Back in the Dark and Middle Ages, the Church was practically the State. It maintained a firm and oppressive grip on the lives of the people, bending them to its allegedly holy will. People suffered and were persecuted, and all of these were done in the guise of God’s divine providence. Faith became the sharp sword that stabbed the dissenters, people who dared think outside the box. The cross became the symbol of the Church’s irrevocable authority over the lowly citizens.
It could be said that the dark times of civilization, where holiness is associated with a seemingly insatiable appetite for bloodshed and social supremacy, is now a thing of the very distant past. Such horrors can only be found in the texts of history, to remind mankind of how vicious it became in the past. However, somehow, that curious tendency of man to invoke religious fervor to further his interests lingered on and stuck to the human psyche long after the olden times.
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History documented the likes of Francesco Giuseppe Borri and Michael Schüppach and their cunning as they manipulated countless gullible folk into believing their gimmicks, ranging from revelatory prophecies from angels and God, dubious healing rituals, even alchemy, which sparked the frenzied pursuit of the fabled elixir of life and the conversion of base metal to pure gold. People willingly, even desperately, surrendered their will to men of such wit and deceit, since they so conveniently played with their deepest fantasies and desires.
Why are these historical pieces being invoked in this article? Unsurprisingly, the Philippines exhibits the very symptoms of religious infection. But like Borri and Schüppach, religious manipulation is not limited to the Church; it does not hold a monopoly on the concept of religion, or, to be more precise, of a cult.
I now turn to my main political reference: the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. Here we discuss this particular law in detail; the twenty-seventh law.
Law 27: Play on Peoples Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following
People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise, emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.
Needless to say, the twenty-seventh law explains the power that can be derived by imprisoning people in some sort of a fantastic belief system; a cult, one might say. So who am I accusing of using this clever trick on us? My, accusation might be a strong word. After all, I’m still open to the possibility of inadvertent causation. Nevertheless, an institution in our country has so subtly ingrained itself into the minds of our fellow Filipinos… the government.
The Source
For those who find the idea ludicrous, I request that you tag along for the moment. The next, and obvious, course of action we must undertake is to substantiate my claim. We shall do this systematically. First and foremost, what is the catalyst? What is this that made many Filipinos gravitate towards the government’s influence? This question is too easy to answer, almost rhetorical, for this catalyst, the source of the Filipinos’ devotion to the State, is practically the same with the others who fell for Borri and Schüppach’s charms; the desire for miracles.
What do Filipinos think of the first EDSA revolution? It was a spectacular moment. People from all walks of life united for a single purpose; the ostracism of an oppressive president who for so long made them suffer. It was spearheaded by the benevolent Cory Aquino, who then subsequently replaced the old president, and quite literally, gave the Philippines democracy. It was mythical, it was magical… it was a miracle.
Every now and then Filipinos tend to associate good things with miracles, something that just cannot be explained. An unexpected win from a lottery is a miracle. A dirt-poor lad who grew up to become the People’s Champ is a miracle. Imaginative Filipinos can make anything miraculous. And then Filipinos witnessed the economy take a nose-dive since Cory. Unemployment rose together with crime rest. Social unrest became more and more pronounced. Thick-faced politicians plundered our resources at the expense of our people’s livelihood. It was dystopia, to say the least. The Filipinos, wrought with tragedy after tragedy, can only hope for, well, a miracle.
And then it, or rather, he appeared. Vowing to bring the corrupt officials, most especially Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to justice, Noynoy Aquino embodied everything the Filipinos desperately prayed for; someone who’ll bring swift justice to the evil ones, someone who will guide everyone to a better future. Noynoy was, in every aspect, the hero… the miracle, Philippines hoped for. And so began the Philippine state cult, the perpetuation of the Aquino-Cojuangco glory.
The System
We now proceed to the system of this cult. The clan has started the power game; how will they maintain it? The 48 Laws of Power explained things quite clearly and entertainingly for my taste, and I shall take the liberty of sharing it with you.
The Science of Charlatanism or How to Create a Cult in Five Easy Steps
Step 1: Keep it Vague; Keep it Simple. To create a cult you must first attract attention. This you should do not through actions, which are too clear and readable, but through words, which are hay and deceptive. Your initial speeches, conversations, and interviews must include two elements: on the one hand the promise of something great and transformative, and on the other a total vagueness. This combination will stimulate all kinds of hay dreams in your listeners, who will make their own connections and see what they want to see.
Noynoy Aquino, with the possible—no, probable inclusion of the local oligarchy, observed religiously. Recall how Noynoy captivated the oppressed Filipinos with his heart-warming speech back in the elections. How he promised change in his daang matuwid, how he boldly claimed that kung walang korap, walang mahirap (if there are no corrupt officials, there will be no poor) how he will strike down the violators of the law, and how he will carry on the legacy of his much-beloved parents. Noynoy provided the ultimate rhetoric; simple, straightforward, and complete devoid of substance, specifically of action, and the people rabidly bought into the rap. People started dreaming; here is a man who can finally liberate us from the clutches of the corrupt government officials, and who will bring us lasting economic prosperity. There goes the first step.
Step 2: Emphasize the Visual and the Sensual over the Intellectual. Once people have begun to gather around you, two dangers will present themselves: boredom and scepticism. Boredom will make people go elsewhere; scepticism will allow them the distance to think rationally about whatever it is you are offering, blowing away the mist you have artfully created and revealing your ideas for what they are. You need to amuse the bored, then, and ward off the cynics.
As soon as Noynoy made himself publicly known together with his advocacy for the betterment of Filipinos, what things suddenly popped out and boosted his popularity?
L for Lethargy! No wait--
If you look closely, it’s a yellow ribbon.
If you look more closely, the ribbon is also a dove. Cute!
