MERGED: Do You Want U.S. Statehood For the Philippines?

[FK]

---

U.S. statehood but the same mentality: ang votes ibaligya... popularity contest in elections. do you really think mawala ni kong state na ta sa America?

mao ang U.S.A ni abot na sila sa ilang stado karon tungod sa ilang PATRIOTISM og NATIONALISM.

ang ato-a dinhi kay REGIONALISM ra... which is bad.

[josephdc]

Joseph:.. do you think that these "DIAMONDS" have the chance to shine with its brilliance in the near future? .. JUST BE REALISTIC... forget about the ideals and all that drama.

EZRA: To rediscover our past, to uncover our cultural treasures that would help us regain our national identity? These would obviously take a very long time. There are of course no quick fixes.

Our national identity? HA! what do you think other people thinks of a typical Filipino nowadays? Now, would you still want to be identified that way? As long as the country doesn't have a major makeover, we will still be identified as that in years to come.

You are of course right about our national identity. The word "Filipino" does evoke in foreigners not very positive images. Images of terrorism, crimes, prostitution, corruption, etc. Well, we should work hard to prove to them that Filipinos are not any of the above. We should stop terrorism, do something about the crimes, and stop the corruption in government. Yes, easier said than done. Don't ask me again "exactly how", I'm merely saying the obvious thing that should be done.

"Both you and Gareb have stated that the Philippine Culture (It's SOUL) is heavily tainted... and you both are very optimistic that it can be remedied.. can it REALLY be easily remedied is the big question there. If it was this case hell, the Philippines doesn't need anybody!"

We have no choice but to be optimistic. We have to believe that our damaged culture can still be fixed. If we give in to hopelessness then we can be 100% certain that it never will be fixed. Again, it would be a tedious process of course. You can't expect it to be easy because it's a huge problem.

"If you ask me... I'd trade my soul just to give my kids a chance to experience a good and comfortable upbringing."

I'm very sorry to hear that. That is very unfortunate. If all of us think that way then we can truly say that the country is hopeless. For now I am just thankful that there are still people out there who believe in their country. The change would come from them. It's really tragic, this growing sense of hopelessness in people. We can't blame them, because in all appearance the country *is* hopeless. But in truth that's not the case. We saw that very recently when congress bowed down to the decision of the Supreme Court that the impeachment complaint against Davide is unconstitutional. We saw that when people all over the country rose up in condemnation of the impeachment complaint against the Chief Justice, seeing correctly that it was maliciously intended, driven by self-interests, and a brazen act of abuse of power. So as long as there are people who are willing to defend this country's democratic institutions, as long as there are people who believe in themselves and in this country's capacity to change, then this country is not hopeless.

"i think we need a helping hand like US y? theyre powerful but u can react now if u disagree to my idea im ready to listen.Powerful enough to fully utilize The Philippine resources economically and well-organized.Poor children will be sent to schools,roads will be fixed immediately,more business opportunities,more manpower,security maximized and established.....that's all i can say."

That all sounds well and good, bai, pero that would be assuming that the United States is a benevolent superpower. That's the common misconception people have with the US. The United States has a history of making unfair deals with our government, so we have reason to suspect future "aid" and "assistance" from them. We have to remember that the US is driven mainly by economic and strategic interests and not by benevolent intentions.

"In a nutshell, here's how I see and assess the situation: We have been nationalistic for too long and even demonstrated that we are good patriots but where has it led us?"

That's true. We have indeed been nationalistic for a long time. But our nationalism was never enough. I mean, it did not come to a point where our government actually implemented nationalist policies (which were designed to make us more independent, to stand up on our own, to develop through our own efforts). In the 50s and 60s, our government was very much pro-American. We did have leaders who were nationalists, who heeded the voice of the people and championed their cause and represented their interests, like Claro M. Recto, but they were marginalized. No, it's not nationalism and patriotism that has brought us to where we are now. It is, in fact, precisely the *lack* of nationalism and patriotism in most of us and in most of our leaders that has led us to where we are today.

"Let us accept that "our system" and the people running it has never and will never work for us. Talking with experience, strained patience and seeing how things are going, I think it is time to accept that it will NO LONGER CHANGE."

We shouldn't lose hope. We shouldn't give up. Yes, things appear hopeless, but really they're not. As long as there are people who are willing to fight to change "the system".

"Take for example Columbia & I'm not talking about their narco-politics, just look at their culture & government, we are very similar to them. Other examples, are Mexico, Cuba, Argentina etc. I think a super power country such as, the United States really has to intervene in these countries because the ones in power are literally ruling it with an iron hand and enjoying all the comfort while their people are ailing."

I don't know about Columbia, you might be right about our government's similarity with theirs. We have one thing to be thankful for, though. At least we are not (not yet anyway) in the same level of chaos as them. At least we don't have the same level of violence that is occuring in horrendous frequency there. There is still civility here. The government may be turning into a circus, but as long as the people are sane, there is hope. Asking a superpower to intervene in our country's affairs just because we have politicians who just can't get enough of power and money is absurd. Truly, corruption is a serious matter, but not as to justify foreign intervention in these shores.

"It is time for a higher power to intervene because we can't simply do it on our own anymore because "our own" is our problem to begin with. We can't trust our own people anymore and we are doomed to corruption because those same corrupt political dyansties still run our government from generation to generation and we can't even trust ourselves anymore because we still vote for those same people and make them win or they still win by hook or by crook."

