NON-ALIGNED, A MORE VIABLE OPTION

It does not seem like a sound political decision to align ourselves with any of the superpowers as they are now in conflict with each other. The US and Russia are against each other over Syria. China is against the US in Asia and is spreading her clout. 

I think the best option for us is to stay non-aligned. 

Here is a brief history and description of the Non-Aligned Movement:

The movement stems from a desire not to be aligned within a geopolitical/military structure and therefore itself does not have a very strict organizational structure.^[2]Some organizational basics were defined at the 1996 Cartagena Document on Methodology^[16] The Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned States is "the highest decision making authority". The chairmanship rotates between countries and changes at every summit of heads of state or government to the country organizing the summit.^[16]

Requirements for membership of the Non-Aligned Movement coincide with the key beliefs of the United Nations. The current requirements are that the candidate country has displayed practices in accordance with the ten "Bandung principles" of 1955:^[16]

• Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
• Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.
• Recognition of the movements for national independence.
• Recognition of the equality of all races and of the equality of all nations, large and small.
• Abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country.
• Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.
• Refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.
• Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.
• Promotion of mutual interests and co-operation.
• Respect for justice and international obligations.                                                                                           

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement

Let us be realistic. We are not strong enough to withstand any attack of any country. In fact, China, with whom the President wishes to strengthen our diplomatic and trade relations,  has made inroads into our shores for many decades now through  export of her cheap products to our markets, despite the lack of quality in terms of strength and durability for example, the umbrellas and electric fans.  She has also kept silent about the illegal drugs emanating from her land and penetrating the minds and souls of so many of our people, hundreds of whom have surrendered and a rising number getting killed daily.

On the other hand, aligning ourselves with Russia and shutting out the United States is also not a wise decision. What will happen to our compatriots living in there? Since the early part of the 20th century, our people have been migrating to the US in search of jobs, and many have even taken up citizenship, built their families and really rooted themselves in American soil. Are we going to alienate them from their surroundings? Are we not going to make them decide to let go of our native homeland forever? I think that is mental cruelty of the highest order. 

Let us all explore the idea of being non-aligned before jumping into a fiery situation. 

Dear Hillary

I heard you are not well. 

That's a normal reaction of a person who is subjected to so much stress. Now that you are running for president, you should have foreseen that attacks against you shall come from all fronts. 

Considering that the US has not had any female president, all the more it sound very "normal" that you would suffer a lot from the naysayers and all other anti-women sectors, by the way,  not only from your opponent, I must say. 

Well, we must put it in our minds that the body can heal itself. No amount of antibiotics could cure you unless you yourself believe that you will heal, that you will be strong and feel great to face the rigors of the presidential campaign.  

But first of all you must overhaul the people running your emails. Your handlers are not really up to par in terms of attending to the requirements of that particular sector of communication of your campaign. Rather, they should generate morale boosting messages for you. Yet your present crop of email handlers do not, cannot seem to achieve that at all. I think many of the people are just there either for fame or for their salaries. In other words, they are not really committed, commitment meaning wholehearted support for you, to the point of sacrificing their lives.

Why do I say that? Not only should an email communication plead for donation, but rather should have ideas on why this particular campaign is specially important at this point in time and history of the nation. 

Also, may I suggest you call on all the spirits of the women in US history who had fought for equality, who had raged against racism, and who truly believe that a great nation is built by both women and men, and not mean alone. You could call on Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Carrie Chapman,  German, Clara Zetkin as well as the English women fighters for equality like Mary Wollstonecraft and Ada Lovelace, among others. 

In others words, don't see this as your struggle only but as the historical struggle of women all over the world, in the present and past histories of humankind. 

It is vitally important that we do so because the US plays a great role in our struggle for equality in this universe not in the sense of power for all, power for the earth to be a humane place to live in, and for everyone to survive the onslaughts of Mother Nature. 

I hope that my statements would be enough o contribute to your well-being. Lastly, kindly remove all hesitations on your part. 

I am writings in this blog because I believe that everyone should be able to read this and get prodded to make their own contributions for your success in all of your struggles at the moment. 

So be it 

TO BE OR NOT TO BE A PRESIDENT

Apparently, conducting smooth interpersonal relationships is not the forte of our President. He has the tendency to fly off the handle right away, even when immersed in innocuous situations. The first time was when the foreign media said that they would boycott him. The next time around was when the former secretary of justice and the commission on human rights raised questions about so-called extra judicial killings, after which he revealed personal issues of the former. The third time is when a media person asked him about possible issues that the president of the USA would be asking him. The highest point of his reply was "Who is he?" And he said that he is only answerable to the Filipino people. 


Recall that the situation was another media gathering and here the President issued statements which normally should be said only at policy-making meetings. Yet, he gave his personal opinions and even diversified into historical issues. 

This is the point I am making. The President could have answered this way: "I will cross the bridge when I get there."   Or "I am not in the habit of predicting what I will say." Or "How did you know what points he would raise?" In other words, either magpatay-mali siya or turn the tables on the questioner. The President need not always appear very politically correct when replying to needling questions. By now, he should already be briefed by his circle that the media will always find a hole where they can get good soundbites or copy for their bosses in their headquarters and so they could earn good points, a raise, a promotion, or that much-needed attention that could spin their career to the top. 

