My thoughts on Duterte passing four Departments to the Leftists (if they're interested)

To some, this can be seen as worrisome - but honestly speaking, that could be bias and/or fear for our government becoming Socialist. Far from it, really... instead, think of it like an open gesture to the Left - the same Left that has incessantly been complaint in every State of the Nation Address by each President every since we regained the liberty to speak freely.

I will admit to the fact that I've grown tired of the Left always 'crying wolf' whenever there is a major initiative by the government - it's as if they can never be appeased, and at times, they can even be manipulative to get their messages across, as the recent farmer's protests that were broken up would seem to point to them as being the organizers / rabble rousers.

But put yourself in their shoes for an instance...

Have they been complaining? Oh, definitely.

Do they have so much to complain about? Well, yes they do.

Are they not being listened to? If many people are like me, they are complaining to a public that has dismissed them as simply that... complainants. Sometimes, trouble-makers.

Is there ever a time they are not complaining? Who knows?

Do they have alternative solutions? Surprisingly, they do. Granted... they sound like broad strokes, but they do.

Are they getting their messages across? Looks like they need to improve on this.

They have an image problem... some (or a large part) due to their own actions. It may be that they are not getting the needed 'air time' and are not coming across, much less understood. Not in Radio, TV, the Broadsheets... nothing.

But setting aside all these, and the thought of just why they are not reaching everyone else, let's go back to what Duterte is offering them. These departments are: DENR, DAR, DOLE and DSWD. Why these in particular? Because the Left has been complaining about how bad these departments are treating the Filipinos in one way of the other.

Environment and Natural Resources - with them heading this, they would be able to stop mining and other projects that are raping our environment to the detriment of the poor, disenfranchised tribes and hopefully prevent exploitation, excessive mining or whatever runs counter to what the Earth preservation groups hope to, well... preserve. After all, if illegal logging and mining are causing these flash floods, or sudden collapse of the lands, maybe it really is time to put the interests of Mother Nature vs. corporate greed.

Agrarian Reforms - it is no surprise that amongst the poor, we would have lots of farmers, and with  the farming sector seemingly ignored, we hear stories of where a lot of corrections have been sorely missing. Since the Leftists are fighting the good fight for the farmers, managing this department for farmers - it sounds like a dream come true for the Left. To be able to introduce change the way they want it. They say it's time to bring farming out of the dark ages... we'll see how they plan to do this.

Labor and Employment - another maligned department? When was the last time an across the board salary increase has been done to catch up with the cost of living? When was the last time any programs that would definitely help the laborer been implemented? If they can finally do away with the loopholes that allow Retail giants to avoid turning hired labor into regulars - and thus allow for coverage of SSS, Philhealth and other benefits, this would definitely be a move (albeit to the business owners chagrin) in the right direction.

Social Welfare and Development - mostly focusing on 'women and children' and other sectors of society that need protection. The elderly, the street urchins, the battered wives, etc... in a just and benevolent society, this department would hardly find the need to exist. The fact that it is needed is an indicator of how bad our society has become.

These four, when you take a close look, are all about labor... the poor... the ones who try to survive on a day-to-day basis. It's a place where respect, health, security, the next meal, dignity of labor... all these... are but a dream, as the people live in a nightmare where Government seems more interested in them only when it's voting time.

So how will the Left handle things differently? Well... they are the experts in seeing how these problems are prevalent. They see how past policies may be business favorable, but short on protecting the dignity of the Filipino labor force. They can now put their programs, their ideas to play. They can now help the poor. They can now insert the much needed, long awaited change that many seek. They can start showing others how it should be done.

They can 'walk the talk'.
Be part of the solution.
Prove that they aren't all just complainers.

So I'm not worried about Duterte offering these four departments to the Leftists. I want hem to take it... and prove to everyone else (including themselves) that all those years of complaining was not just to put the government in a bad light. i want them to show us they were right... and that a listening President has given them a chance to prove how much they love this country... by joining the mainstream, and finally leaving the armed struggle.

One can only hope.

The Bong bong Presidency - six years from now

As the recent election proved to many, the Marcos era is far from over, and to anyone who thinks otherwise, you just need to see how Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (a.k.a. Bong bong) is so close to claiming the Vice-presidency of the Philippines - in fact, he was leading in the first few hours of the unofficial count. Though that does not seem to be the case for now, as his opponent, Representative Leni Robredo is leading him by a mere 200,000+ votes. So yes, this battle is far from over. 

For people who've lived through the Martial Law days and were highly active in the Years of Living Dangerously (which culminated in the EDSA revolution, leading to the ouster of Ferdinand Jr.'s father and exiling their family to Hawaii) must really be scratching their heads wondering what would have brought about this kind of 'horrific' result. That's Incredible. How could this be? How could so many vote for Marcos? Have we not learned from the past? What happened to "Never Again"?

