I was a little disturbed by the speech of Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Independence Day when he declared that Filipinos “are not free.” I disagree with this view of the Chief Justice, although we should admit that the nation is suffering from various ailments, especially in governance made more insufferable because of too much politics 365 days a year.

Our democratic system and our representative form of government is far from ideal, imperfect, and, therefore, begging for adjustments, fine-tuning, and restructuring. Yes, I agree that we need to reform because of these structural, social and political defects in our present system.

But I disagree that we are not free because our people have not reached that political plane where we can intelligently manage our own affairs without relying on foreign aid for our existence. Gloria-economics has proven that we can do it. Our heroes and many unsung heroes continue to be the symbol of our freedoms, those who gave their lives in Tirad Pass, in the foothills of Mt. Natib and Mt. Samat where Filipinos fought valiantly for the Fatherland, knowing that they were grossly undermanned and under-armed. Even in the blood-drenched hills of Yultung in Korea where Filipino soldiers showed the world that we, too, hanker for freedom for our fellowmen in far away lands.

Indeed, we declared our freedom from foreign domination on that fateful day in Kawit, Cavite, in 1898, notwithstanding the shortcomings and the political mistakes that led to this historic moment. From then on, we have struggled to remain free and respected among the community of free peoples of the world. Let no person, not even the Chief Justice, detract from these historical facts and as many of us have to justify our freedoms that remain the beacon for all our thoughts and deeds, for our plans and our endeavors, so that generations hence will happily share the sunshine and the fruits of the land, a land that is prosperous and free.

I believe it is a bit gratuitous to claim that this country is sitting on top of a volcano waiting to erupt. Only pessimists and people who have no faith in themselves can say that our country is about to self-destruct. The fiber of this country has been tried and tested and still the Filipino has always proven to the world that when the going gets rough, we, Filipinos, stand together to save our nation, and we overcome, because we are united. To believe that we are unfree is so unFilipino.

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We should realize that our best effort against epidemics is never foolproof. This is once more exemplified by the fact that more than a hundred Filipinos are now stricken with swine flu or the A(H1N1) virus. We were quite lucky before when other viruses were poised to attack the populace, but now entire communities have declared outbreaks that threaten neighboring areas, and there is no effective cure in sight. At least, for the moment. The efforts of the Department of Health and other agencies and the cooperation shown by schools and other institutions are commendable, and congratulations are in order because the spread of the outbreak has been clearly minimized and let us hope that it will not spread farther. Otherwise we will have a real monstrosity of a problem in our hands.

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The number of military KIAs (killed in action) as a result of encounters with Muslim rebel groups has been rising according to news reports. But it also appears that top Abu Sayyaf leaders have been reported killed or captured. Tit for tat. Reading the list of rebel casualties, one would think the insurgency or banditry problem in Mindanao is somewhat a family affair. In this week’s news report, among the casualties during an encounter in Indanan, Sulu, in the course of military operations to rescue Italian Red Cross worker, Eugenio Vagni, is the brother of Abu leader Albader Parad, named Gadger Parad, who was killed while Albader and another brother, Saddam, were reportedly wounded. Albader’s son, Damz, was also killed, while two sons of an Abu leader were also slain along with three other known Abu members. Such figures may be heartening, but we are always saddened by the fact that this is an encounter among Filipinos whose ideologies and operations happen to differ with our laws and our democratic way of life.

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Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. has resurrected his resolution to amend the Constitution and shift to a federal system of government. I agree with Senator Nene but I believe it would be better if we shift to a parliamentary system as well, which to me will be more conducive to making government more responsible and the bureaucracy more attuned to the needs of the community. Taking the cue from the Mindanao senator, there is still enough time to shift to unicameralism and federalism if we get our acts together, forget about partisanship and work for the attainment of this objective without clattering up the political process with divisive issues.

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Manny Pacquiao continues to reap laurels, this time from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) as the 2008 Fighter of the Year, the second time the BWAA honored him. He was also the BWAA’s choice in 2006 when he knocked out Erik Morales twice and became the hot star of the boxing world. Flooring Ricky Hatton last May with that classic knockout punch boosted Manny’s stature, making him an early favorite with the BWAA.

