NEEDED: GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING OF DEMOCRACY

Democracynoun [ C/U ]

 US ​ /dɪˈmɑk·rə·si/

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politics & government the belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves

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politics & government A democracy is a country in which power is held by elected representatives.

This century is testing our own definition and practice of democracy in our countries. 

Not many groups of people hold the same view of democracy. Others think, that because they have ascended into power then they can ride roughshod on other people's rights. 

Others are more circumspect, always believing that the people's welfare is paramount, not any party, not any friend or gang mate,  not any blood relation. 

It is difficult to stand by democratic principles indeed, especially when you are working for one who does not believe in it. 

Maybe the new UN head can start off his term by defining democracy and making all countries accountable to its proper definition and practice. 

We must look at UN as the final arbiter of conflicts in the world. And that requires a strong leader who values the role of the organization and who believes that a strong UN is a strong democratic world. 

Painting: Durchgehender Strich by Wassily Kandinsky 

from All Posters

goodbye Taiwan

GOODBYE, TAIWAN

by Wilhelmina S. Orozco

Lying down on the sofa, Sofia had felt so relaxed, and free. She had just flown in from Taiwan where she had worked for five years as an electronic engineering technician. Now she is just lazing around. Eating, sleeping, going out with her sisters, and just plainly unwinding after the much gruelling work she had experienced.

It would have been easy for her to stick around in Taiwan as she had become a favorite of management. She learned the Chinese language easily, so she could communicate with them at anytime, while being adept with the electronic machines to be operated on. The machines produce spare parts for computers which are for export to Japan. Her salary was big, five times over than what she used to receive in the Philippines.

But then, the Chinese employees received three times more than her co-Filipino women.

Kahit na bagong pasok palang ang Intsik, mataas na kaagad ang sahod kesa sa amin. Tapos, kahit na ang bagal matuto ng kanyang trabaho, ganun din. Kung minsan, basa ng basa ng instructions book pero hindi makaintindi at kailangan ko pang ipaliwanag sa kanya. Sila inaabot ng isang buwan bago matuto pero ang Pinay dalawang linggo lamang. Yan ang mga kinasasama ko ng loob sa pagtatrabaho dun, Ate.

Sa pagkukuwento ni Sofia sa kanyang ateng si Bernadette ay naiibsan ang sama niya ng loob.

Pero paano yan, wala ka ng trabaho?

Ate, madali naman akong makahanap pa. Bata pa ako, trenta'y uno anyos. Marami pang kukuha sa akin.

Napakaespesyal ng kasanayan mo. Ng skills mo. Baka kakaunti lamang ang mga kumpanyang kumukuha ng kaparis mo.

Balak kong magpunta sa Canada. May mga Filipina, ginagawa nilang jumping board ang Taiwan at ngayon ay nasa Canada na.

Ibig mong saibhin, babalik ka pa rin sa Taiwan?

Oo, Ate, pero sa ibang kumpanya na lang, hindi na sa dati. Yun din ang payo sa akin ng aking mga kaibigang Intsik.

Aba ang galing. Nakaibigan mo rin pala ang mga Intsik na babae.

Napabuntunghininga si Sofia. Mababait ang mga Intsik na kasama niya sa trabaho. Nililibre pa siya at ang mga kapuwa niya Pinay, pagkatapos ng trabaho. Galante. Maraming binibigay pa sa kanila para pampasalubong sa Pinas – mga kakanin. Pinapayuhan din sila.

Alam ng mga Intsik na mga kaibigan ko, Ate, na malaki ang agwat ng aming mga suweldo kaya madalas para maibsan ang sama namin ng loob, nililibre kaming mga Pinay para kumain sa labas.

Mabuti at wala naman palang diskriminasyon sa inyo.

Pinapayuhan pa nga ako, 'Umalis ka na rito, umuwi ka at pagkatapos bumalik, pero siguraduhin mong mataas na ang puwesto mo at pati suweldo mo,' wika nila.

Bakit kailangan mong umuwi pa? Bakit di ka nalang lumipat agad sa ibang kumpanya?

Bawal yun Ate, nasa kontrata naming uuwi kami pagkatapos ng termino namin. Kung hindi, made-deport ako kapag nahuli. At hindi na ko makababalik pang muli ruon.

