Filipinos are basically good and kind people. Theirs is by and large a simple life with simple needs. They do not really demand much as much as they never really had anyway in the course of their relatively short history as a people. Over and above all these, a big majority of them have sound value system, have functional conscience and call upon God according to their respective religious beliefs and spiritual practices. In other words, not only reason but also faith argue that the People of the Philippines deserve a less depressing life and wherefore a more inspired and beneficial living.
Hence, there is reason and logic to ask: Why? Why is it that particularly in the past decade or so, they have become unusually poor and thus usually hungry, frequently exploited and rarely blessed, mostly oppressed and wherefore hardly favored by neither the peace of mind brought about by justice, nor by the consolation of the spirit ushered in by the experience of equity. Instead, the much lamentable reality is that lately, there are no less than three consecutive monumental disasters that hit the land, and that make the people still stand in perplexity and shock.
First is the disaster brought about by Ondoy and company that brought havoc to Luzon. Men, women and children died. Houses were destroyed. Possessions were lost. Streets were flooded. Sickness and death came thereafter. But this is not enough.
Second is the disaster sprung by the Maguindanao massacre in Mindanao. Political warlords brought out their well armed private armies. These in turn, pursuant to their bestial mandate, killed and even desecrated helpless people – politicians, media persons and companions – at will and with glee. But neither this was enough.
Thirdly is the disaster, shame and perfidy of a still incumbent President running after a congressional seat in supposed representation in Luzon. Good name, honor and shame are made irrelevant. Egoism, narcissism and fixation with power are the order of the day. Particularly low rating of trust and distinctly high rating of disapproval of exactly the supposedly head public servant are of no significance and impact.
Three huge human disasters in no less than the regions of Luzon and Mindanao! Meantime, the political circus in the Country merrily goes on. With the fun they now bring, the misery that is sure to follow after the elections – if any. It now appears imperative for people although with different faiths, to storm heaven with supplications for the reign of truth, justice and peace in the Country.
OVCruz, JCD
December 7, 2009
Monday, December 07, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
Doomsday: 10 may 2010
While the end of the world is loudly predicted to take place on 21 December 2012, there were marked indications that doomsday Philippines can be much earlier: National Elections midyear next. No. This is neither mere folly nor pure imagination, much less but an Armageddon inspired prediction. There is quite a good number of ominous signs in the Country that reasonably predict such a deadly catastrophe. In particular, such menacing signs of the times are perceived as exactly the biggest bane in the life of Filipinos, i.e., Philippine politics.
It is not simply dismaying but truly revolting to think that the cornerstone itself of this Country as a republican democracy is categorically anything else but such: The Filipinos are anything but the sovereign People of the Philippines as those precisely oppressing and enslaving them are the political lords in the Country. The Filipinos are certainly not the source of public authority in the land but guns, goons and gold. The Filipinos are definitely not the origin of government but the politicians in command of power and wealth – the political dynasties in particular.
The so called “Maguindanao Massacre” – the slaughter, carnage, butchery – was but one of the so many indiscriminate killings that have taken place before and that will surely happen again after the 2010 National Elections, in different numbers of individuals eliminated and in various degrees of brutality. If many innocent civilians and professional media persons were then massacred – mangled, mutilated, desecrated – the supposedly free and noble exercise of the political right of every Filipino citizen is reasonably foreseen to bring about even more brazenness, deception and debauchery.
Add thereto the projected – questioned, feared, distrusted – automated 2010 national elections. It is certainly the “first” in the already long shameless, disgraceful and violent electoral exercises in the Country. Even certain sensible people in the Commission on Elections in the local as well as in the national levels, say they are worried, they have sleepless nights, they are hoping – just hoping - for the best. And they have all the reasons to so feel and thus worry. The standing truth is that even the most technically sophisticated info-systems used by the most advanced foreign government agencies are still considered “hackable” with the proven truth that what a man can do, another man can undo.
Add further thereto that the ruling administration is precisely fast losing its rule, perceived to be stalked by the significance and implications of losing immunity from suit, thus considered as keeping all options open to continue wielding power “by hook or crook”, believed wherefore to be more and more disposed in declaring the “State of Emergency” – this plus all the above observations can sadly mean anything but to look at 10 May 2010 as “Doomsday Philippines”!
OVCruz, JCD
December 4, 2009
It is not simply dismaying but truly revolting to think that the cornerstone itself of this Country as a republican democracy is categorically anything else but such: The Filipinos are anything but the sovereign People of the Philippines as those precisely oppressing and enslaving them are the political lords in the Country. The Filipinos are certainly not the source of public authority in the land but guns, goons and gold. The Filipinos are definitely not the origin of government but the politicians in command of power and wealth – the political dynasties in particular.
