Five days of "Cory 101"

I was about to post some nice (and happy)-looking photos in Facebook the morning of Saturday when greeted by the very sad news about President Cory's passing. I admit I still had to let it sink in for a while - Cory is gone. Though the worst had been expected since terrible news began leaking out from her latest hospitalization, one cannot really prepare completely for such a moment. I had to postpone the posting of the photos.

If you are wondering where the profound grief is coming from, then I conclude that either (1) you were not around in the 1980s, (2) you were but were simply a disinterested person (3) you have not been reading your history, or (4) you have been locking yourself up inside your media-less room the last five days, or in times you were out, have been walking with ears plugged and head stooped, your eyes oblivious to the yellowed environs. The last five days saw the most comprehensive (and free) lecture series about President Cory (and the ideals she stood for) and you just missed it.

I remember exactly a week ago when a neighbor approached and asked while we (my family) were wheeling into our garage, what's with the yellow ribbons (tied to your gate and car)? We greeted him with a smile while my wife responded, it's for Cory. We did not seriously put malice on (the innocence of) his query. I just thought then, it won't be long, you will know why.

I myself would want to know more, why.

I am not a super avid fan of Cory Aquino for me to be a good source of discourse that can fully qualify the anguish of her passing and justify the adoration and honor bestowed on her. Well, I know her to be the first sitting president I saw in person. I will never forget the image of her visiting the wake of another equally consummate freedom-fighter Lean Alejandro whom I also adore but who was murdered in 1987. That image conveyed to me a lot about the sincerity of the once "grieving widow" who was now the leader of the country.

That must be the closest window I have had to knowing Cory's persona. The rest I happened to know only as it had been demonstrated in the way she courageously took up the challenge to lead the campaign against Marcos in 1985-86 and in her precarious but unwavering 6-year leadership of a country which was trying to recover from the ravages of dictatorship while continuously being besieged by extremists.

I have to admit too that I was among those who ended their romance with Cory's administration early: The unsolved double-murder of labor leader Ka Lando Olalia and Leonor Alay-ay right in the first year of Cory's reign; the massacre of farmers at Mendiola in January 1987 and its associated issue of the watered-down agrarian reform program; the retention of the American military bases; Lean's murder and the seeming baby treatment of military right-wingers. I was far less liberal; the disillusionment was overwhelming. [But I did advocate a critical YES to the 1987 Constitution; if only to show I was still hoping against hope].

Yet I was among the "early grievers" who began feeling the pain of the prospect of losing a leader whose virtues we sorely miss in these dire times, when news about her ailment came out. Yet I am among those deeply saddened by her eventual demise.

I was sure there were more things about Cory that I only knew of subconsciously which somehow made me mourn affectingly her loss. And I can only thank those who helped me confirm these through their personal testimonies given throughout the last five days - from the day she died; through her wake at La Salle and the Manila Cathedral; until her interment just a few moments ago - and broadcasted via the different media.

Yes, Cory's selflessness, her unwavering faith and purity of heart [Arevalo, 2009]. Virtues that served as the very foundation of her legacy of freedom and democracy to us Filipinos; a legacy now constantly being threatened by the continuing degradation of the very same virtues that founded it.

I can only thank Cory's family, colleagues, friends (and even foes) for sharing to us who really Cory was. The last five days was a much needed refresher, an enlightenment most wanted. I am sure our neighbor knows a lot better now. The people know a lot better now.


Good reads:

"We give her back to You, with grateful but breaking hearts" by Catalino Arevalo, SJ [video version here]

Cory Aquino and our Magical Democracy by Sheila Coronel

The Cory I Know by Paulynn P. Sicam

Presidentita vs the Brat Pack by Malou Mangahas

Who President Cory was to this martial-law baby by Veronica Uy

One Good Person by Conrado de Quiros

Our better selves - EMOTIONAL WEATHER REPORT by Jessica Zafra

Teddy Locsin's Eulogy for President Cory Aquino

The Day They Buried Cory Aquino by Virginia M. Moncrieff

Beyond Aquino's contradictory legacies by Herbert Docena

Celebrate what Cory truly represents by Emmanuel M. Hizon

SONA 2009: PGMA in the zone but missing the point

I give the President's latest SONA a rating of 1 on a scale of 1-10. The piece was poorly written; the delivery more pathetic; its content unwanted.