Maganda ang Taiwan. Maraming tanawin na bundok, ilog, luntiang taniman, na parang probinsya din dito sa atin sa Pinas. Naaalala ko nga ang Pinas kapag namamasyal ako ruon, kasama yung isang lalaking kaibigan ko.

Paano nga bang napalapit at naging kaibigan ni Sofia si John?

Vendor ng orange si John at tuwing dumarating sa kanilang pabrika ay binibigyan siya nito. Libre pero sa mga kasamahan niya ay may bayad.

Why you give her free oranges but we, we have to pay, John? ang tanong ng mga kasamahan niya. Hindi naman kikibo si John at yuyuko na lamang na nahihiya, mamasdan ang sahig.

Sofia, sasama ka ba sa amin, papunta kami sa mall mamaya at mamamasyal, ang tanong ng Ate ni Sofia sa kanya.

Hindi na lang Ate, dito na lang ako, manonood ng TV.

O sige, may pagkain diyan sa ref. Kumain ka kung nagugutom ka.

Sige, Ate.

Nang nakaalis na ang Ate niya at mga pamangkin, binuksan ni Sofia ang TV pero pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, umayaw na siya sa panonood. 

Malalaswa ang suot ng mga babae sa TV. Hindi niya gusto. Sa Taiwan, di puwede yung mga babaeng naka-shorts. Sa cable TV makikita yung mga yun pero hindi sa mga Taiwanese channels. Mahigpit ang gubyerno ng Taiwan sa mga producers ng TV programs.

Yun ang isa sa mga nagustuhan niya sa Taiwan, kahit na tawagin pang konserbatibo ang di pagpayag sa pagpapalabas ng hita sa TV. Para sa kanya, mahalaga pa ring pangalagaan ang katawan ng babae. Hindi ito binubuyangyang sa publiko.

Natutuwa si Sofia na mas pinipili ng Ate niya na manirahan at magtrabaho bilang guro dito sa Pilipinas, kahit na maliit ang natatanggap na suweldo. Napamahal na sa Ate niya ang mga estudyante niya. Malayung malayo ang kanilang mga larangan ng trabaho.

Special skills ang kanyang trabaho at halos walang kumpanya ng electronics na nakatayo rito. Mahal kasi ang kuryente. Yung iba naman ay nag-alsa balutan na at lumipat ng Tsina kung saan mas mura ang pasuweldo. Kaya't pwersado rin siyang mag-abroad at di kalawangin ang mga napag-aralan niya sa kolehiyo.

Panakanaka sumasagi sa isipan ni Sofia si John, at di niya mawari kung dapat ba siyang manghinayang sa di niya pagsagot ng oo sa kanyang proposal.

Pero ayaw mapaibig ni Sofia. Ayaw niyang tumira sa Taiwan, kasi alam niya, habang nanliligaw lang si John. Hindi siya siguradong magtutuluy-tuloy ang kabaitan niya. 

Kasi may mga nababalitaan siyang kapag kasal na ang lalaki ay nagbabago at ina-under ng husto ang babae. Kung magkaminsan pa ay sinasaktan. Kahit na may diborsyo duon sa Taiwan, ayaw pa rin niya, kasi ang kasal ay nakamulatan na niyang panghabambuhay. Ang kanyang mga magulang ay kasal ng 40 taon at di pa naghihiwalay. Nakatira sila sa probinsya silang dalawa sa Ilocos.

Yun ang nakagisnan ni Sofia – ang kasal ay hanggang libingan para sa dalawang magsing-ibig. Dala-dala niya ang kaisipang ito hanggang sa Taiwan. Sa katunayan, madalas niyang sabihin sa kanyang mga kaibigang Pinay, na matanong kung bakit siya mapili, “Gusto ko, libre pa rin ako, malayang makakapagsalita, hindi yung taga-silbi lamang ng asawa at tagasunod ng bawa't pasya niya.”

Bagaman konsserbatibo si Sofia, alam din niya na dahil sa kanyang edukasyon, umabot na siya sa punto na ang paggigiit ng kanyang mga isipan at paninindigan ay di na niya kayang isuko kaagad-agad. At alam din niyang matagal bago magbago pa ang mga lalaking Intsik sa pagtanggap sa katulad niya.

