The Philippines: Love it, Hate it, What does it take?

[FK]

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But his(Austero) letter doesn’t explain why they feel anger toward the protesters but not toward President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, even if, as Austero says, he never really liked her. Or why they are not upset at the sight of police beating up demonstrators and bodily carrying off protest leaders seeking to assert every citizen’s right to peacefully assemble and express their sentiments. Or why they are upset at the rallies and protests, congressional investigations, attempts at resurrecting “people power,” but not at the possibility of a stolen election or at a Constitution being twisted to perpetuate a president’s stay in office.

http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.p...story_id=69298

[theoutsider]

Have you guys seen this? It's probably been posted on this forum already, but I just came across it. Very interesting....


BIG DEAL
By Dan Mariano
‘Filipinos do not love the Philippines’


The following article, “My Short Essay About the Philippines,” was written by Jaeyoun Kim, a Korean studying in the Philippines. It was sent by e-mail by Lirio Mapa, vice president of the Center for Leadership and Change, through Ateneo de Manila professor Terry David, a high-school classmate of mine.

In introducing the article, Mapa noted: “As you know, we have plenty of Koreans currently studying in the Philippines to take advantage of our cheaper tuition fees and learn English at the same time.

This is an essay written by a Korean student we want to share with you.”

I am reproducing it—unabridged and unedited—in this column because of the author’s keen insight about us Filipinos.

My Short Essay About the Philippines
By Jaeyoun Kim

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines. Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love for the Philippines.

Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world.

Koreans had to start from scratch because entire country was destroyed completely after the Korean War, and we had no natural resources.

Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, for Filipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father’s brother also died because of famine.

Korean government was awfully corrupt and is still very corrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heart burning with patriotism.

Koreans did not work just for themselves but also for their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism.

40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea. He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get a loan and attract a foreign investment because the economy situation of South Korea was so bad.

Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so that they could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through a horrible experience.

In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they saw the President Park. They asked to him, “President, when can we be well off?” That was the only question everyone asked to him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be well off if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President of Germany got the strong impression on them and lent money to Korea.

So, President Park was able to build many factories in Korea. He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart. Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back to Korea to help developing country because they wanted their country to be well off.

Though they received very small salary, they did their best for Korea. They always hoped that their children would live in well off country. My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically handicapped people live.

They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for Catholic Church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that we have to love our neighborhood. And I have loved my neighborhood.

Have you cried for the Philippines? I have cried for my country several times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many poor people. I have been to the New Bilibid prison.

What made me sad in the prison were the prisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work for Church.

They pray everyday. However, they do not love the Philippines. I talked to two prisoners at the maximum security compound, and both of them said that they would leave the Philippines right after they are released from the prison.

They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines.

Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit to their employees fairly so that employees could buy what they needed and saved money for the future and their children. When I was in Korea, I had a very strong faith and wanted to be a priest.

However, when I came to the Philippines, I completely lost my faith. I was very confused when I saw many unbelievable situations in the Philippines. Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday.

The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has been changed.

My parents came to the Philippines last week and saw this situation. They told me that Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines when they were young.

They are so sorry that there so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because it would fun.

However, they were not happy after taking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized the boat men, for the boat men were very poor and had a small frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them.

My mother who has been working for Catholic Church since I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed.

Faith should come with action. She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are same and have received a great love from God.

I want Filipinos to love their neighborhood and country as much as they love God so that the Philippines will be well off.

I am sure that love is the keyword which Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once. It should start from person. Love must start in everybody in a small scale and have to grow.

A lot of things happen if we open up to love. Let’s put away our prejudices and look at our worries with our new eyes. I discover that every person is worthy to be loved.

Trust in love, because it makes changes possible. Love changes you and me. It changes people, contexts and relationships. It changes the world.

Please love your neighborhood and country. Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others we do to Him. In the Philippines, there is God for people who are abused and abandoned.

There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines.

Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country.

You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others. That’s all I really want to ask you Filipinos. Now I will second her/his curiosity. Is the Philippines worth crying for . . .

Who will shed tears for the Motherland?

Who will lend a hand to lift her spirit, to hold the lonely Flag that symbolize her name?

[iloveyou4ever]

I admire the writer. I hope mabasa ni sa mga pulitiko diha. They should have love for Philippines and the Filipinos. I have been loving this country of mine and sometimes cry for this country. I guess there's no hope that Philippines can progress as there has been treats even to the present government. Most politicians who love their coutry- Philippines can be found in the libingan ng mga bayani, if not in the other cemetery.

I salute the writer!

[mosimos]

Ngano way asenso ang Pinas. People love themeselves! They dont love the Philippines. Ngano mag cheat man si GMA? Its because she love herself and not her country. Whhy Joe de Venecia wants to push for Cha cha? Because he love himself he wants to be Prime Minister.

[Wind Shear]

LOL. Quite old article. Circulated gazillion of times around the internet.

