Hopelessness
The recent weeks had been rather monotonous. We hear news that would have been avoided in the first place if we, as a nation, have learned from our mistakes from the past. Now, everyone's got a share of the consequences, even those who doesn't deserve it.
With the recent developments that besiege the country, I can't help but agree with 90% of this mail I received, especially in the context that "qualified voters in this country should have been the 'paying' taxpayers' themselves", not the noisy ones who never helped made this country alive.
Also, this guy and I have the same fear for this country: someday, out of hopelessness, all people who have a real sense of dignity would just leave this country. No one would be left here but those who have caused this system to rot since the very beginning.
Anyway, here it is: Please read this in its entirety, the author has a point!
Galing sa isang ordinaryong manggawa sa Pilipinas
-------------------------------------------------
WALANG KWENTA ANG PILIPINAS
By: jawbreaker. (isang ordinaryong office worker na ayaw nang magbayad ng tax...ever!)
Walang katapusang corruption, walang kamatayang pangbabatikos, pagbabatuhan ng tae at pagpapa-taasan ng ihi ng mga pulitiko sa bawatisa, walang tigil na imbestigasyon ng kung ano-anong isyu pero wala namang matinong resolusyon, walang puknat na pag-aagawan ng kapangyarihan sa pagitan ng mga partido, patuloy na pagdami ng tamad at tangang Pilipino, SILANG patuloy naakikipaglaban ng ideolohiyang wala namang silbi.
SINONG "SILA"? EH DI MGA CORRUPT NA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WORKERS, MGA TAMBAY NA PILIPINO NA ANG LALAKI NG KATAWAN PERO HINDI NAMAN NAGTRATRABAHO AT HINDI NAGBABAYAD NG TAX, MGA MAYAYAMAN AT ARTISTANG TAX EVADERS, PATI MGA AKTIBISTA, NPA AT IBA PANG IDEOLOGICAL GROUPS NA HINDI NAGBABAYAD NG TAX PERO PANG-GULO!!!
Lagi na lang sinasabi ng mga pulitiko: Ipaglaban ang masa! Tulungan ang masa! Mahalin ang masa!
MASA LANG BA ANG TAO SA PILIPINAS?
SINO BA TALAGA ANG BUMUBUHAY SA BANSANG TO?
SAAN BA GALING ANG PANGPAGAWA NG MGA TULAY AT KALYE? SAAN BA GALING ANG PORK BARREL? SAAN BA GALING ANG PERANG KINUKURAKOT NILA?
KAMI NA MGA MANGGAGAWA AT MIDDLE CLASS NA BAGO PA MAKUHA ANG SWELDO BAWAS NA - KAMI ANG BUMUBUHAY SA BANSA NA 'TO!!!!!!!!!
BAKIT YANG BANG MGA MASANG YAN NA LAGI NA LANG SENTRO NG PLATAPORMA NG MGA PULITIKO EH NAGBABAYAD BA NG TAX cla???!!!!
KAHIT ISA SA MGA NAG-RA-RALLYING MGA SQUATTER NA YAN, KAHIT SINGKO HINDI NAG-RE-REMIT YAN SA BIR!
PERO PINAPAKINGGAN BA KAMI NG GOBYERNO?
LAGI NA LANG OPINYON NG MASA ANG INI-INTINDI NG GOBYERNO.
KUNG SINO ANG NAG-RA-RALLY, SA EDSA, SILA ANG NASUSUNOD.
KUNG SINO ANG MAS MALAKAS SUMIGAW PERO WALA NAMANG ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION, SILA LAGI ANG FOCUS PAG MAY PROBLEMA.
SILA LAGI ANG BIDA.
KAMING MGA ORDINARYONG OFFICE WORKERS, OFW'S, LABORERS AT IBA PANG NAG-TRA-TRABAHO AT NAGBABAYAD NG TAX - KAMI ANG NAGPAPAKAHIRAP PARA BUHAYIN ANG PILIPINAS. KAMI ANG MGA TUNAY NA BAYANI NG BANSA!!!
Tuwing nakikita ko ang payslip ko, nag-iinit ang ulo ko at gusto kong maiyak sa inis. Napakalaki ng tax na binabawas sa akin pero ginagamit lang sa walang kwentang bagay ang perang pinaghirapan ko.
Lahat ng pagtitipid ginagawa ko para suportahan ang sarili ko, pamilya ko at ang bansang to. Ni hindi ako makabili ng chicken and spaghetti meal sa Jollibee kahit gutom na gutom na ko. Nag-tya-tyaga ako sa waffle na tig-P10, o kaya pag may konting pera, junior bola-bola siopao sa Mini-Stop sa halangang P20.
Eh kung yung pera ko na pinapangbabayad sa tax sa kin na lang napunta, eh di sana nakakapanood pa ko ng sine at least 2 beses sa isang buwan. Nakabili na sana ako ng bagong rubber shoes. Nakapagpagawa na sana ako ng sarili kong bahay.
Yung tax na binabayad ko, karamihan nun derecho sa bulsa ng mga corrupt na mga government officials at workers. Habang hirap na hirap akong i-budget ang pera ko, sila naman nagpapakasarap sa mga mansyon. SUV's at luxury cars pa ang dina-drive nila, samantalang ako sa pedicab lang sumasakay!
PERA KO YANG PINAPAGPAPASASAAN NYO!!!!!
Yung tax na binabayad ko, pinapangsuporta sa mga mahihirap. Saan ba galing ang pera pangpagawa ng housing at pagtulong sa mga mahihirap, di ba sa mga manggagawa na nagbabayad ng buwis! Pero karamihan ng mahihirap, kung umasta kala mo inaapi sila ng sobra.