I know a SONA traditionally follows an expected format. To borrow from UP professor Alex Magno, a SONA is basically a technical report (of accomplishments and broad plans) delivered by the country's chief executive to its board (which is Congress).

No one reports a grim picture to the board. And indeed much like in previous SONAs it went that PGMA delivered her latest filled with graphs of climbing bars and arrows and pictures of smiling faces of people. It was even supplemented by live exhibits well positioned in the gallery, among them the now world-renowned Manny Pacquiao (just about the only thing that lent credibility to the whole oral exhibition even if the Pacman's own accomplishments has got nothing to do with PGMA's administration at all).

PGMA may have succeeded in eliciting rounds of applause from her own bunch of eunuchs and harems. But for the nth time she again missed the whole point of truly reporting to the people upon whom is rested the whole rationale of her presidency (or the government for that matter). Perhaps, she thought she only needed to report to her harem and eunuchs.

The people do not need figures and pictures. They used to but not anymore. They have all the right senses working at ground level to tell them if the country is doing good or not. In a SONA, they now need to see, hear or feel something else beyond the numbers and graphs; something more reassuring.

This afternoon I chose to watch the SONA over doing Farm Town in Facebook; not in order to know how many roadges have been built but to try to peek through the eyes of the person and find out if the sincerity and truthfulness that were once lost among the words "I am sorry" (and "I will not run" before that) have eventually found their way back to her soul in this final stretch of her reign. I failed.

Maybe my eyes were blinded by the weak signal of ANC channel on my cable TV so that the genuineness I was looking for went by unnoticed. Maybe I should indeed blame the said TV Network for showing rushes of former President Cory Aquino's own ultimate SONA in 1991 beforehand; for these raised the standards of sincerity so well for any level of it to be found in PGMA's speech.

The basics of sincerity, truthfulness and all the other associated virtues of credibility, integrity, honesty, transparency, and delicadeza in governance, have been ravaged down to its smallest fabric by this dispensation since it began in 2001. Yet again the latest SONA reported nothing on the status of the nation along these criteria.

After listening to the SONA, perhaps some of you have asked yourselves the same question that I had asked myself: "If everything in our country is doing ok, then what's our problem?"

GMA, period.

But hey, maybe there's hope. With elections in the horizon, the President actually hit the point with a hue of sincerity when she advised her critics to "stop saying bad words in public". It was like saying, "be more discreet and use the phone; just be sure the lines are not tapped... right, Garci?"

CON-ASS_ _ _ ES!

These are the people in the House who voted for the Con-Ass! (source: Alex Rizada)

