Yes Virginia

All my life I haven't encountered an 80-year old woman throwing, to say the least, bedroom jokes as straightforward and as exciting as she does. All of us visitors burst into laughter when she narrated anecdotes on her private moments with her late husband. She talks like a magpie. So candid and unstoppable. I am certain she loves to talk and share so-called green jokes. Mind you, my subject is Mrs. Virginia Malolos, owner of La Virginia Leisure Park and Amusement Resort located in Mataas na Kahoy, a municipality comprising Batangas province, is a millionaire. We, employees along with appointed and elected officials of LGU-Sablayan had a training on Capability Building and Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) formulation facilitated by people from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) headed by Juanito Olave, Jr., Cluster Director for Occidental Mindoro.

On the second day of our training, Lola Virginia suddenly barged in into the group and started her "mara-talk". The jolly old woman was being assisted by two caregivers and she’s just wearing a simple floral designed duster. We can see that her muscles and flesh is slowly disappearing due to her age. She told her guests about her being swindled by some trusted people for more than 10 million pesos. She narrated how he met an accident just few days before we came that’s why she always carry a wooden cane. The old but business minded granny slipped on a slippery stairs inside a Mc. Donald branch in Manila where she’s a franchise holder and broke her pelvic bone. She was married to a retired soldier and they lived in the US for more than 40 years and then came back to the Philippines when he died. They have four children who are all grown-ups now. Lola Virginia, as I see it, cannot hide that she enjoyed their marriage figuratively, up to the last drop! She even told us that when she was a young wife, together with her soldier boy often watch, during their early marriage life, adult movies. Actually, she mentioned about the movie called "Fighting Fish" which I am not familiar of. But beyond her nasty jokes she’s a very religious woman. She further told us that during the most turbulent moment of her life, she just clung to the Almighty. “There is God. Just find the Lord or let the Lord find you,” she reminded us as if she was our mother.

She's also into palm reading according to her so two of the most prominent participants volunteered and allowed the old woman to individually read their palms. Her "findings" downed us all into laughter. But I won't give details here. What she said are too nasty to publish and I, too, would not name the two gentlemen who volunteered before her. Naming them and telling you what she told about them would be scandalous. But certainly, with a host like her, life becomes lighter. She provided a temporary relief to our brain-twisting activities that day including our hurdles with highly technical words such as “Level of Urgency”, “Risk Register”, and so forth and so on. Words that we used until we, headed by Mayor Ed Gadiano and Vice Mayor Andy Dangeros, finalized our Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) for 2014-2016.

The Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) was conceived to serve as a “powerful vehicle for effective local governance”. It may be defined as a planning document, covering a 3-year period corresponding to the term of local elective officials that is mutually developed and agreed upon by both the executive and legislative departments of an LGU. It is an integrated plan that contains the major development thrusts and priorities of both the executive and legislative branches towards a common vision for the locality. ELA is an instrument that will prioritize responses to multi-stakeholder needs, e.g., programs,

projects, activities, legislation and capacity development programs, and put into action local development plan.

"Life is short so make it sweet," Lola Virginia told us and I believe her. I don't know what I would gain from mentioning this but the place is really refreshing and recharging. It is located in the Batangas side ridge around the Taal Lake. It offers breath-taking view, too, of Taal Volcano Islands. You can peep into the place through this link. For sure, I will be going back to this place and enjoy private moments with my only "sweet" on our next wedding anniversary if our pockets allow it. The bottom line of Mrs. Malolos’ jokes is this: Active sexual life is one of the major ingredients of lasting, fruitful, happy and yes, even sanctifying relationship and union between two married individuals.

Yes Virginia, even telling adult stories using the most vulgar words brings re-learning...

-------

(Photo: Grabbed without permission from Ma'am Fe Santos' Facebook account)

Quit Quoting Quezon’s Quote

The avid supporters and propagandists of two mayoralty candidates in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro last May still couldn’t find time to move on even over a week have passed when Mayor Romulo “Muloy” Festin and Vice Mayor Rey Ladaga, including other elected and re-elected officials of said municipality have sworn in into office, although held in two separate ceremonies. Festin and Ladaga came from two opposing political yards. Mayor Muloy’s oath was administered by Judge Cornelio Sy of the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) last June 26. On the other hand, I’m not privy to Ladaga’s oath taking. But it did happen I am sure as prescribed by law.

In the past few days, the most used and abused quotation, which is actually the title of President Manuel L. Quezon’s speech delivered for the Collectivists Party Convention at Manila Grand Opera House on February 17, 1922, was this: “My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins.” But to some quarters, the message is never a two-way street. 

A book titled “20 Speeches That Moved a Nation” edited by Manuel “Manolo” L. Quezon III and published by Anvil Publication last 2002 was “turned over” to me for free by a bosom buddy by the name of Jose A. Norella, Jr. who ran but lost for mayoralty race in Magsaysay town but that’s another story. In the introductory part of the book, journalist Manolo Quezon wrote, “Read. Learn. Journey to the past, so that you may be better armed to play a constructive role in the present and our future.” But it was only after May 13 that I was able to find time to read that gem of a book.

Unknown perhaps to the people who uttered these words in caucuses and radio broadcasts recently, the speech analyzed directly how power may be gained and how far it may be wielded or utilized. This is what Manolo Quezon told his readers on his grandfather’s oratorical opus. Not only that, the grand old man Quezon, the controversial former provincial fiscal of Mindoro in the 1900s and later became the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, had exposed the use of manipulative public opinion by some political quarters. This reminds me of the two warring media groups and personalities in this part of Tamarawlandia. Only few of them have realized that their personal opinion and the things or hearsays only relayed to them through text or private messages are not undisputed facts. I have written a voluminous entry about this concern since I started this blog but to no avail. I am so frustrated.

Another speech, actually a prayer, quoted in the book I think relevant in the context of the political situation of San Jose today was rendered by a priest. A clergy named Fr. Pacifico Ortiz, SJ who happened to be the personal chaplain of President Quezon during World War II was later became delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. Ortiz’ prayer for the nation was delivered in the form of an invocation at the opening of the Philippine Congress in 1971. Not unlike those times, we too today are at the point of no return, to quote Ortiz, “[It] is a point of no return: it is a moment of truth that can either remake us as a people or unmake us into mob.” Ortiz concluded by reciting, “Grant us, O God, that we may have the courage of wisdom to forget the past with all its partisan bickering and recriminations – knowing as we do that each of us, if not by design or malice, certainly by apathy, cowardice or gain, has been responsible for the ugly things of the past.” We are all responsible why these things are happening around us either by adding insults to injured egos of our sisters and brothers or by adding logs to the fire inside each one of us, both citizens and netizens.

