tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48558561238717003012024-03-13T07:54:56.071+08:00The Society of Honor by Joe AmericaThe Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.comBlogger540125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-23276818854692862562013-05-05T07:57:00.003+08:002013-05-05T08:12:40.806+08:00The Society of Honor Has Moved!<div style="text-align: left;">
The Society of Honor blog has moved to the following proprietary site:</div>
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<a href="http://joeam.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">joeam.com</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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You may follow future blogs there. Old blogs have been transferred to the new site. You may also read them here (see archives in right column). Comments have been been switched off at this site and may be taken up at the new blog.</div>
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The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-25326699397428115192013-04-22T15:09:00.000+08:002013-04-24T05:04:09.240+08:00Discussion Topic: Authoritarianism and the Stateless Society<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Your mission if you agree to accept it . . .</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WjFlH4FJo90/UXM4N93_2HI/AAAAAAAALxY/Ykoxeq6ckx8/s1600/misssion+impossible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WjFlH4FJo90/UXM4N93_2HI/AAAAAAAALxY/Ykoxeq6ckx8/s1600/misssion+impossible.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real JoeAm?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">JoeAm will be on family vacation for two weeks, returning in early May. He drops off this blog as a voluntary mission for readers, ala "Mission Impossible". </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's the framing:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Philippines is an authoritarian society. Interpersonal rivalries are intense, a struggle to top or topple the opposition. The government is democratic but tends toward authoritarianism: laying down the law but enforcing it selectively, officious attitude in government offices, army and local government vigilante behavior, issuing dictates left and right with no open justice system for the people. Senators doling out millions in Christmas gifts as if it were THEIR money.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Richard Javad Heydarian in his recent article "</span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-javad-heydarian/why-the-philippines-faile_b_3106136.html" style="font-size: 11pt;">Why the Philippines Failed</a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">" makes a very clear point that the Philippines does not keep pace with other developing nations because it does not have a strong concept of "State" governance. This article is the beginning point for the discussion and is required reading for volunteers.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's the issue: How can the Philippines be both authoritarian and weak of State? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's the mission:</span></div>
<ol style="font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Rationalize the apparent contradicition of authoritarianism and statelessness.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Explain in clear terms what has to happen -- tangibly and practically achievable -- to move the Philippines forward to become of equal stature to Japan and South Korea as a core nation in Asia.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Whether and how you proceed is up to you.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This blog will self-destruct in two weeks . . .</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-22725758422857098072013-04-22T05:10:00.000+08:002013-04-22T05:10:54.811+08:00Loose Ends<br />
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Let us take a quick
fly across the news and catch up on a few loose ends.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kU6BBykgeYI/UW4Tj7WgMxI/AAAAAAAALvo/P-5-L5BPYPs/s1600/pangolin+jacket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kU6BBykgeYI/UW4Tj7WgMxI/AAAAAAAALvo/P-5-L5BPYPs/s320/pangolin+jacket.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anteater Jacket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
22,000
Pounds Is a Lot of Anteaters</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Chinese poaching
vessel that ran around on Tubbataha Reef near where the US minesweeper was
recently extracted carried 11 tons of dead anteaters. Those Chinese, boy, they
are weird in the cuisine and clothing departments. The maximum jail time for poaching is 12 years,
and time for having endangered species is another six. So I'd give the captain
the full 18 years and the next guy in charge eight and all the crew five years
each at labor, assigned to assist Palawan in their re-foresting effort.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'd guess these are
not spiritual guys. They don't climb to the tops of mountains and reflect on
the power and beauty of God's glorious green earth. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
Bias
R Us</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
"Hey
Joe, what's with letting the American minesweeper crew off without jail time, but demanding the
Chinese get jailed? Your bias is showing!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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That is not bias,
that is a crisp understanding of the TRUTH that commie leftists and
ultra-nationalists deny, the United States is a part of the Philippine family
and we ought not jail our own errant relatives. Especially if we want America to sweep the Chinese
mines off the beaches of Palawan a year or two from now. The distinction is akin to that between a drunken uncle who staggers through the living room and breaks
Mama's favorite vase, and a snarling neighbor caught red-handed on the terrace
trying to steal Mama's prized Australian cockatoo.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
Boston
Massacre</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
When things like
this happen, I recognize what a pitiful place our planet is in the people
department. To hate so much that the murder of innocents is rationalized as
righteous. I ache for the good people who were cast into tragedy by the bomber(s). They were out to celebrate and lost loved ones instead.<br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Separating Issue from Individual: The President</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I've
often urged Filipinos, particularly bloggers, to stop criticizing their President as if he were out to
"get" the Philippines each time he makes a move they disagree with.</span><a href="http://swampland.time.com/2013/04/20/captured/?xid=gonewsedit&google_editors_picks=true" style="font-size: 11pt;">
Joe Klein of <span style="font-style: italic;">Time Magazine</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> expressed
this thought well as follow-up to the Boston Marathon bombing. He was speaking
to American media:</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.375in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">6. And I
would urge those in the media who speak of the United States government as
if it were a foreign entity to chill out. You may be further poisoning the
demented. Criticism of the government is, of course, as American as
oxycont . . . but it is </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">our </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">government
and this is </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">our</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;"> President. You may disagree
with one program or another–you may think (wrongly) that Obamacare is
socialistic, you may think that the Patriot Act is part of a ruinous,
possibly conspiratorial invasion of privacy–but this President has proved
time and again that he is a strong American patriot. Any inferences
otherwise may reap the whirlwind.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
Chinese
Fingers</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo11sD1HRhU/UW4TidUdNmI/AAAAAAAALvg/jH9CVtPnpdo/s1600/cocatoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo11sD1HRhU/UW4TidUdNmI/AAAAAAAALvg/jH9CVtPnpdo/s1600/cocatoo.jpg" /></a>I love a good
headline. This one was from<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/16/us-china-defence-idUSBRE93F03P20130416"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Reuters</span></a> a few days ago.</div>
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<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">"China
points finger at U.S. over Asia-Pacific tension"</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The article
describes China's pout, or rant, about the US pivot to Asia. It quotes a
Chinese minister as saying:</div>
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<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> "There are some countries which are
strengthening their Asia Pacific military alliances, expanding their
military presence in the region and frequently make the situation there
tenser."</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
By howdy, isn't that
the truth. I'm thinking that if China would stand down on its military
build-up, maybe the US would go away and leave Asia to its broad enrichment,
peacefully. And if they'd get their flippin' boats out of the Philippine EEZ,
off Vietnamese islands, and away from Japanese islands, the tensions would
fizzle faster than one of JoeAm's famous flat soufflés. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The Chinese are
horrible at looking inward and accepting accountability for problems. They
remind me a lot of the Catholic Church.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Could be their
cuisine needs changing . . .</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
Blogging
Platforms</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
JoeAm will be moving
his blog to the <span style="font-style: italic;">Word Press</span> platform in
early May when he returns from a family vacation to Hong Kong. This will
facilitate a cleaner look to the blog and layered discussion threads. The blogs
are much richer and deeper when commenters engage each other. The system will require that those who wish
to comment indicate their e-mail address. Addresses will be held in private. Perhaps this will also help thin out the spam that has been infesting the Blogger blog. The web site
address will be released when it is opened up for public comment.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
Elections</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
JoeAm has refrained
from engaging in election discussions, not wanting to influence Filipinos who
are unable to think for themselves. The Department of Immigration made clear
that we foreigners are a National Security risk and will be deported if we fool
around with elections. Joe does smirk in ironic pleasure as he drives past his
Barangay Captain's house, which is the vote-buying center for our area. The
candidates for governor of the mighty Biliran Province are playing the election
game as it is always played. Without dastardly intellectual discussion. They won't get deported, I'm quite confident.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<b>Giant Snails and the Slime Infestation</b><br />
<br />
The state of Florida in the US is doing battle with an infestation of giant African snails. The creatures will eat anything green plus your house, if it is made of stucco, because the stucco contains calcium that the snail craves for its shell. The creatures produce 1,200 young a year, which tops even Filipinos. The snails can be horrid as the following excerpt from a <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/14/us-usa-florida-snails-idUSBRE93D05620130414"><i>Reuters</i> article</a> illustrates:<br />
<br />
<ul><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GE-fjiSwnQI/UW6foi0OTYI/AAAAAAAALv4/qj2FN2iiFgg/s1600/giant+african+snail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GE-fjiSwnQI/UW6foi0OTYI/AAAAAAAALv4/qj2FN2iiFgg/s320/giant+african+snail.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>In some Caribbean countries, such as Barbados, which are overrun with the creatures, the snails' shells blow out tires o the highway and turn into hurling projectiles from lawnmower blades, while their slime and excrement coat walls and pavements.</i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
Sounds a little like <i>Get Real Post</i> to me.<br />
<br />
The Florida government is looking for a good strong poisonto try to eradicate the slimey creatures.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-18412077344118946862013-04-19T10:36:00.000+08:002013-04-22T09:53:02.917+08:00Sympathy for the Boston Bomber?<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4mfLVKVstfk/UXCqeiCm8LI/AAAAAAAALwo/Jn036W2WOJs/s1600/mario-de-vega.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4mfLVKVstfk/UXCqeiCm8LI/AAAAAAAALwo/Jn036W2WOJs/s1600/mario-de-vega.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">Jose Mario de Vega</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I read a <span style="font-style: italic;">Get Real Post</span> article that expresses sympathy
with the Boston bomber. Well, not with the bomber's act, exactly, but with the
motive that is likely behind the bomber: bring down US imperialism.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here's a <a href="http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2013/04/the-boston-bombing-and-us-governments-history-of-mass-murder/">link
to the article</a>. It's by Jose Mario de Vega.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The article begins
with a stark condemnation of the bombing and expresses condolences for the young boy who was killed. Then it turns the gut-wrenching emotion inside out with an attack on America and ends
with the closing call: "DOWN WITH US IMPERIALISM!!!" </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Yes, in caps, three
exclamation points.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
In other words, this
blog writer is sympathetic to the motives of the bomber. Make no mistake about
that. It is not a call for understanding, or compassion. It is a clarion call
of hate raised loud and clear on that bastion of blogging integrity <span style="font-style: italic;">Get Real Post</span>.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The article content
is mainly a list, a replication of "a century of U.S. Military
Intervention complied by Dr. Zoltan Grossman".</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A few excerpts from
the author's own words in the article:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">I hope that
those bastard imperialist and war mongers in Washington and Pentagon will
not use the Boston event as a necessary pretext to bomb or attack North
Korea and/or Iran!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">I hope that
the American public would not be again duped and brainwashed by their
stupid, racist and imperialist government!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Those
bastards who bomb Boston are terrorists, in the same vein, that the United
States of America is the NUMBER ONE TERRORIST COUNTRY IN THE WHOLE WORLD
by virtue of their long history of bloodbath, mayhem and mass murder
committed against the people of the world!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">My heart
breaks for those who died and injured in Boston, in the same vein that it
pierces and shatters my soul every time an American bomb drops in any part
of the world killing innocent civilians, especially women and children!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
And then this
remarkable quote:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Consider
the following conversation below: Guy 1: I’m really upset about the
bombing. Guy 2: The one in Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan, or the one the
media told you to be sad about?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So the author
believes the gut-wrenching sympathy Americans feel about the Boston tragedy is
sad because the media tells them to be sad. In other words, there is nothing
about the incident on its own merits that calls for sadness. This reveals the
author's own fake condolence in the article, condolence that is merely aimed at posturing himself as a sympathetic man.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
He is not a
sympathetic man. He is an angry manipulator.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The list of US
interventions is a rather fascinating list. It is an example of when
information presented out of context makes a new context, a new reality.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The implication is
that the US is an aggressive war-mongering, imperialistic nation. The truth would have
to be found in looking at each case and determining, was the US intervention
good or bad from the perspective of the citizens of the subject nation, or was
the intervention in some way aimed at defending American citizens?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'm sure one could
compile a reasonably profound balancing list of people who are thankful for the
US engagement in their nation. So it is a rather interesting for what it is, a one-sided list sheared of context.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Note the sequencing of events around World War II:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">CHINA 1948-49 Troops/Marines
evacuate Americans before Communist victory.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">PHILIPPINES 1948-54 Command
operation CIA directs war against Huk Rebellion.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Missing entirely is
World War II, and the US interventions in Europe and Asia.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
What's with this? </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
What's with this is that the list is concocted for advocacy, for impact, not for accuracy, or for comprehensive truth.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It is an argument,
not a study. It is the kind of argument the Boston bomber likely BELIEVED.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So who is Dr. Zoltan
Grossman who originally compiled the list?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Dr. Zoltan
Grossman is a professor of geography at The Evergreen State College in
Olympia, Washington. His website is at </span><a href="http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> and
can be reached at </span><a href="mailto:grossmaz@evergreen.edu"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">grossmaz@evergreen.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">. He
is a civilian Member of the Board of G.I. Voice, an antiwar veterans group
that runs the </span><a href="http://www.coffeestrong.org/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Coffee
Strong</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> resource center for soldiers outside Fort Lewis.
His list of U.S. military interventions since 1890 is at </span><a href="http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/interventions.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/interventions.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">. (Source: Common Dreams)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The good doctor has
made his mark writing and teaching about US racism and military
interventions. He is an advocate AGAINST
war. But he at least appears to teach ideas, not anger.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
What about the author of
the blog article on <span style="font-style: italic;">Get Real Post</span>? <span style="font-size: 11pt;">His name is Jose
Mario de Vega. Here is what he says about himself:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The writer
has a Master’s degree in Philosophy, a law degree and a degree in AB
Political Science. He was previously teaching Philosophy, Ethics and
Anthropology at an institution of higher education in the Nilai University
College at Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. He is currently a lecturer at
the College of Arts, Department of Philosophy at the Polytechnic
University of the Philippines. As of the moment, he is preparing to
publish his first book entitled “Dissidente”. It is a collection of his
articles, commentaries and op-ed published by various newspapers in
Southeast Asia.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
He tags himself on <span style="font-style: italic;">Get Real Post</span> as <span style="font-style: italic;">"The
Radical"</span>.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'm asking myself as
I near the end of this commentary, had he submitted the post to the <span style="font-style: italic;">Society
of Honor</span> for publication, would I run it? Ought <i>Get Real Post</i> be condemned for running it?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
You know, I probably
would run it. With an editor's comment framing
why it is run. The disgrace of <i>Get Real Post </i>is not in running the article. It is in not allowing open comment to balance a provocative viewpoint. It is found in GRP's banning of JoeAm and others who have opposed GRP advocacies in the past. So <i>Get Real Post</i> walks no high ground here.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The article represents an attitude that must be dealt with to find a
peaceful way forward. It fairly represents what I consider to be a simplistic,
angry, narrow-minded perspective held by radicals. In other words,
it is a legitimate viewpoint no matter how disgusting I find the framing to be,
leveraging the Boston bombing tragedy for political gain.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here's what I
think about the whole of the matter of war and peace:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Wars are not brought
to us by earnest, honest, candid people interested in finding solutions to
competing or conflicting self-interests. They are brought to us by conniving
power-mongers holding narrow views, expecting others to fit into their narrow
views, and leveraging emotions to achieve their goals. Sometimes these people occupy US government positions. Most of the time they are elsewhere.<br />
<br />
You can recognize them easily.<br />
<br />
They read a lot<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> like
Jose Mario de Vega.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">______________</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Addendum: Mr. de Vega's response to this blog can be found here:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2013/04/my-sympathy-to-all-victims-of-bombs-violence-agression-and-imperialism-and-the-us-global-domination/" style="font-size: 11pt;">http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2013/04/my-sympathy-to-all-victims-of-bombs-violence-agression-and-imperialism-and-the-us-global-domination/</a><br />
<br />
I cannot respond to his blog directly because I am banned from <i>Get Real Post.</i> But, hey, I appreciate the time he put into it. He does have his passion.<br />
<br />
My answer to his questions posed there would be twofold: (1) hate breeds war, and (2) information presented out of historical context breeds hate.<br />
<br />
JoeAm<br />
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-42540981909578464492013-04-17T05:17:00.000+08:002013-04-17T12:44:35.899+08:00Cross-Cultural Conversational Convergence<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C9Fne1OAz8E/UWpRMttQvwI/AAAAAAAALuA/45xErTqL46Q/s1600/philam01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C9Fne1OAz8E/UWpRMttQvwI/AAAAAAAALuA/45xErTqL46Q/s320/philam01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I've long been
interested in the process whereby people communicate. Indeed, that was a part
of my college education in journalism. We studied
matters like non-verbal communication and how to craft arguments to win a debate. Much of the particulars of
the course work has evaporated from the synaptic cobwebs of my mind, but a few
lessons remain securely in place.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I remember that the
order of arguments in a speech is something like 24531, where "2" is
the second most powerful, and "1" is the most powerful. You begin with a zinger, bury the weaker
arguments in the middle, and end with the convincing final thrust. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We learned that the power
position in a lengthy conference room is one of the end chairs, or immediately
to the right of the most important person in the room. The end chair captures
the attention of the whole room easily. The position next to the important person
captures his power as your own. Of course a high straight-backed chair is a
better position than sunk into the sofa.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
This comes to mind because I frequently see Filipinos
using a debate style in blog arguments that I suppose is intended to strengthen
their argument. But it weakens them, at least in a westerner's eyes. It is a
black and white statement of cultural convergence that often leads to a clash rather than clarity.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Take this case of
two different ways of responding to someone who appears not to grasp the point
you have made:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Response A:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> "You don't understand what I am saying."</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Response B:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> " Perhaps I've explained this poorly."</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Which is the most
powerful response? In the Philippines you almost ALWAYS get Response A. The
objective, of course, is to take a whack at the other person to suggest he is
not bright enough to grasp what you are saying. This moves him down a peg,
which is like moving you up a peg.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Yet, it is the
weaker of the two responses.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The person who uses
Response B "owns" the confusion. He takes responsibility for the
misunderstanding and thereby holds onto the driver's stick. Or wheel. Or the
control button. He projects authority,
while the Case A respondent projects whine. At least to an educated westerner.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Most people probably
don't even think about it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Another variation of
the "put down" is to pick on the nits, and from that extend that the
bigger picture is too flawed for acceptance.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Observation A: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">"President Aquino made a poor decision on
'X' and therefore he is a bad president.."</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Observation B:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">
"President Aquino made a poor decision on X. Here are the
reasons."</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Observation A is the
traditional Filipino method. All acts reflect the person, not the person's
decision. Find the flaw and point it out as a flaw in
character. Control the argument and you control the person.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The claim to power,
or the need to claim it, is very pronounced in the Philippines. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I've argued that
almost every interpersonal engagement here is a battle for dominance. Even the most trivial, the gossip, the teasings, the constant shadings that correct what a person says.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But it doesn't
really succeed, this need to claim and project power. It too often creates animus.
That means bitter anger. So you can connect a lot of dots and understand why
politics is such a murderous business in the Philippines.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Of course, personal
insult is a part of this dynamic, the posturing for power. Destroy the argument
by destroying the person making it. I don't need to provide a case for that.
Just go to your nearest anti-blog thread, or <span style="font-style: italic;">Rappler</span>
discussion thread, and you'll likely come across that particular
"technique". The need to
diminish others is so prominent that, after awhile, it becomes a joke.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
How do we get past
this? We are all emotional people, of course. But can't we do better?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There are many
formal ways to dissect a debate as to good argument or bad, fallacious or
logical. To me that academic formality it is a bit of overkill, as we are mostly casual
observers reaching for understanding or trying to convince others to see things
as we do. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
And of course, you
find the same flaws in blog arguments ANYWHERE. Not just the Philippines. But
the incidence of an outright push for personal power, versus dissection of
issues, is very pronounced in the Philippines. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
To the latter point,
I have characterized many (most?) Filipinos as 100 percenters. They enter the argument to prove they are right rather than
to learn or be flexible. I'd say that in 5 years of pounding the
blogs, I've seen someone change their opinion maybe once or twice.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
That to me is
unnatural. Think about it. With all the knowledge out there, the greatest share held by
others rather than us, it is peculiar to believe that the correct conclusion
rests in our brain and nowhere else.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Yet we too often
insist on placing winning above being candid and sincere and precise and
honest.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There is a surreal
quality to a culture that engages in dialogue for reasons other than discovery. It is crazy-making sometimes. It is impossible to carry on a simple, frank discussion. Everything is wrapped in emotional competitiveness, like banana leaves defining the bibinka.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'd argue that
discovery is a higher ground than winning, and the Philippines would be a
better, more productive place if people did not invest so much energy tearing
others down.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here are a few of
rules I try to follow, succeeding precisely 83.6 percent of the time to employ
them:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">Be a student first and then a teacher.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Put learning on a higher
plane than winning. It is amazing how that focuses on the issue rather
than the person. It also grants
others the honor of being helpful. Or do you have something against making
others feel happy or satisfied?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">Recognize that ignorance is not a fault</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Wiki any subject. What percent of the
information is new to you? If you did not know 100%, you are in some
capacity ignorant. Perhaps the other person is coming at you from the part
you don't know. Like, where he has lived or worked or studied, a place
that you cannot possibly know. And to pretend you DO know is a very gross
ignorance indeed. So let the other person work earnestly to remove your
ignorance a little. Grant him that honor.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">Have the strength to be flawed.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">That's very difficult in the Philippines because the culture is so absolutely unforgiving. But there is
a certain disarming quality to someone who has the strength and candor to
laugh at his own flaws. It takes away the critic's ammunition. That is why it
is called "disarming".</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Perhaps you have
techniques that work for you, too. Don't hesitate to share them.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Our goals, of
course:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">More knowledge.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Walking the high road.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Greater satisfaction.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-9240559879950177072013-04-15T05:08:00.001+08:002013-04-15T05:08:29.102+08:00Defense III: "Who's the Enemy Around Here, Anyway?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vmenn8L0oVQ/UWe6XLX8jsI/AAAAAAAALsk/B71A7yQ9OxE/s1600/army01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vmenn8L0oVQ/UWe6XLX8jsI/AAAAAAAALsk/B71A7yQ9OxE/s1600/army01.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2729in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Jack Ryan is famed
author Tom Clancy's CIA strategist who, via a series of spy and military
adventures, becomes President of the United States. We herein take our best
shot at emulating the young Ryan's superior ability to digest chaos and mystery
and come up with order.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
This installment of
our Philippine Defense dialogue will take its lead from the prior two articles.