The symbols did wonderfully for the Aquino-Cojuangco cause. People need not hear what Noynoy actually has to say; the symbols spoke for the entire cause! The L gesture means laban (fight); a fight against corruption and poverty! The dove means peace, which means Noynoy is after peace! He intends to lead us to an economic paradise where we can live in harmony! The ribbon, well, I’m not sure what that means (perhaps “almost infinity�) but who cares? It’s sure to be something good, and I’m definitely putting my money on this guy. In effect, the symbols became the explanation for Noynoy’s candidacy; irrevocable arguments on why you should vote him, and why critics are just jealous cynics who are shamelessly plotting to bring Noynoy down. Suffice to say that these symbols hit many birds with one stone.
Confucius once said, “signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws.†Well, although Noynoy didn’t exactly rule the world, he definitely ruled the people’s hearts and desires, and that’s good enough, as far as daang matuwid is concerned.
Step 3: Borrow the Forms of Organized Religion to Structure the Group. Your cultlike following is growing; it is time to organize it. Find a way both elevating and comforting. Organized religions have long held unquestioned authority for large numbers of people, and continue to do so in our supposedly secular age. And even if the religion itself has faded some, its forms still resonate with power. The lofty and holy associations of organized religion can be endlessly exploited.
The Aquino party didn’t exactly fulfil this after they have gathered their loyal followers; they have fulfilled this step before Noynoy even began his presidential campaign. And what better entity can be utilized to accomplish this objective than the Roman Catholic Church itself? In fact, the Aquino-Cojuangco clan did not just borrow the system; it incorporated the RCC into its cultish system. Remember that EDSA is always described in a holy way; it was God’s will, it was supported by the Church, and stuff like that. Most notable was the canonization of Cory Aquino to crystallize her legacy. Yes, Cory being a saint; very Catholic, and this just proves how the government cleverly incorporated the enduring Filipino faith to further its causes, without eliciting much objection from its loyal followers. After all, how could they, when their Church is on the side of Noynoy and friends?
Whenever Noynoy moved, it was as if he was guided by God, as well as her heroic parents, Ninoy and Cory. Isn’t it thus natural, that we leave our individual fates in the hands of the balding messiah?
Step 4: Disguise Your Source of Income. Your group has grown, and you have structured it in a churchlike form. Your coffers are beginning to fill with your followers’ money. Yet you must never be seen as hungry for money and the power it brings. It is at this moment that you must disguise the source of your income.
Fulfilling this requirement is fairly easy and straightforward; after all, the state (Aquino administration) and the church it allies with (Roman Catholic Church) are both known for their ability to generate money, via taxation and donations, respectively.
We all know how the Church acts like our tithes are like investments for heaven to secure some kind of a housing deal with God (the priests make it look that way), and how people are more than willing to part ways with their earnings. Meanwhile, we know how taxation is of crucial importance to the maintenance of a government; it maintains non-profitable social apparatuses like public roads, courts, prisons, traffic lights, among others, and they are a source of revenue to pay government employees, as well as of bailouts in times of deep economic crises. And how, given its important nature, it is easily exploitable.
Where do you think Noynoy got his Porsche? Where do you think priests get their money for around-the-world trips and cars? Heh, lame question, right? Interestingly, most Noynoy supporters are mum about the issue, and prefer believing that Noynoy is on the right track, that these things do not really matter. Just understand his symbols and you will see! The L sign, the dove and the unfathomable yellow ribbon, they hold the answers!
Step 5: Set Up an Us-Versus-Them Dynamic. The group is now large and thriving, a magnet attracting more and more particles. If you are not careful, though, inertia will set in, and time and boredom will demagnetize the group. To keep your followers united, you must now do what all religions and belief systems have done; create an us-versus-them dynamic.
This is the most important piece of the religious puzzle, the single thing that can keep religionists together throughout the years, and it seems Aquino’s lot has done this quite beautifully. Put the blame on Arroyo and her administration for anything bad that’s happening in the economy. Persecute Corona, a key figure in his predecessor’s administration to win his people’s favor. Set the previous administration as the absolute evil, and set his own as the knights of light that will vanquish the darkness that plagues this wretched nation; nothing could be more inspirational.
As expected, support poured into Noynoy like a waterfall. People were touched; finally, someone who will stand his ground against the oppressors! Nothing else mattered; here was the man who is fulfilling every frustration Filipinos felt in the past… here was the man who is satisfying their depravities! Here was the man who will fulfil his promises, and so what he’ll do is right… no matter what. Of course we know how his administration flunked horribly in prosecuting Chief Justice Renato Corona, but the fact remains that he was able to maintain a stronghold of unswerving faith despite his blunders; such is the sheer power of our religion-state, masterfully established by the Aquino-Cojuangco clan and its lackeys.
Intentional or not? What does it matter, when the way Noynoy and his lot structured the government mirrors that of the teachings of the twenty-seventh law so perfectly, it warrants sheer recognition? Congratulations, Noynoy, commendable performance. It seems that your lot does know a thing or two about power; and what splendid job of perpetuating the influence of your clan for so long! Such feats deserve an entry in the books of political philosophy.
Here, we have the very manifestations of the Dark Ages, only it’s not mainly about bloodshed, and more about intellectual bankruptcy. For those who look for real-world illustrations of the twenty-seventh law, look no further than the Philippines. Now, an interesting question is posed; what will we do about it?
Really, it couldn’t be more obvious.
The first and only “peaceful†opportunity to do something about the early “manifestations of the Dark Ages†that you refer to would be during the mid-term electoral exercise slated next year, 2013. For it is during elections that any “fantastic belief system†(or “cultâ€) would-be messiahs of PNoy’s kind peddle for support is decided by the votes of a democratic majority, following a political campaign where issues, even including the non-political, are aired and thoroughly discussed.
Then, there are the term limits that would-be messiahs would need to reckon with; PNoy’s “lame-duck†presidential 6-year term with no re-election, in fact, will end in mid-year 2016, which means that in about four years from now, he becomes, politically, a “dead duck.â€
Hence, Robert Greene’s twenty-seventh law will have to confront in particular the concepts of fixed terms of office and of term limits of elective political public officers our Constitution was framed with as effective devices against tyranny.
