All after hearing promises, seeing blows, and indignation to those suffering in iron bars

All after hearing promises, seeing blows, 

and indignation to those suffering in iron bars

At first, one should have to congratulate the President for his longest message spoken at Batasang Pambansa last Monday.

With his message full of empty handed promises of the past added with new terms and a hodge podge of facts and figures, it seemed to be made to flatter those who had the privilege to enter the session hall, especially the foreigners who wanted to heed the head of state with his "achievement" that again, most of it rather in paper or half-fulfilled thanks to the corrupt who chose to remain elusive in the eyes of the mass.

That somehow made Rigoberto Tiglao said this:

"How can you respect a President who, in a speech that should discuss where we are as a nation, instead brags about his purported accomplishments by barraging us with claims which turn out to be downright false, deceptive, arguable as to its veracity, or puerile boasts?"

Yes, boasting to gain cheer, brag every achievement yet failed to speak; to think that most are quite contradicting to the realities happened, in a way Mr. Tiglao had said:

“(We) are seeing the effects of the honest, transparent, and clear way we have been going about our PPP Projects . . . Apart from the Laguindingan airport, which is already being utilized, we are upgrading and modernizing the Tacloban Airport, the Bicol International Airport, the New Bohol Airport, and the Mactan Airport, all at the same time. The Daang Hari-NLEX link road is the fastest PPP project that has been awarded in any administration, with no shortcuts in the processes.”

The International Monetary Fund assessment of the PPP project, quoted from is Staff Report on its 2012 Article IV consultations:

“The current government initiated a series of PPP projects, but these have been implemented slowly, with contracts for only two projects (road network and classroom construction) awarded so far to the private sector. While the PPP pipeline includes 22 projects across various sectors, the total cost of all projects is still small (less than 2 percent of GDP)."

However, most of the PPP projects had rather, resorted to privatizations such as the Philippine Orthopedic Hospital that had end acquired by Henry Sy. And just like any other former State controlled institutions like then old Private Development Corporation of the Philippines, and Philippine National Bank, some, if not most, are rather end privatized with Public-Private Partnerships as its first phase as means just to "downsize" government expenses in favor of private institutions running so as investing.

That somehow meant for the masses that the state chose to give up obligation, while others applauding for the state will never do babying for the less privileged as what Bianca Gonzales once said against the illegal settlers in the metro. And since these middle class peeps showing off arrogance by making against so-called freebies like Conditional Cash Transfer program (CCT) against the masses, then how come they had to pass on queues just for a free Lebron James ticket days ago? Seems ironic to see those who afford had to pass and register the way poor people did; or perhaps they can afford to pay but why free?

Anyways, this writer is against CCT and instead advocating real programs like Industrialization and Land reform, basic means to curb unemployment and genuine National and Social development contrary to the neoliberal policies prevailed today.

And as the President continues his speech, so were the growing criticism of the people against his regime. Ranging from hurling eggs against policemen to the burning of effigies, the people had to vent their grievances, even nastier like before all after having a President emphasising his bragging rights yet most of his programs are but a continuation of earlier programs such as those of Arroyo's, no wonder how he once opposed CCT before and yet still continued with funds from IMF-WB, as well as other neoliberal policies and others that aggravates conditions under the present rotten social order.

After all, of what is a righteous path if those behind it had to disregard the heed of the people when it comes to their welfare? Welfare does not mean doleouts in a way Obama did with his food stamps and the Aquino administration with its CCTs and other near empty-handed or incomplete promises.

And since Aquino himself wanted a government that is righteous both in word and in deed, how come the so-called "Freedom of Information" act (not the version sponsored by the administration) haven't been passed? Of having speedy justice for the victims of Maguindanao Genocide (or Massacre rather, but better genocide for there are nameless people who had been killed by the warlord Ampatuan clique)left unrealized especially for the family of victims and friends of the fallen? As well as demolitions in illegal communities in the metro with forced settlements in undeveloped areas outside the metro, worse, near danger zones like in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Anyways, like this video shown above lies the stubbornness of the order that is tolerated by trolls and other keyboard warriors whose comments in facebook failed to undermine those who continue. Yes, these people dare to become like Ríos Montt:

"If you are with us, we’ll feed you, if not, we’ll kill you..."