In the first, we presented a critique of the <a href="http://thesocietyofhonor.blogspot.com/2013/04/department-of-defense-part-i-mission.html">Department
of National Defense layout and goals</a>, and in the second we looked at
the <a href="http://thesocietyofhonor.blogspot.com/2013/04/defense-part-ii-army-navy-air-force.html">component
AFP forces of Army, Navy and Air Force</a>. We still have on the agenda dealing
with: (a) budget, (b) intelligence security groups, and (c ) relationship with
the United States. We'll deal with the US as a part of this discussion.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">
LESSONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS
POINT</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
We've learned that
the AFP is administratively top heavy and grossly underfunded to accomplish the
modernization goal set forward by Congress in 1995. The Navy and Air Force have
been substantially neglected. The Army maintains a force of about 200,000 soldiers,
each with an M-16 apparently, but the rest of the equipment is old.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
We can piece
together the following basic plan for the Armed Forces of the Philippines from
our various readings (our analysis and words, not those of the AFP):</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Modernize the equipment of all branches, but
particularly the dilapidated Navy and Air Force, with highest priority on
the Navy due to increasingly threatening incursions into Philippine
Territory by Chinese ships.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Continue to fight rebel
infestations in the jungles primarily in Mindanao (Muslim extremists and
NPR extortionist gangsters).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Support domestic needs for
police assistance, COMELEC inspections and disaster response.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Our prior discussion
argued for a smaller Army, less administratively burdened, more focused on
warfare than police work, and better equipped. The Navy in particular needs
beefing up.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The rationale for
scaling down the size and scaling up the capability of the Army comes from a
simple business management principle that "secondary effort, allowed to
flourish, will undermine primary effort."</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
That is what has
happened to the Philippine military. Domestic needs have taken precedent over
battle readiness. Peter was robbed to pay Paul, or the Navy and Air Force were
ignored to pay for a nationwide domestic Army presence. Administrative
"make work" (parades and medals and lolling about at checkpoints)
took the place of preparation for conventional warfare. The military is
economically broke, strewn all across the nation, poorly armed, and perhaps
living complacently at the top.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
So Jack Ryan . . .
er, JoeAm has proposed some radically different ideas to get focused back on
fighting capability. Hey, it may be a pipedream, but the dream is better than
reality as it stands now:</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Merge the three forces - Army, Navy, Air Force - into
one fully coordinated combat unit rather than three units managed
separately and patched together on a needs basis. This is not the United
States with millions of soldiers. There are only about 20,000 Navy and
20,000 Air Force personnel. With separate administrative functions and a
domestic policing agenda riding high, there's not much manpower available
for fighting. So consolidate the back office and support functions.
Integrate the fighting teams.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pursue a "missile and
drone" strategy as the driver of weapons procurement. Stop trying to
arm with WWII weapons. Put platforms in place to deliver these weapons:
ships, planes and commando teams.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Separate domestic needs
(supporting COMELEC, local police assistance and disaster relief) into a
Federal Police separate from the Army, with the Army assigned the job of
fighting via a smaller, well-trained, well-armed component. </span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
It is interesting
that the Army has such a widespread presence on all major Philippine islands.
And almost all Army divisions cite the mission of defeating domestic rebels.
Yet rebel infestations are fairly limited in numbers - small bands - and are
primarily on Mindanao. It is almost as if the Army's national distribution of
troops were for a different purpose, a lingering vestige of days when coups
were just around the corner and the troops were needed either to suppress them,
or to help carry them out.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
One would certainly
be inclined to ask if the domestic enemy is really so widespread within the
Philippines? Or the likelihood of coups and civil unrest so strong that a
widely dispersed Army is needed?</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Can you maintain a
huge, widespread domestic presence and arm up to face China, or other hard
threats? Not with a budget that must also serve schools and building an
economic infrastructure.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Other sharp
questions were raised by readers during the discussions on the two prior blogs:
Who, really, is the enemy, and what are we trying to accomplish? It was
observed that the island structure of the archipelago mandates a much stronger
Navy, and is in some respects easy to defend.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
We will in this blog
reflect on who is the enemy. And we will add to that how the Philippines might
relate to the U.S.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">
THE ENEMY</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
We put existing or
POTENTIAL enemies into five categories:</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Semi-Organized Domestic Extortionists:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> (probability of combat
100%; scope 25% of available fighting forces)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Muslim extremists:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> (probability of combat 100%; scope 15% of
available fighting forces)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">China:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> (probability of combat 10%; scope 100% of
available fighting forces)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Other Asian state:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> (probability of combat 1%; scope 100% of
available fighting forces )</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Civil unrest within the Philippines:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> (probability of combat
5%; scope 100% of available fighting forces)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Lets put some meat
on these bones, recognizing that this exercise is wholly speculative and has no
endorsement or inputs from government officials.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Semi-Organized Domestic Extortionists</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
These
"rebel" forces eat up a lot of the Army's manpower and budget.
Comprehensive peace is hard to reach because rebel demands are extreme and the
organization is not unified. The persistent success of these gangs at
committing murder, kidnap-for-ransom, and intimidation in support of
fund-raising is testimony to the defensibility of the islands. They disappear
into the jungles or merge with residents and come out to fight at any time, at
any place.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Winning the war will
likely come in some form other than combat as combat can only kill or capture
small pods of rebel troops:</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Peace agreement making
national concessions along the lines of the Mindanao agreement.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Broader economic
revitalization reducing poverty and discontent.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Local residents turning
against the gangs.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
This is likely to be
a long, protracted struggle. If JoeAm were writing a fictional book about the
matter he'd probably be inclined to structure things as follows:</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Create Federal Police
separate from the Army and make this a police action (also assign disaster
response and COMELEC checkpoints to the Police).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">"Win the hearts and
minds of residents" through economic improvements targeting specific
regions (Northeast Mindanao) and community friendly police work (health
clinics, for example).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Continued efforts to strike a
formalized written agreement that does not impose unreasonable demands on
the State.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Make military assistance
available on call when large-scale actions are identified ("bring in
the drones").</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Muslim Extremists</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Muslim extremists
are attack oriented, keying in on soldiers and also extortion targets
(kidnappings; beheadings for intimidation). The extremists are larger, are
well-armed groups with international ties. It is the international funding and
arming that separates this group from domestic gangsters and calls for
military, rather than police, intervention. The US is already engaged in
support of the Philippine Army with (a rumored) several hundred advisors in
place on islands to the southwest. It is believed that drones are deployed for
eye-in-the-sky monitoring, but not for attack (one missile attack is rumored to
have been undertaken).</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Winning the war will
likely come in some way other than combat:</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Peace agreement carried all
the way through, past Constitutional objections (process underway).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Broader economic
revitalization reducing poverty and discontent (underway).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Local residents turn against
the extremists in favor of peace and economic development (underway).</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
China</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
This is the toughest
one because the threat is pronounced yet may never materialize. The defense
agreement with the United States is the backstop against a major event. It is
in the best interest of the Philippines to demonstrate an increasing ability to
take on her own defense in the event of limited conflict. The direction of the
Philippines under this scenario would be to assume more and more of the
fighting burden and to relegate the US as far into the background as possible.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
What may happen
regarding China? In our fictional novel, ala Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, we might
concoct some scenarios and probabilities as a starting point for refinement
based on better data:</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Philippines will win UN arbitration; China will
depart from the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone ("EEZ")
peacefully (likelihood 15%).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Philippines will win UN
arbitration; China will not depart from the EEZ (likelihood 85%).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">China will land troops on
unoccupied islands within the EEZ and start building residential or
commercial structures (85%)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">China will evict Philippine
residents and troops from occupied islands within the EEZ and take control
of new territory forcibly (5%).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="5"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">China will block Philippine
ships from sailing in parts of the West Philippine Sea (50%).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="6"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">China will fire warning shots
on Philippine ships to block them from sailing (20%).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="7"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">China will fire on a
Philippine ship or ships causing Filipino casualties (5%).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="8"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">China will occupy the
Philippine mainland subsequent to escalation of localized fighting (1%).</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="9"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">China will wage cyber-war
against the Philippines (95% for harassment, 5% for destructive acts such
as bringing down power, communications and other infrastructure).</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
This is so much pie
in the sky speculation. But at least it starts and organizes a thinking
process.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Other Asian State</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
If one looks around
the cusp of Asia, in which the Philippines is centrally located, it is
difficult to imagine armed conflict breaking out between the Philippines and
any state other than Malaysia. Relations are generally good and there are few
direct conflicts. Malaysia is on the chalk board due to frictions caused by
Sultan Kiram's attempt to physically occupy land in Sabah that he claims. If
such frictions were to grow more serious perhaps there is a scenario that would
see the Philippines and Malaysia in direct military conflict. It would likely
be a short-term violent flare-up, more pushing and shoving than territorial
conquest. Contingency plans should include this possibility.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Massive civil unrest within the Philippines</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
It was only a short
time ago that President Arroyo declared martial law in Mindanao. It was limited
in scope and time. On one hand, it is difficult to imagine widespread unrest in
today's civil Philippines. But also, given the public's penchant to vote for
dynastic names rather than platform, it is easy to imagine another
authoritarian president seeking permanent rule, and using the military as his
arm of discipline to quell protest. Indeed, it might be advisable to ensure
against such a scenario by pulling troops back from widespread distribution in
the Philippines to minimize military use during civil unrest. The military
should be staging for the kinds of conventional warfare incidents that are
threatening today.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Many Filipinos are
understandably suspicious of any relationship with the United States. Feelings
range from outright condemnation of any US military presence to pragmatic
acceptance given China's incursions into Philippine territory.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Sovereignty. Does an
alliance with the US impose on Philippine sovereignty? I suppose it does in the
sense that the Philippines must consider that the US traditionally demands
autonomy over her military. The degree of latitude given to the Philippines to
"direct" US troops would be limited. But presumably the US would
respect Philippine guidance pertaining to activities in the Philippines.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The US has struck a
defense agreement with Korea that puts Korea in the driver's seat to control
deployment of US military assets. It is a model the Philippine might aspire
toward. </div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
One can imagine this
dialogue taking place:</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">American
General:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> "We
recommend flying stealth bombers over South Korea from the US to send a
message to North Korea that they are within striking distance."</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Korean
General:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> "Wait
one." ("That's Army for give me a little time to converse with
someone.") "Roger that. We agree. When can we expect them to
arrive?"</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The American General
would not say "We're going to fly our bombers into Korea." Does one
lose autonomy if one retains approval authority? I think not if that approval
authority is specific and clear.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Or this
conversation:</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Korean
General:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> "We
recommend flying stealth bombers over South Korea from the US to send a
message to North Korea that they are within striking distance."</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">American
General:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> "Wait
one. . . . Negative on that, General. Our chief says that's too
provocative for us."</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Does one lose
autonomy if one respects the partner's stance? Hmmmm. Technically, yes, to the extent restraint of action occurs.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Does that mean one
ought not have alliances?</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
No. It means one
must be willing to embark on the give and take of decision making with a
partner who may have different viewpoints or
interests, and to remain respectful of the alliance and its overall
value. In other words, don't be a 100 percenter and demand that the alliance
march to the Philippine beat alone.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Perhaps it would
benefit the Philippines to look within and recognize that its own acts can
determine what the relationship with the United States is likely to be. If the
Philippines demonstrates a good grasp of strategies, tactics and execution
during training drills, and becomes and equal partner rather than student, then
the US is more likely to grant the Philippines greater leeway to request and
receive assistance in the form of weaponry or technology or command control.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Autonomy demands
that the Philippines display "world class" fighting attitude and
skill, and the ability to work in forthright partnership with allies.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Forthright
partnership was not on display when the American minesweeper ran aground in
Tubattaha Reef. The Philippine military did not step in to break the
contentious relationship that flared up between Park Rangers and officers
aboard the US ship. Nor did the Americans go directly to some standing military
liaison contact in the Philippines to get relief. It was an acrimonious
incident, not one of partnership. Not one of good, quick communication and
resolution.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
You can't have that
kind of separation, and failure to communicate and execute, in battle.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Right now the two
allies are dancing a very awkward dance.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The Philippines can
take control of the relationship if her military leaders demonstrate the
aptitude necessary to command respect from American military brass. A
widespread domestic policing force and woeful sea and air power are unlikely to
command respect among those looking for fighting capability. If blogger JoeAm can see what is going on
with regard to the Philippine military, the US has a crystal-clear insight into
the lack of combat readiness that characterizes the overall capability of
Philippine forces.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The Philippines and
the US do collaborate on strategic matters, but these appear to be in the form
of structured conferences. Formal exchanges and briefings that confirm mutual
interest. But not down and dirty work together to hammer out scenarios, contingencies
and responses. The exception is the fighting of terrorism in the Southwest. It
is difficult to know how that is going and what kind of mutual engagement and
respect exists there.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
US/Philippine
training exercises are held regularly to teach troops how to converse with one
another and act as a team on shore invasions or disaster recovery. But how
ready is the PARTNERSHIP to address the China scenarios outlined above.
Somewhere between formal top line discussions of mutual interest and
in-the-field practice there is an arena where battles will be won or lost:
strategies and tactical scenarios . . . and responses. Including the
deceptions and feints that are crucial to good outcomes. And good information,
from drones or spies or reconnaissance missions.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
These fighting plans
should drive equipment-purchase priorities. Right now, it would appear that
equipment needs are being driven by domestic leaders tallying up hardware
they'd like, without connection to battle plans.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The Philippines can
drive the establishment of a scenario-driven relationship and retain
considerable authority over the how the fighting alliance will work. Authority
over how the alliance works does not mean cock-fight posturing. It means taking
the initiative to be aggressive about thinking things through, and inviting the
US into the process.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Scenarios and
responses first. Understanding what the US can bring to the table second.
Philippine equipment and training plans flow from that.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
</ol>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-60475507408445032462013-04-13T05:18:00.000+08:002013-04-13T05:27:13.574+08:00"I Flee and Moan, Therefore I am . . ."<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jY-6vZ8MR88/UWgh046nvUI/AAAAAAAALs0/GmppUn_iuwI/s1600/assange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jY-6vZ8MR88/UWgh046nvUI/AAAAAAAALs0/GmppUn_iuwI/s1600/assange.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like Nixon, not Woodward</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">A short blog of no real consequence, a rebound as it were.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Blogger: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">(noun) one who flees to his personal writing space and moans to the best of his ability.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<i><b>Moan: </b>(verb)<b> </b>to point out the flaws in others.</i><br />
<br />
Information is where you find it.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<ul style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">FOI is a legal initiative to drag information reluctantly from government, for government has a natural drive toward secrecy. It is best done through legislation that mandates accessibility to all but the most sensitive of government information.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Spying is the risky business of stealing information from another nation to help defend one's own nation. It is generally illegal and is carried out secretly for purposes deemed important and righteous. Spies are often executed.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Investigative journalism starts with an issue and probes sometimes hidden or undiscovered information to shed light on the issue. It is journalism with a purpose deeper than reporting on everyday events. Investigative journalism will sometimes rely on unrevealed sources that have access to secret information. The righteous justification is found in revealing who did what to whom, when, where, why and how. What is often criminal. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Whistle-blowing is the non-journalistic cousin of investigative journalism.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Wikileaks is a political effort aimed at undermining the integrity of powerful states using methods that are illegal, such as theft of information. It is akin to spying except it is not in defense of any nation, but is for the destruction of nations. Wikileaks would argue that it furthers the betterment of mankind, but one wonders why undertakings are done with disregard toward laws. Laws are the rules by which we pursue the betterment of mankind. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Wikileaks is Nixon, doing illegal acts for political purposes. Investigative journalism is Woodward, doing discovery on illegal acts.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">We should be clear on this.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><b>Scurrilous scumbag: </b>(adjective fronting a noun) Julian Assange</i><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-54166062693504483052013-04-10T04:35:00.002+08:002013-04-10T04:35:32.878+08:00Defense Part II: Army, Navy, Air Force<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PpaOoSl92Fw/UWELbIFsNuI/AAAAAAAALqg/HIHlP8U96ic/s1600/army02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PpaOoSl92Fw/UWELbIFsNuI/AAAAAAAALqg/HIHlP8U96ic/s320/army02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">105 Howitzer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The<a href="http://thesocietyofhonor.blogspot.com/2013/04/department-of-defense-part-i-mission.html">
first article in this series</a> presented an overview of the Philippine Department of
National Defense, the civilian organization responsible for articulating a
following through on laws aimed at building a strong military. The essential
question is, how prepared is the nation to defend itself? The answer, subject
to further enlightenments as we proceed, appears to be "not very".
The reasons for the answer: (1) only 10% of the needed P331 billion budget for
improvement has been allocated, and (2) the heavy administrative structure moves money to non-fighting purposes.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In
this article, we will profile the main fighting units, army, navy and air
force, looking at structure, mission and resources. JoeAm will make observations along the way. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If
you find the detail too mundane, please skip to the last section where
JoeAm thinks outside the box. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>ARMED FORCES OF THE
PHILIPPINES (AFP)</u></b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
This
matrix organization pulls all military forces together under a command
structure covering seven geographic regions of the Philippines, plus a National
Development Support Command. There are also 16 support units. Here is a sample mission from the Central
Command:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Central
Command Mission:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">
To conduct joint operations against threats in the Visayas in order to
establish a Peaceful and Secured environment, and assist the Local
Government Agencies in their Socio-Economic, Ecological and Developmental
Activities.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
AFP
is led by the following people:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista,
AFP, Chief of Staff, AFP</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lt. Gen. Alan R Luga, Vice
Chief of Staff, AFP</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lt. Gen. Gregorio E.
Macapagal, Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">CMS Guillermo C. Francisco,
Sergeant Major, AFP</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">VAdm Jose Luis M. Alano, Flag
Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lt. Gen. Noel A. Coballes,
Commanding General, Philippine Army</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lt. Gen Lauro Catalino G. Dla
Cruz, Commanding General, Philippine Air Force</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
The
unified command centers are:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">National Capitol Region</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Northern Luzon</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Southern Luzon</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Central</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Western</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Eastern Mindanao</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Western Mindanao</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">National Development Support</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">JoeAm Observations:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The number of
coordination, administrative and support units that are behind the fighting
troops makes for one huge body of soldiers not bearing arms. Clothing. Meals.
Beds. Equipment. Transportation. Wow.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>ARMY</u></b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Vision:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> A world-class Army that is a source of
national pride.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Mission: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">To organized, train equip,
deploy, and sustain ground forces in support of the AFP mission. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;"> ISO (Internal Security Operations)
Mission:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> To
organize, train, equip, deploy and sustain ground forces to defeat the CTM
by 2010, destroy the ASG and contain the SPSG in order to establish a
physically and psychologically secure environment conducive to national
development.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Function: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Organize, train and equip
Army forces for the conduct of prompt and sustained combat operations on
land; </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Prepare such units as may be
necessary for the effective prosecution of national defense plans and
programs and Armed Forces mission, including the expansion of the
peacetime ARMY component to meet any emergency; Develop, in accordance
with the other Major Services, tactics, techniques and equipment of
interest to the Army on field operations; Train, organize and equip all
ARMY reserve units; and Perform such functions as the higher authorities
may direct.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">JoeAm Observations: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">World class" is difficult to
attain. The nation has too many demands on its budget to build a
sophisticated army. It may be a more realistic vision to develop highly
capable tactical or strike forces rather than masses of well-armed troops.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">And pride as an objective? How about ability to defend?
The ISO mission recognizes that internal threats are the real threats of
today, but clearly there is also awareness that external threats exist (
see Light Armor's stated transition to conventional warfare capability).</span><br />
<div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Major Units</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">1st Infantry
(Tabak) Division</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">,
Pa, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Location</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">:
Kuta Major Cesar L Sang-an, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Mission:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Conducts Internal
Security Operations (ISO) in the AOR to dismantle and destroy the
remaining guerilla fronts of the </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">LCM</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">, the</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> MILF,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> and the </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Abu Sayyaf</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Group</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> in order to attain
peace and stability conducive to sustainable development; assists the government in
its socio-economic development projects; and assists the PNP curb
criminalities in the AOR.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">2nd Infantry
Division</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">: Location:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Tanay, Rizal. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Mission: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> "Conduct sustained Internal Security
Operations (ISO) in regions 4A and 4B to neutralize the Southern Tagalog
Regional Party Committee (STRPC) and the armed wing of the Communist Party
of the Philippines (CPP), the New Peoples Army (NPA) in order to create a
physically and psychologically sound environment conducive for development
and commerce." Known as the Jungle Fighter Division, 2nd
Division is the Philippine Army's primary Infantry unit
specializing in jungle warfare. [Wiki]</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">3rd Infantry
Division:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Mission:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Conducts support operations
in Western Visayas (Negros Occidental and, Panay and Guimaras Islands ),
Negros Oriental and Suiquijor Island to "Win the Peace" 01
January 2011 to 31 December 2016 in order to help create an environment
conducive for sustainable development and a just and lasting peace in the
area. <i>(JoeAm Note: headquarters has 100 positions assigned per </i></span><i><a href="http://army.mil.ph/Army_Sites/INFANTRY%20DIVISIONS/3ID/index.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">web page</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">; these are mainly
coordination and special staff.)</span></i></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7cSygsluP2E/UWELaKzUNVI/AAAAAAAALqU/dHJFjl1dIxY/s1600/4th+ID.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7cSygsluP2E/UWELaKzUNVI/AAAAAAAALqU/dHJFjl1dIxY/s320/4th+ID.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">4th Infantry
(Diamond) Division:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Mission</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">: Conducts sustained IPSO to
clear the AOR of CNN affectation and significantly degrade the armed
capability of NEMRC, NCMRC, and part of SMRC effective 01 January 2011 to
help the LGU's to maintained (sic) an environment conducive to sustainable
development and a Just and Lasting peace by 2016. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">AOR:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> see map.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjJ965fK3TM/UWELZWIRZ7I/AAAAAAAALqM/hx3xQuxFQi8/s1600/5th+ID+Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjJ965fK3TM/UWELZWIRZ7I/AAAAAAAALqM/hx3xQuxFQi8/s320/5th+ID+Pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who needs jets when you've got this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">5th Infantry
Division: Mission:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">
Conduct internal security operations in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and
Cordillera Administrative Regions to destroy the communist terrorists and
other threat groups in order to establish a physically and psychologically
secured environment conducive to economic development. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">AOR:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> see map. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Camp:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Photos feature recreation
facilities including golf course, bar and swimming pool.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">6th Infantry
(Kampilan) Division:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Location:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Central Mindanao. Slogan: "Winning the Peace
through Unity and Progress".</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">7th Infantry
Division:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> (2
subsidiary sites; no Div. site): </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">702nd Infantry (Defender) Brigade</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">: "For the past 23 years, the 702nd
Infantry (DEFENDER) Brigade has devotedly and selflessly served the people
within its Area of Responsibility within the areas of Central Luzon.
