Friday, February 29, 2008

For Whom do We Fight For? (Conclusion)

(continued from For Whom do We Fight For? (Part 1))

Photo by Kabayan

What am I talking about here? Is it social welfare? Is it socialism? Is it enlightened capitalism? None of those mentioned. This is a system of Common Sense; simple principles like; do not seek what is really far in excess of what you need, do not steal even if the one you’re robbing is rich, do not steal even if you claim you’ll give the funds to the needy, do not kill including those babies in the womb for the sake of population control, do not force people but rather teach and enlighten them, be a good example so that people will emulate your goodness.

As such I would like to throw all those violent and twisted philosophies which encourage greed, violence, absolute political control whether by an individual, junta, clique, an oligarchy or Politburo. For those light on their tongue, do not criticize the people as stupid but rather be there and patiently teach them and lead them by example.

Going back to my interview of Aling Cynthia and Buboy, why do I even bother with what some consider as “small people”? In truth the moral backbone of a government is how much and how efficient is it in helping these people grow and stand on their own two feet. A caring government is a powerful government as it draws its power from the virtues of the ordinary man; not from man-made laws, legalism, strategies, manipulation and hypocrisy. The same is true for society, the moral backbone of society is how much and how efficient is it in helping these people have a better and stable life.

Photo by Kabayan

How are we faring so far, have we done enough? How about for these destitute mothers with their newborn children, have we done enough?

Photo by Kabayan

Is it enough to criticize, point out philosophical and political imperfections caused by what some considered as a dumb sector of society then huffily go back to posh homes, snazzy cars, DVD, TV, PC, IPOD, PDA or whatever acronyms which are synonymous with the good life? Is working 10 hours a day for one’s personal benefit really necessary while one already earns millions on interest deposits alone? Do we feel that we solely deserve what we have because we’re smart and others dumb? Do you feel pricked by these previous questions I gave? If you are, then probably need to reflect your life and basic common sense values. For me being rich gained through honest work is acceptable, but let us not forget that even the crumbs we nonchalantly waste are actually enough to create a small vibrant business for others.

As such I offer a new paradigm, to make yourself rich you must make those below your economic standing richer so that they can afford to buy what you’re selling or offering. In effect they are rich and as natural consequence, you too get richer. For example, San Miguel beer commercials waste hundreds of millions of pesos for a grand advertisement which simply makes rich hired celebrities even richer. They would have fared better in marketing their beers if they aid farmers to plant more coconut trees and other farm products.

Jet Li, superstar of a San Miguel Beer commercial

How about us? Do we really need to spend tens of thousands to have front row seats of concerts just to be near enough to see the sweat of foreign singers? Do we really need that new cell phone just because it has a small extra feature or because it carries an electronic chip model 8.071 instead of a model 8.07?

Beyonce Knowles in Manila

(photo from transit.com)

For whom do we fight for then? It is not for a President or representative of our government. It is not for big business or helping another country fight its wars. It is not for a kind or system of government with all its “isms” (Capitalism, Socialism, Fascism etc.) and struggle for control of politics, influence, money and power.

We fight for our own development and upliftment as a people.

We fight for those who have lesser in life so that they too can feel what it is to have freedom from extreme poverty.

We fight so we have a good moderate living where life is more valuable than money, where values count more than wealth.

We fight so as we could go back to the roots of why we really are here in this Earth. To help one another, to enjoy each other’s company, to have relative freedom from want, and to put it in a more spiritual context, to Love God, Love our fellow human beings and Love Nature which sustains and nurture us. For some a billion dollars is not enough, but for others P 50 pesos is the world to them since that is the budget of a poor family’s daily meal.

We fight in a way were as much as possible, no blood will be shed since sometimes those whom we fight are fellow Filipinos who are just as trapped in an evil system as we too are.

We fight for society and we fight with out ideas, our words, our courage, our strength, and in extreme instances even with our lives.

In retrospect, have we given our small share to raise up these people till there be no more dregs of society? As such I do not talk only about money here but also service, have we truly been patient enough to educate them on the right way of life and living? But then that begs the question, are we also doing right and good living ourselves?

When I started to leave, Aling Cynthia offered to sell her softdrinks, while Buboy offered his hopia, I was not thirsty and I do not really like hopia but I bought them just the same. Buboy passed the Sparkle softdrink to me and mistakenly undercharged me by half, Cynthia lightly castigated him while the apprentice scratched his head. I finally waved and bid them farewell.

Some people were leaving now but more are still arriving. Those who have arrived many hours early were replaced by newcomers. I suspect that the 8 pm deadline for the rally permit cannot be imposed.

As I walked back home, I saw and picked up a 10 centavo coin. It has been a strange occurrence in my life that every time I did something good or worthwhile that I pick up assorted type of coins, colorful marbles and nice curios after my deed. I mused upon the coin; I guess it was a job well done. Getting my camera batteries drained may simply have been an opportunity to know and touch the lives of people whom society has taken for granted. Perhaps losing my opportunity to bring back quality photos of the momentous event was not such a bad thing after all.

*** Fin ***

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Right on, Kabayan! Good plaidoirie.

Unknown said...

Btw, this is anna/bmw!

Anonymous said...

Bayan ni Kabayan;

Pumapapel na si Noli at lagi niyang sinasabi sa English na siya raw ang Constituitional successor kapag mabokya ang banka na si Gloria.Ngunit bago natin sakyan at i-angkla ang reserbang goma sa senaryong ito ay maigi na atin munang suriin at bigyan ng ganap na makauring disposisyon ang mga pangyayari upang hindi tayo malito kasama ng ating mga kababayan na nagtapos lamang sa mababang paaralan para hindi uli sila mahatak at malansi ni Kabayan.

