 The Current Events section of Peyups.com gave rise to the prominence of a specific forum member, known for his "affront" towards the core of Philippine culture, rattling the status quo of what we are, in the context of that elusive quest for Philippine economic prosperity. He's known primarily by his username, Benigno (also the webmaster of www.getrealphilippines.com) and for the last couple of peyups.com meetings I've attended, he's been the subject of discussion among us, easily giving the likes of Revo and Discostu a run for their money. So what is it about him that catches every peyups.com members' attention? It's simple--his piercing views about the essence of being a Filpino, the things in us that can't make us....take-off to economic nirvana.
The Cypocalypse also has a knack for a making criticisms and Benigno perfectly fits the definition of one, though I would no longer expound my perspective on the righteousness of his agenda.
Like what I've stated a few months ago in an earlier blog, the key to economic prosperity divides the Filipinos into two forces--those who understand at hand the issue and those who have no freakin' idea at all. The sad reality is, the latter is so big compared to the former. Modesty aside, Benigno and I are among the two who belong to the former. Though personally, discussing issues as complex and as sensitive as that is not among my most legitimate fortes. Benigno can take the glory for himself but I'd rather be a silent observer on the issue. I still think I contribute something to the country even in the smallest ways.
In my circle of friends in peyups.com, those that understand the picture almost always come from the corporate (working) sector--they understand the picture because it's a part of their daily lives to understand the issue. It makes me more at ease interacting with them because, at least, when it comes to that issue, we're wired pretty much the same.
I don't claim to be among the most efficient yuppie though. I'm a critic of capitalism almost as I am a critic of communism and honestly speaking, I see a lot of soulless-ness in capitalism to make me a perfect capitalist slave (in fact, I may be far from it). Corporate people may then view me as a slacker from a comparative perspective but I can deal with that. My opinions are not anchored on alliances or affiliations. I have a pretty much independent way of thinking.
Though much like Benigno, for the past couple of years, I kept thinking of the issue and I myself have been wondering on the more feasible steps we can take to get things done. For one, I know that culture is a starting point. Yes, culture. It all starts there. Culture define our ethics, and before tangible measures can be done, ethics should be the primary consideration to look at.
When an applicant applies for a job interview, the interviewer is already assessing the applicant's ethical standpoint by making him answer questions. Ethics overrides, everything. A mediocre applicant with good working ethics can be trained. An intelligent slacker can hardly be trained. It makes a lot of difference.
We can view culture then, as a collective ethical standpoint of the Filipinos as a nation. If what we are as a people don't have the formula for economic takeoff, what do we do then? Do we change things? Where do we start?
It's hard to fight for a cause something as big as this because changing the status quo of what we are as a nation is the ultimate attack on our soul as a people--the ultimate nail to the coffin that doesn't look good on a lot of angles, but to only a few who see the bigger picture of things.
I kept on wondering about this myself. How do we start? Some atheists I know have showed dismay over the catholic church for holding us back, and as a spiritual deviant myself, I would imagine an attempt to diffuse the Catholic influence by infusing different ideas into the mainstream would be a good starting point. Ridiculously hard to execute but a logical choice for a starting point. What do we infuse then? Pragmatism? Rationalism? Empiricism? Dichotomy of religious rights over civil rights? Personally, I leave that to the powers-at-be. I can still contribute to the bigger picture in my own right.
 | I agree that somehow our very own culture is hindering us from moving forward economically and development wise. A lot of our leaders still live in the 1930's where everything has to be morally correct and that good intentions aren't merited because the intentions were executed less moral than they should be.
Take for example Tony Stark, a lot of people hate him for what he did in Civil War. People even blame him for Capt. America's death. But in reality, what Tony Stark did was for the majority of the innocent people. He supported the Superhero Registration Act to protect the innocent. Because he exactly knows the true situation of Superheroes with the civilians. He knows that unless the government (remember, a government isn't just leaders but the followers as well) can take control of the situation, more lives will be at stake.
I guess our culture of "rooting for the underdog" or being too "considerate" is what is letting us down. It may sound cold, but why think about letting go or firing an employee who is obviously not doing his job well? Why think about it? It'll just prolong the tension which if the employee is given TOO many chances to change, in the end, the employer will loose a lot and in the end his company will be underdeveloped. If I was an employer, I'd tell him bluntly that he's not doing a good job and he better have a good explanation. If not, he's fired. It's the world we live in, you win, you lose. I give consideration, as long as it's due.
Also, the 300 year colonization of the Spaniards have affected our way of thinking. Always relying on the leaders on what to do next. Why cant we, ourselves the people, really think of what to do next? Why do we have to wait?
What's worse is, sometimes the leaders even hinder the innovators to just stop thinking ahead. Our culture seems so afraid of CHANGE. Change for the better. It's just plain weird that people don't want more organization within government offices. They think it's just too "weird". I really dislike the saying "nakasanayan na". How can we move forward if we're obsessed with the now, than what needs to be done tomorrow?
One more thing is that we rely to much on our past. We're too afraid to repeat history. Sometimes people don't vote for a particular person because they think he's Marcos reincarnated. When I actually believe that fear is a key to discipline the people. The problem now is that people no longer FEAR the government. They think it's wrong to fear the government. Well, we shouldn't be totally afraid, it's just that the fear I'm talking about is the respect.
Anyway, my reply is becoming as long as your entry. Hehehe, well, that's just my two cents on the issue. |
 | Your entrepreneurial tendencies (aka your Stark-like traits) are showing up. Haha! Makes me think of blogging something about why Irelate so much with Cyclops. LOL! |
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Bobby Alexander Cypocalypse
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