In that same speech Quezon vigorously declared something similar to our aspiration as people of Pandurucan, referring to both his political rivals and party mates he said, “There is no reason in the world why we cannot consider ourselves as brothers.” This grain of truth given 72 years ago must remind our present politicians and their supporters, government employees and members of the media, political personalities, those posting and commenting in social networking sites, how should we understand and look into political parties or groups the moment election is over: “It is not the unity of the party that should be sought. It should rather be the unity of the people. Partisan struggles should never be involve bad feelings and personal hatred. We can and we should remain as we have been, brothers that we are.”  Owning deaf ears to such call after elections or beyond is a dishonor to the heroism, memory and political philosophy of Manuel L. Quezon!  

Mature people do not ever toy with the idea that unity or cooperation is to succumb to other group’s opinion and principle. That’s not a call for unity neither cooperation. That’s an assertion for surrender!

If we are to convey partisan political opinions without being open to friendship and solidarity as citizens and netizens even among those we consider as political antagonists, we are just giving lip service to Manuel L. Quezon’s legacy and ideals. He who was one of the pioneers in statesmanship long ago emphasized with full hope in his famous speech this unfamiliar but detailed nugget: “What a beautiful spectacle for the country to behold political fights limited to discussion of principles and eliminating personalities! What a magnificent spectacle for the people to see political opponents eating on the same banquet tables, united by the same links of affection and friendship!”  You people must make this elusive unity and cooperation happen if not today maybe the day after tomorrow.

Being both legitimate sons of San Jose, Festin and Ladaga, two men that I both respect, could initiate further development and momentarily forget their political affiliations and let their loyalty to the people begin. Judging them both at this early stage is unhealthy. Let us allow them to lead us to progress and not to put a wall made up of senseless intrigues between them, at least until the next election. Or until if the protests of the “un-proclaimed” candidates from the municipal level are legally settled before 2016 and if ever the verdict would swing to their favor. If Festin and Ladaga including their colleagues just fight objectively in a friendly manner in the spirit of the principles of check-and-balance and participatory governance, we will be able to move even farther. That’s how the non-aligned silent majority perceive all of these.

If that brand of unity and cooperation is not part of your honest agenda and aspiration for San Jose, for God’s sake, quit quoting that quote of Quezon, ever…

--------
(Photo: Flickr.com)

Lihis o Tuhog?

Sa ika-7 ng Setyembre raw ngayong taon ipapalabas na sa mga sinehan ng SM dito sa Pilipinas ang indie film na pinamagatang “Lihis” na tumatalakay sa dalawang lalaking kasapi ng New People’s Army (NPA) na umibig sa isa’t-isa. Hindi ko alam pero kung sa Rusya ay may pelikulang ganitong tema ng homosekswalidad kahit ito’y umiinog sa komunistang rebolusyon, baka hindi ito maipapalabas. Oo, ang “Lihis” daw ay tungkol sa pag-iibigan ng dalawang lalaking nakikipaglaban sa kalayaan hindi lamang sa rehimeng Marcos kundi sa kanilang sinisikil na pagmamahalan.

Pinagbibidahan ito nina Jake Cuenca at Joem Bascon na ayon sa trailer na napanood ko kahapon sa Facebook, may love scene pa ang dalawa. Isasabak ang pelikula sa Sineng Pambansa All Masters Series FilmFestival ng Film Development Council of the Philippines o FDCP na idinirehe ng premyadong direktor na si Joel Lamangan at  isinulat naman ng premyado ring si Ricky Lee. Ayon sa balita, nauna pang naisulat ito ni Lee kaysa sa Hollywood film na may ganito ring tema, ang “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) ng isa sa mga Asyanong direktor na kinilala sa Estados Unidos na si  Ang Lee. Para sa kabatiran ng mga kinikilig sa mga lalaking guwapo at matitipuno, mayroon pang love scene dito (sa ilog ‘ata yun) sina Jake at Joem. Bida rin sa “Lihis” sina Lovi Poe at Isabelle Daza at ang nanay niyang si Gloria Diaz. Si Isabelle Daza nga pala ay masugid na taga-sulong ng gender equality ayon sa link  na ito. Kung ako ay makaluluwas, papanoorin ko ito sa wide screen dahil nakaririnig na rin ako ng ganitong kuwento na naganap sa loob ng rebolusyunaryong kilusan noong 1980s na taboo pang pag-usapan sa hanay ng mga aktibista noon.

Bilang masugid na tagasubaybay ng pandaigdigang kaganapan sa pulitika ay tinatanong ko ang sarili: "Kung gawa sa Rusya ang ganitong tema ng pelikula, ipalabas kaya ito sa mga sinehan?" Kamakilan lamang kasi ay nilagdaan ni Pangulong Vladimir Putin ang Anti Gay Law sa kanyang bansa. Ayon kay Putin, ang layunin ng batas ay, “to promote traditional Russian values over western liberalism and tolerance.” Matatandaan na noong 1995, sa Campostela Valley, ay naganap ang kauna-unahang “kasal” ng dalawang lalaking miyembro ng NPA na may basbas ng Communist Party of the Philippines o CPP. Simula noon, pinahihintulutan na sa kanilang kilusan ang same sex marriage. Samakatuwid, maging sa paksang homosekswalidad, hindi magkapareho ang stand dito ng mga pangkatin at partidong  komunista sa buong mundo. May tunggalian sa pagitan nila sa usapin ng gender  at sexuality kagaya rin ng pag-iiba-iba ng kani-kanilang interpretasyon at pagsasa-praktika sa mga kaisipang Marxismo, Leninismo at Maoismo kaya sila-sila mismo ay nagtutuligsaan.

Muli ay tumutok tayo sa usapin ng sekswalidad. Tingnan na lang natin ang bansang Nepal na ipinapalagay na pinaka-abanteng kilusang Maoista sa mundo, tahasan din nitong inaatake ang homoseksuwalidad na umano’y produkto ng kapitalismo. Sinabi noon ni Dev Gurung, isang Nepalese communist leader ng buong diin: "Under Soviet rule and when China was still very much a communist state, there were no homosexuals in the Soviet Union or China. Now [that] they are moving towards capitalism, homosexuals may have arisen there as well. So homosexuality is a product of capitalism. Under socialism this kind of problem does not exist." Maliwanag na sagarang homophobic ang statement  na ito. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi lang ang mga anila’y reaksyunaryo at liberal na burgesya kundi kahit ang mga komunista ay may mahabang kasaysayan ng homophobia. At ito ay namamayani pa rin sa buong daigdig ngayon regardless of ideological lines, wika nga. Si Norman Markowitz ay may malawak na isinulat tungkol sa komunismo at homoseksuwalidad na mababasa natin dito. Bahala na kayo kung paniniwalaan ninyo itong aking tukayo sa kanyang kritisismo sa naging aksyong ito ng Rusya at Nepal.