Simply put it stems from many people thinking that as bad as it is being drawn out to be, it seems that the Marcos years have been packaged and presented as the golden years of Philippine development. Case in point, the citing of how many infrastructure projects there were, and how life "seemed" better during these years. The target of this image-building seems to be the youth of today. I mean, aside from the votes of the traditionally Solid North that has the propensity to vote for a local son (or daughter) who hails from their region, what is surprising, and down right disturbing, is Mr. Marcos's strong showing in Metro Manila.

EDSA (the movement) has been an utter disappointment. So many promises unfulfilled. 30 years later... are we better off? Has life been better? Why are we experiencing so many problems and so many frustrations?

I suspect that if we looked at the demographics, many of these voters are from the relatively young sector - those who never experienced Martial Law, and who probably believe the talk that life was indeed better during the Marcos years. I mean, let's face it... there have been a scattering of posts in Social Media about how good life was in the Marcos era. How decisive a leader he was, how they got a lot of things done during the strong man's rule.

Having a seeming wishy washy,  confused, out of touch and weak President, as Noynoy's image seems to invoke - some due to his fault, exacerbates this comparison. The Marcos spin doctors have been laying the groundwork of the lies for years. We sometimes encounter such posts, heaping praises on Ferdinand Marcos' rule, and counter it with posts that remind everyone else of the abuses, and the situation the Philippines was in - as Ferdinand (the father) helped make us into the 'sick man of Asia'. 

These youths are regaled with how much the Peso-Dollar exchange was back then, though these articles again forget to state that the reason these exchange rates ballooned, resulting to a much weaker peso. We again counter and say it was because of the Kleptocracy - a word invented to describe the Marcos plunder of the country's coffers. Another phrase invented? The Conjugal Dictatorship.

The thing is, part of the reason these spins are very successful because decades after Martial Law and all it's abuses, we've yet to see a full blown museum of how the Marcos years adversely affected us. Nor are there historical lessons taught to drive home the horrors of the victims. Instead, the youth see the current problems and criticize the government freely (an action that would land them in jail, tortured or killed in the Martial law days). You might say they are spoiled with he freedom earned by their parents or grandparents.But are ignorant as to how much the previous generations sacrificed for this freedom to criticize. Oh yeah, and they cleverly mention the fact that 'if all these stories are real' where's the proof? Why aren't the Marcoses convicted?

We did not see, therefore pay heed to the well orchestrated moves to repaint history, and may well pay for it with the return of the Marcoses to power. They've been stretching their muscles up north for years now... from being Governors to Congressional Representatives to the Senate, and now... quite possibly, a heartbeat away from Malacanang. We've become too 'careful', too 'civilized', too 'complacent'. It's our faults that he youth look up to a possible Marcos Presidency with hope. 

If indeed the youth have voted in strength to support Marcos this past election, then time will definitely be on Bong bong's side. Six years from now, who's to say he won't aspire for the Presidency? Believe me... he will. I won't be surprised if many are telling him that it will be is destiny. 

The Solid North has never had a candidate with so much political clout - a mixture of past, present and future loyalties and connections from people who feel that their lives a much better with a Marcos in power,. Some might even remember a more comfortable life. You think this is a fluke? Let's just take a look at how much better the roads in Ilocos Norte (where the Marcoses are from) are. Say what you want about them, but Marcos believed in taking care of their backyard; their constituency, and many old people - not just Northerners, mind you, look kindly to the Marcos years as having a better life.

For many a simple folk, they saw Marcos as a competent leader, someone to emulate to the point that children even tried copying his speaking style - complete with the assertive pauses he is known for. Others might point out that this was because he was extemporaneous - and that is true, the man was a genius and could memorize his speech when needed. A bar topnotcher and (if the stories are to be believed - and many do believe) a be-medaled war hero. I mean, if we compared him to our past leaders, few would possibly stand up to his credentials (Miriam Defensor-Santiago could, though she had not had the chance to lead us to prove this). And this is the problem.

These spinners of tales focus in on the early years, when Martial Law was first declared and many even thought, 'finally, we'll see some discipline and change', but this viewpoint sweeps away the latter years - the times when the International Community was ostracizing an ailing Marcos' rule, when the International Monetary Fund was getting wary of lending the country more money, and the Philippine's continued credit access was hinged on the bitter pill of a snap election. One that was forced upon him because of the questionable handling of a Fact-finding and seemingly farce investigation to the assassination of his major thorn, Benigno Aquino Jr. How bad were we in? How deep was our problem? Look to Greece these days... that should give you a hint.

