“Happiness”: A simple word and a word that we hear all too often in many of our TV shows and films. It’s not uncommon for people to say that one should find one’s own happiness in the world. In many of our programs, happiness is said to be found when one finally discovers his or her special “someone”. However, over the years, I have come to discover that this is actually very misleading and that true happiness begins with another commonly heard but poorly understood word: “Honesty”
“Honesty is the best policy.”
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This is a saying we hear all too often as well but the question is: Do most Filipinos really understand the word for what it really means? Do most Filipinos know the meaning of “honesty” and how it should play a part in their lives? Do most Filipinos value honesty in themselves and others?
All things considered, if one takes a look at what is happening in our country today, then the answer, quite clearly, is no.
Honesty isn’t just about telling people the truth, it is also about telling ourselves the truth. Indeed, if we could only bring ourselves to accept the reality of our situation, then perhaps we could finally make real changes in our country that will truly count for something. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case today as many of us still lead a self-centered and self-deluded existence.
Being Honest With Our Failings
While yes, I must agree that the Philippines is not the only country that is in a poor condition, this is not really an excuse for us to remain poor. Indeed, even the Bible teaches us that we must work to make ourselves productive persons in society and make good use of the resources he grants us from the talents at our disposal to the occasional blessing the Lord may send our way. Sadly, this is a lesson that flies way over the heads of many of our countrymen.
Worse, there are those who seem to have deluded themselves into a state of false happiness and ignore their often deplorable circumstances. Then there are those who are all too willing to abandon their fellows to their fate, those who are all too willing to steal from others both directly and indirectly and ignore the fact that they are only wealthy or powerful because of the suffering of others.
There are too many of us who are simply too self-righteous to come to terms with the fact that one of the biggest reasons poverty continues to cripple our nation is because of our own ignorance, neglect and petty attitudes. We all too often forget that in order for one to learn from one’s mistakes, one must be willing to admit that one made a mistake in the first place. Indeed, as a people, we need to stop blaming external forces for our problems as a country. It’s not just the government. It’s not just the media. The real problem here is us, the common people.
Being Honest With Our Sexuality
And here is another big problem ladies and gentlemen. As a matter of fact, this is quite probably one of the biggest of all. Again, it is our own self-righteousness, our refusal to believe in our own imperfections, that further exacerbates the problem.
We like to claim that we are a nation of morally upstanding individuals who value lofty ideals like chastity and restraint. However, with so many prostitutes in our major cities and much of local TV displaying themes of immorality and worse, one must question the veracity of our self-image.
Okay, here’s a situation:
A group of acquaintances and I discussed our opinion of Filipino horror films, more specifically the “demonic possession” genre. Of course, if you’ve kept up with my works so far, you’ll see that I’m not at all that impressed with our brand of horror films. Then I made mention of Warhammer 40,000’s Grey Knights, a holy order of demon slayers for those who are not familiar with the lore.
No sooner had I mentioned them that a woman from our group called me “bastos”. Apparently, she assumed that the Grey Knights, the blessed sons of the God-Emperor, were associated with 50 Shades of Grey. When I tried to explain to her the nature of the Grey Knights, she claimed I was simply making it all up and that I was deeply perverted. However, since it was she who made the connection with 50 Shades of Grey first…
Honesty With Our Place In The World
The sad part is, many Filipinos continue to believe that the Philippines is a developed country and that we live in a virtual paradise compared to the rest of the world…
When it comes to people of this sort, I can only wonder where they get their hallucinogenic narcotics from…
Because, truth be told, they couldn’t be more wrong. Sure, while there is certainly hope for the Philippines, we are still quite a long way from making any real progress. There’s talk of “economic growth” and enrichment of the country through OFW remittance. Unfortunately, these are less assurances of a bright future for the country and more or less a desperate measure to keep the country’s economy afloat. The economic growth our politicians and media keep talking about mostly go to the pockets of existing oligarchs instead of the infrastructures of our country. Our OFW brothers and sisters continue to take great risks to themselves just to make ends meet and are often cheated by customs officials in the Philippines.
***
Now, I will say that being honest with oneself is not an easy task. In the years that I was recovering from my depression, one of my biggest challenges was coming to terms with myself and my view of the world. I had to admit to my own failings such as my selfishness and immaturity at the time and find a means to overcome them and change them into something that is more productive for both myself and society at large. And yes, it took me quite a while but, at the end of it all, I became a better person because of it.
