Tony Villan
Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 2:41 AM
Dear Ms Wilhelmina Orozco,
Very interesting insight of yours regarding the appreciation of Classical Ballet.
How many can understand the movement of the Ballet Dancers? Classical Ballet in its overall concept and performance tells the story as projected by the movements of the Prima Ballerina and the Primo Ballerino. Even the movements of the supporting ballet dancers and the scene must also be coordinated with the entire cast on the stage.
Not all ballet proteges will be able to handle the rigorous training in projecting the correct body movements.
But, those that had the chance to watch and observe the studies and trainings of the students of Classical Ballet will surely have the different outlook.
Good that you had the chance to watch Classic Ballet Performance. How many of our posters will show appreciation of Classical Ballet?
Just the Art of Pantomime can tell the story of movements without words as projected mostly by Clowns. While a Ballet Movement can tell the Fantasies of Dancing within the Story.
Sincerely,
Tony Villan
Sunday, February 20, 2011
STANDING ON SOLID GROUNDS
So what else is new on this planet? Ho-hum, our globe must be yawning about the changes occurring now from the east to the Middle East and then down to Africa, too.
Must we celebrate now because the road to democracy is being unblocked one by one by in countries, especially in those that have highly conservative religions that restrict women's rights?
Truly, democracy's last recipients are women. It is the people who must first experience total obliteration of autocratic rule before they would focus on the rights of children. They do not come together: people's rights and women's rights. Why so?
In our country, the Philippines, we had a woman, Cory who led the country in toppling the male dictatorship backed up by the military. Later on, she signed the Family Code giving women almost equal rights as men in family life. She also signed the declaration of March as Women's Month as March 8 which is International Women's Day is a significant occasion for us in observing our roles in the family, the community and the larger society.
As the People Power Movement is reverberating all around now, we ask, how come the People's Republic of China seems to be unshakeable in its Communist Party's tenacious hold on power when it is so near our country? How come there is so much restriction of freedoms there, especially that freedom to write?
When we held the Asian Women's Conference in Davao way back in 1985, the Singaporean women, most of whom were of Chinese origin, said that they traded off their freedoms to speak, demonstrate and write for the right to eat, and to lead a comfortable life. They came then with their nice clothes and high lifestyle reflected in the things they carried with them.
And so why is it so easy for the Chinese to disbelieve in a democratic life? I think that it is the family life which puts a great pressure on the people to conform to authorities, a Confucian legacy. Conservativism is ingrained from childhood to adulthood so that turning against State repression is almost akin to losing one's ties with the family, a kind of self-annihilation, which is a sad thought to carry, really.
I remember that in our People Power movement in the 80's, the majority of the leaders were in their 30's and 40's then who had experienced living under democratic rules and had traveled in many parts of the world especially US and Europe. Hence it was easy thinking of and acting on reverting back the country to that time when we could speak and exercise all of our human rights without chains, literally and figuratively.
Our movement required intense debates then on where our country should go -- communist or democratic as the radicals were bent on wresting the rule from Marcos, too, at that time. But in the end the democrats won, us, and that's why we are here now.
However, in the case of China and the Arab worlds, the youth are in the frontlines now to change their country's path, having been awakened by the broad freedoms that communication technologies are able to dish out and allow them to experience, no matter how vicarious. Maybe to them viewing other people's struggles on screen is no longer enough; they themselves must experience that freedom to act on their lot. And so this is what is happening to them.
Meanwhile, the United States, the so-called torch that lights up the democratic world is now being run by conservatives in the House and could be threatened with lack of budget for the Federal Government next month. She does not seem to pose now as a good model for what is democratic in the world.
Anyway, so long as they are still using that power of speech to debate on what is good for their country, I guess that would still be called an essential element of democratic rule -- the right to debate to death on what is good for the country.
But seriously speaking now, I think that the Middle Eastern rulers who have held their powers for decades over a timid population must now confront the reality that times have changed and they are now being made accountable for the slow growth of their populace, not just physically but more so, intellectually.
I do think that repressive regimes are curtailing the human mind to think and bring forth positive ideas that could turn our planet as the best place in the universe to exist in. They should be made to realize that the human body exists at the most a hundred years only and that controlling so much wealth and power is not conducive to leading a happy life on earth.
But do the rulers in those regimes still think of happiness? Having gone through 9 years of questionable presidency, I think that such rulers only think of power from day to day and no longer pause to ponder over the total lot of their life. They bask in the glory of having underlings who call them "Sir" or "Ma'am" and who bow to them no end, and that is all that matters to them -- that "glorious" feeling of being on top of the world.