“I also hope that this award will serve as an example and an inspiration for the young fighters to believe in themselves and keep on dreaming big,” Pacquiao was quoted as saying when he thanked the Filipino nation for this outstanding award. God bless you, Manny.

8 Responses to “UnFilipino thoughts”

• 1
  Vic Esguerra
  June 21st, 2009 16:40

  Raul Gonzalez always tries to put a positive spin on the Philippines’ situation–but alas, it’s just a spin. Chief Justice Reynato Puno is a man of integrity–nothing like the corrupt and deceitful Gonzalez. The Philippines is a craphole with most of its citizens living in abject poverty. There’s no justice in Iloilo because Gonzalez favors the criminal Etik Espinosa. The truth of our dire situation confronts us evey day and no amount of spin from Raul Gonzalez will change it. He is a fool who thinks he can fool people but he is dead wrong.
• 2
  Leriza
  June 21st, 2009 16:51

  If being Filipino means being like Raul Gonzalez who clings to power thru corrution and deceit, then I would rather be UnFilipino.
  The culture of a country trickles from the top down. GMA is the most corrupt president of all time–and a lot of Filipinos have adapted that culture of lying and stealing that GMA exemplefies.
  Nowadays, being Filipino means being a cheat and a liar, having a corrupt government, being the most corrupt country in Asia, and all sorts of shameful things.
  So being UnFilipino is the best thing that we could do right now. That means overcoming the Filipino culture of corruption and cheating and bribery. Yes we should stop being so Filipino and start being something better–a people who can stop lying and cheating and stealing–and start electing the antithesis of the corruption queen GMA and the corruption King Raul Gonzalez..
• 3
  Glenn
  June 23rd, 2009 19:54

  Ellen Tordesillas writes:
  Walang paki-alam si Arroyo
  Kung walang masama na binabalak si Gloria Arroyo, madali naman niyang sabihin na pagdating ng Hunyo 30,2010 bababa na siya sa Malacañang dahil yun naman talaga ang nakasaad sa Constitution.

  Sa totoo lang, sa bawat minuto na nasa Malacañang si Arroyo ay paglapastangan sa batas at Constitution dahil hindi naman talaga siya binoto, kailan man, ng sambayanang Pilipino. Inagaw niya ang pagka-presidente noong Enero 2001 at nandaya siya noong May 20004. ‘Yan ang sinasabi ni Susan Roces na, “You stole the presidency not once but twice.”

  Kaya lang sa sobrang kabaitan ng Pilipino, parang nagiging doormat na tayo. Tinatapakan na hindi pa rin uma-alma. Ayaw kasi nating ng gulo. Kahit harap-harapan na tayo niloloko, okay lang basta walang gulo. Hindi natin naiisip ang mas malaking gulong idinudulot ng isang ilegal na administrasyon.

  Kaliwa’t-kanan ang nakawan at para na nilang pinagpaparte-parte ang Pilipinas. Hindi lang sina Arroyo. Siyempre lahat na kasabwat sa dayaan at kurakutan. Marami yan. Sa pagpasa lang ng Con-Ass, kung tig-P20 million sa bawat isang bumuto sa House resolution 1109, aabot ng P5 bilyon yan. Saan naman kukunin ni Arroyo yan kungdi sa kabang bayan na pera natin.

  Kasi mabait nga tayo (duwag sabi ng iba), sabi natin, sige hayaan mo na lang si Arroyo sa Malacañang hanggang Hunyo 2010 kasi yun ang nakasaad na limitasyon ng termino ng isang presidente na nagsimula noong 2004.

  Hindi tayo naniwala sa babala ng mga mas nakakilala kay Arroyo na kung pagbigyan mo yan hanggang 2010, hindi yan bababa dahil sa takot niya na balikan siya ng taumbayan sa kanyang pagnanakaw at pandaraya.

  Ngayon kung ano-ano ang naiisip niya para lang manatili sa kapangyarihan, kahit ilegal. Nandiyan ang Con-Ass, nandiyan yung tatakbo raw siyang kongresista sa Pampanga (galing yan mismo sa anak niya) para daw kapag nagpalit na ng Constitution, pasok na siya sa parliament at magiging prime minister.