Good point, Mr. Domingo Arong. But I believe the law is not solely concerned with the perpetuation of power, time-wise. Greene also emphasized the maximization of power, not necessarily the length of it. In other words, utilizing what power they have to the fullest.
As to time or length of power, it’s not limited to the confines of the government. Borri and Schuppach’s legacy weren’t confined to their gimmicks. Their legacy went on even after imprisonment and retirement; they became symbols, paragons of mysticism. The same could be said to our country. Even if Noynoy will step down, Philippines will still remain gravitated to his clan; what with 25 years of Yellow “democracy,” so to speak.
Suffice to say that the 27th law is not restricted to politics. It is quite flexible.
Miracles, they downplay the worth of effort, skill, talent, and perseverance.
Elitism, false analogies, misplaced faith, and the pride that causes refusal to be wrong; such things cause us to see things as a carriage horse does, a single straight path where the unknown will always be the wrong way unless shown to us by the driver.
“miracles” = one common way pinoys call something they’re too lazy to think about and fully comprehend
i.e., it’s a shortcut to NOT have to think
True that. Or something they do not want to believe is possible in this world.
Haha, I just remembered the old CoatSaver ad
I do not believe in the dictator wannabe Mr. BS Aquino. God is definitely not on his side. There is no yellow cult. What exists is a frail, minority alliance of political rag-tag followers who believe more in mercenary politics. Money talks. Money influences and moves people. The coming elections will prove this. Many will abandon his party. The majority of the people are not fools. They are wise to his straight(and wide) path slogan, false political promises and lies. He tried to generate a “respectable” crowd in the recent EDSA Anniversary Celebration. It was a failure. The demagogue cult leader is seen as our worst national nightmare. Live with it and suffer it. The worst is not yet over.
Noynoy by himself is indeed unlikely to be a capable dictator; but then, he isn’t alone. There are other people pulling the strings, so to speak.
Well, what I did is to establish parallels between the 27th law and how the clan progressed throughout the years, which can substantiate the cult-like nature of the Aquino legacy. You’re not a part of it, but many are. Although it can be said that the influence is waning, well, it can also be said that they reaped so much benefits from us, that it doesn’t really matter if the scapegoat Noynoy is struck down.
A parable of Jesus Christ, found in the New Testament Bible; tells about building your house with foundation on solid rock; and not on a foundation of unstable sand. Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany did the same as the Aquino Regime…they used Cult tactic. Using the murder of Ninoy Aquino, Jr. by the NPA, as a result of his unholy alliance with them. The Aquinos used the Catholic Church as a ally…the Catholic Church did not mind this family is the biggest swindler in our country. By swindling the Hacienda Luisita. If Religion and Politics combine: it’s a Witch Brew…combine it with Petro Politics, it’s a volatile TNT already…like in the Middle East..
Arche,
Good insight on how people were “guided” into the religion of politics. I’ve always believed that PNoy was the feel-good decision for most of the people who voted for him. As the son of a saint, how the heck can you go wrong with voting for the guy?
To add, don’t you think that Philippine presidents (and most politicians in general) are guided by one simple rule in their 6-year term? It’s almost just “Survive at all cost.”
Survival is easy once you paint yourself as the following:
1. Genuinely Pro-poor (it’s a wonder why politicians aren’t nominated for acting awards)
2. No corruption scandals (makes you wonder if they ever lost a game of hide and seek when they were kids)
In other words, if you’re concerned with the cult of your image and survival, it pays not to do anything that will possibly rock the boat. You won’t hear him acknowledge some gains of the previous admin, it runs counter to his position that GMA is evil.
“Here, we have the very manifestations of the Dark Ages, only it’s not mainly about bloodshed, and more about intellectual bankruptcy.”
The one thing I don’t get is how President Aquino is any different than any other Philippine President. They are all both power pawns and power-brokers. Indeed, power is a currency of daily Philippine life from the shop keeper who holds that we should be honored that he is willing to sell us his goods, to the snarling government minions behind any agency desk. Gloria Arroyo played power games well. I wan’t here during prior administrations, but assume Estrada was thrown out for playing some kind of power game. And Cory Aquino was at the mercy of many powerful forces.
On what basis would you expect President Aquino to be any different? He is what the social system generates.
It would seem better to me to attack the system that builds the values. The rote education that fails to inspire aspiration and positive values. The lousy courts that do not make it a land of laws, but a land of favors. The Church that promotes dark-age values while avoiding any responsibility for the outcomes of its promotions.
I fear you are whacking the itch, not the disease.
But Noynoy is the quintessential itch that manifests that underlying disease that is Filipino culture.
And scratching feels soooo good, eh? I somehow think hammering the education system of the Philippines into world class order would get more done. Kinda like a good dose of antibiotics.
Indeed. Itches itch because they beg to be scratched.
But I wasn’t talking solely about Noynoy’s presidency. I was also talking about the subtle religion his clan has established, stretching back to the time of the EDSA revolution. That sets him apart from the other presidents; his lineage’s legacy has been deeply ingrained into the Filipino psyche. ^^
I fear that it may be impractical to compare the Aquino-Cojuangco clan’s power games on par with the other administrations, given certain… complications (as I’ve mentioned earlier).
I still fail to see how his family is any different from the Magsaysay or Gordon or Arroyo or Ampatuan families. They all have a local pseudo-religious following. The Gordons ARE Olongapo, passing the reins of power from father to son to wife. President Aquino just happens to be in the top job. This “clanness” is a hallmark of Philippine social structure, as near as I can tell. Where power and favors are the currency to keep a lock on things. Barangay level is no different. Cities. Governorships. Presidency. Same. Until you break the values, you see the same over and over again. Power and favor and a warped democracy with lots of angers and dysfunction.