SA TOTOO LANG NO, KAYA ANG MGA MAHIHIRAP LALONG NAGHIHIRAP KASI MGA TAMAD!
Ang daming mga tambay sa kalye na walang trabaho pero ang laki ng katawan. Eh kung sila ba nagkargador sa pier eh di sana may pera sila.
TAPOS WALA NA NGANG PERA, ANAK PA NG ANAK!
LALO NYO LANG PINAPADAMI ANG TAMAD AT TANGA SA MUNDO!!!!!
Naaawa ako sa mga batang pakalat-kalat sa kalye at namamalimos. Imbes na nag-aaral, dumadagdag lang sila sa bilang ng mga future criminals sa Pinas. Hindi ako magtataka na yung batang nakita kong namamalimos sa Cubao, pagkatapos ng ilang taon cellphone snatcher na.
YUNG MGA MAGULANG NAMAN DYAN, COMMON SENSE LANG! HIRAP NA HIRAP NA NGA KAYO SA BUHAY, MANGDADAMAY PA KAYO NG IBA?! PAPARAMIHAN NYO PA LAHI NYO!
Palibhasa walang mga trabaho at walang pinagkaka-abalahan, kaya nagkakalabitan at nagsusundutan na lang maghapon, magdamag. Sa totoo lang, nakakabilib. Kasi kahit sa ilalim ng tulay o sa kariton lang, nakakabuo pa rin ng bata! Ibig sabihin, maabilidad ang mga Pinoy. Kung gugustuhin, gagawan ng paraan. Kahit sa makipot, mabaho at maduming lugar - SOLVE!
Isa pang mga grupo ng tao na nakakainis, yung mga aktibista, NPA at kung ano-ano pang ideological political groups. Sabi nila, mahal na mahal nila ang Pilipinas kaya pinagpalalaban nila ang kanilang mga adhikain.
EH HINDI RIN KAYO NAGBABAYAD NG TAX! ANG KAKAPAL RIN NG MGA MUKHA NYO!
MGA HIPOKRITO! MAHAL DAW ANG PILIPINAS AYAW NAMAN MAGBAYAD NG BUWIS!
WALA DIN NAMAN KAYONG MGA TRABAHO! KUNG MAY TRABAHO TALAGA KAYO, HINDI KAYO MAG-RA-RALLY DAHIL SAYANG ANG SWELDO NYO PAG ABSENT KAYO!
PAANO NYO MAIPAPAKITA ANG PAGMAMAHAL NYO SA PILIPINAS KUNG WALA NA KAYONG GAWANG MATINO KUNDI MAG-RALLY AT MAMUNDOK??!!!
ISA PA YANG MGA MAYAYAMAN NA ARTISTA, NA NANGDADAYA AT HINDI NAGBABAYAD NG BUWIS. ANG KAKAPAL NG MUKHA NYO! ANG DAMI NYO NA NGANG PERA NANGDADAYA PA KAYO SA TAX!!!! HINDI NYO NAMAN MADADALA SA IMPIERNO YANG MGA KAYAMAN NYO. MASUSUNOG LANG DUN YAN.
KAYA LALONG BUMABAGSAK ANG NEGOSYO DITO SA PILIPINAS, KASI MGA NEGOSYANTE MANDARAYA. PATI SHOWBIZ INDUSTRY, BAGSAK NA DIN. KARMA ANG TAWAG DYAN. MGA BALASUBAS KASI.
Sana magkaron ng POLITICAL AND NATIONAL CLEANSING.
Alisin ang lahat ng pulitiko at political families sa puwesto. Tibagin ang lahat ng mapanirang organizations at grupo. Itapon sa malayong isla o kaya i-pwersa ng hard labor ang mga sobrang tamad na mga Pilipino. Ihiwalay ang mga bata sa kanilang mga tamad at tangang magulang upang makapag-aral sila at maturuan na maging mabuting tao at mamamayan. Magkaron ng bagong lider na walang political ties at utang na loob sa kahit sino.
At higit sa lahat, dapat tax payers lang ang pwedeng bumoto!
Kung kinakailangang magka-giyera para magtino ang mga Pilipino, ayos lang. Masyado na kasing matigas ang ulo ng mga tao dito. Gusto ng kalayaan, pero hindi naman handang panagutan ang responsibilidad ng pagiging malaya. Meron daw pinaglalaban na prinsipyo at adhikain pero takot namang mamatay para dito.
Hangga't hindi nagkakaron ng radical change, patuloy na walang kwenta ang Pilipinas at patuloy na magiging tanga ang majority ng mga Pilipino.
Sa dami ng nag-mi-migrate na Pilipino sa ibang bansa, dadating ang panahon na minority na lang ng population sa Pilipinas ang may utak. Yung mga magagaling na Pilipino, malamang maubos na. Sobra na kasi silang na-fru-frustrate at na-de-depress sa mga nakikita nila.
Ilang taon pa at aalis na rin ako sa Pilipinas. Wala kong balak na magkaron ng pamilya sa isang bansa na hindi pinapahalagahan ang kontribusyon ng mga taong tunay na bumubuhay dito. Kawawa naman ang magiging anak ko kung dito sya mabubuhay.
Sa totoo lang, broken hearted ako. Minahal ko din ang bansang ito. Pilit kong pinagtatanggol kahit bulok. Nakarating na ko ng ibang bansa, pero pinili kong bumalik. Pero ngayon, ayoko na. Suko na ko. Sayang lang ako sa bansang to. Simple lang naman ang hiling ko. Gusto ko lang mabuhay ng tahimik at maayos.Gusto ko na kahit paano eh maipagmalaki ang Pilipinas. Pero wala eh. Doomed to be jologs ang bansang to.