Ang Panawagang “Gloria Resign”sa teritoryo ni Binay ay tumatagos hanggang sa pinakamababang lebel ng masa at mga opisyales ng gobyerno na parang siniko sa dibdib ng pitong demonyo dahil kartada singko ang ang naihirit na baraha.Pero ang naging siste ng rally ay watak-watak ang opposisyon at hindi konsolado, sila ang mga burges na oposisyon o ang paksyon ng naghaharing uri at iba na may binabalak na humalili.Ng umakyat na ang CO-RAP sa entablado pinalakpakan ang dilaw na bistida ni Cory at nang ng nag-inglish na si Asiong Salonga ay nasapawan ang bidang si Jun Lozada.Kaya tuloy naisip ko,ano kaya ang dapat tayaan sa beto-beto? Ngunit ang naiwang maraming pangkat ay nagkakaisa sa kanilang kagyat na panawagan na dapat umalis si GMA sa poder ng kapangyarihan.Nandito ngayon ang nabuldigat na problema kung ang pagpapatalsik kay GMA kapalit si Noli De Castro gamit ang “succesion excuse” ng proseso ng kasalukuyang umiiral na konstitusyon ay tutol si Loren Sinta dahil kasabwat daw ni Gloria ang tiga hila ng lubid ng Nazareno sa pandaraya kaya siya nanalo.Ibig sabihin ang kandila ng dalawa ay kukurap-kurap na o kaya’y ang pagiging kumare at kumpare ay naglakbay na sa ere.

Kaya ang kumapre ko na nag-attend ng rally ay ganito ang sinabi- —-

Nakakainis ang nangyayari ngayon. Kung minsan naiisip ko, impossible ng umunlad pa ang Pilipinas at naisip ko rin na kumuha ng tourist bisa at mag TNT sa America dahil hindi pa natutpad ang wish ko na ang Philippines to becomes US state. Pero imposible iyun pare!Una tinutulan ni Quezon,sa totoo lang okey na ang Pinas.when it came to its people sa dami ng magagaling sa atin.Lalo nasa politika sa kongreso nand’yan si Tony Diaz na maraming naipasang batas,kung sipag lang naman sa pagiging kargador nand’yan si Way Kurat, at kung sa pirmahan lang experto si Iggy Arroyo, d’yan ang dalawa niyang tungaw na pamangkin na mahilig mag-import ng kabayo. Pag matuloy pa ang election sa 2010 ay may showdown sina Willie at Joey sa pagka-senador. Kung batas lang naman ang pag-uusapan ay tulo laway lang kay Gordon at Ping lalo na kapag bagong gupit si Bianzon at magkatabi sila ni Pimentel nasisingkol ang utak ni Mirrian at nasusunog ang upuan nina Lito at Bong.. ……

Kaya nga pare! Lintik at pesting gobyerno ito,iyung sahod ko sa isang buwan ay kukulangin kung pakakainin ko ang junior at neneng ko sa Jolibee, tapos may evat pang babayaran.Nakuba na ang likod ng kumander ko sa paglalabandera at mataas na ang kanyang balikat dahil kapos sa pambili ng bitamina at hindi pa naaalisan ng problema,mas problema pa kung mamatay mas malaki ang gastos dahil iyung mga nag to-tongits sa lamayan ay malakas sa paborita at kape,Mas makakatipid pa pag nabubuhay dahil tatlong supot ng noodles para sa pananghalian ay mura kesa sa bayad ng punerarya.Ang sapatos ko ay nabutas na ang swelas,sayang Nike pa naman na pasalubong sa akin ng pinsang kong balikbayan kaya lagi kong iniingatan,itong gobyerno ni 4×4 milyones ang kinukurakot.Kailan kaya bibitawan ni Arroyo ang Bola

cvj said...

Kabayan, thanks for your 3-part series. It provides us with a positive manifesto that bridges the gap between engagement at the community and at the national level It shows that these are not substitutes, as the move-on (or 'wait for 2010') crowd makes them out to be, but rather, complements that reinforce each other.

BTW, your message also closely ties in with Sparks':

http://caffeinesparks.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-defence-of-public.html

Kabayan said...

Oh hi anna, and I was wondering before who hillblogger was :)

Uh, I was just wondering, what's a plaidoirie?

I guess its a compliment anyway, thanks :D

Kabayan said...

cvj,

Thanks for the tip, will visit caffeine sparks.

I just posted what I describe as Neri's Oligarchic Syndicracy Diagram or what other's call as a Booty Capitalism chart. I put in your comment where you said in mlq's site that we need this chart for future "Spring Cleaning". I wholeheartedly agree.

Kabayan said...

cocoy,

Naindihan ko ang iyong sitwasyon, maski ako naasar na rin sa larong Ring a Ring a Roses nila.

Ang problema rin kung mabitawan nga ni Gloria ang Bola eh nakabantay sarado ang unang Kabayan at kung sino sino pang bwakaw na gustong sumalo. (Hayaan mo, yung current Kabayan sa blogpost na ito ay lamang ng isang paligo sa lumang Kabayan na VP na ngayon, hehehe)

Meron akong naisip na ibang paraan kaya lang dapat magkaisa ang oposisyon at anti-corruption groups.

Anonymous said...

very well said kabayan. keep it up!

Kabayan said...

Thanks bystander,

Will squeeze in articles when I can ;)

hadv said...

Amen.