I HAVE RETURNED TO LAY WASTE TO OUR ENEMIES!
it helps if one has a sense of integrity and a good conscience.
one of my favorite movies ever is ‘O Lucky Man’
which is the exact opposite – a young man who gets lucky early in life but the luck runs out and he gets framed and jailed and disillusioned.
The whole movie is from the early 70s but is on YouTube, but the songs are the best part:
“The sad part is, many Filipinos continue to believe that the Philippines is a developed country and that we live in a virtual paradise compared to the rest of the world…”
These oligachs have brainwashed the Failipinos into belieiving that the wanton building of shopping malls, condominiums, subdivisions, resorts and hotels, and brand-name automobiles is a strong sign that the economy is developing. Nothing could be farther from the truth as the cost of living rises as household income falls. Our people have no choice but to leave the country as OFWs and expats, or resort to extreme means to survive.
“The economic growth our politicians and media keep talking about mostly go to the pockets of existing oligarchs instead of the infrastructures of our country.”
These “oligachs” being the Chinese-Failipino businesses who have monopolized the economy through their well-bribed Failipino politicians.
“When it comes to people of this sort, I can only wonder where they get their hallucinogenic narcotics from…”
From oligarch-run propaganda that feeds the aristocratic (hambog) egos of the Failipino people, brainwash them into believing that their self-serving (makasarili) effort is moving the country forward, and that they have every right to call their individual accomplishments as “Pinoy Pride.”
This is how “fucked up” life has become in this country, and there is no one to blame but Failipinos themselves for being a “sellout” to their own country and people.
[Corrected Version]
“The sad part is, many Filipinos continue to believe that the Philippines is a developed country and that we live in a virtual paradise compared to the rest of the world…”
These oligachs have brainwashed the Failipinos into belieiving that the wanton building of shopping malls, condominiums, subdivisions, resorts and hotels, and brand-name automobiles is a strong sign that the economy is developing. Nothing could be farther from the truth as the cost of living rises as household income falls. Our people have no choice but to leave the country as OFWs and expats, or resort to extreme means to survive.
“The economic growth our politicians and media keep talking about mostly go to the pockets of existing oligarchs instead of the infrastructures of our country.”
These “oligachs” being the Chinese-Failipino businesses who have monopolized the economy through their well-bribed Failipino politicians.
“When it comes to people of this sort, I can only wonder where they get their hallucinogenic narcotics from…”
From oligarch-run propaganda that feeds the aristocratic (hambog) egos of the Failipino people, brainwash them into believing that their self-serving (makasarili) effort is moving the country forward, and that they have every right to call their individual accomplishments as “Pinoy Pride.”
This is how “fucked up” life has become in this country, and there is no one to blame but Failipinos themselves for being a “sellout” to their own country and people.
Grimwald,
This is a hell of an article. You have just written the most concise, honest, and objective portrayal of our people–and detailed exactly what’s wrong with the Failippines–that I’ve ever come across on this site, with “no bars hold” of protecting anyone self-interests, feelings, or reputations.
You have once again restored my confidence in GRP. As a writer, you have cannot leave any stones unturned when telling your story; you have to be truthful, even if the truth hurts, if you really want to make a difference in people’s lives. Thank you for your honesty.
Aeta
Stories and truth, two things that don’t really combine all that well from my experience. However, would you like to hear another story soon, Aeta?
Grimwald,
Yes, I would like to hear another story from you. No one has the right to dismiss one’s story or experience as irrelevant or if it had never happened. Your story is your story and no one else’s. I’ve shared with the writers and readers on this site my story of how my family lost our farmland to greedy Chinese developers and their well-bribed politicians, as well as recount other Failipinos’ stories of how they’ve lost their businesses and jobs to the same, and forced to work as OFWs and change gears altogether to make a living; and some of the writers and readers on this site call my experience as being “vindictive” and “race-baiting.”
I mean, how stupid and presumptuous could they be? We’re all here to tell our stories, no matter how disagreeable those stories may come across to some us, and no one should have the gall to censure that. These critics talks about how our own oligarchs are bleeding the country dry, but they don’t want to talk about the specific individuals and groups that are fueling our corrupt politicians to do what they do, for fear that it will compromised certain ethnicities, their own livelihood, or their intrinsic ties with these people, who are just as guilty—if not more–as our politicians and the masses in fucking up the entire country.