But the human mind changes, even those of poor people. I recall one vendor giving me P200 peso bills as change for my P500. And I asked him, Sir, please change this to hundreds. Why, he asked. Because I don't want to be reminded of that past era in our life. He replied, "But she and her family will not last long on this earth, as all of us. All those who made millions out of the people's lives shall not live very long. Everyone's life shall terminate.Diyos na ang bahala sa kanila," he said in conclusion.
Yes, we can turn philosophical about events in our lives but still we need to act in our society where certain groups still are hankering for a return to undemocratic rule where they could enjoy the wealth and power they once had without question.
This is why our Congressional investigations of the hidden wealth of the military soldiers are just the first step in our concretizing what should be the real face of democracy.
Actually, we never had a complete digging into the workings of martial law. It was the American courts that held the investigations and are now ruling in favor of ML victims, not a court nor any court, not even the Philippine Commission on Good Government, lifted a finger to make the Filipino people watch, hear, or read about the way Marcos and his cohorts ruled the country for 14 years, undemocratically. Instead we have academic writings, books,feature stories, and write-ups. Not once did we see any member of Marcos' family or cabinet member face and explain to the investigators how they amassed such wealth.
Hence, what we are bequeathing the world is just the preparatory phase to toppling an undemocratic rule but running a democratic country is not our best record. We are just starting now, and hopefully, we would also learn from other countries how the people fare and rule after gaining power, finally. That exchange of political lessons in democracy would be the best exercise of what is called a united world.
Hence, this world, this planet stands a better chance of not self-destructing if we could insure the survival and the rights of everyone to live humanely. Why because we would not want to stand on grounds that could not hold us up permanently and solidly while we breathe and watch the beauty of Mother Nature around us.
Must we celebrate now because the road to democracy is being unblocked one by one by in countries, especially in those that have highly conservative religions that restrict women's rights?
Truly, democracy's last recipients are women. It is the people who must first experience total obliteration of autocratic rule before they would focus on the rights of children. They do not come together: people's rights and women's rights. Why so?
In our country, the Philippines, we had a woman, Cory who led the country in toppling the male dictatorship backed up by the military. Later on, she signed the Family Code giving women almost equal rights as men in family life. She also signed the declaration of March as Women's Month as March 8 which is International Women's Day is a significant occasion for us in observing our roles in the family, the community and the larger society.
As the People Power Movement is reverberating all around now, we ask, how come the People's Republic of China seems to be unshakeable in its Communist Party's tenacious hold on power when it is so near our country? How come there is so much restriction of freedoms there, especially that freedom to write?
When we held the Asian Women's Conference in Davao way back in 1985, the Singaporean women, most of whom were of Chinese origin, said that they traded off their freedoms to speak, demonstrate and write for the right to eat, and to lead a comfortable life. They came then with their nice clothes and high lifestyle reflected in the things they carried with them.
And so why is it so easy for the Chinese to disbelieve in a democratic life? I think that it is the family life which puts a great pressure on the people to conform to authorities, a Confucian legacy. Conservativism is ingrained from childhood to adulthood so that turning against State repression is almost akin to losing one's ties with the family, a kind of self-annihilation, which is a sad thought to carry, really.
I remember that in our People Power movement in the 80's, the majority of the leaders were in their 30's and 40's then who had experienced living under democratic rules and had traveled in many parts of the world especially US and Europe. Hence it was easy thinking of and acting on reverting back the country to that time when we could speak and exercise all of our human rights without chains, literally and figuratively.
Our movement required intense debates then on where our country should go -- communist or democratic as the radicals were bent on wresting the rule from Marcos, too, at that time. But in the end the democrats won, us, and that's why we are here now.
However, in the case of China and the Arab worlds, the youth are in the frontlines now to change their country's path, having been awakened by the broad freedoms that communication technologies are able to dish out and allow them to experience, no matter how vicarious. Maybe to them viewing other people's struggles on screen is no longer enough; they themselves must experience that freedom to act on their lot. And so this is what is happening to them.
Meanwhile, the United States, the so-called torch that lights up the democratic world is now being run by conservatives in the House and could be threatened with lack of budget for the Federal Government next month. She does not seem to pose now as a good model for what is democratic in the world.
Anyway, so long as they are still using that power of speech to debate on what is good for their country, I guess that would still be called an essential element of democratic rule -- the right to debate to death on what is good for the country.