But come to think of this: why there's a need to provoke a violent action such as pushing them with truncheons, staring badly at the protesters, to the point of raising their swagger sticks and make a scene mediamen love to tackle about? So much for exaggerating violence and glorifying blood made people think badly about protest actions as a mere bloodsport rather than a means to invoke grievances and matters a state should seriously think upon to. Protest can't be just silent alone in a way Mahatma Gandhi speaks of action and not just Satyagraha alone contrary to what western media thinks of about him, that one must think that one should still invoke maximum tolerance after being hurled with eggs, taunted for they are dubbed as "bloodthirsty" in a way some of them had their hands itchy for smashing bodies with their swagger sticks and truncheons carried.

That somehow made this person reminds of the movies such as "Baader-Meinhof Komplex" or "Battle in Seattle" where a peaceful protest action end provoked by those who called for order. As for media, of course will ought to say that the protesters started the mess "simply because they're against the government", or perhaps "noisy" in venting unwanted noises pointing against the system and its order; no wonder if one policeman or plainclothes soldier can kill a protester simply because of their actions, in a way what happened at Escalante, Mendiola, Lupao, or Hacienda Luisita years ago.

Personally, in seeing every scene shows how the state chose to act like that for the sake of insisting order. Free speech and assembly are quite permissible, but one has to make sarcastic suggestions such as "there's a park to vent grievances", "why not use facebook" or even "go home, it's a waste of time", and others to undermine the morale of the masses; but, for chrissakes, why having that said activity in the City Hall, Ninoy Aquino parks and wildlife reserve instead of a part of Commonwealth ave. just for a single day? Did these peeps argue during the time everyone had a protest at the bustling Ayala ave years ago? Traffic seemed to be good as contrary to what had been said so to many simply because of a protest action taken at Commonwealth, also to think that despite its peaceful attitude, there may be one, two, or three policemen has to provoke, incite inappropriate action in just pushing protesters back where they came from, contrary to the reports and popular perceptions that says "protesters started the scuffle," also to think how much taxpayer's money did spent for the Concertina wire other than putting roadblocks and borrowing containers from the terminal as they, those who dare to serve and protect, are hardy enough to face the people, with hands itchy for a scuffle by pushing and eventual raising of their weapon and take pride in their captured "subversive" and stay at Camp Karingal for 2 days with "secret" as its alibi according to a policeman?

Anyways, those scenes are a part of a path that is righteous in the eyes of the few, and it is up for the people to acknowledge a sickening truth behind a distorted description. In a way what the grieving cop, no matter he endured the strong voiced statements of Thomas the Dutch, somehow acknowledged an inconvenient truth how authorities made he and his men endure the heat, hungry as well for that day with the promise of bonuses and like.

Otherwise, people who chose to assail those who protest against those who tend to preserve the rotten social order, aggravated by "modern" ideas applicable to themselves, yet cherishing the products of the protest movement, must heed this message:

“If the Revolution is disorder, the Counter-Revolution is the restoration of Order.”

— Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira (1908-1995)

And that includes giving up the benefits of what "democracy" had given, such as the right to complain against the system.

Hate him...yet most of them can't argue

Hate him...yet most of them can't argue

"I was the foreign protester who was actively denouncing to you the violence used against the activists yesterday at the SONA Protest. I was one of the 41 injured activists in the protest. Many of the injured received head wounds and contusions, two of the injured were senior citizens. They were attacked simply because they exercised their constitutional right to assemble and protest."

These are the opening words made by a Dutch who had been known for his action taken last monday, July 22, 2013.

Clad in red, he, along with others, felt shocked as to see policemen gone pushy in their actions that, ironically speaking, done after having a negotiation. So much blood and anger had happened at Commonwealth ave with policemen gone desperate in pushing, then afterwards beating that resulted to 41 wounded.

But in this writeup, rather showed how mr. Thomas Van Beerzum chose to act different from a typical foreigner-especially in joining the protests and speaking strongly to those whose motto is "to serve and protect" the people.

In this picture, showing that he was talking to a Filipino policeman (known eventually as the 'Crying Cop') during that time, had somehow created mixed reactions especially from those who it's quite nonsensical to see keyboard warriors, especially those who seemingly venting their so-called patriotic sentiment, assailing over and over as they could.