Still applicable though.

[FK]

Youngblood : First bribe

First posted 01:11am (Mla time) Mar 30, 2006
By Luis R. Buenaventura III
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on Page A13 of the March 30, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


IT'S official. I just paid my first bribe.

Exiting the Edsa highway's tunnel underneath the Shaw Boulevard interchange in Mandaluyong City, I had turned right to SM Megamall when a man in uniform suddenly came running toward me. Slowly, the excitement that was meant to be savored on the day my dad finally allowed me to use the car faded, and chills went up my spine.

The man was a traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and he cited me for a traffic violation I had not heard of before: "swerving." Without much ado, the questioning began. He did all the talking. I was all ears, but what I was hearing was all babble. My only concern was how to get out of the fix and crafting a good explanation to my parents. Like a hapless fool, I reached for my wallet and, on cue, slipped a week's worth of allowance into his black leather case.

Five years after that first episode, I recall doing the same thing at least two more times. Each time, I congratulated myself for getting down to the "real" business very easily. I must have been inspired by scenes from Hollywood movies where wily crooks bought themselves out of trouble without hesitation or fear. But I swear that I didn't progress to committing felony in my entire life.

It felt like only yesterday when my values education teacher in elementary school described corrupt people as hideous beasts. And I couldn't believe when I realized that I had become one.

The reality was brought home to me when I hitched a ride with a friend. She was caught going the wrong way on a one-way street. To cut a long story short, she extricated herself from the fix the same way I did on those three previous occasions. I felt like I was looking at myself in the mirror.

She gave me the same excuse that sounds so reasonable: "I'm a busy person. There are more important things for me to do than go through the hassle of making everything legal. Besides, a couple of hundred bucks won't hurt a bit, would it? In fact, everybody goes home happy. The traffic officer earns a little extra to augment his meager salary. And heaven knows, I won't do it ever again."

I had heard it before. But still I was a bit shocked by her action and her attempt to justify it. She was well respected in our circle of friends. She was upright. She was a good person!

Then it hit me: How many "good" people out there actually succumb to the temptation to engage in such a dishonest practice?

Feeling the pangs of guilt, I resolved to do the right thing the next time something similar happened. I told myself that the next time I got caught violating traffic rules, I would surrender my license and calmly engage the apprehending traffic officer in polite discourse.

When it finally happened, I got more than what I bargained for. The officer returned my license, without hinting at some consideration, although he gave me a brief lecture on traffic rules and safety.

But even this feel-good anecdote was not received well by my friends. They told me that talking at some length with a traffic officer late at night was a very risky thing to do. "That was stupid," they said. "You never know what crazy things public officials are capable of these days."

To be fair, I do see their point. I mean I should give serious thought to their concern, seeing how many heinous crimes are being committed these days.

But I also realize that this growing tolerance is being promoted by "good" people who don't think twice before giving small bribes. In the larger scheme of things, this wicked propensity to go for the "quick fix" is borne out of frustration over greater societal ills like poverty, the absence of peace and security, and corruption in high places.

In his practical book on nation-building, titled "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country," lawyer Alexander Ledesma Lacson urges respect for the traffic officer, soldier and other public servants.

I have had five traffic encounters since I resolved to do things the right way. And I must say I got my license back every time, without paying a bribe. Integrity, like barbarity, is reciprocated even out there in the streets.

Even someone as ordinary as I am can actually do something about our nation's most serious problems after all. For one thing, corruption can be reduced, and, as Lacson said, this can begin by respecting traffic officers.

If treating them with respect doesn't get me back my license, so be it. I just have to go through the more cumbersome legal process of getting it back. It's not easy. But it's plainly my civic duty.

[WAYOK@@]

basta daghan ka natabangan nga tawo.

[lalakingbisdak]

ang cebu city ra siguro!

[Freeza]

err support youre government no perosonalities involve just the office

[Gypsy]

Share ko lang from a forwarded email...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Open Letter in Behalf of Juan Dela Cruz

Dear Tita Cory, Conrado de Quiros, Randy David, Senators, Congressmen,
Businessmen, Media people, Leftists, the activist Youth, and all you
Bleeding Hearts Out There:

I am angry. And I know that there are many out there who are angrier than
I am for the same reason. And that reason is simple. I am sick and tired
of all you guys claiming to speak for me and many Filipinos. I feel like
screaming every time you mouth words about fighting for my freedom and my
rights, when you obviously are just thinking about yours.
You tell me that the essence of democracy is providing every citizen the
right to speak his or her mind and make his or her own informed
judgments, but you yourselves do not respect my silence and the choices I
and many others have made. In other words, your concept of democracy is
limited to having your rights and your freedoms respected, at the expense
of ours.