But seriously speaking now, I think that the Middle Eastern rulers who have held their powers for decades over a timid population must now confront the reality that times have changed and they are now being made accountable for the slow growth of their populace, not just physically but more so, intellectually.
I do think that repressive regimes are curtailing the human mind to think and bring forth positive ideas that could turn our planet as the best place in the universe to exist in. They should be made to realize that the human body exists at the most a hundred years only and that controlling so much wealth and power is not conducive to leading a happy life on earth.
But do the rulers in those regimes still think of happiness? Having gone through 9 years of questionable presidency, I think that such rulers only think of power from day to day and no longer pause to ponder over the total lot of their life. They bask in the glory of having underlings who call them "Sir" or "Ma'am" and who bow to them no end, and that is all that matters to them -- that "glorious" feeling of being on top of the world.
But the human mind changes, even those of poor people. I recall one vendor giving me P200 peso bills as change for my P500. And I asked him, Sir, please change this to hundreds. Why, he asked. Because I don't want to be reminded of that past era in our life. He replied, "But she and her family will not last long on this earth, as all of us. All those who made millions out of the people's lives shall not live very long. Everyone's life shall terminate.Diyos na ang bahala sa kanila," he said in conclusion.
Yes, we can turn philosophical about events in our lives but still we need to act in our society where certain groups still are hankering for a return to undemocratic rule where they could enjoy the wealth and power they once had without question.
This is why our Congressional investigations of the hidden wealth of the military soldiers are just the first step in our concretizing what should be the real face of democracy.
Actually, we never had a complete digging into the workings of martial law. It was the American courts that held the investigations and are now ruling in favor of ML victims, not a court nor any court, not even the Philippine Commission on Good Government, lifted a finger to make the Filipino people watch, hear, or read about the way Marcos and his cohorts ruled the country for 14 years, undemocratically. Instead we have academic writings, books,feature stories, and write-ups. Not once did we see any member of Marcos' family or cabinet member face and explain to the investigators how they amassed such wealth.
Hence, what we are bequeathing the world is just the preparatory phase to toppling an undemocratic rule but running a democratic country is not our best record. We are just starting now, and hopefully, we would also learn from other countries how the people fare and rule after gaining power, finally. That exchange of political lessons in democracy would be the best exercise of what is called a united world.
Hence, this world, this planet stands a better chance of not self-destructing if we could insure the survival and the rights of everyone to live humanely. Why because we would not want to stand on grounds that could not hold us up permanently and solidly while we breathe and watch the beauty of Mother Nature around us.
INVISIBLE PICTURE
Folks, I tried several times to upload an image of Arab people protesting but it does not show on this site.
You see, democracy is such a cuss word in states that are ruled secretly by conservative intel officers who hack computers of critics, all kinds of critics.
Sad. This is the Philippines.
You see, democracy is such a cuss word in states that are ruled secretly by conservative intel officers who hack computers of critics, all kinds of critics.
Sad. This is the Philippines.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
BALLET AND BEYOND
BALLET AND BEYOND
Wilhelmina S. Orozco
Why do we watch cultural shows? Why do our kababayan line up to buy tickets no matter how long the queue is? Why do they smile at the mere mention of their favorite media star? I think that’s the wonder of art and culture in general. The artistic products that the media stars put out provide the audience, the viewers, their fans with respite from the daily struggles to eke out a living. The messages they give, whether it is about their life, or their latest escapades with their romantic partners provide a glimpse of a starry life, maybe reachable or unreachable but nonetheless remaining attractive, interesting and inspiring for them.
Now there is such a thing as high or low brow shows. Classical ballet is one of those high brow elite arts that the masses generally shy away from watching as they have been used to the so-called “masa entertainment fare” on luncheon TV programs with gyrating dancers dressed in skimpy attire, or the acrobatic teenagers aping the crotch-catching steps of Michael Jackson. They are enticed no end to remain glued on TV no matter how repetitive, how monotonous the music coming from these programs are, as they also contain “Manalo ng milyun-milyun” promos, making their dream of becoming instant millionaires a possibility, whether as direct or home viewer.
But Lisa Macuja-Elizalde is not one to skip her dream of bringing ballet to the masses, no matter what the odds are stacked against her high brow field. Instead, she continues to produce shows that could generate interest, not only mere viewing but also educating the audience on what is great art. Her latest show, “Ballet, Band and Ballads” attests to this.
