“It’s not easy, to be…me” – President of the Philippines

Last August 23, 2010, the hostage fiasco at Quirino Grandstand, Manila left traumatic images to Filipinos and Hong Kong nationals alike. It was really horrific and made another deriding mark to our history. Different angles of the story behind the killing of 9 individuals including the hostage taker Rolando Mendoza. Blames and infuriation rose. Many were dissatisfied with the police operations, some were dismayed of the media and a few were blaming the bystanders who were just around the heinous scene of hostage taking. Others taught that it was to be blamed to the local government itself and of course, to Mr. President, Benigno “NoyNoy” Aquino. Aquino came into the picture after the bloody and tragic rescue operations. Tons of protests rained upon him regarding his administration to these kinds of situations. The whole incident brought a BAD start in his year as the Chief Executive. The justice system was likewise questioned prior to its effectiveness to the current government.

    A month after that, another violent crime just took place. It was the Bar Exam Blast in Taft Avenue in Manila. The bombing hurt many innocent students including Raissa Laurel (who had her legs amputated) from San Beda College who was right there for the traditional salubong for the bar examinees. Again, the blame was on the administration itself and so, President Aquino appeared to be the culprit aside from the suspect themselves.

    However, inferring the details from the two sides of crime story, it was all clear that they have something in common- you could almost get it!

    Yes, the president is mentioned all over again. We Filipinos have this nature of blaming and putting all the burdens to our leaders as the primary liability-holders to whatever may happen to our environment. Whenever there are mishaps like sunog, demolition, rally or any societal mayhem, some Filipinos would eventually confer to the media and make this panawagan to the President of the Philippines so the latter will offer some help and heed what they are asking for.

    There might be root causes to this Filipino psyche. One to be considered is the nature of leadership in the country, the form of organizational management we have and the types of leaders and officials we appoint and elect. In the Pre-Hispanic period, we already had the barangay system ruled by the datu or raja which showed autonomy among towns and governing was just that easy. It was a systematized form of government then. In the Spanish Era, we were handled by the governor-general and the local government distributed among provinces and pueblos. Even the Catholic Church took charge over the administration. By the American Regime, National Assemblies were formed in pursuit of entire independence for the nation. Under the Japanese, we were tried by tyranny. So times passed until Martial Law was implemented and People Power broke out of the shell. The Fourth Republic was introduced, the constitution was amended and three presidents crossed all through out after the transition but all things are the same until the late Former Senator Benigno “Ninoy’ Aquino Jr.’s unico hijo took the ball at hand last June 30, 2010.

    It could be theoretical but a factor analysis could be on how the Filipinos dealt with the leaders in various flow of government. We had become inferior and gave up our sole responsibilities to the people who own power and authority over us. We looked upon the datu/raja, governor-general, president as the highest and most powerful personnel in governmental office. We owe respect to our leaders perhaps but to the fact that those who are in the grandiose seats of office will become liberal-minded and makamasa? It is a different thing probably and even caused some of our fellow Filipinos who are in the lower class to lay down their hopes and dreams which are shattered by poverty and to the liberals as fondly called. There is no wonder why Former Presidents Ramon Magsaysay, Cory Aquino and Joseph Estrada came to be loved by the masses and evenly got them to win the presidential seat. They ate, worked and slept with peasants and the laws and provisions they signed were mass-friendly. They favored the poor and the marginally functioning knowing not that this will gradually lead to a negative trait palaasa.  

    Besides the detail mentioned above, we Filipinos may also have this form of retaliation against our leaders. As far we are concerned, in the colonial period, we were not only governed by the foreign administrators, we were also oppressed and restricted from achieving autonomy. There was also this tradition that the governor-general made surprising visits to town fiestas and people usually asked favors from the highest official in the country believing that it would be granted that easily for the latter had the greatest power to sign and amend laws.

    Another factor to consider is the local government. We have our mayors, governors and bunch of local officials (not to mention the barangay officers) to extend a helping hand that is within our reach. How come that most of the people in a community have to exert the fullest of their efforts just to make panawagan to the president? Maybe the local government is not that effective in reaching out the societies it handles.

    And last thing to consider is the exposure of the president in media. We are fond of tuning in to the press conferences and SONA’s of the chief executive and always wait for his/her plans for the country and his/her answers to alleged issues springing all of a sudden. Well, it counts.

    With a providence of all these factors and historical accounts, what is important is to fully analyze why does this sort of Filipino psyche exist? Do we always have to blame and summon the president of the Philippines in the turmoil we got into? Have we asked ourselves regarding our wrongdoing and shortcoming in the incident? We always open our mouths to criticize and to blame without getting to the point of knowing what is really behind the story. We always extend our hand and raise our voice only to ask for some help without asking our liability to what we did at the first place for a certain incident that has occurred.

     The Philippines is by nature democratic and not autocratic. We run our own country. We are free of this land. Aside from the heavyweight responsibilities of the president, we too have our own burden and sole obligations to our Motherland and it’s now time for their awakening. Maybe it’s not right to put negative ideas to these principles of democracy or is this becoming abusive anyhow?

    Still, it’s hard to become El Presidente and we can’t erase that to our consciousness. Just try listening to Five for Fighting Band’s Superman so everybody else would know.

    Now, you get the picture.

The Great 8th (On Manny Pacquiao's Super Welterweight Bout Victory)

    It was another milestone in our history when our very own hero and champion, Manny Pacquiao won his eighth title against Antonio Margarito, the Tijuana Tornado of Mexico. The Super Welterweight bout brought the audiences at the edge of their seats. Although Pacman was not a victor for a knockout, Margarito ended up dumped like a dog... literally. The Pinoy Pride once gain reigned and boosted the glory of our nation. Manny Pacquiao in every sense of a word is now a hero who rose up to bring back the honor that we Filipinos are all looking for.

    Controversies ahead.

    As the so-called Filipino Hero-Champ rekindled the hopes of his fellowmen, negativities also follow in a jiffy. Likewise, who would be the next prey for Pacman's furious attempt to win gold once more? Has Mayweather finally made up his mind to break out of the shell and face the People's Champ? What's next for Pacman's political career? Will it be Pacman for President?

    What's really the next thing for Pacquaio?

    Honestly, Manny's career in boxing undoubtedly shines and his political career is doing good as well. But I would like to stress the news that the House will even give him a merit as the Congressman of the Year because of his contribution as an athlete. Needless to say but earning that kind of title will be ridiculous.Why? What's good in bragging that Congressman-of-the-Year award if you haven't done something as a CONGRESSMAN? Maybe this is just an overstatement for him. Athlete of the Year could be the best title for him since Manny is an athlete at the first place. The people is doing too much for Manny but I really can't blame for doing so because at this grim moment our has been into, we really need a pride booster- someone who really could bring back the lost hopes for a better community and through every Pacman's battle, every Filipino rekindles and the glory goes on to the horizon.

    Need I say more?