My more public blog has now been totally given over to my artistic pursuits, so I’ve left this blog abandoned for a while, waiting for the right time to resurrect it. It’s interesting to note that it is the RH bill I was talking about in my last post more than 3 years ago. This is how long the debate has been going on, and is perhaps why Old Manila tour guide Carlos Celdran finally flipped his lid and staged a protest inside the Manila Cathedral (ironically the starting point for his tours). I will not touch the debate over whether or not he was right in doing so, as I’m tired of butting heads with people, but for those who are curious I a) am appreciative of the press his publicity stunt has gotten for pro-RH bill supporters but b) frown on on his methods. The only thing that really matters to me is ultimately “was it effective?” Only time will tell.
What I would like to touch on is some of the statements released by him in this post (I hesitate to call in an article for fear of demeaning well written articles internet-wide) in the Inquirer where he drops some knowledge. For the most part I have no issues with what he says (in fact I generally agree) but he says two things that really irk me.
The most ineffective way to help the Philippines is through politics.
The kind of damage a statement like this does is incalculable. I am sympathetic to it of course, as is every Filipino that has been affected by corruption at one level or another. But it is ridiculous to disregard politics as a means of helping the Philippines. It’s a common enough mistake for individuals or small groups that have made an impact on society. They say “look what a difference we’ve made, all on our own!” while flipping the government the figurative bird. It neglects the fact that if we didn’t have a relatively stable government, we’d be having constant warfare and chaos, similar to countries like Afghanistan and certain African and Eastern European countries. The government is what (barely) holds things together and gives people the opportunity to make something of their society. Like Gilbert Teodoro said in his presidential campaign, the job of the government is to create stability, such that people can create businesses and wealth for themselves and ultimately the nation. Ignore that government, allow it to degenerate, and things start falling apart faster than you can imagine. We must encourage people to work with government and get into politics. We must encourage our best and brightest to at least attempt to venture into that minefield to make a difference because otherwise all our efforts outside the sphere of government will be for naught. Don’t kowtow to the government. Don’t let them take the credit for what you’re doing. But at the same time do not ignore out of hand any signs that there is change, and that there are people in government who want to do good. You are not helping your cause by disengaging completely.
The world will never judge Manila by Mall of Asia or Greenbelt. Deal with it.
If we agree with him, then we might as well just give up, because the world will never change the way it thinks about us, the same way the world still thinks of China as a backwards nation where 90% of people ride bicycles. It’s just ludicrous and infuriates me so much it’s hard to write a coherent paragraph about how wrong it is on so many levels. In the first place, the world is always changing, and it changes by the efforts of people including Carlos. It’s a tragedy that the man who wants to change the way you see Manila refuses to acknowledge the modernization that is going on all around us. I am not for rampant modernization, and I love the heritage of Manila, but by telling people that we will never be judged by our modern accomplishments you’re cutting our future off at the knees.
One of the few bright rays of hope for the Philippines is that the future is yet unwritten. That by our energies and efforts we can always shape the future, even as we learn form the past. Mall of Asia, Greenbelt, the MRT and LRT and other signs of modernization sustain me, give me hope that we can still rise above ourselves. It gives me hope that one day we won’t be known as one of the basketcases of Asia.
On a more personal level, it stings me because I’m the head of a group that wants to make the Philippines the new regional hub of game development in Southeast Asia. Hyberbolic to be sure, but aren’t all aspirations? I want the world to see us as more than Willie Revillame and the hostage tragedy, and I’ll be damned if I let someone say that I can’t affect that change even in the slightest. Sir, I refuse to deal with it.
Mr. Celdran, if you have been disappointed by people (ie bishops who refuse to engage you), by institutions (ie the church and government), indeed by humanity, please know that you are not alone. We’re all disappointed. We all have issues. But those are your issues to deal with, not ours.
Here’s my $0.02.
I don’t agree with Carlos Celdran’s political positions, but I somehow agree with the quote that the politics is not the best way to help the Philippines. I would go so far as tell that politics is NOT A WAY to help people any where else. You could have the most sincere people in government, but it’s impossible for them to know what’s best for people.
