Bahay Kubo - Nipa Hut. Photo from the Filipiana collection of the New York Public Library.Probably and most likely that is an apt description of this blog - "Blog Crusader".
A creature, much like an armchair critic who spew and claims to educate the masses on and in the comfort of a gilded life; who find commenting a filler for other aspects of his life. A "former" Pinoy, who by migrating to greener pastures have unconciously given up on the Philippines; much like a rat in a sinking ship. But a Pinoy nevertheless who still clings to his culture, speaking the same language, eating the same comfort food of his boyhood and who still calls the Philippines "home".
There were actually two major events that prompted this blog of sorts:
First and foremost, reading the social commentary of Katherine Mayo entitled "Isles of Fear" [which can be downloaded for free here]; a socio-political commentary about the Philippines under the American rule.
Much to my surprise, the scenes and stories depicted were so familiar, even today after more than half a century when Mayo et al transverse the islands and interviewed and observed what's happening in the whole archipelago.
While, I must admit that there were improvements in the lives of the common tao [common man], for me it wasn't enough.
Secondly, our collective "messianic hope" that a person of great stature will become the President of the country and will make the necessary changes in the lives of the people.
There were so many in the annals of our short history and independence. Today, the name of Chief Justice Reynato Puno is bandied around as our new saviour from the trapos [traditional politicians; to mean corrupt and self serving] come 2010 elections.
With the historic election of the first African-American President in Mr Barrack Obama, and with major financial problems besetting the US; the hopes of its constituents rest on Mr Obama's shoulders. We seem to find hope as well in this current climate. We want a Filipino Obama to lead us out of this wilderness we called corruption.
While I do not discount the importance of a morally centred leadership, a leader can only lead us to water, but can not make us drink it; to paraphrase the saying: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."
There is so much an excellent leader can do and that is what is hard with democracies - participatory democracy; you need to participate properly and intelligently to make the system work. One must know the platform of the politician you are voting into office, as well as his political party. One must also be conversant with the economics of the country and how your brand of democracy works. One must always be vigilant and all-knowingly of the current events to be able to comment and act and be part of the decision making process that is democracy. To voice out one's concerns to a government - that is the ideal situation.
But we live in a reality that is not at par with what we would hope for. All we can do is to educate ourselves and strive for that ideal - to make a difference not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children.
We can only hope and dream, much like Dr Jose Rizal, Gat Andres Bonifacio, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela et. al. for a brighter future. And more importantly, we must also act to attain those dreams and hopes!
A creature, much like an armchair critic who spew and claims to educate the masses on and in the comfort of a gilded life; who find commenting a filler for other aspects of his life. A "former" Pinoy, who by migrating to greener pastures have unconciously given up on the Philippines; much like a rat in a sinking ship. But a Pinoy nevertheless who still clings to his culture, speaking the same language, eating the same comfort food of his boyhood and who still calls the Philippines "home".
There were actually two major events that prompted this blog of sorts:
First and foremost, reading the social commentary of Katherine Mayo entitled "Isles of Fear" [which can be downloaded for free here]; a socio-political commentary about the Philippines under the American rule.
Much to my surprise, the scenes and stories depicted were so familiar, even today after more than half a century when Mayo et al transverse the islands and interviewed and observed what's happening in the whole archipelago.
While, I must admit that there were improvements in the lives of the common tao [common man], for me it wasn't enough.
Secondly, our collective "messianic hope" that a person of great stature will become the President of the country and will make the necessary changes in the lives of the people.
There were so many in the annals of our short history and independence. Today, the name of Chief Justice Reynato Puno is bandied around as our new saviour from the trapos [traditional politicians; to mean corrupt and self serving] come 2010 elections.
With the historic election of the first African-American President in Mr Barrack Obama, and with major financial problems besetting the US; the hopes of its constituents rest on Mr Obama's shoulders. We seem to find hope as well in this current climate. We want a Filipino Obama to lead us out of this wilderness we called corruption.
While I do not discount the importance of a morally centred leadership, a leader can only lead us to water, but can not make us drink it; to paraphrase the saying: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."
There is so much an excellent leader can do and that is what is hard with democracies - participatory democracy; you need to participate properly and intelligently to make the system work. One must know the platform of the politician you are voting into office, as well as his political party. One must also be conversant with the economics of the country and how your brand of democracy works. One must always be vigilant and all-knowingly of the current events to be able to comment and act and be part of the decision making process that is democracy. To voice out one's concerns to a government - that is the ideal situation.
But we live in a reality that is not at par with what we would hope for. All we can do is to educate ourselves and strive for that ideal - to make a difference not for ourselves but for our children and our children's children.
We can only hope and dream, much like Dr Jose Rizal, Gat Andres Bonifacio, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela et. al. for a brighter future. And more importantly, we must also act to attain those dreams and hopes!
"To live is to be among men, and to be among men is to struggle, a struggle not only with them but with oneself; with their passions, but also with one's own."
Dr Jose Rizal - Letter to his family, Dapitan (c. 1884)
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