Currently located at Brgy Calaanan, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija . . . " </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">703rd
(Agila) Brigade: Mission: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Conducts ISO to clear the
remaining CTM affected areas in AOR NLT Yearend 2011 and prevent
resurgence at cleared areas through holding operations in order to
establish a physically and psychologically secure environment conducive to
development.<b> AOR: </b>Provinces of Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac,
Pangasinan , La union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">8th Infantry
(Stormtroopers) Division: AOR: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Eastern Visayas (Islands of
Samar, Leyte and Biliran). <b>Mission:</b> Conducts Internal Security Operations
(ISO) in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) to dismantle and destroy the
remaining guerilla fronts of the Local Communist Movement (LCM) in order
to attain peace and stability conducive to sustainable development in
assisting the Philippine government in its socio-economic development
projects; and assists the Philippine National Police curb
criminality in the Visayas Region. [Wiki]</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">9th Infantry
(Spear) Division:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">
<i>(Web access denied. "You don't
have permission to access . . .") </i></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Location:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Bicol Region. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Mission:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> conduct sustained Internal Security
Operations (ISO) in the Bicol region, excluding Masbate (8ID), to
neutralize the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) and the
armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New
Peoples Army (NPA) in order to create a physically and psychologically
sound environment conducive for development and commerce of the Bicol
Region. [Wiki]</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">10th
Infantry (Agila) Division: AOR:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> 6 provinces, namely: Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley
Province, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Sarangani and South Cotabato and
the chartered cities of Davao and General Santos. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Light Armor
Division: Vision:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">
A modern, dynamic and relevant light armor division. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Mission:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> To organize, train, equip,
provide and sustain armor forces in the conduct of support operations to
"Win the Peace" in order to help the Filipino nation create an
environment conducive to sustainable development and just and lasting
peace. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Units</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Today, the Division maintains five (5) Light Armor
Battalions, three (3) Mechanized Infantry Battalions, two (2) separate
Light Armor Companies deployed in various parts of the archipelago, one
(1) Aviation Battalion stationed in Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, an Armor
Maintenance Battalion, a Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battalion,
a Signal Company, an engineer Combat Company and the Armor School, 1ACT,
all based in Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">New Role:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> In Line with the Army
Modernization Plan, the Armor Division at the advent of the 21st Century,
would be geared towards it new role – conventional warfare combat arms. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Assets:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Armor Personnel Carrier
(APC), Commando V-150, Simba AFV, Scorpion CVR</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">3rd
Mechanized Infantry Battalion</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">:<i> (No web site)</i> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Location:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Mindanao. Mission: Organize,
train, equip, deploy and sustain armor forces to defeat the CTM by 2010,
destroy the ASG and contain the SPSG in order to establish physically and
psychologically secured environment conducive to national development.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Other Units:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> A number of significant
service and support units: reserves, engineers, munitions, hospitals,
materiel, etc..</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Personnel</span>:</b> 200,000+ active duty; 170,000 reserves. [Wiki]</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Armaments</span> [Wiki]</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Armored
Vehicles</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">: 560,
some as old as 1967; some assigned to Marines, most to Army</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Artillery</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">: 270 cannons (155 and 105
mm); 70+ mortars; most delivered 1950's to 1980's</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Aircraft</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">: 8 light airplanes (e.g.,
Cessna)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Small Arms</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">: mainly 200,000 M-16's;
various other light weapons.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<i><span style="font-weight: bold;">JoeAm Observations: </span>The
Army has become an effective jungle fighting force and has a broad presence in
the remote areas where rebel and terrorist organizations operate. It is
dangerous work, and the Army succeeds in keeping armed unrest to a minimum.
These forces deserve utmost respect and appreciation. A cynic is inclined to
ask, however, given the shortage of money whether golf courses, web sites
dedicated to self-appreciation, and parades are the highest and best use of
funds. The Army also provides disaster relief, supports local police to fight crime, and mans COMELEC check points
during elections, all non-combat functions.</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>NAVY</b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
The
Philippine Navy is the focus of attention now to upgrade defense capabilities
in the West Philippine Sea. Two small fighting ships (cutters) have been
obtained. A third is in the plan but has been deferred so that money can be
better spent arming the first two.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Web Site:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Thin with little
information. Home page emphasizes recruitment. The web site contains no
mission statement. This slogan is at the foot of the web site: "Strong and Credible Navy for a
Progressive Maritime Philippines". Reference is made to a "Navy
Sail Plan 2020", but it is not published on the site.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Organization:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> There are two major
operating units, (1) the sailing fleet, and (2) the marines. Resources are
organized under seven regional commands corresponding to the AFP unified
command geographic regions supported by five support commands and eight
support units.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Bases:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> There are three naval bases
(Cavite, San Vicente, Mactan), and 15 naval stations distributed across
the Philippines. There are five marine corp bases.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Personnel: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> 21, 957 [Wiki]</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Equipment:</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">On Hand:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> three frigates,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> eleven corvettes, "numerous" patrol boats, eleven amphibious landing ships and
five auxiliary ships. [Wiki]</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Modernization
Program</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">:</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.125in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Hamilton class cutter: two
obtained; a third deferred pending arming of the first two.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Multi-purpose attack craft:
six obtained so far; 42 planned. They haul 16 troops, two tons of
supplies, and each has a 50 caliber and two smaller machine guns.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Landing craft utility: One</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Offshore patrol vessel: None
obtained; three in the plan.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Under consideration: support
and multi-purpose vessels; submarine</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Helicopters: Only one on
hand. Target is 18 including 2 anti-submarine attack helicopters.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Deep water patrol vessel
(frigate): One under consideration</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: 1.125in; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>AIR FORCE</u></b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
The
organization of the Air Force units is not clear. Wiki presents a 2006
organization chart which does not appear to be the same as recorded on the Air Force
web site. Some units appear to have been
deactivated, although they are still shown on the web site (15h Strike Wing;
dissolved due to lack of aircraft in 2010). The truth and travails are
reflected in this snapshot in the Air Force history profile:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> Embracing
the core values of IN-STEP – Integrity, Service above Self, Teamwork,
Excellence and Professionalism – the leadership resolved to develop and
arrest mediocrity at all levels. To sustain this, for the last three
years, the modest acquisition was complemented by a structured system of
strategic planning and redefined training programs alongside the widespread
updating of manuals and other documents that focused on the dictates of
service - advocating peace, progress and unity. Hammering down on
pronounced core competencies and core values, the present airmen and
airwomen created opportunities for the PAF to show its decisive will to
succeed, driven and honorable despite and in spite of present realities
and pronounced difficulties.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncwBiJ-o5mU/UWELiDNDjVI/AAAAAAAALqs/5KxUsnK0TJs/s1600/air+bases.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncwBiJ-o5mU/UWELiDNDjVI/AAAAAAAALqs/5KxUsnK0TJs/s400/air+bases.png" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philippine Air Bases</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
Little
information is readily available about Air Force units, reflecting the
cash-strapped condition of this branch of service.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">1st Air
Division:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Mission</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> " . . . vital role on
the internal security operations of the AFP . . . Its area of
responsibility is now confined to the whole of the Luzon only, not
nationwide as before. . . . Command and control over five (5) Tactical
Operations Groups: TOG 1 in Loakan, Baguio City; TOG 2 in Cauayan,
Isabela; TOG 3 in San Miguel, Tarlac; TOG 4 in Lucena City; and TOG 5 in
Legaspi City and the 600th Air Base Wing, which maintains and secures
Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga, where the Division headquarters
is currently based." </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Vision: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Given the new mission in Luzon in support to two major
AFP Unified Commands, the 1st Air Division envisions to be a
multi-dimensional force with vigilant air power and reach that can provide
decisive and precise effects on all types of threats to national security
through the employment of credible air power either on land, air or sea.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">2nd Air
Division:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">
<i>("Forbidden to access this web site").</i></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">3rd Air
Division:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>(No
web site).</i></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">205th
Tactical Helicopter Wing:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"><i> (No web connectivity).</i></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Personnel:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> 17,000 [Wiki]</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Aircraft On
Hand: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">[Wiki]</span></li>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Light Attack/Trainer Jet: 5</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Light
Attack/Observation/Trainer Prop: 50</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Transport: 7</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Light Observation/Training:
32</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Helicopters: 93</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Upgrade
Plan: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">[Wiki]</span></li>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jet Fighters:
maintenance expense for 12 US
F-16s deemed too high; attention is now on light training jets, converted
to fight;12 FA-50 units from South Korea are being purchased as first
step</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Helicopters: 25 being
acquired; attack and service</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Others: a variety of
transports, trainers, utility aircraft, and helicopters are being
purchased or considered to fill certain support needs</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>ANALYSIS AND OUT OF THE
BOX THINKING</u></b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
Let's
consider these military units from the perspective of past, present and future:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<b><u>Past</u></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
The
structure of the Philippine military is similar to that of America or other
warmongering states of the 20th century, with three main components defined by
their equipment and place of fighting:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Army, on the land with land
machines and guns</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Navy, on the sea with water
machines and guns</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Air Force, in the skies with
air machines and guns</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br />
The Air Force and Navy give meaning to the term "dilapidated". Run down from benign neglect.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<b><u>Present</u></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
Schools or guns? We are not at war, at least externally; schools are more important. The Philippine government cannot fund robust build-up of military strength. Old equipment is getting
very old. New equipment is being ordered unit by unit with approval going all the way to the top, the President, because equipment is expensive
and it becomes a national budgeting decision. So F-16 jets are scrapped in
favor of jet trainers and two Navy cutters are ordered rather than three.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
The
army gets huge resources, as it has a triple function:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Fighting rebels and
terrorists</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Domestic support: Helping the
police deal with criminals and
manning COMELEC check points</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Disaster response</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
It
is easy to question whether Army resources are applied well. We see pictures of golf
courses and see all the parades and award ceremonies prominantly featured on web sites and note that there are many cross-command
administrative units that do not go into the field. So there would appear to be a LOT of administrative padding among the 200,000 active duty soldiers. How many fighters do you estimate there are? A few thousand?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<b><u>Future</u></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
The
course that the Philippines is pursuing is to build
defense capabilities slowly, within available resources. Specifically, the goal is to acquire equipment. There is plenty of manpower available.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
This
is a reasonable approach. But what if we paused to reflect on what is
happening in the world of military fighting. For brevity, let's note two
profound trends in fighting:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">It is a world of missiles in
place of cannons and bombs</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">It is a world of drones in
place of feet on the ground</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">In 20 years, it will be a world of laser weapons in place of missiles</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
Missiles
and drones work on land, at sea and in the air. Why should the military
structure be of World War II design based on land, water and air equipment, with administrative multipliers to coordinate? Why is there not a single
unified "Missile Command" with land vehicles, ships and airplanes being merely a part of the delivery platform - offense or defense - to support that master weapon strategy??</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Like get rid of all the extra layers of coordination staff and swimming pools and buy missiles.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
And
drones are powerful, powerful machines. Little ones with cameras, big ones with missiles. Why is the Philippines not leapfrogging
past artillery, armored personnel carriers and jets to get to drones? Indeed, we can adjust the name of our force to be the "Missile and Drone Command" or simply "Military Command".</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Like, buy drones instead of
jet trainers and cannons. Stop camping troops in the jungle where they are vulnerable to assault.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
With
advanced missile and drone capabilities, the Philippines can reduce its
fighting labor, the troops on the ground. Oh, yes, troops are needed to support the battle plan, or do the drone body counts. But these should be
specialized commandos, jungle guys, cave crawlers. Not parade-ground warriors
marching all aligned, petty boys making the generals happy (I exaggerate for literary effect). ALL command centers are fully integrated commands, using land, sea or air resources as necessary, all able to order from the same quartermaster, procure from the same procurement center, and talk on the same radio frequency. Like, on the same team. Not patched together by coordination administrators.<br />
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Like, trim the ground troops
down to a few companies of hard-nosed commandos who operate under the
umbrella of missiles and drones. Mobile, in and out. Well equipped. Lean and mean strike teams. Hard-trained for fighting, not wasted manning checkpoints.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
If
you need a national police force to fight criminals and help with elections, or
a disaster force to rescue people, call them by a different name. Don't call
them Army. Call them Federal Police or something.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
Army
should be the fighting men and women.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
It's
a pride thing. A focus thing. A motivation thing. A commitment thing. A skill and training thing.<br />
<br />
And if your argument is "we have too much invested in the current infrastructure; it is not feasible to take it apart", I would ask.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Are you really interested in defending the Philippines? Or is it good enough to see this laggardly catch-up go on year after year?</i></li>
</ul>
<br />
A nation with limited resources cannot compete on a level playing field with the big guys. It has to be smarter, more precise, stronger and meaner. Hit hard, hit fast. In, out, hit again. Like Pacquiao fighting a big guy, you follow?<br />
<br />
I'll elaborate on this in a future blog. Just thinking out loud . . . one hand on the keyboard, the other on the coffee mug . . .<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-8405373358098252582013-04-08T06:36:00.000+08:002013-04-08T06:36:59.736+08:00Whither Weather?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXvVxUpzPSk/UV5vt1m-ZQI/AAAAAAAALo4/6uUXnjCJGr4/s1600/Chile52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXvVxUpzPSk/UV5vt1m-ZQI/AAAAAAAALo4/6uUXnjCJGr4/s320/Chile52.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilean Weather</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Weather is something
we often ignore, often curse, often chat about when there is little else to yap
about. </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I am definitely for weather. I like it. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Now I've been around
this planet a bit, thanks to my banking job and the wanderlust of being a Myers
Briggs personality profile INFJ, always looking around, always searching, settling for awhile,
then moving on. Gemini with winged heels airlifting him to this country or that,
this climate or that.</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Europe is pretty
boring. It has regular seasons, tepidly warm around the Mediterranean and very
cold in the northern reaches. It is a little like my home state of Colorado in the US.
Move south to Arizona and Texas and find the heat and snakes there, some of them
even reptiles. Move north through Wyoming and Montana and arrive at that ice
cube called Canada. A perfectly nice country with perfectly horrid weather.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I got frostbitten
ears when I was a kid in Colorado, and I got tired of chipping the ice off my car's windshield in winter, never being of sufficient stature there to own a garage.
So when I graduated from Viet Nam, I headed to Southern California, and I've been
migrating warmward ever since.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The two most
dramatic weatherworlds I inhabited along the way were Alaska and Chile, the
former adjacent to the north pole and Russia's Siberia, the latter stretching
from the heat of the Atacama Desert in the north to a pie-slice of Antarctica
tipping at the South Pole, with the dramatic center being near the Straits of
Magellan where the Pacific and the Atlantic meet in huge gusts of churning
wind, defying man to stand upright. The wind there is rather like a combo of a
good stiff drink and a left hook from Pacquiao.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Alaska was cool,
best toured by raft through nowhere (Tatshenshini River) during the short
two-months of summer, camping in front of glaciers grinding their way through
solid rock and calving ice bergs with rumbling booms to match any cannon I ever
fired during my deafening stint in Army artillery. Watching the northern lights
dance their elegant shimmering sheets of reds and greens and yellows as if God
were really a gigantic Walt Disney. Carrying guns to ward off bears and charging
mooses. Listening to wolves wail through the night, right over that ridge
there.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfZsxRihgMY/UV5vurc-l6I/AAAAAAAALpA/rZqKHwmpYig/s1600/Chile45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfZsxRihgMY/UV5vurc-l6I/AAAAAAAALpA/rZqKHwmpYig/s320/Chile45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guanacos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Chile and Torres del
Paine National Park are a land locked in time. Winds and rugged glacier-carved mountains and animals that I'd swear
are a cross between a camel and a gopher, called a guanaco. A mountain climbed
only once, not because it is tall, but because it rests forever with its peak
in a pack of icy clouds, making the top the slipperiest slope in the world. Oh,
and because the owner of the property, the guy who climbed it once with a party
of 40 clamping him onto the ice, won't let anyone else do it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I should also
mention Egypt here, too, in case you think I don't know heat. That's the most
amazing place for touring temples and tombs. But I wouldn't want to live there.
It is fit only for scarab beetles and whacko arabs who can glom onto a piece of
land close to the Nile, the lifeline of Egypt, when they aren't busy rioting
against one another. That's a place with more negative bad attitude than even
the Philippines.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
And my point, for
there is one amongst this ramble, is that the Philippines is certifiably the
number one weather spot on the planet. First of all, there is no snow. That
gets us 85 of the required 100 points for certification.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Second of all, you
can live in a bamboo hut with only a pair of shorts to your name, as about 40
million people do. You don't need a fireplace unless it is a dirty kitchen. You
don't need an air conditioner unless you live in the city where the cement grabs
the day's heat and rams it into your house until the wee hours of the morning.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Water is right
uphill over there. Food sprouts from the land like weeds.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The clouds and
sunsets are God's handiwork. There's no Disney here, we got Rembrandt. Islands float in seas of silver and gray as
if they were green dreams awaiting our visit. We can imagine that we, too,
could find escape from nuclear North Korea and Philippine bloggers and other
malcontents who infest our life with angst and anger. We could, if we wanted,
settle on a deserted sandy beach and cop a snooze any time we wanted.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
"Ha!
You fool, JoeAm! You also get 20 typhoons a year!!!"</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Yes, we do! And
killer floods and earthquakes that rumble as if they were straight out of
Independence Day, tossing tsunamis about as if they were some junior god diving
jackknives into in the kiddie pool.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
What do YOU want for
weather? Rain 364 days a year like Seattle, or the monotony of Los Angeles that
has the same brown grey mush overhead for most of the year?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I like pizzazz,
myself. The drama of a rainstorm
pounding like cattle on the roof, or a wind that dearly tests the axiom that
bamboo bends but does not break. Ours broke a few months ago when a mighty
storm roared through. I like the dry period when everything shrinks up and
stops growing and the dirt becomes almost rock. Then the rains come sweeping in
and the plants blaze into life, glowing fresh, standing tall and rising several
inches a day, changing the garden landscape from week to week, no digging required.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hj_4-pYP58c/UV5wXMHhzOI/AAAAAAAALpQ/wyksbWITfw0/s1600/bopha+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hj_4-pYP58c/UV5wXMHhzOI/AAAAAAAALpQ/wyksbWITfw0/s400/bopha+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It is astounding to
me that the Philippine flag contains no green. The green of this place puts
Ireland to shame. Some of the snakes are green, and lizards. And birds! Emerald
quail, to go with the blazing blue kingfishers and flashy yellow orioles that zip through bringing squeals
of delight from my son and, I confess, from me, too.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I own no jacket. I
pitched all my business suits. I wear shorts and a t-shirt 95% of the time,
donning long pants for trips to the mall or visiting someone else's place. I
own no pajamas. Just some cotton shorts for sleeping. What my wife calls a "blanket" is really just a sheet, and I don't need that most nights. I have an umbrella, but it is parked, gathering no moss. I'm with the natives who believe rain is a minor inconvenience because, after all, you just dry out. There are no icy winds to turn you into a popsicle. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Sunsets, sunrises, rainbows and seas that shine. Clouds that billow blazing white all the way to heaven. Clouds that rumble dark threats from the underworld as another storm pounds in. Lightning that gives us accidental brownouts to go with the intentional ones aimed at saving the Electric Company some expense. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
You know what you need to deal with the weather hereabouts? A roof, a pair of shorts and a candle.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-35956677966730041932013-04-05T19:01:00.000+08:002013-04-19T06:26:00.769+08:00Philippine Bloggers Suck<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtuZUfcMpZ8/UV4b34-_IUI/AAAAAAAALoo/QgcxbgozmWs/s1600/Angela+Stuart+Santiago.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtuZUfcMpZ8/UV4b34-_IUI/AAAAAAAALoo/QgcxbgozmWs/s320/Angela+Stuart+Santiago.JPG" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Philippine Blogger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">I love a dirty
headline. Grabs you by the indignity. Grabs you by the curiosity. Grabs you by
the prurient interests.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It's the pride of
journalism in the Philippines, this finely honed knack for slapping
sensationalism across the front pages. Who is attacking whom today? What
American transgressions can we pounce on today? Did Kris Aquino cry on
television today? Did Miriam explode? Did Enrile zing verbal insults at a
fellow senator? Were people murdered at the mall? Beheaded in Mindanao?
Arrested in San Francisco? Impeached in the congress? Eaten by a crocodile? Did
any buses smash into each other today on the expressway? Trucks roll down the mountain
in Mindoro? Bridges collapse? Police conduct a rubout? Flash floods kill some kids? What kidnapped
person emerged from the jungles of Sulu and how much was that ransom, anyway?
