Parallel Politics

There are several parallels between the ongoing presidential race in the United States and our own upcoming presidential contest in 2010. And those vying for the Philippine presidency would do well to learn the lessons from the American race.

Both administrations are fairly unpopular, the Bush administration because of its focus on Iraq, among other issues, and the Arroyo administration because of the numerous scandals in which it has mired itself.

Both the American and Philippine opposition are perceived to be strong contenders to replace both current administrations.

And both opposition groups are divided enough that, in their battles for supremacy, each might simply ensure the incumbent administration’s victory in its respective presidential election.

In the U.S., Senators Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton continue to slug it out for the Democratic nomination, with few state primaries and caucuses remaining. While Obama appears to have the upper hand, both in the popular vote and the delegate count, Clinton managed to prove that she remains a force to reckon with, as her rather decisive victory in Pennsylvania last week showed.

However, both sides continue to attack each other’s weak spots, with Clinton’s camp resorting to fear tactics that are reminiscent of the way the Republican Party operates. On the other side, Obama continues to present a fresh choice for the electorate, although his recent primary setbacks, as well as his association with individuals of questionable character, have called into question whether he can unite the nation behind him.

The fight has gotten so acrimonious that supporters of both sides would rather vote for Republican Party candidate John McCain if their respective side won’t win the nomination. Worse, all the mudslinging going around from both camps is simply providing the Republican Party with enough ammo to attack whoever gets the Democratic Party nomination. As a result, unless either side backs down soon, whoever emerges might be so battered by the nomination process that neither Obama nor Clinton will be in any shape to face McCain.

In our country, thanks to our multiparty system, the various candidates need not go through a series of primaries and caucuses in order to clinch a nomination. Of course, that simply means that a candidate can just create his or her own political party, and run.

Unfortunately, a good number of those who have strong chances of winning the presidency come from the opposition, and, for now, at least, it doesn’t look like any of them are going to be backing down. The big names at this point appear to be Villar, Legarda, Roxas, and Lacson, and each has more or less stated, for now, at least, that it’s the presidency or nothing. If none of them will give way, then the likely scenario is that, as in 1998 when Joseph Estrada won by a so-called landslide, the opposition bets will divide the pool of anti-administration voters between themselves, paving the way for an administration victory.

Those planning to run in 2010 should keep a close eye on what happens in the Democratic convention, and the U.S. presidential elections, and make sure they learn from the experience. Otherwise, their campaign will be doomed to failure.

American Gratitude

If there's a reason why I would vote Democratic (if I could, but I can't) in the coming US presidential elections, the passing of H.R. 760, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, by the Democratic Party-dominated Veterans' Affairs Committee would be one of the reasons why.

Quick historical background: The Philippines was a Commonwealth under American protection at the outbreak of World War II. At the start of the war, around 200,000 Filipinos joined the US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), and fought alongside the American armed forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. Filipinos continued fighting a guerrilla war after the fall of Bataan (recently commemorated last April 9).

As Senator Daniel Inouye stated in his testimony before the Senate:

The United States Armed Forces of the Far East fought to reclaim control, not only of the Philippine Islands, but also of the entire Western Pacific. During this crucial effort to oust our wartime enemy from United States territory, Filipinos fought under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. Filipinos were in the front lines of the battle of Corregidor, fought at Bataan, walked in what became known as the Bataan Death March, and were held and tortured as prisoners of war. These men remained loyal to the United States during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. They fought valiantly for the allies in the Pacific, waging a guerrilla war against the Japanese and helping to delay the Japanese advance across the Pacific.

At the start of the war, President Franklin Roosevelt promised that the Filipinos fighting for the Americans would receive the same veteran benefits as those of US vets. However, in 1946, Congress passed the Rescission Act, which basically reneged on that promise by stating that the service of Filipinos "shall not be deemed to be or to have been service in the military or national forces of the United States or any component thereof or any law of the United States conferring rights, privileges or benefits."

It appears that we are not the only one with a short historical memory. The Americans appear to be afflicted as well, having waited more than six decades to correct this wrong that their government in 1946 committed. Now, most veterans, around 18,000 of them, are in their 80s and 90s, and, since the measure still has to be signed into law, more of them will die before they receive justice.

There are some, such as Republican Senator Richard Burr, who don't believe that the Filipinos deserve anything, that the veterans from the more recent wars which the U.S. started deserve more. One blogger called the bill an "abomination" and an "outrage" and proof of the Democrats' evildoings in Congress. He goes on to write that "Filipinos were fighting for their country, not ours."

Such is the measure of gratitude accorded to our veterans by a country that got them into the war to begin with.

Having been to Corregidor, and having stood at the foot of Mt. Samat in Bataan, where the Bataan memorial cross stands as a reminder to Filipino and American valor, I have a profound and deep respect for our countrymen who fought and died during that most trying of times. I hope that their bravery will never be forgotten.