ABANTE, BIENVENIDO M. "BENNY"
6TH District Pandacan

ABLAN, ROQUE R. JR,
Ilocos Norte, 1st District

AGBAYANI, VICTOR AGUEDO E.
Pangasinan, 2nd District

AGYAO, MANUEL, S
Kalinga Province

ALBANO (III), RODOLFO T.
Isabela, 1st District

ALFELOR, FELIX R. JR.
4th District, Camarines Sur

ALMARIO, THELMA Z.
Davao Oriental, 2nd District

ALVAREZ, ANTONIO C.
Palawan 1st District

ALVAREZ, GENARO RAFAEL M. JR.
Negros Occidental, 6th District

AMANTE, EDELMIRO A.
Agusan Del Norte, 2nd District

AMATONG, ROMMEL C.
Compostela Valley, 2nd District

ANGPING, MARIA ZENAIDA B.
Manila, 3rd District

ANTONINO, RODOLFO W.
Nueva Ecija, 4th District

APOSTOL, TRINIDAD G.
Leyte, 2nd District

AQUINO, JOSE S. (II)
1st District Agusan del Norte

ARAGO, MARIA EVITA R.
3rd district, Laguna

ARBISON, A MUNIR M.
Sulu 2nd District

ARENAS, MA. RACHEL J.
Pangasinan, 3rd District

ARROYO, DIOSDADO M.
Camarines Sur, 1st District

ARROYO, IGNACIO T.
5th district Negros Occidental

ARROYO, JUAN MIGUEL M.
2nd District of Pampanga

BAGATSING, AMADO S.
Manila 5th district

BALINDONG, PANGALIAN M.
Lanao del Sur, 2nd District

BARZAGA, ELPIDIO F. JR.
Cavite, 2nd District

BAUTISTA, FRANKLIN P.
Davao Del Sur, 2nd District

BELMONTE, VICENTE F. JR.
Lanao del Norte, 1st District

BICHARA, AL FRANCIS C.
Albay, 2nd District

BIRON, FERJENEL G.
Iloilo, 4th District

BONDOC, ANNA YORK P.
Pampanga 4th District

BONOAN-DAVID, MA. THERESA B.
Manila, 4th District

BRAVO, NARCISO R. JR.
Masbate, 1st District

BRIONES, NICANOR M.
AGAP Party list

BUHAIN, EILEEN ERMITA
Batangas, 1st District

BULUT, ELIAS C. JR.
Apayao Lone District

CAGAS (IV), MARC DOUGLAS C.
Davao Del Sur, 1st District

CAJAYON, MARY MITZI L.
Caloocan, 2nd District

CAJES, ROBERTO C.
Bohol, 2nd District

CARI, CARMEN L.
Leyte, 5th District

CASTRO, FREDENIL H.
Capiz, 2nd District

CELESTE, ARTHUR F.
Pangasinan, 1st District

CERILLES, ANTONIO H.
Zamboanga Del Sur, 2nd District

CHATTO, EDGARDO M.
Bohol, 1st District

CHONG, GLENN A.
Biliran, Lone District

CHUNG-LAO, SOLOMON R.
Ifugao, Lone District

CLARETE, MARINA C.
Misamis Occidental, 1st District

CODILLA, EUFROCINO M. SR.
Leyte, 4th District

COJUANCO, MARK O.
Pangasinan, 5th District

COQUILA, TEODULO M.
Eastern Samar, Lone District

CRISOLOGO, VINCENT P.
Quezon City, 1st District

CUA, JUNIE E.
Quirino, Lone District

CUENCO, ANTONIO V.
Cebu City, 2nd District

DANGWA, SAMUEL M.
Benguet, Lone District

DATUMANONG, SIMEON A.
Maguindanao, Lone District

Dayanghirang, Nelson L.
Davao Oriental, 1st District

DAZA, NANETTE C.
Quezon City, 4th District

DAZA, PAUL R.
Northern Samar, 1st District

DE GUZMAN, DEL R.
Marikina City, 2nd District

DEFENSOR, ARTHUR D. SR.
Iloilo, 3rd District

DEFENSOR, MATIAS V. JR.
Quezon City, 3rd District

DEL MAR, RAUL V.
Cebu City, 1st District

DIASNES, CARLO OLIVER D. (MD)
Batanes, Lone District

DIMAPORO, ABDULLAH D.
Lanao Del Norte, 2nd District

DOMOGAN, MAURICIO G.
Baguio, Lone District

DUAVIT, MICHAEL JOHN R.
Rizal, 1st District

DUENAS, HENRY M. JR.
Taguig, 2nd District (2nd Councilor District)

DUMARPA, FAYSAH MRP.
Lanao del Sur, 1st District

DUMPIT, THOMAS L. JR.
La Union, 2nd District

DURANO (IV), RAMON H.
5th District, Cebu

ECLEO, GLENDA B.
Dinagat Islands, Lone District

EMANO, YEVGENY VICENTE B.
Misamis Oriental, 2nd District

ENVERGA, WILFRIDO MARK M.
Quezon, 1st District

ESTRELLA, CONRADO M. (III)
Pangasinan, 6th District

ESTRELLA, ROBERT RAYMUND M.
ABONO Party List

FERRER, JEFFREY P.
Negros Occidental, 4th District

GARAY, FLORENCIO C.
Surigao Del Sur, 2nd District

GARCIA, ALBERT S.
Bataan, 2nd District.

