Obama

I can’t help but feel awed by how Barack Obama delivers himself in front of a mass of people. In his victory speech, he was so serious you’d think he’s just been burdened by the whole of the world’s problems (in a way this is true). Or maybe he’s just tired, he must be. But his sincerity is unmistakeable and genuine he’s catching any viewer’s attention like a magnet.

Obama’s speech was not entirely impressive. It was another promise to restore the prosperity and protect the security of his country, in front of those who doubt it and those who threaten it. That’s in line with the current economic crisis bludgeoning the US and again that unending and destructive fight against terrorism.

But he emphasized every word he said, throwing one by one as if breathing life to them. His spellbinding talent is irrevocably there and it was as if by simply saying the words, he was already making things happen. He gave me goosebumps for a minute, and it’s been a long time since a speaker did.

The victory of Obama marks a historical moment for America. He is the first black president, one of the youngest, and maybe the most inexperienced (with only 4 years in the senate to back him up). But what made him win is that he embodies change – radical? – or maybe because Bush is just so detestable that voting for the republicans again would be like drowning in deeper detestation not only from the American people but from the rest of the world in general.

McCain isn’t so bad himself. But he felt really sad when he conceded. He was such a good sport, telling his supporters that although the results may be a disappointment to some, it is a time to move on and to support the new president and that they should be united and all.

McCain must be made saint of electoral losers, and with earnest prayer, may Pinoy politicians emulate him.

Majority Wins

The US elections starts today and though Obama is leading McCain by only an average of 10% across all national poll surveys, a change of tide is slim and perhaps grim for those wishing it will happen.

Anyway, I’m not really blogging now to talk about the two candidates, I don’t know them. What interests me is the US elections, specifically, that it is only a two-party system.

A two-party system guarantees that a candidate will win a majority of the votes. One will always get numbers higher than 50% and the other lower than 50%. So whoever wins is sure that he has the support of the majority of the American nation.

But for the Philippines, it is altogether different. In the 2008 elections, if I can recall it accurately, GMA only got 37% of the votes. FPJ got 35%, and the other candidates sharing the remaining 28%. So by virtue of the numbers themselves, GMA won the game.

But if you would really think about it, out of the 100 voters, GMA did not really win the majority. She only won 37. SO whether or not she cheated her way and FPJ was supposed to get the 37 instead of her, that is now pointless. What the 37% really means is that the 63%, the REAL majority, wanted other candidates instead.

And so it is not really surprising that once in place and an agree-disagree survey is conducted, the president of the Philippines will always fall short of the thumbs up. It is not surprising that a majority will feel generally unsupportive and rebellious. 

The multisectoral party system in the Philippines actually started in the 1987 constitution. It used to be a two party system, because as you might have learned from history, we were such an American puppet before, and we sort of just do what they were doing themselves.

But being a puppet in that aspect was not entirely bad. We had such great presidents from Quezon up until Cory. Cory won the clear majority against Marcos in the snap elections in 1986 because it was only a matter of choosing either the tyrant or the widow.

But see what happened after Cory – Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo. These administrations were wrought with so many controversies and the political turmoil was everything but good. And that was not because they were bad leaders. It was simply because not one of them really won the majority in the elections.

There is a clamor for chacha now, although not in the present term. The constitution is already 21 years old and it is, to say it bluntly, outdated and obviously not performing good. Should the constitution ever be changed, I’d go for a two-party system again. 

manny for president, huh?

after months of training, the pacquaio-morales fight finally came to a finale last sunday, with manny beating the mexican in three rounds and in a technical knockout. the game finished in almost a blink of an eye.

with that, the filipinos were in ecstasy. many were too happy indeed that even a local tabloid here had to post a headline “MANNY FOR PRESIDENT”. funny alright, but should that come true, i honestly would want to migrate in no time.

seriously, manny as president is an elephant in the sea; it is a misplaced optimism. i love manny, but id rather see him ruling the boxing ring rather than the country.