At first, it may described directly by many that he's shouting, yes, he may stress something what people ought to described as shouting; but despite all the heckle and narrow mindedness coming from commentators in his page, would first ask this: is giving a strong point just meant shouting? Even this writer's father often told that he wasn't shouting but stressing something what a son should be. Or in a subjective sense: are you were there during that time he was allegedly shouting to that policeman who defied orders?
Well, so much for butthurt comments made by these keyboard warriors yet in fact, that crying cop was also given a hug and praise from the activists who he ought to give a whack! And may as well yet not even thinking that some of the protesters are foreigners such as Latinos and other caucasians like Thomas; so therefore what's the problem in having foreigners sympathizing with the cause of the people in a way these keyboard warriors, obsessed with a coming war against China had to curry favor with the United States and Japan? To think that the latter, so much for their passion in giving "butthurt" comments rather showed hollowness by these same people who wanted foreign investors, tourists, dignitaries, to come and see the wonders yet blocking to see the awful truth such as poverty and near hopelessness that created sympathizers and protesters against the rotten social order.

Otherwise, in looking back at history, they even should know that there were foreigners who even sympathized with the Filipino people before. Remember Ferdinand Blumentritt who assailed Spanish rule? Sun Yat-Sen who provided guns for the insurrectos? Mark Twain with his commentaries in defense of the First Philippine Republic, or even the well-known General MacArthur had even intervened Philippine affairs in regards to defense as the Armed forces' own "field marshal", and Jane Fonda who joined the protests at Manila at the height of her popularity, as well as other nameless foreigners who tend to "defy" in sympathy to those who are against with.
While people, especially keyboard warriors whom spent day and night heckle and illogical, uberpersonalistic reasoning, may not noticed these examples that they are, at least once, twice, thrice cooperated with the people in their struggles, that they even call it "intervening their affairs" yet not noticing they themselves may had once sympathized with A Briton named Michael Aris who was once deported from Burma for being Aung San Suu Kyi's husband! Anyways, history nowadays is a subject distrusted by these people!

After all, no matter how serious in their actions in facing the computer, that's the only way they do: comment, or rather say heckle with all their narrow-mindedness and passion entwined. Not to mention that in his page heckles are sided with death threats and other sorts of nonsense simply because of the picture, or simply because he's a left winger? Then fine! He may indeed a left winger who's been heckled by those whose love of "democracy" (in its purist greek sense) and freedom (similar to Jefferson's rather than Rousseau's) as quite so "Cold war-esque" than ever.

But despite all these heckles, perhaps one, two, or three may understand why Thomas had to give stress to the Policeman with the picture people may ought to call it a shout that made a policeman cry. Yes, the latter did his job-of defying orders of giving whacks against those who just simply wanting to speak on their behalf the real state of the nation.

That somehow made radicals given him a hug and perhaps, a degree of care no matter the differences had. After all, cops are human, they do cry in a way activists do hurt in feeling the whacks from truncheons and swagger sticks on that time.

THE IRONY (or how a news program creatively did this)

"THE IRONY"

(or how a news program creatively did this)

It was a weekago when this writer had noticed something ironic: that both higher and lower classes have to pass queues and filling up forms for a handout: the former, a ticket from an event organizer, and the latter, a cash handed by the government.

It may look strange in seeing this kind of idea how they're enticed to do and wait till night, one after another reminiscing ration and food stamp lines during the war. Quite orderly to see, but on the other hand, as to see these  scenes between these privileged beings, they merely had to fill the papers trying to have a sum of money or a free ticket, both freebies to satisfy their "needs".

"Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program"
(Government officials handing money to the unfortunate)

"Pantawid Para PangLebron Program"
(Where middle class afford to take long queues for a free Lebron James ticket)

But sadly, using Ayn Rand's dictum, both of these "privileged" may deemed as "Moochers" thinking that both the state had to squander taxpayer's money for those who earned less in their work (instead of the latter working harder to earn more), or Nike seemingly afford to appease Lebron James fanatics by having its producer offer free tickets to those who can really afford  (instead of paying enough wages and fair working conditions for its ill-paid workers); yes, so much for ambition both a corrupt state and a private one has to squander as to appease people: the former for the sake of having a program for the underprivileged; while the latter, just to entertain those who really can afford with a well-known Afro-American basketball player visiting Manila.

No offense, for these people who afford to have those "gifts" given, but come to think of this, it seems that as most people, no matter which backgrounds came from, are quite happy for both having the money for the basic needs and the ticket for the show all reminds of Ancient rome, where these programs can be deemed as "Bread and Circuses"; while in America,  whose "Food Stamps" as to appease people alongside a hodge-podge of empty promises and rhetoric. 

Good for them at first as to create a scene of satisfaction and enjoyment, but come to think of this: will there be a time having a populace that no longer values civic virtues and public life? Certainly it is! Especially in a culture of ego-driven apathy with its lords tend to exploit people silently. Both social welfare and sports inculcate family-hood (sorry for the term for this writer may use Ujamaa if that's the case) in the community, but nowadays, it's all but a tendency for exploiters to coerce people, that one has to make something that is appealing to hid an inconvenient truth such as a government neglecting purpose, or an institution that exploits workers evenly for the sake of having higher profits. 