In this program, Lisa showcases Ballet Manila, her dancing ballet group with themes that are not commonly used in our everyday cultural entertainment shows. In “Less Sylphides,”, music by Frederic Chopin ‘s Les Sylphides, and choreography by Bam Damian III, the dancers are all male, with bare chests, and wearing half petticoat tied at the back executing vigorous ballet steps in very manly yet graceful ways, not one moment exhibiting any effeminate stance. It was refreshing watching that piece as if we were watching a group of swans floating on air and stepping down on the ground in gay abandon.
One of two paired pieces was “Grand Pas Classique” with music by Daniel Auber and choreography by Alexander Gorsky performed by Elena Chernova and her partner I don’t know which of these two: Nazer Salgado or Nino Guevarra. Elena, a Caucasian danced very lightly and made pirouettes that were too dazzling to count. The audience was so mesmerized by her dancing and of course her lone white beauty among the group of kayumanggi dancers that they gave her a loud applause.
The other piece was “Summer’s End”, performed by no less than the ballet icon Lisa, together with Rudy de Dios, with music by Chopin’s Concerto in E minor Opus 10 and choreography by Norman Walker. The story is the ill fate of two lovers whose feelings for each other are so passionate that they explored the heights and depths of romance, but in the end have to be separated from each other. The ending shows spotlights focused on the two and the rest of the stage in dark background thereby hinting at that great divide separating them. This was visual expression of romantic break-up at its best. Of course, the dance elicited great applause from the audience, a sincere appreciation especially at this time when Lisa would be rarely dancing on stage given her busy schedule of being the artistic director of the company.
“Alla Luce del Sole” with music by Josh Groban, choreography, concept, costume and light design and concept by Manuel Molina. has 31 male and female dancers, dressed in gray and black long robes, covered faces and heads dancing together, winding their way through the stage, molding themselves as humans, and later on as natural shapes as a mountain. “Alla” carries the theme of again, another kind of unfulfilled love, with the woman, rising up above this “human-made” mountain and then dropping down to her death. The man dances to retrieve her body covered by the group of dancers, lifeless, and then carries it on his shoulders, only to kill himself in the end also.
In between the various ballet pieces are the pop tunes sang by Side A band like “Hold On,” and “Got to Believe in Magic,” among others. This group was formed in 1985 and continues to produce albums, that carry songs popularized over the radio and in live performances by the band members who exhibit confident stage presence, at the end, making the audience stand for their last piece. Unfortunately, the audience is so tame that only a few swayed to the beat of the song which carries a message about a romantic person, waiting for love to fall his or her way.
Somehow, the repertoire that night of 17th February 2011 at Aliw Theatre shows an inclination towards heartbreaking love affairs, unrequited love, love abandoned, and all the ramifications of romantic attachments which are hot stuff among the majority of our cultural audiences. I guess, Lisa has captured the mindset of the Filipino viewers so that she prepared this program just to be able to make them appreciate ballet as well, an artform that usually appeals only to the highly educated and culturatti. Having been schooled in Russia with its educational program emphasizing not only expertise in the artform but also in social processes, Lisa has read the minds and hearts of the Filipino people and must be accorded our salute for her unending energy to bring culture to the masses.
Catch the program tonight and tomorrow night at Aliw Theatre again. Soprano Fides Cuyugan, our very own cultural music gem will be there tonight.
PS A legislative move exists to make another company the National Ballet Company of the country which is rather destructive and divisive of the current state of our culture. I think this move should not prosper because making a company lay claim to being THE company worthwhile being labeled as such is opening the cultural discourse to political wranglings. The arts should be politics-free – free from the manipulation of individuals, groups and government officials into nurturing only their chosen artists instead of making the arts reachable to everyone, especially the masses regardless of political color.
Wilhelmina S. Orozco
Why do we watch cultural shows? Why do our kababayan line up to buy tickets no matter how long the queue is? Why do they smile at the mere mention of their favorite media star? I think that’s the wonder of art and culture in general. The artistic products that the media stars put out provide the audience, the viewers, their fans with respite from the daily struggles to eke out a living. The messages they give, whether it is about their life, or their latest escapades with their romantic partners provide a glimpse of a starry life, maybe reachable or unreachable but nonetheless remaining attractive, interesting and inspiring for them.
Now there is such a thing as high or low brow shows. Classical ballet is one of those high brow elite arts that the masses generally shy away from watching as they have been used to the so-called “masa entertainment fare” on luncheon TV programs with gyrating dancers dressed in skimpy attire, or the acrobatic teenagers aping the crotch-catching steps of Michael Jackson. They are enticed no end to remain glued on TV no matter how repetitive, how monotonous the music coming from these programs are, as they also contain “Manalo ng milyun-milyun” promos, making their dream of becoming instant millionaires a possibility, whether as direct or home viewer.
