Short Opinions on Federalism in the Philippines

Instead of writing long essays which most millennials of this meme-driven generation will just scan through without thoroughly reading it, I’ve decided to do a question-and-answer format for this blogpost.

For those unaware how a federal system works, a brief Google search will not hurt. It’s basically a system wherein a country is composed of states that share power with the overall, federal government.

Do you want the Philippines to become a federal republic?

Yes with reservations. However, the current political situation may still seem volatile given that the new Duterte administration has just been sworn in. A lot of work must be done to clear the path towards a legal, publicly supported constitutional change that favors federalism. Corrupt governors and their lackeys must be removed first. In 2009, I’ve started to write novellas regarding the transformation of the Philippines into an implicitly federal state with a ceremonial monarch as head of state.

Do you think federalization will solve poverty?

Not necessarily. It still depends on the leadership of the leaders of the new states and their propensity to adapt suitable economic policies to develop their state.

Do you agree with former Senator Nene Pimentel’s eleven proposed states?

Majority yes. Although if it were me, the Bangsamoro region should consider the internal differences between the Tausugs and the Maguindanaons. Should they agree to unify, then I think the creation of a powerful unifying Bangsamoro Sultanate must be established following sound Islamic doctrine. If not, then the Sulu Sultanate and the Sultanate of Maguindanao must be restored, respectively.

What other things do want to see in a federal Philippines?

Collectivization and sustainable development. The problem is pre-Hispanic Philippines had no unified government, owing to our archipelagic geography. Federalization should impart a collective sense of national pride (not the shallow Pinoy pride/pinoy prayd/Peenoise) towards collective development. Rifts between Philippine ethnic groups may sprout out, but it is not a problem in neighboring Malaysia I think. If Malaysia, a country with 137 languages among its 13 states appears to be united, why not the Philippines with around 120 languages? The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (Commission on the Philippine Language) should realize the ineffectiveness of trying to merge non-Tagalog vocabulary into a Tagalog-based national language called Filipino. No matter how hard they try to enrich the vocabulary, the code-switching trend (Tagalog and English) cannot be easily regulated/moderated unless measures are taken by both the government and the number one Filipino grammar violator – the media. Instead of a commission focusing on an semi-artificial Filipino language (a register or glorified version of Manila Tagalog), it should focus on enriching and regulating all Philippine languages.

So in your opinion, what are the steps necessary to fully federalize the Philippines?

Step by step? I would…

1. Educate Filipinos regarding federalism and its differences with a unitary form of government. (Unbiased as possible)
2. Gather allies congress and promote federalism in order to convince them to fill bills and resolutions for charter change
3. Clear the path by focusing on weeding out corrupt local government officials in the provinces.
4. Subdue terrorist groups while embarking on a propaganda mission to make the people in conflict-ridden areas in Mindanao that the government is not the enemy. Negotiate with those who want to negotiate, making sure they are really fighting for an ideology.
5. Ensure peace treaties with insurgent groups who show willingness to negotiate (follow what Indonesia did to the insurgency in Aceh). This is a vital step and must be done at all cost.
6. Follow constitutional provisions on charter change.

As a simple citizen, I would like to say that I am inclined to support the federalism plan of the current Duterte administration as long as major insurgent groups will be pacified first.

Let Us Not Waste Our Talents

Note: In 2012, I joined The Reaction Newsletter, the official publication of the University of Santo Tomas Chemical Engineering Society. The following essay I have written as part of the application process. I dug up/found the word file while looking for a different, older essay. Minor redactions were done to suit the times.

A person should always be encouraged to continue his constructive hobbies, as long as these said hobbies do not cause harm in any way. Through his hobbies, a person’s talent is enhanced and mastered. This is one of the reasons why I desire to be part of the Reaction team. I would like to utilize my God-given talents to contribute to the Chemical Engineering Society as a writer to its official newsletter. I believe that a person’s talent should be utilized periodically so as to prevent it from “dulling”.