The Aquino murder was too visible, too daring a crime to hide or sweep aside as a domestic problem. How did they think they could get away with it? Prior to the Aquino assassination  were a whole lot of abuses to people less prominent than Ninoy, one that Martial Law was able to hide. We got to learn a lot about them post EDSA revolution, but ask anyone in the  streets if they have a good idea of how bad it was, and hardly anyone will be able to say, or even quantify it. It was just too mind boggling... both in it's scale, it's cruelty, and now... in how it has not been taught to the youth.

We come up with clever phrases like "Never Again", but are just not caring enough to ensure the experience is shared - the lessons are not being taught. Japan has properly documented their experience with Hirosima and Nagasaki's bombing; and people who enter the museum come out with a stark idea of the horrors that they - the Japanese people faced. Us? We had an interactive museum... but only for the duration of the EDSA 30th anniversary, and after that... well, nada.

Is it any surprise that few young people remember or know? Are we so forgiving? or just plain short in remembering? are we in denial? Are we too sensitive or fearful to speak the truth because the Marcoses are still influential? One nice video the tI recently saw was how several young people were asked by old people about how they perceived the Martial Law years, and these youths pointed out that they liked it for what it gave the country. Stability, discipline, growth in infrastructure - then the old people introduced themselves as Martial Law victims and explained whet happened to them. these youths felt emotional, realizing how flawed their perception of the Marcos years were. It was a strong video... but I don't know how many young people watched and understood it. For brevity's sake, the stories were not told in their painful completion. So people are left to wonder... what exactly was shared to elicit such a reaction? We need more of these to reach more people - in a conniving way.

We cannot change how people up North may perceive the Marcoses. Loyalty, unfortunately, trumps History... remember that. 

But the North isn't all of the Philippines. The Metro area, where the nations's leading Universities can be found, is not doing anything to teach lessons learned in the recent past. The government has been inutile in ensuring such lessons are taught, much less, remembered. 

Because of that, we're all about to suffer from Martial Law Alzheimers, as most participants of said era age, die and wither to forgetfulness. Meanwhile, the Marcos machinery is patiently biding it's time to put a Marcos back into Malacanang. Bong bong is possibly now just one heartbeat away - and many people seem more than willing to make sure his path is clear towards that goal. 

We say it will be a slap to our international image if a Marcos wins in the elections... but we're all talk, and no action - just like a lot of politicians we so despise.

Then we raise the alarm when we see this happening? 

Methinks it's time to stop being reactive, and someone should start making sure lessons from the past are not forgotten.

Borrowing a phrase that a favorite journalist of mine, 'Here's the rub' -  It may already be too late. We're playing catch up against a well oiled, clearly organized, image-making machine. And I don't really know if we'll be getting any help from the incoming government, I wouldn't cont on it - more so if Marcos Jr. is it's Vice President. 

So,,, in six years... fearless forecast? Bong bong will have a really good chance to be President. If you want this - by all means, wait patiently. If you don't want this, what are you going to do about it?

Update - November 2023:
Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos has been the President of the Phipippne Republic for almost a year and a half now. The above article proved prophetic. Through some savvy political advancement, the Marcos and Duterte factions formed a formidable political machinery, and candidate Atty. Leni Robredo and followers realized that integrity does not count in seeking votes. Marcos and company won in an overwhelming landslide - though there may be some questionable practices by the COMELEC, it is just plain reality that said voting body was mostly appointees of the Dutertes. 

However, Bongbong has proven that he doesn't want to be recognized as a strong man, and is willing to keep things running ina democratic manner. Unfortunately, cronyism (that returned in Duterte's time) is back to full swing... they're not just making it too glaring, unlike the previous administration. So there's that.

Change is Coming (a.k.a. if Duterte wins)

This is one of a few notes I posted in Facebook a week before the Philippine Elections. Duterte has since won the elections - although an official announcement has yet to be made, and his opponents have since conceded victory to him.

In less than a week, this political ‘Game of Thrones’ that the Philippines is currently in will finally end, and as the dust settles, one person will eventually be victorious. Who will it be? If polls and the some of nation’s pulse are to be believed, it seem to be a tell tale sign for said change. Having asked a few people from differing walks of life, these people would proudly say they are voting for Duterte. When asked why, they respond that he will introduce change - one that will be beneficial to those in the lower class.

Let’s explore this a bit, shall we...

Many people believe that a Duterte win will change the status quo; that discipline will ensue; that drugs will be wiped out; that crime will be eradicated. That the inactions of the current administration, and it’s seeming insensitivity to the plight of ‘many not belonging to the ruling political party’; the ones seemingly ignored, will finally be addressed.