Otherwise, to sum it short: was ABS-CBN seemingly making things ironically such as being stated in this writeup? 

It's up to the people if that's the case, to think that both the ticket for the middle class and the money given to the unfortunate are both freebies Ayn Rand got by the "moochers" who should been "working" to acquire those "needs".

'When the rich think about the poor, they have poor ideas.'

'When the rich think about the poor, they have poor ideas.'

Today marks the start of a new wave of sugar-coated rhetorics spoken by a head of state.

Facing the barong Tagalog and terno-clad constituents, members of the foreign circle and various sectors sympathetic to the regime, the head of state, like ever before has to speak a hodge-podge of statements, justified by facts and figures, data gathered, as well as series of promises people may tend to described much as a joke.

In a way that President Aquino himself, with his spin doctors had to rewrite and add some additional words to an existing idea, quite desperate though to justify, even further with proofs such as facts and figures; and yet most of it are rather consists of empty of half-realized promises just like what happened in 2010 when he promised to end Arroyo's programs especially the controversial CCT program; and yet most had remained still active-especially the once-abhorred program of handouts, and its unwillingness to give Hacienda Luisita land directly to the struggling masses, impose social justice other than human rights to the marginalized sectors of the society.

Obviously, Aquino et al. chose to remain silent in regards into much serious issues to tackle while proceeding with their promises and other "optimistic" matters being vented at the rostrum of Batasang Pambansa. Otherwise, it tends to hid the reality such as an intensified crisis with the sharp decline of the people’s standard and quality of living as a result of its own policies same as Arroyo's and the earlier regimes; also to think about grave scarcity of jobs and the continued efforts of the present regime to export Philippine labor, as well as the absence of quality jobs due to the unindustrialized state of the economy and the prevalence of flexible labor practices which further pull down the value of labor and subject workers to worse forms of exploitation especially those of lower wages and inhumane working practises; there are other realities the present regime may ought to take less time focusing if not entirely disregard it. Otherwise, Aquino himself and his retinue, no matter their class background is (whether it be a Compradore, a landlord, or even a foolish member of the upper-middle class) cares nothing, about its vast subjects, they just simply rule for the sake of ruling the country and preserve the old order they enjoyed and aggravating it further with policies its subjects had to endure.

That includes demolishing houses of those who struggle for their right to live, even assailing them such as "baby-ing" or whatsoever to the point of making them entirely a pariah of the society. Yes, farmers and workers had been a pariah so are the urban poor that most people had to be equating them with the notorious lumpen class of thieves, prostitutes and the like; coerced through various promises, half-realized programs and lots of rhetoric as if these people can be fooled all the time.

Or perhaps, to sum it all, those programs being made and the implementors themselves invoke this kind of quotation as what the late Eva Peron said so:

'When the rich think about the poor, they have poor ideas.'

And just like what the late Eva Peron said in regards to the oligarchs and its social policies, it makes no sense for a system and its rah-rah peeps to underestimate, to the point of merely heckle these deeply affected people; again, they had less idea to show as compared to those whom they assail such as those who will protest in Commonwealth ave. or in various social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, to think that most of these protesters, those who dare to complain and instead seeing nonsensical comments usually face rising costs of commodities and a low purchasing power of Peso. No matter they worked hard, save and take time doing austerity measures, the purchasing power of their peso remained low and seemed insufficient to face the rising costs especially those of oil and other basic needs everyone tends to struggle for.
After all, did these rah-rah peeps and apathetics speak for the workers in increasing their wages? Farmers for their land and the marginalized for their livelihood and welfare? Nope. What they only know is for them to stop making noises and endure the sickening truth of a semicolonial, semifeudal order.

Yes, like any other State of the Nation, the head of state, along with its constituents may take pride in their so-called achievements, of half-realized programs that require borrowing loans, yet despite all their attempts, they're merely served as an icing to cover the sickening truth in a way high rise buildings and various projects made to create a façade of progress in a society vast tracks of land remained owned by the few and builders of high-rise edifices lived in a house of junk. Again, people from the ruling class had poor ideas despite trying to present themselves "caring" towards the poor and of the unjust.

-That somehow benefits those who took interest such as the United States and China with the latter most people assailed much out of cold war nostalgia.