Dito sa atin, sa mga institusyong “macho” halimbawa tulad ng sa militar at pulis, at kahit na ang  mga grupong muslim ay hindi tanggap ang homosexuality bilang pang-organisasyong o panrelihiyong polisiya at doktrina. Hindi ka tatanggapin sa Philippine Military Academy (PMA) kapag ikaw at isang ladlad na bakla. Kaya marahil tumabo sa takilya ang “Praybeyt Benjamin” ni Vice Ganda dahil sa pagbasag nito sa ganitong mga kaisipan at polisiya sa pamamaraan ng katatawanan sa puting telon. Maging sa mga seminaryo ay bawal din ang mga ladlad kaya ang resulta, may mga sundalo at pari na mga “paminta” o mga closet queen, sabi nga nila. Mga nilalang na may sinisikil na karapatan at damdamin sa sumusulong na kasaysayan ng lipunan. Pero batay sa napanood kong trailer  ng “Lihis”, isa lang ang napansin ko. Ang isang bakla ay maari ring maging tunay na lalake sa kilos, sa prinsipyo at hindi lamang nagtitilamsikan ang daliri at umiindayog ang balakang. Gayundin naman, ang mga amasona sa tunay na buhay ay kabaliktaran ng napapanood natin sa mga sine na parating mukhang tomboy, malalaki ang masel, brusko magsalita at iba pa. Hindi ba pwedeng maging amasona ang mga magaganda at mayuyumi? Kung kilala ninyo si Nelia Sancho at si Maita Gomez ay tiyak na sasabihin ninyong pwede. Stereotyping ba ang tawag doon?

Sa aking palagay ay medyo bukas na naman ang isipan ng mga Pinoy sa pagiging tomboy o bakla ng isang tao. Sabi nga ni Daniel Padilla sa interbyu ng TV Patrol sa kanya noong isang gabi, “Wala akong problema sa mga bading. Huwag lang nila akong momolestiyahin.” In general, walang gaanong kyiber sa same sex union ang mga Pinoy. Pero ironically, wala rin tayong tiyaga na pag-usapan ang karapatan ng mga lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) at humahaba pang listahan!

Sana lang ang matanim sa isip ng mga manonood ay hindi lamang tema ng homosekswalidad kundi ang kahalagahan ng pakikipaglaban para sa panlipunan at pandamdaming pagpapalaya. Tiyak ko na ang pelikulang ito ay mag-iiwan ng marka sa ating isipan sa ating gagawing pagsusuri sa mga usaping kaugnay nito sa ating lipunan sa hinaharap, kaya atin na itong panoorin.

Tingnan natin kung tuhog o lihis ito sa ating panlasa bilang mga tao, mga manonood at mamamayan…

-------

(Photo : Interaksyon.com)

Oath Takings

It was June 27, 1992 when I married a former classmate and just yesterday, June 27, 2013, my principal, Mayor Eduardo B. Gadiano took his oath for his second term of office as mayor of the biggest municipality, as far land area, in the country and the only first class municipality in Occidental Mindoro. Because of the oath taking ceremonies, I spent my 21^st wedding anniversary not with my wife but with my co-employees at LGU-Sablayan, the five newly-elected and re-elected members of the legislative board who have also sworn-in to office, namely Celso Salgado, Obet Dawates, Lhuz Ani, Manny Tadeo and Philip Urieta, their relatives, friends and visitors from all over, who witnessed the affair including barangay officials. While enjoying the socialization and solidarity part of the occasion where food, song and spirit were served at the Sikatuna Hotel Function Room in San Jose, my wife was minding her thesis back home. It’s about child-rearing and academic performance of her pupils, by the way.

Technically speaking, vows and oaths are not the same. A vow is usually used to describe a mutual promise to your wife (and husband) like in my case. An oath, specifically oath of office is usually more of something we swear to do for a group of people. Both events for me do not have much difference and the formal definition is pretty much the same.

Three pastors and a priest led the opening ecumenical prayer yesterday. Oath taking usually ends with the words “So help me, God”. Indeed, an oath usually signifies our hope and admittance that we can do nothing without the intercession of the Almighty. Not unlike a marriage vow. An oath of office is a prayer, a promise and a covenant, both to the Lord and to the laws of the land and the Constitution. We make our public officials take an oath because of the substantial consequences of their tasks and duties ahead. During oath takings, society makes the person on the stand call God as their witness that they will tell the truth. The administering officer is just a conduit to the oath. Oaths give us, witnesses and the general public, important assurance or hope and reliance to God.

Ms. Memviluz Baurile of DILG-Occidental Mindoro rendered her speech that no doubt fully graced the oath taking. She is the head of a DILG’s provincial cluster of towns which includes Sablayan. The oath taking ceremonies conjoin with the Comprehensive Development Planning Workshop initiated by our Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) which was attended by Vice-Mayor Andy Dangeros, Councilors Nancy Landicho, Ruben Dangupon, Conchita Dimaculangan, Obet Lim and Glenda Aguilar. Municipal Administrator Alfredo R. Ventura led the recitation of Pledge of Commitment of public servants and likewise shared some inspirational insights to us employees during the inaugural ceremonies.

Yesterday was Mayor Ed Gadiano’s second oath of office as local chief executive. In his Inaugural Speech he thanked his partners in the local government for making our town on top of the map in various socio-political dimensions. He, too, enumerated what we have accomplished in past three years, honors and awards that can be summed up by winning the Regional Gawad Pamana ng Lahi for the municipal category given by DILG Mimaropa, and the readiness to the challenges ahead. He openly declared that under his watch he will strive to make Sablayan the economic and political center of Occidental Mindoro. I need not to enumerate the achievements garnered by Sablayan in just three years under the leadership of those in the executive and legislative branches of the local government unit. But one thing I am certain, in his previous term, Mayor Ed did not lie under oath!

So, needless to say, I came home late last night and greeted my wife a happy anniversary and gave her a comforting shoulder massage while narrating what happened in the short but meaningful ceremony capturing its solemnity and lightness. 

She gave me pleasant words and a smile that downs  me through the years and then, ... we had our moment…

-------

(Photo : Anjhun Manzano File)

Spurs' Filipino Coach

My mother, more that 70 years of age, is wooing for the Miami Heat only because Erik Spoelstra is half Filipino and not because of LeBron James and company or the team’s stats, philosophy, tradition, performances, and so forth and so on. To her, those are just collateral. I, first in the brood of 5, am a solid Spurs die hard, by the way.

But I do understand my mother. I know she’s envy of Elisa Celino of San Pablo City, mother of Coach Spo. My mother been a basketball fanatic since Crispa-Toyota days but none of her 4 boys have played or been involved even in small time leagues such as school intramural. Her eldest is not into sports but he was a sportswriter and a gymnasium barker way back in college. Like my mother, many Pinoy NBA fans root for Miami because of Spoelstra’s family roots or his Filipino-ness.