Added thought. You also see the Marcos family and Arroyo family in the background, positioning their offspring for the top job if they can figure out how to work it. Not to mention the “Son of Estrada”. Aquino is just there now. Four more years and out. What’s the big deal? You truly expect a raid on the Constitution by Aquino to remain in power?
My, my. Forgive me if it took a bit long to answer your questions. ^^
Did people love or adore the political dynasties you mentioned in your posts in the course of their terms? Yes, these dynasties incurred the wrath of the people in their conquest for power. Meanwhile, the Aquino-Cojuangco clan… how long did it take for people to start realizing their wrongs? Not to mention not everyone knows of it yet. This is my major point. What sets Noynoy and his lot apart from other dynasties is that they more or less won the hearts of the people for so long. Even now, Ninoy and Cory remain untouchable, because they are paragons of democracy… supposedly. Was this answer sufficient? ^^
“You truly expect a raid on the Constitution by Aquino to remain in power?”
I do not appreciate having words put into my mouth. Since when have I mentioned that I “expect” Noynoy to override the Constitution? If you would look at my reply to Mr. Domingo Arong:
”
As to time or length of power, it’s not limited to the confines of the government. Borri and Schuppach’s legacy weren’t confined to their gimmicks. Their legacy went on even after imprisonment and retirement; they became symbols, paragons of mysticism. The same could be said to our country. Even if Noynoy will step down, Philippines will still remain gravitated to his clan; what with 25 years of Yellow “democracy,†so to speak.”
While I welcome questions and requests for clarifications, what I dislike is when people misrepresent my words.
@Arche
Be very careful with Mr Joe “dishonorable” America. He is very fond of twisting people’s words especially when he reads statements critical of his idol, PNoy.
Me thinks he is a paid hack of the yellow army. There is no other explanation for his irrational behavior.
He keeps saying that as an ex US military, it was his duty to be loyal to the elected leader. Bill Steffen also served in the US military but he doesn’t see any problem with GRP criticising the government.
There are too many holes in Joe’s statements.
Arche, welcome to Joe America’s bag of tricks. Twisting the critic’s words is the last bastion of the desperate. Try as he might, he can deflect all criticism towards his idol Noynoy as inapplicable to him but reality bites people in the ass like a dog.
Arche, yes, I suppose that could be read as putting words in your mouth, or misrepresentation, although I did not intend it that way. Just a challenge, trying to figure out exactly what it is that you want. What action you are expecting of me or other readers. I’m sincerely trying to figure out why President Aquino is seen as such a pernicious, dangerous character when I see him as just another regular Filipino power-family kind of guy, where family has meaning akin to mafia family. He seems not out of the ordinary to me, either to skill or skullduggery. Filipinos seem to fall into two camps, love or hate, and none fall into the camp of “dislike but respect for he represents me and my countrymen who believe in democracy with a passion”.
You expect the yellow hordes to go away or suddenly get smarter? President Aquino is roundly criticized and mocked, so I don’t see him as being in any protected bubble. And history will be the judge of his overall contribution to the Philippines. Not those who adore him or those who criticize him.
I still don’t get why he should be punished because his mother was adored. I’m supposed to hate any Kennedy in the U.S. because JFK was adored? So just color me dense and we can move on I suppose.
“Arche, yes, I suppose that could be read as putting words in your mouth, or misrepresentation, although I did not intend it that way.”
Heh-heh, okay.
“Just a challenge, trying to figure out exactly what it is that you want. What action you are expecting of me or other readers.”
You will know what I want when you stop context-dropping. Whether you do this intentionally or not is beyond me. Never did I isolate Noynoy in the issue regarding the Yellow culture. I specifically invoked the “clan;” Aquino-Cojuangco clan. This alone dispels the following misrepresentation of yours.
“I’m sincerely trying to figure out why President Aquino is seen as such a pernicious, dangerous character”
You don’t have to try, because no one told you to. I never said that Noynoy is a scheming, cunning rat. I never even said that he alone intentionally perpetuated the Yellow culture. Even I am skeptical that he is capable of such feat. But the fact remains that the whole CLAN was able to perpetuate the Yellow culture. In summary, recall this part:
“Intentional or not? What does it matter, when the way Noynoy and his lot structured the government mirrors that of the teachings of the twenty-seventh law so perfectly, it warrants sheer recognition?”
—-
So what do I want? I don’t want to be imposing, but I’d love for Filipinos to outgrow the regressive Yellow culture and think forward. Same old, same old. It isn’t hard to figure this out if one is to take the entirety of my article into context.
“Filipinos seem to fall into two camps, love or hate, and none fall into the camp of “dislike but respect for he represents me and my countrymen who believe in democracy with a passionâ€.”
Oh, my. Do you accuse me of mud-slinging? I don’t remember calling him an idiot, a sh*t-head or any expletive for that matter. What I did in the past was to point out his flaws and offer suggestions on how he could do better. I guess this counts as “hate.” 🙂
“You expect the yellow hordes to go away or suddenly get smarter?”
Please do not test my patience. ^^
“President Aquino is roundly criticized and mocked, so I don’t see him as being in any protected bubble. And history will be the judge of his overall contribution to the Philippines. Not those who adore him or those who criticize him.”
When did I mention that he is in a protected bubble? The fact that you’re criticized does not negate the fact that the Yellow culture persists in the Philippines. Oh, and in the history part: does this invalidate our actions? Does this render a political critic’s trade? Since history is the judge of one’s contributions (as you say), to point out someone’s flaws is useless? 🙂
“I still don’t get why he should be punished because his mother was adored. I’m supposed to hate any Kennedy in the U.S. because JFK was adored? So just color me dense and we can move on I suppose.”
Again, do not test my patience. When did I say that he should be punished because of his mother? I only stated in my article how the Yellow culture is anchored on his parents’ reputation. I also find your analogy quite ridiculous.
