Jose Carillo's English Forum
General Category => Lounge => Topic started by: Joe Carillo on January 17, 2010, 09:24:48 AM
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When I provided a link in the Forum to James Fallows’ recent Atlantic Monthly article, “How America Can Rise Again,” I came across a piece he had written about the Philippines in 1987, ““A Damaged Culture: A New Philippines?” I remember that this article—it later became a finalist for the National Magazine Award in the United States—generated a lot of controversy because of its blunt, often decidedly harsh criticism of the Philippines and the national administration at the time. I think it’s a must-read for Filipinos who want to know how they are seen through foreign eyes, and who want to figure out what has changed in the national situation between now and 22 years ago.
“A Damaged Culture: A New Philippines?” by James Fallows (https://fdocuments.net/document/damaged-culture-james-fallows.html)
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Read Fallows's article. Apart from the population, how little has changed!
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That's horrifying... :o
*Sigh*...when are we ever gonna get out of the rut we're in?
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It takes people who have lived in the Philippines from the 80's until the present day to really tell if there have been improvements and there were many, especially in the way public service is delivered to the masses.
The article is dated and the observations were quite valid. However, instead of making generalizations I would rather go point-by-point in identifying how much the government has improved in delivering public service through the many regimes since Marcos over two and a half decades ago.
Social security benefits (SSS) have increased.
Housing loan benefits (Pag-Ibig) have increased.
Processing licenses and certifications have been computerized (LTO, NSO, NBI) and fast tracked.
Health care benefits improved through Philhealth and local government health cards like Makati's yellow card.
Passport processing has been streamlined.
Other improvements brought about by government policy are listed below:
Telecommunication services have become more efficient and market driven since Pres. Ramos attacked the PLDT monopoly.
The price of medicine has gone down dramatically since Pres. Erap's generic drugs law.
The oil cartels have been tamed by several smaller players due to oil deregulation since Pres. Ramos.
The remuneration packages of soldiers, the police force, and teachers have been upgraded.
The processing of transactions in the stock market have been automated and linked to stock markets abroad.
The VAT taxation system has simplified the tax collection for many products.
Water utilities have been privatized and are now operating more efficiently.
No doubt, there were many improvement brought by policy changes and better delivery of services to the public. The biggest question however is if the changes are felt in the rural areas as much as in cities.
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For James Fallow to present an overview of the Philippine situation at that time, he could have lived in the Philippines for a long long time. But actually, even those who never set foot in the Philippines, because of popularity of the Philippines in human rights violations during the Marcos Regime would have a near exact description of the anomalies in the government. Thanks to foreign media. Without the foreign watchdogs constantly criticizing the government, it could have been worse.
Renz, thanks for your listing of topics. We could talk about EACH if you want. Talking about SSS and Pag-ibig, about how many of the entire population is benefited by these? I was a fulltime worker that time so I had SSS. Other workers had it too, but the janitors, farmers, and other lowly wokers were never assisted. The rest of the people working in our community never had a chance to apply due to the nature of their work and inability to pay the monthly dues. I could see in our town website links to a speedy application of this and that service like Pag-ibig, as well as processing of taxes and other tariffs. What is very amusing is their very organized and efficient way of collecting taxes, but disappointing implementation of community programs. Again, only a few in this level-4 municipality could afford to be a member of such services. When would the day come for everyone to receive due benefits? Most of the improvement you mentioned are just for the middle and the struggling classes of the society. The ultimate poor are neglected and misguided.
madgirl...still
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Hi Madgirl,
I have worked with foreign media practitioners and I know their weaknesses and strengths. To say the least, they will always focus on the big headline-type news but they will never focus on the smaller news items that will only interest the locals and never foreign audience.
Unfortunately, the small news bits are the ones that impact the lives of the common people daily and these are the stories best covered by local media.
Quite frankly, considering the way James Fallow wrote his piece I would say that it is the type of feature that does not require physical presence in the country. He could have written it from the comfort of his armchair using secondary information.
However, it is not my intention to question his integrity or the veracity of his report, instead, it is my wish to point out that there have been many changes since the time the article was written--yet this is not to say that the work is over because much remains to be done.