My mother and other Filipinos who cheer for Heat mainly because of Spoelstra’s bloodline have forgotten that there’s an “erstwhile” Filipino from the ranks of the coaching staff of San Antonio Spurs and he is Arthur “Chip” Engelland. Engelland stayed in the Philippines for more than 9 years and became part of the national basketball program and training pool for the Philippines men's national basketball team from 1980 to 1986. The team also used the names Northern Consolidated Cement and San Miguel Beer. Chip Engelland specializes and is in-charge of San Antonio’s shooting skills.

Who said that sports and politics should not be mixed? Chip Engelland’s fate to reach Philippine soil can be traced back in 1980 when President Ferdinand Marcos appointed Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco to become the project director for basketball in the Philippines. The goal is to keep the country competitive in international competitions. Though this action was criticized by many especially the nationalists, Cojuangco opted to scout for national players and coaches abroad, particularly in the US. Along with the top Filipino amateur cagers, the Philippine Team made it internationally with 8 naturalized Filipinos in their line-up but the program did not get the support of the Filipino people. Our homegrown talents, as expected, were overshadowed by their American team mates. The pool’s top brasses limited the number of the “naturalized” dribblers into just three and along with the comeback duo of Jeff Moore and Dennis Still, Coach Ron Jacobs added a new player in Chip Engelland, Spurs' assistant coach today.

In 1984, Engelland was cheered and loved by Filipinos when he competed in the PBA when players from the training pool are allowed to play in the professional league as guest team, an all-amateur team called Northern Consolidated Cement (NCC). Chip Engelland traded stories and developed long lasting friendship with Allan Caidic (another favorite of my mother next to Ramon Fernandez), Hector Calma and Samboy Lim and the rest of his Filipino friends. I am sure of that.

Chip Engelland had been part of Philippine sports history no doubt. In 1985, he was part of the guest team which bagged the 1985 PBA Reinforced Conference championship. Chip Engelland became once a Filipino who represented the Philippine basketball team and captured the 1984 ABC Club Championship and the 1985 Jones Cup championship and the 1985 World Cup for Champion Clubs at Gerona, Spain.

Surely I made my mother remember Spurs’ Chip Engelland but failed to convince her that her Heat will be doomed tomorrow and Engelland would finally get his second ring…

------

(Photo : Clublakers.com)

Our Homegrown Fathers

Tomorrow is Father’s Day but I will not be writing about my or somebody else’s biological father but about some diocesan or homegrown priests from our province. We call our priests “father”, remember?

Majority of our homegrown priests are at present experiencing crisis either in their ministry or vocation. But I would not name names neither go into details for I am not in a position to do this, not because I am afraid of ex-communication or afraid of being accused as a deserter from my faith, or even worse, of sacrilege. They are men who in their childhood days were already exposed to the smell of the Mangyans, have crossed Occidental Mindoro rivers and mountains long before they have learned to read the Bible and entered the seminary. Decades ago before we call them “Father”, before they were ordained.

Their present experience or predicament lead me to think what Jesus warned the first priests and the kind of life they must anticipate. “Not only will they expel you from the synagogues,” He warned, “anyone who will put you to death will claim to be serving God”. (Jn. 18, 1) From my personal reflection, “death” here does not only concern biological death but death of morale and or of dying hope and of ministry. As promised, all of these will pass and the Lord will surely “overcome the world” but “Take courage!” (Jn. 16, 33) Just hang on, Fathers. Hang on to the Cross!

Your former or present parishioners, majority of them, in the silence of their prayers and tranquility of their actions are behind you especially in this troubled moment of your ministry. Their friendship and love, including those of your family and friends, would remain for the graces of your ordination have sustained us. If you hang on to the Cross, we will provide you ropes, and yes, even nails!

Seriously, we understand how you feel because this is beyond expectation or imagination. Indeed it is necessary being one with your priest brothers as a presbyterium under the staff of direction, authority and correction of the bishop. Indeed what a grace it is for a bishop to advance the mission of his priests and not to sideline or isolate them. Ministry-wise and even personally, no son is heavy to lift simply because he is his father. A true father’s heart, as displayed in the Story of the Prodigal Son, is an oasis of love and understanding. Every father possesses authority and intelligence balanced with care and affection.  

Clerical intrigues and politics are two of the factors that corrodes a Church according to findings through the National Congress of the Clergy held last July 5-9 2004. In Workshop II : Spirituality and Lifestyle of the Filipino Clergy of the Congress it is reported, “This situation [of clerical intrigues and politics] creates a demoralization process that, sooner or later, becomes the fertile ground for mistrust, manipulation and disillusionment among leaders of the Church themselves. The disunity of the Church ensues and, at the end, it is the body of Christ that breaks down.” That Congress initiated by the former Chairman of the CBCPs Commission on Clergy Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales aimed at pastoral and priestly renewal participated by 4,000 priests coming from all over the country should have already forewarned our particular Church here in Occidental Mindoro. Certainly no good father would let differences among his sons left unsettled. Through immediate dialogue, which is the only way of resolving conflicts as far as the Church is concerned, everything must internally be patched up. A good father would not let a little spark among his sons left unattended or what we would figuratively reap is a destructive fire.

But I still expect that our own vision of “Father’s” Day will come soon. We are praying for a future that all the priests in our diocese will be united once more as “a truly Christian community united in worship, service and witness of Christ” as stated in the Vicariate’s Vision. This will be the time when our diocese institute systems concerning the growth of the priests where the lay and religious can share their particular charisms, collaboration and participation.  

With my best lessons in life gained from them when he was already gone, my late biological father, Manuel Sr., would surely not mind greeting said priests, specially the elder ones, a Happy (Note the quotation marks) “Father’s” Day!...

 -------

(Photo: FaithWorld)

Damaso Armas

"Damaso". Iyan ang pakutyang tawag ng iba sa mga pari lalo na noong kasagsagan ng debate sa RH Bill.  Sa paglagda ni P-Noy sa Republic Act 10591 o ang "Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act” na isang batas hinggil sa regulasyon ng baril, marami ang natuwa. Nagbibigay din ito ng pahintulot na mag may-ari ng baril ang mga mamamayan na, “whose nature of work may pose danger to their lives” kabilang ang mga pari. Naalala ko tuloy ang lumang pelikula ng yumaong si Ramon Zamora noong 1983 na pinamagatang “Dalmacio Armas.” Direktor nito si Carlo J. Caparas at na-serialize sa comics section ng pahayagang People’s Journal at idinibuho ni Mar T. Santana. Kaya lahat ng mga paring may baril (na mayroon naman talagang pari na may baril sa tunay na buhay) ay tawagin ninyong “Damaso Armas” kung gusto ninyo!

