Apparently in the last 24 hours or so one of the topics, and videos that went viral is this video of a certain Robert Blair Carabuena physically harassing a Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official. According to the information that was obtained before he deleted his social network accounts, he is a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University. He currently works as a recruitment executive at tobacco company Philip Morris.
I am not a fan of the MMDA. Frankly, the rotten apples that exist in the basket of our “traffic enforcers” spoil the rest of the bunch. I do believe, however, that no MMDA official deserves to be treated like that just for doing his/her job, certainly not the MMDA official who was at the receiving end of it all, Saturnino Fabros.
If you read the commentary on blogs and websites across the Philippine scene, you will definitely find no shortage of outrage. I have yet to find any comment praising Carabuena for what he did. Commentators who left their mark on websites have gone as far as to call for equivalent physical harm to Carabuena.
There is just one question I have for all those who showed outrage: Why are you angry now?
Is it a sign that we’re finally showing a distaste for impunity as a society? Is it because we couldn’t imagine ourselves going as far as to physically manhandle an MMDA official? Is it perhaps because he got caught on camera? Or is it perhaps because outrage has become a fad that Filipinos just jump on to naturally?
Why aren’t enough people showing outrage when they see someone attempting to bribe officials for traffic violations? Why aren’t people showing enough outrage for jaywalkers and litterers caught in flagrante delicto? And why aren’t people showing outrage when people in power, government officials for example, go around pompously expecting everyone to bow down to them? The same officials who cry “Do you know who I am?” when simply asked to follow rules?
To give Filipinos the benefit of the doubt, perhaps they are. The peculiar thing about Filipino indignation, is that historically it dissipates just as quickly as it flares up. In other words, Pinoys are quick to go back to happy and don’t-give-a-fuck mode after they’re through being “outraged”. Yet there exists the other side to Pinoy rage: they take everything personally. They nurse grudges, and entire clans have gone to war just because of a “perceived slightâ€.
It’s ironic that we Filipinos cringe at the use of violence against law-enforcers, but we seemingly ignore that there are other numerous smaller violations that deserve equal notice. Beating the red light, jaywalking, not throwing your trash in the proper places; people do this every single day. But no one else wants to raise the stink! Or if they do, the typical Pinoy response is: “What’s the use? Everybody does it anyway. Can you apprehend and correct them all?”
Pinoy-style indignation and Pinoy-style morality can be summarized in one simple phrase:
“It’s only deplorable if other guys are doing it.”
Double standards, defeatist attitudes, diminishing outrage, and downright disgusting behavior. These are the trademarks of a society where impunity has all but become the norm. It is in this respect that Carabuena’s case can serve as the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
The challenge to our society now is this: are we now going to have more respect for the law after this? Will this put an end to the “palusot” mentality we have for even small transgressions?
We Filipinos need to learn to discipline ourselves into following rules. We Filipinos need to stop putting ourselves above the law. And we Filipinos need to learn to stop being so goddamn emo.
And so I heard that the MMDA will be filing a case against Carabuena. Well and good; let’s just not hope that the case doesn’t amount to an “amicable settlement” which Carabuena seems capable of.
This should serve as a wake-up call to the MMDA and government: take care of your law enforcers, for crying out loud. Teach them to diffuse tense situations. Teach them even basic self-defense. It definitely took a lot of courage or “intestinal fortitude” as they call it in wrestling, for Fabros to just stand there and take it. Interpreted another way, it will embolden any stupid egotistic Pinoys left to keep defying the law. That MMDA officials are pussy-whips is the impression that any morons left will get.
Personally, I wish Fabros would have laid the smack down on Carabuena. Not only would the guy have been arrested anyway, he would have been in for the shock of his life too.
[Photo courtesy EllenTordesillas.com.]
Mga pare, niloloko yata tayo nito ni FallenAngel sinulat niya itong article para kumita ng pera at hindi kung para saan man. Wag na tayo magcomment at bumisita sa website na ito. The more magcomment tayo, the more kikita siya ng pera kasi dadami ang visitors sa site niya. The more visitors sa site niya, the more ang magpa-advertise sa kanya. Doon kikita siya ng pera. Wala pala itong ipinagkaiba kay Robert Carabuena eh. Gahaman din pala ito. Sinulat niya itong article para maintriga tayo at the more magvisit at magcomment tayo sa site niya. Useless ang site na ito. Wag na tayo magcomment. Pera pera lang pala ito.
*facepalm*
Conspiracy theory much? Oh yeah, you and pinoy fanatic are the same guy! Clearly you’re missing the point because of that angry mob mindset of yours. That’s pure BS if you ask me.
TROLL HARDER.
Isa lang masasabi ko:
Patunayan mo nga na kumikita ako ng pera mula dito.