Here’s a profound revelation about myself. My own mother is half-Chinese and I share a quarter of the very ethnicity that I’m criticizing when I talk about “all the factors” that are “fucking up” our country. She knows what I’m doing. Instead of asking me to stop she encouraged me to go on and tell the truth, and to leave no stones unturned.
The only analogy I could think of to rationalize what I do is, “if I’m going to call ‘shit’ as ‘shit,’ I’m not going to name other ‘shits’ as ‘feces,’ ‘human waste,’ or ‘dung’ to make them palatable to the human eyes and ears; those “shits” still look and smell the same—and they’ll remain ‘shits’ for all eternity.”
If I’m going to talk about how the arrogant and selfish ways of our politicians and masses “fuck up” the country, I’m also going to include other people, groups, and ethnicities that have helped them do it in order to portray a more accurate picture of what’s really going on.
You can’t expect to cure the cancers of our society if you’re only going to scratch the surface and not get to the source of where it had started and whre it spread. So, write away if you must, Grimwald and forget about your critics; they only want to suppress your story and experience so they can validate who they are and justify what they do. Again, leave no stones unturned. Take Care.
Aeta
Beautiful rhetoric I admire your courage. Thanks again and to GRP. There is still light at end of tunnel.
That “light” will only stay lit, to guide all of us out of the dark tunnel, if the writers and readers don’t leave any stones unturned. GRP should continue to encourage the readers/commenters to share their stories and experiences–with “no bars hold”–from some of its more influential writers, so we can portray a more vivid and accurate picture of all the factors that have contributed to the gradual demise of our country, our society, and our people.
I’d love to write but nobody’s told me where the “write article link” is.
Send us an email at benign0@yahoo.com with a sample of your work.
Frank, You must have missed the reply to your comment here
Thanks. Unfortunately I’ve actually deleted the e-mail I used for this account (I kept using it anyway because I like the face it generated) but I’ll let you know from a different e-mail.
Frank, You can choose your own face (a.k.a. GRAVATAR)
Fight or Feast? Socrates and the Purpose of Rhetoric
The one thing that turned me off about Duterte’s campaign, no matter how much I accept that he won the fight fair and square, is that it played to every horrifying macho stereotype I was subjected to growing up in the 1990s-2010s Philippines.
If I drank enough San Mig (or until I hit puberty, Ovaltine, Milo etc), if I sneered and one-lined enough and built up my own posse, I could be that action hero that GOT SHIT DONE.
But tl;dr, things didn’t exactly turn out that way. I ended up zero-toleranced from high school and institutionalized for several weeks. I found out much later that the expletive that got me kicked out is now working a nice job at Google while I’m making hourly wage in a not-so-good neighborhood in ‘Murica.
In a way, I learned to be honest with myself by learning my place. I wasn’t the rich enough kid that could get away with doing bad things (and keep in mind, I went to ISM). I was the not-very-well-off kid that bore the brunt of their aggression and when I tried to fight back, I got hurt even worse and gave them a reason to justify kicking me out.
That’s why I never bought into the whole “death squad” mentality, because they never went after the big dogs, only the poor strays that nobody would think twice about putting down. If they stood up for themselves, knowing a cornered animal is guaranteed to bite, that was your “resisting arrest.”
I could say I’ve become more honest with myself. I’ve learned to accept that I’m not straight and narrow. I’ve learned to work with what I have (left).
But is it making me happy? Hell no. Because I look at the people that stuck to their stereotype with all their guns and they’re doing so much better. And honestly, if ignorance is bliss then it’s no wonder i’m so sad.
Yes Grimwald, delusion. But people still choose to live in it. Whenever I see the popular term “good vibes” only, it enrages me. It enrages me because for me, it means they only want to see the “good side” in everything, while consciously refusing to accept and see the truth, the truth that “bad things” also exist in life, a lot of it. Whenever someone points out the truth, which is that there are bad things happening in reality, people call you out as “NEGA” or the bringer of “bad vibes.” Unfortunately in our country, the reality is there are a lot of “bad vibes”, and that the truth is really sad and difficult to swallow. This is why I get irritated whenever I remember the popular “good vibes only” term, because people refuse to acknowledge reality, and they choose to live in their own idea of “happiness”, which is dictated by this dysfunctional and ignorant society. They want to think that life should always be full of their false idea of “happiness” and other “perfect” things. The sad reality doesn’t affect these delusional “good vibes” people, because they think that everything is “NORMAL” and there is NOTHING wrong.
Aside from honesty, I believe that Filipinos should also be aware of their twisted principles and know what the word HONOR means.