Alam ko marami pa ang umaasa at naniniwala sa pagbabago. Good luck and God bless! Sana tama kayo at mali ako.
7 Comments:
ever heard about learned helplessness?
heres one.
at its blithest...
haaaay...
nice blog!
11:25 PM
THE BETTER SIDE OF THE PHILIPPINES: OTHER THAN
THE HELLO GARCI
Subject: Go Philippines!!!
The following was written by INTEL General Manager Robin Martin about the Philippines:
Filipinos (including the press, business people and myself) tend to dwell too much on the negative
side, and this affects the perception of foreigners,
even the ones who have lived here for a while. The negative perception of the Philippines is way disproportionate to reality when compared to countries
like Columbia, Egypt, Middle East, Africa, etc.
Let us all help our country by balancing the negative with the positive especially when we talk to foreigners, whether based here or abroad.
Looking back and comparing the Philippines today and 1995 (the year I came back), I was struck by how much our country has progressed physically.
Consider the following:
1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now
did not exist in 1995. 1995 was the year the telecom industry was deregulated.
Since then billions of dollars have been invested in both fixed
line and cellular networks producing a system with over 5,000 kms of fiber optic backbone at a world competitive cost. From a fixed line capacity of about 900,000 in 1995 we now have over 7 million.
Cellular phones practically did not exist in 1995; now we have over 11 million line capacity.
2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the Ayala Avenue flyover), the SKYWAY, Rockwell and
Glorietta 4, the Fort, NAIA terminal 2 and most of the new skyscrapers were not yet built in 1995.
3. If you drive to the provinces, you will notice that national roads are now of good quality (international quality asphalt roads). I just went to Iba, Zambales last week and I was impressed that even a not so
frequently travelled road was of very good quality.
4. Philippine exports have increased by 600% over the past eight years. There are many, many more examples of progress over the last eight years. Philippine
mangoes are now exported to the US and Europe.
Additional tidbits to make our people prouder:
1.INTEL has been in the Philippines for 28 years.
The Philippines plant is where Intel's most advanced products are launched, including the Pentium IV.
By the end of 2002, Philippine operations are expected to be Intel's biggest assembly and testing operations worldwide.
2. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS has been operating in Baguio for over 20 years. The Baguio plant is the largest producer of DSP chips in the world. DSP chips are the brains behind cellphones. TI's Baguio plant produces the chip that powers 100% of all NOKIA
cellphones and 80% of Erickson cellphones in the world.
3. TOSHIBA laptops are produced in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
4. If you drive a BENZ, BMW, or a VOLVO, there is a good chance that the ABS system in your car was made in the Philippines.
5. TREND-MICRO, makers of one of the top anti virus software PC-Cillin (I may have mispelled this)
develops its "cures" for viruses right here in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City. When a virus breaks
in any computer system in the world, they try to find a solution within 45 minutes of finding the virus.
6. By the end of this year, it is expected that a majority of the top ten U.S. Call Center firms in
the U.S. will have set up operations in the Philippines. This is one area in which I believe we are the best in the world in terms of value for money.
7. America Online (AOL) has 1,000 people in Clark answering 90% of AOL's global e-mail inquiries.
8. PROCTOR & GAMBLE has over 400 people right herein Makati (average age 23 years) doing back-up office work to their Asian operations including finance, accounting, Human Resources and payments processing.
9. Among many other things it does for its regional operations network in the Asia-Pacific region here in Manila, CITIBANK also does its global ATM programming locally.
10. This is the first year ever that the Philippines will be exporting cars in quantity courtesy of FORD Philippines.
11. The government is shedding off graft and corruption slowly but surely. This is the first time in our history that a former president is in jail and facing charges of plunder. Despite all odds, we are still pursuing the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos now
enjoyed by his unrepentant heirs.
Next time you travel abroad and meet business associates
tell them the good news.
A big part of our problem is
perception and one of the biggest battles can be won
simply by believing and by making others believe.
This message is shared by good citizens of the
Philippines who persevere to hope and work for our
country.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO OTHER FILIPINOS!!!
12:07 AM
I think that it was a bit arrogant for the writer to assume that paying his INCOME tax makes him better than some of us. With our current tax system, everybody pays taxes one way or another. Taxation is based on the simple principles of equality and equity.
I don't think the poor are poor just because they are indolent. Who wants to be poor anyway? The programs that claim to help the poor dosn't really give a material effect to aleviate their predicament? Hence, the poor just get less opportunities to better themselves - the government programs on education, nutrition and the like, are corrupted. They are as much a victim of the system as any of us. Besides, indolence is common among the middle class as well. Thank God they have Daddy's money to help hide it.
And who are the poor really? The Philippines is not just Metro Manila. The farmers and fishermen, they are considered poor, right? It might be a surprise but the country is still very much agricultural, with raw materials being our primary exports. These "poor" are the ones who really keeps our country afloat and running. And yet even simple reforms to help them cannot be passed because of certain private interest.
Tax evasion, corruption, and indolence - there is no question about being angry at those. But the poor? Personally, I feel that it is elitist and myopic to think that they are so different from us. I expect something more mature from the writer whom I assume to be better educated having more opportunities to better themselves.
11:37 PM
We The Jologs: A Reaction to "Walang Kwenta and Pilipinas" by
Jawbreaker
(from an unidentified source)
I am working class, I pay my taxes, I am an "ordinary office worker,"
I know how it feels..... but this person, whoever he or she is, does
not speak for me. While the writer did not claim that he was speaking
for anyone but himself, the same passion that compelled him to compose
his
message is the same passion which compels me now to say my piece.
