Leadership and Academic Talent: Through Philippine Politics

The View: True Philippines

Being a call centre agent gave me the opportunity to learn how foreign people´s impression about Philippines affect my patriotism. It´s uplifting to get praises about how filipino´s hospitality becomes a wonderful experience. How they enjoy the beauty of nature offered by the 7107 thousand islands. High tide or low tide like our “binibini(s)”, it´s a stand-out.


There are cases that remind me a little bit of history in other hand. The Marcos era was quite earlier but for me great. It is for me, the starting point of the New Society. In my toddler-years, I cared nothing but to play, eat, and sleep. Only during my college days when I acquired the full understanding about the past (HISTORY!!!). At one point I concluded how helpful being educated and partly informed. How will you react to a criticism when you´re not aware of Imelda´s posh collections? Whenever my brother-in-law from Australia ask me on “when is the peak of glory for the Philippines?” my main answer would lead to the Marcos(es). I have nothing against the former dictator neither to his family but they´re famous globally primarily because of the spouse´s extravagance on shoes. hehehehe

Recognition couldn´t always be sweet. The Philippines is renowned for being the dominant Christian nation in the whole Asia. Sadly, most cases of abortion occur too. The natural resources are considered rich and abundant but yet millions of families are starving. There´s a reported number of brilliant professionals graduating each time, I wonder where they practise their expertise out? (I hope I’m not one of them) The group of people marching on the streets plus the parties seated in congress, government agencies, and other organizations who share the advocacy of a greener environment are increasing in number. My question - where´s the result of their cause yet? Filipinos still has the difficulty getting a clean air. Carbon monoxide emitted by unregulated transport’s killing their lungs.

Manny Pacqiao is looked-up as the “national pride”. Wheew… When the fight night is over, reality comes forth to Mindanao, the “national disaster” down south. The race of Lapu-lapu is regarded to be emotionally tough, physically strong, and mentally sharp. The major qualities of a world-class athlete should possess. How come we´re not even close to getting a bronze medal in the olympics? The visayan hero´s glory seems to have ended at dinner tables.

In every household children are nortured and taught to set and live with goals. Filipinos are known ambitious “libre mangarap eh”! 16 years later guess where those kids were? On the same roof passing their unfulfilled dreams to the next generation.

Going to the streets of “Tondo, Cubao, etc.”, genuine Filipino trait of being helpful especially to elderly is yet consantly present on public transportations. Amazing isn´t it? Not until you realize the guy next to your sit wears a camouflage. In disguise to attract prey then later declares a robbery.

You cannot either discredit the white sands and clear waters of Boracay when we speak of natural pride. Can you imagine who raised up the coliform issue attempting to destroy tourism to our top-contender beach in the world? Hella filipino.

In every good aspects and best corners of the Philippines something´s lurking to equate the opposite evil. As a citizen I personally take pride and prestige, and hold a firm stand that my race ”ang lahing pilipino” is competitive and can create real results. Building a nation starts from a responsible own self, to a good-valued family, creating a united community. Inspite of national issues and turmoil, we can make a difference individually. Let´s introduce to the world: the educated, the skilled, the empowered, and the new generation of hybrid pinoys in us. Cheers Inang Bayan! Cheers Pinoys!

PHILIPPINES VIEW: The Story of Filipinos "Juan Tamad"

Looking at the Philippines´ political scene, today´s generation shouts for the genuine change in public governance. The poor becomes poorer and the rich becomes richer, they say. Subversive as I am, both the anti-government and the pro-administration´s overrated accusal against each other looks flimsy in my perspective (if I may not use the word stupid). These flock of urban nesters, who mostly out-of-school are on top of their anger questioning and literally demanding help and aid from the government in the form of food and shelter. Pathetic! Who on Earth might have caused thier own misfortune? The classic parable of "Juan Tamad" (Indolent John) is fundamentally shared to students over the generations to inculcate its moral lesson. A guava fruit will not voluntarily fall into Juan´s hands when he´s hungry. He needs to exert real effort in order to get something. These people might need some tools from the local level to be able to function and make a living though, however when they´re found in the streets marching in protest rather than finding ways to improve their situation; they must be absent, inattentive, or out-of-school when Juan Tamad´s story was taught. I can not merely rely and wait for the goverment´s blessing to shower a house and lot title and expect to feed me and my family for the rest of my life.

The pro-government in other hand is deaf and numb, living in one principle: "To get paid". Can´t hear the scream of truthfulness but one voice, the crocodile´s roar; the mouth that emits money. I -- am -- sorry... They are the stomach that can swallow wickedness. The supposed appropriation allocated to elevate the living standard of every filipino goes to lavish lifestyle expediture. Some people now start to get involve not as laid-back as "Juan Tamad" not to see the abrasive proof of corruption. What´s absurd is that - the one who points a finger to criticize someone happens to see the same person in return. The blot he´s seeing belongs to no one but to himself. Come to notice other people´s filth but not his´.

We can grant candor as ambassadors of goodwill, give chance to "condemn the act rather than the person itself" for special cases, however to people above fifty years old doing the same thing over and over again for two decades running is a diffirent story. I can´t sit in a niche to wait ´till my children get old and suffer the same problem that I tried to fix which has remained broken. I feel compelled to initiate a move, to rectify whatever comes my way that needs correction. "A successful journey always begins with a single step". Influence and a mentality driven to value "change" will start immediately within myself around my surroundings.