Hindi tuwirang ipinagbabawal ng Simbahang Katoliko ang pagma-may-ari ng armas o baril sa mga layko o maging sa mga pari. Sabi sa Catechism of the Catholic Church o CCC, “Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another’s life. Preserving the common good requires rendering the unjust aggressor unable to inflict harm [2263-2265].  Isa lamang ang malinaw sa bagong batas na ito para sa akin: Pinagtitibay ng  kasalukuyang pamahalaan na ang mga aktibong pari ay mga mamamayan din ng bansa na may mga karapatan sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas, sa kabila ng prinsipyong sinasabi ninyong Separation of Church and the State. Katulad ng paglahok (pagkandidato) sa halalan ng mga aktibong pari na hindi naman bawal sa alinmang batas ng pamahalaan ngunit ang mismong batas ng Simbahan ang nagbabawal.

Nagsalita na ukol pagma-may-ari ng baril ang ilang Obispo na miyembro ng CBCP at sabi nila in brief and in chorus, more or less ay ganito: “No, thanks.” Ewan ko kung ano ang masasabi ninyo dito. Pinag-dedebatehan pa rin kasi ito sa sirkulo ng mga Katoliko sa buong mundo. Sa katunayan, ang CBCP bilang isang collegial body  ay silensyo pa sa isyu sa pagkakaalam ko, pati ang mismong Canon Law bagama't may mga organisasyong pan-Simbahan ang nag-aadbokasiya kontra sa paghawak ng baril, legal man o ilegal, ng mga mananampalataya. Ipinauubaya ito ng Batikano sa mga lokal na ordinaryo at partikular na Simbahan.

Siyanga pala, noong 2006 sa India, isang Fr. Jacob Augustine ang nag-apply para magkaroon ng lisensya ng baril na umani ng pagbatikos sa media. Katwiran ni Fr. Jacob, kailangan niyang proteksiyunan ang kanyang sarili kaya dapat lamang na mag may-ari siya ng baril. Isang layko ang bumatikos sa desisyon na iyon ng pari. Si Joseph Pulikunnel, lider ng kanilang pamayanan, ay nagsabi na ang pagkakaroon ng baril ay, "unbecoming of a priest.” Sabi pa ni Pulikunnel, "Jesus never protected himself with arms. And when Roman soldiers came to arrest him, he restrained his disciples from drawing out their swords." Katulad daw ng kasal, limitado lamang ang karapatan ito sa mga walang orden at hindi para sa mga pari. Maliban na lang kapag sila ay aalis na sa pagka-pari. Habang pari pa sila, maliban na lamang yaong mga chaplain ng pulis o military, bagama’t may karapatan daw silang legal na magka-baril ay hindi sila pinahihintulutang gamitin ang karapatang ito.

Kung ako lang, ang mga paring nais na legal na magka-baril  ay hayaan na lang kung gusto nila. Pero hayaan din ang mga walang baril na mas nanaisin pa ang mapahamak sa baril kaysa sa maging responsable sa pagbaril at pagkamatay at pagka-lumpo ng kapwa.

Huwag lamang “mabuhay sa baril” katulad ng mga gangster. Ibig sabihin ay huwag gumamit  ng dahas para mabuhay. O umasa sa dahas para matamo ang mga ninanais. Ituring natin na isa lamang ang baril sa mga gamit na pang proteksyon na dapat tayong maging responsable kasama ng pag-iingat, dasal, pag-iwas at iba pa, para ipagpatuloy ang ating misyon sa buhay at sa pamayanan ng Diyos.

Si Hesus man ay nag-utos sa Kanyang mga alagad na lumabas at bumili ng mga espada (Lukas 22:36). Utos na sinunod ng kanyang mga alagad. Pero ang tanong, ilan kaya ang susunod sa paninindigang ito ng mga obispo na hindi dapat mag may-ari ng baril ang mga pari? Ambot.

Hayaan silang legal na mag may-ari ng baril alinsunod sa batas na nabanggit pero maging ehemplo lang sana natin si Gabriel Possenti na sa Ina ng Hapis at sa Krus kumukuha ng tapang at hindi sa baril. Hindi kagaya ni Dalmacio Armas…

---------

(Photo : Saint. Bartholomeow. com)

Jeproks

Pasukan na naman sa Lunes. Maraming kabataan mula sa ating lalawigan ang luluwas ng Maynila o sa alinmang siyudad at sentrong bayan upang mag-aral. Kapag tayo ay nasa ibang lugar, sari-saring tao ang ating makakadaupang palad. At kung mayroong mga kaibigan at ka-eskuwelang tapat ay mayroon din mga mapagbalatkayo. Sa klasikong nobela na “Florante at Laura’ ni Francisco Balagtas, may bahagi doon na naglalahad na buhat sa Alabania siya ay tumungo ng Atenas upang mag-aral. At sa blog entry na ito, ang buhay-estudyante lang ni Florante ang ating iikutan.

Malimit, kung sino pa ang ating mga kababayan ay siya pang mahirap pakisamahan. Kahit itanong niyo sa mga OFW. Si Adolfo marahil ang kauna-unahang jeproks sa literatura ng Pilipinas dahil sa katangian nitong tila “laki sa layaw.” Sa Saknong 202 ng “Florante at Laura” ay mababasa ang tinuran ni Florante kay Aladin, “Ang laki sa layaw karaniway’y hubad, sa bait at muni’t sa hatol ay salat”. Ang taong laki sa layaw din, batay sa isang awit ni Mike Hanopol na sumikat noong ako ay hayskul pa lang, ang tawag ay “jeproks”. Mapanghamon ang mag-aral o mamalagi sa ibang lugar. Maraming tukso. Katulad ng sinasabi sa awit na nabanggit ng Pinoy Rock icon na mga kabataang, “asal ay gahaman, malakas sa inuman, istorbo sa daan.” Simple lang ang habilin sa mga batang luluwas para mag-aral: Kailangang maging choosy sa kaibigan at huwag isiping in their company lamang mare-relieve ang inyong homesickness.

May ibang katangian ang pagiging jeproks ni Adolfo. Kahit hindi man siya ang jeproks ni Mike Hanopol, si Adolfo ang mapanibughuing jeproks ni Balagtas. Hanggang sa pinagtangkaan pa ni Adolfo na patayin si Florante sa isang palabas sa kanilang paaralan matapos baguhin nito ang orihinal na diyalogo ng drama. Kung ating sineryoso ang pag-aaral natin noon sa obra maestra ni Balagtas, maaalala natin na ang palabas (na isang trahedya o kuwentong malungkot) ay tungkol kay Reyna Yocasta. Magkapatid ang ginampanang papel nina Adolfo (Polinice) at Florante (Eteocles) at doon pinagtangkaan ng una na paslangin ang huli sa pamamagitan ng pagtaga ng kalis ng may ikatlong ulit. Mabuti na lamang at nailigtas si Florante ng isang ka-klase. Dahil dito, bumalik si Adolfo sa Albania at naiwan sa Atenas si Florante upang ipagpatuloy ang kanyang pag-aaral.

