Roxas as Secretary of the important and powerful Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Mar's presidential ambition might have been delayed for a while, but his appointment at DILG effectively makes him a 'little president' with executive powers, legislative clout from provincial governments down to barangay councils, judicial prerogative to discipline erring local government officials, and the security and coercive apparatuses of the police.

Mar is a seasoned politician. I would encourage a political biographer to consider him as a very interesting subject. Unfortunately, the Philippines does not have much political biographers these days, aside from politically-commissioned PR firms, academics, and writers.  

I think Mar's career is a fascinating subject for students of Philippine politics. He comes from an elite political-business family. He has training in economics, finance, and business. He was a legislator in both the House and Senate. He's a technocrat who has survived and thrived the bureaucracies under the administrations of Erap, Arroyo, and PNoy — heading different departments from Energy (DOE) to Trade & Industry (DTI) to Transportation & Communications (DOTC), and now the DILG. 

Arguably, Mar has worked in all these government agencies enthusiastically and professionally; however, his short stints in those offices also meant that the projects and reforms he had instituted had not been sustained, inhibiting them to take root and flourish. Mar is also a celebrity having been linked with some celebrities and now married to a media personality. With his education, Mar is ideologically a market-oriented 'neoliberal'; but he once succeeded in the 'populist' appeal of 'Mr. Palengke' (Mr. Market) in an attempt to mold ordinary people's consciousness into the legitimacy of market mechanisms and he had also fought for some 'protection' for the interests of the nation's local farmers and domestic industries against the rich countries and the WTO rules. And many more.... A curious case, indeed....

We cannot expect 'Mr. Palengke' (Mar) to be like 'Mr. Tsinelas' (Sec. Jesse). Mar is / has always been / will be Mar. There will never be a Jesse Robredo again, but there are important lessons that Mar or we can draw from Jesse's life experience and achievements. Congratulations and good luck to the newly-appointed DILG Secretary Mar Roxas! The people should watch over him and make sure that he lives up to his political motto: "Country above self." 

Respect for the greats Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Respect for the two greatest basketball players: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant....

Of course, MJ is MJ - my childhood and teenage hero! 

But what I particularly like about Kobe is that he likes the Philippines and Filipino fans so much - the first time he came when he was 18 he promised he would come back, and he has done so several times, impressing us with his unique talent and showmanship in the flesh, live! 

So, MJ, you're still welcome to come and visit the Philippines and feel how great we are as basketball fans!

Congrats Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas, 2012 Jones Cup Champions!

Congratulations Smart Gilas (the Philippine Men's Basketball Team) for winning gold in the 34th Jones Cup! Beating the USA, Iran, Korea, Jordan, Japan, and Taiwan — teams that have always broken our hearts — is truly something, especially for our dream to reclaim our old basketball glory!

This so-called "Smart Gilas 2.0", as compared with the first team under Serbian Coach Rajko Toroman,  does not have much training and system playing together for long, but their hearts have paid off. Kudos to Coach Chot Reyes, the mentor who has instilled in me also the importance of moving out of one's "comfort zone" to explore the "talent zone" of adventure, learning, and satisfaction.

Congrats and thanks also to Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP), the Philippines' most generous sports patron today. In the current relations and context of Philippine capitalism and (under)development, sports — like the arts — needs patrons among the wealthy to flourish. 

Now, we are considered serious contenders for the FIBA-Asia Cup in Tokyo in September!

Mabuhay Team Pilipinas!

Congratulations Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno! "Kapag kayo'y gumagawa nang tama, darating ang gantimpala."

Congratulations to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the first woman chief justice of the Philippines! I believe that her appointment is a triumph in itself for real reforms for the country — as such, it must be nurtured and sustained. 

It is not because of her gender that has made me support her among the 'insider' nominees. I look more at her politics, moral values, and spirituality. (Among the 'outsider' nominees, I was rooting for Raul Pangalangan and Chel Diokno.)

Sereno will be Chief Justice for the next 18 years. Expect judicial reforms during her leadership. In the context of deep-seated structural and moral bankruptcy in the history of our judicial system, all reform efforts are (necessarily) conflict-ridden between the reactionary forces for the maintenance of existing power relations and the progressive social forces for change. Hence, Sereno's leadership must get all the principled and conscientious support that can be mustered.  

Towards a truly democratic, developed, and just Philippines in 2030, Sereno's judicial reforms must be matched with political, economic, and moral reforms among our leaders and the resolute commitment of activists, social movements, civil society, and active citizens to social justice.

Indeed, "Kapag kayo'y gumagawa nang tama, darating ang gantimpala". So be it, CJ Sereno. Mabuhay po kayo! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Godspeed!