GARCIA, PABLO JOHN F.
Cebu, 3rd District

GARCIA, PABLO P.
Cebu, 2nd District

GARCIA, VINCENT J.
Davao City, 2nd District

GARIN, JANETTE L.
Iloilo, 1st District

GATCHALIAN, REXLON T.
Valenzuela City, 1st District

GATLABAYAN, ANGELITO C.
Antipolo City, 2nd District

GO, ARNULFO F.
Sultan Kudarat, 2nd District

GONZALES, AURELIO D. JR.
Pampanga 3rd District

GONZALES, RAUL T. JR.
Ilo ilo City

GULLAS, EDUARDO R.
Cebu, 1st District

GUNIGUNDO, MAGTANGGOL T.
Valenzuela City 2nd District

HOFER, DULCE ANN K.
Zamboanga Sibugay, 2nd District

JAAFAR, NUR G.
Tawi-Tawi, Lone District

JALA, ADAM RELSON L.
Bohol, 3rd District

JALOSJOS, CESAR G.
Zamboanga del Norte, 3rd District

JALOSJOS-CARREON, CECILIA G.
Zamboanga del Norte, 1st District

JIKIRI, YUSOP H.
Sulu, 1st District

KHO, ANTONIO T.
Masbate, 2nd District

LABADLABAD, ROSENDO S.
Zamboanga del Norte, 2nd District

LACSON, JOSE CARLOS V.
Negros Occidental, 3rd District

LAGDAMEO, ANTONIO F. JR.
Davao del Norte, 2nd District

LAPUS, JECI A.
Tarlac, 3rd District

LAZATIN, CARMELO F.
Pampanga, 1st District

LIM, RENO G.
Albay, 3rd District

LOPEZ, JAIME C.
Manila, 2nd District

MADRONA, ELEANORA JESUS F.
Romblon, Lone District

MAGSAYSAY, MARIA MILAGROS H.
Zambales, 1st District

MALAPITAN, OSCAR G.
Caloocan, 1st District

MAMBA, MANUEL N.
Cagayan, 3rd District

MANGUDADATU, DATU PAKUNG S.
Sultan Kudarat,

MARANON, ALFREDO D. III
Negros Occidental, 2nd District

MATUGAS, FRANCISCO T.
Surigao del Norte, 1st District

MENDOZA, MARK LEANDRO L.
Batangas, 4th District

MERCADO, ROGER G.
Southern Leyte, Lone District

MIRAFLORES, FLORENCIO T.
Aklan, Lone District

NAVA, JOAQUIN CARLOS RAHMAN A. (MD)
Guimaras, Lone District

NICOLAS, REYLINA G.
Bulacan, 4th District

NOGRALES, PROSPERO C.
Davao City, 1st District

OLAñO, ARREL R.
Davao Del Norte, 1st District

ONG, EMIL L.
Northern Samar, 2nd District

ORTEGA, VICTOR FRANCISCO C.
La Union, 1st District

PABLO, ERNESTO C.
APEC Party List

PANCHO, PEDRO M.
Bulacan, 2nd District

PANCRUDO, CANDIDO P. JR.
Bukidnon, 1st District

PICHAY, PHILIP A.
Surigao Del Sur, 1st District

PIñOL, BERNARDO F. JR.
North Cotabato, 2nd District

PUNO, ROBERTO V.
Antipolo City, 1st District

RAMIRO, HERMINIA M.
Misamis Occidental, 2nd District

REMULLA, JESUS CRISPIN C.
Cavite, 3rd District

REYES, CARMELITA O.
Marinduque, Lone District

REYES, VICTORIA H.
Batangas, 3rd District

ROBES, ARTURO G.
San Jose Del Monte City, Lone District

Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga, Adelina
Rizal, 2nd District