Anyways, it's up to the people whom to heed:
will it be from the head of state or the leaflets and speakers from the protest action?
will it be the promises left in paper or the concertina wire laid at the concrete barriers?
...or the clapping of barong tagalog-clad constituents or  the banging of the truncheons?

Again, it's up to the people, especially those who are greatly affected by a silent but stunning crisis.

***

Anyways, for an off-topic, as the famous Basketball star Lebron James to visit Manila this coming 23, why not Mr. James speak at the rostrum at the Batasang Pambansa instead of Aquino and had his Araneta event this Monday? After all, this writer had seen ironically that while the assailed poor are queuing in lines for a Conditional Cash Transfer, the middle class afford to take the same queue for a free ticket.

Sudden change...possible confusion

Sudden change...possible confusion

It's all but strange for today's administration especially with one of its departments trying to insist change: especially in native terms like "Pilipinas" for "Filipinas."

And if you were to choose, which native term should be used: Pilipinas or Filipinas? Pilipino or Filipino? Pinoy or Finoy?

Well,  that kind of topic this writer ought to write, partially based from an article made by Prof. Danilo Arao,  was made in response to the said order given by the "Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino" (KWF), originally known as Institute of National Language last April 12 whose intention is to "return the use of 'Filipinas' while stopping the use of 'Pilipinas' as the official and modern native name that recognizes its history and progress of its nationhood..."

KWF even encouraged to "change offial names of every institutions and movements carrying the name 'Pilipinas'"; and insisting, abit slow to "change the spelling in every stamp, letterhead, notepad, and any other tool with the name 'Pilipinas' into 'Filipinas'".

However, that said encouragement, or rather say, policy had been dealt before by certain experts on the Filipino language. As according to UP Diksyunaryong Filipino 2010 edition (dictionary from the University of the Philippines) stated that "Filipinas" is the name of our country (p.362), meanwhile "Pilipinas" as its own definition as its Tagalog term for "Filipinas" (p.971). In connection, the citizens of the country be called as "Filipino", also the same term for the national language "according to the 1973 constitution."

However, in the 1987 constitution, from its title "Konstitusyon ng Republika ng Pilipinas" and its preamble "kami, ang makapangyarihang sambayanang Pilipino...." (we, the sovereign Filipino people...) it used tagalized terms "Pilipinas and Pilipino" while in article XIV section 6 declared "Filipino" as its National language.

But at first, as insisted by the institute itself, through its revised Filipino ortoraphy (2013), they simply stated that the alphabet has been modernised and hence read according to English, except the Hispanic-sounding "Ñ", so is "F" as included in the 28-lettered Filipino alphabet that was originally 20 according to Lope K. Santos.

Furthermore, KWF perhaps tends to show history as its evidence to justify Filipinas, rather than Pilipinas in a way Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista used "Acta de la proclamación de independencia del pueblo Filipino", of course, since the declaration used Spanish, therefore they use the term "Filipinas" rather than the indigenous-sounding "Pilipinas" or rather say having Ilustrados contented in speaking, writing Spanish than the language of the majority such as Tagalog.

This may sound desperate for the KWF, especially that with the ortography had been lean closer to the English language rather than accumulate certain dialects into a one, major lingua franca. According to Prof. Arao, that the first edition of UP Diksyonaryong Filipino last 2001, for example, is a good start in showing ordinary citizens the richness of Filipino tongue, especially its words coming from different regions with the possibility of unifying them; one may dare to disagree other terms in the dictionary such as "Tarantado" or any other vulgar term, but it is still a good reference in regards to the language.

Otherwise, why the insistence of KWF to change? There's nothing wrong about "Pilipinas" or "Pilipino"! Like its "F" sounding ones, these are still a part of age-old Hispanic heritage yet indigenized by its inhabitants. Yes, it may sound comfortable for these inhabitants to use "P" instead of "F" or as what Prof. Arao also stated that  the Hispanic-sounding "Filipinas" had paved way for an indigenized "Pilipinas" for the people wanted to have its own identity no matter what it came from its colonial past yet wholly accepted for the present.

Aside from Prof. Arao, Atty. Trixie Cruz even criticized replacing the name itself, as according to her:

"I believe in a national language policy. I believe in an inclusive national language that incorporates sounds and words from all the major languages in the country. I believe that the bellicose reactions to the proposal of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino is limited to Tagalog speakers so used to their own sounds in the national language, that they are slow in accepting the fact that the Philippine alphabet has already changed and had done so years ago. That being said, I disagree with the return to "Filipinas" from "Pilipinas" and not because it sounds awkward, but because it returns us to the name given by the Spanish, "Felipinas" or "Filipinas" after then King Philip or "Felipe". Pilipinas is our indigenized version, a way of making what was a foreign name, one of our own."

