A commentary

(a friend of mine sent me a commentary and asked me to create a critique of it here it is…)

I’d like to share a good commentary on Filipino politicians by

Larri-Nil G. Veloso of Mandaue City. Veloso is an ordinary employee whose sentiments reflect that of thousands of salarymen in the Philippines affected by

what’s happening in Metro Manila. He has practically written everything that I’ve wanted to say about our present situation.

______

FOR “A FEW DUMB POLITICIANS”

“Here we go again. The dumb politicians are once more holding the whole nation hostage. In the past several days, the likes of Sen. Nene Pimentel and Congressmen Francis Escudero and Jacinto Paras are again posturing at the expense of the Filipino people. This time their excuse is the truth.

Exactly what truth are you trying to find out, sirs? Eh, umamin na nga ang Presidente! ano pa ba ang gusto niyo? If you think the President has committed an offense, then please file the appropriate actions and shut up! Stop holding press conferences or appearing on television to air your grievances because the media is not the proper forum for it. Being members of the law-making body, you’re supposed to use the legal framework that Congress itself has created. You should be the first to follow the law. The trouble with these politicians and those calling for a leadership change is that they don’t know their action is bleeding the country dry.

MGA BOBO KASI. They are not only insensitive, they are ignorant of the sufferings of ordinary men like me. I bet my last pair of socks that you, Congressman Escudero, don’t even know the simplest needs of the common tao. Or that you and your fellow useless politicians are so stupid to know that your calls for GMA’s resignation is, in fact, the reason why the stock market is down and the exchange rate up. Heck, I seriously doubt you can stipulate the effects of a fluctuating peso, let alone know what a Moody’s “downgrade” is. MGA BOBO KASI.

I challenge you Congressman Escudero to take a one-year leave of absence from Congress to take a job in the private sector and live-off the salary of a daily wage earner. Isama mo pa si Susan Roces at saka si Bro. Eddie villanueva. I can guarantee all of you: you will not last 30 days before calling it quits! Now, if you’re not willing to come out of your comfort zone, then I challenge you to a debate—- to prove to our countrymen that you’re all stupid. Don’t be intimidated: I am just an ordinary workingman and not connected to any group that can tutor me about policy issues. It’s easy for you to hostage the economy because you know your congressman’s salary is assured for the next three years. I challenge you to stop living off the taxes of the Filipino people or the tithes and offerings of your members!

The other night Susan Roces’ apo declared to the media that what his lola is doing will benefit the Filipino people. Are you nuts? what do you know about our plight here in the Philippines? What do you know about the effects your lola’s speech will have on the economy? You’re living in the U.S.A. for Pete’s sake! Before you open your mouth, try living here first and enroll at a public school with insufficient number of books! It’s so unfair that a few dumb politicians and reckless individuals have the power to bring down the whole country. Doubly unfair that Cebuanos like me suffer for the stupid decisions made by the horde of uneducated people in Manila. I studied hard–heck, even worked to pay for my last year in college to be where I am now. I pity the employees of foreign-owned companies like me,who are now in danger of losing their jobs because of the uncertainty nowbesetting the nation. The Filipino people deserve better. Kung hindi pa niyo nalalaman, tapos napo ang election. It’s time to move on. Congress has better things to do than to meddle in governance. Congress and the Arroyo administration must work together to cut the deficit now, keep the exchange rate stable and the inflation rate in check. Simple lang ang kailangan ng bawat Pilipino—ang mabuhay ng maayos. I do not aspire to run for Congress or lead a congregation and live off the tithes and offerings of flocks. I just want to live a comfortable, if not decent life. Truth has no profound meaning for me if I lose my job and sleep with an empty stomach.”

ang aking comment:

i pity him.

not because he’s too honest to begin with that is honest enough to
admit that all he wants to maintain is not to sleep with an empty
stomach.

but what really predisposes me to want to alter his imaginary
meanderings and his resorting to character assasinations i’d rather
let him asks questions than suffer the consequences of his reactions.

when he accentuated the “stupidity of the people in the government” i
pity him because he’s not looking on the long term effects of what
he’s tryin to maintain as a status quo.

i would want to ask him questions instead.

would he want to stay in this kind of situation?
would he want a better life for his family or for himself?
if hes not happy with what is happening did he even raised a voice
before and even worked for a better future for our country?

i am not defending anyone but it irritates me that when a revolution
or lets just say change comes in the way and opens up opportunities
for people and we’d rather sulk back in the comforts of our homes and
be satisfied with what we have than strive for something better.

sir mike talked to me last sunday.

he said if we take away arroyo what would happen to our country?
what would happen to our economy?
what would happen to people who trusts investors to give them jobs?
who would replace GMA?

i answered him.

if GMA stayed dont you think we’d develop? she did this to herself
and yes she admitted that she did something wrong but is not facing
accountability. would you want a president like that?
was our economy better off then and now just because GMA’s there? or
would it be better given that shes not there? can we make it better if
we take away the policies she herself drafted specially the vat law
that would hurt the middle and lower class but the upper class she
gave tax holidays?
on people who trusts investors to give them jobs and on our government
who depends on investors if thats true that it helps ameliorate the
conditions of the filipino why is it that we have so many unemployed?
we have a very high unemployment rate and its getting higher and
higher through the years as filipinos cannot afford to go to schoola
and our government prioritizes paying off debts that are questionable
in nature and borrowing more from the world bank than what we can pay?
for the record GMA borrowed thrice as much as erap or FVR did! the
truth of th matter is that we have been dependent and have always been
on foreign aid we failed to be independent and now we are suffering
the consequences of our actions.
(now here is the next answer and this is tricky)
who would replace her? the people who are tired of being hungry and
impoverished. them who knows the suffering of the people.

i was told by my old professor in High School
when we talked about the state of our country…

“our generation, failed your generation.”

we have an opportunity now to change our country and we dont need the
truth for whatever selfish purpose it may serve those trapos.

the truth is sawa na tayo sa mga nangyayari sa pinas. ngayon
nagkapatong patong na!

wala ka parin bang gagawin?

kahit man lang ipaalam sa ibang tao na ayaw mong ang mga anak mo ang
magdusa sa pagiging indifferent mo sa paligid mo?

mas gugustuhin mo parin bang matulog nang may laman ang tyan pero di
mo alam kung yung mga apo mo sa tuhod eh meron?

hahay…