Ang Hubad na Katotohanan

          Ang lahat ng bagay pag-hinubaran ay siguradong may matutuwa. Ito ay isang indikasyon na nakukuha natin ang bagay na nakapagpapasaya sa ating pagkatao. Pero ang katotohanan pag-hinubaran kya? Matutuwa kaba o magagalit? Ano pa man ang iyong maramdaman isa lang ang mabibigay ng Hubad na Katotohanan, ang pagmulat sa iyo sa makamundong systema ng ating buhay. Ang mga sanaysay na ito ay nagpapakita ng mga totoong bagay na nangyari sa kasalukuyan o kasaysayan. Ninanais kong madama ninyo ang aking karaingan sa mga bagay na nakaka-apekto sa araw-araw nating pagtahak ng ating buhay.

 Ito Ang Hubad na Katotohanan.!

A Case to Remember (Vizconde Massacre)

          Three women brutally murdered one of the bloodiest crimes in the Philippines. The Vizconde massacre was graven to our times. In two decades there are no clear evidence to prove the guilt of Hubert Webb and other suspects even though they were convicted and a widower Lauro Vizconde craving for justice for 20 years. Is there a justice in the Philippines? Or these heinous acts will be tolerated by our weak enforcement of laws.

             No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. If an act is punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same act (Article III, sec 21. Philippine Constitution). Double jeopardy does not apply to Vizconde massacre case; it is because the NBI present new evidences and witnesses. Reinvestigating the Vizconde massacre case will not put Hubert Webb and other suspect into double jeopardy.

            In this case it is a mix of public and moral law prevailed; it is an absolute that no one should deprive anyone’s life. Killing is a mortal sin not only to the public but also for GOD. The court proves the innocence of Webb after 15 years shows that we have a weak system that provides justice. We know to ourselves that one must suffer and the other must attain justice, it is a farce that the victims suffer most.

            We have to consider many aspects to convict a person, but considering it may free and convict the wrong suspect. The goodness of our constitution reflects to our people, but not all. There are some who was at the top and able to manipulate our formal system, so the conclusion; there is no equality when it comes to pursuing justice. We cannot use common sense to convict a person; we have a dew process even though it is obvious that a person commits crime. We are lacking too much on rigidity and stringency on implementing laws and policies. Justice is exclusively for the elites, and conviction is only for less-privileged individual. The Filipino people mourn with the victims of brutal and heinous crimes, but we know to ourselves that justice is too expensive and most of the time the victims cannot avail it.

            Impotent is to describe our system, we don’t have enough justice to serve to Filipino people. This is the domino effect of the interference of informal institution to our formal institution. We offered great textual laws and policies but we have a powerless enforcement. This is the fruit of our colonial mentality, wherein we don’t see our vigor to domain in all aspects of a develop nation.

The SuperNations (war of ism)

The military of the United States of America have a well develop military power. In the early 1900’s the United States able to empower the force of their military to protect their nation. And up to now is the major factor for the being most powerful nation in whole wide world. The power of its military primary aims to obtain their needs as a nation. That is why the United States had been associated in two world wars, and they able to control every event that happened and will happen to the world. The United States cultivated their military in order to attain their self-interest and to protect and secure their nation from any treats. This aspect shows the realism-oriented military culture of the United States of America. As observed in many studies, the United States’ key is the military in able for them to manipulate every occurrence events and to retain the domination to the world. The economy aspect explains the powerful military of the United States, it is because a progressive economy of a nation able to provide the necessity of its army.

            In the cold war period the United States able to show their dominion in military power to other nation. Even if John F. Kennedy is a idealism-influenced president, there are some circumstances that determines the ideology of realism. Like what they did in Cuba, they embargoed the economy of it as a sanction for developing and producing nuclear weapons because the United States see it as a treat to their national security. It is 14 day diplomacy and if the diplomatic act won’t work, they will able to use their military power to stop the Cuba from producing nuclear weapons and pursuit Cuba by all means. This act of the United States illustrates the realism-oriented military of them. As we see the United States is being bias when it comes to maintaining world peace. They will not allow a nation to produce nuclear weapon for their benefits. To maintain their domination into military matters, to protect their self-interest as a nation and to retain their world power in order to dictate what a nation should do. These are fact characteristic of the United States. The world history tells that the United States able to engage into many kinds of war. Life for a simple reason, war of ism. As we know the United States promotes the democratic influenced government, and the most structure or ideology of a government that is contrary to democratic idea is the communism. This clash of ism lead to world wars. It is insane that a solution to any incident is war. The United States is the vanguard of the welfare of the world but in exchange they would like to involve themselves to any events on every nation to secure and to gain their needs as a nation.