  Sinasabi ng ibang kakapmpi niya na bababa raw si Arroyo ngunit kailangan palabasin niya na hindi siya “lameduck” o laos o pababa na para pakinggan pa rin siya ng mga pulitikong alaga niya.

  Kung alam kasi ng mga alagad niya na wala na siya sa susunod na taon, iiwanan siya at doon na sila magsisimula dumikit sa alam nilang magiging susunod na presidente. Ganun din ka walang hiya ang mga ina-alagaan ni Arroyo na mga pulitiko. Pare-preho lang sila.

  Sa ngayon, kahit anong sabihin ni Arroyo, kung bababa man siya o hindi, sa dami ng kasinungalingan na kanyang pingsasabi, wala na ring halaga sa taumbayan.

  Kaya lang sabihin naman ni Arroyo, ano ngayon kung ayaw nyo maniwala sa akin? Ay sa akin ang kapangyarihan. May reklamo?
• 4
  Dr. Antonio Gestosani
  June 23rd, 2009 23:57

  To be “UnFilipino”. Is this the right thing to do? For me, it started in 1982 when I took US Citizenship.
  Guimbal is my birthplace and the town I was raised.
  When I came back to that town 10 years later (after 1972), the town was visibly changing from the grip of the Garin Family. The public plaza was changing, and I knew then, that something is going to happen.
  My ancestral home now is facing what I call the “intramuros wall”. And not only that, my family suffered a lot from the political vendettas of the Garins. My brother cannot do business in Guimbal and he was forced to give up his land for political payback. Worse than that, Richard Garin ( Mayor then) showed disrespect for not draping my mother’s coffin with the nation’s flag during the funeral.
  Can you blame me when I call myself “UnGuimbaleno’” also?
  My apology to the people of Guimbal. 30 years of Tyranny is too long, and you fall for that. You need change.
• 5
  Gabe
  June 24th, 2009 05:21

  Those who stand up for justice are always on the right side of history,” Obama said.
  Therefore Raul Gonzalez and GMA are always on the WRONG side of history.
  I am a Filipino at heart, even though I’m an American citizen. But I am overly grateful that my president is Barack Obama and not the master thief and ruthless oppressor Gloria Arroyo.
  If you elect Raul Gonzalez as the mayor of Iloilo, kawawa kayo mga Ilonggo.
• 6
  Ben Tado
  June 24th, 2009 05:48

  A speech that does not agree with your ideas is no cause to be even a little disturbed, Raul Gonzalez. Grow up and get some proper perspective. If you want to talk about what’s disturbing–it’s the fact that you failed to give justice to Vice Mayor Ramon Rojas even one year after he was murdered. Did you ever write about how disturbing that is? No you didn’t, but you chose to write instead about such trivial matter as a speech being disturbing to you. Get a grip Gonzalez, and give up fantasy in favor of reality. Murder is real pain; bristling over a little speech is not. We never heard you condemn the brutal murder of your fellow Ilonggo and public servant, and you were never even a little disturbed that there’s no justice for him until now.
  Raul Gonzalez, you are so brain dead, as all the bloggers here say. You are so out of touch with reality.
• 7
  Eugene
  June 24th, 2009 07:24

  Raul Gonzalez’s foot-in-mouth disease is evident again; and he takes whatever bribe money he can get, big or small! See story below.

  Lacson: Dacer, tycoon cases cost Gonzalez DOJ post
  By Aurea Calica Updated June 14, 2009 12:00 AM

  MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Panfilo Lacson said his alleged deal with Malacañang on the Dacer-Corbito murder case was not the reason behind the ouster of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, but rather the latter’s blunder in dealing with the return of former police officer Cezar Mancao II and his meddling in the case of a powerful business tycoon close to the Palace.

  Lacson, who is being linked to the killings of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000, denied entering into any agreement with Malacañang, saying it would be worse than “signing a pact with the devil.”

  Lacson said Gonzalez had displeased Malacañang by talking too much about the Dacer-Corbito case and for interfering in a case involving a business tycoon for which the former justice secretary allegedly received money.

  Lacson also said it was the members of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1978 – and not Gonzalez – who worked for the return of Mancao to testify against the senator.

  “Gonzalez had nothing to do with Mancao’s decision. He (Mancao) was promised a number of things,” Lacson said in an interview over radio station dwIZ.