If you are looking for true happiness, you have to change your level of consciousness and deepness of awareness.
If you want to be honest with yourself, you need to realize your place in this world. In the animal kingdom, some are chicken while others are eagles. We just have to accept that there will always be others greater than you in an given aspect of life – remember the Desiderata.
To force yourself to become something you can’t possibly become is the cause of many people’s depression. The secret is contentment in the fact that you have a narrow specialization, and a knowledge of one’s limitations.
If you’re a small native Aeta, can you go on a one-on-one basketball match with a Chinese 7-footer? That’s why a basketball game needs to have height restrictions to have a fair and even match. That’s why NBA players don’t come over to have a match with PBA players. Where’s the fun in that? That’s why Manny can’t fight with a Tyson. There are weight divisions. Know your place.
Filipino sari-sari store owners cannot compete with Megamalls. What should we do then? Filipinos should find their niche. Ask yourself – where am I good at; what are my advantages/talents?
English, and singing – that’s where we can excel- so go for it. Don’t force a square peg into a round hole. We can all be happy – it’s all in the mind.
So for homosexuals, check what’s inside your underwear and accept who you are. Realizing the truth is where dysfunction ends and common sense begins. The truth shall set you free.
I don’t exactly agree with your last paragraph but I also believe that there are a lot of dysfunctional LGBT people who simply can’t accept themselves for who they are. They can’t accept the fact that not everyone can accept them and they can’t have their way with everyone.
I can accept the fact that not everyone agrees with me – and that’s one secret of being happy.
On LGBT, we have to realize that whatever we have been equipped with is there to fulfill one’s life purpose. If one has a male organ, why covet that of a woman? The 10th commandment is there for our own happiness and wellbeing. It’s just so much less stressful to go around in life without any envy.
If a gay person cannot accept his gender, then he should accept the fact that there are people who will naturally look down on his dysfunctional behavior.
If we want to fix PH society, we should teach that homosexuality is a dysfunction, rather than give in to the Western trend of accepting this cancerous mental illness.
I do not want kids to see two males locking lips with each other. What will keep them from going to the next level and fuck a chicken’s ass?
I prefer to use a philips screwdriver on a + screw, and a flat screwdriver on a – one. It’s just that things hardly go wrong whenever I apply basic common sense.
Everyone is entitled to his/her view. But some views can damage/destroy the lives of others. Homesexuality is one of them. So to all those struggling with this issue, get over it – it’s not only your life that’s at stake – think of our next generation.
We should not tolerate dysfunction – but strive to correct instead of defend it. This is a “get real” blog site isn’t it? If people don’t want to hear rebukes; they may be in the wrong place.
Honesty to yourself is accepting , who you are; accepting your weaknesses, as well as your strengths. If anything in you , is needed to be: changed, improved, or modified. You must accept them; and make the changes, yourself.
Honesty must be inculcated to you, when you were young. Otherwise, you will grow dishonest.
Sometimes, good morality and religion can help you be honest. I am not saying, that : Atheists, Agnostics and people with other beliefs, are not honest. Please take note of this…
To be honest, is to be true to yourself. To be
true to yourself, is to know yourself. If you know yourself, there is room for improvements in you!
Aeta,
What, you’re 1/4 Chinese??? What a punchline. You’re a traitor to your own kind. What are you doing not using that biz-acumen advantage to your favor? I guess the Chinese who grabbed your land had a higher concentration of Chinese blood in their veins than you then for having outsmarted you. How in the world did you get outsmarted in the first place? Walang manloloko, kung walang nagpapaloko. Walang magbibigay ng lagay, kung walang tumatanggap ng lagay. It takes 2 to tango. Filipinos and Chinese are equally at fault.
It must really feel awful being disgusted of your very ethnicity. So what’s the plan with all the Chinese oligarchs in the country? Do we boycott SM Megamall and Jollibee? I’m not sure anyone is listening to calls to kick them out, let alone stop availing of their low-cost services. I’ve seen you shouting as loud as you can and it’s all just falling on deaf ears. Is it time for a change of strategy?
Even Digong claims he’s partly Chinese, and is willing to cooperate with mainland China more than ever. What happens to your crusade against Chinese now?
Being honest to ourselves is accepting that the superior Chinese are here to stay – whether we like it or not. The best we can do is to keep them from bribing public officials, and making them too happy by letting them have the lion’s share of the OFW money that keeps pouring in. We should learn to keep some of our money to ourselves. We don’t have to give in to everything they offer.