Related material:

Inouye's Testimony before the US Senate

The Filipino Veterans Movement

World War II Forum - Filipino Vets

Filamvets.com

Nutcases: A Hodgepodge

I came across this in the breaking news portion of Inquirer.net:

Lawyer files criminal raps vs Pope, Cardinal Rosales

‘Disturbance of order, swindling, immorality’

By Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 14:32:00 04/29/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- A lawyer filed on Tuesday a criminal complaint before the Manila prosecutor's office accusing Pope Benedict XVI and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales of human rights violations, including alleged disturbance of public order, swindling and teaching immoral doctrines.

Elly Pamatong claimed the Pope and Rosales "have been arrogantly, oppressively and offensively mounting loudspeakers on church rooftops, towers, belfries and trees that are blaring with monotonous false dogmas and doctrines."

"They have been disturbing the peace and quiet of non-Catholics throughout the country," he said in his complaint.

Among others things, Pamatong wants the court to rule that those who will not respect the rights of non-Catholics to live in peace "be deported to the Vatican and forever barred from entering the country."

I guess I can't say I'm surprised. More than two years ago, Pamatong and his accomplishes were guilty of strewing major thoroughfares with metal spikes in a stupid protest against the government; luckily, no one was seriously injured, or, worse, killed by Pamatong's idiocy.

It seems that Pamatong must be tired of being out of the limelight for so long, such that he apparently decided to call attention to himself by filing this nuisance suit, maybe in preparation for yet another nuisance stab at the Presidency, perhaps?

The court should see the nuisance suit for what it is, and prevent it from clogging its already overloaded dockets, and throw it out.

* * *

Senator Jamby Madrigal, with her challenging of her late aunt's will, is another who seems always hungry for the limelight, even if it casts her in a negative light. However, it seems to me now that her purpose is not to get more money from her aunt's estate, but to deny her relatives from benefiting from it, as her lawyer has stated that the court battle will be "long and bitter. " Thus, it's not greed that's motivating her; however, neither is it justice or principle. It appears that it's just outright selfishness.

* * *

There are lunatics and there are lunatics; each country seems to have its own share of nutcases, a number of them more dangerous than ours. In Austria, a grim and dark tale of a daughter kept captive and in seclusion by her father for 24 years has surfaced. What's worse is that the father raped his daughter, resulting in the birth of eight children, one of which died at infancy. It was only discovered recently when a note for help was found on one of the children, who was brought to the hospital after falling unconscious.

I cannot imagine what sort of psychosis will cause a man to commit such an atrocity. Here in the Philippines, there are stories of fathers raping their daughters, but I don't think I've read about a worse one than what happened in Austria. I'm keeping an eye out on this story, to see how it will resolve, and whether the reasons behind the madness can be explained.

Respect and Sensitivity

With the recent case about the patient whose rectal operation was videoed and posted on YouTube, one has to wonder what sort of moral and ethical training our medical personnel receive. I actually haven’t watched the video, but, from what has been described in the media, it’s pretty clear that the doctors and nurses present at the operation did not have any respect for the patient’s basic human dignity.

Apparently, due to a sexual encounter with a male prostitute, the patient had a spray can shoved up his ass. In the process of the resulting operation, a number of people who didn’t have any business being there entered the operating room, obviously to see what all the fuss was about. To make matters worse, the surgeon operating on the patient, upon extraction of the can, began laughing, which was probably, as opined by his lawyer, out of relief. However, he began spraying the can at his colleagues, which was probably not, contrary to his lawyer’s opinion, out of relief. Add the videoing of the event, and its subsequent posting on the Internet, and we now have a human rights violation of frightening proportions.

I didn't realize that there is more than one version of the Hippocratic Oath, which lists the values that a doctor must uphold. Still, one common thread that runs through both the classical and the modern versions is that fact that doctors are supposed to abstain from committing mischief or corruption, as well as keeping secret what they see or hear in the presence of their patients. Those doctors and nurses, then, violated these precepts.

To make matters worse, the Catholic Church, in the guise, of the Archdiocese of Cebu, has decided to weigh in on the matter. The Archdiocese’s spokesperson, Monsignor Achilles Dakay, stated that the video would not have occurred if the patient did not engage in a homosexual act in the first place. I cannot imagine a more unbecoming and un-Christian statement, coming from a priest, no less. In short, what Msgr. Dakay is saying that the patient was basically asking for the whole thing to happen, which is akin to saying that a girl who dresses sexily deserves to be raped. Neither argument holds any water; neither action is excusable.

While I don’t agree with Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network (Lagablab) secretary general Jonas Bagas’ assertion that gay sex is normal, it’s irrelevant to the situation, and it’s nowhere near the center of this problem. What I do agree with is the observation that Dakay’s statement serves to draw focus away from the actions and behaviours exhibited by the doctors and nurses who performed the operation.

