mongster's nest

- disturbing fantasies, traumatic verses, definitely mongrel thoughts

Imperial Manila

There are new sections in the Kabataan Partylist website. The person in charge of the design, upgrade and management of our website is no other than the LFS chair, blogger and my former student in UPIS – Vencer. Salamat kay Vencer.  

I always prefer the window seat of an airplane everytime I travel to Visayas or Mindanao. It gives a good view of our sparkling seas and bald mountaintops. It reminds me that our country is composed of small majestic islands. It also confirms the triviality, and at the same time, the importance of Mega Manila in sustaining our nationhood.

During landing or takeoff, I always get the chance to briefly glimpse the exterior of Metro Manila. It is bounded by the dirty Manila Bay, the dying Laguna Lake and the underappreciated Rizal highlands. I feel disappointed that we are not able to maximize the archipelagic character of the country to boost our economy. We take for granted that we are surrounded by bodies of water.

For instance, Laguna Lake could have been a better gateway to south Luzon. Ferries could transport people from Metro Manila to sleepy Rizal and Laguna towns. Imagine the economic activities we will trigger if we maximize Laguna Lake. I always dream of owning an educational ship where students will be taught biology lessons while they navigate through the whole expanse of Laguna Lake.They will also roam the numerous tiny islands of the country’s largest freshwater body.

In the Visayas, imagine the positive consequences of building a bridge connecting Iloilo to Guimaras; then Guimaras to Negros. How about a tunnel connecting Negros to Cebu?

I still don’t understand why we still have to import Japanese cargo and passenger ships despite the fact that 7,107 islands comprise our nation. By this time, we should have companies which excel in building world-class sea vessels. Our ports should be the best in the world. Our people should be proud of our marine engineering technology. We should have the best marine science researches. We should stand out in sea sports competitions. We have individual achievements. What we need is a collective know-how and the passion to learn more and achieve more in maximizing our natural bounties.

Sadly, we do not care to develop the Islands Philippines. Instead, we are content in selling our shores to foreign buyers and tourists.

Sadly, we are fixated too much in glorifying Imperial Manila. We are obssessed in making Manila a ‘Western’ city that we forgot to highlight the inherent strengths of our dynamic culture. Government policies are focused in serving the needs of Imperial Manila to the detriment of the countryside. Nearby provinces are developed as an extension of Mega Manila.

How could a small polluted city dominate the 7,107 islands? What makes it so special that we decided to crown it as the political, economic, religious, social and cultural capital of the Philippines? Why the mania to develop it while forgetting that we could have achieved greater prosperity if we included the provinces in our master plan?

Why do news coverage emphasize activities that occur in Metro Manila? Why ‘nationalize’ social events of the elite and celebrities of Metro Manila? If a hostage incident occurred in a remote town, will it get the same TV coverage of the hostage drama in Manila yesterday? Why do something has to happen in Metro Manila in order to deserve national attention?

Perhaps it’s a colonial legacy. The foreign invaders made Manila the king city of the Philippines. The colonial government operated from Manila. Merhants resided in Manila. Church officials stayed in Manila.

Many people have already complained of the pampering of Manila. They scorn Manila’s monopoly of the blessings of our country. In fact, the discourse of ‘imperial manila’ is a powerful political tool.

During the 1960s, young leftists who adhered to Mao Zedong’s teachings began preaching of a revolution to be waged in the countryside before attacking the cities. They also condemned the Manila government for colluding with the landed gentry in oppressing the peasants, which composed the majority population of the country.

Muslim separatists have always disliked the Catholic-dominated Manila government for controlling the lives of Muslim Mindanao.

In the 1998 elections, Promdi political party from Cebu emphasized the need to prioritize the welfare of the provinces. It’s the same campaign message of senatoriable Chavit Singson.

In recent years, the Arroyo government has encouraged its local supporters to use the ‘Imperial Manila’ discourse to push for charter change. Governors, mayors and scholars are complaining of a Manila-centric government. They are advocating a change in the constitution which by the way will give more powers to the chief executive of the Manila-centric government.

Dark clouds always hover above Metro Manila. Do you think it’s time to deflate Metro Manila’s ego? Let’s start dreaming of a new city. Let’s start building a new city. And whether we like it or not, Metro Manila will be part of this vision.

Related entries:

Urban facelift
Vortex of evil
Refugee nation

posted by: mongpalatino at March 29, 2007 08:05 | link | comments (3) |
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Comments:

#1  29 March 2007 - 12:47

 

syempre naman. venz

Anonymous

#2  01 April 2007 - 00:54

 

may tama ka! taga mindanao ako, cagayan de oro to be exact. The slow trickle effect of economic development have drained the very energy of the poor here. I just pray they don't loose hope. Federalism is quite the tool to fix this. amdg

Anonymous

#3  02 April 2007 - 00:38

 

I very much appreciate this blog entry. Thank you for advocating for the development of the rest of the Philippines! Congratulations on your nomination as a party-list representative!

Anonymous

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