I have accepted the fact that native Pinoys cannot in any way compete against the likes of Henry Sy, esp. if they keep luring us with things that sparkle. The most we can do is to NOT throw all our hard-earned money into his giant siphoning machines. For example, instead of watching a movie at SM North, why not just write blogs at GRP over a cup of hot tea?
Nevertheless, for all the evil you make the Chinese/Chinoys out to be, they still provide jobs (even if they’re cheap ones – I know). That’s still much better than having little Juan out in the rain scavenging in the dumpsites. For a people living in a third-world shithole, given the choice of bad or worse: why settle for the latter?
Zaxx,
I thought I’ve only lost my respect for you as a writer; now I’ve also lost my respect for you as a person. You’ve shown me your true color of being a “sellout” to your own country and people, by “pimping” us around the world to become someone’s personal “whore,” so that you can have your mixed-race of “super-humans” that are washed off of their Failipino blood that you’re sordidly ashamed of.
You’re also still seething with anger, aren’t you, from my last comment on BenignO’s article (Duterte’s promise of change: it is Filipinos’ duty to ensure it is delivered lawfully), when I exposed your real intention of being a “sellout”? Now you try to grab at every opportunity to strike back at me—even if it means stooping low to carry out your revenge.
You accused me of being a “traitor” to the Chinese people when I told Grimwald that I’m one-fourth of this ethnicity from my mother’s side. You, and so does every reader on GRP who’d read my post, knew damned well I’ve shared that information about my ethnicity to encourage Grimwald not be afraid on being truthful in his own writing. I told Grimwald that even my half-Chinese mother gave me her full blessing when she’d advised me not to take sides when I tell others of who I believed is responsible for destroying the Failippines and the lives of the people—even if it means offending the Failipino and Chinese people by telling the truth to save my nation. You’ve really stooped low this time when you tried to use that information against me.
You’ve not only shown complete unprofessionalism as a GRP writer, but have also hinted a lack of control over your emotion, as well as show partiality towards the people you’re trying to protect and those you’ll offer as a “sacrificial lamb.” You may have a flair for the written words, and had convinced others in the past on what you’ve written on many issues; but your credibility as a GRP writer has severely been compromised when you chose to stoop low to exact your revenge.
Aeta
Aeta, well since thus a page about honesty, you should start to reflect and honestly evaluate if your crusade against the Chinese is even being heard around here. Even Grimwald will not buy into your call to boycott Megamall, Jollibee and every cheap thing made in China.
The ethnic Chinese are nation builders; native Filipinos are like termites who destroy their country in their greed. Henry Sy has done more to make this country great than all the Abu Sayyaf infested people of Basilan combined. And Henry Sy carries a Filipino passport – so you can’t accuse me of being a traitor to Filipinos. I’m just helping PH become a Singapore- what’s wrong with that?
And btw, I’m not exacting revenge on you for what you said in another article – coz I didn’t even realize you answered back until you told me here. So I suggest you get over your issues with our Chinese brothers and just tell them to not bribe politicians – that’s the only real crime they are doing here. All the rest of the fucking-up is done by native Pinoys. Over and out.
Zaxx,
Well, exactly what part of my “crusade” on what the Chinese have done to the Failippines are you not accepting as facts? I’ll be glad to elaborate on every single one of them for the benefit of the readers, as well as yours, so you can up with a scheme to try to undermine that fact.
It doesn’t matter if Grimwald doesn’t want to buy into what I’m doing because he loves his malls, Jollibees, and “every cheap things that came from China.” That’s not important. What’s important is to maintain the truth: the Chinese are taking over the whole country and it’s only a matter of time before they own it. Forget the Chinese’s looming invasion out on Spratly group of islands.
The real invasion started three decades ago within the very fabric of our society, under the guise of the Yellow Party of Aquinos and Cojuangcos and their little minions, when they took over the leadership of this country. This Yellow legacy has continued with the subsequent administrations, whose officials sold their own country to the Chinese for personal interests.
What really strikes me as strange is you, and the writers of GRP, will “fight tooth and nail” against the Yellow Party and tried to get rid of them, but you won’t say “Jack Shit” about a much stronger forces fueling this party in spite of the overwhelming evidence against them.
Oh, you haven’t replied to my comment to you on BenignO’s articles? Well, please do. I’d like to hear your take on why someone like yourself–including most of the supposedly objective writers of GRP–haven’t been completely straight with your readers.