Indeed, pushing the delivery of government services to the grassroots level especially in the rural areas remain a major challenge. While the government is capitalizing in various technologies to improve the service delivery (like the internet) there are cases when even the method of delivery could be the bottleneck itself.
Imagine how an old man who spent most of his life in the uplands of a remote mountain apply for SSS via the internet? Well, not to say that the idea of using the internet is wrong but for certain much work is left to be done.
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Gee, Renz,
I dare say the people in the back blocks of Zambales (and quite a few other regions) will be thrilled to learn that their kids (about half of whom never see the inside of a school) are able to make their stock market transactions and buy their overseas airline tickets via the internet. After, of course, obtaining their passports in a flash. Those same parents, most of whom couldn't afford a home loan in a thousand years and who have likely never heard of SSS, will happily relay the news to their kids that the water utilities are now operating more efficiently - before, of course, sending them with a bucket to the local pump.
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Whoops! Hit the wrong key! Sorry.
I was about to add that these same parents will be equally happy to tell their kids how costly medicines were in the bad old days. "Now," they will say, "I can front up to the pharmacy counter and buy three, four, and sometimes even five antibiotic tablets when you become ill..!"
Of course, if the parents are unhappy with their kids' lot in life, they can always send them to Manila and the rich pickings of Smoky Mountain.
Join the real world, Renz.
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Well Maxims, no doubt the Philippines is far from becoming a developed country but that does not mean there were no improvements in the past few decades.
However, I believe it is you who need to see the real world. Perhaps you should be aware that so many people from first world countries like South Korea, Britain, and the USA are coming over to "poorer" countries like the Philippines for a more affordable cost of living.
You may want to visit Makati Medical Hospital and you will be surprised to see the numerous foreigners who flew over just to get medical attention that they otherwise could not afford in their home countries. The country is fast catching up in medical tourism.
The reality is most western countries--Australia included--are suffering from a deteriorating social security net. This phenomenon is driven by factors such as a rapidly aging population, spiking health care benefits, less young people to support the system, and just recently, economies that turned belly up.
If you think the country's situation is bleak then try telling that to an aging American with medical bills that shot up 400 percent, who lives in a neighborhood where the crime rate is high, with pension benefits cut down, and who is probably worried about how he will pay for his home mortgage.
Whether it is case of a rural Filipino who moves to Manila, or a British who migrates to poorer countries like the Philippines just remember this:
It is normal and it is a source of pride for people from poor locations to migrate to rich locations to have a better life; but it is rather shameful for people from rich countries to migrate to poor countries just to survive.
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And this justifies the enormous gap between the few rich and the overwhelmingly numerous poor in the Philippines?
No-one is saying that there haven't been improvements in the past thirty years, but the fact remains: they have been few, and mostly they benefit the "haves" and not the "have-nots".
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That was not a justification but a mere explanation on why social safety nets are important and why people move away from their homes in search of a better life.
It is quite understandable why a foreigner like you could not understand how these developments have impacted the lives of ordinary people.
All countries, even the most developed ones have problems of their own. And just because a country is advanced its people has no right to deride societies of less developed ones.
While there is such a thing as freedom of speech, please, do not play with bricks in a glass house.
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It is quite understandable why a foreigner like you could not understand how these developments have impacted the lives of ordinary people.
My dear Renz,
Over the past six years, I have travelled extensively, probably more than you have, about your country, mainly in Luzon. Even being a foreigner, I have understood how these "developments" have not impacted the lives of ordinary people.
While there is such a thing as freedom of speech, please, do not play with bricks in a glass house.
The idiom is: People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. If you are implying that there is restricted freedom of speech in Australia, I suggest you compare the survival rates of journalists in both countries.
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Oh my....can we move on to another focus and direction? Let's shift from arguing to suggesting ways to speed up progress in sectors that need attention.
For me, not all changes translate to "improvement". I think, we all have our own definitions of progress, improvement and changes. Our status, role and nature of work also affect the way we see life and society.
Everyone, can we just share or list TEN best ways to help a developing nation (like the Philippines) attain true progress for all its citizens? For you, what should be changed or considered. There's no need to explain each point (or contradict other people's views).