Any Sultans on the rampage today? The Chinese landing on any new Philippine
islands? Is Jessica Sanchez coming to the Philippines? Who is her boyfriend
here? </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It is endless, the
sleaze and slime and underbelly of the Philippines, racked and stacked at
newsstands across the land daily, hawked on the highway by gap-toothed vendors
thrusting a pile of bold headlines through the car window, or blazed in full
bloody color on the television screen, carnage dealt like big magic cards from a pompous
talking head's bottomless pit of grue and gore.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I studied journalism
at the University of Southern California. Got my Master's Degree at it. Man, we
never imagined anything quite like Philippine news. Those were the days when US
journalism actually tried to be upstanding. Walter Cronkite ruled the news
roost, a man of impeccable objectivity and passion for doing news right. Dan Rather rather tilted to the left but Tom
Brokaw held steady. And Fox News, under the direction of "Da Man"
Ruuuuuupert Murdoch, one of those rare Australian hopping creatures of low
moral integrity, went sharply right for ratings. "Fair and balanced"
became the Fox motto, the big lie, itself testimony to the deceits and slurs
this network would willingly ship to overfed and intellectually lazy Americans.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But even Fox news
carries itself with integrity compared to Philippine news.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here, the big
television networks use every trick in the book to squeeze out pesos. Jam 50
minutes of shampoo and soap ads at us per hour. Market mercilessly to kids. Turn up the volume of
advertisements so we have to leap from the sofa for the remote to
push mute. They even feature their own station's drama stars as news features,
as if we are all SUPPOSED to be goo-goo eyed watching those ego-polished fake
people strut their phony stuff. As if it mattered. As if it were properly a
part of every Filipino's earnest, productive work day to know what ACTORS are
up to.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I screamed at my
wife the other day, as I am inclined to do now and then when the cross cultural
pressures get a little heady. "Honeybunch, those television dramas are
FAKE you know! They aren't real!"</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
She tends to get
absorbed by them.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But back to the
headline.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
"Philippine bloggers
suck!"</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I have drawn that
conclusion recently as I've watched another blogger whom I held in high regard
go off the deep end of negativity. Angela Stuart-Santiago. She now joins Ellen Tordesillas on Joe Am's
list of Fox News aspirants, bloggers who have gone biased. Gone negative. I
fear that Noemi Dado of Blogwatch is going the same route. Who's next? Not
Raissa. Please tell me, not Raissa.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Angela got my goat
by doing the inside-out twist of the Fitch ratings. Taking what ought to be a
moment of celebration for the entire Philippines, flipping it, and attacking
President Aquino.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I can't comprehend
this.<br />
<br />
Well, I can. Each blogger believes we should be perfect. He . . . or she . . . believes the President should be perfect. Perfection in this model is what the blogger believes is best, or correct. Never mind that the blogger has little information to work from and absolutely zero responsibility if he . . . or she . . . ends up WRONG. The Filipino blogger writes into that easy-writing space between his . . . or her . . .ego-bound ideal and reality. And is aghast if anyone sees it differently.<br />
<br />
Filipino bloggers are 100 percenters, just like the normal population. My way or you are an idiot. They don't write to learn, like dear JoeAm. They write to instruct. To lord their wisdom. To prove their superiority.<br />
<br />
Filipino bloggers are wits of great nit when they flamboyantly strut their words as if they and only they had the inside scoop, the better perspective, the greater wisdom and the deeper insight. They also leverage people's desire for gore, for pain, for headlines and hard opinions and put conflict in the headline and insult in the text of the article. Nevermind that most of it is fiction, made-up stuff. You know . . . opinion.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The Philippines is a
nation always jealous, always envious of the United States. Always insecure, with Filipinos trying to puff themselves up or put the US down. Filipinos are always comparing their nation with the neighbors, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Indonesia. They watch for every international ranking with absolute terror in their hearts.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Then we have a truly
impressive POSITIVE milestone reached. Something never done before. The Philippines emerging
from banana land to modern, investment grade stature. Recognized formally and
tangibly around the world as a globally upstanding nation. And what do so many Filipino bloggers
do? What do so many citizens do?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Flip the
distinguished award inside out and CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT WHO BROUGHT THEM
THIS ESTEEMED RATING.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Christ Almighty.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Philippine bloggers
suck.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-27051829546620134072013-04-03T05:51:00.001+08:002013-04-03T05:51:38.319+08:00Dump American Democracy!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EB5k62MnV_8/UVtQPCihN3I/AAAAAAAALnQ/FJRblt1WzC8/s1600/palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EB5k62MnV_8/UVtQPCihN3I/AAAAAAAALnQ/FJRblt1WzC8/s320/palace.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Palace, Waterside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This
is an exercise aimed at getting outside the box in thinking about government. It is
strictly an academic exercise, not a proposal to overthrow the worthy established government of the Philippines. Indeed, it has about a snowball's chance in Pinatubo of even being useful. So consider it fiction, Joe's delusional ramblings, as if he were dreaming and typed it up.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The blog germinated from this
bit of creative insight from Edgar Lores:</span></div>
<ul><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">3. There
should be a Santa clause in the Constitution: If the President is good, he
should be allowed 2 terms. The determination of good should not be by
referendum (which can be manipulated), but perhaps by a combination of
several factors such as (a) internal benchmarks in the form of the
President’s polling throughout his term and GDP growth; (b) external
benchmarks in the form of economic ratings and extraordinary awards, for
example the Nobel Prize award.</span></li>
</span></ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Clearly,
Edgar is outside the box. And we want to join him there. That is, we want to
set aside our preconceptions that government is supposed to be of ANY
particular form. We know American form is broken by partisan acrimony, the
Philippine try at dictatorship failed whereas Singapore's succeeded, the
British bicker in their inimitable parliamentary style, and some governments
are forever tossing themselves out of office.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If
you wish to assure yourself that there are no hard and fast rules as to what makes
a good government, merely read the Wiki descriptions of different<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government"> kinds of government</a>. The
following excerpt makes the point, all governments are pretty much unique:</span></div>
<ul><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Every
country in the world is ruled by a system of governance that combines . .
. [several] attributes (for example, the United States is not a
true capitalist society, since the government actually provides social
services for its citizens). Additionally, one person's opinion of the type
of government may differ from another's (for example, some may argue that
the United States is a plutocracy rather than a democracy since
they may believe it is ruled by the wealthy). There are always shades of
gray in any government. Even the most liberal democracies limit rival
political activity to one extent or another, and even the most tyrannical
dictatorships must organize a broad base of support, so it is very
difficult "pigeonholing" every government into narrow categories</span></li>
</span></ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So
that's were we want to start on this particular bit of brainstorming. There are
no rules to follow. What we need to be concerned about more than form is need.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That
is, if we consider the Philippines, what do we want government to accomplish?
The Philippines is organized like the United States, but, in case you have not noticed, the Philippines is not the United States. The Philippines has millions of very
poor people who are consigned to making it through the day. What do they care
about the esotery of government, or even the particulars like cybercrime (they don't have computers) or RH
(they can't afford to go to a clinic) or even divorce (their marriages are
common-law because they don't have needed documents or fees)? They vote with their stomachs for people with money and power. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not capability or character . . . necessarily.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
current Philippine form is democratic, or oligarchic, or plutocratic, or
socialist democratic, or democratic republic depending on how you angle the
civic-camera, like a well-oiled google-earth camera that rotates vertically or
horizontally and spins 360 degrees. You can call it whatever you want, but it
is what it is. A cracked plaster imitation of the failing US model.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eventually,
we idealists will have to figure out how to get from point A (where we are
now) to point B (what we want our government to look like to be very, very
good). But let's start by thinking about the peculiarities of the Philippines.
We can do that through succinct bullet-points and let you overlay any
elaboration needed.</span></div>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The island and regional layout of the Philippines makes for some profoundly different slices of the national pie. Different
geographies and languages and histories and cultures and degree of commercial
development. A host of different, prominent power players rule locally, generally family or clan based. They are like warlords without armies, although they may have police.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The provinces are outside
Manila's reach and operate on their own.
They are more autonomous, unique and separate from the federal
government than American states. The nation is a federation in style, with the House representing the regions
in the national debate on laws. Somehow, these diverse views have to be melded
into a harmonious and well-prioritized national agenda.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Manila region is highly urbanized and gigantic, representing much of the nation's economic might. Davao City and Cebu are large. Cagayan de Oro and Olongapo/Subic are substantial, and there are numerous fourth tier cities, getting bigger.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Approximately 10 million
Filipinos, or 10% of the population, work overseas, employed in jobs from
domestic to professional. Their voice is strong, and the Philippines
provides many services for OFWs. But perhaps they should they have a direct in things, like with their own representative(s) in the House. That is, be recognized as caring citizens, not as people who have abandoned their homeland or are somehow disloyal. They are, after all, one of the main legs of the Philippine economic stool. (Choose your definition of "stool" wisely.)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Philippine commercial base is
predominantly agrarian (including forestry and fishing) and service-based
(retail, medical, educational institutions, government). There's not much
manufacturing. Tourism is building and will probably become substantial.
Real estate and infrastructure construction are large components. Trade is
minimal and needs based; there is not a strong manufacturing driver of
exports or a wealth/purchase driver of imports. The economy needs to get
deeper and the middle class significantly broader.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Executive branch of
government is well-focused, staffed with capable people, and working
earnestly and hard.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Legislative branch is
packed with name and fame; it does a poor job of law-writing, both from
the standpoint of not having a prioritized agenda (reps spew our hundreds
of laws which they wave in voter faces), and from the poor quality of the laws that are written (which is
why the Cybercrime law is in the courts). The Senate is regularly ponderous and
political and rigid and old and a place of great interpersonal tension
rather than purposeful and productive. The House a rabble of locally
famous people who can't be bothered to show up at their Manila office.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Judiciary is a mess, not
always adhering to law (cash and influence means more than justice) ;
therefore case law is not solid and rulings get overturned frequently. Nor
is the Judiciary efficient (the backlog is shameful) or open to any but
those with money (court fees and lawyers block out Juan and his troubles).
The Chief Justice is disliked by other justices which means that acrimony
is the dominant mood of the top lawmakers of the land.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Dynasties and connections
with money, included among them a couple of well-established churches,
heartily influence the governmental agenda.
These moneyed interests lean on Executive and the Legislature. The failure to pass FOI
is most likely connected to money and power because information, on it's own, has no
political axe to grind.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The nation's many divisions
are extraordinarily demanding and seemingly beyond compromise. Opinion
makers have one opinion, theirs, and it is firm and fast and defended to
the death. Compromise is hard to reach because conceding on any issue subjects one to relentless ridicule from the howling masses.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So
you get the picture. And I am sorry to report, it is not a pretty one. Feisty, sloppy, divided,
self-involved, inefficient, undisciplined, economically thin, running on
favors. The Senate and Judiciary are embroiled in personal issues rather than
focused on the people's best interest. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"But, Joe! You are our eternal optimist and you advocate a positive outlook on things! What's with this panning of governmental structure and result?"</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because I want to see the twinkling of hope blossom into flaming pile of opportunity. The Executive branch is fundamentally sound and working to instill better
values and outcomes. That's what I support.The Legislature may be waking up. We'll see later this
year. I support that, too. The Judiciary knows reforms are needed but can't seem to get off the
acrimonious dime. I support getting off the dime.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Besides, I'm
not being negative here. Just describing the way things appear to my
western-bent eyes. And, yes, the American governmental system is mightily
screwed up, too. But that is not the subject of this discussion.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And so I ask "Idealist Joe": "What
should the Philippine government be able to do to compete?"</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Executive needs to be executive. Driven by goals and performance measures. Skilled at delegation and follow-up. Like Mr. Aquino, but even more demanding and committed to results.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Term limits are an artificial device to ensure no one person dominates government. Yet, when term limits mandate the removal of a competent President, the protection becomes self-defeating. It weakens government. The important measure is strength of performance and result, not time limit.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Be smart. The legislature should be real lawmakers, not housewives and boxers. Legislators should be able to articulate laws that grant considerable autonomy to local regions while retaining strong national services that promote and protect the unified nation.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be flexible. The legislature should be small enough that people can actually talk to each other in a give-and-take dialogue rather than through speeches and committee reports and the endless circles of indirect dialogue. Today's process is mushy, slow and creates poor product. That is not a good way to compete globally.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The judiciary needs to be firm, fair and efficient. It needs to be able to discern important deeds (mass murder) from unimportant (annulment) and relegate the former to judges that can push matters forward without delay and the latter to administrators who quickly grant or deny applications.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Judges do not need to be independent if independence is an excuse for ineptitude. A "check and balance" should exist to make sure judges and the courts they manage are impeccibly fair, qualified and efficient.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So clearly we can see directions from this.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Executive should do more of
what it is doing. Like, beyond 2016. As Edgar said.</span></li>
</ul>
</span><ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Legislative needs to do a better job of writing law. More purposeful, more adept, bigger thinking and better writing.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Judiciary needs to grow up,
learn to read and interpret the law firmly and fairly, and get efficient.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We
academic idealists want a nation that is upright in values, serves people of
different wealth, education, cultures, languages and religions, and works
efficiently and fairly. There is much to be done. It is a competitive globe,
and this divisive, sloppy favor-ridden approach is simply not up to par with
nations that seek to gain and hold a dominant position in Asia, namely, China,
Japan, and South Korea. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do we have to do to get that to read China, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. Slop along, riding a cresting wave of honesty and little more?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd argue for more drive and better output from government.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's
define a hypothetical new government better able to operate forthrightly and
efficiently toward a healthier, wealthier Philippines. Here are some wildly
idealistic ideas aimed at chipping the rust off your cranium.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The legislature would work
better if it is reduced in size and upgraded in law-making priorities and
capability. 300 people is one unwieldy mass of humanity. The legislature should be able to agree
on an agenda of priorities with Executive, and then write the laws to get
the most important things done first. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><ul><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Get rid of the Senate. Have
one legislative body given the job of writing the national rules and
supervising national performance, much like a corporate Board of Directors
(crafting of bylaws and policies, and granting approvals or denials of
Executive proposals).</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</span><ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Reduce the House membership
from 286 to, say, 21. Require that all be attorneys. Ban dynasties.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Give the House more power to
mandate strong performance by the Judiciary, including forthright removal
of judges for cause.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Judiciary needs to be independent of external forces, either political or commercial,
and focused on: (1) law and (2) efficient and fair renderings under the
law. Case law is as important as the Constitution. Its development needs
rigor and respect. End the current flaw that judges are not held to account.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><ul><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Set term limits for judges,
4-year terms, extensions subject to ratification by the House or delegated
independent panels appointed by the House. No more than four extensions
(five terms) per judge.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><ul><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Criteria for extension:
opinions founded on objective law, efficient renderings, overturned cases
below 25 percent. The House Judiciary committee would be charged with
conducting the reviews of Supreme Court justices and making
recommendations, subject to rebuttal by the respective judges.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</span><ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Executive needs to be
relentlessly judged on performance, much as a CEO of a public corporation
is held to accountability by shareholders. This is called the "Ed
Lores Principle of Productive Presidents".</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Legislature sets the goals for the President expressed as 4-year targets: GDP growth, trade volumes, manufacturing employment, personal income levels, whatever. Executive must follow through to meet those targets.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul><ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Make the President's term a renewable contract, based on performance. Rolling 4-year term, extensions subject to ratification by the House.
No more than two extensions (three terms) allowed.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul><ul style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">National elections are called when the Legislature deems that a President's period in office will end.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next
we will re-design God and his various prophets, sons, disciples, angels and opponents. No topic is too big for
us.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-27506124755391825872013-04-01T05:18:00.000+08:002013-04-01T05:28:48.406+08:00Department of Defense Part I: Mission and Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LV3GgtTdJY/UVZUir9nUDI/AAAAAAAALmU/SCouxskT38s/s1600/dnd02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LV3GgtTdJY/UVZUir9nUDI/AAAAAAAALmU/SCouxskT38s/s320/dnd02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While
the rest of you opinion mongers are dealing with elections, I'd like to get
down and dirty with Philippine defense. How is this animal called the
Department of National Defense ("DND") put together and how ready is
it to wage war? With respect to the last question, what is the relationship
with the United States?</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We
will ask hard questions because defense is one area where pussy-footing around
politely will not get the job done. Diplomacy is for diplomats. Waging war is
for brutally frank truth-tellers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>"You idiot, Joe. We can't wash our national secrets in the public laundry, and we can't be calling China a bully in a government web site. Get real! Get a life!"</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ah, I stand corrected. We do need to be diplomatic, and we can't reveal state secrets. But we should not blow smoke at our citizens or mislead them about their security.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
Department of National Defense has many subordinate functions and offices or bureaus. They are detailed
below. These are very important functions, but one is inclined to ask, is the
Department mainly administrative in focus, dealing with all the ancillary
businesses of defense from veterans affairs to medical units and schools, or are these
units in place to support a finely honed fighting force? Are efforts administrative and
self-perpetuating with lots of nice jobs, with maybe a little corruption tossed
into the mix. Or is DND ready to attack and defend? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is just a question.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Perhaps with a little bias written in.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
five crucial components that will be examined further using information that is
available on the internet are:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Budget (e.g., allocations for
admin vs. troops if available)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Defense Intelligence Security
Group: purpose and activities</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Plans and projects; strategy</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Armed Forces of the
Philippines</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Relationship with the United
States</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In
today's article, we will set the scene by looking at the organization of the
DND and its mission and goals. Original text from DND documents are italicized.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<h4>
<a href="http://www.dnd.gov.ph/DND-Key%20Officials.htm"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Defense Bureaucracy</span></a></h4>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here
are key positions shown on the DND organization chart. Commentary is
interjected now and then to raise important issues.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Office of
the Secretary</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Spokesmen and other
administrative staff to Secretary of National Defense </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Voltaire T.
Gazmin</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. </span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The one non-administrative
position is of considerable importance. It seems to be comparable to the
US CIA: The Group Commander, Defense Intelligence Security Group
("DISG"), headed by </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Major Ramon Antonio E. Bello Pa</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Under-Secretaries</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are heads of a
variety of functions: (a) defense, (b) finance and materials, (c ) legal
and strategic affairs, and (d)
civil, veterans and reserve affairs. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">They seem to duplicate other sets of leaders; it is difficult to distinguish their responsibilities from those of the
Assistant Secretaries and DND bureaus that follow.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Assistant
Secretaries ("AS")</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Functional heads: (a)
personnel, (b) finance, (c ) plans & programs, (d) strategic
assessment, (e) acquisition, installations & logistics.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The two functions that would
seem to play crucial roles in defining the China situation and how to
structure a U.S. role would be: </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">AS Danilo Francia</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> who heads plans and
programs, and </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">AS Raymund Quilop</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> who heads strategic assessment.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Executive
/Service Staff</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Information management,
public affairs, administrative services and legal services.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Other
Directors in the DND Proper</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Five directors whose roles
are not stated in this document.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">DND Bureaus</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">13 Bureaus that do defense
work: the military units, veterans affairs, civil defense, arsenals, the National Defense College, and
medical centers.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Chief of Staff, Armed
Forces of the Philippines, is</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;"> General Emmanuel T. Bautista.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Others</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">DND Ombudsman, audit, shrine
curator and CSC/DND field office.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I read this correctly, the Secretary of National Defense has over 40 people reporting to him. That is unmanageable. Maybe they report in some chain of command, but that is not shown. My impression is "rat's nest of overlapping responsibilities".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<h4>
<a href="http://www.dnd.gov.ph/DNDWEBPAGE_files/Transparency/DND%20Mandate.pdf"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mission
and Values; Objectives</span></a></h4>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There
are separate statements for "Mandate", "Mission", and
"Vision". The mandate and mission say pretty much the same thing and
the vision provides a future direction.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9EMstOCrt4/UVZUib6dyGI/AAAAAAAALmQ/eY9ExzuBO9M/s1600/dnd01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9EMstOCrt4/UVZUib6dyGI/AAAAAAAALmQ/eY9ExzuBO9M/s320/dnd01.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mission</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">: “to guard against external and internal threats to
national peace and security, promote the welfare of soldiers, veterans and
their families in order to attain national security, uphold sovereignty
and territorial integrity, support socio- economic development and
political stability”.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Vision:</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> "A transformed National Defense establishment in
the 21st century: a strategic partner of the International Community,
capable and responsive, professional and competent, effective and
efficient in meeting external and internal challenges to national security
and domestic stability as well as contributing to the social and economic
development of the Philippines”.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those
are excellent framing statements. The DND also sets forth clearly the Department's values and objectives.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Core Values</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">elaborate
by providing important performance standards:</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Efficiency, Effectiveness and
Economy. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Flexibility
and Responsiveness. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Professionalism
and Respect for Civil Authority. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Rule of
Law, Transparency and Accountability.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">"The
Defense Department advocates a consultative, collaborative, and
participatory approach in its pursuit of its mandate and strives to
communicate its efforts inside and outside the organization."</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">"The
Defense Department, likewise, adheres to the responsible use of power to
advance national security interests. It recognizes that those who hold
positions of public trust should account for their performance to the
public."</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These,
too, are excellent foundational values. Of note, there are Ombudsman and Audit
functions within the Department to police matters. We'd have to explore these
areas further to see what kinds of incidents have arisen.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><u>National Defense and Security Policy Goals and Objectives</u></span></h3>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">DND
follows through on the mission by pursuing certain goals and objectives
assigned by current law:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Secure the sovereignty of the
State and the integrity of the national territory (Sec 3, Art II, 1987
Constitution);</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Secure the
Republic of the Philippines from direct armed aggression or invasion (RA
7898);</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Suppress
insurgency and other serious threats to internal security (Section 3, RA
8551);</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Protect and preserve life and property in
times of war or other national emergencies of equally grave character (RA
7898);</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="5"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Assist in
social and economic development (EO 292, s-87);</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="6"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Strengthen
security alliance and partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region (RA 7898);</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="7"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Assist in
fostering international peace and stability (Chapters VI and VII, UN
Charter); and,</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="8"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Modernize the Armed Forces of the
Philippines to a level where it can actively and fully perform its
constitutional mandate (RA 7898).</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">RA7898
is<a href="http://www.gppb.gov.ph/laws_rules/laws/RA_7898.pdf"> "The AFP
Modernization Act"</a> passed in 1995. Clearly DND takes its orders from the "larger government" of Executive Branch and the Congress. Laws tell it what to do.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><u>DND’s Thrusts</u></span><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This
section outlines <span style="font-style: italic;">"the primary focus of
this department to vigorously pursue the needed defense reforms for a
transformed National Defense establishment . .</span> ." </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Upgrading
the AFP’s Capability</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal;"> to protect
the people </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">"against
hostile internal and external forces (AFP’s foremost role) and added roles
such as responding to disaster and International peacekeeping and
humanitarian operations." </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal;">The role assigned AFP to provide disaster relief
and support UN initiatives is fairly new, formalized in 1995 via the AFP
Modernization Act.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Modernization
the Government Arsenal</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Enhancing the
Office of Civil Defense</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal;"> (disaster relief)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Utilizing
the Reserve Force to complement the AFP and the OCD (includes ROTC
coordination with schools)</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="5"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Developing
the National Defense College of the Philippines</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="6"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cultivating
Synergy with Local Government Units and the Private Sector.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="7"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ensuring
the Welfare of Veterans</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I were to boil these down, it has two active planks, (1) upgrade defense capabilities and (2) strengthen disaster relief. And it has an administrative thrust. I get the idea that administrative is pretty intense.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<h4>
<a href="http://www.dnd.gov.ph/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Web Site as a Portal
to DND</span></a></h4>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
DND home page is a plasterwork of elements apparently added here and there over
time. It is cluttered and some elements duplicate one another. It gives the
appearance of comprehensiveness, but if you dig a bit through the various
elements, you find it is mostly PDF files copied and thrown onto the page,
sometimes outdated, generally not comprehensive (the financials), and
occasionally informative. There are pictures of award ceremonies and lots of
good words reading the patriotic flair, mom, peach pie, that kind of thing. In
other words, publicity puff.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
<a href="http://www.dnd.gov.ph/pdr-web/roadmap.html">plan for reform</a> runs
from 2004 to 2011 and nothing is there to bring it up to date.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You
will find nothing about China or terrorism or NPA or UN peacekeeping or the
state of readiness. You will find a lot about conferences and awards.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
<a href="http://www.army.mil.ph/">Army web site</a>, subordinate to DND, is
cleaner but still features award ceremonies and self-tributes. This will be
the subject of a separate blog: Army, Navy, Air Force capabilities. But for sure, the
military is spending a lot of resources on web self-promotion, and I don't
think that contributes much to defense of the Philippines.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
most meaningful document I found on the web site was a 42 page <a href="http://www.dnd.gov.ph/DNDWEBPAGE_files/PDT/PDT%20White%20Paper_Final_23Jul12.pdf">"white
paper"</a> dealing with upgrading the AFP. It appears to have been last
revised in 2011, but that is not clear. What is clear is the following
statement from that document:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Modernization of the AFP Still Wanting</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The need to
“modernize the AFP to a level where it can effectively and fully perform
its constitutional mandate to uphold the sovereignty and preserve the
patrimony of the Republic of the Philippines” has been recognized with the
passage of Republic Act 7898 (RA 7898) in late 1995 and the approval of
the AFP Modernization Program through Joint Resolution No. 28 of both
houses of Congress in February 1996. With a life of fifteen (15) years,
the AFPMP has technically ended in 2011 without fully accomplishing the
intent and purpose of modernizing the capabilities of the AFP. While the
AFPMP required a total of 332 Billion Pesos to fully realize the
envisioned capabilities for naval, air, ground, and joint command and
control communications and information systems, only 33.9 Billion Pesos
was provided up to the end of 2010.12</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Evaluation and Conclusions to Part I</u></span></h4>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am troubled in that the impression I have from the DND presentation is an organization that is not focused on the hard business of defending the
Philippines, but on public relations and the academics and administrative
folderol of proving its worth. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without
proving its worth.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd
guess that the effort to prove worth probably employs way too many people and
the business of defense analysis and hard-nosed assessments employs too few.
