Only in the Philippines

The news yesterday regarding the violence in Maguindanao ended the day with such overflowing emotions. We are relatively lively and happy in the office yesterday but the ambience turned gloomy with the Maguindanao massacre aired on ANC. The deadly event has also brought up mixed emotions to yours truly. The event has made me worried, and afraid, and angry all at the same time. I also can't help but pity the Philippines. Because, due to this scenario, I can't help but feel hopeless for the Philippine election scenario. If this kind of situation would be a main-stay every election period, then might as well not to have elections. It may be violating the human rights of Filipino people but if for every election period, many people would die because of election shit, then let us just spare these people and sacrifice the voting rights that we have. I know this might be offending to other people but to what extent do we want for election violence to reach? I have observed that for every election period the violence gets graver.

Filipinos are not at all dumb but the country's politics sucks big time. Is it because of the power? Of the fame? Of the money? It has always been political dynasties all over the country. May it be for national or local posts. But does it have to be this way? Mass killing? Even if there are civillians and journalists? These journalists are just interested in the news. They are just doing their jobs. And yet, they end up dead too.

To date, the Maguindanao killings yesterday has again, ranked the Philippines as the first and only. The first and only journalist killing with such a number. Really..


Only in the Philippines indeed.

Philippines, My Philippines

My boss gave me a copy of an article by Ms. Ana Marie Pamintuan of The Philippine Star in her column "Sketches" published last September 28, 2009. The article was titled "Made in China". By the title, I thought it was something about the Made-in-China-everything that scattered on the streets here in the Philippines. When I finally set my eyes on the first word of the article, I realized that it is really about China.

As I read the first three paragraphs of the article, I felt sad. Ok, not because it has some drama in it. In fact, the article was written in a matter-of-fact way. I felt sad because she mentioned that the FedEx hub previously located in Subic, here in the Philippines, was relocated in Guangzhou. That is the same FedEx I saw on TV the day its plane left Subic to serve its purpose for the very last time. As if the sadness invoked was not enough, she then continued by saying that in a market of fruits and vegetables imported by China from numerous neighboring countries, not even a single Philippine mango caught her eye amidst the sea of fruits and vegetables. For the reason that she later found out: Philippine-grown produces are exported in a minimal number.

I was left in awe, thinking that Philippines is an agricultural country. Meaning, fruits and vegetables are of abundance, enough to be exported to other countries. Philippines, regarded as a third world country should have had grabbed the opportunity of catering to the demand of China of agricultural products. The opportunity has presented itself to the Filipinos and yet the Filipinos has remained stagnant. Our farmers has been complaining about the imported products that the government has been allowing to enter the country. They said that these imported, and yet cheaper products are killing the local agriculture sector. Actually, if they are willing, and if the Philippine government would help these farmers, they should be exporting our products to the neighboring countries, such as China. Imagine, the country that has been providing us things that we already have, especially in terms of produces, are also importing from other countries. And why can't it be imported from the Philippines, for a change? I may not an expert here, but I think, if only the government would be firm on imports and exports of the country, many of our poor farmers and fishermen would be pulled out of poverty.

I am not a hypocrite, and I admit that I also patronize imported products. But, kung sasabayan lang natin ang ibang bansa by exporting our own products, knowing that there is demand, then I believe that even we are importing products from other places, our agricultural sector wouldn't be killed.

Just think of the profit that our country would be gaining. Look at the businesses that export christmas decorations. They are not big companies. And yet, they earn well. They do not need to build buildings, hire 100's of people to work on their products and yet they have the ability to export their own products. And from how much capital? They get their raw materials from the country, which is cheaper, paste it here and there in a creative way, and voila! Dollar-earning Christmas decorations bound to richer countries.

If we are going to shun away opportunities like this, there would be no doubt that each and every sector of this country would just eventually die away. The market is there, ever existing. If we still wouldn't give a damn, then Philippines would remain a third world country, generation after generation.

Look at other Asian countries that has been at par with the Philippines before. Look at Vietnam, we used to be better than them and yet, they are now more prosperous than us. Look at China, they are now catering to the needs of the world. From Philippines to the U.S. From shoes, and bags to computers and even manpower. I mean come on, while everyone is suffering from the recession, and even the United States has been declaring bankruptcy of their enormous firms,left and right, China has been thriving. Its almost saying that China beat the big R. In the middle of ailing economies here and there, China gained its ground and emerged succesfully.

I am not praising China just because I'm half Chinese. But I really wish that China would be Philippines' greatest motivation. I do not intend to boast on China's success but I want its story to inspire this country. My country.

Opposition Re-position?

It has always been a battleground. A cockfight. A war. War of words, of infomercials, of singing, of dancing, of monologues, and of celebrities that would circus around just to "market" the product. I mean, the candidate. This country-wide circus is popularly known as the election.

It is already November and the clamour for election advantage has begun. In fact one of the wars has already begun. The war of informercials. At this time, even if you only turn on your television late at night, it is fairly impossible that you won't see any politician waving, looking sad, handling this and that... Oh well, the circus has opened its doors.

Now that the election is just a few months away, the show has now gone funnier. For the past months, the Administration vs. Opposition war has been noisy. It has been a riot. And it has been a debate of never-ending. It is as if the members of each are mortal enemies. Some of their rebuttal has even become personal. The arguments just do not end. The fire between them has grown stronger and has forced them apart. The endless accusations, cases, and the rallies may it be peaceful or deadly. All of this are part of the political arena. It is like both parties are in some kind of grudge towards each other and that grudge won't be cease anymore.

That was before.

Since the election period is approaching, the wind has changed its course. A few weeks ago, I heard a news that one of the administration's greatest critic may be open to the possibility of teaming up with the Administration's bet on the 2010 elections. Although I haven't heard of any confirmations yet, I am still hoping that this will stay only as a rumor. I understand that this maybe because of his ambition but I think he is going too far from his "principle". The principle that he would always fight for before, as an Administration critic. He has always been at the side of the opposition. I even had a chance to listen to his speech when I was still in college. And although the topic is of non-politics, the speech has a part of it that talks about it. Through the course, as far as I can remember, his name is almost equal to opposition. Refusing to side with the Administration. Even if his reason is his ambition, and ambition is bigger than politics, I still believe that principle is way bigger than ambition. Where would your ambition take you if you cannot take a stand? How can you fulfill a very powerful responsibility if you would eventually forsake your principle inspite of the public's trust? I am not a member of the opposition but I admired him before for not being scared to tell the truth and to seek for it. I respect him for his gift of making speeches and statements that of great patriotism. And now, with this news, I feel betrayed. Betrayed that the man who I looked up to before for his principles, is now risking that trust that we gave him. I say we because I know that many people also admired him for his courage to expose the truth. To go against the most powerful person in the country. And he said it was because of his love for this country. I feel betrayed. And if this news finally materializes, then I would just accept that I was betrayed.