On the Fabros-Carabuena Encounter: Sad Realities of Philippine Class and Social Relations

Reference to the PDI article "Why MMDA traffic aide took it on the chin"

This story (i.e., the life of the poor Saturnino Fabros and his unfortunate encounter with the rich Robert Carabuena) is telling about a number of sad realities of Philippine society and social relations, including: 

(a) the nature of class conflict in which there are incommensurable differences between the rich and the poor in material, psychological, and spiritual terms;

(b) the sorry state of our economic development structure that favours the rich but perpetuates social immobility of the poor - even the most hardworking and efficient among them - who do not get the income and social entitlements they need and deserve to lead a dignified life;

(c) the logic of the social structure of poverty that locks the poor in a system of exploitation (be it in personal, electoral, or labour relations) but, at the same time, locks them out of political decision-making and socio-economic progress.

I'm just happy to note that in this Fabros-Carabuena encounter, the Filipino 'middle class' (at least the overwhelming majority of 'netizens') have taken the point of view of 'the victim', seen through the eyes of 'the poor', and chosen the side of 'social justice'. May this class formation continue in the enduring struggle for real social change.

Mabuhay po kayo, Mang Saturnino Fabros, kasama ng puwersa ng mga mulat na mamamayan na may kamalayan para sa pakikipagkapwa-tao, katarungan, at pagbabago!

Dear Southeast Asia

I love Southeast Asia so much — its peoples, cultures, and foods. But I detest its political and economic elites! The irony is that I have I spent my graduate and postgraduate life studying these elites and the ways they have forged, negotiated, or dictated the region's historical political economy and the very lives of Southeast Asians!

Anyway, a note for the Philippine Department of Tourism, it might be useful and strategic to reflect on, decide, and popularize a national landmark for the Philippines!

Noypi tayo, astig!

Noypi tayo, astig!

Laban Noypi! Panahon na naman ng bayanihan, pakikipagkapwa-tao, at diskarte. Pinoy tayo!

" Ang dami mong problema, nakuha mo pang ngumiti.Noypi ka nga, astig! 

Saan ka man naroroon, huwag kang matatakot...

Sabi nila may anting-anting ako pero hindi ni alam na Diyos ang dahilan ko ... 

Buo aking loob

May agimat ang dugo ko! "

Buhay Sampaloc

Dito sa tapat ng USTe ako ipinanganak at lumaki! Sanay sa baha at sa marami pang iba. Sa 30 taon gumanda na rin ang ilaw at kalsada ng España, kaso sa 30 taon na ito pa-grabe nang pa-grabe naman ang baha. Ito ay sa kabila na kahit pa mula nung elementary ako ang mga sikat na proyekto ng mga pulitiko sa Manila City Hall man o barangay ay "clean and green" (kasama ng "peace and order"), at sa school naman ay ang mga sikat na organisasyon ay patungkol sa kalikasan gaya ng 'Earth Lovers' at 'Green Brigade' (kasama ng mga Boy and Girl Scouts).

Sana makita at mapagtanto natin bilang mga mamamayan, at ng mga namumuno sa mga komunidad at gobyerno, ang mensahe at oportunidad para sa pagbabago sa panahon nitong krisis. Makiramdam, at ibalik ang respeto, sa kalikasan. Paghusayan ang mga proyekto para sa kalikasan at kapaligiran, kasama na rito ang pagbubuo ng mga alternatibong pamamaraan ng pamumuhay at pag-organisa ng mga komunidad.

It's Man-made

With all due respect to friends of faith, I believe that the natural tragedy we are in now is not at all an "act of God". It's by all means "man-made". It's a tragic manifestation of the worsening disrespectful, hostile, and alienated relationship of human beings with nature.

Our caring and loving sense of nature and the environment has long been missing. Respect for the natural environment is most urgently needed. We have to be reconciled with nature — personally, ideologically, technologically, and policy-wise.

  

Meanwhile, at this very moment, we have families, friends, kababayans, fellow human beings — the victims, evacuees, as well as the rescuers and volunteers — who need our help, support, and prayers in the worst flooding that has hit Metro Manila and Luzon in recent years. 

May this trying times bring out the best in human beings, and may nature show compassion and accord forgiveness to us. 

Renaissance and the RH Bill

Still having a holiday hangover.... Berlin, Pisa, Florence, and Venice are all uniquely beautiful. Each is legendary and has its own place in history. But Florence has charmed me the most at this time. Maybe it's because it was my first time in Florence, whereas it was my seventh visit in Berlin and the third in Venice. But there's something in Florence that has caught my curiosity, my worldview, my interest.