I write this for several reasons. First, the email (or more
accurately, the blog entry) now circulating, as strongly-worded as it
is, is bound to reach more and more people and lest more are led to
believe that most of us think in the same vein, I have to say that we
do not, or at least I don't. Second, many of his statements do a great
many Filipino grave
disservice. Third, it is time to speak.
I am just as sick of the corruption and the scandals and the
politicking. Pagod, sawa, at sukang-suka sa walang katapusang
pagbabangayan, tama siya doon! Ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas ay saksakan
ng dumi at baho... tama ulit!
We are all sick of watching these politicians fight over positions in
goverment like rabied dogs, all in the name of public service kuno
when in fact the only interest they ever serve is their own. But this
issue goes so far beyond politics! Sino nga bang kawawa sa mga
nangyayari ngayon? Kahit naman anong mangyari doon sa itaas, wala
naman sa kanila ang maghihirap. Even if Gloria resigns or is removed
from office, she's not going to end up anywhere near the poor house
scrounging for a daily living. Lahat sila, administrasyon, oposisyon,
militar, the big business players... all those powers that be who seem
to be driving the country further and further into the depths of
oblivion... they have nothing to lose except the opportunity to
accumulate more wealth at our expense. If this country does
self-destruct, all they have to do is hop on an airplane and fly,
business class at that, to some other country.
At sino ang maiiwan dito? Tayo. The so-called "middle-class"... and
the so-called "masa". Sama-sama tayong maiiwan dito to drown in the
muck. And because of this, I see no distinction between the purported
middle-class and the masa anymore, definitely not one that will help
us in these trying times. To hang on to the notion that our interests
are different is
myopic.
To believe that the middle-class have more at stake is arrogant. To
continue to keep a line between "them" and "us" is elitist and wrong.
It also borders on prejudice, which is unacceptable. This kind of
hatred is just as bad as greed.
Look around you. Unless you are surnamed Ayala (exception na lang
siguro si Joey Ayala) or Cojuancgo or Gokongwei or what have you....
working or not, MASA ka rin! So what if you dress better, or went to a
private school, can speak decent English, or listen to Coldplay
instead of April Boy? Does it make you more of a person? Does it make
you more deserving of
a better life? Does it make you more entitled to decent service from
an honest government? All it makes you is, well, better-dressed and
eligible for a higher tax bracket.
You know what the real differences are? The real difference between
"us" and "them" is that while "we" complain about not being able to
afford a fancy dinner at some expensive restaurant or buy a new pair
of sneakers or get the latest cellphone, "they" worry about where to
get money for their next meal. "They" worry about diseases like
pneumonia and TB and not having even a hundred bucks to even go to a
doctor to ask for prescription that they won't be able to afford to
buy anyway. Our children give up going to the movies; their children
give up fare money and walk to school, if they are able to still go to
school in the first place. The taxes that you pay may mean an
out-of-town family vacation. The taxes that according to you they
don't pay could spell the difference between life or death. THAT is
the difference.
Paying your taxes does not make you better than anyone else. Haven't
you thought about the fact that so many Filipinos are exempt from
paying taxes precisely because they are too poor to pay any tax?
Totoo, nakakainis ang mga tamad. At totoo naman na maraming tamad sa
Pilipinas. But the poor do not have a monopoly on the indolence in
this country. I find it tyrannical, and such a terrifying recall to
the Spanish colonial era, that some people still seem to think so. As
much as there are lazy people in the squatters of Tondo, there are
just as many lazy people in Forbes Park. The only difference is that
they have Daddy's money to disguise their lack of productivity. At
kahit tamad sila, hindi sila nagugutom.
Totoo, may mahihirap na hindi umaangat kasi tamad. Pero karamihan sa
mahihirap humihirap dahil kahit anong gawin nila, hindi sila
nabibigyan ng pagkakataong umayos ang buhay. Do we really believe the
poor are content with their poverty and do not try to do all in their
power to change their fate? Tell that to the driver of the next
pedicab you ride.
The bare naked truth is, in most cases, they are simply not given the
opportunity to prosper. For one, Government does not give them the
education they need and deserve to equip and empower them to do
better. And there's the capitalist economy of consumption and excess,
where profit is the end that justifies any means, which simply will
not let anyone other than the key players and investors and top-level
executives have any share of the wealth. I find it strange that you
shouldn't see this. You are the best example of what I mean. You
complain of having to content yourself with a 10 peso waffledog at
mini-stop instead of your favorite value meal at Jollibee? Yet you
work your butt off, don't you? Hindi ka tamad, pero yumaman ka na ba?
Like I said, masa ka rin. The simple fact is, for poor people like us,
there is a much bigger hurdle than the fight against one's own
"tamaditis."
You also attack those activitists who take to the streets. Unang-una,
sana ihiwalay mo yung mga tunay na aktibista dun sa mga binayaran lang
ng kung sinong pulitiko para manggulo. Hindi lahat ng nakikipaglaban
sa kalsada walang trabaho at tamad at hindi nagbabayad ng buwis at
nagbibilad sa araw para lang manggulo. There are those of them, and
believe me there are many, who are decent hard-working people. They
sacrifice time that would otherwise have been spent with their
families to fight for what they believe in. They sacrifice the daily
wages they might otherwise earn precisely because they feel that it is
the future of their children that is at stake. And it is precisely
because they are the disadvantaged lot that their sacrifices are even
more proportionately significant. More than income, they have
sacrificed life and limb for this country, and will do so again if the
need arises. For anyone to scoff at this, no matter how much we
disagree with the form that ideology takes, is disrespectful and
cruel. It is an insult to those who have made such sacrifices, to
their families who have made the sacrifices with them, and to those of
us who still believe that this country, damned as it seems to be, is
still worth fighting for.