It seems almost prescient that my friend Katz wrote a series of blog posts which called for understanding and respect for homosexuals. And that’s all that matters in this case: understanding and respect. And, of course, condemnation for those unable to demonstrate such.

The Department of Health should investigate the matter thoroughly, and apply the appropriate sanctions on those responsible for this heinous event. Hopefully, the patient will identify who did this heinous act to him, and that person be prosecuted for causing bodily harm. And maybe church officials such as Msgr. Dakay could be more circumspect and sensitive about what they say in public.

All it takes is respect and sensitivity.

Back to Reality

Upon returning from vacation, I see that one of my favorite topics is at it again.

Senator Jamby Madrigal is fuming over her exclusion in the will of her aunt, Dona Consuelo "Chito" Madrigal-Collantes, and plans to challenge the will in court.

In her public statement, she stated that she was not in this for the money, but for "justice and principle." She also insinuated that there was something deeper and darker behind her exclusion, saying that if she were to reveal her side of the story, "it would make a telenovela."

Yeah, right, it's not the money. Of course, it's the money, Jamby. Your aunt was rich; of course, you feel slighted at not being given a slice of the pie. But didn't Madrigal-Collantes foot the bill for your political career, contributing to your failed campaign in 2001, and your successful one in 2004? What more can you want? You're like those rich athletes who claim they deserve more money, even if their current salary will eclipse many a Third World country's Gross National Product (GNP).

It's not like Madrigal has not done something like this before. Remember when she threatened to reveal some private information about Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) officer Romulo Neri, when Neri refused to testify before the Senate? She's acting more like Boy Abunda on "The Buzz" than as a Senator of the country. Considering that she used Judy Ann Santos to get herself elected, maybe she should just go into showbiz, because she seems to enjoy intrigues and gossip.

On the legal side, I agree with Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. Being a niece, Jamby is not entitled to a share of her aunt's estate; only the spouse and children are required beneficiaries. In addition, Madrigal may be fighting a losing cause, as I read earlier that her late aunt stipulated in her will that anyone who challenges the will is to be automatically disqualified from any share. I don't think Jamby has enough pull with the courts, which will probably respect the wishes of the deceased. And thus her suit is a losing one.

Hiatus

I'll be taking a break for about a week and a half; I'll be in the province.

Take care, all.

Political Hodgepodge

The rice crisis in the Philippines continues to plague the country, with the price of rice continuing to spiral upwards. This, coupled with the rise in gas prices, has already caused the prices of other commodities to go up as well, increasing the hardships of the poor.

Despite the grim situation, the Arroyo government probably cannot be more delighted with the crisis, as it will draw attention away from the nagging corruption cases besetting it. Of course, it is understandable that the administration will play it up to the hilt; already, the President has called for an end to what she calls “political ranting” and focus on the problem at hand.

The problem with her call is that it’s self-serving, considering that she is the reason for the “political ranting”. It’s clear that the administration will exploit the crisis and milk it for all it’s worth. I can only hope that the government will look at some concrete solutions to the problem while it’s exploiting it, and, maybe, I can look on it more favorably. I’ll continue to monitor and study the situation, and see whether this government can demonstrate actual leadership and come up with viable plans to resolve the problem.

* * *

I find it sad that the opposition has taken a page out of the administration’s playbook, and resorted to dramatics when they apparently walked from the Senate to the Supreme Court in order to file their motion for reconsideration regarding the Court’s decision on Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) chair Romulo Neri’s invoking executive privilege.

This, of course, is after the President did “Unity Walks” alongside various sectors of society to emphasize the supposed support of the Filipino people. The only reason why Arroyo may have the support of the Filipino people is that the opposition has virtually nothing substantial to offer the nation in terms of good, strong leadership.

Maybe the good Senators are emulating the example of the Sumilao farmers, whose march from Bukidnon to Metro Manila concretized their appeal for land. Maybe the opposition Senators thought that their motion would be granted because the justices will be moved by their dramatics. Considering that the Supreme Court rarely reverses itself, it’s not likely.

***

Opposition spokesperson Adel Tamano’s pronouncement that the chances of former President Joseph Estrada’s running again for the Presidency are 50-50 sent chills down my spine. Haven’t we learned our history lessons enough? Are we doomed to repeat the cycle of mistakes over and over again?

It’s apparent from Estrada’s speaking at various commencement exercises that we are doomed. Estrada has shown no contrition for the crimes of which he was convicted, and has the nerve to label the Arroyo administration as corrupt. Not that the administration isn’t corrupt, but, coming from Estrada, it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

If Estrada is the best that the opposition can offer in 2010, then heaven help the Philippines.

