Sunday, November 26, 2006
at
Sunday, November 26, 2006
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I was leafing through the newspaper when I came across the opinion section where readers can post their brief thoughts about a particular issue through text message (SMS). Pretty cool. But it was this question that really caught my attention: Given a chance, what would you rewrite in our country's history?
Here are some of the thought-provoking answers sent through SMS by different readers around the country (with my reflections).
I will erase the death of Magsaysay and have him serve two full year terms. All right, I don't know much about this guy, except that he was the president of our country after Elpidio Quirino. He is oftentimes portrayed as a "pro poor" president, the "champion of the masses." Okay, perhaps he had this motive of really serving our people, or perhaps not. The fact that he was surrounded by CIA and elite clans would make one agitated and wary. But yes, Philippines, at that time, was no. 2 in Asia in terms of economy (Japan being the no. 1). If this could be attributed to the USA influence in our political atmosphere in the 50s, I don't know. Perhaps before we get into conclusion that Magsaysay might have been an American puppet and could have not done any better, it would be worthwhile to ask ourselves and ponder on these question: could we have been better off if we were made state of the USA?
I will delete the term of Erap and extend the term of Ramos. It could work. Except that the Philippines would still babysit incompetent and traditional politicians who don't know much about governance except getting their porks. It was under Ramos administration when oil deregulation law was passed. From a mere P0.75 jeepney fare, it skyrocketed to around P3.00. Before we knew it, the government was already begging each and every oil company to lower their prices. Having Erap as president was a big joke. But then again, who were to be blamed? People were sick and tired of intelligent president.
Instead of the Spaniards and Americans I would have British rule us for 350 years. I don't think so. I don't have any idea why some people think that British rule would be better than Americans and Spaniards. See how colonial mentality has corrupted our way of thinking? Why, after given a chance to rewrite our history, would you still choose to be colonized? Why not write "Philippine was never invaded" instead? Spanish, American and British rule, they are all the same. They all rhyme with the word "under." Under Spanish rule. Under American rule. Under British rule. Myanmar was under British rule before and they have had revolutions ever since (now they are under military rule). Was India became stable after their independence from Britain?
There were still lots of interesting thoughts sent by readers in the newspaper, unfortunately I have run out of time to post them here and contemplate about them. Nevertheless, there was one text message from a reader though that left a permanent impression in my mind...
There’s no need to rewrite history because Filipinos easily forget the past anyway. Our amnesia is the reason why we love to elect then re-elect lousy leaders, forgive unrepentant icons sans justice and fight in wrong wars.
Here are some of the thought-provoking answers sent through SMS by different readers around the country (with my reflections).
I will erase the death of Magsaysay and have him serve two full year terms. All right, I don't know much about this guy, except that he was the president of our country after Elpidio Quirino. He is oftentimes portrayed as a "pro poor" president, the "champion of the masses." Okay, perhaps he had this motive of really serving our people, or perhaps not. The fact that he was surrounded by CIA and elite clans would make one agitated and wary. But yes, Philippines, at that time, was no. 2 in Asia in terms of economy (Japan being the no. 1). If this could be attributed to the USA influence in our political atmosphere in the 50s, I don't know. Perhaps before we get into conclusion that Magsaysay might have been an American puppet and could have not done any better, it would be worthwhile to ask ourselves and ponder on these question: could we have been better off if we were made state of the USA?
I will delete the term of Erap and extend the term of Ramos. It could work. Except that the Philippines would still babysit incompetent and traditional politicians who don't know much about governance except getting their porks. It was under Ramos administration when oil deregulation law was passed. From a mere P0.75 jeepney fare, it skyrocketed to around P3.00. Before we knew it, the government was already begging each and every oil company to lower their prices. Having Erap as president was a big joke. But then again, who were to be blamed? People were sick and tired of intelligent president.
Instead of the Spaniards and Americans I would have British rule us for 350 years. I don't think so. I don't have any idea why some people think that British rule would be better than Americans and Spaniards. See how colonial mentality has corrupted our way of thinking? Why, after given a chance to rewrite our history, would you still choose to be colonized? Why not write "Philippine was never invaded" instead? Spanish, American and British rule, they are all the same. They all rhyme with the word "under." Under Spanish rule. Under American rule. Under British rule. Myanmar was under British rule before and they have had revolutions ever since (now they are under military rule). Was India became stable after their independence from Britain?
There were still lots of interesting thoughts sent by readers in the newspaper, unfortunately I have run out of time to post them here and contemplate about them. Nevertheless, there was one text message from a reader though that left a permanent impression in my mind...
There’s no need to rewrite history because Filipinos easily forget the past anyway. Our amnesia is the reason why we love to elect then re-elect lousy leaders, forgive unrepentant icons sans justice and fight in wrong wars.
Posted by
Nutty Boy
Labels:
Magsaysay,
Philippine History,
Quirino
Posts
9 comments:
what we are today. is becaue of what happened in the past. it seems na kung may baguhin ka sa past. eh malamang. hindi rin ganyan ang way of thinking mo. or ng tao.
comment naman ako dun sa mga ibang babaguhin.
"I will delete the term of Erap and extend the term of Ramos."
in my opinion, kung ang kuryente mo ngayon ay 500 pesos. magiging 5000 pesos yan kung si ramos ay naextend. tapos pwedeng may sarili na rin siyang private army na mas malaki pa sa army natin. (hahaha joke.)
Exactly. If past was good, then I might not have this way of thinking. I would prefer ignorance in a blissful heaven, than knowledge in a bottomless pit.
pambihira me balak ka ba maging diyos? direktor? hahahahaha cge kuhanin mo kong isa s mga karakter mo! gus2 ko ako ung bida!!! ey nangyare nah.. wag ka na mag isip pa! para kang nanay ko ahh.. nyahahahhahahaha kalokohan!!! hehehee joke lng ^_~
bakit yung past ang kailangang baguhin kung ito ay nangyari at natapos na... bakit hindi yung kasalukuyan na kung saan meron kang magagawa? ;-)
....not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly- buddha
It's actually a hypothetical question. KUNG lang naman, hehe. Of course in reality, it is the present that we should change.
kahit ano pa irewrite nyo jan, isa lng msasabi ko. "history repeats itself." wala naman kadala-dala mga pinoy eh.. mag e-elect at mag e-elect p rin yang mga yan ng mga pulitikong mahilig lang mag pacute at mangurakot.. try naman natin mag elect ng tubero o kaya mekaniko o kaya karpintero, o kaya hardinero.. nasubukan na natin ang mga may natapos, artista, ekonomista, wla naman nagyari.. pag ganyan parati, magiging taong grasa nlng lahat ng pinoy.. hay..
i'd rather change people's lives rather than changing history. ;-)
hay, this is a good post! There is no way for us to go back to the past and change it (at least for now). But then, perhaps what we should change is the way we perceive our history as Filipinos. I think, rewriting our history is really needed. We should write it in a POV of Filipinos, I mean, don't begin when Magellan "discovered" the Philippines that as if our country did not exist before them.
obliterate all "classic" politicians!!! baguhin ang sistema
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