ROMAN, HERMINIA B.
Bataan, 1st District

ROMARATE, GUILLERMO A. JR.
Surigao del Norte, 2nd District

ROMUALDEZ, FERDINAND MARTIN G.
Leyte, 1st District

ROMUALDO, PEDRO
Camiguin, Lone District

ROMULO, ROMAN T.
Pasig City, Lone District

ROXAS, JOSE ANTONIO F.
Pasay City

SALIMBANGON, BENHUR L.
Cebu, 4th District

SALVACION JR., ANDRES D.
Leyte, 3rd District

SAN LUIS, EDGAR S.
Laguna, 4th District

SANDOVAL, ALVIN S.
Malabon-Navotas, Lone District

SANTIAGO, JOSEPH A.
Catanduanes, Lone District

SANTIAGO, NARCISO D. (III)
ARC Party List

SEACHON-LANETE, RIZALINA L.
3rd district of Masbate

SEARES-LUNA, CECILIA M.
Abra, Lone District

SILVERIO, LORNA C.
Bulacan, 3rd District

SINGSON, ERIC D.
Ilocos Sur, 2nd District

SINGSON, RONALD V.
Ilocos Sur, 1st District

SOLIS, JOSE G.
Sorsogon, 2nd District

SOON-RUIZ, NERISSA CORAZON
Cebu, 6th District

SUAREZ, DANILO E.
Quezon, 3rd District

SUSANO, MARY ANN L.
Quezon City, 2nd District

SY-ALVARADO, MA. VICTORIA R.
Bulacan, 1st District

SYJUCO, JUDY J.
2nd Dsitrict, Iloilo

TALINO-MENDOZA, EMMYLOU J.
North Cotabato, 1st District

TAN, SHAREE ANN T.
Samar, 2nd District

TEODORO, MARCELINO R.
Marikina City, 1st District

TEODORO, MONICA LOUISSE PRIETO
Tarlac, 1st District

TEVES, PRYDE HENRY A.
Negros Oriental, 3rd District

TUPAS, NEIL C. JR.
Iloilo, 5th District

UNGAB, ISIDRO T.
Davao City, 3rd District

UY, EDWIN C.
Isabela, 2nd District

UY, REYNALDO S.
Samar, 1st District

UY, ROLANDO A.
Cagayan De Oro City, Lone District

VALDEZ, EDGAR L.
APEC Party List

VALENCIA, RODOLFO G.
Oriental Mindoro, 1st District

VARGAS, FLORENCIO L.
Cagayan, 2nd District

VILLAFUERTE, LUIS R.
Camarines Sur, 2nd District

VILLAROSA, MA. AMELITA C.
Occidental Mindoro, Lone District

VIOLAGO, JOSEPH GILBERT F.
Nueva Ecija, 2nd District

YAP, JOSE V.
Tarlac, 2nd District

YU, VICTOR J.
Zamboanga Del Sur, 1st District

ZAMORA, MANUEL E.
1st District, Compostela Valley

ZIALCITA, EDUARDO C.
Parañaque, 1st District


Now you know what to do.

Lamenting a Margarito vs. Pacquiao

Yesterday, American "Sugar" Shane Mosley pounded Antonio Margarito of Mexico all through eight rounds (of a scheduled 12) and 43 seconds of boxing and wrested the world (WBA) welterweight title in a stunning upset of "El Tornado de Tijuana".

Again, after Dec 7th of last year, except for the extra (ceremonial) 43 seconds this time, a world boxing championship fight ended in the eighth round.

Again, less than two months after Dec 7th, another boxing crowd went home counting their tears instead of their money. Margarito was the overwhelming favorite of the boxing fans who watched the fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Again, it was speed that did it for the winner; adding credence to the philosophy of some sportspeople who firmly (or are beginning to) believe that the sport of boxing is all about speed.

