On Gloria Arroyo.

Tonight is the eve of the transfer of powers in the Philippines. After after 12 years, we would actually transfer the powers from one person to another. In this case, it would be Gloria Macapagal Arroyo transferring presidential powers to Benigno Aquino III. Nine years of Arroyo’s administration for this country. She has become the president since I became aware of the dynamics in my country. She has been my president since I was 10. I am 19 now. Nine long years.

I was grade 4 then when she was put into power through EDSA People Power 2. Though innocent of Philippine politics, I am supportive of EDSA Dos, as I can remember. I still have memories of myself waving a red flag made of handkerchief and running inside our house. This little woman who received thunderous applause, clapping and joyous shouts would be as big as our country’s leader on that fateful day of January 20,2001 when she was sworn in as the 14^th president of our dear Republic. I didn’t support her bid for reelection. But she won. That made her our president for 9 years.

Nine years of unprecedented growth boasted by her government coupled with 9 years of scandal-ridden governance is how I would describe the Philippines under Gloria. We all know how Gloria took pride of her achievements in her speeches, advertisements and by her loyal henchmen and women. And we also know how her critics, maybe majority of our thinking population, belie these achievements and condemn her to be the worst president the country ever had. I don’t have defining and concluding evidences for these assumptions and allegations. All I have is my experience with these contrasting thoughts.

I consider myself lucky because I had the chance to benefit from what she always boasts on her speeches- the SCTEX, the more ‘passable’ roads going to my province and some other things. I also had my share of what others consider Gloria’s bad governance- from the tuition fee increase, the rising prices of commodities among many others. I also heard praises, lauds, and Gloriafication from her loyal supporters and those defending her from bad light. I also had my share of despair and angst whenever I hear a farmer, a student or someone marginalized retell stories of injustice and abuse they experienced under the administration. Condemnations and praises. Lauds and attacks. Yes, I praised her at times, especially on how brilliant she is but I also expressed my disgust whenever I knew I have to- especially when she failed to use her brilliance for the benefit of our dear country.

Now, for the part that some would be waiting for. Would I praise her administration or condemn it? I am not anti-Gloria though I’d been to some rallies against her. I am not pro-Gloria either though I think some people brand me that way just because I am not anti-Gloria (Oh, how I miss those black-or-white people who epitomize ‘if you’re not with us, you’re against us’) I don’t want to label myself just to please other people. I don’t want to condemn her administration because everybody expects and everybody does condemn this administration. I would also not praise her administration especially because of the scandals and injustices our country has experienced under her governance. I would like to wait for the time where we are enlightened on what really happened during the 2004 Presidential elections, the fertilizer scam fund, the Jose Pidal account, the Maguindanao massacre and more scandals that haunted this outgoing administration. Hopefully, the recently formed Truth Commission would shed light on these issues. I would also wait for the time where history and the Filipino people would recognize how Gloria did her best to lift our economy and promote peace and unity in our country. Trickling down the benefits of her administration would be hard, and hopefully, we will see if the incoming administration can actually make use of those benefits.

Every president has his/her own list of achievements and failures. Each had been condemned and praised. Each president had contributed to what and where our country is now. Every president despaired and hoped. We are like our presidents in every way with regards to our country- everyone of us has his/her own responsibility. The only difference is that we don’t get all the blame to where our country is now. Gloria’s is over. It’s Noynoy’s turn now.

I am nice to Gloria as I try to be nice to everybody else. And please, don’t judge me for being nice. As some people believe that humanity is cruel, greedy and animal-like, I also believe that, and I don’t care about the evidences, a human person is innately good. Though Gloria may have acted greedy, cruel or unjust, I know that she is innately good. And I am sure of that. But I hope that truth free us, love never cease in us and justice be served.

Roger A. Cabiles Jr.

June 29,2010

Eve of the transfer of powers in the Philippine Republic

The Story of my S(e)oul.

So this is the story of my Seoul.  It’s a long holiday because of Buddha’s birthday kaya we had a chance to spend the weekend sa Metroplitan City of Seoul. So Seoul is the capital of South Korea, it is a few hundred kilometers away from Pyongyang, North Korea kaya malapit lang. haha.