power

the issues that beset our land at present hurts me. but what hurts me more is the waning of the hope the filipinos have for centuries depended on. we are losing ourselves. many are leaving this place branding it filthy, disgusting, and rotten. almost all are seeking for the soonest escape. and yet, for all this confusion, when people are pointing fingers more than they have, it is clear that there is really no one in particular to be blamed – not the government, not the militants, not the poor. we are all but victims here.

now what’s happening around isn’t really an issue anymore whether a petite american-trained filipino economist won or not. and it’s not a matter of justice for the former king of weirdo hair and action stunts. it is not a matter of attention or the lack of it. it’s not even a matter of who shouts with greater power, or who has the greatest speech. the real issue here is this: yes, there is a dire need for a radical change. and yes, the battle is a very tough one. but it’s not finished yet. so why in the heck are we raising that damned white flag!

we filipinos have tested our strength in kicking the asses out of those who dared to trample our shores. we’ve tested the power of our unity in the spanish revolution and in the edsa one. we’ve tested the greatness of our heroes, whether they are rizal’s contemporaries, or flor contemplacion’s intrepid followers. for all those tests, dear fellowmen, it is noteworthy that we’ve passed. now why is it so difficult in believing in ourselves? in believing in the power of the Filipino nation?

i believe in the potential the philippines has. we have everything beneath our feet. we have the resources, we have the minds, we have the hands. we are gifted. we are blessed. but do we really see the gifts? the blessings? no, we see only the imperfections, the flaws. we long for things we do not have. we laud the superiority of other nations, riding in their fashion, getting on with their fad. now we’re deeming our citizenship as worthless. we are ashamed of this country. we hate it.

yes, there has been so much talk going on around. and yes, we are tired and sick of saliva spurting out endlessly, when less and less actions are being done. but what do we do? we lock our eyes to the television, waiting for that another blot to appear in the papers of history. we shout for joy when our side attacks. and then we curse when the other side backfires. we think we should win, and the other should kneel down and kiss our feet. yet if it seems as if we’re no longer given favor by fate, we blame the innocent. we blame the philippines. we hate it for making us miserable. for letting us experience hell. and so we want to get away from it, coz the philippines, we say, won’t and is not doing us any good. we hunger for nations like japan and america, for pastures as green as those in europe, in the belief they could build our lives.

but ask yourself. did japan built the japanese? did the US built the americans? did europe built the british, the franks, and the germans? no. it has always been the other way around. it’s the people who build the nation.

the philippines is not yet built, people. yes, we have the land to build it on. we have the materials to build it with. but we aren’t building yet! and that’s because we don’t want to. we’re foolish to think it will build itself and secure the facilities to cater to our demands. it’s time to stop asking for this country. it’s time to ponder that famous statement: think not of what your country can do to you, but what you can do for your country. and i tell you, there are a multitude of things to be done. and if we don’t start now, we’re doomed. and if that happens, then we only have ourselves to thank.

we, filipinos, should now start believing in our power, that we can conquer any obstacle in our way, that we can elicit respect from the world, and most importantly, that we can make our nation great. and i know it is not impossible. if the japanese were able to build japan out of nothing, what more for us right? we just have to stop the talking. let’s get our hands to work. and together, build the nation that for centuries has dwelt in misery..because of neglect.

being too political

hmm. siao may be right. im getting too political. wala lang. in the time of erap kasi, i was only a first year high school student. and the things that were happening that time were, to be honest, of nothing significant to me. i just thought erap should resign then because it seems that everyone was calling for it. i honestly didn’t even get what they were saying in the proceedings in the impeachment trial other than the thing with the envelope, which practically launched a million mouths to the streets. and then, that was it, the rest was history.

but now, it’s different. im in my 2nd year in college, and i just realized that i have something to say. not that my opinion would matter, but i just felt that i have to at least state whatever that opinion may be.