Sa bawat bagong yugto ng buhay ay hindi lamang mga Adolfo kundi may mga Antenor din tayong masusumpungan. Mga kaibigang karamay natin sa panahong naroon tayo lalo na sa mga pagkakataon na may mga hindi magandang pangyayari sa ating mga iniwan.

Kagaya ni Florante, sana sa huli ay makatulong sa ating paglago bilang tao ang ating mga napag-aralan: “Araw ay natakot at ang kabataan sa pag-aaral ko sa anaki’y nananaw; bait ko’y luminis at ang karunungan, ang bulag kong isip ay kusang dinamtan (Saknong 215).” Lahat din ng asignatura ay pagsumikapan nating maipasa : “Natarok ang lalim ng pilosopiya, aking natutunan ang astrolohiya, natantong malinis ang kataka-taka at mayamang dunong ng matematika (Saknong 216).” Hindi tayo makatutulong bilang magulang kung hahayaan nating maging jeproks (laki sa layaw) ang ating mga anak!

Kaalinsabay ng pagiging matalino, dapat din tayong maging mga Aladin at Flerida na may pananagutan sa ating kapwa lalo na sa mga nangangailangan…

-------

(Photo: Power House Facebook)

Vice & Jessica

Higit sa paniniwala na ang paksang rape ay sensitibo kaya hindi dapat maging materyal sa mga comedy show, naniniwala ako na may mga tao ring gumagamit ng joke o pagpapatawa upang manlait ng kapwa. Upang kutyain ang kanilang mga kaaway o karibal na maskarado ng pagpapatawa. O sa ibang kaso, para sadyaing hamakin ang mga kababaihan o ilang grupo ng tao.

Bago pa maging viral ang isyung Vice Ganda at Jessica Soho ukol sa rape, isang komedyante sa US na nagngangalang Daniel Tosh ang umani ng puna hinggil sa isang rape joke na kanyang pinakawalan sa isa niyang pagtatanghal. Sa dakong huli, si Tosh ay humingi ng public apology sa mga kababaihan.

Sa akin lang, sa pagpasok at pag-uso ng mga stand-up comedian sa telebisyon at mga engandeng benyu tulad ng Araneta, mula sa mga maliliit at madidilim ng comedy bars, unti-unting ang ilan sa mga komedyante mula doon ay nagiging OA na. Sa kanila, parang wala nang pagkakaiba ang pagpapatawa sa panghahamak ng kapwa at hindi na kailangang maging responsable kapag nagbibiro't nagkakatuwaan.

Anuman ang ating trabaho o ginagawa, ito ay pagigiit ng ating kapangyarihan. Mapanlikhang kapangyarihan na ginagamitan ng isip. At ang mga bunga ng ating paggawa ay ekspresyon ng ating pagkatao. Patunay din ito ng ating kapangyarihan kumpara sa hayop. Halimbawa, ang isang magsasaka ay nagtatabas ng damo sa kanyang palayan upang igiit ang kanyang kapangyarihan laban sa tumutubong sukal sa kanyang panananim. 

Ganoon din sa palagay ko ang mga komedyanteng katulad ni Vice Ganda. Maaari rin nilang gamitin ang kanilang pagpapatawa upang igiit ang kanilang kapangyarihan para magamit ito sa iba pang dimensiyon ng kanilang iba’t-ibang personal na paniniwala. Paniniwala na mayroong tiyak na makikinabang liban sa kanilang sarili. Ang panggagahasa, sabi nga, ay hindi lamang ukol sa libog o krimen sa ngalan ng laman kundi higit sa lahat, ukol ito sa marahas na pagigiit ng lakas at kapangyarihan ng mga malalakas sa mga mahihina, anuman ang edad, anuman ang kasarian ng biktima. Katulad ng mga palabas sa telebisyon ngayon na nagwawasiwas pa ng mga lisyang pagpapahalaga. Kagaya rin ng mga balitang ibinabalita kapwa nina Vice Ganda at Jessica Soho sa kanilang mga show, ang usaping ito na kanilang kinasasangkutan, sana naman ay kapulutan din natin ng aral.

Mananatiling si Vice Ganda si Vice Ganda at si Jessica Soho si Jessica Soho pagkatapos nito. Unti-unti ay huhupa na rin ang lagnat (o kumbulsyon) na dulot nito sa cyberspace. Habang tayo na kanilang mga tagapanood, ay patuloy pa ring magiging biktima ng "panggagahasa" ng isipan ng mga komedyante at iba pang showbiz personalities.

Ipanalagin nawa nina Pugo at Tugo, Dolphy at Panchito na maging marangal at may etiketa ang kalakhan sa mga komedyante ng Pilipinas…

Tungko

Ngayong Linggo, Mayo 26, ay piyesta ng Iling Proper at ang kanilang patron doon ay ang Santisima Trinidad o Holy (or Blessed) Trinity. Isa ang doktrina ng Santisima Trinidad na mahirap nating maipaliwanag na mga Katoliko. Kasi naman, yung iba naming nakikipa-miyesta, mas excited pa silang malaman at mas intresado sila kung sino ang mananalo sa gay beauty pageant kaysa sa alamin ang patrong dapat ay siyang tunay na pinararangalan at pagnilayan ang inspirasyong hatid nito sa ating buhay. Kapag piyesta kadalasan sa alinmang baryo at bayan sa Kanlurang Mindoro, mas maraming tao ang makikita sa sabungan kaysa sa simbahan. Sa mga diskusyon ukol sa Banal na ‘Santatlo (Wikang Kastila nga pala ang Santisima Trinidad) Madalas tayong gamitan ng matematika at sasabihin sa ating papaano naging equals 1 ang 1+1+1? Tatlo daw, anila ang Diyos natin.

Ang doktrinang ito sa Bibliya ay mababasa natin sa Mateo 28:19 na sa wikang English ay ganito ang nasusulat : "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Sa iba pang bahagi ng Bagong Tipan, partikular sa 2 Cor. 13:14 at Heb. 9:14 na nagsasabing ang Ama, Anak at Espiritu Santo ay tatlong persona sa iisang Diyos.

Ang Linggo ng Santisima Trinidad ay ipinagdiriwang isang linggo matapos ang Linggo ng Pentekostes.

