Guns, Goons, Gold and Graphs

The more realist among our Philippine history teachers taught us that the Spanish were motivated by 2 G's in conquering these islands. There's Gold of course, and then there's God. We can't tell if they came in any particular order of importance but we sure know that we were later sold to the North Americans for a few measly silvers. Perhaps the former conquistadores prayed hard and they were instructed by some divine power to let go in the name of the almighty greenbacks.

Much, much later, when the manner of changing regimes in this country was done through a less garapal way, the elites discovered another set of G's. The all powerful three G's of Philippine elections — Guns, Goons and Gold. Guns and goons were basically one G. One is just more effective with the other. Gold is still there shimmering in the glow of its yellow magic. With guns and gold employed in the hugely popular and festive electoral game, oligarchs, landlords and warlords claimed the formal seats of power and created the illusion of legitimacy in raping our motherland.

Today, there really could be three G's after all. Guns, Gold, and Graphs. Presenting, the oracles of the modern age of Philippine politics: SWS and Pulse Asia. These two firms have been keeping the political elite on their toes, praying to whatever gods there may be to bless them with favorable public opinion as regards their most cherished concerns.

With the 2010 elections just around the corner, SWS and Pulse Asia surveys on the Presidentiables are becoming even more precious to the wannabes. It's good propaganda to be at the top of these public opinion surveys. With Ms. X at the top, she can:

1.Fill herself up with hot political air to rise to the political heavens, i.e., begin to think that God is giving her a sign to run.
2.Use that popularity as a leverage in negotiations with possible supporters and edge out other claimants.
3.If she loses, especially with a narrow margin, claim that she was cheated.

Consider this latest piece on the SWS... Favorites are leading the prexy pack. But let us must not make too much of a fuss of these results. Let's not be carried away by the bandwagon, as it were. After all, the graphs only suggest a certain direction and not a CERTAINTY.

It would be more important for us to know how these Presidentiables stand precisely on the issue of Charter Change. If we knew how they stood on this matter, then perhaps we can make a more intelligent choice, especially if we take into account these interesting findings from PULSE Asia (February 2009):

Most Filipinos (57%) know little about the 1987 Philippine Constitution

A big plurality of Filipinos (42%) is against charter change now while a sizeable majority (64%) does not think it is appropriate to amend the 1987 Constitution at this time

Economic improvement is the top reason cited by those favoring charter change while those opposed to amending the 1987 Constitution think it is good enough and would like to avoid any chaos that may arise from changing the country’s supreme law

Filipinos favoring the constitutional convention mode to amend the 1987 Constitution outnumber those supportive of the constituent assembly option (69% versus 31%)

Nearly six in ten Filipinos (59%) do not agree with proposals to shift to parliamentary and federal systems of government

Huge majorities (77% to 84%) oppose specific proposed constitutional amendments having to do with term extensions and foreign ownership of lands. Nearly four in five of Filipinos (81%) are not in favor of extending the term of office of national and local elective officials, and 77% do not support moves to allow elective officials to run in the elections as many times as possible. Both proposals are opposed by considerable to overwhelming majorities across geographic areas and socio-economic classes (68% to 92%), with non-support being most pronounced in Metro Manila. In contrast, these proposed changes to the 1987 Constitution have the support of 19% and 23% of Filipinos, respectively. Visayans are most supportive of these proposals (28% to 32%). As for the proposal to allow foreigners to own residential and industrial lands, majorities ranging from 81% in the rest of Luzon and Class E to 90% in Metro Manila are against this proposed amendment.

The use of surveys as instruments of social science must be considered properly.

Truly,public opinion polls can help us make more intelligent decisions. But let us not turn the elections into a popularity contest by simply basing our choices on who are more popular in these surveys.

If we believe these polls blindly, why still hold elections? Bakit pa tayo magsasayang ng oras at panahon. Let's just commission the SWS and Pulse Asia to do the surveys and let them declare the new president. No need for automation. Less corruption.