Besides, ano nga bang masama sa ideolohiya? You use it like it was a
bad word. What is ideology, really, but a principle by which we aspire
to achieve our ideals? And what are our ideals? Better lives for
ourselves and our families? A better future for our children? To live
in a peaceful and just society, where there is enough for all and no
one is hungry or poor or uneducated? To be called a great nation and
take pride in our citizenship? Isn't that the ideal we all strive for?
The ideologies may vary, but still, the ideals are the same.
Bottomline: we all want the same thing. Masa man o middle class,
(kahit nga yung mga mayayaman at corrupt
na pulitiko, nasobrahan lang sila), we all want the same thing. Kelan
ba kasi naging synonymous ang ideology sa idealismo at ang idealismo
sa imposible? It is precisely because we have abandoned our ideals and
idealism that we are in the muck. It is precisely because we have so
been frustrated by our experiences that just the mere mention of any
ideology
makes us cringe and turn away. But if all these ideologies die, then
how will we ever strive for our ideals? Siguro nga tama ka, mamatay na
nga silang kumakapit pa sa prinsipyo at ideolohiya. Mamatay na tayong
lahat.
We have different ways of fighting for what we believe in, different
ways of contributing. Some of us take to the streets, some of us stand
quietly by but in our hearts we protest the injustices that surround
us and in our own ways, we do what we can. But I say, better do
something than nothing at all. To give up now will do nothing but
assure our doom.
The present political crisis is more than just political. True, this
needs to be resolved and at the soonest possible time. But however
which way this plays out? what we need to assure is that we do not let
this happen again.
Like I said, tayo ang kawawa. Buti sana if the effects of these
political upheavals are contained only amongst those people who keep
on palying musical chairs with the seats of power. Pero hindi eh.
Lahat tayo, apektado. From ordinary office workers to the jobless man
with five mouths to feed waiting at home, tamad man o hindi, we are
the ones who suffer. These political maneuverings have translated into
decades of poverty for so many and that makes me sick and livid with
anger. It makes my heart break. And we are all accountable for that.
Yes, all of us. And merely paying our taxes do not make us blameless.
We are accountable in so many ways that may seem little but are real
nonetheless. We are accountable when we vote for a person only because
kababayan natin siya, or tatay siya ng kaklase natin sa elementary, o
nakikita natin siya sa pelikula. We are accountable when we go to the
LTO and bribe the employees there so we don't have to spend two hours
in line. We are accountable when we solicit favors from politicians
and public servants and contribute to the prevalence of patronage
politics. We are accountable when we allow our friends or relatives to
solicit (or grant!) those favors. We are accountable when we engage in
business practices that deprive laborers of their fair and just wages
just so we could keep our profit levels as high as we possibly can
with nary a thought of how we owe to our employees not just to give
them wages but to raise their quality of life. We are accountable
when, in the name of job and investment generation, we develop
industries and technologies that wreak havoc on the environment and
the health of local communities thereby effectively pushing them once
and for all into a place of irrevocable poverty and true
disenfranchisement.
More so we are accountable when we sit by and say nothing or do
nothing to register our dissent and make things change. We are our
worst enemies. But, we are also our own best friends.
I say this to you in fellowship and with respect for the great love
you have for our country, which is obvious in spite of your
disillusion and decision to give up. Go. Be the proverbial rat who
abandons the sinking ship. Save yourself and pursue the life you want.
You have a right to it. Iwan mo kaming bayan ng mga jologs.
Like I said, I respect your opinion. Hindi kita inaaway, and if I
sound like it, I apologize. Actually, this is my real point. Hindi
tayo ang magkaaway dito, just as much as I believe na hindi yung mga
aktibista sa kalye o mahihirap na hindi makapagbayad ng buwis and
kaaway mo. I cannot accept that they should deserve this kind of ire.
And I find it counterproductive, to say the least, to put the
impoverished majority of this country on the other side of the fence.
You are angry, which is how most of us feel, but your anger is
somewhat misdirected. Para sa akin, nakakatakot kung ganyan ngang
mag-isip talaga ang lahat ng "middle-class." Kung magkataon, wala na
talagang mangyayari sa atin. Rage against the corrupt and greedy
people in power and I will rage with you. Rage against those who
resort to murder and terrorism to get what they want. But please,
spare the rest of us who just like you, flawed as we are, are just
victims here.
And herein lies the crux: we may be victims here, but we are not
helpless. We have to fight together. We must exercise discernment and
distinguish propaganda from truth. Now is not the time to point
fingers at each other and call each other names and wish each other
one-way trips to hell. We must identify who and what the real enemies
are; and in my heart of hearts, I know that I will not find them in
the shantytowns of Manila.
There is so much that ails our country. There is something so terribly
wrong when you live in a society where some people can afford 700,000
peso TV sets while just a few feet away there are children dying of
malnutrition. The fact that even people with the greatest love for
this
country give up and leave, is the saddest commentary of all. As urgent
as the need to change the people who govern us, is the need to change
so many of the intrinsic things that make our systems and institutions
so vulnerable to manipulation by the few. Not the least of these
things is our own individual tolerance. There is much work to be done.
And it must start, now.
You're right. What we need is radical change. A revolution is in
order. A real one. One that will go beyond changing the names of the
people we empower to abuse us. Take that statement however which way
you want. Take it to the streets, if you will. But my real prayer is
that you take it to your heart. Evaluate. Discern. Participate.