You haven’t repeated anything I don’t already know about the Failipinos fucking up their own country; but, unlike the writers of GRP, I’m not going to just bashed our race and not bashed the other, especially if both are both guilty of the same offense.
It’s kind of hard to believe that statement coming from someone that is part Chinese, isn’t it? But wrong is wrong no matter how you look at it—regardless whether it’s the Failipinos who are wrong, or the Chinese who are wrong, or both.
You, Grimwald (What’s the matter with him? Someone cut off his tongue and balls and you have to speak for him?), and the rest of the writers on GRP need to acknowledge that you haven’t been completely honest with yourselves and your readers on who the actual culprits are in fucking up your country.
It’s time to “call spade a spade” and step up to bat if you don’t want raise any questions, or doubts, in anyone’s mind—especially your readers. If you can do that (“to leave no stones unturned”), then you’ll have my goddamn respect. Otherwise, you’re just blowing smoke up everybody’s asses–including yours. Over the Fucking Out!
Aeta
Aeta,
I have had very bad experiences dealing with native Pinoys – as in lots of them.
Here’s just one example:
The Perfect Storm Driver
Why I would rather lend P100,000 to an ethnic Chinese than to a native Pinoy is really a no brainer.
Why this country is being eaten up by Chinoys is simple: they possess competence and common sense.
Of course there are exceptions to the rule (like the retarded president that we have now) – but generally speaking, I would rather have a country run like heaven by the Chinoys than one run like hell by incompetent fools. Gibo Teodoro is from the Cojuanco clan but he’s a first-rate politician with brains (board top-notcher).
I have a close Pinoy friend who asked to borrow a large sum and promised to return it last Chrismas. What happens? He comes back to me saying sorry he can’t pay and instead asks if he can borrow an even larger sum. I just had to say No.
So can you blame me for favoring Chinoys over native Pinoys on the aspect of trust? Trust is earned. This country is bound to be managed by Chinoys whether you like it or not.
I have come to terms with reality. Note: The recent summa cum laude of UP with an almost perfect 1.0 average grade was Chinese-blooded. It’s in their genes to excel. native Pinoys have the reverse-Midas touch.
I welcome the ethnic Chinese (with PH passports) invasion from within. I would prefer to shop in their air-conditioned SuperMalls than in our dark damp stinking Palenkes.
Relentless improvement drives success – that’s what Chinese do. What have native Pinoys got to show?
zaxx,
Who didn’t get screwed by our own people? When my wife and I had a business in the country, I was screwed over many times by former employees, relatives who worked for us, people whom we considered our friends, and business associates. If I were to add all the pesos that was scammed and stolen from us by Failipinos, it would be in the millions. Failipinos will screw each other for two reasons: envy and despair. If you remember those two reasons you’ll learn not to trust anyone as far as you can throw them, but you’ll save yourself from future disappointments and frustrations.
As far as lending money, I wouldn’t lend to anybody these days without a substantial collateral that is worth more than the amount of money I’m willing to part with—whether they’re Chekwas or Fliptards. Fliptard will borrow money from you and won’t pay you back: Chekwas won’t borrow money from you unless you’re a fellow Chekwa. The former will keep the money and disappear; the latter believe in keeping the money within their own network.
It’s not necessarily true that Chekwas have more competence and common sense than Fliptards. Everyone has a varying amount of competence and common sense when it comes to survival and looking out for their best interests. The advantages Chekwas have over Fliptards are they are tighter with their money and willing to pool their resources together to start and run a business. However, both are willing to work hard to meet their needs and wants, whether they’re business owners or just plain workers. Some people sees the Chekwas as having an edge over Fliptards because they are more business-minded and willing to delay personal gratification to grow their enterprises; some say the Checkwas are cheap, greedy, and boring and don’t know how to enjoy life. I personally consider the dichotomy of both opinions as a blessing and a curse when taken to the extreme.
The concept of the “Bamboo Network” originated from the traditional practice of joining separate bamboos to make a strong structure, which can then be used in a variety of ways; and it’s how the Chekwas have been doing business for generations, by pooling their resources together to create formidable organizations to beat out their competitions. However, this system doesn’t come without a risk; and the most disconcerting of all is what will happen to the network once it has consumed all of its competitions and monopolized the local economy in the countries it’s doing businesses in, and eventually swallows up the entire economic system of the whole world?