Here's what I can say:
1. Policy makers must review current needs of the country first before initiating changes.
2. The country must focus on protecting, improving and utilizing its own resources.
3. Education and continuing education with results must also be a priority.
4. The citizens must stop thinking "politics" and considering it as the only solution to have power.
5. Develop indigenous inventions and products and promote patronage of such products.
6. Encourage bright citizens to stay in the country to effect changes (stop brain drain.)
7. Learn from other nations' mistakes and copy good examples.
8. Eradicate corruption and corrupt leaders.
9. The society must stop condoning leaders' bad practices.
10. Improve law and order as well as the judicial system.
Lots of things more, but here are the top 10 concerns... ::) Hmmn. I think some are overlapping.
madgirlgettingconfused :-[
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Good one, Madgirl..! Is that list in priority order? Were it mine, I would have your No. 9 on top, closely pursued by 8 and 10. Achieve those and the rest will follow.
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The murder of Filipino journalists is a criminal act that is done contrary to the prevailing laws of the land. However, the Australian government had systemically sent to concentration camps as a policy Aborigines and even British kids.
And if you think the worse is over just take a look at the recent racist attacks to foreigners in that country.
Australia to apologize for state care of children
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=500764&publicationSubCategoryId=200
UN condemns Aboriginal treatment
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8223881.stm
Australian racism 'still serious'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7641158.stm
'Race' attacks spark Indian rally
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8075855.stm
Indian man attacked and set alight in Melbourne
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8449731.stm
And these Australians have the galls to criticize other peoples?
I know a lot of Americans, Japanese and even British people who are polite and careful not to criticize other societies because they are fully aware that their societies suffer from problems such as homeless people, organized crime, and others.
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When it comes to the country’s situation, the arguments become never ending. I wasn’t so surprised when I was reading James Fallows’s article because I believe he really immersed himself and made a thorough study to observe the Philippines.I was a college student when I went to Smokey Mountain the first time for a community work wherein I and my classmates had to accomplish a report.The smell was really awful even inside the school’s car,and when we’re within the community, we pretended we didn’t smell anything (we had to)..I haven’t been there ever since and now that I’m a teacher and has my own family, I know it’s still a mountain full of garbage, and lives of people hasn’t changed at all. Maybe they don’t really want to. And the government’s budget’ for the poor is being enjoyed by some politicians.As to who they are and how they did, only God can tell. Of course, as people, we should also accept change ourselves not only rely on government’s help.
Corruption in the government should be eradicated, but how? This is so easy to say but we do not even know if a politician is sincere in saying he’s not corrupt.As ordinary citizens, let’s do our share of helping ourselves first and then our fellow Filipinos. Being honest starts from us, don’t bribe any government officer so as not to influence others.Let’s help our poor countrymen if we can, don’t wait for some politicians to do so. Whoever may be our leader, let’s not expect him to change the Philippines the way we want.
Yes, I think there hasn’t been a big change in the country after so many years except for those who are rich getting richer and poor still getting poorer. However, through education, we can improve our own economic well being. Sometimes we have to consider what foreigners say about us, but not to the point that they degrade our well being as Filipinos. I love my country, even if it may seem “ugly” to foreigners because they really don’t know how beautiful it is. ;)
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It'd be great if we could just fire every single politician and start anew.
About the article itself, there was a mention that Filipinos in themselves are not really bad; in fact, when placed in another country (as so many here have done), they perform excellently. It really must be something to do with the living environment and the society itself.
Here's my guess: when Filipinos are in their home country, most tend to feel like they are unable to achieve much. Like they make no difference no matter what they do. Consequently, very few to none even try. Even in politics, where it seems that anyone placed in positions of power is viewed to be corrupt, or at the very least, incompetent.
Thus, the general populace becomes cynical. Not cynical about their own lives (we tend to be very optimistic about our lives), but about the future of the society and of the nation.
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"...However, the Australian government had systemically sent to concentration camps as a policy Aborigines and even British kids..."
My dear Renz, surely you meant "systematically"...?