But Lisa Macuja-Elizalde is not one to skip her dream of bringing ballet to the masses, no matter what the odds are stacked against her high brow field. Instead, she continues to produce shows that could generate interest, not only mere viewing but also educating the audience on what is great art. Her latest show, “Ballet, Band and Ballads” attests to this.
In this program, Lisa showcases Ballet Manila, her dancing ballet group with themes that are not commonly used in our everyday cultural entertainment shows. In “Less Sylphides,”, music by Frederic Chopin ‘s Les Sylphides, and choreography by Bam Damian III, the dancers are all male, with bare chests, and wearing half petticoat tied at the back executing vigorous ballet steps in very manly yet graceful ways, not one moment exhibiting any effeminate stance. It was refreshing watching that piece as if we were watching a group of swans floating on air and stepping down on the ground in gay abandon.
One of two paired pieces was “Grand Pas Classique” with music by Daniel Auber and choreography by Alexander Gorsky performed by Elena Chernova and her partner I don’t know which of these two: Nazer Salgado or Nino Guevarra. Elena, a Caucasian danced very lightly and made pirouettes that were too dazzling to count. The audience was so mesmerized by her dancing and of course her lone white beauty among the group of kayumanggi dancers that they gave her a loud applause.
The other piece was “Summer’s End”, performed by no less than the ballet icon Lisa, together with Rudy de Dios, with music by Chopin’s Concerto in E minor Opus 10 and choreography by Norman Walker. The story is the ill fate of two lovers whose feelings for each other are so passionate that they explored the heights and depths of romance, but in the end have to be separated from each other. The ending shows spotlights focused on the two and the rest of the stage in dark background thereby hinting at that great divide separating them. This was visual expression of romantic break-up at its best. Of course, the dance elicited great applause from the audience, a sincere appreciation especially at this time when Lisa would be rarely dancing on stage given her busy schedule of being the artistic director of the company.
“Alla Luce del Sole” with music by Josh Groban, choreography, concept, costume and light design and concept by Manuel Molina. has 31 male and female dancers, dressed in gray and black long robes, covered faces and heads dancing together, winding their way through the stage, molding themselves as humans, and later on as natural shapes as a mountain. “Alla” carries the theme of again, another kind of unfulfilled love, with the woman, rising up above this “human-made” mountain and then dropping down to her death. The man dances to retrieve her body covered by the group of dancers, lifeless, and then carries it on his shoulders, only to kill himself in the end also.
In between the various ballet pieces are the pop tunes sang by Side A band like “Hold On,” and “Got to Believe in Magic,” among others. This group was formed in 1985 and continues to produce albums, that carry songs popularized over the radio and in live performances by the band members who exhibit confident stage presence, at the end, making the audience stand for their last piece. Unfortunately, the audience is so tame that only a few swayed to the beat of the song which carries a message about a romantic person, waiting for love to fall his or her way.
Somehow, the repertoire that night of 17th February 2011 at Aliw Theatre shows an inclination towards heartbreaking love affairs, unrequited love, love abandoned, and all the ramifications of romantic attachments which are hot stuff among the majority of our cultural audiences. I guess, Lisa has captured the mindset of the Filipino viewers so that she prepared this program just to be able to make them appreciate ballet as well, an artform that usually appeals only to the highly educated and culturatti. Having been schooled in Russia with its educational program emphasizing not only expertise in the artform but also in social processes, Lisa has read the minds and hearts of the Filipino people and must be accorded our salute for her unending energy to bring culture to the masses.
Catch the program tonight and tomorrow night at Aliw Theatre again. Soprano Fides Cuyugan, our very own cultural music gem will be there tonight.
PS A legislative move exists to make another company the National Ballet Company of the country which is rather destructive and divisive of the current state of our culture. I think this move should not prosper because making a company lay claim to being THE company worthwhile being labeled as such is opening the cultural discourse to political wranglings. The arts should be politics-free – free from the manipulation of individuals, groups and government officials into nurturing only their chosen artists instead of making the arts reachable to everyone, especially the masses regardless of political color.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
GUARDING AGAINST POLITICAL AMNESIA
by Wilhelmina S. Orozco
I remember February 7th, 1986 when a group I was with held a rally in and harangued the Marcos media people in front of Channel 4, now ABS-CBN network along Bohol Avenue. I spoke at that rally and said how the Marcoses stole the network from the Lopezes and the need to return it to them.
