- disturbing fantasies, traumatic verses, definitely mongrel thoughts
Name: mong palatino
activist, blogger and political journalist. email me at mongpalatino@gmail.com
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I remember reading last December an interesting article in The Economist about the possible link of beauty and success. The article mentioned several studies which showed that beautiful persons seem to be more intelligent and successful in life. Beautiful persons have higher salaries, higher IQ and they have higher chances of winning in elections. (Eh bakit nanalo si Joey Salceda, hehe)
Perhaps this explains the expanding profit margins of the global cosmetics industry. People need to look and feel beautiful at all times.
This was partly the same argument used by local cosmetic surgeons three years ago when they opposed the proposal of the House of Representatives to impose a 20 percent excise tax on cosmetic surgeries.
Rep. Abraham Mitra wanted to expand the list of non-essential goods subject to excise tax by including non-essential services such as nose lift, bust lift, breast augmentation, botox and liposuction in the tax base.
As expected, most of the doctors who were invited in the public hearings of Congress rejected Mitra’s proposal. They did not want to classify cosmetic surgery as a luxurious activity.
Among the invited medical specialists, it was only Dr. Alicia Lim of the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center who described cosmetic surgery as a “non-essential service” since according to her “it is not therapeutic, not life threatening and it is not medically indicated.” However, she appealed that reconstructive surgeries for cancer patients and for those who suffer deformities due to accidents should be exempted from the excise tax.
The other resource speakers did not agree with her. Dr. Pie Calayan explained that cosmetic surgery was first developed during the 1st World War when the broken bodies and faces of soldiers need to be restored. According to Calayan, cosmetic surgery boosted the morale of soldiers in the battlefields.
Calayan argued that cosmetic surgery is not a vanity and many of their patients do not belong to the super rich. Most of their patients “have bitter need or material necessity to look better to maintain their jobs and support their families.” Calayan pointed out that doctors do not just treat physical injuries but they also heal “emotional pain and broken spirits so that individuals shall have renewed feelings of themselves.”
Dr. Corazon Jose of the Philippine Liposuction Surgery and Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery warned that imposing new taxes on cosmetic surgery will lead to the proliferation of pseudo-cosmetic clinics. She noted that many of their patients are Overseas Filipino Workers and entertainers who need to enhance their physical appearances as a requirement for their better paying jobs.
She also testified that part of the high professional fees charged by cosmetic surgeons is spent for their continuous medical education.
Dr. Jose added that liposuction is a surgical procedure for unwanted fats “which uplifts the physical and psychological well-being of patients.” It also improves the level of blood sugar and blood pressure of patients. Rep. Mitra countered this point by citing a study in the New England Journal of Medicine which stated that the diabetes and other diseases of some women did not improve even after undergoing liposuction surgery.
Dr. Benjie Alonzo of the Philippine Academy for Aesthetic Surgery claimed that that tax proposal could hurt the cosmetic surgery industry. Contrary to the common impression, Alonzo clarified that there are only few cosmetic surgeons in the country. He said the industry became well-known because of TV exposure and other forms of advertisement.
Instead of imposing an excise tax on cosmetic procedures, most of the invited medical specialists proposed the promotion of medical tourism in the country in order to increase tax revenues.
In response to the testimonies presented by the resource speakers, Rep. Luis Villafuerte stressed that Congress is supporting reconstructive surgeries such as dental surgery, harelip procedure, hair transplant, organ transplant and other physical deformities. But Villafuerte added that cosmetic surgeries for uplifting self-image should be taxed.
Congress conducted several public consultations regarding the proposed tax measure. During the third public hearing, the cosmetic surgery industry presented a united front. Representatives from the Mendez Medical Group, Belo Medical Group, Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, Philippine Academy of Aesthetic Society and the Philippine Dermatological Society signed a position paper opposing the passage of the proposed bill.
They also advanced a new argument by citing a provision in the 1987 Constitution. They asserted that “patients who seek consultation for cosmetic and dermatological procedures have valid medical, psychological and emotional needs such that the imposition of a ‘vanity tax’ will be discriminatory as it will only apply to a certain group of patients who under the Constitution, have a right to the pursuit of happiness, a right to life and to the fullness of life.”
Rep. Jacinto Paras agreed with the invited medical specialists. He manifested his opposition to the proposed measure by also citing that the Constitution provides that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty and property and that cosmetic surgery is a form of cure and not vanity.
The bill was not approved. Maybe lawmakers did not pursue this proposal since they prioritized the passage of the E-VAT. But this issue will always be discussed every time the government wants to improve tax revenues. Public debate should continue whether cosmetic surgeries should be considered as non-essential services. The concept of luxury changes over time. A lawmaker declared in 2005 that TV sets and microwave ovens were no longer luxurious items.
A celebrity doctor reminds us that beauty is power. Indeed, beauty is important for many people. But the article in The Economist reminds us that real beauty is hard to fake. Beautiful persons emit “unfakeable signals” which are always detected by people. Perhaps what we should concentrate is the cultivation of real beauty within ourselves.
Related entries:
Urban facelift
E-VAT and riots
Manila as fake capital
Pangunahing tagapagsalita si Jun Lozada sa forum sa St. Scholastica Marikina kahapon. Ako at si Sister Mary John Mananzan ang mga reactor. Pakiramdam ko may halong lungkot at hinanakit ang mensahe ni Jun sa publiko. Kaya sinadya kong maging ganito ang tono ng aking tugon….
Bago pa man maging witness si Ginoong Jun Lozada sa senado, alam na nating sinabihan ni First Gentleman Mike Arroyo si Joey de Venecia na mag “back-off.” Alam na nating nag-alok si Chairman Ben Abalos kay Secretary Romulo Neri ng “Sec, may 200 ka dito.”
Nadagdagan ang ating kaalaman tungkol sa korupsiyon nang matapang na humarap si G. Lozada sa senado. Napatunayan natin na totoong may anomalya sa NBN-ZTE. Nabisto natin na “she is evil.” Sobrang sakim kaya hanggang “moderate their greed” na lang ang kayang ipayo. May “tongpats” pala ang kontrata. May “greedy group” sa palasyo. At masarap pala ang Ben’s Burjer.
Pero G. Lozada, higit pa dito ang naging bunga ng inyong binigay na testimonya. Pinaniwalaan kayo ng tao dahil sa inyong kredibilidad. Hinangaan kayo dahil nagsakripisyo kayo ng malaki para sa bayan. Naging inspirasyon ito sa marami upang tumindig at magpahayag ng disgusto sa nangyayari sa ating bansa.