The members of this “Bamboo Network” have no other choice but to turn on each other and destroy themselves in order to keep thriving. Then everyone will be back to square one, try to pick up the pieces of a destroyed global and local economies, and rebuild everything from scratch. This is what I’m afraid is going to happen to the Failippines if it’s taken over by the Chekwa’s “Bamboo Network.” Our economy will collapse and become like another China, where its more than 7 billion citizens live and work like peasants in a pseudo-socialist/communist market. The only chance to improve the lives of these peasants is to leave their own country to find opportunities outside of its borders. This is happening now among millions of Fliptards in our own country; they’re opting to work overseas as OFWs and expatriates, or, resort to peasantry by working for Chekwa-owned businesses on their own land.
I’ve never had any faith in our local Chekwa or Fliptard politicians—even if they came from well-known families or at the top of their class in–like “Gibo Teodoro” of the Cojuangco clan. These qualifications just make these “top-notcher” politicians better thieves and more sophisticated scoundrels. What we need instead in your new “Utopian” Failippines is a government is not a government purely run by Chekwas, by one that is run by a bilateral American and Chinese government, who have a fair number of their respective businesses operating in the Failippines as proof of their shared national interests in the country. These two superpowers have been checking and balancing one another since the end of the “Cold War,” and have successfully avoided a nuclear holocaust for the past seventy-plus years. Their pretentious, but somewhat amicable, political relationship will somehow allow the right foot to see what the left foot is doing, and vice versa, to keep them both from stepping on each other.
As far as Failipino politicians’ role are concerned in our country’s affairs, they should only be allowed to serve as “footmen”—to provide food and beverages, and also an occasional towels to wipe the sweats off the terse brows of these two superpower government. We Failipinos are not designed to become leaders, regardless of our elitist background. As a matter of fact, that’s what’s been happening now out in South China Sea. Both the Americans and Chinese keeping a watchful eye on one another, while staying out of each other’s way. Why not let them both invade the Failippines fair and square to give the people more options on how to live their lives.
I blame you for the hypocrisy of your writing and what Get Real Philippines is allowing you to do, that makes you both sound like “sellout” to your own country and people. You’re both trying to convince the our stupid people on the tyrannous and oppressive evil of the Yellow Party–that are made of the both Fliptard and Chekwa oligarchs–but you’re also pushing the agenda of welcoming the Chekwas into our country and eventually taking control of our socio-economic infrastructure with their “Bamboo Network” tactics and strategies. Your hidden agenda only makes you a useless “sellout” writer in my book, instead of trying to revolutionize the fucked ways our people think and live their lives—by creating awareness on what they need to do—to save their county and each other from certain and complete demise. Thank you for letting us know your true color, zaxx. Yellow.
Aeta
I’ll let you have the last laugh Aeta. I would equally wish for the Americans to come back in as well and make this nation clean, orderly and green again. That’s IF they’re still interested in us. The last time I remember – we kicked them off their bases here. Now we’re practically begging for them to return. Ano tayo – siniswerte?
Singapore is ruled by the same Chinese-blooded superior minds behind the big successful businesses in PH (guess what, I do fly Cebu Pacific – and do you know who owns it? yep, a Chinoy named Lance Gokongwei). So if you don’t mind, I will continue to open our doors to more of these kinds of people, as well as to smart Americans, Europeans, Koreans, Japanese and what have you.
As long as each native Pinoy gets 3 square meals a day, a decent job, and a comfortable life working for these managers, these sheeple don’t give a damn.
And FYI – my color isn’t Yellow; it’s Red, White and Blue. My latest Pittbull is finally snapping at the heels of the Catholic bishops (benign0’s latest article) – this is totally entertaining!
May you have a good day sir.
zaxx,
It’s not important who has the last laugh. We’re all in this fiasco together. Either we all laugh together or we all cry together. So, which one are you really loyal to—the Americans or the Chinese?
You’re pathetically confusing, you know that. First it was the Chinese you’re trying to endorse to take over the Failippines. Now it’s the Americans after I called you out on how things in the country would run a lot smoother-without the Chekwas’ influence on the very fabric of our lives from inside and outside of our borders-if the Americans were still here.
As I had clearly stated in my other comment to you, the influence of the Chekwa government officials in Singapore is not the same as the kind of influence they’re exerting on our Fliptard government officials and socio-economic infrastructure.
There are more “check and balance” in place in Singapore’s government infrastructure due to the varied ethnicities represented in this small country-that doesn’t gives too much power to one ethnic group—just like the United States with its mixed ethnicities.