The so called “Maguindanao Massacre” – the slaughter, carnage, butchery – was but one of the so many indiscriminate killings that have taken place before and that will surely happen again after the 2010 National Elections, in different numbers of individuals eliminated and in various degrees of brutality. If many innocent civilians and professional media persons were then massacred – mangled, mutilated, desecrated – the supposedly free and noble exercise of the political right of every Filipino citizen is reasonably foreseen to bring about even more brazenness, deception and debauchery.
Add thereto the projected – questioned, feared, distrusted – automated 2010 national elections. It is certainly the “first” in the already long shameless, disgraceful and violent electoral exercises in the Country. Even certain sensible people in the Commission on Elections in the local as well as in the national levels, say they are worried, they have sleepless nights, they are hoping – just hoping - for the best. And they have all the reasons to so feel and thus worry. The standing truth is that even the most technically sophisticated info-systems used by the most advanced foreign government agencies are still considered “hackable” with the proven truth that what a man can do, another man can undo.
Add further thereto that the ruling administration is precisely fast losing its rule, perceived to be stalked by the significance and implications of losing immunity from suit, thus considered as keeping all options open to continue wielding power “by hook or crook”, believed wherefore to be more and more disposed in declaring the “State of Emergency” – this plus all the above observations can sadly mean anything but to look at 10 May 2010 as “Doomsday Philippines”!
OVCruz, JCD
December 4, 2009
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
“liberation day”
There was a time in a very exasperating period of Philippine History that “Liberation Day” was considered as the summit of an ardent yearning of Filipinos, and pursued as the apex of their strong longings. The “Day” was then expected with excited certainty and gleeful anticipation. Among other things, it then meant the release of the Philippines from the cruel clutches of the Japanese occupation, the extrication of Filipinos from the barbaric treatment by most Japanese soldiers, the freedom of men, women and children of the Country from the many heinous crimes and abhorrent atrocities perpetrated against them by a good number of the members Japanese military forces – then relishing their “Philippine Occupation”.
Thus it was that the Filipinos then fervently prayed and anxiously waited for their “Liberation Day”. Not really all of them however. As expected, there was a sizeable number of them who proved to be Judases of those times. These were the known as the despicable Japanese “collaborators”. Translation: For the feeling of some authority and the receipt of some favors, they betrayed nationalists Filipinos, naming or pointing at them with neither shame nor remorse. But as evil is eventually conquered by the emergence of truth and the observance of justice, these Japanese cooperators were ultimately likewise brought to humiliation and submission when “Liberation Day” came.
In its proper context, the fact of this particular day of liberation had in fact three basic phases: First, its clear signs. Second, its expected start. Third, its fateful fulfillment. Thousands of Filipinos had to die first. Hundreds of Filipinos had to be violated as well. Countless families with their elderly and children had to suffer hunger and want. The quest for justice was not only costly in terms of human rights but also dangerous in terms of human lives. And the desire for freedom was not simply extra-difficult but likewise super hazardous. No wonder therefore that “Liberation Day” was then eagerly sought and intensely awaited by Filipinos.
It is rather interesting that the Filipinos of these times are once again yearning and waiting for their own “Liberation Day”. They pine and crave for the truth behind the odious cheatings and atrocious deceptions propagated by the present regime, for justice in the one too many graft and corrupt practices it became an expert of, for the truth in the forced disappearances of its dissenters, inclusive of the extrajudicial killings of one too many of them, and for the freedom it tries more and more to “constitutionally” suffocate. This is not to mention the massacres that took place here
and there – with the standard non-administration of justice on their perpetrators. And there is also the big poverty and wise misery it ably instituted. It is uncanny that the same regime also has its well benefited and paid collaborators who however have started to both secretly and publicly abandon it. Needless to say, the much awaited and yearned for “ Liberation Day” of the Filipinos of these times: First, already had clear signs shown. Second, likewise has its expected start. Third, will certainty have its fateful fulfillment.
OVCruz, JCD
December 2, 2009
Thus it was that the Filipinos then fervently prayed and anxiously waited for their “Liberation Day”. Not really all of them however. As expected, there was a sizeable number of them who proved to be Judases of those times. These were the known as the despicable Japanese “collaborators”. Translation: For the feeling of some authority and the receipt of some favors, they betrayed nationalists Filipinos, naming or pointing at them with neither shame nor remorse. But as evil is eventually conquered by the emergence of truth and the observance of justice, these Japanese cooperators were ultimately likewise brought to humiliation and submission when “Liberation Day” came.
In its proper context, the fact of this particular day of liberation had in fact three basic phases: First, its clear signs. Second, its expected start. Third, its fateful fulfillment. Thousands of Filipinos had to die first. Hundreds of Filipinos had to be violated as well. Countless families with their elderly and children had to suffer hunger and want. The quest for justice was not only costly in terms of human rights but also dangerous in terms of human lives. And the desire for freedom was not simply extra-difficult but likewise super hazardous. No wonder therefore that “Liberation Day” was then eagerly sought and intensely awaited by Filipinos.