Sa pagkakatesismo sa ating mga anak ay puwede tayong gumamit ng itlog upang kahit papaano ay maipaliwanag ang misteryong ito. Ito ayon sa isang homiliya na nabasa ko na hindi ko na matandaan kung saan. Kagaya nang ginawa ni Brod Pete sa pagpapaliwanag niya sa YouTube tungkol sa Halalan 2013. Opo, ang ating mga itlog sa pridyider. Ipaliwanag natin sa kanila na bagama’t iisa lang ang itlog na hawak natin, mayroon itong tatlong bahagi. Ang balat o shell , ang puti nito at ang yolk (o dilaw na kadalasan ay pula ang tawag natin!). Alam natin na ang itlog ay may dilaw at puting bahagi bagama’t hindi natin ito nakikita. Ang Diyos ay kumakawan sa buong itlog. Ang balat nito o shell na nakikita ay kumakatawan kay Hesus, ang Diyos na nagkatawang-tao. Ang Diyos na bumaba sa kasaysayan ng tao. Ang puti ng itlog naman ay kumakatawan sa Banal na Espiritu at ang dilaw naman ay kumakatawan sa Diyos Ama. Parehong ang Diyos Ama at ang Banal na Espiritu ay hindi natin nakikita katulad ng puti at dilaw ng itlog, maliban na lang kung ang ating itlog ay ating babasagin!

Pamilyar ako sa Isla ng Iling bagama’t halos lampas kinse anyos na akong hindi nakabalik doon. Sa dalawang NGO na aking pinagtrabahuhan ay doon ako nadestino. Nag-organisa ng pamayanan para sa Simbahan at naghanda ng pagtatanim ng bakawan sa komunidad. Dito ikinuwento sa akin ni Lola Badang kung gaano ka-milagroso ang kanilang patron. Naaalala ko rin ang madalas naming pagtagay ng tuba kasama si Weng Seville at iba ko pang ka-tropa na taga-isla. Maligayang araw ng kapistahan po sa inyong lahat!

Iba na raw sa isla ng Iling ngayon. Ang Kapilya ng Santisima Trinidad ay ipinagawa na daw ni Fr. Fernando Suarez at balak gawin itong destinasyon ng mga peregrine o pilgrims, ayon sa nabasa ko dito. P35 M yata ang nakalap sa pagpapagawa ng nasabing kapilya. Nang ito ay pinasinayaan, dinaluhan ito ng ilang pulitiko.

Ang tungko ng kalan ay binubuo ng tatlong bato. Tatlo dapat ito dahil kung kulang ang batong tungko ng ating kalan ay gegewang ang kaldero o kawali. Ang bilang na tatlo ay simbolo ng pamayanan, ng pagkakaisa at ng pagsasama-sama. At sa ganitong diwa, ang bilang na tatlo (3) ay bilang ng tunay na pag-ibig. Panlahatan at para sa kapwa. Ang aral ng Banal na ‘Santatlo ay maaring ganito: Hindi dapat mamayani ang prinsipyong “Ako-at-Ako”. Sa halip sa ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa mundo at lahat ng nilalang sa ibabaw nito, kailangang nating ang suhay mula sa banal na “tungko”. Ito ay ang prinsipyong “Ako-at- ang Diyos- at- ang- aking kapwa.

Ang prinsipyong ito ang tanging parmasya na pagkukunan ng tunay na  medesina ng gamutang panlipunan…

----------

(Photo : Inquirer.net)

Umbok

Salamat naman at tapos na ang eleksyon at sana ay tapos na rin ang usapin ng umbok-umbok sa balota. Sana. At palibhasa tinatawag ko ang aking sarili na isang Utilitarian, nilalagom ko ang nagdaang halalan ng ganito sa pambansang perspektiba: Mas binigyan natin ng halaga ang bilis (ng proseso ng eleksyon) kaysa sa kawastuhan ng pagbibilang ng mga datus na pumapasok sa Precinct Count Optical Scan o PCOS machine. Sa ganitong diwa, may higit pang dapat gawin sa usaping legal at teknikal sa susunod na automated elections sa bansa sa 2016.

Huli na nang maging available ang source code mula sa Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Noon lamang ika-9 ng Mayo at 3 araw na lamang ang natitira bago ang aktwal na halalan ito inilabas kaya naging hilaw ang pagre-rebyu dito. Sa ganito kaigsing panahon, papaano magkakaroon ng obhetibong pagsusuri ang mga partidong pulitikal, mga accredited citizen’s arm at iba pang mga intresadong grupo, lalung-lalo na ang independent groups ng mga IT expert? Kaya ‘yun ang nangyari, parang naging pakitang-tao na lang tuloy ang rebyu ng source code na ginawa sa antas nasyunal. Parang lahat ‘ata ng prosesong pang-halalan ngayon ay via express lane na para sa mga PWD kundi man 'simbilis ng bullet train sa bansang Hapon. Ang mahalagang katanungang ito sana, kung nagkaroon ng sapat na panahon para sa rebyu ng source code, ang dapat na matugunan : “Reliable ba at tamper-proof  ang computer program na ating gagamitin?”

Natatandaan ko sa isang natisod kong pahayag ng Kontra-Daya na isang maka-Kaliwang election watchdog bago ang halalan : “We could not just simply rely on the accreditation of the source code by SLI Global Solutions and be assured that the PCOS machines will function properly. We have to verify that this source code is translated into the proper program that will run on the machines during election day. This could have been tested during the FTS with the hash codes generated during the trusted build so that we can ensure that the same copy of the program will be running in all of the more than 80,000 PCOS machines nationwide.” Sino ang hindi mag-iisip na ang magdaang halalan ay batbat ng ‘sanlaksan ngunit iba’t-ibang anyo ng elektronikong dagdag-bawas? Sa iba’t-ibang lugar na may iba’t-ibang layunin, hokus-pokus at aritmetik. At ang pinakamasaklap ay kung habang panahon ang tingin ng botanteng Pinoy sa eleksyon at sa maniobrahan dito ay micro at parochial.

Mahalaga ang masusi at may sapat na panahong source code review sapagkat kung hindi o madalian at hilaw ang pagsasagawa nito, hindi natin malalaman kung papaano ini-interpret ng kompyuter ang mga vote mark sa ating balota. Kung papaano ina-assign ang mga boto sa piling mga kandidato, kung papaano binibilang ang mga boto, kung kakainin ba o hindi ng makina ang mga balotang may umbok, sinu-sinong kandidato kaya ang makikinabang sa tampered ballots kung mayroon man, kung anu-anong mga datos ang isi-save, at iba pang teknikal na bagay o impormasyon. Noong May 2010 elections, hindi rin nasagot ang mga katanungang ito.

Hindi rin natin masisisi ang mga natalong kandidato na legal na kumilos para muling bilangin ang mga balota, maging yung mga umano ay tampered man o hindi. 

Noong 2010, si Sixto Brillantes, Jr. ay legal counsel pa lang ni PNoy na kandidato sa pagka-presidente ng Partidong Liberal (LP). Ito nga rin siguro ang dahilan kung bakit ang tawag ng mga militante sa Komisyon ay “Yellow” COMELEC na hindi ko malaman ang kaugnayan sa Yellow Army noon ni Tita Cory! Si Pangulong PNoy nga pala ay ka-klase ng ating bagong halal na gobernador.