Nagsalita ang mga dating nananahimik lamang sa tabi. Sumali sa mga protesta ang mga dating ayaw sumigaw sa kalye. Napukaw ang makabayang damdamin ng maraming mag-aaral. Naging truth-seeker ang maraming Pilipino. Lahat gustong hanapin at ipaglaban ang katotohanan, katarungan at pagbabago. Kahit ang Malakanyang, kasali daw sila sa krusada para sa katotohanan.
G. Lozada, dahil sa inyong pinakitang kagitingan at sinseridad, marami ang nanindigan laban sa korupsiyon. Hindi mabilang ang mga noise barrage, prayer rally, democracy walk, at mga piket sa bansa. Nagtayo ng truth center sa mga paaralan. Marami ang nag-ambag sa sanctuary fund.
Naalala ko ang mensahe ni Elsa sa pelikulang Himala. Aniya: Walang Himala! Walang himala! (with feelings ko ito sinabi ha) Pero sa totoo lang, mayroong himala. Mula Luzon hanggang Mindanao ay dumagundong ang tinig para sa pagbabago.
Gusto ng mga obispo ng communal action. Ang payo naman ni Archbishop Angel Lagdameo ay simulan daw natin ang pagdedebelop ng new brand of people power. Hindi ba’t ito ang nasaksihan natin nitong mga nakaraang buwan? Ang sama-samang pagkilos ng mamamayan, ang pagbuhos ng damdaming makabayan sa kalye, paaralan, parokya, siyudad at kahit sa mga probinsiya.
G. Lozada, kung mapapansin ninyo ay hindi lamang mga estudyante ang kaharap natin ngayon. Kapiling din natin ang mga guro’t empleyado ng St. Scholastica at mga residente ng Marikina. Senyales ito na totoong tapos na ang mga klase. Nagbabakasyon na ang mga kabataan.
Ito ang baging hamon sa inyo at sa atin. Paano pananatilihing mainit ang kampanya laban sa korupsiyon? Hindi dahil sa mainit ang panahon ay tutumbasan din ito ng init ng ating paglaban.
Kaya G. Lozada, dalhin natin ang mga truth forum sa komunidad, sa basketball court ng mga barangay, sa beach, sa Boracay. Medyo ilapit natin ang pagdadasal sa Malakanyang.
Ang hamon naman po sa ating mamamayan ay maghanap ng mga paraan kung paano higit na sisigla ang ating laban.
Halimbawa, sumulat po tayo sa mga senador. Bakit nila iuurong ang hearing tungkol sa NBN-ZTE? Hikayatin natin ang Batch 2008 na magsuot ng berdeng ribbon sa araw ng graduation – balita ko panukala ito ng mga mag-aaral ng Ateneo. Kung si Neri at si you-know-who ang spiker sa graduation, kayo na po bahala ang magdesisyon kung pakikinggan sila.
May ilan akong mga kaibigan nililipat ang channel ng TV sa tuwing nakikita nila ang mga mukha nina Neri, Abalos at you-know-who. Yung iba hindi tinatanggap ang P200, pinapalitan nila ito ng dalawang P100. Kailangan daw munang magsabi ng totoo si you-know-who bago nila kilalanin ang perang P200.
Sa Abril 5 ay kaarawan ni you-know-who. Ano ang mensahe natin sa kanya?
Kapag pupunta tayo ng beach, magpatugtog ng ZTE ringtone. Pumunta tayo ng Wack-Wack at magtanim ng palay. Magpacontest kung paano lulutuin ang Ben’s Burjer. Magsagawa ng foodfest na may temang “mga pagkaing pampalamig at pampaamin.”
Kumbinsihin natin ang Korte Suprema na baguhin ang kanilang desisyon hinggil sa kaso ni Neri at sa doktrinang executive privilege.
Noong Pebrero marami sa atin umasang magiging mabilis ang labang ito. Akala natin aabutin lang ng ilang linggo bago tuluyang lumabas ang buong katotohanan. Nasanay kasi tayo na instant lahat ang mga bagay-bagay. Instant noodles, instant padala, text messaging, email, pagdownload ng mga kanta, litrato, pelikula sa internet.
Pero sa totoong buhay, lalo na sa mundo ng pulitika, hindi ito posible. Maraming sakripisyo ang kailangan. Mahaba-haba pa ang pakikibaka. Masalimuot ang daan upang mahanap ang katotohanan. Hindi instant ang mga resulta. Hindi lahat ng plano masusunod.
Ang mahalaga, hindi tayo susuko. Hindi mawawalan ng lakas ng loob. Kumuha tayo ng inspirasyon mula sa paninindigang tama ang ating ipinaglalaban.
G. Lozada, lahat ng evil natatalo. Lahat ng evil babagsak. Hindi kayo nag-iisa. Hindi kayo iiwan ng kabataan.
Mabuhay ang probinsiyanong intsik! Mabuhay ang lumalabang sambayanan!
Related entries:
Mong as radio host
Turn off the TV campaign
Lozada as ideal witness
Manny Pacquiao at Nora Aunor
Political words of the years
Thank you Frances for providing the relevant documents I used in writing this article....
Six Asian countries claim the Spratly Islands -- China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. Disputes among these six parties have led to various minor military skirmishes, the detention of fisherfolk and diplomatic rows in the past three decades.
Control of the Spratlys is important since the region is supposed to contain large deposits of oil, gas, hydrocarbon and mineral resources. The islands are also strategically located in the sea lanes for commerce and transport in the South China Sea.
The Spratlys consist of about 26 islands and islets and 7 groups of rocks in the South China Sea found approximately between the latitude of 4 degrees to 11 degrees 30'N. and longitude 109 degrees 30'E. They have a maritime area of 160,000 square kilometers and an insular area of about 170 hectares.
The Spratlys are popular among fishermen. However, they are considered dangerous for commercial navigation. Maps from the early part of the last century have advised seamen to avoid passing through them.
Japan explored the Spratlys for military reasons during World War II. The British Admiralty and U.S. Navy have also ordered some top secret missions there. But the U.S. Navy never released the new charts of the Spratlys to civilian authorities. Writer Francois-Xavier Bonnet wonders about the role of the Spratlys during the Vietnam War.
In 1933 Senator Isabelo delos Reyes protested the French annexation of the Spratlys. A parliamentary committee studied the issue but the U.S. government, which controlled the Philippines at that time, did not take an interest in the matter.
In 1946 Vice President Elpidio Quirino claimed the Spratlys on behalf of the Philippine government. A year later, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs declared that the "New Southern Islands" previously occupied by Japan during World War II were part of Philippine territory.
In 1955 the Philippine military reported that the Spratly island group was of "vital proximity" to the country. The following year, Filipino navigator and businessman Tomas Cloma issued a "proclamation to the whole world" claiming ownership and occupation of the Spratlys. Cloma sent six letters to the government about the need to settle the question of ownership of the islands.