Remember that a talent is like a gift, and we must take good care of it. (If one has a knack for trivia, let me tell you that even the word “talent” was ultimately derived from the Greek word talanton [Koine Greek: τάλαντα] which refers to an ancient currency used in Greece during Antiquity.) Maintaining one’s talent by proper utilization is fun and enjoyable, not to mention a good recreational activity in one’s spare time. Here is an example: If a person’s talent is painting then it is natural for him to paint in his spare time especially when there is nothing else to do. I am inclined to believe that being a writer – especially fiction literary writer – is one of my talents. If I pass the screening, I hope that my experience as a Reaction staffer will equip me with knowledge and experience to further sharpen (so as to not make dull) my writing skills. Not only that, I would like to contribute, even to the very least, to the society using my talents. Whether it is reporting news or mind-boggling my fellow Chemical Engineering students through literary works, I hope that my writing skills, whether or not it is still far from perfect, will be useful to the society. This is the core reason why I would like to be a Reaction staffer. Our talents and skills should not be left “around the corner unused”, but instead they must be used to contribute to the society and through this, we are making ourselves a catalyst of change, or in a more positive-sounding term, improvement.

Ang “Bahala na” at ang Epekto nito sa Kaalamang Pangkaligtasan

Ang ating buhay ay kaakibat na ng peligro. Kung ating pagdidili-dilihin, wala naman talagang “absolutely safe” o “lubusang ligtas”. Tayo’y umaalis, lumuluwas, bumibiyahe araw-araw bilang mga estudyante. Tayo nga’y humaharap sa panganib na palaging narito sa nakakaligalig na Kalakhang Maynila. Sa lansangan, sa mga sasakyang nagsasalimbayan, sa mga kainan, at iba pang lugar, ay may risk na, kahit hindi natin napagtutuunan ng pansin, ay nananatili. Maari nating nararamdaman ang peligro o risk sa pagdating ng mga eksaminasyon at mga takdang-araling ‘di magagawa-gawa dahil sa umano’y kakulangan ng oras.

Tulad ng ibang mga inhinyero, ang mga inhineryo kimika ay humaharap ng napakaraming mga risk o panganib. Ang probabilidad o tsansa na makatatagpo ng problema ang isang inhinyero sa kaniyang mga gawain tulad  ng pagkakatalisa ng pag-unlad ng teknolohiya na nagdudulot ng pagbabagong panlipunan o societal change at/o paggawa ng mga innovative products (produktong makabago) ay hindi basta basta maisawawalang-bahala. Dito pumapasok ang safety management. Hindi ito tila isang angel de la guardia na makapangyarihang pumipigil ng aksidente. Ang safety management ay isang asignaturang maproseso at sistematiko na tila hindi nabibigyang-importansya ng mga Filipino.

"No helment, no problem?"
(Photo from: http://www.topgear.com.ph/carpool/album/399/Safety-last?ref=related-albums)

Marami sa atin na ‘di napanasin na ang kultura ng mediyokridad o kapangkaraniwanan ay isang salik o factor kung bakit makupag ang pangkalahatang pag-unlad ng ating bansa. Mula sa maliliit na detalye sa pagdisenyo (kung mayroon mang urban planning) hanggang sa kalagayan ng imprastraktura ay makikita na ang epekto ng katagang “Pwede na ‘yan!” Bara-bara ika nga. Sa usaping pangkaligtas, ang kasabihang “Pwede na ‘yan!” at/o “Bahala na!” ay hindi dapat maging mentalidad ng isang inhinyero na nakatoka sa safety o kaligtasan ng isang planta. Bilang mga inhinyero kimika, huwag nating ituring na ‘di mahalaga ang kaligtasan sapagkat nakasalalay ang buhay natin at ng mga umaasa sa atin. Ang ating mga mata’y dapat matalas sa detalye, sapagkat ang mga maliliit na pagkamali (tinutukoy ko ay ang mga proseso at mga sensitibong makinarya) ay maaring magdulot ng malaking aksidente.

