Saturday, August 20, 2011

'Are We Really Worth Dying For?'

As we commemorate the death of Ninoy Aquino, I can’t help but to look back and make my own reflection. The gruesome event turned into a blessing in disguise --- toppling the (conjugal) dictatorship for almost 3 decades! But the question that keeps bugging my malicious mind is this: "Is Ninoy's sacrifice for us really worth it?"

Some many unexpected turn of events took place, thus making this more complicated and incomprehensible. The family of the ousted dictator is back in the helm and mutiplying like bacteria, expanding their influence again across the solid north.There is a rumor that Bongbong Marcos plans to try his luck on 2016 Presidential election. Flamma fumo est proxima. Flame follows smoke or If there's smoke, there's fire. While those who fought the dictator claiming as human rights and freedom fighters turned into nuts and coconut in the Coconut Palace like Joker Arroyo, Rene Saguisag, Jojo Binay to name a few. There are lots of them actually, some have already lost their integrity because of their greed for power and became turncoats. They said, even the communists who claim to fight capitalism and advocates social equality, once they tasted power, they themselves become drunk with it and wanting for more. Just look around and you will see my point.

Looking back and looking also at the present political landscape in the Philippines, my question still remains, "Quo vadis Pilipinas?" With all these quagmires that beset our country due to brazen corruption, power tripping, lies and deceptions, incompetencies and utang na loob and many more negative traits that have permeated in every political being, are we really worth dying for? When will we ever learn?

I remember what the great Albert Einstein said and I quote: "Insanity is doing the same thing all over again, and expecting different result."

At this point in time, the only thing I could really do is to hope and pray that the future of our country will be brighter as what the present administration envisions to take the M.Scott Peck's "The Road Less Travelled". For them to achieve that "Narrow Road that Leads to Straight Path", they ought to be aware that their actions must not be incongruous with their proclamations. Otherwise, the great Arnold Toynbee will laugh at us rolling and say, "I TOLD YOU SO." Because he said, "Anyone who has not learned from the past is doomed to commit the same mistake."

Yes, I still and will always believe that Filipinos are really worth dying for. But we must transcend this statement. We must do something that is consistent to our vision and mission of a better Philippines. If not, every drop of blood that will be shed will be wasted --- because the blood that being sucked by the social leeches can never be converted into "dinuguan". It's something we can't feed to the millions of hungry and homeless Filipinos.

11 comments:

Sam said...

Greed that’s the social cancer. I don’t know wher to start… I used to work for both first the Romualdez. His mistress with his daughter who used to live in Paranaque (BFHomes, Phase 11) How she behaved, like Sheba the queen. I was so disgusted, that was during the time when Marcos was in power. Yes they were abusive, they all have those guards, in that compound. Sign of insecurity. Where are they now? Yeah back in the Philippines doing what they love to do..magnakw ng pera ng Bayan.

ALBERTO said...

HAVE A NAGGING FEELING THAT PINOYS ARE NOT WORTH DYING FOR. NINOY WAS SO NAIVE TO THINK AND BELIEVED THAT PINOYS ARE WORTH DYING FOR. PINOYS THRIVE WHEN THEY ARE UNDER A DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP AND DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
THEY THRIVE IN AMERICA BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THEY MUST OBEY THE LAWS HERE OR GO TO JAIL OR DEPORTED. THEY NEED TO PROVE THEMSELVES TO THEIR WHITE MASTERS THAT THEY CAN BE TRUSTED AND THAT THEY CAN WORK HARDER THAN ANY OTHER EMPLOYEES OR SLAVES. PINOYS DO NOT RESPECT OTHER PINOYS. THEY THINK THEY ARE BETTER THAN THE REST OF PINOYS. THEY DISCRIMINATE EACH OTHER. WALANG ETIQUETTE ANG MARAMING PINOY. PAG MAY NAGSASALITA SA STAGE O KUMAKANTA, HINDI SILA NAKIKINIG AT PURO SALITA NG SALITA AT SAKA MGA HIPOKRITONG PAPALAKPAK PAG TAPOS NA ANG TALUMPATI O PAGKANTA NOONG NASA STAGE. NINOY COULD HAVE DONE BETTER IF HE WERE ALIVE TODAY.

Jose Samilin said...

Monsi serrano and All,

You have admitted so of the presence of your malicious mind, please forgive them all today in your hearts, conscience and will, and everyday of your lives in order to get life heavenly. However, this does not mean they will not suffer the rigor of the law. In the same way as Pope John Paul II forgave his attacker, Ali Agca in his cell, he was forgiven but shall remain to suffer the process of the law.

Know that I fully support your advocasies to clean the government and with among others, the Marcoses, be held responsible all offenders , relying on your sincerity, competency and cooperation in the media to bring to light without fear all works done in the dark by all powerful people and abusers of the law in our government and private sector. You are doing this for the sake of our future generations to come.

May God bless you all and more power to all your endeavors.

Jose Samilin
Kansas City, MO.

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Jaime Calero
 said...

The problem is that we have gone on from the Marcos Dynasty
to the Macapagal & Aquino Dynasties.
Hope burns eternal

DRCDC said...