Furthermore, there were other books that used much earlier term "Philipinas" aside from "Filipinas" as in "Anales Ecclesiasticos de Philipinas", a history of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines from 1574-1682.

Like Prof. Arao, would say that Atty. Cruz tends to say that Pilipinas is itself an indigenized term, while at the same time keeping  "Filipinas" as part of heritage. It may sound strange that KWF, originally created to create national identity through language, had to revert its indigenized term into its Hispanic original, then may as well replace "Araw" with "Arao", "Santol" with "Santor", and "Laktaw" with "Lactao" for KWF had insisted.

Meanwhile, Eugene Carmelo Cabanilla-Pedro had took the side of KWF in regards to the use of other letters in the Philippine alphabet, as he said:

"The Filipino language is supposed to be an amalgam of all Philippine languages, with Tagalog as its based. As an amalgam, it ought to include elements from other Philippine languages, including sounds, and some languages in the Northern Luzon, such as Ibanag and Itawis have fs and vs and zs; who are we to say then that an f is un-Filipino? The Commission merely recognized the fact that the phonology of Filipino ought not to be based on Tagalog alone."

Well, Tagalog alone? Prof. Zeus Salazar is a Bikolano that can't pronounce "F".
Mang Jun, a farmer from Visayas, would rather say "B" than "V" in the term "Visaya".
And Lean Galvez would say "Indi" than "Hindi" for most Kapampangans can't pronounce "H".
So to think that the term "Pilipinas" is simply "Filipinas," but only with a P; and people may deemed as deliberate and not through natural linguistic evolution, and yet to other communities such as Bikol, it had been natural enough especially in regards to Mang Jun and Prof. Salazar.
Tagalog may had been a foundation, yet it considered as well Waray, Sugbuhanon (Cebuano), Ilocano, Kapangpangan, and others. And Mr. Cabanilla-Pedro may also have not noticed that Tagalog had also sub-dialects such as from Bulacan to CaLaBaRZon area; that one speaks of "Undas" while another speaks "Undras" for All saints day.

Anyways, as this writer had read every debate in Facebook, there are still people who are just and simple nostalgic about Hispanidad while others care about building a modern, yet native identity that requires indigenization of things foreign. That the name "Pilipinas" has acquired general acceptance while reverting back to "Filipinas" rather creates a lot of confusion, as most people, especially the generation that struggled for a modern, native identity have identified ourselves with "Pilipinas" more than the Hispanic, Criollo, Peninsulare-centric "Filipinas" those who care about Hispanidad speaks of.

So again, if you were to choose, which native term should be used: Pilipinas or Filipinas? Pilipino or Filipino? Pinoy or Finoy?

Otherwise, this kind of question isn't limited to ortography, but in building an identity, interpreting colonial pasts, and a collective insight both today and in the future.  

"Too late..."

"Too late..."

(or how this writer made his writeup after reading a post from a LaSallian)

"Bureaucracy with all its attendant ills arises from a system that prizes efficiency more than humanity, money more than compassion and common sense. Social insensitivity is part and parcel of a system that has normalized inequality, promotes fear and distrust of the “other” -- especially the “rabble on the streets” that we would rather flush away."

-CJ Chanco

Sorry for being Ulrike Meinhof-esque in this kind of writeup all after reading Mr. Chanco's post a day ago. Quite lamenting though, especially that the guards and the clinic of De La Salle University had apparently refused to grant him entry nor given aid as much as possible in its very own clinic, yet too late to respond for what they revive is presumed dead.

And fo Mr. Chanco himself, he would say that he, as a student of DLSU with the incident had happened near his school would say that he tends to curry aid from the school he studied, or specifically through the guards, clinicians, authorities to provide aid for the ailing person that end up too late. Even for some "anointing of the sick" from the order who runs the place.

However, as the guards gave way, they ought to do a "Standard Operating Procedure" that includes papers, or even a cellphone to call for his relatives, yet there was nothing in his belt bag as someone had probably snatched it in the quarter of an hour or so that as the driver had lay slumped motionless inside his pedicab before the guards arrived to check on him. The guards somehow "did" everything as according to Mr. Chanco himself, as compared to a couple of cops and an MMDA officer on hand and they did all they could -- as passive observers.