Might I say that I am offended by your remarks, particularly the above one. Sure my forebears had little to be proud of in its treatment of Aborigines, and sure there is still much to be improved. But when you speak of "concentration camps", you cross the line. I challenge you to identify just one "concentration camp". I should point out (as most of the complaining do-gooders fail to) that the old policy of removing Aboriginal children from their parents was restricted to half-caste children, the rationale being that such kids suffered discrimination by both the Aboriginal and white communities. That the policy was well-meaning is shown by the churches' approval and participation.
"...And these Australians have the galls to criticize other peoples?..."
The word is "gall". And who are these Australians you speak of?
(By the way, I've seen how your Aetas live.....)
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Well Maxims, thank you very much. You have just proven my point. For you to imply that "only half-caste Aborigines" were sent to these camps has made the situation less evil already betrays your racist views.
As for your concentration camps, although they were not named they definitely existed and here are the proof of forced child labor, sexual abuse, and incarceration:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8361389.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8360150.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1236641.stm
As for Aetas and other minorities, the remoteness of their villages make accessibility to basic services difficult. While government and NGO support lend humanitarian support unfortunately they come in short quantity and irregularly. However, despite incentives to join mainstream society many of these people would rather stay in their communities and preserve their cultural heritage, which is very much their choice.
At this point, I would say you and your prejudice make you one of those Australians who directly and indirectly condoned such detestable human rights violations.
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Well Maxims, thank you very much. You have just proven my point. For you to imply that "only half-caste Aborigines" were sent to these camps has made the situation less evil already betrays your racist views.
My dear Renz, By what feat of long-distance mind-reading do you infer that my views are racist? I did not give an opinion, I merely pointed out a fact. If you are alluding to my use of "half-caste", I was simply employing the term that was current, and acceptable, at the time.
As for your concentration camps, although they were not named they definitely existed...
I ask again: identify just one. (Without proof, the other readers in the forum may begin to query the veracity of your other 'facts", too.)
As for Aetas and other minorities, the remoteness of their villages make accessibility to basic services difficult.
What a feeble excuse! Come to Australia and you'll learn what "remote" really is!
At this point, I would say you and your prejudice make you one of those Australians who directly and indirectly condoned such detestable human rights violations.
At this point, I would say that your ignorance of Australia and Australians is equalled only by your embarrassment at your own country's shortcomings. My country has willingly accepted, and continues to accept, migrants from all over the world, including Filipinos. In my own State, fully one-third of the population was born overseas. And Renz, some of them are black!
(This is a postscript several days after the above post. Inasmuch as Renz brought the subject up, I must report that there has been another assault on an Indian student in Melbourne. The police made eight arrests shortly after the incident. The accused are Asian!)
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Dear Maxims,
Try convincing the Indians who have shown a 46 percent drop in their enrollment this year that racial attacks against Asians is being addressed properly.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8444870.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8481165.stm
And Maxims, whatever euphemism you make there are countless of documented accounts by independent media and even testimonies by the victims themselves that eventually led to the extraction of apologies from the Australian government. What more proof do you require?
At this point, I must express my admiration for the Germans. The Germans and the Japanese have committed extensive atrocities against humanity in World War 2. The difference is while the Japanese are in denial and unrepentant, the German people have squarely faced the charges against them and have openly apologized and asked for forgiveness--no excuses.
As in the articles that I have quoted where Australians beat up a British boy to see how the beating would change the color of his blue eyes, or how they made bets so the one who gets to rape a particular boy 100 times first wins, or how food was thrown at the floor and Australians watched the boys fight for food, I still don't see how those could be considered "acceptable" during those times as you would insist Maxims.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1236641.stm
I am "embarrassed of my country's own short comings" you say? If you have read the past few threads you would notice that it was I who said there have been many developments since the regime of Pres. Aquino. In fact, I am proud of my country because I have been to other countries and I am convinced that things are not as bad as most Filipinos think. Things are worse in other countries.
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As in the articles that I have quoted where Australians beat up a British boy to see how the beating would change the color of his blue eyes, or how they made bets so the one who gets to rape a particular boy 100 times first wins, or how food was thrown at the floor and Australians watched the boys fight for food, I still don't see how those could be considered "acceptable" during those times as you would insist Maxims.