After that, I sought to produce a women's program in Channel 2, after Cory returned it to the Lopezes. But aside from one crack at directing "Ang Pagmumulat ni Ellen" which is about child abuse and incest, an episode of the Bantay Bata TV program,courtesy of Ms. Gina Lopez, which folded up immediately afterwards, and twice appearing in the show of Carl Balita's Go Negosyo, I have not had the luck to deal with the network, nor with directing a film for Star Cinema under Charo Santos-Concio.
Is it a case of amnesia on their part that they would not give me a chance to exercise my skills -- to work, and not be given a silver platter -- as a filmmaker, despite my political contributions? No, not amnesia but political savviness. I am not savvy enough to know with whom to connect more permanently and more significantly with them. Media, film especially. is a powerful tool, to raise the political consciousness of the public and probably the ABS-CBN honchos had viewed me as a competitive alternative to them, employment-wise.
Anyway, the above are relevant to what I really want to say here.
I maintain that it is not correct to say that what is happening in Egypt is miles apart from what had happened in our People Power Movement in the 80's. I am sure that the Egyptians who are rising up against a dictator have taken lessons from our and other countries' experiences who also underwent people power transitions to a democratic rule, like Germany, Ukraine, Russia and other Eastern European countries, and so are more determined now to attain their objective. They have learned a lot in terms of not only massing up physically at the Tahrir Square but also in terms of using peaceful means to achieve their ends.
Right now, their movement has expanded to places outside of Cairo, covering various sectors of their society -- textile workers, journalists, and other workers. This shows that the Egyptians are now systematic in their approach to socio-political changes knowing that the broad participation of the populace is highly important in insuring the success of the movement. Also, by having such participation, future moves to strengthen the success of political popular acts could readily tap these sectors in times of peace, and hopefully would not occur, of war.
City-based People Power
On the other hand, our People Power in '86 was largely city-based, Metro-Manila wide, and spontaneous, although there were also masses of people at cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. Actually, there were more individual rather than organizational participants as the people then were wary of organized groups, especially the radical ones who had (and maybe have) the tendency to lord it over in any kind of association.
Removing one dictatorship does not mean falling under a new one, after all. Our movement revolved around Cory, the bereaved widow, who was able to unite the contending opposing factions and rally the people to move as one to make the Marcoses leave the Malacanang Palace. Unfortunately, our people power movement was so fragile, the first in human history to have occurred so that the leaders of EDSA Dos were able to subvert its aims and install a kunu-democratic but actually, corrupt regime of 9 years.
Anyway, now our people power is still in effect. The success of electing PNoy in the 2010 national elections showed the people's will through the ballot. Our people stood and brave the heat just so they could exercise their right of suffrage and elect the leaders they want to rule over our fate for the next 6 years.
Now, our people power has acquired a legalistic color with Congressional hearings going into full swing, scrutinizing official acts of government officials, including the military and the police. Have these officials really understood what democracy means and practice its tenets -- in terms of a respectful treatment of the institutions, their use of funds - whether judicious or not, and their respect of the needs of their own constituents?
Our people are glued to what is happening, but I am sure, are still ready to take public action should the Congressional sessions revert to becoming moro-moro propaganda.
Contrary political approaches?
Are we far from the experiences of the Egyptians? Not really although we should view changes in this way: different cultures have different approaches to problems.
Our approach happens to be this way because we could be lacking in numbers and the will in terms of conducting another people power. Labour migration has crippled our workers' movement. Many professionals have left the country for better pay outside. And so, our people power movement could not take a vigorous push so much as we are experiencing a great number of populace who could be dependent on remittances from abroad and so would be doubtful or willy-nilly about taking to the streets in order to experience change. The young people who could serve as the core of a movement are stuck to their chairs playing computer games and experiencing love-dovey dates pulled as they are by sex and romance-inclined media.
The possibility of cutting off remittances could truly make even the politically aware and the courageous not to make a stand even to such a simple issue as removing the oil deregulation law. Luckily though we still have a vibrant media - print and radio, especially RMN, Super BB, DZMM, DWIZ, and DZRH, which give critical assessments- pros and cons- of what are happening on a daily basis. I can't say much about tv critics because the hosts in public affairs programs could run against network policies (the network could run in danger of being disenfranchised) should they become too radical with their views.
Anyway, many of those we have elected are showing us their mettle, their commitment to truly transforming our country and the lives of the majority of the Filipino people by targetting those who have illegally amassed wealth at the expense of their own constituents. Something is brewing also as political realignments are occuring to make everyone take a strong stand against erring officials especially those who transgress the law.