The guards had checked the pulse, perform CPR, yet still nothing happened except trying to revive a dead person, while the rest, especially bystanders may looked at the scene or perhaps disregard it entirely as a minor matter to think of. Apathy still prevailed as vehicles had to stop by street kids, calling for help bring an ailing person to a nearest hospital.

But still, despite having sent to Ospital ng Maynila (a hospital somewhat near DLSU) by a fellow pedicab driver, it was too late. "Even a man without a medical degree can understand the first 10 minutes after a heart attack or a seizure can mean the difference between life and death." as what Mr. Chanco said. Worse, no one except he who dare, care to look at the person who was suffering from heart attack, stroke, or seizure "for a second time" as according to one of the relatives crying.

And that kind of apathy would say makes Saint Jean Baptiste De la Salle (pray for them) having facepalm in dismay to see people, especially those who carried his name in a prestigious school, and the community surrounded, those who supposedly mold in the spirit of Christian faith had to become, even for a moment a "good Samaritan" for that unfortunate person such as a pedicab driver; especially those who did gather around the man’s body, which was rapidly turning cold.

Mr. Chanco did a part, but again, the apathy of the rest and late respondence of the guards failed to do so. You may blame the season for that time urges people to act briskly, but in times like these few people can become a good Samaritan out of themselves, rain or shine so to say.

snapshot of the article at Interaksyon (news page of TV5)

In fact, in reading that said writeup somehow lies the fact that life as unfair, that most people, except for a few, had disregard those who had been a part of a community: that includes someone who did have to pedal in vain for hours on end, ferrying St. Scho, Benilde, DLSU, or even UPM, St. Paul, or PWU students to and from the bars and discos around Taft, rain or shine for a few hundred pesos and sustain families in midst of increasing prices of commodities and services in the metro. All but strange that despite trying to inculcate the value of concern, charity, faith, hope, love, everything Christ-like is all but a mere promise written in a piece of paper, the rest goes to the worldly values people had think thoroughly on.

And in reading variety of comments lie those who took concern to the fallen or criticize simply because the one who wrote had to assail his alma mater. Which is to given value on that incident: the person who cries for help to the extent of criticizing his school or the school who, despite inculcating Christian morals had deny the privilege for an ailing man to revive?

Anyways, to sum it all: blaming him for criticizing an institution, especially a prestigious catholic school in the metro is simply because of an unexpected something such as a dying man is a mockery of reality and unexpected situations. Expelling him because of criticism pointing against his alma mater underestimates academic freedom, and disregarding a near dying man to enter and given care, especially in a catholic school breaches christian morality; these are the ideas this writer had think of after reading his writeup being posted and eventually picked up by ABC-5 (sorry TV5, this writer is just nostalgic). And on the first place, we cannot blame him to ask the security guards first than the police nor given first aid for that event was simply unexpected.

Otherwise, Why blaming him for being hyper, Over-Acting, or any kind of shit to describe the person and the writeup given? What did you do anyway? Apathy guised as busy all the time, working just to buy and consume in midst of the crisis?

To sum it all, this writeup is somewhat same as Ms. Jasmin Ado's poem as it goes:

We were taught—

by our parents,

by our teachers,

by our friars,

by our surroundings,

to treat other people

nice and kind

but how?

I am here stuck—

in an air-conditioned classroom,

a few textbooks teaching me

how not to end up

like those putrid

protesters

in the streets

wasting their time

under the scorching heat that

I never even bothered

to look at

from my school window

as my teachers teach us

how to treat other people

nice and kind.

Thinking that most institutions speaks of morality yet in realty they dissuade people from interfering in the issues of the society in a way one person, especially a student like Mr. Chanco had to confine himself in his LaSallian, in his academics, in being uncritically loyal to his alma mater whose patron saint thinks about social justice and preferential options for the poor.

La Salle with his poor students

Come to think of this: 

Jean Baptiste de la Salle believed that education gave hope and opportunity for people to lead better lives of dignity and freedom; for at that time, most children, particularly the poor had little hope for the future. Moved by the plight of the poor who seemed so "far from salvation" either in this world or the next, he determined to put his own talents and advanced education at the service of the children "often left to themselves and badly brought up".

That in a modern-day pretext, it's not just education but everything a Christian should do. Hence, St. La Salle himself may deemed by others as a "Rebel", a "Liberation theologian", or perhaps "subversive" in a way he invited teachers of lower class background, struggling, lacking leadership, purpose, and training to take their meals in his home, as much to teach them table manners as to inspire and instruct them in their work. This crossing of social boundaries was one that his relatives found difficult to bear, and somehow different from those who treat matters, especially those of philanthropy and the like, merely to impress.