We'll try to get into this a little deeper in a future installment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Very clearly the mandate set forth in RA7898, enacted in 1995, has not succeeded. It has failed. It was a lost battle. Maybe the expectations were too high for a nation not yet on its economic feet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe more is happening now, but it does not get transmitted through the clutter of the DND web site.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One
gets a feeling of happy warriors from visiting the web site. Not accomplishment
or confidence. Yet the facts would read "failure" of the 2004 to 2011 mission.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In reading the white paper on needs, it is clear that the "desires"
for improvement are earnest, but they run headlong into the practicality that
the Philippines is a poor nation. The allocated budget has amounted to only 10%
of the perceived total need.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I simply don't get the impression of "strong fighting force, focused on victory". I get the impression of parades. And I have no idea what external threats are deemed significant by DND. Or how, practically, we will get improvements made when schools are so under-funded, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe I'm wrong and continued investigation will shed some optimistic light on things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-11091188645883160662013-03-30T05:27:00.000+08:002013-04-24T06:01:42.817+08:00Parsing Fitch<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--AWkYBo7Ddg/UVTXJQdL0dI/AAAAAAAALls/J-jlo1omByM/s1600/fitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--AWkYBo7Ddg/UVTXJQdL0dI/AAAAAAAALls/J-jlo1omByM/s320/fitch.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
critics of the Philippines ate another bite of hat the other
day when the Fitch Rating Agency upgraded Philippine debt to investment grade.
Discussion threads on the upgrade were again the habitat of the 100 percenters, broken
down about 80/20, with 80% offering commendations and full credit to President
Aquino, and 20% claiming all credit should flow to Gloria Arroyo.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Largely
missing were the voices of reason that say, sure, Ms. Arroyo can claim some
credit for things like VAT, but the rating would not be raised if it weren't
for Mr. Aquino's good governance agenda and fiscal management. Furthermore,
some aspects, like steady OFW inflows, belong to no one but OFW's.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like,
where's the ANALYSIS instead of the need to win arguments? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well,
Joe's got it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He
took apart the Fitch statement announcing the rating upgrade piece by piece.
The full statement is provided after this commentary.
Here are Joe's findings:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fitch places the Philippines at the bottom of the
investment-grade category of ratings. There is a long way to go to reach top.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> work is not done.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cash flows compare well with
other countries thanks to strong OFW inflows. Imports are expected to
increase with net flows remaining healthy through 2014. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> The ratings look SIDEWAYS at other
countries and AHEAD at what might happen; the Philippines compares favorably, in the main, with other peer nations, and
the future looks stable.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The economy is strongly
driven by domestic demand. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> growth is not driven by
manufacturing or exports or government infrastructure spending.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Improvements in fiscal
management have made debt resilient to shocks. This is a combination of
good GDP growth with good debt management. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Fitch explicitly attributes
the START of this to President Arroyo.
Obviously, President Aquino has built on the foundation.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="5"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The macro-economic condition
is sound. Inflation is favorable to peer nations. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> BSP (the central bank) is
doing good work.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="6"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Governance is still weak
compared to peers. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> President Aquino is explicitly
credited with improvements, but the Philippines is still seen as having
governance problems.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="7"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Family income and living
conditions in the Philippines are below peers. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Way below. Poverty is an
economic risk.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="8"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Philippine tax revenues are
weak compared to peers. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> It is hard to extract blood from a turnip. Or taxes
from a bazillion poor people.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="9"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Philippines can realize
further ratings improvements by continuing to grow GDP while broadening
the tax base. Ratings could go back down if governance deteriorates or
financial integrity slips. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Pause to appreciate the achievement. Then get back to work. Aquino's "collect more earned taxes" initiative is
sound.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="10"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The ratings assume: (a) good
governance continues, (b) economic growth remains a little better than 5%
per year, and (c ) there are no unexpected shocks. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Key point:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Pray.</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Philippines is looking good. The current administration should be rightfully proud of this achievement. So should OFW's and those of us supporting the economy by spending our income as soon as it comes in. Like, about EVERYONE I know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those who offer up sniping criticisms to take away pride in the occasion are small of mind and heart. This is a very notable and worthy achievement. By the Philippines. Period.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now,
y'all kindly get out there and keep earning and spending. Obey the laws, pay your taxes, be kind
to your neighbor, support your nation.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hi'yup!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Fitch
Statement: March 27 </b>(Organized in outline form by the editor for clarity)</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Fitch
Ratings upgraded the Philippines' Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer
Default Rating (IDR) to 'BBB-' from 'BB+'. The Long-Term Local-Currency
IDR has been upgraded to 'BBB' from 'BBB-'. The Outlooks on both ratings
are Stable.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The agency
has also upgraded the Country Ceiling to 'BBB' from 'BBB-' and the
Short-Term Foreign-Currency IDR to 'F3' from 'B'. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Key Rating
Drivers . The upgrade of Philippines' sovereign ratings reflects the
following factors:</span></li>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The
Philippines' sovereign external balance sheet is considered strong
relative to 'A' range peers, let alone 'BB' and 'BBB' category medians. A
persistent current account surplus (CAS), underpinned by remittance
inflows, has led to the emergence of a net external creditor position
worth 12% of GDP by end-2012, up from 6% at end-2010. Remittance inflows
were worth 8% of GDP in 2012 and proved resilient even through the shock
of the global financial crisis. Fitch expects a rising import bill
stemming from strong domestic demand to lead to a narrower CAS and to
stabilise the net external creditor position at a strong level through to
2014. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The
Philippine economy has been resilient, expanding 6.6% in 2012 amid a weak
global economic backdrop. Strong domestic demand drove this outturn.
Fitch expects GDP growth of 5.5% in 2013. The Philippines has experienced
stronger and less volatile growth than its 'BBB' peers over the past five
years. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Improvements
in fiscal management begun under President Arroyo have made general
government debt dynamics more resilient to shocks. Strong economic growth
and moderate budget deficits have brought the general government (GG)
debt/GDP ratio in line with the 'BBB' median. The sovereign has taken
advantage of generally favourable funding conditions to lengthen the
average maturity of GG debt to 10.7 years by end-2012 from 6.6 years at
end-2008. The foreign currency share of GG debt has fallen to 47% from 53%
over the same period.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Favourable
macroeconomic outturns have been supported in Fitch's view by a strong
policy-making framework. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) inflation
management track record and proactive use of macro-prudential measures to
limit the potential emergence of macroeconomic and financial imbalances
is supportive of the credit profile. Inflation has been in line with
'BBB' peers on average over the past five years. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Governance
standards, as measured in international indices such as the World Bank's
framework, remain weaker than 'BBB' range norms but are not inconsistent
with a 'BBB-' rating as a number of sovereigns in this rating category
fare worse than the Philippines. Governance reform has been a centrepiece
of the Aquino administration's policy efforts. Entrenching these reforms
by 2016 is a policy priority of the government. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The
Philippines' average income is low (USD2,600 versus 'BBB' range median of
USD10,300 in 2012), although this measure does not account directly for
the significant support to living standards from remittance inflows. The
country's level of human development (as measured in the United Nations
Development Programme's index) is less of an outlier against 'BBB' range
peers.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The
Philippines had a low fiscal revenue take of 18.3% of GDP in 2012,
compared with a 'BBB' range median of 32.3%. This limits the fiscal scope
to achieve the government's ambition of raising public investment. The
recent introduction of a "sin tax", against stiff political
opposition, will likely lead to some increment in revenues and underlines
the administration's commitment to strengthening the revenue base. </span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Rating
Sensitivities. </span></li>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The main
factors that could lead to a positive rating action, individually or
collectively, are:</span></li>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Sustained
strong GDP growth that narrows income and development differentials with
'BBB' range peers. An uplift in the investment rate that enhances growth
prospects without the emergence of macroeconomic imbalances. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Broadening
of the fiscal revenue base, as well as further improvements in the
structure of the Philippine sovereign debt stock.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;"> The main factors that could lead to a
negative rating action, individually or collectively, are: </span></li>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">A
reversal of reform measures and deterioration in governance standards. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Sustained
fiscal slippage, leading to a higher fiscal debt burden.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Deterioration
in monetary policy management that allows the economy to overheat.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Instability
in the banking sector, leading to a crystallisation of contingent
liabilities on the sovereign balance sheet. </span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Key
Assumptions .The ratings and Outlooks are sensitive to a number of
assumptions. </span></li>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The agency
assumes the Aquino administration will persist with its fiscal,
governance and social reform agenda. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Fitch
estimates trend GDP growth for the Philippines in a range of 5%-5.5%. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">The
ratings incorporate an assumption that the Philippines is not hit by a
severe economic or financial shock sufficient to cause a significant
contraction in GDP and trigger stress in the financial system. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Fitch
assumes that there is no materialisation of severe risks to global
financial stability that could impact emerging market economies, such as
a breakup of the euro zone or a severe economic crisis in China.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc"><ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
</ul>
</ul>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-10095931579942276442013-03-29T05:46:00.001+08:002013-03-29T05:46:35.238+08:00A Society Tipping Point<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOXOJ_7PioM/UVOGZWxeN5I/AAAAAAAALlI/3aVTl1727X0/s1600/poverty06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOXOJ_7PioM/UVOGZWxeN5I/AAAAAAAALlI/3aVTl1727X0/s320/poverty06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Underbelly of a Nation Rising</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">This blog is at a
tipping point. It represents almost 600 articles dedicated to Joe's education and various observations and opinions. It has been a forum for excellent discussion. Rarely negative, generally respectful, often enlightening or entertaining.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Knowledge is never
complete. But at some point, we have to ask the question that Edgar Lores asked
a few days ago, that I ask regularly, and that others undoubtedly ask as they
stop by, opine for a while, then move forward to other interests: "are we
making a difference, and were do we go from here?"</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I think that,
personally, I have reached a point where I am starting to repeat myself,
circling around again and again to the Church and Education and Justice and the
banned field (for foreigners) of election politics. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">How many times can I explain
how important FOI is? You get it. I get it. The question is, do the people
who can act on it get it? That is, are they committed to the well-being of
the Philippines over personal advantage?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">How many times can I suggest
that more support for the President and nation would strengthen the
Philippines? The need to build oneself up by tearing others down
is relentless in this neck of the Pacific. It's as if one's intellectual
credentials are attached to the demise of others. It is wearing to watch so many people on
the attack against their own country. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The President has a
difficult job and cheap shots are easy.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
President Aquino is
honest, honorable and highly capable. If
you can't back him, you will never find anyone up to par. Just steel yourself
for a dismal democracy if that is the collective mind-set hereabouts.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'd venture to say
that JoeAm understands the Philippines mighty fine good. He understands better
than most the cultural dynamics, the strengths, the flaws, the hopes, the
opportunities and the risks of living in the Philippines. He has much more to learn, and a blog is an excellent classroom. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
He has gained this
knowledge because he has had good teachers. People who commented and shared a
perspective. The record shows 8,700 published comments in this blog. Boy howdy, try putting that into a school
lesson plan.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Have we reached
important people with this blog? Ahahahaha, we have. For sure. Guaranteed, 100%
we have.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Have we made a
difference? Yes, we have done more than a tossed grain of sand into the West Philippine Sea to to change the
destiny of the Philippines forever.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Do I want this to be
a vanity blog where I mostly just amuse myself?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
No.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Do I want to dig
into the minutia of the budget or Department of Education or Ombudsman to pick
apart strengths and weaknesses?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
No. That's real work. I'm retired.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Do I want to lord my
grand perspectives over the Philippines like some overblown colonizer with a
self-proclaimed greater wisdom? Like that<span style="font-style: italic;">
benigno</span> malcontent at<span style="font-style: italic;"> Get Real</span>?<br />
<br />
I
couldn't if I wanted to. As much as I know, I am still a lightweight. There are
so many people here with a much deeper and well-grounded understanding of the
Philippines than I have. After all, they live here and know the history that I miss, plus
have a grasp of the nuance of language and cultural behavior that my western
stonehead blocks out. My talent is running words together in a way that can make vivid sense, and , of course, the American perspective that I
overlay on things, rightly or wrongly.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So this blog needs
to change.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here is my plan. I
will reduce my volume of writing for the <span style="font-style: italic;">Society
of Honor</span>. There will be more empty space from day to day. I'll tend to avoid the issues that are
well-covered elsewhere and look for relevant topics that can do with a western
perspective. I'll also continue to comment on other blogs
and news sites in the Philippines, supporting the dialogue and collective voice
of the people there.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The <span style="font-style: italic;">Society</span> is a group of highly intelligent
people. This blog remains wide open to articles submitted by others. I wish
Mariano would do a blog. And our newfound gem in the "village", Amy
R. "J" does his own blog but is welcome any time to contribute here.
MB, too, of course. Edgar, Cha, Andrew and Josephivo have done articles, and I
welcome more from them, and from others. I am confident there are people
hanging around in the background who could pen a perspective that would do well
what Joe has aspired to do: provoke new ideas and constructive discussion.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'm not sure yet
what tone articles will take going forward. I suspect you might see a tempering
of stridency. Less Angry Maude and more reflection. We'll see. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Looking through the
editor's master lens we might see articles that are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Positive, because I think the Philippines is buried unreasonably in complaint. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Innovative in the discovery of fresh outlooks and new ways of solving problems. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Literate
and playful - satirical now and then - for the fun of it, and for the meaning of it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Beyond all, discussion that is voluntarily mature (not moderated), intelligent and respectful of the many styles and lifestyles that generate a rich exchange of perspectives and meaning.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-11612271904575176982013-03-28T04:15:00.002+08:002013-03-28T06:39:12.629+08:00Blueprint for Philippine Defense?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-StKTMCNRW54/UVIlhi4m_GI/AAAAAAAALkI/n2c4YH2W_Fs/s1600/US_Navy_060818-N-9851B-005_Philippine_Marines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="102" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-StKTMCNRW54/UVIlhi4m_GI/AAAAAAAALkI/n2c4YH2W_Fs/s400/US_Navy_060818-N-9851B-005_Philippine_Marines.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philippine and American Training Exercise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The following news report appeared in Ariraing News last week. It is short and well worth
reading. Commentary follows.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">_______________</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">S. Korea-U.S. Joint Forces Sign New
Defense Plan</span></h4>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=145212">Arirang News</a>,
March 25, 2013</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Since North Korea's torpedo attack on a South Korean warship
and its shelling of a South Korean border island in 2010, the South Korea-U.S.
joint military forces have been working on a plan to counter North Korean
provocations more effectively.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>After more than two years of talks, South Korea's Joint
Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Jung Seung-jo and the Commander of the U.S.
Forces Korea General James Thurman signed a so-called "Joint
Counter-Provocation Plan" on Friday which is a defense strategy led by
South Korea, and supported by U.S. forces.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The plan went into effect immediately.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>"With the completion of this plan, the South Korea-U.S.
joint forces are now ready for strong and immediate counter actions against any
North Korean provocation."</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The new defense plan calls for military aid by the U.S. armed
forces when required by the South Korean forces.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Previously, the U.S. forces were allowed to participate in an
inter-Korean military conflict when a full-fledged war breaks out.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The plan also lays out specific joint counter military
strategies against various types of North Korean provocations. </i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Despite rising inter-Korean military tensions, South Korea's
presidential office says it will offer humanitarian aid to North Korea and
expand dialogue.. if Pyongyang doesn't carry out further provocations and shows
efforts to stick to its international obligations.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A senior official in the presidential office told Seoul-based
Yonhap News Agency on Sunday, that the Park Geun-hye administration's North
Korea policy is different from that of the previous government's hard-line
policy.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The remarks follow President Park Geun-hye's approval of a
humanitarian aid shipment to North Korea by a private charity group on Friday.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Han Da-eun, Arirang News</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">_______________</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a very unusual development. The U.S. will bow to the
lead of South Korea.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">American military leadership can do this confidently because multiple scenarios have been drawn up that
define under what circumstances U.S. forces will engage, and how they will be deployed.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
would also suspect that South Korea has demonstrated a grasp of military strategy
and execution that has gained the respect of top American military officials.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So
we have a prototype plan here, do we not?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sovereignty of South Korea preserved; power of America standing ready.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Specific agreements define what
levels of U.S. force will be deployed in certain circumstances.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Mutual confidence exists.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It
took several years to finalize this plan, specifically, I would imagine, point 2. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can
the Philippines craft a similar plan with the U.S. to counter China? After all, China is also being provocative. Some observations:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Point
1 is a given. The Philippines cannot be subordinate to U.S. military
leadership.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Point
2 is a matter of time and talk, and having the Korean plan in place might
shorten the timeframe. It can be the starting framework.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Point
3 is the crucial matter. Do American generals respect Philippine military leadership, discipline and thinking? I have no idea. But I can say with some confidence an
opinion exists among the American generals based on joint training. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Under
terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement ("VFA"), the U.S. will not
allow her troops to be held in Philippine jails pending trial. I think this
reflects the American military's lack of confidence in Philippine legal and judicial processes.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is
the Philippine military in the same boat? Viewed with skepticism? Or do top Philippine generals, schooled in
American military academies and a frequent partner in military training exercises, command the respect of America's generals? During training exercises, do they display the kind of crisp, firm decision-making
required of top military leaders? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have no idea, but I don't mind posing the blunt question in the back of some American minds: are Philippine generals top-notch capable, or are they generals because they were
someone's classmate?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
U.S. military will not subordinate American troops to Philippine generals in whom they have little
confidence.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Very
clearly, President Aquino would need a candid readout from American generals about
Philippine competency. The President ought not think he can "sell" Philippine capability to American generals politically. They won't buy what he is
peddling. They will only buy competence.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If
Philippine top generals are good, no problem. A Korean-style defense agreement ought to be drawn up.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If
they are not good, they need to be changed or trained up more intensely than in
the past. Philippine military leadership needs to be capable of commanding
respect among very demanding, competent American generals.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
certainly have no idea of the character and capability of top Philippine
generals. But I do know that Jun Abaya, former House Representative and head of
the Department of Transportation and Communications ("DOTC"), ranked
2nd in his class academically at the U.S. Naval Academy. That gains huge respect points.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe
he'd make a superb general.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My point is that the
top ranks have to be very, very good to impress American generals. You actually have to prove competence, not expect it because, well . . . we're the Philippines.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can bet that the U.S. is not inclined to subordinate its troops to the weak of judgment, skill or will. They'd have to explain the loss of American lives to American parents, spouses and children. They also have to deal with an American public that knows very little about the Philippines. But once a "deal" is announced, the press spotlight will shine on the relationship, and the Philippine eviction of American military, and Philippine "first out" of Iraq, will be brought glaringly into that light by critics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I find it interesting that America's pivot to Asia presents an opportunity for the Philippines to prove capability. American skepticism has always been, since 1898, can the Philippines get its self-governing act together? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd opine that the proof is to be found in deeds, not politics.</span><br />
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-37190331412588440512013-03-26T05:12:00.000+08:002013-03-27T05:30:22.619+08:00Charmaine ClamorIt is good to step back from the words and the analyses and the tensions and joys of the reach for understanding to simply experience a Philippines that is beyond words. Sometimes we catch it in a photograph. Sometimes in a smile. Sometimes in a song.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Attila for introducing Charmaine Clamor, and Cha for sending over her delightful video about "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCzIj4VhmGg">My Funny Brown Pinay</a>".<br />
<br />
Today, the song . . .<br />
<br />
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<br />The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-31357800788792796452013-03-25T12:42:00.003+08:002013-03-26T05:03:05.442+08:00OFWs and Aliens: A Nation Unto Themselves<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JxWpPqVDmY0/UU5cfzyisuI/AAAAAAAALhU/j43ePTuhnfw/s1600/global+man+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JxWpPqVDmY0/UU5cfzyisuI/AAAAAAAALhU/j43ePTuhnfw/s320/global+man+01.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It
is amusing sometimes, the chain of thoughts that generates a blog. This one
started because I was trying to write a different one.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
was going to resolve the "Top 12 Filipino Entertainers" list by
ranking those entertainers who I think have carved out a special place of
distinction in the Philippines. So this is how the list was shaping up when I
hit a wall:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Manny Pacquiao</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kris Aquino</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Jessica Sanchez</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Lady Gaga</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well,
you see my problem right away. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without
question, if you are within earshot of a conglomeration of huge black
weatherworn speakers blasting music across the Pacific from your home town, you
will hear Lady Gaga prancing her sexual stuff. The lady has beat, and Filipinos
love it, along with the raw sexual language and irreverence and power.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Celine
Dion would be on the list as well. And the "<span style="font-style: italic;">One
Man Band</span>" doing his Waray Waray stuff for the entire Visayas. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well,
the list crosses borders, does it not? It must.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then
I reflected that my readership would probably understand the list, and accept
it. But the homelanders would not.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And
from that, it struck me that there is a "Group C". If you read the
prior blog, you will know that Group A are the broad masses with shallow
engagement in issues and Group B are the educated self-starters,
internationally clued in, who read and think analytically and solve problems.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
herein propose that there is a Group C, and I belong to that group. It is a
group of people who may or may not be citizens of the Philippines, but have
Philippines in their soul. They share their lives with more than one nation. It includes me and Edgar and Cha and European
Josephivo and New Yorker Attila and even beningo of Get Real Post and our OFW
fans in Washington and all over the place. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
paper we all carry that designates "citizenship" is important.