Biglang tumunog ang celfon ni Sofia, ang kaisa-isang device na pinagtiyagaan niyang mabili sa Taiwan.

Hello, Tessie, hi!!

Yes, I'm here in the Philippines. How are you?

No, I won't return there yet. I am on vacation with my sister here in Manila. I have just come from the province up north to see my parents. But now, I am just lazing around.

Yes, I miss you too.... No, I have not been looking for a job yet Maybe after a month.... Yes, yes. I think it will be in Taiwan again. But as you said, it has to offer something higher than what I used to receive there.... Yes, yes, thank you for your advice.... John? No, I don't miss him at all. Why do you say that? ….No, I can't marry him. He is hiding his real self. Ha! Ha! Don't worry when I find a man, I will inform you right away.... Thanks, thanks for the advice. Yeah, see you again. Chao. Thanks for calling. Bye!

Mahaba yung tawag na yun ni Tessie. At naiiling si Sofia. Kayang-kayang bayaran ni Tessie ang kanyang phone bills, samantalang siya, tipid  na tipid ang mga texts, lalo na ang direct calls. Puro prepaid cards ang gamit niya.

Tumutulong pa sa pagpapapaaral ng kanyang kapatid si Sofia, at gusto niya, lahat sa pamilya ay makatamasa ng “'katas' ng kanyang paghihirap sa abroad.”

Nakahiga si Sofia sa kama niya nang tumunog muli ang kanyang celfon. Tumayo siya at lumakad papunta sa sala kung saan mas malakas ang signal, habang sinasagot ang tawa.

Hello! Hello!.

Walang sumasagot.

Hello? Hello?

Maya-maya ay may sumagot na.

Oh, hi John. How are you?

Oh, I'm okay. How are you? When are you coming back here to Taiwan?

John, I have just returned from there. I am still enjoying my vacation.

You did not tell me that you were going back to the Philippines.

Oh, I am sorry, I was not able to inform you.

I could have gotten you a job here, except that you have to marry me first.

John, we talked about this already. I am not ready to get married yet.

But then you need not have gotten back to the Philippines. I could take care of you here.

Mahabang katahimikan ang namagitan sa kanilang dalawa ni John. Maya-maya ay narinig na naman ni Sofia ang boses niya.

Don't you like Taiwan?

Sa halip na tanungin ni John kung may gusto siya sa kanya, Taiwan ang sinabi. Napabuntunghininga na naman si Sofia.

Of course I like Taiwan, but I didn't like my job anymore, John. I was overworked already.

You could have complained.

Am a foreign worker and it is not easy to complain, you know that John.

You never told me your problems in your work.

Yes, I kept them to myself, but you see, now I will tell you. The company took advantage of me. They knew I could speak Fukien; so then, they gave me additional work to do like train new workers, on top of doing my original work as stipulated in my contract. I was being called from one department to another to help fix production problems.

Didn't you like that, you were in demand?

I was in demand without additional compensation

I see.

So I decided to leave the company instead.

Where are you applying now?

Er...I would like to …

Atubili si Sofia na sabihin ang totoo pero alam niyang kailangan na rin niyang tapatin si John.

I ...would like to work in Canada.

Canada? That's too far.

The benefits are better there. I could be a resident after four years only and the pay is higher.

Mahabang katahimikan na naman ang namagitan sa kanilang dalawa. May narinig na paimpit na paghinga si Sofia.

Hello, John, are you still there?

Yes, I am still here.

Narinig ni Sofia ang pag-ehem ni John.

So what do you think of my going to Canada?

I would like to see you when you get there. It might be nice to see another country.

Nabigla si Sofia sa sinabi ni John. Hindi niya akalaing sasabihin ito. Ano'ng isasagot niya?

Well, it's up to you John. You can afford to go there anytime, isn't it? Ha! Ha! Ha!

I will call you again, if you don't mind. I have to meet a client now.

Sure, John, Thanks for making this call. I like hearing your voice again.

Really? Why, thanks for that. I will cherish that.

Ok, I will say goodbye now.

I will call you again.

Oh, thanks.

Ano ito, long distance friendship? Ang tanong ni Sofia sa sarili. Magastos 'to a, at saka di ba, ayoko ng Intsik na asawa? Pero parang iba si John sa telefono, parang hindi lalaking sinauna. Takang-taka si Sofia. Paano ito, susundan siya sa Canada. Huh?