I try my best to respect those who debate me, so I will not lower my level and insult you. Ad hominem is not my metier. However, it would do you good to stop misrepresenting people’s words, if we’re still concerned with honesty.
Thank you for your time, and have a nice day.
*Does this render a political critic’s trade useless?
Apologies for this teeny-tiny mistake.
Arche, I appreciate the time you took to respond. I agree that I try to extend beyond what you have said to make my own points, not parrot back what you have said. I think your article was thought provoking and thorough. If the thinking provoked my thoughts in directions you didn’t intend, I don’t know what to do about it. That’s where the thoughts went.
Dialogue is just that. Questions and answers in search of understanding. You seem to be believing what dude is saying, that I am a malevolent soul trolling away. I’m not. I have beliefs, of course, and they shade my commentary and questions. But I am after understanding, not pinning your hide to the wall.
As if PNoy and his minions do not do this to GMA. Joe’s cognitive bias is deluding him again. He wants Filipinos to treat PNoy with kid’s gloves. That ain’t gonna happen old fart.
Oh my. Persecuting his enemies is not enough proof for Joe that PNoy is a scheming son of a b*tch.
As if his mother’s saintly image is the only reason why a lot of Filipinos don’t like him. Gimme a break!
A lot of Filipinos don’t like him because he lied about his capacity to lead, he doesn’t have a vision for the future and he promotes hate among Filipinos! Not to mention he is lazy.
Wake up, Joe!
“I agree that I try to extend beyond what you have said to make my own points, not parrot back what you have said.”
Hehe, you do have a flair for sarcasm. ^^
However, you will agree with me in saying that you have not exactly established a sound logical chain between what you insinuate and what I have said in my article. You can’t infer from my article that Noynoy must be punished because of his mother’s legacy. You do not possess the necessary logical premises. You also can’t infer that I “expect” the Yellow masses to suddenly change their ways, because I didn’t even allude to such notion.
My friend, there is a difference between discussing and asking about an idea’s implications and picking up a random straw-man and subtly attacking someone with it. Please don’t take this negatively. I, with the best of my abilities, haven’t taken you negatively either.
“If the thinking provoked my thoughts in directions you didn’t intend, I don’t know what to do about it. That’s where the thoughts went.”
Well, I guess you wouldn’t mind if I invoke my right to defend my statements. 🙂
“Dialogue is just that. Questions and answers in search of understanding. You seem to be believing what dude is saying, that I am a malevolent soul trolling away. I’m not. I have beliefs, of course, and they shade my commentary and questions. But I am after understanding, not pinning your hide to the wall.”
As I’ve said, there is a difference between dialectics and misrepresentation. And I would appreciate it if you will not involve the other readers in this website and put them in a negative light. In this brief exchange of ideas, I was your only opponent. That you can believe.
I am always prepared to give the benefit of the doubt for the sake of a healthy discussion. However, you must know that this is not the same for everyone. Just a piece of friendly advice.
Hay naku Joe. All you want to do is vilify everyone you perceive to be badmouthing your idol PNoy.
You presume to insult Arche’s intelligence if you’re insinuating that he may have gotten carried away by dude’s pronouncements. You’re implying that he can’t think for himself.
Your putting words in his mouth and twisting what he’s trying to say as something very offensive about your idol was ultimately your undoing. You may be more eloquent, well-read, and more proficient in spin than the average Noytard, but in the end ugaling Noytard ka pa rin.
Please. Don’t tell us that you’re after “understanding” when what you’re after is in fact, surrender.
“. . . I was your only opponent.”
That is what I don’t grasp. That you consider me an opponent for seeking understanding or clarification. I mean if I can’t ask a question without you taking it as a challenge to your personal self esteem how do you or I ever LEARN anything, one from the other?
And you try to define the rules for me as to what I am allowed to say. I’m trying your patience. I’m not supposed to bring others into the conversation. I can’t use the logic I use.
Why don’t you just write my fricking messages for me?
Good God.
Hahahaha! Well said, Amir.
Joe America is really a Noytard. He doesn’t have any qualms about creating enemies here in his efforts to defend PNoy.
He is becoming irrational the longer he pretends not to be biased for PNoy.
He can’t even follow his own advice.
Arche is entitled to his opinion. Why does he have a problem with it?!? He doesn’t have to shove his own opinion down other people’s throats.
@joe:
of course not. they have the likes of you serving them the yellow kool aid.
for the love of everything that is tangible and isn’t VAGUE as described in the article, could you please explain that in TANGIBLE terms please? thank you.
arche didn’t say pnoy should be punished because his CARP-cheating mother was adored. me, personally, yes i would like him punished, because he (and his subordinates) has (have) made NUMEROUS screw-ups and questionable acts without accountability.
hey, stupid is what stupid does.
@joe:
cut the bullsh*t, joe (as futile as my request to you may be).
what, you’re not responsible for your own thoughts and responses? the brain has its own mechanism by which it keeps certain thoughts separate in the imagination while others are consciously acted upon. without this mechanism, all of us would be acting out ALL of our thoughts. said mechanism helps keep a person on the edge of temptation from actually giving in.
you do know you are full of it, right?
@joe:
if i may mention the obvious, arche never took anything you said as a challenge to his personal self-esteem. he did tell you to not put words into his mouth.
if you didn’t get what SOMEONE ELSE (such as myself, who actually got it) has pointed out above then let me make this perfectly clear to you as one READER whose intelligence you managed to insult: G.F.Y., joe “i can’t learn anything unless i twist your words” america. i mean that in no other way than what REALLY IS offensive to you without dispute.
“You truly expect a raid on the Constitution by Aquino to remain in power?” seems like a prophecy getting fulfilled.
“You presume to insult Arche’s intelligence if you’re insinuating that he may have gotten carried away by dude’s pronouncements. You’re implying that he can’t think for himself.”
This thought occurred to me as well. However, for the sake of courtesy, I bit my lip and came up with another request. I thank you for speaking on behalf of me though.