It is rather interesting that the Filipinos of these times are once again yearning and waiting for their own “Liberation Day”. They pine and crave for the truth behind the odious cheatings and atrocious deceptions propagated by the present regime, for justice in the one too many graft and corrupt practices it became an expert of, for the truth in the forced disappearances of its dissenters, inclusive of the extrajudicial killings of one too many of them, and for the freedom it tries more and more to “constitutionally” suffocate. This is not to mention the massacres that took place here
and there – with the standard non-administration of justice on their perpetrators. And there is also the big poverty and wise misery it ably instituted. It is uncanny that the same regime also has its well benefited and paid collaborators who however have started to both secretly and publicly abandon it. Needless to say, the much awaited and yearned for “ Liberation Day” of the Filipinos of these times: First, already had clear signs shown. Second, likewise has its expected start. Third, will certainty have its fateful fulfillment.
OVCruz, JCD
December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
walking the lie
Needless to say, the injunction of “Walking the Talk” in general has something to do with having words converted into deeds, with doing something more than just talking about it – with the simple understanding that words are cheap while deeds are what really count. During these interesting and trying times of political slogans and infomercials plus political rhetoric and political battle cries, the phrase “Walking the talk” acquires particular significance and relevance. The truth is that most politicians do not walk the talk. Hence, the wise advisory: Do watch the politicians and listen to them, enjoy their acts and antics – but do not readily believe what they say, do not expect much from their long and winded talks. Otherwise, you would only wallow in sorrow, regret and disgust.
A spectacular example of not walking the talk comes in the form of the many and loud glowing campaign speeches of the incumbent Chief-in-Command prior to the 2004 National Elections. The same can be said of the one too many and glorious State of the Nation Addresses of exactly the same still ruling supreme national leader. They were instead the case of “Talking the walk” in the sense that the said speeches and addresses can be also said as “winding the wind”. This is to say, in practically countless instances, words and more words flew in so many places and numerous instances – but most of the deeds expected to come thereafter, were pitifully stillborn. Thus came about the unenviable place of the present administration in the “Horror Roll” of cheating and stealing, in consequent public distrust and depreciation, in popular censure and rejection.
With the Maguindanao open display of brutality and public exhibit of inhumanity that merited no less than the official condemnation of several nations and international organizations, the admittedly new phrase of “Walking the lie” now comes to fore – and for good reasons. The saying has its connotation and application in the case of a beneficiary of a lie standing by the side of the liar – or in favoring those from whom favor was received, or in protecting those from whom protection was provided.
There is one signal and critical element in this new saying – a bomb waiting to explode, so to speak. In other words, in the event that the liar is not favored or protected by the party of interest, the same might reveal the lie said about the latter – woe to the one who benefited from the lie said. It is not a secret that Maguindanao lied and favored the actual Malacanang occupant on the occasion of the 2004 national elections. In brief, the lie and the favor were about the counting of practically all votes practically in favor of you know who. This then cannot but in one way or another engage in “Walking the lie”. Is that too hard to understand?!
OVCruz, JCD
November 30, 2009
A spectacular example of not walking the talk comes in the form of the many and loud glowing campaign speeches of the incumbent Chief-in-Command prior to the 2004 National Elections. The same can be said of the one too many and glorious State of the Nation Addresses of exactly the same still ruling supreme national leader. They were instead the case of “Talking the walk” in the sense that the said speeches and addresses can be also said as “winding the wind”. This is to say, in practically countless instances, words and more words flew in so many places and numerous instances – but most of the deeds expected to come thereafter, were pitifully stillborn. Thus came about the unenviable place of the present administration in the “Horror Roll” of cheating and stealing, in consequent public distrust and depreciation, in popular censure and rejection.
With the Maguindanao open display of brutality and public exhibit of inhumanity that merited no less than the official condemnation of several nations and international organizations, the admittedly new phrase of “Walking the lie” now comes to fore – and for good reasons. The saying has its connotation and application in the case of a beneficiary of a lie standing by the side of the liar – or in favoring those from whom favor was received, or in protecting those from whom protection was provided.
There is one signal and critical element in this new saying – a bomb waiting to explode, so to speak. In other words, in the event that the liar is not favored or protected by the party of interest, the same might reveal the lie said about the latter – woe to the one who benefited from the lie said. It is not a secret that Maguindanao lied and favored the actual Malacanang occupant on the occasion of the 2004 national elections. In brief, the lie and the favor were about the counting of practically all votes practically in favor of you know who. This then cannot but in one way or another engage in “Walking the lie”. Is that too hard to understand?!
OVCruz, JCD
November 30, 2009
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