Just today, I received copies of two open letters from being circulated in various e-groups in the world wide web. I’m posting them here hoping to generate discussions from bloggers, activists, apologists, ideologues and even the masa out there.
The first letter is written in Filipino; it’s unsigned and it’s titled, “Paano naman kaming mga Middle Class na Pinoy?”
The other one is simply an “Open Letter to our Leaders,” and is supposed to have been written by Mr. Melvin Mangada, Executive Creative Director of TBWA (whatever this is).
I am sure these letters contain the authors’ personal (even emotional) opinions and does not necessarily reflect the sentiments of the whole Filipino nation.
I’m inviting everyone to post your comments and opinions after reading them. Thank you
Ako ay isang middle class Pinoy, isang officer sa isang malaking korporasyon at may asawa…dalawa anak. Di na importante pangalan ko kasi parepareho naman tayong mga middle-class….trabaho 9-5, inom konti tapos uwi sa pamilya, laruin si baby, itutor si ate/kuya tapos tulog na, pag wala na pera intay nalang ng sweldo.
Sa nangyayari ngayon sa ating bansa, lahat nalang ng sector ay maingay at naririnig, tayo lang mga middle-class, tax paying at productive Pinoys ang di naririnig. Subalit, buwis natin ang nagpapaikot sa bansang ito.
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(Blogger’s Note: I am posting this letter unedited and as I received it in my e-mail.)
A beautiful piece from Mr. Melvin Mangada, Executive Creative Director of TBWA…
Dear Tita Cory, Senators, Congressmen, Businessmen, Media people, Leftists, and all Bleeding Hearts Out There:
I am angry. And I know that there are many out there who are angrier than I am for the same reason. And that reason is simple. I am sick and tired of all you guys claiming to speak for me and many Filipinos. I feel like screaming every time you mouth words about fighting for my freedom and my rights, when you obviously are just thinking about yours. You tell me that the essence of democracy is providing every citizen the right to speak his or her mind and make his or her own informed judgments, but you yourselves do not respect my silence and the choices I and many others have made. In other words, your concept of democracy is limited to having your rights and your freedoms respected, at the expense of ours.
I am utterly flabbergasted that you still do not get it: we already responded to your calls, and our response has been very clear - we chose not to heed your calls to go to EDSA or to Fort Bonifacio not because we do not love our country or our freedoms or our rights, but precisely because we love our country even more. Because quite frankly, we are prepared to lose our freedoms and our rights just to move this country forward. You may think that is not correct, you can tell me all the dire warnings about the evils of authoritarian rule, but quite frankly all we see is your pathetic efforts to prop up your cause. You tell me that you are simply protecting my freedoms and my rights, but who told you to do that? I assure you that when I feel that my rights and my freedoms are at a peril, I will stand up and fight for them myself.
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was all smiles yesterday as she announced the lifting of Proclamation 1017. As I watched her, I was reminded of former President Ferdinand Marcos as he announced in 1981 the “lifting” of Martial Law and the proclamation of a “New Republic.”
Marcos’ was, of course, a farcical one. Theatrics. I can still recall that even after the supposed lifting of Martial Law, human rights violations continued to be committed in the cities and the countrysides. Countless lives were lost because of widespread “salvagings”. Worse, millions of Filipinos wallowed in abject poverty. (Actually, until now.)
Today, after GMA anounced the lifting of 1017, several sectors met it with skepticism. As I browsed the world wide web, the first reaction I encountered was that of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales’: Despite the lifting of the state of national emergency … monitoring of the media would continue.
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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.
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It will be the height of stupidity if Malacanang orders the arrest of Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz and three other bishops. And I hope they won’t commit this big mistake because for sure this will be fatal to the administration. As they say, repression breeds daring. And if Bishop Cruz is jailed, Malacanang may just be creating a situation where the people’s lethargy and stupor are awakened.
Of course, the bishop is not afraid. He calls it an honor that he does not deserve. Here is his statement:
It is a big pity that the Administration appears to be overrating my little self—together with the three other bishops in the country. We four are said to be in the “order of battle” of the government. Among other things, I was told that we could be picked up anytime by authorities concerned and thereafter charged for machinating to overthrow the present Administration.
Needless to say, such a thinking and option appear to be making me much more than what I really am. It seems desirous of giving me an honor I do not in anyway deserve. To arrest, jail and penalize me for sedition, treason or the rebellion could be worthy of entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.
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Thursday and Friday last week may have been the longest two days this year for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Despite her composed and firm image when she addressed the country on television last Friday, she showed signs of fatigue – and anger. It was quite obvious that she just had a sleepless night, maybe to figure out with her closest advisers how to deal with the crisis that never was.
As I listened to her, I wondered how the President reacted when she was told that Scout Ranger Gen. Danilo Lim had withdrawn his support from her. I wondered if at all she entertained the thought of losing her seat. Did she tremble? Did she panic that she immediately summoned her tactless chief of staff Mike Defensor to do thinking and talking for her? Did she yell “punyeta!” to anyone she saw in Malacanang?
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I just opened my Yahoo! mail today and found, among others, the following press release, which was sent to me by former colleagues in the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.
I am posting it here, not only because I agree with it contents, but because it remains relevant.
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s visit to Pangasinan last Wednesday was rather unusual. This is because for the first time, she came on a weekday, not on a Saturday or Sunday like in her previous visits. She also came five days after former President Fidel Ramos came to Dagupan City and left Pangasinenses still confused about his support to Mrs. Arroyo.
She had come to San Fabian on a weekday maybe because it was an official visit. We heard that she supposed to drop by the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City and then meet with local officials in San Carlos City but that she cancelled it last minute because she had to go back to Malacanang to attend to more pressing concerns.
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