Indeed, we have pride in it, whatever national name is printed on the cover.
But there is a different allegiance at work here. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It
is like the difference between love of wife and love of family.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We'll
die for either.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We
are wed eternally to the nation of our citizenship. But the Philippines is our family. Yours.
Mine. No difference. I married into it I suppose. You who are overseas moved
out of the house but still have an anchor there.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So
Group C has a different set of standards than even Group B. These are standards
built on separation from the platforms that most stand on.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A
person who skydives is a different person after his first jump.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We
have all jumped.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It
seems to me that Group C is closely allied with people of other nations who
have also made the leap. I am more closely aligned with a Mexican migrant
looking for a day job in front of the Home Depot in Pasadena than I am to
Cousin Sandy landlocked in the small town of her birth in Colorado.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Group
C is "Global Man" where Man of course includes woman. For Global Man,
national allegiance is more an intellectual commitment than an imposed
obedience. It is of the heart, either way. But perhaps Global Man has shed a few
more tears behind the commitment, both bitter and sweet.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We
have all let go of something to gain something richer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And most of us have learned to appreciate differences, not rebel against them.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those
still attached to home may either admire or be jealous of those who took the leap.
Although I suppose envy does contain a measure of admiration.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And
I suspect that many of us in the nation of Global Man would find it difficult
going back. Well, maybe not difficult. It would be easy for me to return to the United
States. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I rather think we would be somehow emptier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-45620276108127292232013-03-25T04:35:00.001+08:002013-03-25T04:35:05.249+08:00A Portrait of the Philippines as a Young Nation<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every once in a while it is good to pause to try to pull together some of the varied thoughts dumped out day to day in these blogs. Rather pull chaos back into order, if you catch my drift. So let's do a little of that. If it seems deja vu, relax; it is not a mental disorder, at least, not yours. It is merely a review of what has been said before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe it is helpful to start with a long distance view and then drill down. And from our eye way up in the sky, we can see that the
Philippines is a young nation. Younger than the United States. Younger than you
might imagine, reflecting on 500 years of Spanish Catholic influence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wEZxa86QNpE/UU5NEaev44I/AAAAAAAALhM/O-tNTVjSWNk/s1600/Philippines+center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wEZxa86QNpE/UU5NEaev44I/AAAAAAAALhM/O-tNTVjSWNk/s400/Philippines+center.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Philippines is situated smack dab in the center of the crescent of Asia that runs from Indonesia in the southeast, westward to Malaysia, Viet Nam and neighbors, northward past China and on to the northeast where Korea and Japan complete the crescent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No nation in the world is better situated to prosper in an integrating global world. It is at the point of parabolic focus of the most dynamic region on earth.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What
is a nation? I contend that it has a time-of-birth date-stamp. A nation is the community that is formed when people reach an agreement about how to govern. Or when a few powerful people definitively impose their rule. The date stamp is whacked into history when that agreement is finalized or rule is declared.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Philippines was established as a new nation in 1987. The agreement ended the Marcos nation. A new, democratically ordered nation was formed under President Cory Aquino who began her term on the wings of prayer and ended it wrestling mightily with the forces of favor and
power.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These forces of favor and power in the Philippines, and the corruption they spawn, are like a smoldering fire in the tundra. Hard to stamp out. Burning underground. Smoke suffocating everything, including good works. Occasionally flaring up and burning bright. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Philippines is trying to reconstruct democratic values but old habits, old ways of conducting business, die hard.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's
try to characterize the Philippines today. It is good to use the Edgar
Lores method of enumerating ideas for ease of reference in the follow-up
discussion. Call it a portrait by the numbers. Not artistic, perhaps. But maybe
interesting to look at.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The reconstruction is the building of democratic
institutions and values that allows the nation to progress from being a
nation of and for the empowered - Marcos culminating the failed ideology
of power - to a nation of and for the people. The public institutions have
been rebuilt, perhaps of rough clapboard rather than polished mahogany,
but the framework is nonetheless good. The values . . . not yet.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A deeply embedded dynastic, somewhat authoritarian, network of power and wealth
still controls who runs things and it does not give up its grasp
easily. Fortunately, these networks are under considerable pressure from a
public with louder and more aggressive spokespeople demanding information
and accountability. The internet is the medium of modernization. The Big
Brother listening post is with the people, not the politicians.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Alas, the most important institutions of accountability,
the police and the judiciary, are under the influence of the empowered.
Justice has not yet reached the people.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The forces of the corrupt still today act as a brake on
good governance. Given the intensity of opposition, President Aquino has
done wonders to tip the playing field toward honest governance. It will take perhaps 20 more years of
honorable leadership to put the people fully in charge.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A Freedom of Information (FOI) bill would be a huge step
forward, sealing openness and honesty into the way government works. If the people are the "boss" of government, they need information. Lacking FOI, we know the favored and powerful,
the corrupt of good will if not money, are still in charge.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The nation's educational system is both fundamentally
amazing, yet failing on two counts.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It is amazing in that so many schools, so many teachers, and so many kids recognize how important education is. They are working broadly
and steadily at building, teaching and studying to advance the knowledge
and skills of young people, and to care for their nation's future.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">One huge failure is the nation's inability to keep up with the flood of babies born of Catholic
tradition. A poor nation is a poor nation. It can only build a poor
network of schools. The solution, of course is threefold: (1) make the
nation richer, (2) allocate education as a higher priority than other
expense choices, and (3) slow the birth rate. You can do one of these
three things and not realize much progress over the long term. You can do
two and make some headway. You can do all three and build an excellent
school system. It would help to apply the power of the internet to reduce
the overwhelming burden of textbook purchases, school construction and
need for teachers.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The second failure is the apparent inability of the
Educational leadership to comprehend that memorizing information is not a kind of knowledge that goes very far. The Philippine school
system teaches mandated obedience, and from that subservience. It does not
teach the values that allow obedience to emerge VOLUNTARILY from a deep desire
to compete for honest opportunity. If young people today develop ambition for self-improvement, it is in spite of the school system, not because of it. Democracy is a beautiful institution because it is a loud, open, ever-brainstorming collective of competitive problem-solvers. It assures both security and opportunity. It requires an educated citizenry to operate well, and when it operates well, it is an unmatched system for motivating its people with the promise of opportunity, growth and wealth.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Philippine culture is much like the educational system,
both good and bad. It is tremendously rich. Unique. Precious. And it is
dysfunctional.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The bonds of faith and family are profound in the Philippines. So is historical
appreciation of the many separate islands and regions, and the native
traditions, the land and sea-based traditions, the family traditions, which remain strong even
today. </span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It is unfortunate that the nation's moral anchor, the
Catholic Church, chooses to condemn knowledge-based progress, provoking a raw
political clash, rather
than relish the part it could play as the anchor to good values within a
culture that is modern and working hard and earnestly to solve problems. Problems like education and poor homes on the mud banks and teen pregnancies and kids dining from trash piles. The prominant moral voice has
become a counter-productive, complaining voice, not a voice ministering to
the nation, helping it build.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Filipinos are passionate people, but the passions are
used poorly to denigrate and attack and tear down rather than discover and
seek knowledge and build. Minds are closed quickly and defended harshly. This is a 100 percent nation. You are
either 100% MY way or you are 100% my enemy. 95% is not good enough.
And "if you are the President of my nation, you must be 100% right,
doing it my way, or I will attack you, not just your acts or decisions,
but you, personally". It's hard to have a unity, a harmony of unique
individuals, a nation, if everyone insists their way is the only way. </span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">President Aquino is vastly underappreciated, even by the
yellow hordes who pushed him into office. Here is a man with the courage
and strength of character - his father's determination and his mother's
good will - to try to move a nation out of the darkness of cheating,
poverty and poor behavior and into the light of modern, honest governance,
productivity and wealth. </span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Every institution or group that finds its opportunities
constrained becomes a critic. The corrupt, the Catholic Church, Arroyo and
her backers, the smugglers, people who live by skimming from contracts,
DENR officials, corrupt generals, a wayward Sultan's teammates, and any 100 percenter who finds one of his pet oxen gored. CHINA is not the main enemy. No, China is in second place to the critics with oxen gored by the President's initiatives; their divisive cries always suggest there is a better way but they usually point to none. There is no better way. Most of the critics are simply those who cannot get outside themselves to build a patriotic community called "nation".</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But get past the acrimony and we can see that the deeds
being done by the national government are no longer being lined up to
benefit the empowered. They are being lined up to build a nation that
serves its people. The accomplishments are in plain daylight but obscured
by all the dirt thrown by the miserly and small of pride, the envious, the
bitter, the biased and the intellectually bankrupt. Look at agencies like the central bank and Finance
and BIR and Justice and DOT and Tourism and DILG. And the Ombudsman. And
Foreign Affairs. These agencies are working diligently to build a better
Philippines. To put in roads to airports, to jail the cheaters, to collect
much-needed revenue, to modernize airports, to get airplane servicing up
to par to re-open European flights. To improve the nation's debt rating and
attract more capital, to get peace and prosperity into Mindanao, to solve
Mindanao's electricity problem. To better prepare for storms. The amount
of good works going on is flat out awesome. High rises and casinos and a
real middle class and more and more tourism jewels like Palawan emerging
from the corrupt fits and starts that characterized pre-Aquino
Philippines.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="a">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In this new nation that welcomes good governance, we see the
people's voices being raised again and again, louder and more purposefully.
It was the people's voice that got RH passed, that got a poorly structured
Cybercrime Bill halted and into the Supreme Court, that got a wayward
Chief Justice thrown from office, and that will determine what quality of
character emerges in the 2013 elections. We see attorneys making a
reputation by defending the people. We see congressmen like Sotto who
betray the values that people admire driven into silence.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There
is only one course for this young nation. It is toward honesty and good works.
Toward decisions that benefit the people, not the empowered. Toward problem
solving and wealth.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If we focus on the broader picture, rather than the many specific acts, we can see that the anti-corruption drive is not just the jailing of bad people. It is remaking a nation's character. It is laying the foundation for good works that can, over time, ease the nation's burdensome poverty. Attention to two other master initiatives would add to this foundation, building a framework of steel and assurance of greater prosperity and a healthy, long term future: (1) building Education to ease physical demands and teach problem-solving disciplines rather than discipline, and (2) building Justice to assure fair and firm enforcement of laws feeding a forthright, efficient, law-based judiciary. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">FOI
is critically, critically important to seal the nation to candor and honesty. Information is the currency that replaces favor and power as the driver of deeds. Information assures that the doing of good deeds on behalf of the people becomes this nation's cherished work ethic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-74158902700100698332013-03-23T06:22:00.000+08:002013-03-23T06:22:41.031+08:00Chaos, Hallucinations, Order, Suicide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p3gujkwqNak/UUqj2nHtkoI/AAAAAAAALfE/oKANvh7iQ2o/s1600/steel+furnace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p3gujkwqNak/UUqj2nHtkoI/AAAAAAAALfE/oKANvh7iQ2o/s1600/steel+furnace.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">This study of East/West cross-cultural differences leads me to believe that we all live in an
artificial reality that is the construct of our upbringing and our limited
capacity to think. We walk a hallucination most days. So if
this blog seems a little far out, just sit back and enjoy the ride. We are
going nowhere with a sense of purpose. No harm here, for sure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Life.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We are fed the
values and emotional patterns of our family, friends, and mentors, the latter
being relatives, pastors, teachers, bosses, community leaders and anyone else
we grant authority to. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
If our parents beat
us, we are likely to turn the whip on our own children.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Unless we learn to
internalize new, more powerful motivations that halt the hand in mid-air just
before it descends onto Junior's butt.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
That is the dialogue
that goes on throughout life, isn't it? The patterns we think we are supposed
to follow, modified by the lessons we learn. I mean, really LEARN. Take to
heart. Not just memorize and allow to float aimlessly in a cloud of cranial inconsequentialities.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
If our parents pray,
we are more likely to pray. Well, unless it becomes an element of the
rebelliousness that is natural in American homes as kids embark on the great separation that occurs around age 18. Which is why so many young American adults part from the church, leaving the pews to the elderly. To escape
from the traps they feel their parents lay to restrain them, constrain them,
tell them how to live. Many return to the church later on their own terms. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vMqjwM07_4/UUqklUrLN-I/AAAAAAAALfU/R9ytIEdmEiE/s1600/prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vMqjwM07_4/UUqklUrLN-I/AAAAAAAALfU/R9ytIEdmEiE/s320/prayer.jpg" width="320" /></a>Praying is more likely to persist in the Filipino family where the glue that holds the
family together is tougher than Mighty Bond. The composition of the glue might be pride, or its reverse, shame, or even guilt. And most generally a whole lotta love. It is unquestionably strong.<br />
<br />
The American family is magnets of similar pole,
pushing outward. The Filipino family is magnets of opposite pole, pulling
inward.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I think it is not
the facts we learn that are important. I think it is the disciplines, the
methods. I have a degree in mathematics and I remember we studied integration
of the non-racial kind, calculus and trigonometry, sines and cosines and my
favorite, tangents. At least tangents I could visualize. Those cosine lines
could twist in funny ways, for sure. When teaching myself how to program, I
would use sines and cosines to run do-loops that would draw elipses that would
migrate in one direction until they hit a certain random count, then plunge off
in a different direction, the angle also random. The computer drew quite elegant designs, order out of
random chaos. Now today I can't calculate calculus problems and I can't program in
any language, having forgotten the particulars. But I have remembered the
disciplines of order thrust among random acts. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
That is, after all,
life, is it not?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Order thrust among
random acts.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
How well we order
things means a lot. It determines if we will get good grades, good jobs, lots
of wealth and the ability to read and sort out our passions without deciding
like that poor Manila girl last week, to pull the plug</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
What were your
passions as a youngster? Mine were baseball and basketball and building model
airplanes and murdering thousands of big red fire ants. A little older it was basketball and volleyball and tennis and legs.
We grow, eh, we grow.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I successfully
parted from my family by going to college away from my home town. It seems like
I have been shooting relentlessly outward ever since, some kind of big bang
pushing me ever onward into new places and lifestyles and richness.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Along the way I've
been a religious convert and a marijuana beach bum, a disciplined Army
lieutenant and an undisciplined poet, penning imaginings outside of any box
known to mankind. Love, hate, sex and more love. Been there done that.
Corporate peon, yes. I've scrubbed
grocery store floors in the heart of Watts, the roughest, poorest part of Los
Angeles. And stacked oranges in the produce aisles in a junky supermarket off
Melrose . I've also lodged my feet on the desk of a 50th floor penthouse office
downtown, propping up the President of the corporation with my brain and
ability to apply aforesaid mathematical disciplines to the business of making
money.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Philippine schools
simply DO NOT TEACH enough disciplines. Disciplines is different than
discipline. Oh, Philippine schools know discipline. It is the biggest barrier
to learning disciplines. Discipline curtails innovation. Disciplines involve
learning the organization and problem solving
methods that open up the world to solution. And learning the
psychological wholeness that allows troublesome facts or odd behaviors of
others not to insult one's face or interfere with one's achievement.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0Nl1UdmGTk/UUqj3G3maSI/AAAAAAAALfM/QYI2hNy3A-0/s1600/santiago+rant+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0Nl1UdmGTk/UUqj3G3maSI/AAAAAAAALfM/QYI2hNy3A-0/s1600/santiago+rant+02.jpg" /></a>I'm not sure why
Filipinos are so easily offended by mistakes. Or bumps in the road. The level of angst
that flies from a bad incident here reflects an energy far beyond what the
offense warrants. The hunt for perfection that Filipinos seem intent to pursue, yet grossly fail to reach, is
of course a hallucination. It is a fact of life, the statistical odds, when you
get 95 million people, there will be a girl somewhere who has it rough and
decides to commit suicide. You can't stop the math from working.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Life is not ordered.