The vice president of the Philippines replied in 1957, assuring Cloma that the government "does not regard with indifference the economic exploitation and settlement of these uninhabited and unoccupied islands by Philippine nationals."
According to Filipino law professor Haydee Yorac, the Cloma Proclamation was the first assertion of title to the Spratlys after Japan renounced its ownership of the islands in 1951 and 1952.
In 1978 President Ferdinand Marcos issued a proclamation declaring ownership of most of the islands in the Spratlys. The area was renamed the Kalayaan (Freedom) Island Group. The proclamation laid the following basis for the Philippine claim: "By virtue of their proximity and as part of the continental margin of the Philippine archipelago"; that "they do not legally belong to any state or nation, but by reason of history; indispensable need, and effective occupation and control established in accordance with international law"; and while other states have laid claims to some of these areas, their claims have lapsed by abandonment and cannot prevail over that of the Philippines on legal, historical, and equitable ground."
In 1995 President Fidel Ramos articulated the Philippine position regarding the Spratlys issue. He said "I would like to clarify that the Philippines does not only claim eight islands in the Spratlys but owns all islands and waters in the Spratlys as defined in the presidential decree issued by former President Marcos."
Militarization of the Spratlys started in the 1970s. The Philippines sent a military contingent to occupy some of the islands in 1971. After four years, the Philippines had already established a military presence in six islands. Today, the Philippines occupies eight islands in the area.
The Philippine military insists it is ready to protect and assert Philippine sovereignty in the Spratlys at all costs. However, in the mid-1980s Defense Secretary Rafael Ileto publicly recommended that the Philippines should give up its claim to the islands, since it had limited capacity to defend them.
Prospects are dim for international bodies like the International Court of Justice, International Tribunal on the Law and the U.N. Charter to resolve the issue of ownership in the Spratlys. A military solution should be avoided since it would threaten the stability of the region and the world. The best approach should be the forging of bilateral and multilateral agreements among claimants.
Retired Philippine Ambassador Rodolfo A. Arizala has proposed the following options to peacefully settle the Spratlys dispute: Antarctic type of treaty, joint administration and co-imperium or condominium.
The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by 12 countries which agreed to "freeze" their claims on the Antarctic Territories for the duration of the treaty. In the meantime, the claimants vowed to work for the development of new international legal arrangements to settle the dispute and the launching of scientific and cooperative activities in the region.
Co-imperium or condominium refers to joint rights of administration. Condominium, in particular, covers the right to dispose of a territory.
In 2004 the Philippines, Vietnam and China signed the controversial "Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking in Certain Areas in the South China Sea." The agreement excluded other claimants in the region. The agreement also covered many islands in the Spratlys which are claimed only by the Philippines. Opposition politicians are accusing the Philippine president of having committed treason.
Is the "Joint Undertaking" the proper way to resolve the issue of ownership in the Spratlys? Dialogue among all parties should be continued. Cooperative activities should be pursued. But these approaches should all be done in a transparent manner.
Related entries:
Mao as educator
Velvet revolution
Asean and human rights
How do we remember the past? Which events should be highlighted? Who are the real heroes and villains? Should we always accept the official version of history? Perceptions are changing. Every generation rewrites the story of the past. History is always re-interpreted to serve the needs of the present. Revisiting the past is a potent dose to cure a nation’s trauma. But can we really exorcise the demons of our collective consciousness?
For example, how do we analyze Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law regime? Japan’s invasion during the second world war? What should we tell our children about Marcos and Japan? Should we continue treating Marcos and Japan as the embodiment of excessive/evil governance?
Marcos was a strong leader who had the chance to reform Philippine society but ended up permanently disfiguring the political institutions of the country. He vowed to make the Philippines a great nation but after his long reign, the country had become the ‘sick man of Asia.’
Japan was a trading partner of the Philippines before the start of World War II. Japanese communities were thriving in the country especially in Davao and other parts of Mindanao. Japan’s real motive in coming to the country was revealed when it invaded the Philippines in 1941-45.
Marcos is the epitome of a ruthless dictator. He jailed his enemies, censored the press, terrorized the public and undermined democracy in the country. When critics of President Gloria Arroyo describe her as the “worst human rights violator since Marcos,” they are not only symbolically comparing Arroyo with Marcos. More significantly, they are affirming the popular notion that Marcos is still the most familiar personification of a tyrannical ruler.
Japan’s atrocities during the occupation are legendary. Towns and farm communities were ransacked, Churches were destroyed, women and children were abused, jewelries and other peoples’ possessions were taken away. Japan, despite its avowed benevolent intentions, became the symbolic figure of a despotic colonial power.
Filipinas who were raped by Japanese soldiers were known as “comfort women.” Some are still alive today. More than sixty-years after the crime was committed, the comfort women continue to seek justice. Will this be the same fate of human rights victims who are claimants to the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses? Are they doomed to fail in their agonizing quest for retribution and compensation?
The comfort women and human rights claimants are living proofs of the excesses committed by Japan and Marcos. They are the “ghosts of past generations”; the “undead” which continue to haunt the nation. They tellingly show our failure to heal the wounds of past traumas or to put closure on these issues. The absence of a decisive act which will punish the wrongdoers torments the public in many ways; chief of them is obscuring the other traumatic episodes in the country’s past.
But before I delve further on this matter, I want to discuss another unintended consequence of our failure to come into terms with the past. The comfort women and human rights victims evoke not only painful memories; their continuing existence has also made it possible for Japan and Marcos to positively influence public opinion to some extent.
Crimes were committed in the past. Criminals remain unpunished. The people are angry. But public rage is redirected mainly towards the issues raised by the comfort women and human rights claimants. Public sentiment seems to argue this point: “Respect the right of victims to seek redress but in the meantime, when a final judgment is still suspended, allow the people to renew ties with Japan and the Marcoses; past abuses can be settled amicably in the near future.”
And so we do not forget that Japan and Marcos committed grave abuses in the past. But this kind of remembering no longer stirs a hard resentment against Japan and Marcos. The sad plight of comfort women and human rights victims is recognized but it is relegated as a side issue which allowed us to acknowledge the other legacies of Japan and Marcos.
Isn’t Japan an economic powerhouse providing jobs and aid to poor Filipinos? Isn’t Japan an ideal destination for entertainers, caregivers and domestic helpers? Marcos was a dictator but didn’t he build roads, bridges, convention centers, hospitals and mass housing for the poor? Didn’t he revolutionize farm productivity? Didn’t he discipline Filipinos who do not obey traffic rules and laws?
The irony here is that while our opinion against Marcos and Japan has mellowed over the years, they have remained as the supreme symbols of repressive leadership. Marcos represents the vicious dictator while Japan is the oppressive colonial power. Our fixation over Marcos and Japan, partly made possible by the continuing existence of the comfort women and human rights victims, prevents us from addressing the other traumatic episodes in the past.