I agree, the Philippines is worth dying for.
The Filipinos in America must also be prepared to fully support and assume leadership roles in achieving the inevitable destiny of the Philippines. This is a responsibility that every Filipino must take. What is brightly wrong with our country is that of being beset by an economic and political system that at the very least condones corruption, instability, and poverty. In corruption index, the Philippines is tied with Nigeria and Bangladesh. It is a historical event absorbed by every Filipino as a matter of fact sequence. Noynoy Aquino must be supported by every Filipino in his dream when he stated, Kung walang Corrupt walang mahirap! There needs to be a serious reconsideration of a political culture that serves itself, not the tens of millions toiling in poverty.
End poverty! Noynoy Aquino must not pull any punches in his corruption battle. My question- is he doing it?

Dick Aquino said...

How about let us do something for the Philippines first, then criticise if we may.
If we are from outside the Philippines, do one thing good for the Philippines i.e. support the Gawid Kalinga, sponsor a child to finish high school, then college (even a relative).
Support the Philippine Military with better education for their Childrens, school within their local stations.
Support our Educators so that they do not need to go abroad….
Support the Local Police Stations
Support the USP4GG, and if in US support the NaFFAA without prejudice….
Let us do something before we talk…against anything…
Let us not be a NATO (NO ACTION TALK ONLY)
Let us be UNDERSTANDING and RESPECT each other opinions especially if we DISAGREE.
YES! IS TO ME WORTH DYING FOR THE PHILIPPINES, IF NOT, NOTHING WILL CHANGE….IF IT AS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME…..
ONE TO ONE RATIO BLESSING EACH OTHER UNCONDITIONALLY…..CHANGE WILL COME….
No more WANG WANG is the BEST achievable first order of NoyNoy Aquino PRESIDENCY….support the President….report all Wang Wang illegal use.



Lawiswis Kawayan said...

The answer to your query, if you avail of history in the background, is a resounding NO! You could have asked the same question after Bagumbayan and the answer was NO! Rizal died in vain. Bonifacio was killed like a dog instead of rallying up to him as the flash point of the Cry of Balintawak. All the heroes of 1898 died in vain – what they got was $20 million at the treaty of Versailles – a dollar for every filipino paid to Spain by America.
There was never a pinoy nation to really die for. Pinoys were exploited by successive colonizers and never a time for nation building. After so-called independence in 1946, pinoys were never really independent – they were exploited by their own countrymen. Who said “what are we in power for”? The succession of presidents were really all alike, even the present incumbent. His matuwid na DAAN is really crooked and branching into Kanto Tan, the road of Lucio. Denying PALEA the right of labor its bargaining power is virtually throwing the pinoys as red meat for exploitation.
The crooked crooks who never really got out of power and influence are waiting in the wings for their turn in the palace by the murky river. Elections are farce, justice has no teeth, rule of law is a mockery, military has got lots of bananas … what is there to die for???


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Jimmy Alegre said...



No. Only a full-blown revolution will drastically change the political climate in the Philippines. Lives will be lost and blood will be shed. Filipinos are not ready for that. But we’re getting there. When the citizens have nothing to eat and nothing to lose, then maybe, they will rise up in uprising. Poverty is endemic in the country and that’s why you see a lot of thievery. You can see signs of anarchy everywhere. Just a matter of time. The country is a powder keg waiting to explode. By then, the oligarchs will flee, having their ill-gotten wealth waiting for them in some safe haven.
A great majority of the Filipinos have long known that there is just no future for them and their families, and are getting out of the country in search of a better life. But at what cost?
The country is aptly named “the sick dog of Asia”. Rwanda, Angola, Somalia, and other third world countries come into mind. God help us all!!



Mandy Manuel said...

Nice piece! Excellently written and provocative. You hit the nail on its head. I just wish that those who will read this will be able to see clearly your point, to us Filipinos, to the present government officials, to those who fought the dictator and yet betrayed the people when they got into power.

So many Filipino people are suffer from poverty, hunger, injustice and other social problems. But it looks like the government are so apathetic to these harsh realities. With the leadership of PNoy, I hope he will be true to his commitment and vision to eradicate poverty, promote transparency and rebuild the lost credibility of our country in the global community.

It will be a truly long and winding road for PNoy and his team. Don’t give up and may the sacrifice of your father be not put into naught. God bless the Philippines! God bless you Mr. Serrano!

Rick Bernabe said...



mr albertO….is correct and straightforward.
60-85 % of the military is corrupt,arrogant and has a convoluted mindset, hence…..you’re a fool to respect these people…..but the media keep on glamorizing the PMA which should be dissolved.
PMA is the breeding ground of the most corrupt generals on the face of the earth”EXCEPT FOR THE VERY FEW”.
THE SECOND CITADEL OF CORRUPTION IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE ARROGANT C.B.C.P.
bring back the death penalty,truly separate the church and the state,put the arrogant arroyos in jail for life or death and all their cohorts included,have the church and ROME to pay for the poverty of the Filipinos,and establish a no non-sense death/shoot on site policy for all criminals,white collar criminals and, all corrupt officials and politicians,and disbar all corrupt lawyers



Pat Talens

 said...

Editor’s negating views on Bong Bong Marcos are flawed, irrational—and full of prejudice. More so, they contravene so-called christian virtues. Granted that his father had erred and made hated political errors, why penalize the son for the sins of the father? why instill and propagate hate and prejudice against the son who is the pride of the larger Ilocano region and who had been elected Senator by the Philippines as a whole.
Perhaps, the Philippines needs an iron, disciplined, and proven leader. Perhaps, the son is much better than the father. Bong Bong Marcos is, I believe, ways better than many who are supposed to be serving the interest of the Philippines.