Change. Sacrifice. Hope. Act.
And yes, leave if you must. I wish you the best of luck, too. And one
day, I hope that you will come back to a Philippines that we, the
jologs, will have rebuilt to make you proud.
4:43 PM
A reaction to Jolog's reaction
A reaction to the reaction on Jawbreaker.’s letter titled “Walang kwenta ang Pilipinas”
I come from a “Just-above-average, income family” My father was into planting sugar. He inherited some land from his father. My mother’s family on the other hand, was into banking.
During the first half of my existence, I lived a sheltered life. Yes, I can say that I lived a relatively comfortable life while growing up. I never had to worry whether our house was strong enough every time a storm was due to blow by. I never worried about basic necessities, nor was I made to worry about doing basic chores such as cleaning my room or washing my clothes. Only upon reaching college here in Manila, did I learn how to ride our public transportation, did I learn what a Registrar is, and what registering for a school term is all about. Before then, everything was pretty much done for us.
Don’t get me wrong. I was not entirely oblivious to the hardships around me. I spent a significant amount of time-albeit playing, nevertheless, time with the children of our farm workers. This meant going to their houses, some of which you won’t even classify as one, and listen to the fights of the parents, the gripes, and generally witness their day to day business of surviving. I also did some work in the farm (Post college) for about 2 years under the employ of my parents.
Sometime in my later years, things abruptly changed. The sugar industry because of years of kurakot and poor financial practices on the part of most planters began experiencing major problems. Lady luck frowned at the same time on our family. Our house in Bacolod burned down where in we lost every thing. Then, several business ventures my family was involved in, collapsed. At the same time, three of us siblings were abroad and were in part, (Since we could not work legally) still dependent on the subsistence sent from back home. Our financial exposures were such that soon we were literally on survival mode. We had literally lost everything in a span of several years.
I came back from the states 1997 after 9 years. I will be the first to admit that I accomplished little if nothing at all though, I was employed on my 2nd year till I came back. Having to experience life there though, changed me a little bit. I cannot point out exactly what this change was. Maybe how individuals were respected in a certain way? Whatever it was, this change brought me in a collision course with my parents. Looking back, I too, failed to recognize the tremendous financial pressures bearing down on them at that time.
One day, things went out of control. We went way past our boiling points and we escalated to world war 3. A lot of things were said and done, and that very day, I moved out of the house. To some, I was kicked out (Depending on whose version) and was promptly declared “Persona non grata” with a promise to campaign and warn all - relatives and non-relatives against helping me…This promise was carried out quite efficiently, since I broke culture and spoke exactly what was on my mind. Not a single relative thought I had any right. I was forced to become a nomad for some time, transferring from one place to another. I lived in the slum areas, in farms, asking for help (Begging was more like it) whenever and wherever I could. I worked odd jobs here and there until finally, several relatives felt they had to intervene and they did. I went home after 3 years. We kissed and made up and we all became friends again and the rest is history.
I had to give you a little background of myself to show you where I was coming from. There were things you said, where I strongly feel, I should argue against. Anyway, let me give it a shot.
First, let us talk about the “Masa” of whom you “seem” to defend with a passion. My first question is: When will we ever stop blaming the “Spaniards”, and for once, take responsibility for our shortcomings? We seem to have this habit of blaming just about every thing and everybody, every time something goes wrong. We blame the Americans, the Spaniards, the corrupt system, democracy etc., etc. We never stop and just look at ourselves.
I have heard this rhetoric about our “colonial masters” since time in memorial. It is true, that people like the Spaniards left us with a lot of “bad” habits and practices, and we have suffered because we carried these bad traits through the generations but when will we just STOP, ASSESS, ADAPT and OVERCOME??? How many generations more did you plan to keep blaming Spain? 2? 5? 10 generations more before we say enough is enough?
I take offense when you imply that our people are destined to be “stupid” and “lazy” because they were made to be just that….
Reading Jawbreaker’s frustration that there are so many able-bodied Filipinos lazing around instead of working, and thus in a small way, be able to contribute to society, makes me want to go out and convey that very message and challenge these very people to contibute because they are certainly capable of much, much more.
On the other hand, reading your response offends me deeply, you are in effect writing off the common tao as “No good”, incapable of improving, branding them as hopeless, and worse, insult them by asking people to pity them? Because of certain factors like the Spaniards… etc! Where is the self-respect we are trying to teach here?
You were just short of predicting that their children’s children are already bound to be poor and thus, incapable of anything else because of excuse number 1, 2, 3, 4…. Man, certainly, this is not the message I’d want to convey. You have just given them a blanket excuse not to do well.
Did I just misunderstand your message Or you really intend it to be this way?
The Elite – I can feel your contempt and disgust when you address this group. I also felt this contempt spill over to what we would understand today as the “Middle class”. In a sense, you were mocking jawbreaker’s notion of him being in this group since, he is capable of paying taxes. To sum-up this part, you even posed this question: “Trabaho ka ng Trabaho – yumaman ka na ba?” Excuse me for asking, but isn’t Jawbreaker’s position of having a steady job, a million times better than doing nothing at all? What are you trying to teach - If you won’t get filthy rich might as well sit and scratch your stomach?
In essence, you ridicule the efforts of the likes of jawbreaker and his taxpaying abilities and would rather condone the act of doing nothing because to you, the “masa” is destined to be unproductive? – Again, what kind of values do you want our brothers and sisters to learn?