I disagree. We *can* do it on our own. The only problem is, and you're right about that, we *won't*. I mean, we have the capacity to make "our system" right -- to make politicians accountable to public funds entrusted to them, to make them liable for malfeasance, etc. -- but we don't use that capacity (As in the example you gave above, we continue to choose politicians on the mere basis of popularity or the candidate's family name). The task, as before, remains the same: to educate the people. That again is no easy task. For one, the government is negligent on its responsibility to put education as top priority in its programs. As far as I know, budget for the education sector is still quite low compared to, for example, national defense. And then we have the media, which is also to a great extent responsible for the ignorance and the stupidity that is widespread in society, not only in not providing the people with more important and substantial TV programs, but in exactly feeding them with stuff that make them dull and stupid. We shouldn't lose hope. That is what civil society groups are doing, they are working for a more enlightened citizenry.

"As I've said in my previous post, the elite buys their way into government to protect their businesses and properties and not for public service. Worst, they eventually make publice service their business. They don't want big foreign firms that offer utility services because they will run out of business. These firms will offer better, faster & CHEAPER services than the local players and they are so scared and working like crazy to block these firms from entering the country by passing mediocre laws because only THEM will be affected and disadvantaged. Through a much better competition, they will die a natural death."

Good points to ponder...

"To HELL with Nationalism and the hope for change, we have given it enough time already."

We cannot cast nationalism to "hell" because we were never truly nationalistic in the first place. In the 50s, 60s, and 70s, we could say that the Filipinos then, especially the young, were nationalistic. But not anymore today. Most Filipinos today don't care about the country; most of them want to leave it; most are ignorant of their country's past; most still have a colonial complex, thinking everything "American" is superior and good. It is this lack of nationalism that has brought us to this HELL we're in.

"What we Filipinos need is at least a decent Life because it has been long overdue. So, we should grab every lifeline and opportunity tossed at us. As the saying goes, "Beggars can't be Choosers.""

Yes indeed, but we should work hard for it. We shouldn't beg.

"Indeed we are beggars because our government chose so and we chose our government."

Mao jud. Our government have chosen so many times in the past to be dependent on America. Instead of implementing nationalist policies, to become independent, to work hard on our own, to develop with our own efforts, it chose to beg from another country. We have been begging for so very long, and it has imperiled us so. Let us not beg again. It's time we stand up on our own, work hard for progress. Yes, we chose the government we have right now. Which also means we can choose a government that would reflect our true interests. It sounds unrealistic, true, with the existence of patronage politics, political dynasties, vote buying, and all these things. But we shouldn't stop hoping, fighting.

"Being a state is just changing the system of government. It doesn't take away our culture, our heritage, our blood or who we are as a people. That is why America is filled with a lot of very rich and diverse cultures and they respect each one of it."

Statehood may not take away our culture and our heritage entirely, but it will be diminished. It's really different when you have your own country, when you have a government run by Filipinos, when you have sovereignty or the power to choose your destiny. The truth is, we *can* turn things around in this country, we have that power, it's only that we're not using it.

[EZRA]

JOSEPH: Of course.. there is no quick fixes.. that's not the question... the question is, will it be fixed in years to come? Lets say in 20 years.. do you think any progress would be made?
Even you couldn't even answer HOW... `cause with all the people running the country and the people behind those people, change could never be done. That's why I'm very confident to state the fact that even in 20 years, no major positive change can occur in the Philippines. No matter how tedious the process can be.. the thing is, no one WANTS it done when everyone in power is enjoying the fruits of their greed.
-----
Joseph.. Do you have KIDS?
Wouldn't you want the best for your kids?

[FK]

ngano ang Pilipinas nag ka boang2x... tungod kay ang mga taw dinhi gusto madato og dali... nagpaka ulipon sa kwarta. Bisan pag kinsa ang mo under sa ato-a, kong hangol jud gihapon ang kasagaran sa mga taw, wala jud gihapon kausaban bisan pag pila ka U.S.A. ang magpa state nato. Tan-aw ninyo kong ma state na ta ma kontento na na sila sa ila pangwarta. Ambot lang.

[EZRA]

Thing is.. ma minosan up-to mawagtang ang corruption if under ta sa U.S. laws and regulations... do you think all these corrupt people can still get away with what they're doing if naay mas dakong tae nagbantay?
Diri sa States, no one is above the law.. bisag Presidente. Ug naay mga Senador or mga konsehal magpa boang boang diha, bisag unsa ka gamay... sunod piyong niya naa na siyay prisohan.

[FK]

don't tell me walay corruption dinha sa U.S. Ang deperensiya lang jud sa politiko sa Amerikano og Pilipino... kay ang kano they love there country, mao minus ang corruption. And they give also dignity to themselves, bahala og ultimo ang ilang kita basta dignified sila. I really don't think it's about laws. It's about attitude. Kay ang Pinoy hilig kaau mangita og palusot. Example... mo huwam og kwarta sa ila mga kaparyentehan para lang makapakita og show money para makagawas.

[EZRA]

Huna hunaa... nanchicks ra si Bush hapit ma impeach, unsa kahag mangurakot. People jump on people's cases right away sa gamay nga anomaliya. They don't dare risk it!

[FK]

na impeach si Clinton?

[EZRA]

CLinton diay

[FK]

si Erap sab bitaw na impeach man sab kay daghan kaau og chicks.