Our very own Manny Pacquiao almost did the same thing when he mauled into submission world boxing hero Oscar De La Hoya last December.

Manny, in increasing demonstration during his last nine fights, has shown the world that a power punch can turn into an atomic bomb inside the ring if trained and used with speed. Shane Mosley has just said "ditto".

That's why I would have wanted Manny to fight Margarito after DLH. I wanted Manny to formally tuck-in a world welterweight belt -- his fifth weight division title (excl. The Ring Magazine featherweight) -- from the more prestigious World Boxing Association.

Well, I knew then that such a matchup was not going to happen in the immediate because Mosley was already slated to fight the Mexican. But some analyst said it was not going to happen at any time simply because of the difference in size between the two (and this was right after a super-featherweight Pacquiao demolished a lightweight Diaz and a super-welterweight/light-middleweight DLH in quick succession!)

Margarito was ripe for the picking for Manny. The former had just earned his own prestigious place in boxing history after a sensational dethroning of the equally amazing Miguel Angel Cotto of Puerto Rico. He is of the same age as Manny (30) and has fought almost as many professional fights as DLH (44). He is big -- almost the same bodily dimensions as that of Oscar. And yes, he is Mexican -- just like all of Manny's recent trophies. Quick and strong as he is, I saw Margarito as just too slow for Manny. It's just sad that it is Shane Mosley who was able to prove this.

During the post-fight yesterday, ringside commentators pondered on what's next for both Margarito and Mosley. They were one in saying a Margarito-Pacquiao is an interesting fight to see; and even toyed on a long-shot Mosley-Pacquiao.

For me though, both scenarios are now long-shots. There is no more stake for Manny to fight Margarito; and Mosley would be better off fighting next Miguel Cotto in a grudge rematch and then retire (his age was beginning to show in his last fight). Besides, both prospects will not give Manny the money he wants (or needs) in a match. Manny would rather fight IBO champ Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. , and then hang up his gloves for good. The buzz is that Manny will be guaranteed at least $12 million in his fight against The Hitman on May 2. It does not take a boxing pundit to infer a Pacman-Pretty Boy bout next will be double the financial fun.

Manny will breeze by Hatton in May. He is going to get his fifth world title in as many weight divisions (despite IBO being a relatively obscure sanctioning body). He will then give Pretty Boy Mayweather a pretty good fight and, win or loose, will retire as one of the world's greatest fighters in the square ring.

I will continue to lament the fact that Manny chose to embrace a different philosophy in capturing boxing greatness. Manny did not care about "defending his title the longest", "winning unification bouts", or even "gaining multi-division titles". For him, these have become mere incidentals in a quest that is more defined by his vision of becoming a more relevant hero in the eyes (and stomach, if I may say) of his countrymen.

Manny himself has long admitted (since beating Barrera in 2003, I reckon) he is already a "made" man in boxing -- his dreams as a professional boxer already fulfilled. He is on to some grander mission. For Manny, it is not enough that his rags-to-riches story is already an inspiration to many. He wants to be in the Philippine Congress by 2010 because he wants to "serve his kababayans more". He has in fact switched battlegrounds (from the Gensan-South Cotabato 1st District to the lone district of Sarangani) to improve his chances; and, in what seems to be part of a contingency, his lawyer (Atty. Jeng Gacal) is reportedly throwing himself back into the political arena once again and has trained his eyes towards the 1st congressional district.

Manny and his team will certainly need all the cash he can muster now and from his next two fights if he wants to break through the current political dynasties' foothold in his hometown. These dynasties themselves are built on wealth and are made formidable by strong influence and patronage politics.

If he will be successful this time in this quest and things will eventually turn out for the better for Manny's hometown and for this country, I wouldn't mind if a Margarito versus Pacquiao and similar matchups for Manny will never happen in history.

Garbage blues

Just came from a barangay (meaning, village) meeting. The meeting was called by village officials to clarify issues arising from the "sudden" collection of garbage fees (meaning, money that residents have to pay before their garbage get hauled by government dump trucks).