Japan invaded the country in less than four years. But Spain subjugated the Philippines for three centuries. The United States pacified the Filipinos during the first few decades of the last century by waging a genocidal war. Before Iraq and Vietnam, there was the Philippines. It is not only Japan which brutally murdered and abused our people. Spain converted us into brown Roman Catholics, the United States taught us to love apples, English and Hollywood, but they also employed indiscriminate violence to achieve their aims.
Marcos was a dictator but we should not assume that the country’s other presidents practiced democracy. Blaming Marcos for all the problems of the country is not correct. It absolves past governments of their accountability for the anti-poor policies they implemented. It hinders us from understanding the dominant political-economic system which is truly responsible for the country’s continuing destituteness.
Highlighting Japan’s invasion and Marcos’ dictatorial regime to explain the backward conditions in the country is necessary to preserve the status quo. The people should not be made to learn the roots of the problem. The people should be taught that the Philippines was a feudal paradise before the second world war and it was the second richest country in Asia during the 1950s-1960s. But Japan invaded and destroyed the Philippines while Marcos stole the country’s wealth. A good script, a useful myth, a very powerful excuse to justify the restoration of the old ruling order.
History should be learned and re-learned. But the more important question should be this: Whose viewpoint of history should we learn?
Related entries:
Aguinaldo-Imelda
Marcos as scapegoat
Conjugal dictators
Return the books
South Korean invasion
Kung ikaw ay nakasakay ng LRT-2 at manggagaling ka ng Santolan, ang pinakadulong istasyon na pwede mong abutin ay Recto (may balak na dugtungan ang LRT-2 hanggang Divisoria sa hinaharap).
Bago itinayo ang LRT-2, hindi sikat ang istasyon ng Doroteo Jose ng pinakaunang LRT sa bansa. Para sa akin, bababa lang ako ng Doroteo Jose noon upang puntahan ang Popular Bookstore. Nang sinimulan ang operasyon ng LRT-2, naging mahalagang istasyon na ang Doroteo Jose. Malapit kasi ito sa istasyon ng Recto ng bagong LRT. Biglang dumami ang bilang ng mga taong sumasakay at bumababa sa Doroteo Jose.
Isang elevated walkway ang nagdudugtong sa Recto at Doroteo Jose. Uso talaga ngayon ang mga walkway at footbridge. Maraming tinatayong mga tulay-daanan kung saan-saan. Ilan sa mga ito ay matatagpuan sa Makati, Cubao, Commonwealth at Edsa-Taft.
Tinuturing kong mini-flyover ang mga walkway. Pinapadulas ng mga ito ang trapiko dahil ang tao ay naglalakad sa ibabaw ng kalye. Nagiging mabilisan din ang byahe ng mga pedestrian; tuluy-tuloy kasi ang kanilang paglalakad. Walang mga sagabal sa daan, walang detour na nagpapatagal ng byahe.
Para itong pulisiya ng pamahalaan sa ekonomiya: neoliberalismo. Kailangan walang restriksiyon sa pagpasok ng mga kalakal sa bansa. Kailangan mabilis ang transaksiyon sa negosyo sa pamamagitan ng pag-alis ng taripa at pakikialam ng gobyerno.
Malayang galaw ng kapital. Malayang pangangalakal. Tila ito rin ang pakay ng mga walkway. Tila ito rin ang mga dahilan kung bakit itinayo ang walkway sa pagitan ng Recto-Doroteo Jose.
Oo mabilis ang byahe sa LRT. Pero may patid sa paghahatid ng tao sa kanilang mga destinasyon kapag kailangang lumipat ng tren ang mga pasahero mula LRT-1 tungo sa LRT-2. May restriksiyon sa galaw ng mga tao kapag lumilipat sila ng istasyon. Halimbawa, humahaba ang oras ng byahe ng mga tao kapag bababa pa sila ng istasyon ng Recto at lalakarin ang maduming daan patungong Doroteo Jose.
Pinaikli ng walkway ang distansiya sa pagitan ng Recto-Doroteo Jose. Inalis ang mga abala sa daan. Hindi na kailangang tumawid sa mga kalye ng Recto at Avenida na pinamumugaran ng mga maliliit na mangangalakal (street vendor), pulubi, adik, snatcher, pusher, prosti, bugaw, kotong cop, barker at mga anarkistang drayber. Mas ligtas at mabilis ngayon ang byahe ng mga tao. Wala ng pagkakataon upang makasalamuha ang mga panget, mabaho at mababaw na uri ng mga tao. Sa elevated walkway ay may pribilehiyong sulyapan sa ibaba ang mga di mapalad na nilalang ng lipunan.
May isa pa akong obserbasyon. Mahaba-haba ang walkway ng Recto-Doroteo Jose. Pero hindi boring ang paglalakad. Ang tanawin sa labas ng walkway ay nakakapagpamulat tungkol sa tunay na mukha ng kahirapan sa bansa. Hindi pwedeng hindi makita ang isang komunidad ng mahihirap sa gilid mismo ng walkway.
Minsan habang naglalakad ako sa walkway ay naalala ko ang bagong bukas na Ocean Park malapit sa Quirino Grandstand. Sa Ocean Park ay papasok ka sa isang tube kung saan pwede mong makita ang mga maliliit at malalaking isda. Pwede mong pagmasdan ang kanilang mga kulay, hugis, at paglangoy sa tubig. Hindi mo ito pwedeng gawin kung totoong nasa ilalim ka ng dagat.
Hindi ba’t ganito na rin ang konsepto ng mga bagong zoo sa mundo? Malayang nakakagalaw ang mga hayop sa isang protected wildlife area; hindi sila nakakulong. Habang ang mga turista naman ay ligtas na nakasakay sa isang trak o sasakyan. Masusing tinutunghayan at kinukunan ng litrato ng mga tao ang gawi ng mga hayop sa parang.
Ganito rin ang eksena sa pagtawid sa walkway ng Recto-Doroteo Jose. Public exhibit ang exotic na buhay ng mahihirap. Parang turista ang mga pedestrian. Napapanood ang loob at labas ng bahay ng mga mahihirap sa isang ligtas ng paraan. Walang salamin na nakaharang tulad sa Ocean Park pero may transparent na bintana na naghihiwalay sa walkway at sa komunidad. Ibig sabihin, hindi pwedeng saktan, batuhin at hawakan ng mga mahihirap ang mga malilinis na tao na naglalakad sa walkway. (Parang bintana sa mga tren ng lumang PNR; mabisang pangharang sa mga basurang tinatapon ng mga residente sa gilid ng riles).