My dear Renz,
Please re-read my earlier reply. You will note, hopefully, that I did not say that the alleged mistreatment you quote was acceptable - I said the term "half-caste" was then acceptable. If you are going to argue with me, kindly do so on the facts, and kindly refrain from putting words into my mouth.
I repeat that my forebears had little to be proud of in their treatment of Aborigines, and it is undeniable that some (a small proportion) British boys were mistreated. It is equally undeniable that the majority of British migrants (both the wartime boys and the post-war influx of families) were welcomed and became happy citizens of my country. As did (and still do) families from many countries.
And Maxims, whatever euphemism you make there are countless of documented accounts by independent media and even testimonies by the victims themselves that eventually led to the extraction of apologies from the Australian government. What more proof do you require?
I require your definition of "countless". Can you be a little more specific? Or is "countless" in the same category as the yet-to-be identified "concentration camps"?
Try convincing the Indians who have shown a 46 percent drop in their enrollment this year that racial attacks against Asians is being addressed properly.
Hmmmm..was not your original point that Indians (not Asians) were being attacked by racist Australians? Kindly do not shift the goalposts when the opposition has the ball. You might also read the Australian media's accounts of the assaults on Indian students instead of relying on the BBC's regurgitation of the Indian media's somewhat overblown accounts. Even the leading Indian ciitizens here think that that response is over the top.
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I must add a postscript to the above reply. The police in New South Wales have arrested and charged two people with the murder of an Indian national in this country. The suspects are....wait for it...Indians!
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A further postscript (one that you will probably not see in the Indian media): Last evening, a group of Indian nationals were (was if you're pedantic) swimming at a Melbourne beach. Two of their number got into difficulties. One of them disappeared. Both were rescued by passers-by who were....wait for it...Australians!
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And just to drive message home, this is from the Melbourne press:
"...An Indian man who said he was set alight by assailants near his Melbourne home last month accidentally burned himself while torching his car for an insurance claim, police allege.
Jaspreet Singh, 29, of Grice Crescent, Essendon, in the city's north, faced an out-of-sessions hearing early Wednesday before a bail justice at St Kilda Road police complex charged with making a false report to police and criminal damage with a view to gaining a financial advantage.
The case gained international headlines among a series of attacks by white Australians on Indian nationals in Melbourne.
Singh, who is in Australia on his wife's student visa, told police he was doused with petrol and set alight as he parked his car near his home early on Saturday, January 8..."
But Detective Senior Constable Danielle O'Keefe of the arson and explosives squad told the hearing Singh suffered the burns while trying to torch his 2003 Ford Futura.
Det O'Keefe said arson chemists and hospital staff had concluded the damage to the car, Singh's clothes and his injuries were not consistent with his story.
"Police inquiries have led us to believe that Mr Singh is in some financial difficulty and that he intended to sell his car but instead stood to gain $11,000 from an insurance claim out of this particular incident," she told the hearing.
Police had obtained security footage depicting Singh buying a 15-litre opaque plastic container and 15,96 litres of petrol on the day before the attack.
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A last postscript, another one that Renz won't see in the Indian media:
Indian taxi driver charged over bashing passenger
AN Indian taxi driver is facing charges over the bashing of a passenger who was knocked unconscious in St Kilda.
The 25-year-old passenger was involved in a heated argument with the cab driver around 10pm last night as they pulled over in Acland St in St Kilda.
A witness says the passenger tried to walk away but the cab driver chased him down and had to be restrained by security staff working at a nearby business.
The passenger kept walking away as the cab driver then grabbed a baton from the boot of his cab, drove up next to the passenger and allegedly starting striking the man repeatedly with the weapon, the witness says.
"Within a few minutes, many other cab drivers, all of them Indian, all turned up," witness Karen told Fairfax Radio this morning. "And I could just see how out of hand this is all getting."
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Alright then, Maxims please keep us updated on similar topics. Articles like this would help everyone maintain a balanced view on issues of interest in Australia.
It would also help if you could copy and paste all the characters in the address bar into your post so we could have a link on the original material you have quoted.
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Your gracious apology is accepted.