It is order within chaos.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
To the extent that
we allow our emotions to give life to the chaos, we are not doing ourselves, or
the Philippines, much of a favor.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Our goal should be
to learn and teach the disciplines of order. Of solving problems that the
mathematics of random events throws in front of us. Of integrity, for that is
best for the whole of the community, whether it is attached to a faith or
simply figured out as the best way to behave.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The Philippines is a
huge pile of emotion, detached from disciplines.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It is wasted energy. It is fire burning precious forests rather than fire molding steel ingots.<br />
<br />
It wears, sometimes.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'd advise to train it, trap it as passion, not anger, and use it to build, not tear down.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-23649083226043722552013-03-22T06:11:00.000+08:002013-03-22T08:29:24.721+08:00The Arrogance of the Righteous<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv5HcALZNrw/UUlhfRc6b2I/AAAAAAAALeM/AHXd8HpJDz0/s1600/righteous01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv5HcALZNrw/UUlhfRc6b2I/AAAAAAAALeM/AHXd8HpJDz0/s320/righteous01.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Righteous Brothers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My
thanks to "J" at <i><a href="http://thenutbox.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/umwelten-and-the-sabah-dispute/">The Nutbox</a> </i>for couching the Sabah conflict a while back in terms that make impeccable
sense. That discussion inspired this article. Perhaps I will say much the same
thing, in far less eloquent words.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My views herein are shaded by the knowledge that the Righteous Brothers, a popular singing duo in the States, oh, a couple of years ago, are neither brothers nor righteous.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
following definition from <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/righteous?s=t"><span style="font-style: italic;">dictionary.com</span></a> works fine. We need not
consult Humpty Dumpty for a tailored definition.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">right·eous</span> [<span style="font-weight: bold;">rahy</span>-ch<span style="font-style: italic;">uh</span>s] <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">adjective</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">characterized by uprightness or morality: <span style="font-style: italic;">a righteous observance of law.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">morally right or justifiable: <span style="font-style: italic;">righteous indignation.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="3"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: <span style="font-style: italic;">a righteous and godly person.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="4"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Slang. <span style="font-style: normal;">absolutely wonderful: </span>righteous playing by a jazz great.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Righteous
is variable. One nation's view of what is morally right or virtuous may differ
from another's. One religion's view of what is morally right or virtuous may
differ from another's. One man's view of
what is morally right or virtuous may differ from another's.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When
a circumstance arises that brings the virtues into conflict, we often get
murder. Or war. Passions built upon a sense of what is right, what is virtuous,
are intense and usually unbendable.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In
the United States, we see this within a frozen and inept government as partisan war is waged between the political parties risking the wealth and well-being of the
nation for deep and unbending principles of what is virtuous.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It
is a uniquely a human condition, the tying of emotions to intellectual concepts
of virtue. But it is decidedly animalistic the way we behave when caught up in
righteousness, claws and fangs extended, unable to adjust our emotions and
thinking to take the heat off the moment.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Indeed,
our various communities ensure that we do not bend. The righteous person who
bends gets assigned the worst names: betrayer, treasonous, coward. Execution is
often the legalistic outcome among even the most advanced of civilized nations
when the righteous judge that the offense is severe. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alas, one
man's terrorist is another's patriot.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And ten
years later, the terrorist is sometimes a patriot's best friend.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet,
given this clear sign that righteousness, and even treason, are variable
trends, why do we remain so hard-headed about things?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take
the Sabah incident.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Who
are the righteous players? The Sultan and his backers, the Malaysian
government, the Philippine government, the peoples of both nations including
Philippine Muslims and perhaps some players outside the immediate
scene who have supported the Sultan.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Within
the Philippine population, there are those who back President Aquino and those
who hold that he is the reason for the problems, whether through historical
acts (who was invited to the Mindanao peace table) or handling the Sultan after
he was in Sabah (he insulted the Sultan with an order to leave).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In
Sabah, there are multiple interests and senses of virtue: natives, Malaysian
transplants, Filipino workers who back the Sultan, and Filipino workers who
feel threatened by the Sultan's acts.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each
group of people has its unique morality, its unique virtue. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each
group is "right" in the context of their own circumstances and needs.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No
group is wrong, from within the walls of their intellectual fort.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
"righteousness" is so intense that even moderate voices, such as I am
trying to be, will be attacked for abridging the moral values of the righteous.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
stopped reading many discussion threads on the incident because it is obvious
there is very little discussion going on. There is only the relentless
announcing of different variations of the same hard-headed sets of inflexibly
righteous stands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The same thing is happening regarding the suicide of a university student. I particularly found offensive the claim of two university professors that the school's top administrators should resign because they "caused the death". That is righteous gone lunatic.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
peculiar thing is that any argument levied to condemn one party is legitimate
if applied in return. The Sultan is just as guilty of taxing Mr. Aquino's
"face" and insulting him as Mr. Aquino is in demeaning the Sultan. Both missed something in
the translation, the communication.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The two professors are cruel to accuse the university administrators of being cruel in causing a death.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"What
we've got here is a failure to communicate", said the chain gang captain
to Cool Hand Luke before he slugged him.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Righteous
is artificial.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But
we have not the depth of intellect or the depth of character to get past it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
suggest we strive to exceed our grasp and reach for a better understanding of
what it is like to be in the other guy's shoes.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then,
perhaps then, we will be able to articulate a position that is
non-confrontational, and that solves the problem to the best advantage for all.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes,
someone will have give something up. Perhaps all will have to give on one point or another.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That
is what peace and harmony often require to adjust ones own sense of what is "righteous" to fit both parties in a dispute. Thus, righteous is enlarged rather than fixed in a small way.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It
is better the giving up be done thoughtfully rather than at the end of a gun,
or cannon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is better that righteous be enlarged rather than kept small. As in small-minded.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-16377967481218195702013-03-21T04:47:00.000+08:002013-03-21T04:47:36.552+08:00Hackers, Spammers and Priests<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aV0mN7z8LZA/UUkFlkLHXDI/AAAAAAAALd8/Ib1PbnMKIxI/s1600/anonymous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aV0mN7z8LZA/UUkFlkLHXDI/AAAAAAAALd8/Ib1PbnMKIxI/s320/anonymous.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">I have always
admired those who adhere to an "ideology", for it reflects a
discipline, a commitment, to an intellectual principle. Now, sometimes the
whole effort goes wrong, as did the Soviet Union's communist ideology. But
still, it beats a chaotic system of no profound definition, like . . . well, like that of the Philippines,
where the courts don't serve justice and the legislature is a gaggle of
well-named shapeshifters under the influence of the moneyed and the Constitution
is roundly ignored. But, hey, executive is good, for now, holding the place together peachy keen.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Today our topic is
the ideology of hackers, spammers and priests. Here are Humpty Dumpty's short
form definitions:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Hackers</b>: marauders who
deface, disrupt or steal someone's proprietary computer programs and
information.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Spammers</b>: volume distributors
of unwanted information aimed at selling things or jamming
computers with an abundance of transactions.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Priests</b>: preachers who live
weird lifestyles and insist the rest of us live our normal little lives along
the lines the preachers dictate.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
You may not
immediately grasp how the priests are related to computer thugs, but kindly
bear with me.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The most prominent
band of computer hackers is "Anonymous", a lose confederation of
mischief makers who always attach a "good reason" to their mischief.
They have adopted the stylized mask of Guy Fawkes, a Spanish Catholic rebel, as
their logo. Never mind that he was convicted of treason and would have been
hanged had he not jumped from the gallows platform and broken his neck.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Anonymous hackers
are praised in many circles. They are the rebels in white hats, the Pancho
Villa style popular heroes, banditos expressing the public's pent-up
frustration and outrage. In their minds of their fans, they are closer to
Batman than the Joker, more like Zorro than the corrupt, brother to Robin Hood,
raiding the rich to feed the poor, not like the Sheriff of Nottingham.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Of course, that
picture is entirely wrong. That is simply a fiction, a popular folk tale. A lie.
Because hackers are nefarious destroyers of good will and good work. Lunatic, self-justifying troublemakers who
destroy wealth and add to poverty. They
are what they criticize, totalitarians of a different cloth, consumed with the
fiction that they and only they are on the "right path".</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Doesn't that sound
like a priestly position to you?<br />
<br />
Indeed, read the Anonymous mission statement, shown in the picture above, and you see the same threats and intimidation used by extortionist gangsters. Or clan leaders, come to think about it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Pancho Villa's real
name was José Doroteo Arango Arámbula and he was a general in the Mexican army
when he was not raiding. Batman of
course was millionaire Bruce Wayne.
Zorro was Don Diego de la Vega, a nobleman seeking justice against those
who would harm his family. Robin Hood was, according to some, the Earl of
Huntington, a nobleman dispossessed of his land and goods, taking up the
people's cause against authoritarian injustice.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Philippine hackers
command no such honors or glory. No one
rallies around their leadership. Most shake their heads in dismay, or even
disgust. They are a small band of people
whose sense of right is very wrong. Indeed, they presume to DICTATE what is
right, and what is wrong. They sit at their computer tables and plow into other
people's private lives, judge, jury and executioner.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
They are talent and
skill misdirected and misused. They could be working earnestly to create good
will and constructive solutions but they choose instead to destroy.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
They are more like
the brutal Sheriff of Nottingham than Robin Hood. More like the Joker than
Batman.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The wild-eyed crazy
lady down at Seventh and Flower in Los Angeles, shouting madly at the pole
holding up the street light, has about the same delusional vision of self. The same
kind of self-justification and artificial reality that creates its own values and
distorted acts. Rationalizations of bad behaviors abound.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Hackers may have an
ideology, but they are the opposite of mankind striving for the highest road.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Spammers are often
hackers with a different method. They impose their messages on people who don't
want those messages.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
One popular spam
destruction technique is the "denial of service" flooding of a web
site with messages. Legitimate visitors are eventually locked out by the volume
of messages. Computers around the world are kidnapped and harnessed to fire
obstructions at the target site. Top Blogger <span style="font-style: italic;">Raissa
Robles</span> has recently apparently had her site effectively shut down by
such an attack. "Database error" we'd get when trying to visit.
Because some clowns with a keyboard and ideology determine that others ought
not have the right to express themselves. Little lord jesuses with a very very small
j.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
This site is
currently undergoing what looks like the early stages of a budding, building,
spam-based denial of service attack. The daily volume of spam attacks is
relentlessly upward bound. It started with two or three a day. Now hundreds per
day. Soon it could be thousands. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'm not a technology
buff. I have no staff and no budget. If the spammers win, JoeAm goes off the
air.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's no loss for me.
It is rather like getting fired and retiring early. I go to the beach.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">A gain for the
hackers? How, they have built nothing.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">A win for the
Philippines? Only if your mirror of values was built in a fun house of distorted images.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
These are idealists
with rotten ideals. Like NPA rebels. Extortionist gangsters who have no idea
about economic well-being or social justice or who is really punished by their
acts.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Do you think the
government is punished by a defacement of a web site and interference with normal
online business? Or are innocent people who need the government's help
punished?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I tell you, these
idealists are scoundrels. They harm the innocent.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
That's where we get
to priests</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
RH has been put on
hold by the Supreme Court. More specifically, by Catholic judges on the Supreme
court who cannot seem to grasp the distinction between government and faith.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The justices look to me like hackers, hijacking the government's earnest good work for their narrow
religious ideology.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The priests are spammers. They
live a lifestyle that is bizarre, unable to commit to a wife because Jesus
might get jealous. Yet they instruct the rest of us, whether we belong to their
union of faithful or not, how to live a proper lifestyle. Their relentless bombardment of the air waves, the newspapers, the pulpits, the halls of congress and the judicial benches floods the Philippines with muck the rest of us simply can't get through.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
They have an
ideology. They bludgeon the rest of us with it, and prevent us from doing our
honorable good works.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Hackers, spammers
and priests. Cut of the same cloth.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-18375944761082768922013-03-20T05:23:00.001+08:002013-04-14T17:28:36.537+08:00Philippine Media: The Lay of the Land<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dx3bPqEudpY/UUg72xD9_xI/AAAAAAAALdQ/kZdD71nUe_4/s1600/newspapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dx3bPqEudpY/UUg72xD9_xI/AAAAAAAALdQ/kZdD71nUe_4/s320/newspapers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">This blog is a little different, as I search for order rather than meaning. Indeed, many of you may already know these media, but it is a process of discovery for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">I have read
repeatedly about Philippine news reporting being shallow and sensationalist.
But it has only lately crystallized in my mind how damaging this can be to the
Philippines as the nation seeks to emerge as a productive, modern,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">respected nation in the global community of human rights and commerce.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Sensationalist news
focused mainly on problems can overwhelm good works. That's the
main danger, that news reporting would undermine the trust people have for
their government and its leaders, and convey the wrong impression about what is happening.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So I thought I'd
explore in more depth what the various media bring to the information table in
the Philippines. Indeed, this is a long-dormant passion of mine. It was my
chosen field of work laid to waste by an economy gone south in the early
1970's. I had acquired a master's degree in Radio and Television Arts, doing my
thesis work at CBS Television in Los Angeles. Job opportunities were thin at
the time. The fates determined that I should become a banker, or rather a bank
marketing officer, working on the other side of the media business, as an advertiser.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But journalism is an area where I have a decent understanding of good
communication principles. What we see in the Philippines is "light news", a kind of "quick and dirty" reporting without a lot of investigative work. Interviews and "hearsay" evidence are taken as facts and this repesents the content of many news articles. So do murders, rapes, tragedies and other
titillating stories. And, indeed, the
sensationalist drive for ratings means that news frequently gets laced with
emotionally charged words. Headlines are written to strike nerves. Filipinos, emotional at heart, love the stuff.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I won't belabor this
further. Let me just say that for now, we will accept the argument that media news disciplines in
the Philippines are very slack, in the interest of profit. We might shade this differently as we progress.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
As we work through
this together, we can identify certain issues for follow-through. For example, how about politics? Does that drive anything? We
must put that on our task list for further study.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oHf443-BVXM/UUg727hUzgI/AAAAAAAALdU/B_YlRgiTCuo/s1600/tv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oHf443-BVXM/UUg727hUzgI/AAAAAAAALdU/B_YlRgiTCuo/s1600/tv.jpg" /></a>A second takeaway
becomes quickly evident. There is no central resource of broadcast or print
media because the Philippines has no media regulator. The industry is
"self-regulated". This is very different than in the United States
where the Federal Communications Commission regulates media ownership and
monitors that media are properly serving the best interest of the public. So no
central repository of licensing or cross-ownership of media appears to exist.
It takes considerable effort to identify the full scope of media power of the
larger organizations. Sorting that out becomes a "to do" item for the
future.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Because of the lack
of a central regulatory data base, it was difficult putting together this
simple starting profile. Some of the information is a couple of years old, and
some of the specific players may have changed. But this is just a starting
point, so rough edges will be fine for what we need to do.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
THE MEDIA DEFINED</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It would be good to
get a good reading of the landscape before we advance into it. Our focus is on
news and information, not entertainment. The national goal is presumably an
educated community having access to a variety of kinds and sources of information.
Opinion columns or broadcasts represent the interpretive part of the news, so
we include that in the realm of study as well.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We can start by
breaking news sources into four groups:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Television networks and
stations</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Radio networks and stations</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Newspapers and other print
media</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Internet news and commentary</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Let's try to
characterize each:<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Television networks and stations</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There are three
dominant television networks and a wide range of over 200 local television
stations, most affiliated with a network. Dissemination of programs is via
airwaves, cable and satellite. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The two top
networks, ABS-CBN and GMA-7, <a href="http://business.inquirer.net/47491/rival-tv-stations-claim-top-ratings">battle
almost equally for dominance</a>. It is a bitter battle, with interpretation of
leadership meaning a lot in terms of advertising revenue. The two networks have
engaged in legal and public bickering for about 7 years now, each claiming it
is number one. The third network, is ABC-5. Recent Nielson ratings reported percentage viewership as follows:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; direction: ltr;" valign="top">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .9798in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
Network</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0395in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
Share
Points</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .9798in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
GMA-7</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0395in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
36</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .9798in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
ABS-CBN</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0395in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
30</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .9798in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
ABC-5</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0395in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
15</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
ABS-CBN claims it
held the prime time lead at 41% to GMA's 32%. The source is a different rating
agency.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Beyond the "Big
3", we have the following<a href="http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Top_10_Favorite_TV_Networks_in_the_Philippines">
television networks</a>:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Both GMA and ABS-CBN own
secondary stations that broadcast shows aimed at younger
"lifestyle" audiences, QTV-11 and Studio 23, respectively.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">One of the larger radio
networks, Radio Philippines Network, owns a television station, RPN-9 (</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">oops,
outdated; read on. JA</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">).</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Several other significant
networks target regional or specialized audiences: </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.125in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">UNTV 37, a public service
channel owned by the Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in Quezon City. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: 1.125in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.125in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">NET 25, featuring IT
programming and encompassing Asia and Australia.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: 1.125in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.125in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">IBC 13, the Intercontinental
Broadcasting Company managed by the national government. (</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">Update. Now
only the People's Television Network is held by the government; see
comments below. JA</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">).</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: 1.125in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.125in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">RMN 31, the Radio Mindanao
Network, which has 10 stations across the Philippines and one station in
New York, USA.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Cable and satellite
subscribers can also sign up for CNN, BBC and other information channels.
These typically do not feature the Philippines, and they are controlled
outside the Philippines.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Radio Networks and Stations</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There are just short
of a thousand radio stations in the Philippines. All major cities across the
nation have at least one radio outlet. Manila has 51.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The two largest TV
networks also own substantial radio properties.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We also once had the
Radio Philippines Network, cited above. But it's a changing world and RPN has been consolidated with former government radio stations of the IBC, and
recast as ETC, under private ownership (including by San Miguel Corporation). The
government got tired of losing money and offering crappy program so cobbled
together a new network and kept only the public television station.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The <a href="http://infoasaid.org/guide/philippines/radio-overview">major radio
networks</a> in the Philippines include:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Manila Broadcasting Company
(MBC) – 200 owned and affiliated stations nationwide. The news and
talk station DZRH is its anchor, and it feeds other network stations such
as Radyo Natin , as well as television through companion
station RHTV. MBC also owns entertainment stations Love
Radio, Aksyon Radio, Easy Rock and Yes FM. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">ABS-CBN – DZMM
Radyo Patrol national news which feeds cable TV news
channel DZMM TeleRadyo.
ABS-CBN also owns My Only Radio's regional network of 14
FM music and entertainment stations.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Radyo Mindanao Network
(RMN) – AM and FM stations in 34 cities across the Philippines with
heavy representation in Midnanao.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bombo Radyo – Bombo
Radyo talk radio has 22 stations and Star FM operates 21 music
stations. Based in Iloilo City.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Catholic Radio Network –
52 church-run radio stations under a variety of different names
nationwide. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">GMA Network – 23 radio
stations across the country with main stations DZBB SilverRadyo and
the Campus FM chain of music stations. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Newspapers and Other Print Media</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There are
approximately 75 newspapers published in the Philippines. Of these, 48 are in
English with most being local publications from large cities, 20 in Filipino
languages, 2 in Spanish, 1 bi-lingual and 4 in Chinese.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The <a href="http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Top_10_Philippine_Newspapers_of_2009">major
national newspapers</a> include: </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Philippine Daily
Inquirer. Estimated circulation
260,000 daily with an average daily readership of over 2 million.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Philippine Star. Circulation
of about 270,000. Reaches Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Manila Bulletin. Circulation
of about 280,000. Owned by Emilio
Yap who also owns tabloids Tempo and Balita and magazines such as
Liwayway, Bisaya and Philippine Panorama.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Manila Times. President Aguinaldo read this
publication. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://newspaper.philippinecentral.com/">Other newspapers</a> include</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Other: Business World,
Malaya, Manila Standard Today</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Daily Tribune</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tabloids: Abante (circulation 420,000), Balita
(Tagalog), People's Journal and People's Taliba (English and Tagalog
versions), Pilipino Star Ngayon (Star's Tagalog paper), Saksi Ngayon
(Tagalog) and Tempo (Manila Bulletin)<br />
</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The Inquirer
established a radio station in 2010, Radyo Inquirer.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
If you'd like a more
detailed history of the Philippine newspaper business, here is a <a href="http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=3&i=221">link
to an article published</a> by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
on a recent but unknown date.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Internet News and Commentary</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The largest
television and newspaper enterprises also have robust and informative web
versions of their daily news and opinion fare. Videos and live feeds are
featured on television sites. Here are the links to the news or main sections
of those outlets.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">ABS-CBN</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">GMA-7</span></a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://interaksyon.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">ABC-5</span></a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://www.inquirer.net/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Philippine Inquirer</span></a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://www.philstar.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Philippine Star</span></a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://www.mb.com.ph/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Manila Bulletin</span></a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://www.bworldonline.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Business World</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The most significant
internet-only news and opinion site is, of course<a href="http://www.rappler.com/"> Rappler.</a> It is a younger, more interactive and less
advertising intense news effort.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Information is not
readily available as to the impact of the internet on newspaper circulation, or
the financials of these undertakings. The web sites are significant efforts,
maintained in a much more dynamic, current state than are government agency sites,
for example.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We also have
attached to the news outlets robust opinion and commentary sections, with top
columnists such as Randy David drawing several hundred reader comments in
response to an article. Bloggers represent fly-by-night opinion mongers, rather
wayward and quite broke orphan cousins.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
Conclusions</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There are three or
four main players in each media category. The internet is the most
competitively robust because it has both newspaper and television players, plus
<span style="font-style: italic;">Rappler</span>. <br />
<br />
In order of dominance based on daily viewership, I'd guess the impactful voices stack up as follows in terms of power:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">ABS-CBN</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">ABC-5</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Abante</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Philippine Inquirer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Philippine Star</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Manila Bulletin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Manila Broadcasting Company</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">GMA-7</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Business World</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We now have in
this first blog is the general lay of the land. There is much, much more to
explore.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in; text-decoration: underline;">
For Further Study</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">What is the ownership
connectivity among the major players. That is not clear from this cursory
review. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Do editorial or news policies
reflect a political bias?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">What are the issues emerging
from "self regulation" of media? </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px;">Are television and radio frequencies considered a "public resource"? Or are they the total purview of private interests?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">How does the quality of news
reporting vary from outlet to outlet?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">What are trends in internet readership? </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">How is the internet affecting
the financial viability of the mainstream media?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
The next article in the series will take up trends on the internet, and financial impacts if such information is available.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-72402584653640638282013-03-19T05:33:00.001+08:002013-03-29T14:51:02.099+08:00Top 12 Filipino Entertainers: The Criteria<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SejFbqOyNzw/UUV2UydralI/AAAAAAAALaY/JUz1dCZkbFQ/s1600/magician.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SejFbqOyNzw/UUV2UydralI/AAAAAAAALaY/JUz1dCZkbFQ/s320/magician.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philippine's number 1 entertainer?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">JoeAm is banned by
law from having an opinion about election candidates. This is a recent discovery thrust by the Immigration Chief into Joe's brain along with a blunt deportation threat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">So half of Joe's material is gone, poof. I mean, we all like down and
dirty political mud slinging, piling on, lifting up, loud and boisterous electioneering.
Now what's a guy to write about?</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Foreigners must occupy themselves with sex tourism, I guess. I could write about that. Hmmmmm. Maybe not such a good idea. The Ambassador got his lip in a ringer over that. Hmmmm. Not smuggling or gun
running. No we ought not do that. But eating and spending for sure, yes. We can do that. That is authorized, I'm sure. Spending, that is what we are to focus on I guess.<br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's more fun in the Philippines as long as you like spending.</span><br />
<br />
My problem is there is not much intellectual pursuit in that. I've delegated to my wife and she has developed exemplary skills. Truly an artist. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So, with political candidates
being put "off limits" and not much else left to us foreigners, I need to shore up the blog content a little.
Find a replacement line of inquiry, investigation and opinion mongering.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So I go to a topic
which to most Filipinos is way MORE IMPORTANT than who the next senators will
be. Way way more important. JoeAm herein announces that he takes up as a major theme in his blog:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The entertainers who
represent the soul, the verve, the elan, the pride of the Philippines.</b></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwOKWBJfzKk/UUV2U2i_p4I/AAAAAAAALag/5C48w919Yp0/s1600/piolo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwOKWBJfzKk/UUV2U2i_p4I/AAAAAAAALag/5C48w919Yp0/s320/piolo.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piolo doing his impression<br />
of Johnny Lin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now as we did in the
political arena before we were declared offensive, we developed a set of
criteria useful for comparing candidates. We called it the Rizal-Robredo
Voter's Guide, and you can link over to see what outrageous malcontents we foreigners, along with a couple of rabble-rousing OFWs, can be in figuring out elections: <a href="http://rizalrobredo.blogspot.com/">Go to
RR Voter's Guide web site</a>. Truly, we are national security threats, trying to manipulate gullible Filipinos into applying a little discipline in evaluating candidates.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So we need similar criteria
for those who work in the entertainment arena. Now we can't call this a
"Rizal-Robredo" index, for sure. What might we call it?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We could say
Poe-Estrada Index, as both were entertainers. But that leads us back into the
banned political arena. I wonder if I can even say those names lest that be
construed as trying to influence the election. Hmmm. Well, I've got one from
both camp, so it seems neutral to me.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We can't call it the
Jessica Sanchez Index because she is American except in the adoring hearts and
minds of Filipinos.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So we need a name.