Palaisipang tunay kay Sofia ang pagtawag ni John, at parang nayuyugyog ang lahat ng plano niya sa buhay.

A, basta, kaibigan...kaibigan lang ba sila?

Goodbye, Taiwan. Parang hindi na niya masabi ito.

HOUDINI

When talking of art, we go through the debates of form and substance. Which one is more important? 

Some people claim that to see the significance of art, the two should blend together -- the way an idea is conveyed audio-visually is as important as the message it gives. 

In literature, it is the same, A poem, though it contains a significant theme, will not be appreciable, it the form is not good. I remember a poet who used a comma on a page and everyone or almost everyone, went agog, saying that it was a poem. 

I don't subscribe too much to Houdini style of art and literature, where people are mesmerized into thinking that a product, artistic, etc. is beautiful when actually it is not. 

In the same way, when we talk of politics, the way an official is elected -- if truly elected -- is the more substantial aspect, than the declaration that he/she had won through certain sleight of hands. 

Marcos, the dictator was very adept at that. Upon declaring martial law, he cosmeticized the bureaucracy by employing intellectuals from the university. And so, it seemed to appear then that his martial law was not intellectually-challenged and so required everyone's hallelujiah, instead of massive demonstrations against it. 

It seems that history has a way of repeating itself. We are being treated to a broad array of political scenarios that are happening even in a big western country as the US. 

 The US official-to-be is very good at employing brazen media blitzkriegs to show that he is a valid heir to the "throne" despite protests to the contrary. 

He has even called presidents to show that he will be in charge soon. How truly brazen and it is happening in the country, so-called bastion of democracy. 

I wonder what future holds for Americans now that we see a continental cover-up of the real will of the people..

ON CITIZENSHIP

After people vote, does that mean they are already citizens, exercising their right of suffrage?

When they fill up the ballots and then drop them into election voting machines, are these enough to call them citizens?

What is being a citizen? This topic cropped up with me after a soon-to-be-an official barring genuine recounts of the votes in three States in US, said that if the illegal votes would be invalidated then he would have won the popular votes. 

I thought that this person is casting aspersions on an election process that has no basis at all, and I thought, would that make him a citizen? a good citizen?

What is a good citizen? 

A good citizen takes pride in his/her nationality. 

A good citizen takes pride in the race of the people he/she belongs to.

A good citizen takes pride in the history of the people that he/she belongs to -- especially in the defense of liberation of the country from colonial, neo-colonial and anti-democratic forces;  its defense against authoritarian regimes; its defense against iniquitous behavior and socio-political, economic and cultural forces that degrade women and children, especially; its defense against perpetuating poverty and underdevelopment as well as wars. . 

A good citizen takes pride in being with the people.

I would like to  think that political transitions really encourage us to think deeply of our position in our country, the position of our country in the world, and our own space in the universe. Let us think and rethink if our actions would redound to a permanent good for humanity or will just massage our egoes. 

What are we in this planet for?




Salvador Dali painting "The Persistence of Memory"

WHAT IS HERRING IN PILIPINO?

HERRING IN PILIPINO IS TAWILIS

RED HERRING INTRO

Folks, when in politics, we must be sharp and sensitive to ideas that obfuscate, that blur the discussions. Actually this is beecause some parties would like people to be imbalanced in their views of the topic that is being debated upon. Now that is very dangerous and inimically bad for democracy. 

SO we need to look at the role of red herring in politics so that we can always redirect the focus to the issue. Now here is a definition of Red Herring which I think is apropos to consider at this time when there are talks of looking at the real and genuine outcome of elections from. literarydevices.net:

Folks, I hope that you would be patient about the mistakes in my blog. I suffer from constant hacking and invasion of the privacy of my communication tools in our country.

If you want to help me solve these problems, kindly write to President Duterte to rein in his police intelligence group. Would you believe that they are also voyeurs?

KNOWING A RED HERRING

Folks, when in politics, we must be sharp and sensitive to ideas that obfuscate, that blur the discussions. Actually this is beecause some parties would like people to be imbalanced in their views of the topic that is being debated upon. Now that is very dangerous and inimically bad for democracy. 

