I got the following note from Jo Geslani Tamondong, who’s now based in the US. She had actually attached her letter in one of my Off-the-Air posts that’s been deeply buried in this site. I’m reposting this to share to everyone how an expatriate Pinay views the present situation of the Philippines.
I might now be considered an “outsider” since I have been living in California since 2000, after my marriage to Ding, a mining engineer who works with the Bureau of Land Management. However, because Ding and I are constantly tuned to the Filipino Channel and GMA Pinoy TV, we are very much part of the scenario in the Philippines. It is second nature for us to stay tuned to Philippines news, not only through tv but also by internet. I’m sorry to say that we are not physically able to contribute our bit of worth to the improvement of society as a whole. Be rest assured though that we keep the thought of peace coming to our country in our hearts and daily prayers.
It is a different perspective that the highest chair of the land sees. We must give the President the highest regard for her decisions. For she has information that we don’t have.
Here in the US, persons like myself have become disappointed with President Bush’s decisions. However, no one takes to the streets constantly to protest. Yes, it will happen that a Sheena, mother of a fallen soldier who served and died in Iraq, will tent outside of the President’s Texas home or wear a “stop the war” t-shirt to Congress. But people would rather see protests happen in the halls of Congress or in print and television programs. In whichever way the protests are undertaken, there is hardly, if at all, any name-calling. Because the truth is, people must respect the post even if they don’t have a high regard for the person occupying it.
I really would rather see changes in the countryside happen. In the hearts of local political leaders, change must occur. It is sad that once leaders are elected, they cease to lead. They become mere puppets of the people, not wanting to risk their positions lest they not be re-elected. Politics now has become one big game of patronage. I always believed that leaders must be pro-active, not reactive. As managers of their cities and towns, they lay down the plans and then together with the people, implement them.
So phu-leeze! Let just take a quiet attitude for now. There’s just too much noise out there!