I also thank Dude for taking the time of telling me about Mr. Joe America here.
Now, Mr. Joe America, do not mistake this gesture as “accepting a bribe” or “brainwashing” or something. This is but politeness in action. I reiterate; in our brief exchange of ideas, I was your only opponent.
I don’t consider you an opponent. I consider you a good writer whose message I did not, and still do not, comprehend. Why do you consider me an opponent?
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/opponent
“One that opposes another or others in a battle, contest, controversy, or debate.”
I just used the word in a technical way. I don’t intend to establish a me versus you scenario. Haven’t I told you that I do not take you negatively?
As far as this debate goes, you are my “opponent,” because we disagree in some points. Nothing personal! Seriously.
Enemy =/= Opponent
I do not oppose you. I don’t understand, ergo I asked some questions and made some statements to share with you my “take” on the matter. I don’t understand how the Aquino family is any different from the Arroyos or the Estradas or the Marcoses or the Magsaysays or the Gordons or so many others who have inroads to power. Opinion: If the Philippines is in the dark ages (which in some ways it is), it has more to do with the culture of power than some evil associated with Aquino’s popularity. I tend to look for what to do about it, and I say let Aquino serve his term so democracy remains stable in the Philippines, and put some heat on the Department of Education to develop a curriculum that at least brings young people home from the dark ages.
Well, forgive me if you have somewhat been “hurt” by my word usage. But I never gave it much attention. My only point of interest is to settle the points we have little problems with. I do not intend to ANTAGONIZE you in any way, although, as it turns out, you still see me as antagonistic. Feel free to correct me, though.
Regarding your opinion:
I agree. Let Noynoy serve his term, because his election is “constitutional.” I never said “oust Noynoy!”
Still, however, don’t we hold the right to criticize him for what he might be doing wrong? Don’t we hold the right to offer suggestions for the betterment of this country? Or is this nothing but a vanity project to you? I write because I see real problems, and because I, in my own small way, intend to be of use to the society I belong to.
Anyway, I also agree with making amends with DepEd.
That is easy. The Aquinos pretend to be good and saintly whereas the others do not pretend to be anything they are not. This makes them better than the Aquinos.
Tsk tsk. Joe, you are no good at this.
As to the difference between the Aquino-Cojuangco clan and the rest, I have already addressed it. I thank dude for reiterating it. 🙂
@JoeAmerica: I don’t know what your obssession is with this notion that GRP is out campaigning to “oust” Noynoy. I speak for myself when I say that I have always been for Noynoy serving his entire term. And I believe none of the GRP writers as far as I have seen have advocated removing him from Malacanang unconstitutionally. In fact, Filipinos deserve to be subject to the Noynoy presidency for the full six year term. Filipinos deserve Noynoy, because they voted for him.
We remain exceedingly consistent not just in our focus on Noynoy’s idiocracy but on the idiocracy of the broader society of Filipinos his presidency reflects. What I wrote back in June of 2010, for example, may as well have been written today…
As to how he is different from other Filipino politicians, well he isn’t in a broad context. But narrow that context down to an evaluation within the set of politicians he is now part of (the rarefied set consisting of those who had served as Presidents) and Noynoy clearly comes up as a real chump…
You can’t escape the reality of Noynoy’s being a standout bozo, Joe. Perhaps, as another guy here said, you are among the more intelligent, articulate, and well-read among Noynoy’s supporters. But that puts you in an even more tragic class of your own — because time and again, it’s been quite evident that exceptional intelligence is so obviously incompatible with being a Nonoyist. What does that make you? Simple. Inconsistent. And that ultimately is the source of your failure to earn the respect of people here… which is why you instead seek the comfort of people like yourself who comment on your blog — articulate people but Noynoy supporters nonetheless: your partners in inconsistency and, as such, failed thought leader wannabes.
@Arche
You are welcome!
“That is what I don’t grasp. That you consider me an opponent for seeking understanding or clarification. I mean if I can’t ask a question without you taking it as a challenge to your personal self esteem how do you or I ever LEARN anything, one from the other?
And you try to define the rules for me as to what I am allowed to say. I’m trying your patience. I’m not supposed to bring others into the conversation. I can’t use the logic I use.”
For the opponent part, refer to my other comment. And I am also starting to wonder… how can you insinuate that I personally take offense for what you’ve said here? I have given you every bit of respect I can, I can say that I’ve been polite with the way I speak, yet you still accuse me of being “butt-hurt.” I’m really saddened.
I am also thoroughly saddened by how you paint me as dictatorial when it comes to debates. Why did I tell you not to test my patience? Because you misrepresent me yet again. Never did I imply that the Yellows will rapidly change. Never did I imply that Noynoy must be punished because of his mom.
I am not ordering you what to say. I am telling you what not to say, as far as logic is concerned. Haven’t I told you that I welcome dissenting opinions? However, I happily accept them, only when they are founded on a logical basis. In other words, when you actually explain to me how you arrived at your conclusions, which, unfortunately, you did not.
Also, no sarcasm intended, but I’d love it if you would show your brand of logic explicitly. It’s quite frustrating when you accuse me of something I believe I am not guilty of.
“Why don’t you just write my fricking messages for me?”
Heh-heh, nice humor, sir.
I do not know what you hope to gain by claiming that you only want to understand me while subtly stabbing me at the same time. I wouldn’t say you intend to do so, lest you accuse me of something nasty again, but this is how I receive your words. If you intend to break me, you can’t. I don’t spazz out. Otherwise, forgive me for being blunt.
Again, never do I impose on people whom I debate with. I have no right to. I always welcome what people have to say; haven’t I proven that? However, wouldn’t it hurt to tell me how you arrived to your conclusions, if it isn’t your intention to misrepresent what I have said?
Frankly, sir, whenever someone attempts to involve my personage into the debate, claiming that my ego is being aggravated, that serves as cue for me that this debate is heading nowhere.