Wish I were an artist or an architect, but I'm just a student of history, a student of politics, a student of development, a student of science, a student of change. Florence has reminded me of the system of patronage crafted by the Medicis, the excesses of the clergy, as well as the viciousness of the church, the state, and the elite families whose accumulation drive for wealth and power entailed violence and the establishment of the regime of mendacity that took the name of 'God' in vain. At the same time, Florence has recalled to me the personal and professional lives, works, struggles, and tragedies of the greats Machiavelli, Galileo, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Raphael, Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, et al. There must be this longing in me for the virtues, spirit, and lessons of the Renaissance — to begin anew, to question, to experiment, to think, to act, to imagine, to fight, to resist, to rebel, to change....

And then I thought of the Philippines and the Filipinos whose tragic political-economic-cultural development past and present have not been served well by the elites of the state, the church, and business. Brilliant ideas, creative initiatives, and talented people are often ignored, thwarted, or co-opted by these self-serving elites who have material and ideological interests in the protection, perpetuation, and expansion of their presumed hegemonic power over resources, nature, and human lives.

On Tuesday, 7 August, may the social forces of Renaissance for enlightenment, reform, and change overcome the Philippine Savonarolas and win (out) over the medieval forces of Inquisition.

God bless, the Philippines and the hopeful Filipinos.

On PNoy's SONA 2012: Speaking Truth to Power

How to evaluate a SONA? In form, it should have SAD - situation, action, and direction. In substance, it should contain nothing but the truth.

As I said earlier, I'm satisfied already with the achievements of the PNoy administration in the last two years. And it will be very satisfactory if the reform promises and development targets that PNoy mentioned today would be realized in the coming years. 

Yet, we can help this government by speaking truth to power - through offering both critique and alternatives. Among many other important and urgent issues, I maintain, urge, and propose: 

• that we still lack a clear-cut development strategy which should not only be reduced to mere 'inclusive growth' rhetoric [to me, this strategy should have a synergistic framework between technology-intensive industrialization, agricultural productivity, and knowledge-based services that would be able to bring about higher incomes for workers, increasing earnings for businesses, and a larger tax base for the government to enable it to support universal social entitlements to health care, education, and other social security services];

• that the increasing GDP we have, the appreciation of the peso, and the rising indices in the stock market are not good indicators of our real economic progress or prospects, and that these figures are only desirable if they would lead to raising the standard of living of the people [hence, redistributive justice through political will and institutional reforms have to done to alter the elitist development structure where workers-led growth is only enjoyed by the privileged few];

• that the environment and ecology should be given utmost priority these days, including methods of adaptation and disaster risk reduction, as well as the bolder agenda for green technology production; and

• that peace and order and the fight against criminality, especially those brazen street crimes, have to be seriously eliminated.

Nevertheless, kudos to the reform efforts of PNoy and his team and most especially to all the Filipinos' achievements and contributions in the last two years of the incumbent administration. No doubt, this SONA is also a campaign speech with a view to the upcoming elections. With this speech, the reform coalition and allies of PNoy will be the team to beat. 

Now, let's continue doing good, contributing to our country's development in our own little ways, and remaining hopeful that we are on track to reclaiming a nation of peoples with a sense of social justice and a life of dignity and happiness. Right on!

References to PNoy's Third State of the Nation Address (SONA) here: 

- Speech from gov.ph and 2012 SONA Technical Report

- ON AIR: SONA 2012 | Video

The Dolphy Virtue

Watch Dolphy's Rappler profile here:

The only Juan: A Rappler profile

Salamat Mang Dolphy.... :) 

Thank you for the gift of nostalgia. The fun and laughter in your memorable shows, and especially that distinct voice and the sound of your TV sitcoms which had made growing up in the 80s and 90s in a working class, university belt neighborhood in Manila such a fond and inimitable experience. 

Thank you, too, for your unique presence in the life of a hopeful nation. Your attempts at injecting a little cheer into Filipinos' stressful lives and gloomy days are truly well appreciated. 

And most of all, I thank you for the values and simple advices that I have personally noted not only from your TV sitcoms and movies, but also from your interviews and the life that you led. I take inspiration from these ten wisdom:

• Humility. 
• Focus on what you do best.
• Put your heart in your craft. 
• Give happiness to others. 
• Have a heart of gold.
• When the going gets tough, tell yourself 'This too shall pass'. 
• Have a sense of humour. 
• Love. 
• Laugh. 
• Smile.

May we always be reminded of the Dolphy virtue. The Dolphy spirit must live on.