One the other hand, those supporting other candidates are not shy in saying the man is a dictator, he won’t respect the rule of law, nor will he shy away from killing. They even go so far to say that a win by Duterte will mean a return to Martial Law - raising the fear of losing all the gains this country has won, after the dictator was ousted.

Sounds like a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situation - right?

Let me play Devil’s Advocate for a while snd say this... I wish Duterte would win. Here’s why...

No Drugs: The proliferation of drugs will ground to a halt. Remember the Marcos years? All FM had to do was to have one drug lord executed, and suddenly, everyone get the message. Drug dealing will lead to your death... no Bilibid vacation with all the perks and continuous VIP treatment. Nada. Just a cold, shallow grave. Oh yeah, might as well suspend the Commission on Human Rights for a year - after all, during his honeymoon period (and beyond), they will just be a lone voice against the necessarily violent whirlwind of change. We could use the funding and energy for something else.

The law won’t allow this, but what the hey... why did we vote for him anyway, fi we won’t allow this to happen? It is part of his prerequisite to Peace and Order promise, right? It’s a small price to pay for a better, safer future for our kids (take note, Kris A. after all, your commercial says you’ll vote for someone who can make the Philippines safe for your kids.)

Medical Marijuana? Good luck convincing the man about it.

Limit Crime via Curfew: Since a lot of crime happens in the evening, why not use declare curfew. I’m sure a lot of parents will breath a sigh of relief knowing their kids will be home instead of partying until the wee hours of the morning. So will wives (or husbands) like the thought that their spouse will be home instead of enjoying themselves elsewhere.

it won’t be a problem for BPO employees since they’re working anyway... so long as they don’t go out and cross the streets to buy cigarettes - besides, the stores will most likely be closed anyway.

How about the hospitality business? Casinos, Pubs, Bars, Pleasure places? Sorry kiddies... closed by 12 - and for employees taking the public, even earlier, lest they get caught out in the street on the way home. Unless... like the BPOs, they keep their captive audiences until Curfew ends. There can always be exemptions given to certain locations, say like the Casino rich Pasay area - that is, if Duterte will allow gambling to prosper. Then again, he does not kowtow to the Catholic Church, so who knows?

Focus on the Nation: I mean, let’s face it... the man isn’t diplomatic. Already, there are worried concerns of being ostracized by other nations like the U.S., Singapore, Australia... and he hasn’t won yet. What happens if he does? Well the worry is that many non-resident workers will be forced to go back home.

Well, that’s good, right? Duterte will solve the brain-drain that is happening. And if people are out of the country, and get told to go back home by a country no longer welcoming them?Well... serves them right for unpatriotically leaving the Philippines, right? Never mind that they did it to help give a better life for the loved ones they left back here. And had they not left, we wouldn’t have too many broken families and delinquents.

Oh yeah... that better life? Goodbye. That Condo unit they’re paying for? Goodbye - and maybe because of that, the Condo industry will now have a more socialized pricing structure, rather than those ridiculously sky high prices that only the rich, the expats, or those working abroad, can afford. Okay, scratch out the last one, as they’ll be losing their jobs. But c’mon... it won’t be that bad. After all, how can these countries survive without the Filipino workforce? How can a lot of countries afford to lose their highly skilled, highly professional, highly diplomatic and service oriented workforce? What’s that you say, there are other countries willing to fill the void? Nonsense. The Filipino is world-class!

If he doesn’t win, others will claim to have a revolution. Interesting...

The problem is, revolutions primary movers are the people with money - and ones willing to risk some to win a lot. Such has always been the case. And the losers are mostly the poor. You’ve watched Les Miserables, go figure... who will suffer the least? The rich who are in position to protect their interests by hiring people to do just that. The poor will end up fighting the poor.

Duterte is not above receiving gifts. He finds nothing wrong with it. Guess who can give the gifts? The poor? So guess whose interests will continue to be protected?

You really want to get rid of the man? Let’s all support his trip to Spratlys with intent to plant the flag - let him be the hero.

I’m sure I can think of other ideas... but I think you get the picture. All these sacrifices acceptable to you? Are your interests aligned with this possible vision of the future? If yes... by all means, vote for change. After all, the current situation sucks, right? Right? Tell you what though... it really is tempting to go the Détente route.

Of course, I’m just rambling... what do I know?

Now... if I’m still around by tomorrow, I’ll focus my sights on other candidates as well. Until then, think about who you’ll vote for.

Boy... it's been ages!

Yeah. I mean, as the title says, it has been ages since my last blog.

Funny thing is, I had an excuse back then. I was busy. Now? Not too busy. So I plan to try reviving my blogs (not just this one; assuming I can remember their passwords. :) ) starting with this entry right now. Short and sweet... but I play to export a few other 'articles' or notes that I've written recently. I just need to get around to writing them.