Investigations have focused on the military chiefs who have thrown our soldiers to warzones, who risk their lives, facing danger every second without any assurance of getting what is legally due them as their basic salaries, equipment and supplies. Colonel Querubin, or is he a general now, narrated how he and his troops had gone to East Timor to fight in the war with very meager paraphernalia compared to soldiers from other countries. Yet they performed meritoriously, he said. (I really think that's the height of insensitivity of the military higher-ups. I was able to catch the statements of some on radio and truly, I squirmed when some generals even gleefully joked about the charges exhibiting no pangs of guilt or sorrow about having been in power and yet not doing a thing about such corrupt practices at all during their time. This shows that corruption could truly desensitize individuals in power.)
As an aside, should more guilty people use suicide as an option, may I say that psychologists believe self-destruction is one way of making the people around, the living, feel guilty about what had happened to them instead of admitting their own vulnerabilities. Let us have a scientific view of events, involving everyone, especially the experts in giving a critical assessment of why guilty people react in a radical way. In our current times, let us get everyone's opinion, especially the psychiatrists' and psychologists' to make us also pay attention to mental and emotional health as important factors to consider when carrying out any public movement at all.
In conclusion, let us continue to observe the Congressional sessions while keeping a close watch on what is happening in Egypt. We need to watch the latter in order to act readily should destruction of her culture, among other things, happen just like what had occurred during the siege of Iraq. Worldwide reaction to such happenings could stop such irreverent acts, or any inhuman act that would destroy historical treasures that show us the evolution of human societies.
By the way, in our case, our cultural treasures were not really destroyed but the jewels and other articles of Imelda were pilfered, some of which are reverting now to her possession. Instead of displaying them forever at the Malacanang museum to remind us and show to foreign visitors why we undertook the movement in '86, how loathing the lifestyle was of the Marcoses at that time and why they including their cohorts deserved to be deposed, some officials seem to want to erase every article that would remind us of our People Power '86. That is an utterly disgusting act.
Hence, Folks, let us guard against national political amnesia, induced and not induced, in our midst. Eternal vigilance is the answer to dictatorships of any kind.
I remember February 7th, 1986 when a group I was with held a rally in and harangued the Marcos media people in front of Channel 4, now ABS-CBN network along Bohol Avenue. I spoke at that rally and said how the Marcoses stole the network from the Lopezes and the need to return it to them.
After that, I sought to produce a women's program in Channel 2, after Cory returned it to the Lopezes. But aside from one crack at directing "Ang Pagmumulat ni Ellen" which is about child abuse and incest, an episode of the Bantay Bata TV program,courtesy of Ms. Gina Lopez, which folded up immediately afterwards, and twice appearing in the show of Carl Balita's Go Negosyo, I have not had the luck to deal with the network, nor with directing a film for Star Cinema under Charo Santos-Concio.
Is it a case of amnesia on their part that they would not give me a chance to exercise my skills -- to work, and not be given a silver platter -- as a filmmaker, despite my political contributions? No, not amnesia but political savviness. I am not savvy enough to know with whom to connect more permanently and more significantly with them. Media, film especially. is a powerful tool, to raise the political consciousness of the public and probably the ABS-CBN honchos had viewed me as a competitive alternative to them, employment-wise.
Anyway, the above are relevant to what I really want to say here.
I maintain that it is not correct to say that what is happening in Egypt is miles apart from what had happened in our People Power Movement in the 80's. I am sure that the Egyptians who are rising up against a dictator have taken lessons from our and other countries' experiences who also underwent people power transitions to a democratic rule, like Germany, Ukraine, Russia and other Eastern European countries, and so are more determined now to attain their objective. They have learned a lot in terms of not only massing up physically at the Tahrir Square but also in terms of using peaceful means to achieve their ends.
Right now, their movement has expanded to places outside of Cairo, covering various sectors of their society -- textile workers, journalists, and other workers. This shows that the Egyptians are now systematic in their approach to socio-political changes knowing that the broad participation of the populace is highly important in insuring the success of the movement. Also, by having such participation, future moves to strengthen the success of political popular acts could readily tap these sectors in times of peace, and hopefully would not occur, of war.
City-based People Power
On the other hand, our People Power in '86 was largely city-based, Metro-Manila wide, and spontaneous, although there were also masses of people at cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. Actually, there were more individual rather than organizational participants as the people then were wary of organized groups, especially the radical ones who had (and maybe have) the tendency to lord it over in any kind of association.