Roger in Gwanghamun Square

Seoul is beautiful. Of course, every place has its own beauty. Nakakamangha lang talaga pag nakakakita ka ng ibang mga bagay. Ofcourse hindi mawawala ang mga pagpunta sa mga ‘must-visit’ places. And what is  amazing is how Korea was able to preserve not only the beauty of its culture but its culture itself in the midst of a globalizing world. We can really see how they were able to transfer their culture sa mga susunod na generation through the use of innovative ways na hindi majejeopardize yung substance ng pinapasa nila.

imagine how I was able to take this picture alone. HAHAHA.

Me and my friends also watched the dream concert. It’s a yearly event where K-Pop artists gather to perform in front of a magnanimous and very enthusiastic club. Define pahirapan sa pagkuha ng ticket. Buti na lang, a friend gave me an extra ticket. Wala talaga akong plano manood kasi I’m not a fan of Kpop naman. Pero sabi ko, ‘I am in Korea, so why not experience how to be a KPop fan?’ HAHAHA. Hindi naman ako nagsissi, nakita ko sila Rain, Super Junior at madami pang iba. Natupad na rin ang pangarap kong marinig ng live ang Nobody Nobody but You. HAHAHA.

Dream Concert

My last day was the best day for me. Kasi humiwalay ako sa mga kasama ko. You know how I always liked to be alone. So i traveled Seoul alone for a day. Wow. Ang fun. Feeling ko talaga backpacker ako. Kasi dala ko na lahat ng gamit ko. haha. mahirap nga lang kumuha ng picture, so you can’t imagine the things i did para lang makakuha ng mga nice pictures ng view with myself, ofcourse. HAHA. the best talaga yung araw na yun.

okay. I vandalized Seoul. Anong nakalagay? 'Roger was here. xoxo' HAHAHA.

Dinner time, i went to see a foreigner friend and went to Seoul Tower. maganda. We had dinner overlooking the city of Seoul. mahirap i-explain. pero breath taking. pati yung presyo, breath-taking. HAHAHA. yun ata yung pinakamahal na meal na kinain ko sa buhay ko. pero worth it naman.

okay. yung background, yun ang Seoul. pero akong ang bida sa pic na to. HAHA.

I learned in the tower na Manila is 2606 kilometers away from my place. So while having my chance to see Seoul with the beauty of night lights, I wondered if this will really ever happen to Manila. Seoul, 60 years ago, is one of the poorest place in Asia, Korea was in ashes because of the Korean War. The bulk of the natural resources was in North Korea. In more or less 20 years, they were able to rise up, and in less than half a century, we see them developed.

Roger in Seoul Olympic Park. I'm still dreaming of Manila Olympics, 2044.

The Philippines, 60 years ago was 2nd to Japan as the richest country in Asia. We are the model country of our Asian neighbors that time. The Presidents of Singapore, South Korea and the Philippines have one thing in common- they are all authoritarian. We see where Korea and Singapore is now. What happened to us? I do not know. many from the academe say, it’s one of the mysteries that’s hard to answer.  Many in the public sector don’t know either. Marami naman sa atin, sinisisi ang gobyerno.

'yung bang patuloy na nagtatanong, naghahanap ng sagot at pilit na hinahangad at kumikilos para sa pagbabago. para sa bayan.'

So what do I say with this? Ewan. I haven’t think of it more deeply. Pero WTH. This post was supposedly about my experience sa Seoul. I really don’t fail myself when it comes to this. Palaging napapasok ang mga ganitong usapin. Pero I wanted to write the story of my Seoul. And  I think, I am writing about it naman, yung bang patuloy na nagtatanong, naghahanap ng sagot at pilit na hinahangad at kumilos para sa pagbabago. para sa bayan.  And yes, that is the Story of my Soul.

For those of you who want to learn more about Seoul, please visit Seoul City’s official Facebook page! It is really interesting and very helpful! http://www.facebook.com/#!/hiseoul?ref=ts