The Failippines only has two types that makes up the majority of the ruling and business class of our socio-economic infrastructure: 1) The aristocratic and self-serving Fliptards. 2) The cheap and greedy Chekwas.
Given these two dysfunctional ethnicities (Fliptards and Chekwas) that makes up the majority of our demographic, it’s no surprise why most Americans, Europeans, and Japanese companies don’t want to do business in our country; they’d rather not deal with our dubious and scrupulous Fliptard politicians and Chekwa businessmen.
Only the equally greedy Koreans-with their desire to play catch up with the Chekwas on trying to take-over the world’s economy-try to emulate the “Bamboo Network” in our country and other parts of the world.
Do not underestimate our native Fliptards only wanting “3 square meals a day, a decent job, and comfortable life working for these managers”; they are more ambitious than that and want it all, including “the bells and whistle” that comes with the goals they’re seeking, so they can continue to stroke their individual “Pinoy Pride” that has nothing to do with helping the country nor each other.
Are you sure your true color is “Red, White, and Blue”? From the manner in which you’re shoving China as the solution to the Failippines’ problems down our throats, it sounds as if you’re endorsing Chairman Mao instead of Uncle Sam to take over the Failippines.
You’re either with the Americans or with China but you can be with both—unless, of course, both countries come to terms with each other, and agree to run the Failippines together in a sort of a “check and balance” relationship, that prevent one from gaining too much power over the other.
So which one are you really with–U.S. or China? You need to pick a side and re-work your writing as such, in order to keep us from trying to guess your true color and which side you’re on. Have a nice day.
Aeta
Aeta,
My short answer is this:
I’m with the Americans (geopolitically) as military ally, but with ethnic Chinese (economically) to bring in jobs for Filipinos.
Didn’t you notice US giant chip maker Intel just left PH for greener pastures (Vietnam)? Instsik nalang nag-tatyaga sa atin. I would rather have them than nothing. Pinoys – they can’t even grow their sari-sari store into a minimart, let alone think up and implement Mega Malls projects on reclaimed soil.
Your check and balance model is good. We should court a good balance of westerners and northern Asians into PH. I never said I was against Americans and Europeans coming in.
I’m a pro-Chinese more on the HK and Taiwan side (never was a big fan of Beijing). What I like about Beijing though is that their single party can make fast/tough decisions – like executing former corrupt officials. That’s something we need to emulate. Many ethnic Chinese don’t like communist, arrogant and controlling Beijing – all they really want is to just do business anywhere.
I read a political analysis book that said China will actually soon disintegrate. That should be music to your ears.
At least as far as I know, I’m being honest to myself: I love stuff which most “mature” people consider childish, I’m a pervert, I’m childish, I don’t deny that I am corrupt in some ways, etc. But I know there may be still some dark parts of me which I have yet to discover and accept. Hey, after all, we all have our own light and dark sides and we cannot exist without the other, much like Yin and Yang cannot be separated. We can say it’s just a matter of balancing them…….
With that said, wanna condemn me to Hell just because I admitted my dark and sinful side? Sure, I’ll go ahead and reserve a place for you when I get there (assuming it’s a real place, of course). See ya….. :3
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“And here is another big problem ladies and gentlemen. As a matter of fact, this is quite probably one of the biggest of all. Again, it is our own self-righteousness, our refusal to believe in our own imperfections, that further exacerbates the problem.” – See? So stop believing in perfections; they’re hallucinogenic……
“Then I made mention of Warhammer 40,000’s Grey Knights, a holy order of demon slayers for those who are not familiar with the lore. No sooner had I mentioned them that a woman from our group called me “bastos”. Apparently, she assumed that the Grey Knights, the blessed sons of the God-Emperor, were associated with 50 Shades of Grey. When I tried to explain to her the nature of the Grey Knights, she claimed I was simply making it all up and that I was deeply perverted. However, since it was she who made the connection with 50 Shades of Grey first…” – Yup, I tend to see hypocrites everywhere. They pretend to be moral and holy but still indulge in immoral stuff. Next thing you know, they blame us who do not deny our being perverts when they get raped or get pregnant whe they’re not ready then throw all kinds of feminazi s*** at us. I guess I better not be surprised as to what kind of person their offsprings will grow into, assuming their offsprings stay with them for life…….
“Honesty is a very expensive gift. Do not expect it from cheap people.”
– Warren Buffett