            In the political term of Gorge W. Bush, the United States had engaged to war with the Iraq, the primary reason behind the assault is to have a justice regarding the 9-11 terrorist attack. In order to satisfy the Americans they used their powerful military, some critics had said that it is not a war, it is an invasion. That act portrays the ideology of realism, the United States able to manipulate every event on the world because their to confident in their military power and their military serves their vanguard to any nation that will oppose them. I may say that the world’s event relies on the manipulation of the United States; most of the nations in the world are controlled by the United States, including us. Like their participation on the revolution in Egypt, US President Barack Obama offers his support for the people who revolt in Egypt to end the dictatorship era of PM Mobarak and they succeed. There are reasons behind that, primarily the Egypt is one of the oil suppliers to the United States, so the United States cannot afford to lose the import of oil by the Egyptians. 

            The military of the USSR or the red army, the USSR is a communist nation. This is my observation for any socialist/communist oriented nation; they intend to develop their military power. Like the SS of the NAZI, the red army of the USSR able to experience and showcase their skills in many wars. Germany and USSR are allies before until they noticed that they are a treat to each other. The military of the USSR was develop for some reasons, like to attain their self-interest as a nation or for some individuals.

            The USSR military or the red army is use by Josef Stalin to attain world supremacy; by all means they will get all resources to provide the needs of its government. The soviet republic or the USSR is one of the nation that is involve to cold war. As we have seen in the history, the USSR is not focused on their soldiers but to their nuclear warfare in order to protect their national territory from any treats. In early 1990’s every nation is realism-oriented it is because they are concern for one thing; how to provide the needs of their nation and hoe to protect their nation from any treats. It is basically practical to develop the military power, but as Niccolo Machiavelli had explained to his book “the prince” that a nation should fortify its military power. The acts of USSR portray the idea of Machiavelli’s book.

            As for my conclusion, whatever structure of government you have the idea of realism will be applied to a certain nation in order to secure their self-interest. A nation developing its military may always relate to the ideology of realism, because it is the one factor for a nation to secure their self interest. No matter what are the reasons to empower the force of military it is a realist-base idea? These are the reality of the world; it is like survival of the fittest and trusts no one. Thanks to Machiavelli, Thucydides and other contributor to realism because we able to have a knowledge securing a nation’s self-interest.

Freedom of Expression

The kulo exhibits show that an individual can go far beyond its limitation; it is the idea of introducing great opportunity for changes. Some may say it is blasphemy but it is the real image of Christ? That is the point of kulo exhibit to offer a lot different ideas but the challenge is how these ideas will be accepted by the public. Filipino people are well known for their conservativeness and I may say that this conservativeness and other traditions are the hindrances to the development of our nation. We are always complaining on the class of living we are going through but to ourselves, we don’t entertain new things that may help us even more competitive. I’m not an atheist, yes I believe in God but I think that the hindrance of the church won’t make us more mature. The truth is we are living in the world of lies, hatred and violence that is why our traditions are the hindrance of our development. They lied and we can’t, they hurt us and we can’t hurt them, they imply violence on us and we can’t do something about it. We are prisoners of yesterday; we are scared to change our traditions. So I believed in the art of Mideo Cruz, he just illustrates his views. It is a challenge to every Filipino whether to appreciate it or criticize it.

            I’m not saying that I don’t believe in GOD, there is GOD and he is the Supreme Being of all. My point is how can we really know that the image used by Cruz is Christ? Even the church claim that it is the image of Christ I will not believed, did they see Christ personally? Did they have Photography back then when Christ lived? See this is only the manipulation of the church, because back then they only use religion to rule the people. Religion is manipulating every human being to decide what is better for her/him and the intervention of the church to our development process made us naive. There will be no improvement on the class of our living as long as we are lock on the box and Cruz showed that anyone can get out of that box and antagonize the flow of system. In Nietzsche’s perspective an Ubermench is essential to attain changes and Cruz is a superman who doesn’t mind that he may go against the system offered by the church.

            We must wake up to the reality that this thing really happens and this may serve as an opportunity for great changes to our mentality and maturity. The limitations are just limitations; we can go beyond it and discover new things. It is a chain reaction; one must do it for the inspiration of the others. If you go against the flow, you may lose everything but one thing in exchange new ideas form and another step closer to the top. The kulo exhibit serves as an eye opener for many of us, that we can go as far as we can without thinking the limitations. It apply to myself because I still remember my goals before pursuing political science and even up to my death I will stand firmly to make a difference in my field. We must always be ready for changes because changes are the only absolute in this world.