Araw-araw nakagimbal sa paningin ng mga pasahero ang buhay ng mga tao sa komunidad na yun. Pawang gawa sa pinagtagpi-tagping lumang plywood ang mga tila marurupok na bahay. Ang ilan ay may ikatlong palapag ang tinitirhan. Ang kulay orange na mahahabang tali sa pagitan ng mga bahay ay hindi art installation; linya ng kuryente pala. Ang mga metro ng Meralco ay nakalagay sa ibabaw ng poste; para daw hindi nakawin at gamitin sa mga ilegal na koneksiyon. Nakalabas ang mga sinampay na damit. May gulong sa ibabaw ng mga bubungan. Iba-iba ang laki ng mga antenna ng TV. May nag-iigib sa poso, mayroon din namang water pump at water tank ang iba. May nanonood ng TV, nag-aalaga ng bata, dinig ang karaoke sa isang bahay. Hindi pansin ng ilang residente na sila ay pinagmamasdan. Sanay na kaya sila sa tanaw ng mga taong hindi naman nila kapitbahay?
Hindi permanente ang tanawin sa labas ng walkway ng Recto-Dorote Jose. Malay natin sa susunod na araw kulay asul at pink na ang dingding ng mga bahay. Baka umatake na ang MMDA (f)Art. Hindi ba’t kailangang gawing metro guwapito ang siyudad ngayong taon? O kaya naman bigla na lang mawala ang komunidad. Sa ngalan ng kaunlaran, kailangang gibain ang komunidad. Hindi ito malayong mangyari. Sunud-sunod ang mga demolisyon sa Metro Manila ngayon.
Pero ang higit na trahedya ay ang kawalang-pakialam ng ilang pedestrian. Ang kabiguan na maramdaman ang pighati ng kapwa. Ang di pagtingin sa komunidad ng mahihirap habang dumadaan sa walkway sa takot na makakita ng mga matang mabagsik ang lungkot. Ang paglamig ng emosyon sa sinasapit ng maralita. Ang pag-alis sa malay na napadaan siya sa komunidad ng maralita.
Hindi lang tayo pedestrian o pasahero kapag dumadaan sa walkway ng Recto-Doroteo Jose. Tayo ay mga Pilipino din: mga nagmamalasakit sa kapwa; galit dahil sa kahirapang nasasaksihan at nararanasan natin; higit sa lahat, mga Pilipinong handang baguhin ang lipunang binubuyangyang ang sugat ng pagkaagnas sa mata at matwid ng publiko.
Pebrero 28, kasama ko si Leng ng Anakbayan. Papunta kami ng DLSU galing PUP. Bisperas yun ng malaking rali sa Ayala. Habang naglalakad kami sa walkway ng Recto-Doroteo Jose ay bigla kong naisip na marahil ang tunay na kinakatukatan ni Gloria Arroyo at ng mga burgis sa lipunan ay hindi ang tipo ng People Power na naganap noong 1986 at 2001. Binabangungot sila ng takot na ang People Power ay maging tunay na pag-aalsa ng mamamayang inaapi. Takot sila sa rebolusyon ng mahihirap na maaaring lahukan ng mga taong nasa gilid ng walkway. Takot sila sa rebolusyong proletaryo. Takot sila sa atin.
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Displacement
Read my Global Voices blog roundup on the Spratly Islands deal. For a historical background on the rice shortage crisis, read this article which I wrote a year ago.
Smuggling, or the illegal entry of goods, used to be confined to the Philippines' numerous private ports. This was facilitated by the country's long coastline, since smuggled goods could be easily sneaked in through one of the more than 7,000 islands of the Philippines.
But now smuggling is prevalent even in the country's free ports. Smuggled products are shipped as ordinary goods and unloaded in broad daylight for trading in the local market. From garments to ceramic tiles, second-hand and luxury cars, agricultural products, electronic gadgets, home appliances and jewelry, smuggled goods are flooding the local market and wiping out the earnings of small Filipino traders.
In 2000 the Philippines' trading partners reported that they had exported US$45 billion worth of goods to the country, but government figures registered only US$34 billion worth of imports. This means more than $10 billion worth of goods were unaccounted for or missing.
Since 2006, an estimated 100,000 smuggled vehicles have been shipped in to just one free port north of Manila. Last year, 4 billion liters of oil were lost to smuggling.
Technical smuggling is accomplished through undervaluation, misclassification, misdeclaration and abuse of tax incentives. The most common mode of smuggling involves the undervaluation of imported goods. Traders misdeclare or undervalue their imports to evade paying the right duties and taxes.
Many sectors want to make smuggling an act of economic sabotage since it hurts the country in many ways. Every year, the government is losing US4 billion in revenues because of smuggling activities. The foregone revenues could have been used for vital social and economic services. The amount is enough to cover the government's budget deficit.
Smuggling affects local industries in a negative way. The manufacturing sector is down, companies lose profit and many small traders have gone bankrupt. Smuggling wipes out jobs in the local economy and destroys the livelihood of farmers. According to an advocacy group, smuggling has displaced 300,000 vegetable farmers, 60,000 shoe workers and 7,000 workers in the auto parts industry.
Smuggling also endangers the health and welfare of consumers since smuggled goods do not undergo the necessary procedures for quality screening.
Smuggling is booming because there is widespread corruption in government. Technical smuggling can only thrive if unscrupulous traders collude with Customs officials. Many politicians are protectors of big-time smugglers. According to the head of the anti-smuggling agency of government, the former speaker of the House of Representatives has lobbied for the protection of a suspected smuggler. The camp of the former speaker retorted that it was the First Gentleman who is behind the rampant smuggling operations in the country.
The trading and auditing systems are also prone to corruption. There is inefficiency in strictly monitoring accuracy of import documents, especially those involving transshipment activities. There are no regular inspections of Customs bonded warehouses. The tedious administrative and judicial processes restrict Customs officials in seizing and disposing of smuggled goods.
Government bodies have all failed in the campaign to fight smuggling. The government has not yet prosecuted a major smuggler in the country. In fact, no smuggler has ever been jailed.
To defeat smuggling, the Bureau of Customs needs to be reformed and modernized. Customs personnel should be insulated from political patronage. Increasing the salaries of employees can also minimize corruption in the bureaucracy.
Government agencies have to coordinate efforts and strategies to arrest smuggling operations. Laws need to be strictly enforced. Auditing and recording of trade data should be improved.
Three years ago, the Lower House passed a bill amending the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines. This measure would have addressed the loopholes of the law which prevent authorities from detecting and curbing smuggling in the country. But the senate has failed to tackle and approve a similar bill.
Today there is a pending proposal to amend the obsolete provisions of the law. Preventive measures can be implemented to reduce opportunities for technical smuggling. This bill should be certified as a priority measure of Congress.