I disagree. Just like you and me, FallenAngel have the right to say what he wants to say on an issue. Maaaring hindi mo magustuhan ang kanyang sasabihin pero hindi naman tamang akusahan mo siya na sumusulat siya para lang kumita ng pera. Ang kanyang sinasabi e kanyang ideya o opinyon sa isyu o pangyayari. Do’n ka dapat tumutok.
Kung meron kang ebidensiya na kumikita nga siya sa post n’ya, ipakita mo. In the meantime, let’s respect each other and at the same time disagree on issues. At magagawa lamang natin ‘yan kung hindi tayo mag-aakusa ng basta-basta na lamang.
@fallen angel – talagang nagtagalog ka na to make them understand. At first nainis mo ko, but while reading the comments i see the bigger picture. i got your point. Thanks. I already wasted time reading most comments from narrow minded people. Good day and God bless!
For those who are too quick to comment with too much anger, kindly hold back and think about it more deeper – aren’t we all sometimes tempted to do what the Philip Morris employee did? There is really ‘this something’ in driving that brings the best and worst in all drivers. I honestly admit this and I say self-control should always be in check everytime anyone touches the wheel.
Therefore, in the case of the PM employee, he should have never done it – not just because he is blessed enough to be an ‘executive of a multi-national company and an Atenean’ but also there is really no excuse for such manner. However, just in EDSA alone, how many events like this happens everyday? A driver against an enforcer, pedestrian/passenger or another driver? Some people even get killed by traffic altercations……just because for a very brief time, they lost ‘it’ – their self control. So let me share this simple awareness if it could help anyone who goes out there on the road – ANYTIME YOU HAVE TROUBLE WHILE ON THE ROAD, MAKE IT BRING OUT THE BETTER IN YOU. IF YOU CAN’T, JUST LET IT GO. Doing so makes it an insignificant event in your daily routine which you’ll just forget later on. Or of course, you can do Rambo and be an overnight national whipping boy when somebody caught you with one of the 2 million camera phones out there.
As it is, this is just one of the human weaknesses that was fortunately caught in camera. There are more hideous things that happens everyday which aren’t seen or caught yet which deserve far more angry responses than this one. Just ask your mayor, for one.
Peace.
Amen!
May we request for this to be removed? this is a complete violation of a person’s right to privacy.
FallenAngel – Carabuena nuthugger, asslicker. ’nuff said!
Did you even try to read and understand the entire thing, hmm?
Yung pamagat po ng artikulo o blog ay nagtatanong. Ang blogger po ay nagtatanong para po sa ating opinyon hinggil sa insidenteng ito. Ang hindi ko po maintindihan ay may mga sumasagot naman bagamat ang iba ay wala sa punto gayunpaman ang mga sagot ay base lamang sa kanilang nararamdaman. Para naman sa blogger, bakit po kayo magtatanong at pag nasagot naman po ay kokontrahin nyo pa? Opinyon po ninyo ang blog na ito pero ang bawat isa po ay may opinyon din. Sana po FallenAngel, wag nyo po ihalintulad ang iyong nararamdaman sa nararamdaman ng ibang tao at magtatanong kung bakit. Iyun lang po. Magandang araw po sa lahat.
Sumasang-ayon ako kay Dick. May kanya-kanyang opiniyon ang bawat isa sa atin hinggil sa pangyayaring ito. Maaring salungat ang paniniwala mo sa iniisip ng iba pero kanila iyon. Respeto nalang tayo. Hindi naman natin kailangang bigyan ng malalim na muni-muni ang usaping ito. Ang tama at mali ay nanatiling ganoon sa batas ng Diyos at Tao (sana). Alam nating lahat na mali ang manakit sa kapwa. Bagay na hindi inunawa ni Ginoong Carabuena kaya natural lamang na umani siya ng mga negatibong reaksyon. Hindi naman masamang magtanong ngunit napakahirap magpaliwanag sa paraang hindi mababaluktot ang iyong mga pangungusap.
Mga tangina nyo pala e, kayo kaya batukan ko?
dapatwat unawain nyo ang nagkamali..sapagkat lahat tayo ay tao lang.
anuman ang sanhi ng pagkamuhi sa ganitong sitwasyon ay wala gaanong maitutulong…bagkus, ito ay dapat pamulutan ng asal.
naway lumawak ang pangunawa ng nakararami..
-isang bayaw ng hapon na mahilig sa soup #5 at pilipina
One thing I realize about this whole affair is that negative psychic energy of Filipinos can be potent if precisely targeted to a fellow Filipino. That target can really get sick. I guess it’s part of the Filipino DNA to be susceptible to such attacks. In light of this, be concerned that public emotions can be swayed by certain individuals who possess enough fame, media resources or PR skills. The next target may be you.