SO we need to look at the role of red herring in politics so that we can always redirect the focus to the issue. Now here is a definition of Red Herring which I think is apropos to consider at this time when there are talks of looking at the real and genuine outcome of elections from. literarydevices.net:

Red Herring Definition

Red herring is a kind of fallacy that is an irrelevant topic introduced in an argument to divert the attention of listeners or readers from the original issue. In literature, this fallacy is often used in detective or suspense novels to mislead readers or characters or to induce them to make false conclusions.

Let us consider a simple example of a red herring. A teacher catches a student cheating during a test. The student in response says, “I know I’ve made a mistake. But think of my parents. They’re going to kill me”. The student uses a red herring in his response. He tries to appeal to pity to distract his teacher from the real issue.

The term red herring means a kind of dried red fish, which has a pungent smell. In fox hunting, hounds are prevented from catching the fox by distracting them with the strong scent of red herring. Similarly, a person can be stopped from proving his point in an argument by distracting him with an irrelevant issue.

Common Red Herring Examples

Some examples of red herring fallacy in casual conversations are given below:

Mother: It’s bedtime Jane

Jane: Mom, how do ants feed their babies?

Mother: Don’t know dear. Close your eyes now.

Jane: But mama, do ant babies cry when hungry?

This conversation shows how a child tries to distract her mother so that she [Jane] could stay awake a little longer.

There is a lot of commotion regarding saving the environment. We cannot make this world an Eden. What will happen if it does become Eden? Adam and Eve got bored there!

The idea of Adam and Eve getting bored in Eden throws the listeners off the real issue of environment.

Examples of Red Herring in Literature

Mystery and suspense novels are rich with red herring examples as writers frequently use them to veil the facts from the readers in order to develop their interest.

Example #1

The character of “Bishop Aringarosa” in Dan Brown’s novel Da Vinci Code serves as an example of a red herring throughout the novel. The character is presented in such a way that the readers suspect him to be the mastermind of the whole conspiracy in the church. Later it was revealed that he was innocent. This example of a red herring in the novel distracts the readers from who the real bad person is and thus, adds to the mystery of the story. Interestingly, the Italian surname of the bishop “Aringarosa” translates in English as “red herring”.

Example #2

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes: Hound of the Baskervilles presents a classic example of a red herring. The readers are thrown off the real murderer and start suspecting the escaped “convict” and “Barrymore”. In the end, however, the mystery is resolved by the unexpected confession of “Beryl” that her husband “Stapleton” was the real culprit and was behind the whole mystery of the killer “Hound”.

Example #3

We observe the killer planting false clues and providing red herrings in Charlotte Macleod’s The Withdrawing Room. “Augustus Quiffen”, a lodger at Sarah’s Brownstone home, is killed falling under the train. Seemingly, it was an accident until “Mary Smith” tells “Sarah” that it is a murder but she cannot identify the murderer. “Sarah” and “Max Bittersohn” investigate the matter and find that the killer has planned the death beforehand and that he was well-prepared to conceal it with a convincing red herring.

Function of Red Herring

A red herring is a common device used in mystery and thriller stories to distract the reader from identifying the real culprit. The red herring in a story can take the form of characters that the reader suspect, but who turn out be innocent when the real murderer is identified. It aims at keeping the readers guessing at the possibilities until the end and therefore keeps them interested in the story. The readers enjoy solving the mysteries created by red herrings in the story. Undoubtedly, it would be difficult to keep the reader’s interest, if thrillers exposed the killer from the start.

Moreover, for politicians, red herrings come in handy as they use them frequently to dodge difficult questions in a discussion or an argument. They do it by referring to a different issue, which of course is irrelevant, to sidetrack from the original issue under discussion.

WHAT THE WORLD CAN DO

A pattern seems to exist, wherein supposedly winning candidates yet whose elections are still being questioned suddenly surge in media blitz and talk with foreign partners, as if their position is already legitimate. 

I think that is one way of killing democracy and provides a gloomy scenery of being in politics. We are made to think that it is might makes right, not right makes might. 

An issue-riddled presidential election must not be legitimized by countries who regard the official-to-be's views as official until such time when he/she has already been installed. 

What the world can do is wait and see until after everything has been formally settled. 

Yes, it would be truly depressing to find that efforts to introduce justice in elections would be marred by charades -- as if everything is finished and official. 

There is a time for reckoning and a time for celebration.