An amended law can require greater participation of the private sector in the fight against smuggling. Local industries can be tapped by the Customs in determining transaction values of imported goods.
Current penalty provisions against smuggling are too light. There should be more severe punishments for importers, financiers, Customs officials and politicians who are involved in smuggling activities. It's about time to increase penalty provisions to deter smuggling. The government should set an example by arresting and punishing big-time smugglers and their political patrons.
The Philippines can also ratify the Revised Kyoto Convention. Compliance with the treaty can minimize the cost of clearing Customs in other countries, reduce delays in getting goods into the country and remove opportunities for extortion in Customs procedures.
Many people assume that smuggling is beneficial since smuggled goods are priced cheaper than locally made products. But smuggling doesn't contribute to the well-being of the people. Smuggling is not good for the economy. Smuggling weakens transparency in governance and engenders disregard for the rule of law. Smuggling poses a great risk to consumer welfare. In a social set-up where smuggling is rampant, the poor suffer the most.
Smuggling reflects the weak governance in the Philippines. It further proves how corruption exerts a negative impact on the economic life of the country. Smuggling is rampant today, but it can be defeated. Transparency and good governance are needed to stamp out corruption in the bureaucracy. Political will is required to eliminate smuggling operations.
Related articles:
Worsening hunger
Corrupt nation
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Women comprise almost half of the Philippine population. But they continue to be marginalized and discriminated in our society.
According to the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, the number of female-headed households has been increasing in recent years. Female labour force participation rate lags behind the male in the past ten years. Filipino women are likely to be unpaid family workers compared to the men who are likely to be wage-and-salary and own-account workers. Majority of women who went abroad for work are labourers and unskilled workers.
Filipino men and women have almost the same educational status but there is gender-tracking in education which leads to work situations where men generally occupy the highest occupational ranks and the highest paying positions. For example, more than half of government workers are women but the top posts are held by men.
Women suffer from lack of access to Reproductive Health services. Maternal mortality rate in the country is one of the highest in the region. Maternal mortality is pegged at 170 per 100,000 live births compared to only 36 in Thailand, 50 in Malaysia and 95 in Vietnam. The leading cause of maternal deaths is post-partum hemorrhage. Infant mortality rates are high too.
The number of violence against women cases reported to the police increased six-fold in the past decade. Physical injuries and wife battery topped the list of cases.
The 1987 Constitution reaffirms the principle of equality of women and men before the law. However, some laws continue to marginalize women. There is no definition of discrimination in the national legislation. There are existing laws or provisions therein that continue to discriminate against women, e.g., definition of infidelity, treating sex workers as petty criminals under the anti-vagrancy provision in the Revised Penal Code, Code of Muslim Personal Laws which permit marriage of girls under the age of 18, polygamy and arranged marriages.
There is need for gender-responsive legislation which will consider the different situations and experiences of women and men. These measures will address gender gaps by legislating gender equity measures. These will also ensure the empowerment of women and their active participation in decision-making.
What are some of the proposed laws in the 14th Congress?
The Magna Carta of Women is envisioned as an omnibus law to eliminate discrimination against women and to recognize, respect, protect, fulfill and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, particularly the poor and marginalized. It also provides for gender mainstreaming as strategy for implementing the law.
Another priority proposal is the drafting of a comprehensive national policy on reproductive health care. This will incorporate issues on population development, responsible parenthood, parenting, men’s involvement, corporate social responsibility, financing for family planning, adolescent reproductive health, and sexuality education. The country is committed to reduce maternal mortality rate and increase access to Reproductive Health services as part of the Millennium Development Goals.
Other proposals include the following: Magna Carta for the Informal Sector, Kasambahay Law, enabling law on local sectoral representation, amendment to the definition of “trafficking” to include “attempted trafficking”, and a law decriminalizing prostitution.
Women issues are not top priority of Congress despite the recent appointment of a deputy speaker for the women sector in the Lower House. This means the public has to step up the pressure so that lawmakers will be compelled to discuss vital measures on women welfare.
Gender-neutral language
Dr. Thelma Kintanar’s Primer on Gender-Fair Language is useful to avoid sexism in language. We should recognize that language can always be used to “devalue members of one sex and thus foster gender inequity.”
There are different kinds of sexist language which “renders women invisible and diminishes their stature.”
Next time, we should be more careful in choosing our words since language is a powerful tool in transmitting cultural values and biases to children. It will be difficult to overcome the use of sexist words in our daily activities since many of us do not realize how language reinforces unequal gender relations in society.
What are some of the guidelines for non-sexist writing?
Instead of using the term ‘man’ to refer to humanity, it is better to use the term ‘humanity itself. Labour or human resources are more appropriate instead of manpower. Chairperson is correct, chairman is wrong. We should use nouns that include both man and woman.
Avoid using he, his, and him to refer to generic man. We can use the plural form or cite both sexes: he/she, she and he or s/he.
Sex-role stereotyping should be avoided. ‘Lady senator’ is not being respectful since it assumes that the occupation is reserved mainly for men. The same is true for ‘lady doctor.’ The lesson here is to avoid language that emphasizes the sex or sex role of the referent. Another example: it is normal to use the term ‘working mothers’ or ‘working wives.’ But why is it strange to use ‘working fathers’ or ‘working husbands’?
Phallocentric metaphors reflect the male-centered view of the world (penetrate, thrust, master). While metaphors used for women treat the latter like a commodity or something to be eaten (cheesecake, honey, sugar, chick).
When sexist language is used in our researches, we can paraphrase the quote, correct the sexist part, and credit the original author. Sexist language is difficult to eradicate in a feudal or macho society. But we can always begin to use a gender-fair language as a manifestation of our commitment to build a more humane and respectful society of civilized individuals.
Related entries:
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Child-friendly governments
Overpopulation
Students have been very active in expressing their disenchantment against the unabated corruption in government. Students are particularly incensed over the national broadband network mess. Many student groups are already calling for the president’s resignation.
There was indignation in 2005 after the release of the ‘Hello Garci’ recording. But protest activities in campuses during that time were not as frequent, big and loud like we are witnessing today.
Pro-government analysts may accuse the ‘naive’ students of being part of the hakot crowd of their teachers and school administrators. But students are thinking young adults. They can always refuse to participate in prayer rallies or noise barrages organized by school officials. Besides, most of the activities in the campaign for truth, accountability and reform are student initiatives. This is important since young people are learning to understand the importance of being politically engaged to improve governance in the country.
Why are students receptive to the campaign against the ‘morally-bankrupt’ Arroyo regime? Why is Arroyo unpopular among student leaders?