Removing one dictatorship does not mean falling under a new one, after all. Our movement revolved around Cory, the bereaved widow, who was able to unite the contending opposing factions and rally the people to move as one to make the Marcoses leave the Malacanang Palace. Unfortunately, our people power movement was so fragile, the first in human history to have occurred so that the leaders of EDSA Dos were able to subvert its aims and install a kunu-democratic but actually, corrupt regime of 9 years.
Anyway, now our people power is still in effect. The success of electing PNoy in the 2010 national elections showed the people's will through the ballot. Our people stood and brave the heat just so they could exercise their right of suffrage and elect the leaders they want to rule over our fate for the next 6 years.
Now, our people power has acquired a legalistic color with Congressional hearings going into full swing, scrutinizing official acts of government officials, including the military and the police. Have these officials really understood what democracy means and practice its tenets -- in terms of a respectful treatment of the institutions, their use of funds - whether judicious or not, and their respect of the needs of their own constituents?
Our people are glued to what is happening, but I am sure, are still ready to take public action should the Congressional sessions revert to becoming moro-moro propaganda.
Contrary political approaches?
Are we far from the experiences of the Egyptians? Not really although we should view changes in this way: different cultures have different approaches to problems.
Our approach happens to be this way because we could be lacking in numbers and the will in terms of conducting another people power. Labour migration has crippled our workers' movement. Many professionals have left the country for better pay outside. And so, our people power movement could not take a vigorous push so much as we are experiencing a great number of populace who could be dependent on remittances from abroad and so would be doubtful or willy-nilly about taking to the streets in order to experience change. The young people who could serve as the core of a movement are stuck to their chairs playing computer games and experiencing love-dovey dates pulled as they are by sex and romance-inclined media.
The possibility of cutting off remittances could truly make even the politically aware and the courageous not to make a stand even to such a simple issue as removing the oil deregulation law. Luckily though we still have a vibrant media - print and radio, especially RMN, Super BB, DZMM, DWIZ, and DZRH, which give critical assessments- pros and cons- of what are happening on a daily basis. I can't say much about tv critics because the hosts in public affairs programs could run against network policies (the network could run in danger of being disenfranchised) should they become too radical with their views.
Anyway, many of those we have elected are showing us their mettle, their commitment to truly transforming our country and the lives of the majority of the Filipino people by targetting those who have illegally amassed wealth at the expense of their own constituents. Something is brewing also as political realignments are occuring to make everyone take a strong stand against erring officials especially those who transgress the law.
Investigations have focused on the military chiefs who have thrown our soldiers to warzones, who risk their lives, facing danger every second without any assurance of getting what is legally due them as their basic salaries, equipment and supplies. Colonel Querubin, or is he a general now, narrated how he and his troops had gone to East Timor to fight in the war with very meager paraphernalia compared to soldiers from other countries. Yet they performed meritoriously, he said. (I really think that's the height of insensitivity of the military higher-ups. I was able to catch the statements of some on radio and truly, I squirmed when some generals even gleefully joked about the charges exhibiting no pangs of guilt or sorrow about having been in power and yet not doing a thing about such corrupt practices at all during their time. This shows that corruption could truly desensitize individuals in power.)
As an aside, should more guilty people use suicide as an option, may I say that psychologists believe self-destruction is one way of making the people around, the living, feel guilty about what had happened to them instead of admitting their own vulnerabilities. Let us have a scientific view of events, involving everyone, especially the experts in giving a critical assessment of why guilty people react in a radical way. In our current times, let us get everyone's opinion, especially the psychiatrists' and psychologists' to make us also pay attention to mental and emotional health as important factors to consider when carrying out any public movement at all.
In conclusion, let us continue to observe the Congressional sessions while keeping a close watch on what is happening in Egypt. We need to watch the latter in order to act readily should destruction of her culture, among other things, happen just like what had occurred during the siege of Iraq. Worldwide reaction to such happenings could stop such irreverent acts, or any inhuman act that would destroy historical treasures that show us the evolution of human societies.
By the way, in our case, our cultural treasures were not really destroyed but the jewels and other articles of Imelda were pilfered, some of which are reverting now to her possession. Instead of displaying them forever at the Malacanang museum to remind us and show to foreign visitors why we undertook the movement in '86, how loathing the lifestyle was of the Marcoses at that time and why they including their cohorts deserved to be deposed, some officials seem to want to erase every article that would remind us of our People Power '86. That is an utterly disgusting act.
Hence, Folks, let us guard against national political amnesia, induced and not induced, in our midst. Eternal vigilance is the answer to dictatorships of any kind.
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