Narito lamang ang ilan sa mga tila epekto ng ugaling “bahala na”. Ang karamiha’y hindi napapansin basta-basta:

·         Mga sasakyang pampubliko na hindi na ligtas patakbuhin, nagiging sanhi ng aksidente paglaon

·         Mga posteng wala sa lugar kung minsan ay nagdudulot ng aksidente

·         Mga kawad ng telepono o cable TV na salasalabat na, ‘pag may sumabit na trak ay nagdudulot ng pinsala sa mga gumaganang kawad o live wire

·         Mga tren ng MRT na tila walang maintenance

·         Kawalan ng urban planning sa maraming lungsod

The Veil of Power (Reflections on the Revival of The Reaction Newsletter)

The Veil of Power

Some Reflections on the Use of Leverage to Revive “The Reaction” Newsletter

Background:

Pondering on the fragility of our lives, I stumbled upon a classical question, "What is the reason for our existence (raison d'être)?" I have already discussed about this in my blog article titled “On the Reason for Existence”. Now I move on to a different question “What will I do to contribute something to the University of Santo Tomas - Faculty of Engineering?”

I, being somehow a non-conformist, feel that I am a simple Chemical Engineering who is content with being a simple regular student. (My time being part of the Dean’s List is over.) Sometimes we have to enjoy the little things, as they say.

Propelled to the Position

I was a humble writer of The Reaction Newsletter since I joined in 2012. During the administration of Daisuke Zabala, the newsletter was very active. There was a system of article revision that ran like clockwork, meetings were fruitful, almost everybody cooperated, and lastly – the team was able to release its publication just in time. In 2013, many new members joined (or were “dragged into”) the team but the administration was sleazy and inefficient. The general meetings were not very much productive. I do, however, understand that internal politics within the Chemical Engineering Society played a role in the weakening of the allure and clout of The Reaction. In 2014, Bob Castrense became the Editor-in-Chief but the publication team became a shadow of its former self – an empty shell. The “general assembly” was attended by a whopping eight (8) people out of the twenty members of the team. Cooperation was at an all-time-low. To make matters worse, changes in the curriculum increased the academic load of the students – making us allot less time to the publication. We barely published an issue – an online version which, obviously, was not well-read by the society. In 2015, I became the Editor-in-Chief, succeeding Bob Castrense.

Now, for reasons usually beyond my control, almost the entirety of my batch (ChE Batch 2016) knows that I am the leader of this publication team. (I’m not even a kind of person who wants popularity. I even remember Mark Jed dela Cruz – a friend of mine, claimed that even before we haven’t met yet he already knows me.) The challenge to keep the publication relevant and influential is something I accept.

After four years, The Reaction newsletter issued two issues in one academic year.
(Photo by Darwin Eugenio)

My Proposed Ways on Gaining Funds or Making the Publication Relevant:

Plan Number 1: Collaborate with a University-Funded Publication

You see, our newsletter is “privately-funded” by the Chemical Engineering Society, a student organization. The university-funded publication is the Thomasian Engineer. In 2015, this publication published their backlog issue – a badly-delayed release of a journal dated 2012.

I met one of their artists – a petite damsel named Novelle Sinco. I had a friend who was close to her coax her into talking to me. Using our scant similar interests, I gained rapport with her and she has lead me to high-ranking members of Thomasian Engineer (TE). In order to gain TE’s trust, I used the ChESite as leverage, saying that The Reaction and TE can collaborate on a website. “I can advertise your amazing journal and if you like, we can share links to each other’s websites.” I said.

Alas, many members of TE are busy probably with academic demands. I also became busy as the semester progressed. I had the chance to use another card off my sleeve –direct communication with the adviser of TE who also happens to be very close to the Chemical Engineering Society.

When the second semester of A.Y. 2015 – 2016 started, I dropped my plan for a collaboration with the Thomasian Engineer, citing the apparent impracticality of forcing a recovering publication to support a smaller, recovering publication.