Today’s students have little recollection of Arroyo as a reformist politician of the country. Before 2005 Arroyo was perceived by many young people as the ‘people power’ president who is intellectually and morally superior to her predecessor. Arroyo was admired because of her family ties, work ethics, and academic achievements. In fact, she topped the 1995 senate race and was elected as vice president in 1998.
Before 2005 many students could still recall that Arroyo was once a promising and brilliant leader of the country. But today’s college students are too young to remember those days. Students are mostly familiar with Arroyo’s weaknesses as president. Unfortunately, Arroyo is recognized by students as the ‘Hello Garci’ president. Contributing to the unpopularity of Arroyo are the following issues: human rights violations, authoritarian leadership, charter change, deteriorating education, attack on press freedom, withholding the public right to information, undermining the work of Congress and of course corruption. Students are also aware of the extent of poverty and hunger in the country.
Arroyo is now viewed as a typical trapo who will compromise her principles in exchange for political survival. Can we blame students why they seem very interested in joining anti-Arroyo activities?
The youth is accused of being apathetic to social and political issues. Students are beginning to prove their critics wrong. Let them participate in the truth campaign, communal actions and ‘resign Arroyo’ movement. Students will inspire the development of a new brand of people power.
Ideal witness
Jun Lozada is not the first witness who testified against corruption in government. Before Lozada there were other brave individuals who exposed various anomalies in government involving the First Family. But why is Lozada more popular than the other whistleblowers? Why is the public willing to believe the testimony of the ‘probinsiyanong instsik’?
Lozada corroborated the claim of businessman Joey de Venecia that Chairman Ben Abalos was the broker of the broadband deal between the government and Chinese firm ZTE. But Lozada was careful not to implicate the president in the scandal. There is some truth in the assertion of government apologists that Lozada didn’t say anything about the actual role of the president in approving the controversial project.
Former senate witnesses have given more damning testimonies which further eroded the credibility of Arroyo. Some of these witnesses include Sandra Cam, Michaelangelo Zuce, Vidal Doble, Richard Garcia, Udong Mahusay, and Ador Mawanay. But why is Lozada enjoying a superhero status which eluded the ex-whistleblowers?
Perhaps Lozada’s instant stardom is a testament to the mighty power of TV to influence public opinion. Then Lozada’s dramatic appearance in public after he was abducted by state agents stirred public sentiment to his favor.
Lozada believes the truth is protecting him. But there may be another reason why Lozada has become a credible icon of truth-seekers and anti-corruption crusaders. Lozada embodies the ideals and aspirations of the middle class. He was a product of an elite Catholic school, he was a successful executive, he drives a BMW, he plays golf, his children are studying in the right schools, he is religious, he cares for his family and he is an admirer of Jose Rizal. In short, the middle forces and other opinion makers consider him to be “one of us.” Lozada’s personality and politics are acceptable to the moderate forces of society. He is the perfect witness.
No politicians
Many groups protested the appearance of former presidents Cory Aquino and Joseph Estrada at the stage of the big Ayala rally last February 29. According to these groups, the interfaith gathering should not be used as an opportunity for politicians to advance their personal interests. But why is nobody complaining about the attendance of Bro. Eddie Villanueva? He was a former presidentiable, he has a political party and he still has an ambition to be the president someday.
Star witness Jun Lozada does not want to be identified with politicians. His supporters are preventing politicians from sitting beside him during prayer assemblies. But why is Lozada comfortable sitting beside Aquino? Cory is a politician. To argue that she is not a politician is like asserting that Mike Arroyo is just a private citizen. Aquino was a former president, she was one of the pillars of People Power II, and she endorses candidates during elections. She is very much involved in partisan political activities.
Instead of outrightly banning politicians from anti-Arroyo rallies, why not organize a program which will not be dominated by politicians? These politicians, however repulsive their personalities, must be engaged to be part of the movement against corruption in the Arroyo government. Besides, what’s the use of banning the media-hungry politicians when some of the self-appointed civil society groups are behaving worse than the politicians themselves?
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Seven years
The Philippines is blessed with abundant natural resources. Its marine biodiversity is among the best in the world. Food crops can easily grow in the country's fertile lands. But there are many Filipinos who are hungry today. Even farmers, who constitute a significant sector in Philippine society, are among the starving Filipinos.
The hunger situation is alarming. The National Statistical Coordination Board, which is a government agency, stated that more than 11 million Filipinos were considered food-poor or living below subsistence level in 2003. Hunger is prevalent mostly in the southern regions of the Philippines.
According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, almost 10 million families had a per capita food intake below 100 percent of the dietary energy requirement in 2003. The Food and Agricultural Organization in 2005 reported that there were more than 17 million undernourished Filipinos.
Food insecurity is blamed for the fact that many preschool children are underweight and malnourished. An economist pointed out that "inadequate food can adversely influence workers' productivity." The World Bank in 1996 estimated that the total annual economic loss due to malnutrition was about US$8 billion.
The main reason why hunger is worsening is the people's lack of income to buy food. A government-sponsored survey in 2001 revealed that eight out of 10 households experienced financial difficulty in purchasing food. The National Statistics Office also noted that Filipino families are spending less on food items. In 1994 about 48 percent of household expenditures were allotted for food. A decade later, the share of food expenditures went down to 42 percent.
Rice used to be the staple food of Filipinos. Now it is quickly being replaced by instant noodles which are cheaper but less nutritious. Politicians are even doling out instant noodles in urban poor communities and evacuation centers in calamity-stricken provinces.
Food supplies are stable but they are available mostly in areas where people have enough income for food expenditures. The unequal distribution of income in the country explains the seemingly low demand for food in low-income places.
A political ally and economic adviser of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has warned that the hunger crisis will be worse this year. The analyst observed that the price in the world market of corn had gone up by 88 percent, coconut oil by 96 percent, rice by up to 54 percent, soybeans by 103 percent, soybean meal by 85 percent and wheat by 148 percent.
The higher cost of these basic commodities will force more Filipinos to spend less on food. Oil price hikes will also affect the cost of transporting food supplies which will definitely aggravate starvation in the country.
The disturbing hunger situation unmasks the exaggerated economic report of the government. The prevalence of hunger proves that sound economic fundamentals are just empty statistics. Progress is not felt by ordinary Filipinos. Economic growth has little "trickle-down" effect which is essential to improve the well-being of the people.
Hunger is the face of abject poverty. It is a disquieting reflection of the sad state of affairs in a country known for its world-class fruits and other food exports. Hunger drives many Filipinos to use radical means to achieve reforms in society.
Landless and starving peasants comprise the majority of the communist guerrilla forces in the Philippine countryside. Some Filipinos express their despair by committing suicide. Last year, a 12-year-old girl hanged herself out of desperation over her family's very poor condition.