I am raising these points because I feel ashamed when our country is put in a spot wherein we have to explain to friends and relatives abroad about what is happening to our country, especially when something occurs between countries. 

In the first place, the meeting between the President and that of the USA could have evolved into friendship, not necessarily built on political issues wherein they would be at loggerheads with each other. That is what I learned from my ninang -- you never know when a person would be a good fellow to you later on; so cultivate good relations. 

Especially when our OFWs are at the mercy of foreign countries' laws, rules and regulations, what our officials say and how they say things matter a lot. They could be victims of restrictions, of prohibitions, or limitations of their stay in them. 

I think that in the world of politics, the demeanor of our officials has to border on delicate and measured steps as it could have grave repercussions later on, either in our locality or globally. Especially now, when a single word can be aired in a matter of seconds and blown out of proportions without any space for asking for forgiveness or even asking that question, "What did you say again," the behavior of our politicians has to be pristine, free from criticism of any kind. 

So, to be a president of a country one has to be very circumspect  (according to Merriam Webster -- circumspect means "thinking carefully about possible risks before doing or saying something.")

On the other hand, not to be a president, or shall we say presidential is to do, act and speak without regard to the listeners which then could spell disastrous consequences. 

Being nice to a stranger need not result in a harrowing experience right away. It all depends on one's frame of mind at the time of the meeting. 

And so to circle members of the President, please guard him against getting angry all the time as it makes him say things that would blast the beautiful atmosphere of governing our country and making it one of the best places in the world that anybody in this planet would like to live in. In this case, the end justifies the means. 

Maybe it is time to reread Machiavelli. 


SOME OF HIS TEACHINGS:

1. “A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.”

You can’t break consistency because that would break people’s trust in you. You need to find your commitment, your position, and then stick to it, so that people know that whenever they want a certain value, they can get it from you without disappointment.

2. “Before all else, be armed.”

You have to have know your strengths, your weaknesses and have your skills intact before attempting to "attack" a market. If you fail to plan ahead of your actions, you will very likely fail with the actions as well.

3. “I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.”

You can’t copy, copy and copy, to be a creator, leader, that people feel they can trust, nor admire. If what you have to offer already exists, then why should anyone come to you. Think of it as a New Game, you need to give new value, new rules in a new approach. If not, it’s very unlikely that you’ll achieve any great results. Don’t be afraid of breaking patterns and disrupting the perception of the market. The easiest way of leading a new market is by inventing it. This means that you already must have done your research well on the markets that today exist.

4. “The end justifies the means.”

Be result-focused rather than just busy. The market is very honest, and if what you have isn’t desired, then your efforts will not matter. Nobody can see that you worked so hard that you almost are in the verge of collapsing, most of the time nobody cares if you even did collapse. 

You need to offer people benefits that help their lives; it’s all about the results, nothing about you (no matter how wonderful you believe your work is). Great results, will lead to fortune. And great results demands creativity.

5. “Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.”

You tried and you failed, so of course you get frustrated. But, instead of arguing that the users have no idea of what they really want, dare to see the failure as an immense opportunity to actual winning. Failure means just one step closer to winning. It shows you what you have done wrong and what you can improve. Seeing opportunity is in your perception, if you look at obstacles as unmovable stones then you are missing the point. Those few that understand that difficulties, problems and failure are actually opportunities will become winners. Why? because if it is difficult then there is a competitive advantage in realizing or solving the issue. A big problem = great opportunity, don’t let it slip.

6. “Never was anything great achieved without danger”

Take calculated risks, as mentioned above, you need not fear failure. The faster you fail the better. Why? Because if you over plan so you don't fail than you will eventually fail and the time planning will be wasted on being dependent on some abstract certainty. Planning has its place, but its not meant to be certain.

If you refuse to fail, you will play the game of business very safely and this will give competitors a great chance to take home the trophy. Dare to try out new ideas, and if they don’t work, go on to other ideas. Have speed of action; don’t wait for magic to happen, be the magician and swallow the fire.

7. “Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”

Keep track of your competitors and keep track of the market, what happens today might completely change tomorrow. Know the principles of strategy; you need to constantly improve yourself (Kaizen). Your business should be in constant morphing until you hit the target. It is a process of business discovery not an instant gratification.

http://dudye.com/10-things-niccolo-machiavelli-can-teach-you-about-creative-strategy

WHAT, A HERO?

'WOMEN BELONG TO THE BEDROOM!"

Who said that? Ferdinand Edralin Marcos at the height of the Snap Presidential Elections in 1986.

Whom did he want to bring down? Cory Aquino and all other women in the Philippines -- Imelda, Imee, Irene, the rest of the Filipino women. (As he had died by that statement, all women today, including Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno  are reminded of his extremely misogynistic tendencies.)  By that statement he also brought down the dignity of all the women around the globe. 

And so half of the world's population, the WOMEN, were degraded, denigrated, dismissed as significant partners. 

What other reasons can we use to say that his statement is not one that should come from a hero?