Matatandaan na bago ang Mayo Trese ay nag-file ng pormal na petition ang may 34 na mga Pilipino sa United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) ayon sa umano ay paglabag sa kanilang mga batayang karapatan sa ilalim ng mga probisyon sa International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights o ICCPR. Ang ICCPR ay isang Kasunduang Pandaigdigan na isa ang Pilipinas sa bansang lumagda dito. Isa si senatorial candidate Richard “Dick” Gordon sa mga petisyunero at sa isang bahagi ng petisyon, ukol sa kahalagahan ng pagsasagawa ng maayos at kredibleng rebyu sa source code, sinabi nito ng buong diin na, “With the serious problem regarding the source code unresolved, perhaps President Aquino and Chairman Brillantes know something the voters do not." (Matigas talaga itong Dick (na ibinoto) ko!).

Isang bagay ang muli kong natutunan ngayong Halalan 2013 bilang isang self-confessed Utilitarian. Ang anumang makabagong teknolohiya ay may kabuluhan lamang kung papaano ito ginagamit at kung papayagan ng may kontrol nito na gamitin ito ng tama at makatarungan. At kung ito ay tunay na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan.

Kagaya ng umbok sa ilang kalsada na ang gamit ay upang tayo ay huwag magmadali at maging maingat upang hindi tayo mapahamak...

--------

(Photo : Technicallyjuris)

Straight Voting? C'mon!

Some quarters have been so vocal in asking for the so-called straight votes but I believe it's a crooked idea at this very juncture. They are insisting that if we unable to do so, Occidental Mindoro will forever be doomed and will not be able to surpass our present sad condition.  According to them, progress and development cannot be achieved as long as our leaders, from congress and the provincial capitol down to municipalities, are forever political rivals and antagonists. But politicians and their campaign strategists and focal persons in no way cannot be truthful about persuading the voters further for voting straight.  

Our people, judging from the results of the elections for decades now, are casting their votes upon selection of candidates individually regardless of political affiliations or groupings. It appears that we are already used to split votes or “salisi” leadership. Many of the organizations here are benefiting in this situation for they could get assistance, benefits and perks left and right. As ever, we vote based on personalities and not on issues. On where can we get much favor. It cannot be denied that we are still in a client-patron relationship- dominated political culture. We are generally still a bunch of uninformed (or was it misinformed?) voters. This is why I am against straight voting for this may exacerbate uninformed voting. This call for straight voting, as far as I am concerned, encourages voters to cast ballots without being fully educated about the individual differences of the candidates. This stuff is only for few hard cores or hardliners. But do they, the politicians and their campaign operators, really believe that straight voting would come into reality? Ow, come on! 

Check-and-balance in governance is important but that's issue is relevant only AFTER the elections. What important are the issues BEFORE the voting, during campaign. My position is more adhered on this: The call for straight voting somewhat enable us to blindly believe that everyone in their group is better than anyone from the other group. Yes, in the so-called “wholesale” vote, even the most rotten fruit is offered to us. Straight voting encourages people to vote without being fully educated on burning issues and advocacies of the day.

What we really need are new breed of genuine alternative politicians who would wield authority based on principles hinged on contemporary socio-political issues that we are experiencing. Including an alternative political group with an ideology which is the springboard of their principle and very action. We need young bloods who would be gallantly and fearlessly inclined to combat our immediate problems, in, say for example,  protecting the environment by passing legislative actions - initiate programs and projects - together with the national government, say,-  to minimize the effects of climate change here in Occidental Mindoro. Or by fighting together common enemies like aggressive development projects such as mining which are affront to our natural resources, including other social ills like gambling and criminality in our midst like illegal drugs, illegal fishing and illegal logging including all forms of human rights violations. We need competent leader- servants who would not rake money from the public coffer nor use his/her political position as ladder in order to reach his/her selfish goals.

This challenge for straight voting is an attractive campaign statement but as empty as the tomb of Jesus. It is persuasion in futility. It’s as useless as bench-warming politicians. During their campaign sorties, politicians would surely tell us to vote straight but they will ultimately not even lift a finger to make it a reality, to push for its realization collectively or individually. There is no single breath of substance from it. If they are not serious about it, why put much weight on it? This is one of the mouthfuls that are easy said than done so, why waste our saliva?  In the end, this time-tested saying on individuality and practicality would still prevail: “Buntot mo, hila mo”. Besides, this proposal may be as fragrant as a rose garden but we are swarmed by (political) butterflies. What difference straight voting would make?

If we overly emphasize this idea at this stage, we are only straightforwardly making fools of ourselves… 

----------

(Photo : Rimban.wordpress.com)

Lesser Evil According to Me

The 2013 election more than as ever is not about for voting wisely but about for voting for the lesser evil. The Lesser Evil Principle is the idea in politics and political science that of two bad choices, one is not as bad as the other and should therefore be chosen over the one that is the greater threat. Voting for us Filipinos bring moral or existential dilemma.

Our society’s self-acclaimed “moral guardians” keep on reminding us to vote wisely during elections. But there lies the biggest problem: A wise vote to one may not be a wise vote to another. How could one vote wisely when there’s not wise choice from the available candidates you are choosing from? We have no other option but to vote for the lesser evil based on our own assessment of things from our own view point. Of course we know that the lesser of two (or more evil) is still evil but not eternally.

But let us forget that the word “evil” is universal. While it could well be attached to politicians, it can also pertain to voters, citizens and the political system itself. We are prone to be evil ourselves if we are not good enough to distinguish from the abstract who is the lesser evil among the present candidates. But how can we shed the shades of grey in distinguishing our lesser evil? We have no other practical solution but to look deeper on the candidates’ minds and personality pittied against ours.  

My lesser evil has these two (2) tangible characteristics: The one who has the greatest ideas and visions compatible with my principles and biases and at the same time shares my advocacy and aspirations for Occidental Mindoro, in thoughts and in deeds. My kind of candidate, too, do not resort to public display of arrogance using emotional and physical harm against his/her rivals including those who are critical of his/her beliefs or in expressing his/her thoughts. (S)he is in no way vindictive or revengeful. In short, my lesser evil is an intelligent visionary and a (wo)man of action and at the same time ethical in his/her manners. These criteria may be limited and hollow but I am just making things simple and not complicated for this special voting season. In short, I will vote for the best person, someone not only who espouses the best ideas but how intelligently, politely and objectively express those ideas privately or more so in public. Paradoxically in this “oversimplification” of standards, my Lesser Evil becomes my Greater Good candidate. Trust me on this at your own risk!

Seriously, the Greater Evil is when we as voters solely place in the hands of politicians and operators our agenda and collective interests in every election season…

---------

(Photo: Hellenman World)