  Lacson said the plan of Mrs. Arroyo’s aides was to surprise him (Lacson) with the return of Mancao and not let him prepare his defense on the charges to be filed against him. But because of Gonzalez’s “strip tease” and constant talking about it, the affidavit of Mancao eventually leaked and lost strength.

  Lacson added he was also able to prepare his answers and he also kept the text messages of Mancao telling him that Prestoza had been asking him to testify against the senator since September 2007.

  “This is why I am saying Malacañang was involved (in seeking Mancao’s return) because Prestoza was PSG chief at that time,” Lacson said.

  Lacson said this was because Prestoza and the other members of PMA Class ’78 did not want to surface and own up to what they did.

  “So Gonzalez’s belief was that Mancao really volunteered to come out,” Lacson said.

  “Dakdak siya ng dakdak and strip tease ang pagpapahayag nya tungkol kay Mancao hanggang sa lumabas na nga yung affidavit na hindi nararapat ,” Lacson said.

  He added the affidavit and the extradition of Mancao should have been kept secret but came out in the open because Gonzalez could not keep his mouth shut.

  Lacson said the “gag order” against Gonzalez that came out in The STAR was true, as Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita himself admitted, only that it was made long ago and not before his ouster from the DOJ.

  Lacson said Prestoza and the other members of PMA Class ’78 were upset with Gonzalez’s style as it ruined their scheme to pin him down.

  He said it was unfortunate and ironic that Gonzalez was now saying he was removed from the DOJ because he wanted to pursue the Dacer-Corbito case relentlessly.

  Tycoon offended

  In another case, Lacson said a tycoon apparently worked for Gonzalez’s ouster because the former justice secretary allegedly had tried to gather evidence from the powerful businessman’s own sibling.

  The tycoon and the sibling had a misunderstanding and Gonzalez allegedly thought he could use the sibling’s statement against the tycoon in a case pending before the Presidential Commission on Good Government, which is already under the DOJ.

  Lacson alleged Gonzalez and the sibling met and that Gonzalez received “goodwill money” for his interference.

  The senator said he was informed that the alleged amount was quite small by “Palace standards” but huge enough for someone not known to be a paid hack.

  “The initial indication (was that Gonzalez did the interference for) personal interest, in the sense that there was monetary consideration,” Lacson said.

  “He only received a small amount, it’s like goodwill money. Pero nakatanggap siya ng kaukulang halaga at ito ay totoo,” Lacson alleged.

  He said Gonzalez was allegedly expecting a bigger amount if he succeeded in pinning down the tycoon.

  “Meron akong figure. Ito ay kumpirmado pero mas mainam di ko na lang banggitin,” Lacson said.

  The senator also accused Gonzalez of using journalist Tony Calvento to come out with stories slanted in Gonzalez’s favor.

  “Who is Calvento’s contact anyway? It’s also Gonzalez,” Lacson said.

  “Nililihis nila ang istorya. Pinalabas na ako nakipag-deal, ako pa gusto sisihin sa pagtanggal sa kanya,” Lacson said.

  He said Gonzalez should realize that the tycoon must have found out about his alleged deal with the latter’s sibling.

  Lacson also said the Dacer-Corbito case had nothing to do with his decision to withdraw his presidential bid.

  “Those who are speculating that there could be other reasons, it’s up to them. But as for me, I have no funds to use to go around,” Lacson said.

  “From the start I never had any deals with Malacañang because it’s worse than signing a pact with the devil,” he added.
• 8
  Mario Chu
  June 26th, 2009 13:01

  Napaka-sinungaling itong si Raul Gonzalez, tinitira pa ang matinong Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Sobrang kapal.
  Nang ipinanganak si Raul… Kapag hinila na ng doktor palabas ang isang sanggol mula sa sinapupunan ng kaniyang ina, hinahawakan ng doktor ang dalawang paa ng baby at habang naka-tiwarik ay sinasampal-sampal niya ito nang bahagya para umiyak ang mala-anghel na baby.
  Pero noong daw na ipinanganak si Raul, pag-labas niya, sinampal nang malakas ng doktor ang nanay niya at sinabing, “saang impiyerno mo nakuha ang demonyong ito” ?
  And the rest is history.

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