State intervention is urgently needed. It is good that hunger mitigation programs are now implemented in different provinces of the country. Government outlets are providing cheaper food items. Food rationing is offered in some places. Food aid is spearheaded by U.N. agencies in very poor villages.
A rice distribution program is conceptualized in schools to improve school attendance and reduce hunger at the same time. These programs need to be shielded from corruption. For example, local politicians are allegedly interfering with the school feeding program by hoarding rice supplies.
The government should rethink its program of planting biofuel crops. Policymakers should decide whether it is right to prioritize ethanol generation over food production at a time when hunger rates are rising. Focusing on biofuels could exacerbate the hunger situation. The available fertile lands in the country should be cultivated for the food requirements of the people.
The long-term solution to hunger is the improvement of the nation's productivity. The government should stimulate the economy by investing in industries that would create more jobs and livelihoods for the poor. The people should have sufficient incomes to increase their food expenditures.
Good governance is required to make sure that hunger mitigation programs are implemented properly. Reducing corruption in government can generate more resources that can be used to fund research on how to improve food production. Distribution of food supplies should target communities where hunger rates are very high.
Hunger should not be a major issue in a predominantly agricultural nation like the Philippines. But statistics show that many Filipinos have nothing to eat on their tables. The irony here is that the Philippines was able to achieve spectacular economic growth for successive 25 quarters.
If the economy is improving, why are there many hungry Filipinos? If hunger persists, it only proves that the fruits of a maturing economy are not enjoyed by the poor and ordinary people.
Related entries:
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Philippine Airlines requires its passengers to appear at the check-in terminal two hours before the flight. Cebu Pacific passengers are asked to arrive one hour before the flight. Passengers are disallowed to board the plane if they fail to appear before the check-in time. This seems reasonable for international flights but I hope domestic flights will allow the boarding of passengers who arrive at the airport 20-30 minutes before the time of departure. Local flights are always delayed (sometimes even more than one hour) yet passengers have no choice but to wait at the departure lounge.
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It never rains when I have my umbrella with me. But every time I forgot to bring my umbrella, it always rains hard. When I’m early for a meeting, traffic is always light and there are no unnecessary delays in the journey. But when I’m already late for a meeting or an important activity, traffic is always heavy, drivers wait too long at bus stops, jeepney drivers will stop for a gas refill, Maynilad pipework is obstructing traffic, MMDA traffic enforcers apprehend erring drivers, MRT ticket queues are too damn long, MRT trains are too slow to arrive, taxi cabs are full, taxi drivers demand triple rates, and there are no available tricyles.
Another variation of this theme: Everytime I look good, feel well, and confident of my bearing, nobody is present. But everytime I look tired, haggard, old, and stressed, everybody seems to be around: childhood friends, relatives, and fault-finding colleagues.
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The Pililla campus of the University of Rizal is located in a very idyllic district. Nestled at the foot of the Tanay highlands, the campus provides a perfect view of the tranquil (though dying) Laguna Lake. Students and teachers enjoy the cool and soothing breeze from the mountains which boosts the learning condition in the campus. Pililla is a perfect place for scholars who want to pursue serious academic work without being distracted by the noise and dirt of the metropolis.
I think that UP Diliman used to have the same relaxing atmosphere in the 1950s-1960s. Veteran journalist Luis Teodoro recalls that students of their generation used to wear jackets in Diliman because it was very cold in the campus. They could clearly see the hills of Rizal from the north side of the campus.
UP was called the Diliman Republic not only because of the unique brand of activism espoused by members of the academic community, but also because Diliman was literally a distant campus from the city proper. Buses used to transport students from Quiapo to Diliman. Former Chief Justice Art Panganiban was granted a scholarship to study in UP but he preferred to enrol in FEU because Diliman, according to him, was very far from Sampaloc, Manila.
Now UP is no longer perceived as distant from Manila. There are still green fields in Diliman, towering acacia trees, and a man-made jungle near its Commonwealth Avenue property. But noise, dirt (and academic pimps) have polluted the learning environment of Diliman.
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I read somewhere that marvellous geographical locations evolved very violently in the past. Their stunning beauty hides the dynamic and ferocious transformations they went through millions of years ago. The same can be said of quiet towns and nature spots in the world. Their simplicity and heavenly aura conceal the contradictions, conflicts and bitter struggles of the people living in these places.
Writer Lazaro Francisco highlighted this point in the opening pages of his novel, Ama:
“Para sa mga diwang palahanga sa kagandahan at mga balani ng sangkalikasan, ang _________ ay ipagkakamali sa kahili-hiling ‘paraiso’ ng ‘Genesis’. Subalit sa mga nakatatalos na ang nayong iyon ay isang tunay na pugad ng kasakiman at ng panlulupig, ang tulo ng hamog sa mga halaman na tila ibinutsay na mga butil ng perlas na nagsisikislap sa tama ng sinag ng bukang-liwayway ay tatawagin namang mga patak ng luhang naloy sa magdamag, at ang dagundong ng tagastas sa palanas ay mga piping himutok na samasamang ipinupulas ng mga dibdib na dagi na sa malaong pagkabusabos.”
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There are many education centers in the country. Sometimes schools are famous tourist attractions in provinces. Metro Manila hosts more than 100 colleges and universities. Intramuros was the cultural capital during the Spanish era. During the American occupation, schools transferred to Sampaloc, Recto and Mendiola. After the war, the district was referred to as the university belt. Now major schools are to be found in Katipunan, Aurora, Taft, Monumento and Alabang.
In Luzon, school centers are located mainly in Baguio, Dagupan, Malolos, Lipa, Lucena, Naga and Legazpi. Laguna is now a popular site for special economic zones and university centers. As residential villages continue to sprout south of Metro Manila, Laguna is now an ideal place to establish satellite campuses of big universities.
In Visayas, school centers are located mainly in Tacloban, Cebu, Dumaguete, Bacolod, and Iloilo. In Mindanao, schools proliferate in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Surigao and Butuan.
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In many parts of the country, students go to schools to feed their families. Their motivation to attend classes is to receive the one kilo of rice which is distributed in schools everyday. This is the feeding program of the government which was conceptualized to improve school attendance and solve hunger at the same time. This program is appreciated by poor families. Sometimes parents are queuing in schools to receive the kilo of rice if their children are unable to attend classes. This reflects the extent of poverty and hunger in the country. At the same time it further endorses the belief that schooling is effective in improving the lives of people. However, the rice distribution program is prone to corruption. Combine the NFA, DepEd and intrusive local politicians and you have a recipe for corruption. Besides, the main goal of a feeding program is to make sure that students, not their parents, are well-nourished inside schools. Students can’t eat a kilo of bigas, unless it is cooked.
Related entries:
Travelogue: South Mindanao
Up, up and away
Tagged: Mongster moments
Dumaguete delights