It´s hard to live clean, desire for material possession is the culprit that pushes an individual to be dominated by greed. What belongs to Pedro would never go Pedro when "Juan Tamad" turns to "Johnny Greedy". Taking advantage becomes easy to swallow in exchange of personal convenience. This character is cursed everywhere. Let the boss who sucks the privilege of others meet the karma´s vengeance. With the collaboration of today´s generation, the advocacy to tap out the crooked including the old pillars who exercise inequity will fall, not by means of force but a clear drive to inform; educate, and empower the concerned people which would enable them to influence others towards one goal: To achieve equality. Fairness to live without the fear of the street robbers and the worst office thieves, who steal other people´s benefit, and that the indolent citizens stop their government protest exhibit in the streets instead of making a livelihood, to free the traffic - helping the hardworking fellows to get to work on time.

If One Day I Don't Wake up Anymore by Emmanuel Abraham Jr.

If one day I don’t wake up anymore,
And I’m done walking through life’s corridor

I’ll be but a painting hung in one’s mind

Highly designed and yet hardly defined

If one day I don’t wake up anymore,

Should my soul decline or live still and soar?

Would my memory last or fade away?

And be gone with me when I’m dead someday

If one day I don’t wake up anymore,

Will eyes be as heavy as clouds on pour?

Whose eyes I know then will I find in tears?

Those I’ve shared but a glance or those with years?

If one day I don’t wake up anymore,

The world shall still spin, they can but ignore

I’ll leave this place with a smile on my face

Yet eyes in tears as I recount my days

If one day I don’t wake up anymore,

Guess things will just be as fine as before

Forever then be locked my secret door

And my stinging past lost forevermore

An Angel:Glimpse of Love in Heaven

She passed by with a sweet smile upon her face, something I didn’t quite expect from a stranger that she is. Maybe she was just plain happy and the smile wasn’t really for me. But in a second or so, as she paseed by, I felt rejuvenated from my day’s work just because of that invisible optimism overflowing from within that lady’s soul. I was really in gloom that moment but it rained on the desert of my soul the first time I saw her.

She sat on a bench not so far still smiling, looking around at others as if there were more colors in her vision than that dull, grey scenery the cloudy afternoon offers. I don’t usually stare at people like how I did on this girl. I admit that she’s pretty and radiant despite her eyeglasses. However, I also suppose that any judgmental pair of eyes would find her typical. . .simply ordinary. Hers was like a faint smile that made me assume she was from some tiring work as me. Maybe from school. She looked young. Maybe just as my age. I caught her looking at the sky. I thought she was just observing the clouds, trying to see if it’s going to rain eventually. However, she didn’t stare back to eye level and continued looking up as if waiting for something to fall down. She didn’t change her position for about a minute or so with her legs swinging gently. Her smile changed. It became more enthusiastic, happier, different. Wondering what’s taking her so long staring at the clouds, I also looked up and tried to see what she’s looking at. There was nothing special in the cloudy sky. It was but a space of swirling white and grey clouds. I blinked once or twice hoping that blinking would perhaps clear my vision and make me see whatever it is that made this girl smile differently. I gave up trying to figure things out though and just went back looking at her just to find out that she was already staring at my direction still with that radiant smile of hers. Caught in surprise, I was stunned staring back. And after two blinks or so we then looked down at the same time. I would usually look away and pretend to see nothing when circumstances like that happen to me. But this time, i was caught to this lady’s gaze and the walls I’ve built around me seemed to have fallen down. I thought I was the one trying to come into her world by trying to see through the windows of her soul. Yet again, what happened was the other way around and it seemed that she was the one who saw through me. I wonder what she saw. Did she see the loneliness in my eyes, grey as the cloudy sky she was staring at a while ago? Or was there more colors of my being in her vision? She glanced at her watch and stood up. She had a final glance at the sky and left without a word.

I stared back in the sky and now, I’ve noticed that i’m smiling too already. The clouds are still floating slowly and it seemed that my body is starting to float away with them. I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as “love at first sight.” That concept for me is better known as “lust in first sight.” I started questioning the reason behind the quick thumping of my heart, trying to think deeper, more rational, but the more I try to figure things out, the more I got confused. So, I stood there, smiling, looking into the darkening skies, left in daze. What was so special in the clouds that she saw and made her smile? And why didn’t I see it? Did she had a glimpse of heaven? How could she do that. . .stare at a stranger, smile and pass her radiance, her happiness, a relief from loneliness, a refuge from life’s gloom and misery? Those eyes. . .clear and yet there’s nothing I saw beyond but swirling clouds. . .misty fog. . .geez. . .I found it a little stupid pondering on such insensible questions but that’s all I can think of. . .she’s all i can think of.

I may be uncertain about everything I feel towards that girl after our encounter. I can even hardly tell if I’m going to see her again. Life is full of uncertainties. . .but–I’m sure that she’s no angel–she’s more than that–she’s God’s way of giving me a glimpse of Heaven and I’m taking all my chances to have that glimpse one more time–whatever it takes. . .