Graphs are not there to scare us to a forced choice like Goons, or to tempt us into a sumptuous spot like Gold. Graphs are a guide. Let us be guided accordingly and put people's issues at the top of the electoral discourse.

Bacterium and Politics

Salmonella strikes.

The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) orders the recall of our favorite Ludy's Peanut Butter from store shelves.

Here clearly is a case of science directly determining a political decision. Can you imagine if science were not there to tell us that our children are getting sick because of ingesting their favorite peanut butter sandwich laced with salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacteria that is a major cause foodborne diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), salmonella infection usually appear 12–72 hours after contamination, and include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Illness usually lasts up to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, especially in the very young and seniors and in cases when the bacteria enter the bloodstream, antibiotics may be needed.

If we did not have this information we would have disinformation. Disinformation coupled with people’s seething passions over their sick children could lead to anything.

Such information backed up by credible scientific authority is what we need to make better policies in our polities.

Let’s take the case of the environment. We need to clean up the Pasig River and make it alive once more? Science has the answer. But we also need the political will to make science do its magic in river rehabilitation.

A more telling related case for our poor, the MASA, is the issue of cheap medicines. The law on cheap medicines barely passed Congress given the lobbying of powerful interests. Even with the cheap medicines law, we are not assured of access to quality medicines. Much more needs to be done and our doctors and scientists would be in a good position to do more to show this country’s leaders that indeed medicine prices can be brought down. Hey esteemed members of Congress, we need good implementing rules and regulations.

Aghambayan says we need to take a hint from the lowly salmonella.

Perhaps we should serve peanut butter sandwiches to our honorable members of Congress who love to munch (on national TV) as they untiringly tackle Chacha in their brazen attempt to perpetuate themselves in power.

And we wonder how many in Malacañang love Luli's...er...Ludy's.

The Patriot as Bagani

Culture refers to all manner of human actions and behavior that are learned. Contrary to biology, culture is something humans have that, in the main, makes them human. Language, for instance, is largely associated with culture.

However, something like politics is not so readily associated with culture. But then there is the matter of political culture, which refers to those patterns of beliefs and orientations towards politics and political artifacts that a group of people holds. From our forum, we are left with the impression that in order to have a better polity, we must continuously engage in and learn from activities of the political system and try to realize daily those small acts of “patriotism” that would shape a better Philippine society — we need to mould a better political culture.

In a forum held at DLSU-Manila, the idea of Patriotism was re-explored and the kind of political leadership and system that the country has was problematized. The forum therefore raised issues that are central to creating a meaningful political culture in this country as our speakers, in effect, addressed these key questions: 1) What is the best form government or system of governance for this country? 2) What kind of leadership is necessary to maintain such a polity? 3) What is Patriotism or what kind of attitude must citizens have toward their nation and the state?

One of the speaker’s ambivalence towards participating in the upcoming 2010 elections was tempered by his view that, in the final analysis, we need to engage the political process simply because we learn precisely from such engagements and his belief that Patriotism (love for one’s native land, the Patria) can be expressed in many ways, from envisioning a better nation to doing small acts of kindness towards ones fellow Filipinos.

The other speaker hinted that there may be a more appropriate form of governance for this country as well as a correpondingly appropriate leadership style. From his theoretical explorations, one is asked to consider that a more culturally sensitive study of Philippine history and politics may be needed. To illustrate, what we may need in this country are not just a “Bayani” (hero) but groups of “Bagani” (hero-warriors) who are ready to collectively push a national agenda for reform.

All things considered, we ask the youth to further their engagements in the political system. Indeed, from our youth, our people, can come more Bagani — courageous, idealistic and vibrant political actors who have truly learned from their experiences that elections are but one of the many forms of political participation that there are, and that what we Filipinos really, truly need to do is to participate more in political processes in between these political fiestas called “Presidential Elections.” We do not need less politics in this country. We need more.

We need to shape a more meaningful political culture so, yes, let us vote. Let us learn more about our polity by going through that political exercise. But let us do more beyond 2010. Let us be Bagani ng Bayan. (A Bagani Party anyone?)