Cruel Cameras

It must be difficult being a public figure in this age of instant video (a.k.a. YouTube). Rather, it must be difficult living in this age, period. One must walk a tightrope, lest one's gaffes be captured on camera, and immortalized on the Internet. Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, we are treated to the song wrecking of Alyssa Alano (of "Keys Me") and that Bulgarian girl who claimed she was singing in English when, in her audition for the Bulgarian version of "American Idol", she mangled Mariah Carey's "Without You", now forever known as "Ken Lee". It is also thanks to YouTube that we can follow the linguistic exploits of our reigning Binibining Pilipinas -World titlist Janina San Miguel.

The sharp eyes of YouTube posters also caught Claudine Barretto's expletive when she tripped during a noontime show, and songbird's Regine Velasquez's forgetting the lyrics of a song she was singing on TV.

At the same time, because of the notoriety, some gain a small measure of fame, a little more than the so-called 15 minutes. It worked for Renaldo Lapuz, who composed his own song to sing for his audition to "American Idol", and may get his own record contract, a la William Hung. Alano also gained a little bit of fame, although not the sort she may have wanted. I can imagine the "Ken Lee" girl probably managed to parlay her performance into something.

One of my friends pointed out that this phenomenon may actually cause people to deliberately act stupid in front of the camera, anything to become popular or stay in the limelight. That would probably explain the success of such sites as YouTube. Still, on my part, being who I am, I'll be careful about what I say or what I do, lest I become the next "Ken Lee".

Serenity and Firefly

“Firefly” was a television series created by Joss Whedon, who was also responsible for “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer,” and its spin-off series, “Angel”. However, unlike the other two shows, “Firefly” only lasted 14 episodes. 3 of which never aired. This wasn’t because the series was unpopular or critically bad; on the contrary, the show generated a good fan base and won an Emmy. It appears that mismanagement by its parent network, Fox, not knowing what it had, was what was responsible for the show’s untimely demise.

By the time I got to watch the series, along with the movie it spawned, “Serenity”, “Firefly” had been off the air for about six years. After finishing the series, I feel pained that the series was never really given a chance to shine. Despite its short run, however, “Firefly” managed to capture my fancy, and has permanently lodged itself in my heart.

There is a lot to like about “Firefly”. The fact that its creator was Joss Whedon has a lot going for it. It meant that there was some really intelligent writing and scripting going into the series, as Whedon managed to create a reality that was palpably real to the viewers.

The plots are well-thought out and well-written. In summary, the series revolves around the crew of a Firefly-class freighter, “Serenity”, whose captain, Malcolm Reynolds, is a survivor of a major armed conflict. After the war, he buys a ship, and does odd jobs on the fringes of civilized space, avoiding as much contact with the Alliance as possible. However, the jobs don’t always go as planned (and, in actuality, they rarely do), which sets the stage for the various episodes.

Another bright point about the series are the colourful characters which populate it. From the regulars, such as the tough Reynolds with his code of honor, to the enigmatic and dangerous River Tam, to the villains and episode specific ones, such as the genteel but barbaric gangster Nishka, Whedon manages to present characters who are not mere paper cutouts, but living, breathing three-dimensional characters.

After its cancellation, fans came out in droves to demand the show’s return. While they were (so far) unsuccessful in bringing it back to network television, they were successful in convincing Hollywood that there was something in this show worth taking a closer look at. And, thus, “Serenity,” was born.

The movie was a fitting ending to a great series. With a larger budget, Whedon and his crew were able to flesh out the reality of “Firefly” even more. The movie wound up tying up a lot of loose ends from the series, and yet, kept the door open for the possibility of a sequel, or, better yet, a return to a regular series.

Short-Term Historical Memory

One of the tragic flaws we seem to have as Filipinos is that our historical memory is woefully short-term. Because of this, corrupt officials from the past can apparently reinvent and project themselves as moral crusaders, especially if the current government is equally or more corrupt. Their sins from their time in office are glossed over, or, worse, simply forgotten by the madding crowd.

Such is the case with pardoned convict, former President Joseph Estrada, who is currently going around the country as the guest speaker at various graduations.

Unrepentant about his crimes of plunder, Estrada now has the nerve to rail against the government for the massive corruption going on, as if his own administration was as pure as the driven snow. He projects himself as a victim of persecution by the Arroyo administration, that he was unjustly ousted and convicted, this despite the evidence presented against him, which he and his allies, of course, dismiss as spurious.

What's worse is that the Filipino people seem to have reembraced him as a folk hero, considering that he was invited to several colleges as the guest speaker for the graduation rites. Like the deposed leader, what apparently is important to the officials of these colleges is not the legal record of the individual, but his or her popularity despite the individual's crimes.

While Estrada has continually denied that he will seek the Presidency again, it's not far-fetched that he will not keep his word, as he has demonstrated in the past. If he should run, and actually win in 2010, then I will definitely look for better prospects abroad, for, should he win, there will be no hope for this country.