I am utterly flabbergasted that you still do not get it: we already
responded to your calls, and our response has been very clear - we chose
not to heed your calls to go to EDSA or to Fort Bonifacio not because we
do not love our country or our freedoms or our rights, but precisely
because we love our country even more. Because quite frankly, we are
prepared to lose our freedoms and our rights just to move this country
forward. You may think that is not correct, you can tell me all the dire
warnings about the evils of authoritarian rule, but quite frankly all we
see is your pathetic efforts to prop up your cause. You tell me that you
are simply protecting my freedoms and my rights, but who told you to do
that? I assure you that when I feel that my rights and my freedoms are at
a peril, I will stand up and fight for them myself.

You tell us that GMA is not the right person to lead this country because
she has done immoral acts. As someone who sees immorality being committed
wantonly in many ways every day and by everyone (yes, including the ones
you do), I may have become jaded. But you have not been able to offer me
any viable alternative, while GMA has bent over backwards many times to
accommodate you while continuing to work hard despite all the obstacles
and the brickbats you have thrown her way. From where I sit, she is the
one who has been working really hard to move this country forward while
all of you have been so busy with one and only one thing: to make sure
she does not succeed. So forgive me if I do not want to join you in your
moral pissing contest. Forgive me if I have chosen to see things from
another perspective.

You say she is the problem. I say, we are the problem, more to the point,
I think you are a bigger problem than she is. Taking her out may solve
part of the problem, but that leaves us with a bigger problem: you. That
is right, YOU!

While I felt outraged that she called a Comelec official during the
elections and that she may have rigged the elections, I have since then
taken the higher moral ground and forgiven her. Yes my dear bishops, I
have done what you have told me to do since I was a child, which you say
is the Christian and moral thing to do: forgive. Especially since she has
asked for forgiveness and has tried to make amends for it. Erap certainly
has not apologized and continues to be defiant, continuing to insult us
everyday with his protestations. Cory has not apologized for her
incompetence but we have forgiven her just the same because like GMA, she
has worked hard after all.

I know you do not think that GMA's apology was not enough, or that she was
insincere, or that that apology should not be the end of it, but please
spare me the hypocrisy of telling me that you do so for the sake of
protecting the moral fiber of society. The real reason is because you
smell blood and wants to go for the kill.

Well, I have news for you. I do not like her too. I did not even vote for
her. I voted for Raul Roco. But as much as I do not like her, I do not
like you even more. I may not trust her, but guess what; I do not trust
you even more.

You know why? Because all you do is whine and sabotage this country. You
belittle every little progress we make; conveniently forgetting that it
is not just GMA who has been working so hard to achieve them. Every
single day, we keep the faith burning in our hearts that this country
will finally pull itself out of the mess and we work so hard to do that.
Every little progress is the result of our collective effort, we who toil
hard everyday in our jobs. Yet, you persist in one and only thing: making
GMA look bad in the eyes of the world and making sure that this country
continues to suffer to prove your sorry point. In the process, you
continue to destroy what we painstakingly try to build. So please do not
be surprised that I do not share your cause. Do not be surprised that we
have become contemptuous of your antics. You have moved heaven and earth
to destroy her credibility, you have convened all kinds of fora and
hearings and all you have done is test our patience to the core. For all
your effort, you have only succeeded in dragging us further down. I say
enough.

Don't get me wrong. I am not asking that we take immorality lying down, or
that we let the President get away with anything illegal. But you have
tried to prove your accusations all these time and you have not
succeeded, so it is time to let things be. Besides, you are doing
something immoral as well if not utterly unforgivable. The Magdalo
soldiers are consorting with the communists - the same people who have
been trying to kill democracy for years. Cory has been consorting with
Erap and the Marcoses.

So please wake up and take a reality check. In the absence of true and
genuine moral leadership, many of us have decided to cast our lot with
the President, even if we do not like her. A flawed leader is better than
scheming power hungry fools who can not even stand up for their
convictions in the face of an impending arrest.

Your coup attempts and the denials that you have consequently made only
underscore what we think is true: you are spineless and unreliable people
whose only defense is to cry suppression when your ruse do not work. You
are like bullies who taunt and provoke, but cry oppression when taken to
task for your cruelty.

I would have respected you if you took the consequences of your actions
like real heroes: calmly and responsibly instead of kicking and screaming
and making lame excuses. You say you are willing to die for us, that you
do all these things for the country and the Filipino, but you are not
even willing to go to jail for us.

Come on, you really think we believe that you did not want to bring down
the government when that is the one and only thing you have been trying
to do in the last many months?

We love this country and we want peace and progress. Many among us do not
give a f*&k who sits at Malacanang because we will work hard and do our
share to make things work. If you only do your jobs, the ones that we
elected you to do, things would be a lot simpler and easier for every
one.

The events during the weekend only proved one thing. You are more
dangerous and a serious threat to this country than GMA is. We have seen
what you are apable of doing - you are ready to burn this country and
reduce everything to ashes just to prove your point. If there is
something that we need protection from, it is protection from you.