It was not as if the meeting was called to hear opposition to the "new" policy and for the barangay (meaning, the village government) to retract the same. It hardly works that way. I myself went to the meeting primarily to become more familiar with the workings of my new local government, its faces and dynamics. To get immersed in the forensics about garbage was secondary, if it was in my mind at all.

Indeed, during the meeting it was impressed upon the audience that the local ordinance pertaining to the matter of garbage (and garbage fee) collection was already in place 3 years ago. It had undergone the whole consultative process and had gotten the approval of a "general assembly" of barangay residents. Sorry me, I and my household came to this village only in March this year. Even so, had I been here before, I would not have raised a whisper to oppose the policy. It would be nearly futile; I would just be going against a governance mindset that's long been ingrained among most local officials; a mind set that has continually borrowed durability from the prevailing political economy of this country -- no revenue, no service. The concept of "revenue" here goes beyond the more usual community tax, withholding tax, business tax and VAT. That is why we have this thing called "garbage collection fee".

Yes, the government, or to be more precise, the State, will always counter that this one is different; the garbage fee's concept is more borrowed from the concept of paying for the environmental cost of having one's wastes thrown back to earth.

Well, that's why I said arguing against the State is futile most of the time. There will always be excuses, the most brilliant of which is contained in the phrase "it does not work that way".

I once did peacefully confront an official of the purok (meaning, smaller village) where I used to live, when she came to my front door to remind me of my household's overdue garbage fee; I offered her a proposal. You see, days before, I did some calculations of the total taxes that I and my family pay the State each year by way of income and community taxes, goods and services purchased, etcetera; and came up with a general figure that can pay for some of the things that our purok badly needed for happy living. So I proposed to pay for the monthly salaries of two (2) security guards or to donate multi-colored (for the needed segregation) large garbage bins (with repair and replacement warranty to boot) to each household in our purok. In turn, the State (also popularly known as government) exempts me from all taxes.

I just thought it was a fairly great thing to have my community directly benefit from the taxes that I pay instead of "uploading" the latter and wait for the services to trickle down. If ever they trickle down. Well, sometimes in some places they do trickle down in the form of overpriced fertilizers.

Who would have disagreed with my proposal? Not my neighbors I was sure. But our purok official was an exception. She politely declined my proposal. "It just doesn't work that way," she said.

Fine.

Thank you, America

My earliest recall of having seen a black American president was when I watched the movie Deep Impact (1998) the first time. In fact the curiosity of seeing actor Morgan Freeman play the role of an American president was among which compelled me to watch the movie; a friend told me it was an interesting sight to behold. In the movie, Mr. Freeman was at his usual best lending the much needed dignity and humanity to a character faced with the dilemma of saving and, at the same time, sacrificing millions of American lives, in the face of the inevitable collision of earth and comet. Watching the movie back then it didn't take much knowledge of American history to discern that the character of President Tom Beck was far more fantastic (as in, far-fetched) than the movie's plot itself.

Fast forward to ten years. November 5, 2008, about noon (Philippine time). America has just chosen its first African-American president. It is hard not to get teary-eyed seeing for the first time a black American First Family walk on stage (this kind of scene doesn't come around so often); and when Senator Barack Obama finally uttered his first words as President-elect of the United States of America, I don't know about you, but I had to ask this question in thankful silence: America, what have you done?

Political pundits from around the globe have offered their own pieces of thought to dignify the above question; and it may well take another ten, twenty, or a hundred years before the rest of humankind is able to ascertain what indeed have the Americans done on that fateful day of November 4th, 2008. That's how it is. It is only history (or, in the more spiritual sense, the Maker) that can tell; and history does not happen overnight.

While waiting, I may just have to get back to my own reality as a Filipino in this small corner of the world and continue with my own little struggle -- eking out a living while doing my best to make this country of mine a better place to live.

Meanwhile, thank you, America.