That's issue number one.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Next we need to
figure out some criteria for selecting the top entertainers. Now this is rather
difficult because entertainers actually work in several areas of specialty. We
have the movie and television actors. We have singers who work stages around the
world. There are boxers who club each other's brains out so we can ooooooh and
ahhhhhhh in animalistic delight. And politicians are also showboats if we
observe the antics of Senator Santiago and Sotto, neither of whom are running
for election right now and so are authorized subjects of discussion. Basketball
players are entertainers, especially if they marry presidential sisters. Soccer
players, too. There were some great magicians on the other night; a guy made big umbrellas from little ones. Truly amazing. Or clowns like BongV at <span style="font-style: italic;">Anti-Pinoy</span>
and benigno at <span style="font-style: italic;">Get Real Post</span>. Our
criteria should not rule clowns out, either.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwQP9vD3KLQ/UUV2Uy3UnBI/AAAAAAAALac/AagMsDqQYbA/s1600/pacquiao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwQP9vD3KLQ/UUV2Uy3UnBI/AAAAAAAALac/AagMsDqQYbA/s320/pacquiao.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manny entertains us</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let me just propose
some categories we can then refine with reader inputs. Here are some suggested
criteria that can be used to select Top Filipino Entertainers:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Physically
appealing looks.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">
Handsome or pretty; fit; sexy.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Charisma and
style.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Has that certain pizzazz that rocks our
socks. Lights up a room when entering.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Performing
talent.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> This
will vary according to specialty. Can beat a Mexican's brains in, or an American's, even better. Strong and pure of voice. Fleet of foot. Can cry
real tears at the flip of a director's cue. Can magically turn any good deed into criticism. Those kinds of measures.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Number of
commercial sponsorships.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Shampoo, beer,
cookies, pain medicine, shoes and cakes. Any product counts, and we'll
need to count the minutes of airtime in, say, a week.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold;">Assets,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> whether in dollars or pesos
or mansions or yachts. Rich = Success.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Brains are not an
element that means much in the entertainment business. So we don't need to give
credit for that. I mean, Senator Sotto was an entertainer. Point made.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But maybe we should
consider only current performers. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Is Sotto acting at
the present time or not? That's a rather interesting question, is it not?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Nor do we need to
concern ourselves with values. If entertainers sleep around, have been married
a few dozen times, are gay or straight, fail to attend church. These things
don't matter. Indeed, a "bad boy" or "bad girl" image can
actually raise an entertainer's popularity and stature.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NuVnA0vJ6Ps/UUV2Vc8I3XI/AAAAAAAALaw/87drRC-_0W0/s1600/rj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NuVnA0vJ6Ps/UUV2Vc8I3XI/AAAAAAAALaw/87drRC-_0W0/s320/rj.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RJ, my favorite guitarist after<br />
Keith Richards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Or what we might be
able to do is list the entertainers we like best, and then jig up the measures
to fit that. To justify it. That's another approach we could take. Also that
way, I wouldn't have to work so hard. You see, I don't follow entertainers at all.
I follow political candidates. <br />
<br />
Well, I used to. Now I flip mournfully past all the articles about the election, resigned to the notion that Filipinos will get what they deserve.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But enough of this maudlin self-pity. Back to rating entertainers.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I know of the
following Filipino entertainers, currently in the business:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Charice</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Manny Pacquiao</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Kris Aquino</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Kris Aquino's ex-husband, the father of Baby James</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Piolo Pasqual</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Christina Reyes</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Willie Wowowee Reviling</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Martin Nivera</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Guitarist and guitar peddler RJ</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jessica Sanchez</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">Justin Bieber</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Weatherman Naturalist on
Showtime</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Crossover Guy/Lady on
Showtime</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Shampoo Lady from the
Family of Actors</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Mother of a Senatorial
Candidate</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I think you'll have
to help me out here . . .I've done a dump of all my cranial gigabytes and only gotten those few crumbs.<br />
<br />
Who should we consider on a list of "Top 12
Filipino Entertainers"? Let's say they have to be alive, or a reasonable proximity thereto.<br />
<br />
And how would you rejig the criteria?<br />
<br />
Oh, and the name. What should the name of our criteria and list be?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-49643130540188091042013-03-18T04:23:00.001+08:002013-03-18T04:23:20.859+08:00The Tipping Point to Philippine Prosperity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_FYbC74hsuA/UUUXT9dxc1I/AAAAAAAALaA/r_1H6foXaCA/s1600/ofw02+inquirer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_FYbC74hsuA/UUUXT9dxc1I/AAAAAAAALaA/r_1H6foXaCA/s1600/ofw02+inquirer.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: The Inquirer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">I read a strange
article in the </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">Inquirer</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> last week. The
headline read: "</span><a href="http://globalnation.inquirer.net/68945/widespread-philippine-indifference-towards-overseas-filipinos" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Widespread
Philippine indifference towards overseas Filipinos</a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">". The point of view
was from those who attended the "2nd Global Summit of Filipinos in the
Diaspora" in late February in Makati. Neglect was the main mien of the party as
President Aquino did not show up for their gathering. He was busy campaigning and dealing with a certain misbehaving Sultan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The article was
strange because it richly praised the benefits of the new Overseas
Voting Act ("OVA") that got rid of some onerous provisions
of the prior law and made OFW voting available via the internet. It explained
how the group commended Senators Pimentel and Legarda for their work to lead the push for the legislation.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Then the article
went on to criticize Senatorial Candidate Cynthia Villar for some
indiscriminate remarks she made off-the-cuff about nurses (which she apologized
for), then went into a castigation of senatorial candidates after this
remarkable sentence: "Unpalatable as some of Aquino’s Senate candidates
may be, the alternatives offered by the opposition UNA slate are even more
dismal."</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
This is a news
report?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Finally it took
COMELEC to task for delisting over 200,000 registered overseas voters because
they had not voted for three years. COMELEC subsequently recanted the order
and kept them on the voter rolls after the flare-up of complaints from
overseas. But this group took them to task just for good measure.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The article was
written by Rodel Rodis.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I rather think this
is a group with a negative mindset, evidencing a high measure of insecurity and
need for attention. Or else the author of the piece is that way. It (he?) was
hurt by Aquino, hurt by Villar, hurt by COMELEC. And in the hurting they could
not get it straight that the OVA is exactly the OPPOSITE of what the headline
is claiming. OVA is attending to the
best interests of OFW's. There is no "widespread disinterest."</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
They couldn't
celebrate the achievements for all the hurt.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So it seems to me to
be an out-of-step, strained, grousing group, or a strange bit of reporting. Or
maybe JoeAm is lost in the wilds about this. And HE is the grouser.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
By my eyes and ears,
OFW's are roundly cheered in the Philippines for under-writing the Philippine
economic boom. I've heard nothing but praise for their support of the
Philippines. And I've read a lot of articles dealing with OFW issues and incidents; a HIGH DEGREE of interest. A lot of concern. It also seems to me the
Philippines has the best supporting infrastructure on the planet for overseas
workers.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The wail and weep
headline, and the group's attitude (or the author's attitude), seem to me indicative of a significant problem in the
Philippines: the tendency for Filipinos to look at any negative as huge and any positive as
not enough. <br />
<br />
Negatives, inflated. Positives, under-appreciated.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
How do you get
inspired when wallowing in self-pity? How do you build unity and excitement and
prosperity when every pothole is viewed as a Pinatubo?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
My own attitude
toward OFW's has shifted this past year, thanks to views offered by the
commenters on this blog. I no longer feel sorry for them, being torn from their
families. Oh, yes, some warrant such heartfelt compassion. But the majority of
OFW's end up stronger, smarter, wiser and richer - and
not just with money. For many, it is a bold choice, not a suffering
requirement. Indeed, I'd guess that the
majority of the commenters on this blog have had overseas experience and can
relate better to the American cross-cultural perspective than can homebound
Filipinos who have not experienced more modern rule-bound, courtesy-bound,
accountability-bound, community-bound societies.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Yes, I know there
are many OFW's who work in intimidating or even dangerous situations. I wish it
were possible to will them well and healthy. But until the Philippine economic
house is in order, lower income, lower skilled people will undoubtedly bear risks
for a shot at better opportunity.<br />
<br />
So I'd suggest that Filipino citizens ask what THEY can do to help OFW's.<br />
<br />
Read on.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Last week I did a
blog that said it is important to accept responsibility for decisions. To
"own" them. It is also
important to distinguish between what we can control and what we cannot. It is
important not to judge OURSELVES based on other people's actions. These are
common principles taught by psycho-therapists. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Contributor Cha made
a striking observation about this just last week:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">[Group A] I don't
know that CBT [Cognitive Behavior Therapy] could work effectively with
most Filipinos. I think most of us grew up being taught what to think (by
the schools, their parents, priests etc) instead of how to think. Such
that when someone comes along and tells us to change the way we think, we
somehow lose our bearings and are not able to respond rationally to the
challenge. Some, as you may have observed, go on the defensive and attack
the proponent of the new idea or way of thinking being put forward. Others
will probably just clam up, will not say a word, maybe even smile at you
(if he doesn't smirk, that is) and then go about his merry old way. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Then she pointed out
the promise:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic;">[Group B] And then
there are those who will take the time to investigate. They want to know
more, find out what they don't know that you seem to know and then some
more. Eventually they form their own opinion. It may not necessarily
coincide with what has been proposed (it may be better!) but arrived at
through a thinking process and not an outright dismissal.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
To me, the first
group ("Group A") is destined for ignorance and weakness. They will
express a lot of blames and excuses, stay pretty much in one place, and offer
up simplistic, poor critical analyses . They will make shallow, top-of-head voting choices. And the other ("Group B")
will grasp what is happening, take responsibility, behave maturely, learn and
adapt, and offer up more complex and better critical analyses. They will vote thoughtfully.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Now here's my perspective on what is happening in the Philippines. And I fear those in group A
are missing it completely.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I think President
Aquino is a great leader, not necessarily for his mastery of the trees, but for his mastery of the forest. The trees are
the individual incidents or cases that go either good or bad: bus massacre,
Mindanao agreement, jailing of Arroyo, RH Bill, Cybercrime debate, China, U.S.,
Sabah, court appointments, and so forth. Lots of trees. Those who don't like
the President can find plenty to criticize. And there's plenty to hail, as well.
Good tourism campaign, government contracts cleaned up to avoid corruption, RH
passed, and so forth.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But the measure of Mr.
Aquino's greatness is to be found in the shape of the forest. The seating of
modern notions of earnest, honest work
being what government does. Of democratic institutions serving the
people and building a stronger, richer, safer Philippines. Of a nation more
confident both inside and outside, as reflected in a roaring stock market,
booming real estate market, and more foreign investment and tourism. It is
profound. It brings the Philippines onto the cusp of a respectable global
presence.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Then we see a
complex event occur, the Sabah incursion, and all the simplistic Group A
arguments come out and a very negative, almost bitter dialogue roars to life.
And one can see the Philippines slipping from that respectable position. We
hear cries of "weak president" and calls for war (presumably with
others at the front than "me"). We see anyone who has an axe to grind
speaking out critically against the President: the Catholic Church, the
corrupt, politicians looking for personal gain. Anyone with a grudge leaps on
the President's case. And the Philippines falls back into the divisions and the
contests that have always been here. A kind of rabid dialogue that requires
winners, always winners. Never concessions. Never considerations. Never
sacrifices for the good of the community of all Filipinos.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Everyone it the
debate insists on winning.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
And when they do that, the Philippines
loses.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But wait. Wait.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There are three
forces emerging in the dialogue. These forces represent and empower Group B, or
at least have the POTENTIAL to empower Group B if they are not overwhelmed by
Group A's divisive negativity:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">A growing core of people with internationalized values living and working within the Philippines: government officials and businessmen
schooled overseas, global travelers, and an infestation of foreigners
living in the Philippines. This is a core of globally aware,
sophisticated, broadminded people. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">The OFW millions. Many live
in modern nations and live an orderly lifestyle of the honest and
law-abiding host nation. Not the wild and wooly, law ignoring style of the
Philippines. They comprehend how nations can be complex and internally
argumentative, yet move in harmony because the purpose of the argument is
to look for a better way forward. Not to tear down others. Or win
arguments for the sake of esteem. They often demand a better Philippines.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="circle">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;">The internet. Many people in
Group A infest the blog dialogue boxes or maintain social network
presences that are simplistic and inane. But there are also those who
browse widely and read and debate. They inject a richer, deeper
perspective into their values and arguments. Their analyses are better and they can solve problems.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A comment has been
made in discussions here that those who travel, school or work overseas seem to
forget their experience when they return to the Philippines. They once again
take up the weak disciplines, favors and self-involvement that characterize so
much behavior here.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
That is where
President Aquino's re-structuring of the values of government can make a huge
difference. It can give honor to those who engage in the ordered and productive
thinking of the modern world. And, with enough momentum and mass behind the
values of honorable, honest progress, the Philippines can tip toward
prosperity.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZL1OzFFQDjY/UUUYZFR_nbI/AAAAAAAALaI/-QjTkf2H5vs/s1600/tipping+point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZL1OzFFQDjY/UUUYZFR_nbI/AAAAAAAALaI/-QjTkf2H5vs/s1600/tipping+point.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We are at the
tipping point now.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The Philippines
needs a bigger middle class, not economically, but in values. A bigger Group B.
The small upper class of empowered rich people are rooted in power and
wealth-building, and are not open to change. And at the other end of the scale, the masses are out of touch with
what is happening broadly in the Philippines.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The Philippines
needs to get overwhelmed by right-thinking people who can speak and act in a
more globally mature way. With intellectual flexibility and the ability to lose an argument now and then without losing face. With the ability to drive and welcome change. With an enduring loyalty to country, through thick and thin, not a fly-by-night pandering to popular heroes, or bailing out if Mr. Aquino decides to do something differently than they would do it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
If the three forces
are empowered and congeal and build in size and strength, the Philippines is
well on its way to greater sophistication and productivity and prosperity. That will help OFW's more than just about anything.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
HOWEVER, if the Group A
negativists insist on winning their arguments, the Philippines could tip back
to divisive acrimony and precious little modernization.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
I would add that the mainstream press is fundamentally a part of Group A, leveraging bad news to gain higher circulation or revenue. That is an ominous readout. The article cited at the beginning of this post is a clear example. Just plain bad journalism.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Those Filipinos having a
vision of a modern, productive Philippines - Group B - need to do their best to keep the
conversation positive, uplifting and supportive of President Aquino's forest.
Whether they like all the trees or not. Whether they like him personally or not. They need to call the negative thinkers to task for weakening the Philippines.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The nation's prosperity is very much in the people's hands. The primary character of the Philippines: Group A or Group B?<br />
<br />
It's a choice.<br />
<br />
Own it.<br />
<br /></div>
The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855856123871700301.post-40376818088962922032013-03-16T08:39:00.002+08:002013-03-16T08:39:59.493+08:00"Dear Joe"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp_vk0UkhYc/UT_4zECDNDI/AAAAAAAALWI/QMAWD4bdjqc/s1600/watson01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp_vk0UkhYc/UT_4zECDNDI/AAAAAAAALWI/QMAWD4bdjqc/s320/watson01.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Greatest Living American</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Dear
Joe, "Who is the greatest American alive? Is it President Obama? Hugh
Hefner? Donald Trump? Or Bill Gates?"
Edgar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">Fascinating
question, Edgar. "Greatest" is a relative term, of course. For
boxers, the greatest is Mohammed Ali unless you live in the Philippines. See?
Relative. President Obama is the greatest American black president, hands down.
That one is absolute, the exception that proves the rule. Hugh Hefner is the
greatest womanizer and peddler of women's bodies for profit. "The
Donald" is the greatest stuffed shirt. Bill Gates the greatest living
philanthropist. So you have certainly
mentioned some superb top-notch greats for sure.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
As
you might guess, JoeAm goes outside of popular names for his top pick. His standards are as follows: intelligent,
good character, and extraordinary accomplishment for the betterment of mankind.
Entertainers, businessmen and stuffed shirts don't make the cut. The peddler of
women's bodies doesn't either. The black president is wallowing in partisan
muck, and it will take a few years for the wine of his accomplishment to age
properly. Now Bill Gates is for sure in the top five, getting credit for
computer operating systems, business achievement, philanthropy, plus bonus
points for introducing casual attire into the whole American business scene.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDx43ynvebE/UT_4z2SI29I/AAAAAAAALWY/ZAo6XX7UgzM/s1600/watson02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDx43ynvebE/UT_4z2SI29I/AAAAAAAALWY/ZAo6XX7UgzM/s1600/watson02.jpg" /></a>But
the greatest American alive is<span style="font-weight: bold;"> James Dewey
Watson</span>. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
He's
the co-inventor of the double helix structure of DNA in 1953, along with
Briton's Francis Crick. He received the Nobel Prize in 1962 along with Crick
and Maurice Wilkins for their groundbreaking work on human DNA. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
Beyond
his science genius, Watson has been an ardent activist, a protestor against the Viet Nam War and
nuclear arms, and an outspoken advocate
for women's choice. He has further argued that "stupidity is a
disease" and can be cured. Boy howdy, I wish he'd do more of that work in
the American legislature.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
The
significance of his work is astounding: (1) the framework for crop and
livestock genetic enhancements giving us hope that perhaps we can indeed feed
our overpopulating planet and have redder tomatoes along the way, (2) the
release from jail of those shown to be innocent by DNA proof, and the jailing
of thousands of very bad people with unquestionable assurance of guilt, (3)
medical breakthroughs that will cure pains, prevent deaths and potentially end
stupidity, not to mention rheumatism and gout, and (4) a great leap forward in
the discussion of science and faith as the way to intelligent salvation. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Truly, this is a man of great intellect, character
and accomplishment for the betterment of mankind</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;"> He did nothing
less than re-define life.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u37TMxtaoYI/UT_5uNmTWUI/AAAAAAAALWk/z2FokGu86CU/s1600/flag+on+porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u37TMxtaoYI/UT_5uNmTWUI/AAAAAAAALWk/z2FokGu86CU/s320/flag+on+porch.jpg" width="320" /></a>Dear
Joe, "1. Why do Kanos hang a flag on their porch? 1.1 Do ya'all do it on
Independence Day only? ?????? " Anonymous</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
The
citizens of warrior nations such as the United States have extraordinary
patriotism. They know the sacrifices people make to serve their fellow
countrymen. The flag is the symbol of that patriotism, of courage, of giving to
the nation absolutely all that can be given. Of cheering in victory, or holding onto unity and determination in
defeat. Of knowing that other Americans are there for support, no matter the
dangers. Of knowing that the nation stands for the best principles of mankind
living as a community.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
So
people display the flag on the porch, or in the yard, or from the roof, or in
the window to say "I'm for America".</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
And,
oddly enough, the flag is a symbol of freedom of speech for Americans who are
used to loud and angry taunts. In the hands of the bitter or the jealous or
those who don't understand, those who would burn the flag or defile it, it
becomes just a piece of cloth, stripped of its real meaning, saying more about
the defiler than about America.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
The
flag is flown on Independence Day, Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and in
special circumstances (for example, to celebrate landing on the moon or at half
mast upon the death of a president or people who served their nation with
distinction, such as astronauts).</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
My
father died when he was 91. He had served in the army in WW II from age 18 to
24. The army held a small ceremony at his funeral to express gratitude on
behalf of all Americans for his service, formally presenting me with the flag
that draped his coffin. I also have my uncle's flag from that war. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
That's
why Americans fly the flag.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcBxjuKeyQ8/UT_4y5geINI/AAAAAAAALWA/I_WWrZniKUY/s1600/propaganda01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcBxjuKeyQ8/UT_4y5geINI/AAAAAAAALWA/I_WWrZniKUY/s1600/propaganda01.jpg" /></a>Dear
Honeybunch, What are your goals in blogging? Are you going to write blogs
forever?" Your Darling Wife</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
Well,
Sweetie Pie, that is a curious question, as I've been asking myself the same
question. For the past year, I've been cranking out articles steadily and
learning a lot along the way. I know the blogs have had some influence, which is rewarding. Still, I think the
blogging medium in the Philippines is rather scattered and only modestly
influential. It is a little bizarre being an American in this conversational
scene, and I know that American opinion-mongering arouses the hackles of tried
and true homebound Filipino patriots. Overseas Filipinos are not so prickly, as
they are also outside looking in. Yet, I look about and I don't see homebound
bloggers really calling it straight and striving for new ideas in quite the
same constructively provocative way that JoeAm does. Mostly people report on what they see, or pursue their own narrow interests.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">The discussions at the popular news sites, </span>Inquirer
<span style="font-style: italic;">or</span> Rappler,<span style="font-style: italic;">
are discouraging. Much of the comment is posturing and insult rather than
crisp, succinct debate on the issues. Everybody is trying to prove they are
teachers and winners rather than being open-minded listeners and willing
learners. There is little bend in discussions. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
And now we see the apparent intrusion of those
who are clearly out to damage the Philippines through on-line destruction
propaganda. And I think the emotional audience is likely to be susceptible to
that. The Philippines has very little patriotic glue because so many people are
of the opinion that any way but their way is the wrong way.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
So
they easily find fault.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; margin: 0in;">
It's
a rather discouraging scene.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QdgMumgRvsI/UT_4zcIvn5I/AAAAAAAALWM/qaF21PjSTLw/s1600/propaganda02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QdgMumgRvsI/UT_4zcIvn5I/AAAAAAAALWM/qaF21PjSTLw/s320/propaganda02.jpg" width="237" /></a>My
goals remain the same, to learn and to advocate, to the limited extent
possible, for development a modern, productive, upright democratic Philippines.
I'll write as long as I can find new ideas or turn a good phrase now and then.
There's an ebb and flow to it.</div>
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When it ebbs too low, I'll quit.</div>
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<b>Dear JoeAm, Is it true that the Senate candidates will determine if President Aquino's good governance agenda will continue? If we go with UNA won't we have better "checks and balances"? Renaldo</b><br />
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<i>Good of you to inquire, Renaldo.</i><br />
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<i>"Kumbaya, My Lord, Kumbaya,</i><br />
<i>Kumbaya, My Lord, Kumbaya . . ."</i><br />
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The Society of Honorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536906267332687130noreply@blogger.com21