Comments, Political or otherwise...

  RIZAL'S LAST FAREWELL
Comment from: longwaybye
"Being a product of Zaide's Philippine History, and a Leader's and heroes' perspective of history, I naturally find it hard to view history from the eyes of the common people, the followers of the heroes, the idolizers of leaders like our National hero, Dr. Jose Rizal

Sometimes it is worthwhile to point out that Rizal was also first in fact a politician, much like Ninoy Aquino, and Im sure subjected to the same temptations that every man experience.

It is the fact that he did not give in to those temptations is what make Dr. Jose Rizal great! Great deeds must be partenered with principles and values.

For how would it be, if Rizal, along with what he did for the country, also was a rapist, a liar, or a serial killer?

Would he be a hero still? I dont think so, he would be credited for his work in liberating the consciousness of the filipino people, but he would never be idolized; because he has some bad side.


Now the bad side, in determining how bad should a bad side be to disqualify him from a heroes position?
No hard and fast rules, but certainly you cannot be a hero if you are a serial killer, no matter how you fight with a foreign invader, even if you singlehandedly liberated a country?


However, it is not the actual case. In reality, the bigger of your side will usually overpower the lesser. So there is still chance for Joseph Estrada. For aLL HIS LIES, WOMANIZING, HE COULD STILL BE A HERO IF HE SOMEHOW CAN LEAD BACK THE COUNTRY SAY TO... like singapore, or bring the peso back to $1=1 peso.


Thats why, it is not only the lust for power that GMA clings to her seat despite calls by the CBCP for her to resign, She is thinking of the future. For her family, her dad's name, for memory.

She knows that even  with Garci, the patronage politics, if she can raise that economic indicators a few points up significant enough for the ordinary man to feel that his lot did improve, she can still be remembered as a good president.

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my own comments on the comments:

I do not think Rizal was a politician..He is too honest to be one! The "politicians" during his time wanted to make war ( to get the reforms that they want: doesn't this ring a bell during these present days?) but he opted to go on his own way after having arguments with his peers. He tried to do his own agenda, using his books as propaganda against the corrupt Spanish gov't and the equally corrupt Catholic Church. He wanted to use peaceful means to get the reforms from Spain. Leon MaGuerrero in book ( a biography of Rizal ) called him the FIRST FILIPINO..

Joseph Estrada who was a classmate of my cousin at the old Polytechnic College of the Philippines (PCP) near the UE College of Medicine said that Joseph was a good man, a good looking man.Although a few weirdos were picking on him ( because of his Filipino Film images: Raton Barbaro, etc ) he had many friends in and out of school. He radiated charisma that  pushed him up to the Presidency. He could have become a greater hero than his namesake since he was holding the Steering Wheel of his country. But..he blew it!!

I am for GMA. I do not know much about her (except for the news items I read re: her in the Internet )since I have been in Canada for almost 3 decades already. Many people hate her ( the demonstrators, paid hacks who do not know what the hell they are demonstrating about!). But I believe she is a SURVIVOR  and with her the Philippines will survive inspite of what those placards are telling the media. As I have mentioned in a posting in the BB of Pang.Org, the Phil. is just a part of a greater whole ( planet earth ) and if the earth is "sick" then everything in it is affected, the Philippines included. If anything she will be remembered as a lady President who did her best. Maybe she was ill tempered, but she is doing a good job of holding together a country that wants to blow itself apart!---#

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More comments from the same reader:

Browsing in this journal's articles, I have a good idea you're a baby boomer, and you baby boomerd back home.

For example, about your puppy loves. Nowadays, with due respect, kids have sex with the puppies they love.

when you were young maybe, it was looked down, it still is by some, but as for me, having kids myself, I welcome this shift.

You see, our times were repressing times. I admire the kids now that they are able to do what they want to do.

Of course, with guidance as to safe sex, alimony for kids they might produce, and never marry just because they get somebody pregnant or themselves pregnant.

We are going there. Divorce is not yet allowed in the Philippines, but you can annul a marriage anytime now. For 90k to 120k, I can refer you to a lawyer, package deal.


I pity our generation in that we were bound by useless traditions and conservatism. There are some good traditions worth continuing though.


Now, I can happily advice my kids what I only dreamt long ago:

Kids, sex is very nice. But it can have grave consequences, like having a child early. So practice safe sex. Do not rape. Have sex only with those willing. If you find after these years you like your sex partner, marry him or her.

Sex is nothing to be ashamed about. It is a need, as physical as food and shelter. If you can, while still very young, just masturbate first, because maybe you havent mastered the withdrawal and you end being a parent. For you my daughter, your partner could fire it inside and viola! I have a grand son. So maybe you can do-it-yourself.

If not, use condom, because being a parent is not that easy,you might not finish your education early,and hell Iwe are not that rich to care for another baby at this time.

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My comments again:It is not often that I receive an e-mail like yours, it is a good read and at the same time it is educational..I can't add or subtract or modify anything from it..I can only relate a few comments on your ideas which are truly modern if not "shocking"..But new ideas will always jolt us out of stupor or with complacency with decripit beliefs.

Having sex with the "puppies"..I wish I could have done this as a High School Freshman but I was then living in Asingan.Sex or talk about sex was "dirty" according to our elders.And Asinganians do not look highly on May-December marriages....The clergy in the Philippines have been so repressive about sex..Masturbation itself is a sin according to them..Some people said it will cause blindness. Or you will shorten your life..Some said one drop of semen is the equivalent of 10 drops of blood..Having a PLAYBOY magazine in the living room will really send you to the dog house..They will say you have shit in your brain.... When I arrived in Canada and started looking and listening to the sights and sounds of the city. Pretty girls wear short shorts during the summer. Advertising use sex to catch attention. Shapely women dance in the buff in clubs..T-Shirts blare out IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT.. They say it is a healthful experience. "Nothing that comes out of the body is bad.." said one psychologist. I guess she must have been talking of body fluids. If one feels guilty about doing good, then that good thing becomes bad. like that, then later on in life, you will encounter problems esp. in Intimate relations with your wife or girl friend will be problematic because one was taught that SEX is SIN.

.Well, it is not, as long as it is done in the right place and the right time with the right person. And telling it to your teen age child could be tough..But it can be done. And it should be done. Sex should be enjoyed by all people from 18 to 80 or beyond. For the Seniors who need help, there is the Blue Pill!---#