Hey, while I’m at it, forgive me for mentioning this… Please don’t look with contempt at people who dress-up better than some. It may be a form of expression or pride. It is in no way elitist. It may encourage people to strive for more… If you might, in some stroke of luck – be in power in the near future…just promise me, you won’t make everybody wear gray-like-pajamas as some sort of national outfit just so there won’t be any class distinction. I still have to see a socialist or a communist society that has no elites.
Before I continue, (Has no bearing to what I want to convey here) let me ask you one thing. I am just curious. Is it wrong for people to accumulate wealth thru hard work? If not, let us say you were an exceptional businessman and you made it rich, what will be your immediate goal? Is it to pass on to your children the fruits of what you have labored so hard for? If again true, should your children’s generation despise your children for inheriting wealth from you? - Unless of course you believe that whatever a person accumulate's during his or her lifetime should be returned back to the state. (Upon death…)
I agree with you that education is our biggest hope, if not our only way of advancing ourselves. I don’t agree though that government made it hard for our people to get educated as you said. I also don’t agree that the reason why there are a lot of illiterates is because of economic reasons. It is just not so… I have lived inside shanty communities (squatters) and believe me, money does circulate.
In every society, there are the extreme rich and the extreme poor. Of course, I know what you are talking about when you say "the kind of poor who are spread-out on our 7100 islands". C’mon, before, we think about them, let us first, get those that can go to school – into school! If we keep dwelling about our poorest –we will never move forward. The use of being poor is such an over used excuse already.
If you want proof to what I am saying, - easy! just ask your friendly taxi-driver, basurero, your house hold help, your taho guy, your fisherman, whoever. Just pose this question: “kahirapan ba ang dahilan kung bakit ang daming bata hindi nag-a-aral?” – I assure you, you will get a quick response to the contrary. They will even laugh at the notion that people are still using "ang paghihirap" as a reason for not sending their child to school. Now, I am not denying the fact that there are really people who are the poorest of the poor. Every country has these and this has to be addressed as a separate issue and be treated in a special manner.
Taxes - I am sure deep inside you, you know that this should be our stately obligation to our country. We should pay our taxes and thus demand better governance. Let us not discuss where our taxes go for the moment. I agree with you that we should hunt down those corrupt officials who pocket the money. Anyway, I also think that it is both your obligation and mine to teach the value of paying taxes to all our brothers and sisters. To do the opposite is irresponsible and should be considered an act of treason. We should instill to the people that paying taxes is a good thing. You don’t need to give to charities or what not, unless, it is really needed (extra action) Just paying the right taxes, you would have done your share as a Filipino. It is something to be proud of.
I understand your distress when Jawbreaker seemed to vent his ire and target those non-tax payers, and those able-bodied, non-productive persons. You even try to re-direct these frustrations at those corrupt officials and what have you… Have we not been doing this (Pointing fingers) for the longest time? Is it not time that we start the change within ourselves and the rest will follow? We just need to raise our social consciousness to levels we have never been to before and that can only come from within us. It is really irritating to see these non-productive persons be the first to demand this and that but they have no concept of what contribution is all about.
Yes, you talked about the farmers…I guess, I know about them too. Of course, they contribute a lot. To be commended are some of them that have placed value on getting their children to school. They understand that farming will get them only so far. Now, these children are successful and are bringing out their families from poverty. There are those that ascribe to your thinking. All they want to do is to dwell on what should have been instead of just buckling down and planning wisely their efforts. They become poorer and poorer because they are made to believe that they are capable of nothing more. In the end they are made to believe that the gun is the only way…. old story. Old trick – I should say….
By the way, there is a saying out in the countryside that nobody dies of hunger. You just need to plant and reap the benefits. Taking hunger out of the equation, they just need to ensure that their children go to school.
It is really hard work; we are lucky that my grandfather thought of putting up a school when he was alive. I think a lot about the children who come from other farms to go to school in our place. Imagine, what they have to go through. They have to pass several farms before they could reach ours. The temptation of being side tracked with play is big. Then I see a few of these parents, day-in, day-out, bringing their children to school and picking them up. They ensure that their children go in and study. Now, I hear these very children I have observed before are now successful with stable jobs here in Manila and a few outside of the country. Tell me if these were the very people you have written off as “No-chance” because of being “Poor”.
Ideology – No problem, I respect whatever ideology you adhere to. In the countryside the usual rhetoric’s being peddled is this: Said in a sympathetic coupled with deep empathy – As if they are defending the oppressed – but the end result is that you ask the people to fight for you.
“ To all the people, do not blame yourself if you are poor because the landlords made you so. All this land is actually yours. Therefore, (In short) you should fight (Kill) for it.”
No difference with what you are trying to say: “You people (masa) will always amount to nothing because of reasons no.1, 2, 3, 4, - don’t forget the “Spaniards”. It is not your fault that you are stupid and lazy. Here, you are only good to hold a gun. Let’s do a revolution…”
What is sad here is – you are actually willing to spill the blood of the Filipino people just to advance your ideology? – What is the matter with you???
I cannot believe. I know you are a learned man with the way you wrote your reaction. But then,is “Revolution” the only answer you can come up with because other solutions seemed so much work? Are you just looking for a Shortcut?
You are of the intellect group. Who do you think will be the “Elite” if let us say your goals of a revolution are achieved? And who will still be the “Massa”?
True stories from the countryside:
-What is poor? To me, poor was when we were so hungry without any money and it was late at night. We got some stones from the clean portion of the sea wall. We then placed them in a can and boiled water over it. This was enough to calm our stomachs for a couple of hours. The reason for the stones was for our soup to have a taste of the sea.
- 10 people were given land as a trial run for land reform. Just after 8 mos. There were only 2 big owners left standing. The rest just sub-leased their share for easy money and soon enough were back into complaining about how life was hard.