Youth are the Modern Rizal

At the present time, the sacrifices of Dr. Jose Rizal and other heroes are all taken for granted by Filipinos. Our government has been overruled by those people who don’t have any concern to our country, but a self-centered way of ruling. I still remember my goals before pursuing political science and even up to my death I will stand firmly to make a difference in my field. As I observed formal institutions are being dominated by informal political norms but every one of us can be like Dr. Jose Rizal, we can start a change. The blood of being patriotic is somehow ceased and the concerns of our people are fading, it is because they rather to work for their individual needs than to take part on issues on our country. I may say that the teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal were forgotten and we are indios in our modern time. Dr. Jose Rizal worked hard not for himself but for all of his countrymen. We are returning to the times that the church is to powerful and their interference to the decision making of our government. Religion is manipulating every human being to decide what is better for her/him, and the intervention of the church to our development process would lead us to a long-term undeveloped nation. I’m not stating that the church is the hindrance of our success but the separation of the state and the church would be more essential to a developing country. I’m not an atheist, I believe in GOD but not in the personal motive of the church. It is not the will of an individual that shall deliver us to success but the sovereignty and the union of our people for a progressive nation. Dr. Jose Rizal emphasize in his writings that we must unite. We never learned from our history, we are living on a world of lies and evil and yet we can’t be brave enough to try new things. We are prisoners of yesterday; we scared to change our traditions. We have prove our union like in EDSA Revolution I but as Karl Marx said, History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. We are to verdant when it comes to governing ourselves. 

If only every Filipino will think and act like Dr. Jose Rizal, probably there will be no OFW’S, mass poverty causes by over population and corruption, and justice imbalances. We are losing our devotion for our country unlike the old days. We are relying too much for the government assistance. If we think and act for the concern of our country and countrymen like Dr. Jose Rizal did, possible our country is the best place to start life and to worth die for. We shall embody the sacrifices of a Dr. Jose Rizal in our heart, mind, body and soul for the better and progressive Philippines for the Filipino people

Beyond his Words (SONA of PNoy)

It is quite impressive how PNOY explains the success of his administration, but is there a absolute change in his administration? The problems of our political system is inevitable and older that any existing leaders in our time. We are political immature, hence our political system is dominated by these informal political norms. PNOY emphasize and generalize the meaning of “wang-wang”, and it pertains on the wrong doing of a public officials and the abuse of the authority. We are in the right path on PNOY tenure, or this information is manipulated by the media? I think that we are totally manipulated by these advertisements to take cover on what‘s the real stories behind these issues. Are these news about PNOY administration are factual? The truth behind our government is despicable, we are living on the world of lies and that lies are pressed in our mind by the authority (government). It is hard for me to say that there is no remedy in our ill as a nation and it will prevail up to the next generation. I not being too negative, I’m just stating how poor our government when it comes to righteous and just governance. We are completely self-centered beings that will do everything for the benefit of itself. How pity on us, when we will be matured to successfully manage our grievance. The present administration won’t make any change to satisfy the needs of its people. No corruption-No poverty, it does not make any sense because based on Aristotle a man is a political animal in nature, therefore we cannot avoid these things. This is the reality of our government, the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer. Our traditions will always interfere with our government. We are not democratic, we are oligarchy were only the elites, caciques and rich can avail to participate on every elections. I just noticed, now a day’s majority of our public servant came from a political dynasty. Even PNOY, implement so many laws and policies; I do not think that he can solve the resentment of his bosses (people). The things that PNOY said in his S.O.N.A. is somehow not perceive at the local level, or he just stating too much beyond what his administration did. I’m not saying that PNOY is not doing well but the things that he did are insufficient and not very essential to cure our torment as a developing country. PNOY can focus in other factors that may contribute in our development, like education, education can be a solution for our grievance. By educating people your giving so many opportunity for them, you are letting them to have a knowledge regarding on what’s, who’s, when’s and how. Based on the statistics, majority of the poor individuals did not experience a formal education. As i saw and dissected the past and the present state of our government, the solutions delivered in the S.O.N.A. of PNOY are falsified by the media. PNOY is not a essential leader for our country, he lacks some major characteristic of a good leader. This propaganda by PNOY administration will poison the consciousness of the youth; probably the youth will say that: this is the way to govern a nation. I see my criticism as a challenge for the PNOY administration and this may offer an improvement for the betterment of their programs. This is only my grievances who are tired for lies to make someone’s image to be great. Instead of focusing on corruption, PNOy must focus on the needs of its people, that is the real mission and vision of a government. If he fought corruption on his tenure, he will probably lose his consciousness because corruption is there since the start. Just do not focuses on the old things instead improve and introduce new thing for the betterment of all.

                It is very obvious, the corruption is rampantly express by the national and local officials of our government, and maybe it is their reward for themselves for serving the public. PNOY give too much attention to solve corruption because he thought it is the root of our grievances. To be political matured, it will take so many years for us to be matured when it comes to politics like in Great Britain. Development will come to us and we must not haste every opportunity or it will lead us to failure.
As for my conclusion, to have better governance we must have a deeper understanding on what we will prioritize most. To end corruption is too impossible with our informal political norms and a profound recognition of these traditions affecting the effective governance of our government. It is very essential to the development of our nation to unite and set a long term programs.