But in the end, people simply accept the truth that life is unfair. but the problem is that they can't create certain changes except "for themselves" keeping as if a secret in their successes such as Henry Sy working hard to create his ShoeMart or GoKongWei with his Universal Robina. The issue of rich versus poor also supports that fact, for Marx himself said that history is consists of class struggles.

One can't be a Marxist to acknowledge this, even Nat Tyler, Thomas Muntzer, or even Jean Baptiste de la Salle had acknowledge that unfair fact to make changes against it!

***

By the way, as this writer had read Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables" propr to reading that writeup: had people experience being Jean Valjean and Marius Montmercy? That they had to endure criticism at all times, being branded or being scolded for their beliefs? Nope.

For they themselves, no matter how they're educated and having titles, privileges and the like yet all but apathetic in terms of social realities, had unexpectedly, or unconsciously becoming self-gratifying lumpens who brag to the world about "muh achievements." like those of Thenardier who brags about saving Napoleon in the middle of the battlefield, having an inn to take care of, yet maltreats Cosette as its servant doing hard jobs like carrying water from the well and washing clothes despite being a child.

That's all this writer had to say today,

Thank you.

Seems that love is all but...

Seems that love is all but...

(Or how a scredriver-wielding addict had to hostaged himself
after failing to kill his lover and his lover's lover)

It was last afternoon when this writer had read a certain writeup about a man who had hostaged himself because his ex-girlfriend was with another.

With his head fried on drugs, rushed in a convenience store, carrying a screwdriver all filled with rage and threat as he tried to kill his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend and even asking her threateningly which. Of the two must die: his ex or his ex's new man.

Luckily, the girl's new partner escaped death although he got a scrap in the forehead made by the screwdriver. Blood was spilled over the floor while people, including those of the threatened two, had  escaped from the store seeing how desperate the screwdriver-brandished man was just because of a wasted relationship.

Or simply because of the drugs he used all the time that made his girlfriend broke up with him.

As this writer watched the news and read reports, it's all but choosing, or even equating love and death, especially with someone who didn't accept the broke-up had to choose which of the two to be killed, or perhaps even both of them thinking that "fate deserves them to die", especially on his ex-girlfriend's birthday according to the reports.

Only to end up threatening the rest by killing himself especially on the time when policemen came, urging him to surrender and "talk", that somehow for a drug-fried person would make him filled with paranoia as he could.
He tried not to heed their calls, nor didn't surrender, but instead he walked past that somehow turned an opportunity for the authorities to barge through the store's doors and eventually captured him. The suspect feigned dead at first and even trying to resist the authorities in pursuit of escape; and somehow pressed charges after such as attempted homicide and grave threat.

to this writer's view, it seems that fate rather casts its eyes on him rather than to the two whom the once-lover ought to kill both. It is even quite stupid that he, in front of the mass and of the authorities had nearly glorified death by threatening himself, that somehow would end as exaggerated as the red-coloured and bold-fonted headlines such as in "people's tonight".
On the other hand, these kind of events are somewhat a by-product of a person having a possessive nature, a reaction that includes playing with death with after-effects such as guilt that tries to forget. The movie "Segunda Mano" somehow carries the idea of a person whom, after being cheated by his lover, had to kill both his lover and his lover's lover, feeling that both had to suffer eternal damnation (using the killer's perspective of course!).

The good thing was that, his ex-girlfriend's lover had a wound in the forehead rather than his life itself, as well as the couple escaped together along with others as the drug-laced person continues to be driven amok by his ego, or rather say his emotions simoly because he couldn't accept he himself being broke up with his girlfriend (according to her's) or with his possessive persona he can't accept seeing her with another man, hence "they should die altogether" because of a love gone wasted.

In fact, this writer, in watching the report itself somehow sought the suspect's psyche such as a possessive one laced with drugs, thinking that he can't accept wholly the fact that his ex-girlfriend had been dumped him for a nice person simply because of his attitude and even the drugs he usually administer to himself. His attempt for suicide (or having himself kidnapped) was somehow one of its effects as his behavior changes both by drugs, depression, and perhaps ego itself thinking that he should kill them both, as well as himself to justify the means such as "going to hell altogether".

Only to end up being arrested and pressed charges as the reports said so.

Anyways, in that case, it seems that love is all but possession with emotion. That if it turns bad it all meant hell one after another, or perhaps even both just because it had gone conscienceless and egotistical in its actions

...such as playing with death.