Celdran’s 15-minutes will soon pass, unfortunately because he isn’t from the ilustrados to enable sustainability in this market. Forgive my cynicism and jadedness. But this is my 2-centavos as well.
Will this media/pr strategy of his bear fruit? I’m doubtful… As someone who generally supports the overall effort to control population growth in this country, as well as an advocate for family planning for socio-economic reasons – I share your sentiments, Ryan.
The media’s politicking of Celdran’s comments will only fuel further the disparity between the social classes – intellectually, culturally, and financially. We have enough poorly educated waiters and maids with ingrained beliefs that the rich are bad, “Greenbelt is not for people like us”. But that’s why all we hear on the air-waves are “Tamaaahhhh” or “Tot-tot-tot” in between the slander & libel diatribes fueled by talk radio that want to create drama between the middle-class and the poor.
That is the vicious cycle. Celdran is party/victim/representative of that mindset.
Instead, the country should foster the ideals that any child after eating at Binalot and playing by the boardwalk of Manila Bay can also say “One day, I will build a Mall of Asia!”.
Especially for Manileños whose aspirations are self-pegged a few notches behind their counter-parts in Mumbai and Manhattan, they need to stop their own cycle of defeatism.
Let us learn from Italy and Spain… lovely countries, rich histories, and fantastic people with a great sense of national pride. But that mañana complex of theirs is the common denominator that is counter to their modernization. Mañana we have lots of compared to our neighbors’ modern public transportation systems and infrastructure, subsidized housings in modern residential towers within the city just to name a few.
Its time to grab the kalabaw by the balls! BPO is a stepping stone, health care definitely is as well, as will the country’s media and creative executives in the work they are doing — a Knowledge Based economy IS developing. And that will only happen with the collaboration of the rich, the middle class, the poor and the government.
To say otherwise is dreaming of Utopia, instead of Manila.
This country can rise from being pegged as “Asia’s country of servants” to the Pearl that it was. It can happen now, instead of mañana.
Elevic – It’s natural to feel that way, but it’s wrong to believe it. People in government are no different from you or me, so I don’t see why you’d think it’s impossible for them to know what’s best for the people, especially if they listen to them. We need to encourage that kind of behaviour (ie openness and transparency) instead for just saying in a blanket statement that politics is bad and all politicians are trapos. It’s not true, even if you have to look pretty hard to uncover the good people.
Kyle – Glad you’re on board, not very many people are, unfortunately. What saddens me the most about statements like these from Celdran is that he really did change the way people looked at Manila with his tours. And I admire him for his ability to be among the masa and be comfortable bridging that gap between social classes, because it’s something I’m afraid I’ll never be able to do. But then he says something like this and my heart sinks because he doesn’t realize that what he’s saying is self-defeating.
Well, we can give him a benefit of a doubt that he doesn’t fully understand that he is now “on that next level” and the pressures of being held culpable for the gravity of your statements will now be applied to him.
It was fame (and power) he sought once he did what he did. Maybe he’ll realize that though politicians can also be cast in an oftentimes inept light by the glare of the media, balancing productivity and sanity in today’s CNN/RealTime environment is not as easy when you don’t have the Anonymity Blanket when part of the massa.
I believe it will take the whole spectrum of players to change the ingrained socio-economic (class structure, discrimination, education) issues our poor country faces. Hopefully the Venus Raj, Charice, and Manny Pacquiaos who have the ability to leverage the sustained media presence can utilize that pulpit for some progressive action.
That’s exactly the point. People think it’s easy to run a country, a province, a city, hell, a barangay and it’s really not.
If there’s one thing being head of IGDA has taught me it’s that being in a leadership position sucks, and oftentimes the perks, if any, aren’t worth the hassle. It was so much easier when I was just the kid on the sidelines sniping at people and making snarky remarks.
People need to realize that there is not one solution. Blanket statements like “oh if we had no religion we’d be great” or “oh if we just killed all of the politicians we’d be so well off” are simplistic nonsense. All sectors need to work together and communicate, otherwise we all fall down.