More afraid for Obama

I have just watched the last of the US Presidential election debates. It was halfway through when I caught it on CNN. Among the first things that interested me during the debate telecast was that while the two American presidentiables exchanged fiery notes on the most pressing election issues, breaking news were being flashed on screen about markets all over the world tumbling one after the other. The bulletins were reporting mostly Asian markets including the Philippines, as these parts of the world were going through their first hours of trading while the presidential debate was going on. The tumbling of markets would later follow daylight as it moves around the globe.

No, the negative trading was not caused by the presidential debate; but by a larger paranoia about worldwide recession. Why the paranoia? Beats me.

But I can tell you my own paranoia after watching the final Obama-McCain head-to-head tussle. I have become more afraid for Senator Barack Obama. Yes, for Obama, not of. The Democratic candidate won the debate, again. And by the looks of it -- polls, both US and global, would indicate -- he is poised, now better than ever, to become the next president of the most powerful nation in the known universe.

Now, if you are a Republican, an ultra-Republican at that, say a member of NRA (yes, the National Rifle Association, descendants of the Ku Klux Klan who burned colored people at the stakes), or an ultra-rightist super-Conservative who, throughout the election campaign, has thrown every nasty thing into the campaign arena and has branded Obama a communist and a terrorist; what would you do? Dig deeper into your campaign kitty (read: kaban ng bayan), say "Hello, Garci" and buy 1 million votes?

Have I been watching too many Hollywood movies? Call me paranoid. I am.

BJE: Bangsamoro Jambo-Jumbo Encore

Tam bo li de say de moi ya
Hey Jambo Jumbo
Way to parti o we're goin'
O, Jambali
Tam bo li de say de moi ya
Yeah, Jambo Jumbo!
[All Night Long, Lionel Richie]

We were going to party all night long, or so we thought. Or did i really hope i was going to party? No, not really.

During my recent stop at General Santos City, I randomly picked two kababayans and asked them of their (brief) thoughts about the BJE or Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity (and the buzz that surrounds it). I got two contrasting responses which i honestly kind of expected: one expressed optimism about the BJE as a small but significant step towards real autonomy for the Muslims in Mindanao; while the other easily lambasted its basic premises and denounced the outcome of the GRP-MILF talks as a sellout. One was a Muslim whom I last met 8 years ago; the other a non-Muslim (not sure if he was Christian) who works at a Gensan-based regional government office.

It would matter very little who of the two said what. What is clear is that this recent brouhaha about the BJE, ancestral domain, etc. has again demonstrated the division among Filipinos especially Mindanaoans on questions that relate to peace in Mindanao and the Moro (Filipino Muslim) struggle for self-determination in this part of the country.

It is understandable when wounds have been inflicted deep into the marrow and spirit. These wounds do not heal, not in the next century. And as if the religious and cultural differences (of the peoples in this part of the world) are not enough, add to these the insensitivity and paranoia that are expressed to one another either brought about by sheer ignorance of history or borne out of the itch to display misplaced bravado (i.e. kinsay isog?!)

It does not help when some ambiguously ludicrous "MOA on ancestral domain" suddenly pops out of the talks between government and the armed Moros; and government letting the scoop-hungry media do the briefing for the public.

It does not help when national politicians (some have been to Mindanao only during the election campaigns) suddenly carp about national integrity being undermined as if there is integrity at all in this part of the country in its current state. The ARMM region continues to be among the country's poorest, and is where democracy gets its biggest insults during elections.

It does not help when local warlords suddenly cry foul about a development they themselves admit they do not completely understand; and irresponsibly rally people around a war-mongering cause.

It does not help when one talks peace and holds a gun. Need we remind our self-proclaimed peacemakers (again for the second twice!) about the validity of such oft-repeated dichotomy? Like now that seemingly the MOA on the BJE and Ancestral Domain is on its way into the trashcan, expect the same rampage by the warring sectors like what happened in 2001 and in many other times before that.

It's back to square one for the poor Mindanaoan.