"Arroyo" and "Delicadeza"

Arroyo and Delicadeza
-- The Language of Political Maneuvering

“Arroyo son leads Charter change move” wrote the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. (first posted 23:01:00 11/20/2008). He warns that:

Charter change is gathering steam in the House of Representatives with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's eldest son, Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey'' Arroyo personally leading a signature drive to amend the Constitution through a constituent assembly (Con-Ass).
Iloilo Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. said in an interview that the number of signatories to a resolution seeking to organize Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution, with both chambers voting jointly and not separately, ranged between 120 and 150 signatures. He said the President's party Kampi formed the core group behind the signature drive.

Softness, fineness, gentleness, tact, delicate nature or delicacy. These are just some of the possible translations of the Spanish-Filipino term delicadeza. Hence, one can say that the Arroyo family has no delicadeza. Look at all the scandals and now this Chacha charge of the bulls in Congress.

Why is this son of a prexy prolonging his pernicious posturings on the Charter Change given that there are less politically sensitive yet more urgent and important issues to attend to in the House of Representatives? We cannot suppose that he is simply doing a social experiment, an action research, or merely testing his skills at political maneuverings. He certainly is no social scientist. Only one motive comes to mind. The possibility of term extension.

In the tradition of political science in the Philippines, someone once argued that a good metaphor for Philippine local politics would be the classic folk dance “pandanggo sa ilaw.”* In this perspective, our politicians are dancers, the public are mere spectators clapping or booing as the case may be. The metaphor suggests the fineness of politicians in maneuvering their interests through the halls of power. In the case of the Arroyos, there is nothing gentle and fine in their movements. Walang delicadeza. Walang hiya. They are dancing naked to the scandalous music that is elitist political interests. They are like the emperor parading naked through the streets believing that he is wearing the finest of garments in all the land.

Well, Madam Prexy, please have some delicadeza and act as a mother should! Heed the youth as they tell you, you are naked! Put some clothes on. Mahiya ka naman. Discipline your wild child. Tell him to shut up so we can believe you when you say that there will be no term extensions.

But then again, how can we ever believe you again?

By the way, in Spanish, Arroyo can mean Gutter or Ravine. Kaya naman pala.

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*Agpalao, Remigio E. Pandanggo Sa Ilaw: The Politics of Occidental Mindoro, Quezon City: University Of The Philippines, 1965.

Political Forensics

fo•ren•sics (fə-rěn'sĭks, -zĭks). The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company, defines forensics as: (1) The art or study of formal debate; argumentation; and (2) The use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in criminal or civil courts of law.

Fresh off the press: “New York-based media advocacy group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Monday assailed the Arroyo administration for the ‘unsolved’ murders of 24 Filipino journalists, one of the highest number of media killings in the world.”

The Philippine government’s incompetence is once again highlighted. The hopelessness of many is waxing.

Aghambayan wonders how our public agencies are doing forensic work on all these killings.

Numerous killings remain unsolved while government seems overly anxious to let murderers and rapists get lighter sentences or commutations of their prison terms. It’s almost tempting to say that, in this country, the science of forensics is purposely left underdeveloped so that the killers (many of them probably in government) maintain their impunity. And if found guilty anyway, you can get out earlier by just donating here and there… No wonder many Filipinos are drowning in their hopelessness.

Consider these — Ninoy Aquino. Lean Alejandro. Dacer. Corbito. What do these names have in common? Mystery. For who really killed them? Even in the case of Ninoy, the question remains for the mastermind has yet to be identified.

And yes, we also want to raise the ghosts of the Dacer-Corbito case. But where is the solid forensic evidence behind these two killings? To compound matters, how can we fully trust government on this when those involved might have been government agents themselves… or are now “enemies” of the government for they purportedly support certain political interests anti-thetical to the current regime? Why is the Dacer-Corbito twin murders being revived this time around? Eleksiyon na naman? We hope government can put as much effort on other killings and disapperances especially the political ones.

Aghambayan thinks that this country needs more science in its governance and politics. More science in its effort to create a better nation.

Let’s start with forensics and a more critical citizenry.