The Filipino Obama must be on the Right Side of History
No less than the first Afro-American President of the United States of America reminded everyone that to be able a nation to move forward, the leadership must be on the right side of history. I maybe sound like the 1900 RP little brown Americans then but significantly not as the Local Brown band of 1990's remind me that this RP is not America.
And what is that right side of history that still lightens the world? – The rule of law and the rights of man. It pertains to the natural law of Life, liberty and the rights of man to pursue happiness in a society where all men are created free and equal.
As Barrack Obama renew his countrymen to the original history of his beloved nation, that local presidential contender this 2010 who already signify their intention to run and mimic the candidacy of Barack must be reminded on something which is very important and that is history.
In which side of history they want to belong? Let us take our memory back to our own story for we have several truths to tell to the world.
In the early beginnings of the 1900 as Rizal predicted, the United States of America colonized the Philippines. He never hides his admiration to this newest nation who projects itself a beacon of hope and light that envision holding the world in 1776. That Great American Republic of 1900 which was so admired by the Propaganda Movement and self-exiled ilustrados scattered in Europe particularly Spain, Hongkong, Guam, Japan and those active in Manila and the neighboring towns was welcome with a little hesitation because of its promise of hope.
It was the reason why the landed elite of the Malolos Congress of 1899, the Negros Republic, the Federal Republic of the Visayas and the Sultane of Sulo totally embraced the coming of the Americans, unknowingly that some of these US Colonizers already deserted if not forgotten their own American Dream.
The Anti-Imperialist League, the Democrats and Mark Twain become the beacon of freedom then but were not heard. What was embraced was the wrong individualism in our political life and the further corruption of the already corrupted Colonial culture that already within the Indio’s veins in the 333 years of frailocracy.
Earlier, while American flag is admired across the sea on one side and compared like a dangerous storm while hated in the battlefronts on the other side, personal ambitions thrive that lead to election cheating by tampering votes, assassinations of comrades, treasonous acts of corruption, alleged deceit of government funds and desertion of barefooted soldiers and farmers who are defending the first Republic against the advancing “friendly” enemy by their own leaders.
It is that irony that we need to change….
The unequal friendship that we tasted starting from the Mock Battle of Manila, the stolen Bells as war souvenir, the negligence of our defense system since the last world War, the Parity Rights, the so Mutual Defense Treaty, the shooting of children along the former bases, the prohibition of the VFA and other things that we need to change.
Change is the promise of Barack Obama. In that promise, a living Hope shines with us and the World.
The same voices that echoed in the writings of Carlos Bulusan’s America is in the Heart in 1920’s. His generation’s influenced by false American ideals and modes of living yet find strength in Bulusan’s faith that cannot be destroy to grow out of desire to know America, to contribute something to her final fulfillment. Even if he is not apologetic in their way of life, President Barack renew this desire to know a great country for all of us especially those who want to be a Philippine President imitating his campaign style but not Obama’s imagination that had sprung from all our hopes and aspirations as Bulusan said.
Ferdinand Marcos tries to make the Philippines great again. Obama remind us that it cannot be done by one man dictator. It was done in their earlier forefathers’ by toiling on one hand. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction… joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. Greatness is collectively earned and I guess cannot be forced by discipline alone.
It is for this reason that maybe, our own sitting President need to rethink for as Barack said, To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
Sloganeering and motherhood statements maybe, at least Barack has its own way of creatively presenting what he want while politicians in the Philippines who desire to be president only to be in the headlines and media coverage after every scandal without resolutions. The US President express the dreams of the common man regardless of nationality. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.
The stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply as Obama said. I hope that this is realized in the Philippines by ending the rule of the political dynasties, the nepotism in government, the kamag-anak and kakilala system. This is the same cacique way of doing things. The real trapo politics and governance. The Guns, goons and gold are only consequences of this trapo and trapolito politics that is also infesting even the youth village councils mostly in this country.
It means that Obama’s campaign is not only about being young but young with imagination and a sense of purpose, meaning and history of, by and for the nation.
In Riza’s Indolence and Century Hence, sacrifice is the key to nationhood. To Ninoy before we doubt if he is insincere to his faith that all of us are worth dying for, sincerity is his battle cry. To Obama, it is about affirming the universal truths. Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths.
However, the truth is elusive in this country.
A Filipino Obama must side to the right side of truth and not to the half truths of history. For it is the truth that will set this country truly progressive and free. For that matter, we need a popular President. Someone who is acceptable for all. Someone who can settle our differences while facing the bitter truths of our history, accept his mistakes, listen to his people and depart from the legacies of deceit, factionalism and plunder that did not work for more than one hundred years.
In these truths, we must accept that even our economic system is badly weakened by the greed and irresponsibility on perhaps many. Let us look at our cooperatives where ordinary folks like fishermen and farmers contributed to their funds that are gathered yet stolen from them. Banks where common vendors save money but without further explanations closed without prior notice, pension and educational plans promised to secure a good future for a child suddenly closed to eternity, a delinquents because parents separated out of overseas migration to support them caught and jailed while bigger criminals are free without sense of shame.
But this is not supposed to be us. Filipinos prove their valor and courage in Bataan and beyond during the war with the stories of the genuine and unsung guerillas who passed away one by one without recognition, in EDSA 1 and even in Edsa 2. But the neglected Indio rise again in Edsa 3 only to be deserted by their leaders in the last moment only to solicit them again to gather votes for them.
Not all will be convince by this writings. But I believe that if Americans can recognize what is right, Filipinos can do it equally greater like them. By being an inspiration to people who long for a leader and a leadership by example in their pursuance to be accountable. Edsa 2 failed us. In fact all Edsa failed us. But it doesn’t mean those who are rejected by the people in that historical epoch can return to power without facing their conscience and truth.
The country can move once we learn from the lessons of America. By learning our own story. Settling our differences and more forward without denial of what happen to us in the last hundred years.
As we read this, somewhere in the jungle, our patriots from left and right and our brothers in the Islamic realm, fought for their own convictions and political leaders count the casualties for their own end. I hope that the next President will see that they are all Filipinos and earn a little respect from these young and veteran patriots of our land to settle their differences.
The change we need in the Philippines is not only faces but a change of how we view our selves and history. Change happen in America, as well as in Venezuela and Australia where traditional leadership was change dictated by ethnic majority.
Not all can be revealed without a matured population but we can start learning and be united with a common understanding. A Road less taken by our leaders. To end this call, let lament the decay of our rivers particularly the most romantic among them all – Pasig River.
It is said that crocodiles swim in that area long before the Spaniards came and even during the time of Noli Me Tangere's Gubat ng mga Ibara when Elias, the bankero save those youngsters who are in picnic mood disturbed by a huge crocodile.
The crocodiles in the Pasig River are already gone together with the giant trees and their mythologies of the lower realm such as the Kapre's and the barubal. What is left to us are the memories not of that legendary past but the huge corruption which we cannot resolve and the crocodiles in the human form waging havoc in every institutions of the land and whoever is in place to that palace by the river.