Please prove me wrong. I mean you no disrespect. Thank you for your time. Again.
Arche – 10 points
Joe – Zero. Nada.
😉
Arche, if you’re expecting Joe to show logic when his beloved PNoy is being discussed, forget it. You’re more likely to see hell freeze over.
Joe, it is useless to hide the fact that you take offense at PNoy being put in a discouraging light by instead trying to insinuate that Arche is being offended by you. Don’t change the subject, and don’t cry that you don’t understand what Arche is saying because you refuse to.
Arche is one of the most coldly logical writers in GRP. Friendly advice: don’t p*ss him off; you’ve already gotten yourself in deep sh*t.
@joe:
and yet you put him on a pedestal. caught you on a lie right there, joe.
your question is based on the same lie you told above. tsk, tsk, tsk.
Christ almighty, I go get a good night’s sleep and everyone from the parallellass to the Heavy Hypocrite decide to thump away.
Still, no one has answered the question, how does the Aquino family differ from any other power-based family in the Philippines. That is the gist of the article. The popularity of his clan is somehow pernicious and a threat. It seems to me the Philippine power-based, favor-trading society is the root problem, not President Aquino, specifically. He’s just a normal (benignly quirky) Filipino.
benigno, poor choice of words on my part. When I said “let him serve out his term” I should have said be less strident in ridiculing the President of the Philippines (ala banana repubic), and more patient with the democratic process. It’s my old “patriotic” bent which evidently few others share. I also agree consistency is not my strong point at times, just as my neck occasionally twitches without any instruction from my brain. My score of President Aquino is 6.5 on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being high. It is down from last year’s 7.5.
arche, you were the one who got “hurt”, whining about misrepresentation and my putting words in your mouth and dealing with the form of my words rather than latching onto the point. I mean, what kind of onion are you?
parallellass and the rest of the flies buzzing around the place. Get a life.
benigno, and if I seek the “comfort” of my own blog site, why the hell to I visit here and try to hold above-board conversations in this cess-pool of agenda and personal attack? If anything, I am a masochist. More accurately, I am simply going about the business of learning, crafting some skill in working with words, and growing, personally.
Who is attacking whom?
You come here because you do not get inspiration from your readers. They have no deep and meaningful insight that can compel you to write your next article.
Face it, Joe. You are just good at twisting other people’s words. You do not really add any value around here. You get a lot of ideas from GRP for your blog and you recycle the articles. You are pathetic.
And yet you keep yapping about my calling you an opponent when I mean nothing more than that. You also complain that I am being dictatorial in this debate, that I, somehow, restrict your freedom of speech.
And you still insist that nobody answered your question when I personally did already. Yesterday. I explained why I dislike some of your responses. I explained the things you claimed not to understand. And yet you refuse to acknowledge them. What an interesting fellow. A fellow who claims to not antagonize me, yet claims that I am butt-hurt and an onion. ^^
Well, feel free to believe anything you want, but I have maintained my calm demeanor in the course of this conversation.
I do my best in giving you the benefit of the doubt, but you are doing a poor job redeeming yourself, trying to involve me into the discussion when it has nothing to do with the issue. In my eyes, you’re slowly proving what the other readers are saying here.
What now, Mr. Joe America? Are you going to accuse me of being influenced again? If so, you have my sincerest sympathies. Again, I mean you no disrespect, but it’s hard to respect a liar; someone who supposedly wants a healthy discussion then proceeds to insult someone he is talking to.
A dying flame in me wants to believe you are not a liar. Please rekindle that flame.
Arche, nah, you figure it out for yourself if you have good information or bad, if you draw good conclusions or bad. You can listen to your band of merry men or read and think, makes no difference to me.
Oh, okay, so I guess I am at fault, after all. I guess all those explaining and patience went to waste. ^^
Oh, and believe me, I have thoroughly read your comments. I read them repeatedly just to be sure. And I have thoroughly addressed all of them. I would love to say the same to you, but then I would wonder why you still haven’t acknowledged my responses to your question regarding what sets the Aquino-Cojuangco clan apart. ^^
I loved this part the most:
“You can listen to your band of merry men or read and think, makes no difference to me.”
Thank you very much. You have been so kind. I enjoyed this little chat. I’m so sorry if I wasn’t fierce enough to win a spot in your blog.
Well, you fundamentally make too much sense to earn an article in my blog. You have to be devious and deceitful and hypocritical to warrant time and attention there. You don’t measure up to those standards. You have earned commendations there for being among GRP’s good new writers.
Catch you next article.
Hey I’ve got an idea, Mr Joe America. How about we run an online experiment that goes like this:
(1) I put all comments of yours subsequent to this in the Spam queue.
(2) You go off and get up on your soapbox elsewhere (say, somebody else’s blog, like yours maybe) and announce to the world how the Admins of GR Post don’t practice “free speech” here.
(3) We both sit back for the next couple of weeks (or years) and see if:
(3.a) anyone out there actually cares about what you have to say about our Admin practices here; and,
(3.b) anyone of the regular commentors here in GR Post actually miss your presence and clamor for a reinstatement of your comments.
I think the above little experiment will be good for a few laughs.
What do you think?
======
Some small print for you to take note of before you reply:
– “Yes” or “No” will be acceptable responses to the above proposal
– A “Yes” answer will put the above proposed experiment in effect immediately (the period over which it will be effective will be revealed after said experiment takes effect).
– A “No” answer will, effective immediately, subject any further comments you will make to criteria that will be applied in a decision to retain or mark your comments as Spam once in effect. This criteria is applicable only to YOU and subject to arbitrary modification by GR Post admins based entirely on our whim.
– Any other response to this comment (beyond the recommended Yes or No) will be interpreted as a “Yes” (and the proposed experiment subsequently put into effect).
For reference, this is the same set of special terms currently applicable to the commentor known as “GabbyD”. Refer here for reference.