- Parents of farmers encourage their children to work in the fields for low pay because the money was paid weekly sometimes daily. (Quick return)
- Parents of farmers expect their children to work for them. Treating their children as their retirement package. That is why the more children the merrier.
- Parents more often than not are the first to claim the wages of the children. Often times wasting this away by drinking at night. (Both male and female)
-Etc. etc. more if you want to hear more.
12:17 AM
ang sarap basahin ng sinulat ni jawbreaker kung talagang asar ka na sa mga nangyayari sa paligid mo. pero palagay ko tanga si jawbreaker dahil sa tatlong kadahilanan:
unang-una ang mga sinasabi nyang mga masa eh ang mga taong nagtatapon at kumukuha ng mga basura niya, naglilinis ng mga tae sa poso negro nya. sila rin ang nagkakabit ng mga linya ng telepono at nagaayos ng mga sira sa bubong ng bahay nya. sila yung mga taong nasa baba na iniisip nyang mga walang silbi. sila yung mga nagtitinda ng mga makakain niya at sila rin ang mga taong nagdadrayb ng mga sinasakyan nyang bus at jeep. sila yung tagagaw ng mga buildings at flyovers na kinukuha sa tax nya!
sa madaling salita isa syang tanga kung di nya napapansin ang mga bagay na ito. kung ang tingin niya sa lahat ng taong nagbabayad ng tax ay ang mga taong yun lang ang may karapatan na mabadtrip eh pasensya sya.
ang pinaguusapan dito ay hindi lang tungkol sa kahirapan ngunit sa pagkakaron ng pantay-pantay na oportunidad. hindi dahil tamad sila lahat dahil sa pagkakaalam ko sila ang mga magtataho at mg magbabalot na may-ari ng mga lansangan. hindi pa uso call centers dati na silang nagtatawag ng mga kostumer sa kanilang malulupit na boses.
at sinong magsasabing hindi nag-take advantage si jawbreaker sa mga taong ito? eh ang alam lang nyang gawin eh magbayad ng tax?
ang pangalawang katangahan ni jawbreaker eh hindi niya binanggit kung natulungan ba nya o may nagawa ba sya bilang isang pilipino upang pagandahin ang buhay ng mga nasa paligid nya at pagandahin ang takbo ng bansa nya. sa pagkakaalam ko ang isang tao ay may karapatang magreklamo kung sya mismo ay may ginagawa i mean may moral ascendancy sya para sabihing walang kwenta ang mga pinoy. bakit? sa tingin niya pag nagbayad siya ng tax yun na lang ang paraan para maging pinoy na nakakatulong sa bansa nya? palagay ko mas tinotolerate pa nya yung mga kurakot kaysa labanan at puksain ang kagaguhan sa gobyerno.
ngayon kung ang problema nya eh di nya masikmura ang bansa nya at hindi niya matanggap na madaming mahirap sa bansa nya na hindi ma-afford magbayad ng tax katulad niya. at kung ang dahilan nya kaya sukang suka na siya sa pilipinas eh dahil bumalik pa sya dito para lang daw maghirap at magalit sa mga nagrarally at gustong gumanda ang buhay kaya nagrarally at sawang sawa din sa kahirapan tulad nya eh di umalis na lang sya sa pinas.
hindi kailangan ng bansa ang mga makasariling mga taong katulad nya na hindi marunong makiramdam at akala mo kung sinong taas noong nagmamalaki na may binabayarang tax eh wala namang pakialam kung saan gagamitin to at kung meron man eh nagbibingibingihan.
TANGA si jawbreaker isang malaking TANGA!
ang pangatlong kadahilanan kung bakit tanga si jawbreaker eh dahil hindi nya ginagamit ang galing nya para pagandahin ang buhay nya sa halip reklamo lang sya ng reklamo eh anong magagawa ng reklamo kung wala ka namang ginagawang aksyon para maayos ang problema? para kang nagdadasal na makapasa ng exam eh di ka naman nag aral! tanga talaga isang malaking tanga!
kaya jawbreaker kung nasaan ka man PUNYETA KA!
sigurado ko hindi mo pa naranasang maging isang mahirap at mabuhay sa tabi ng riles ng tren o kaya sa ilalim ng tulay at tigasan ng may nakabukakang babae sa tabi mo para kantutin! at hindi mo pa naranasang mabuhay ng mababa pa sa 50 pesos ang kita sa isang araw kasi wala ka namang natapos at kailangan daw may natapos ang isang empleyado kahit man lang High skul eh elementary nga di mo natapos dahil mahirap ka nga!
hindi mo pa nasubukan na maghanap ng condom dahil ayaw mong mabuntis si inday pero hindi kaya ng budget mo dahil kahit pambili ng pagkain mo kulang pa at talaga namang mas masarap ng walang condom or pills na minsan sumasablay! not to mention na mas exciting pag malapit ka nang labasan sabay tatimingan mo yung paglabas ng tamod mo diba?
kaya jawbreaker subukan mo munang maging mahirap bago ka magsalita laban sa mga mahihirap ok?
basta TANGA SI JAWBREAKER!
12:45 AM
OVERPOPULATION, SMOG, HIGH
LEVEL OF MERCURY OVER THE CITIES, CRIMES, FILTHY RIVERS, DIRTY COMMUNITIES,
BRAIN DRAIN, SELLING OUT TO SHREWED CHINESE BUSINESSMEN,SQUABBLING POLITICIANS,HIGH PRICES, ELITISM,...THESE ARE SOME OF REASONS WHY THE PHILIPPINES IS A VULTURE-CULTURE COUNTRY.
10:09 AM
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