There goes Joe again acting like he has the moral authority to claim someone is being “deceitful” and “hypocritical”.
Hey Joe, look at yourself in the mirror before pointing your fingers at other people, ok? That should teach you to be more humble.
Mr. Editor, Sir,
Perhaps I missed my mark again. I was trying to compliment Arche after our batting of heads because I think he is a superb writer. Satire does not do well in a compliment, I guess, because even great minds miss it. I conclude I missed the mark (my fault) when I intended well by it, and it gets me your rather desperate and insulting threat.
You need no other response from me, as you have the authority to do what you wish. I only suggest you read all of my commentary and weigh its constructive intent, and not manage me on the basis of one remark you don’t like.
Read the last item in the small print. See you around.
Looks like Parallax, dude, Trosp, and I will have to go cold turkey till the next ultra-fanatic comes along…
@Amir
Joe was just too abusive already. He should not have gotten away with that kind of behaviour for so long. He’s just milking GRP for ideas for his blogs anyway. I’m not going to miss the troll.
@joe:
up yours, joe america. how’s that for satire?
trosp, dude, and bill steffen were right about you.
I see. Mr. Joe America intended to compliment me. And it seems that, for some unfathomable reason, I failed to understand his subtle praises.
Since I’ve misunderstood Mr. Joe America’s satire, wouldn’t it be beneficial not just for me, but to everyone in this website, to know how his compliments really work? Perhaps this is where I shall witness Mr. Joe America’s logic, which I supposedly took away from him in the course of our conversation.
I do not hold any grudges, nor am I being sarcastic. In fact, I am being honest and curious (to a certain extent), since I still remember my request to inquire upon Mr. Joe America’s style of arguing and, in this case, complimenting.
Of course, he is not obliged to explain himself. That I fully understand. However, his saying that there is a tinge of compliment in his calling me an onion, or butt-hurt, or his telling me to write his “fricking messages” for him because I’m being too imposing… such a notion genuinely piqued my curiosity.
don’t you worry, arche. as you can see, i’ve just “complimented” him, too!
i
It has been answered so many times, Joe. You just refuse to acknowledge it.
If PNoy was just a “benignly quirky” guy, Filipinos would not be at each other’s throats. PNoy is the source of hate. He encourages people to throw the rule book away and defy the Supreme Court. He promotes anarchy on the streets just so people could get distracted from the real issue, which is his incompetence.
There you go again trying to make it look like you are so “honorable”. Cheap shot, old fart. It’s all about you, isn’t it? That’s right. Joe America has the moral high-ground. Oh wait, you were forced to take down your fake medal of honor because someone outed you as a hypocrite…hehehe!
Why are you insisting Arche was “hurt” when clearly you are the one who refuses to accept that other people don’t share your views? You really deserve a medal for being inconsistent.
You are obviously a very slow learner. You’ve been reading GRP for years but you are still stuck with defending PNoy while it only takes one article to understand that he is a dud.
Arche, I can’t help but think that the Aquinos have built a cult of personality here in the Philippines. But at the same, there’s something missing to make it complete. I can’t verbalize what it is 😛
Sense, perhaps?
I’m so sorry if it took so long for me to reply. I failed to notice your posts. XD
Arche,
Just to lighten things a bit here.
I think the ribbon you mentioned in your article is a reference to Ninoy. They did use “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” before as a song for Ninoy’s homecoming back in the 80s.
Back to regular programming.
Hm, now that you mention it, I think I do remember something like that. Thanks for the heads-up!
Oh, and don’t worry. I’m always calm. I do my best. ^^
Np. Arche.
Who knows. In the future, that ribbon can mean hepatitis awareness with all the yellow overload.
“Who knows. In the future, that ribbon can mean hepatitis awareness with all the yellow overload.”
You guys are cracking me up!! 🙂
Put him back on, *****!
What do you want, a blog where all of you are giving each other the thumbs up?
Remember FV? FV was most lively and dynamic when it was free-for-all!
Besides, benignO, you were worse in your bad old days!
Maybe you should be spammed too for violating the commenting guideline. You don’t own this blogsite.
Joe America is just a troll. There are others who have more useful insights to share. Joe is useless here. He badmouths the GRP writers all the time. That’s not really constructive.
Besides, Ricelander is not even a regular commenter here. What’s his problem with spamming cry-baby Joe? 😉
I don’t think calling the webmaster names is going to help your case. Look, read above, Joe subtly started the ad hominem first. If he can’t shape up and maintain his rationality regardless of the topic then he shouldn’t come back here.
You expect lively to mean that a forum is good? Ad hominems are lively; they do not a meaningful discussion make. Do you think lively ad hominem automatically means substantial?
That “tu quoque” argument about whatever benign0 was in the old days is irrelevant. It doesn’t diminish from his argument. You obviously haven’t learned to look past that.
@ricelander: Well, those were the FV days of course. But in case you haven’t noticed yet, these are the GRP days. And these days are under new management. So if you don’t like how things are being run here, well, there’s not much about that sentiment I can help you with.
Freedom of speech should not be confused with free inquiry. Any schmoe can do free speech. But what separates the men from the boys is the ability to practice free inquiry by applying critical thinking.
“Perhaps you feel you are being treated unfairly?”
– Darth Vader to Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back
It’s your prerogative, of course. But you can think it over. One day, you will appreciate this, I tell you.
Glad you see it that way. But I will think it over. 🙂
Trolls will bite the hands of the webmasters that feed ’em. Some have already gone beyond abusive.
I say spam ’em before it’s too late.
Who the ***k cares if they whine about it? At least we are spared from their unwanted presence in here.
Yun lang…
Hear, hear! Joe just wants an audience because he is too full of himself. He needs to grow up. This experience should make him grow up.
GRP, AP, CoRRECT – all the same, couldn’t handle a differing view. Iyakin ka rin pala Benigno, bilib na sana ako sa iyo, kaso, jejemon rin pala ang puso mo. shame! shame!