You see, after months of gaining rapport and by extension, getting a gist of the overall financial status of Thomasian Engineer, I found out that Plan 1 will not be financially beneficial. Yes, we might have received some good coverage on some of our events, which is better than nothing at all, but this is insufficient in our budgetary issues. I’ve also managed to talk to the adviser of TE and he seems very positive on a collaboration, though I have to admit I didn’t mention or hint any solicitation in our conversation.

Therefore, as long as the current deficits of the Thomasian Engineer continues, this plan shall continue be shelved.

Plan 2: Find External Sponsors (Fulfilled)

The plan to find an external sponsor materialized with the very potent advice of our adviser Engr. Ayesha Duavis. She led us to Manila Review Institute Inc., a review center in Nicanor Reyes St., Manila which for years has been tutoring plenty of chemical engineering graduates from the university.

The external sponsor was able to provide sufficient funds to publish another issue
as the semester ended. Celebrating this feat are members of the editorial board and the adviser.

Soliciting funds from external sponsors, as long as permitted by the University of Santo Tomas Chemical Engineering Society, is a good plan.

Plan 3: Engaging the Students

Now comes the hard part. Given sufficient funding, it is easy to publish the newsletter but it is hard to engage a good audience. With the advent of social media and memes, young people are more likely to pay attention to graphic-laden news tidbits than lengthy text such as this blogpost (lol). This is a challenge that I leave to my successors. One way to engage the students is to make sure that news articles are timely (hint: the GIQC article that we published just hours after the event ended), and that the feature articles are relevant and can connect to the ChE struggle.

Plan 4: Making the Newsletter a Privilege

Assuming that most members of the Chemical Engineering Society are already aware about the existence of the newsletter, it is helpful to increase the stringency of the entrance examinations. My reign has been a reign of compassion (due to the fact that we were still recovering back then), but now I believe the recovery period has ended. This is a suggestion coming from one of my friends: make the membership status of the newsletter a privilege, make sure that everyone contributes. I believe this can be done by inserting a new expulsion process in the constitution. During the reign of Daisuke Zabala (A.Y. 2012 – 2013), a mere probationary clause was used to warn incompetent dilly-dallying writers. Usually, those who made less than two contributions to the final output were demoted as mere “contributors” rather than writers. This does not mean that compassion to the academic needs of the writers must be put aside, but rather enhancing disciplinary measures must be undertaken to ensure the quality of the staff.

I hope the time will come when holders of this ID will become proud members.

Plan 5: Hold Seminars

Also, as part of the plan to engage the chemical engineering students, I suggest that English writing seminars (especially with regards to writing business correspondence) be held with proper coordination with the Chemical Engineering Society.

Determination is the Key

12. Be humble, and let your success proclaim your victory.

13. Be subtly observant, for many enemies are lurking, sometimes masquerading as allies.

14. Be resilient, for I can say that humanity is at risk at the hands of his own inventions.

- Sayings of Darvinos 3:12 -14

Determination is the key to success. Try to fulfill these plans, do your best. Rise above the ordinary but do not be arrogant! “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.’[1]” said Mother Theresa, quoting Jesus Christ.

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[1] Matthew 25:35–36 

Opinion on Manny Pacquaio’s Statements (A Submitted Reaction Paper - March 5, 2016)

Manny Pacquiao, one of the most popular Filipino athletes, got embroiled in a controversy after stating his disagreement on same-sex marriage. Being a devout Evangelical Christian, Pacquiao was firmly against same-sex marriage since by default it connotes a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex. I respect this opinion and I am also against the formation of sexual relationship between persons of the same sex, a belief also heavily-influenced by my religious beliefs.

Pacquiao was, in my opinion, overstepped his criticism when he compared members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) as worse than animals. “It’s common sense. Will you see any animals where male is to male and female is to female? The animals are better. They know how to distinguish male from female. If we approve [of] male on male, female on female, then man is worse than animals.” he said. This is actually a result of misinformation since it has been scientifically proven that there are some species that exhibit homosexuality.

Although I am a conservative regarding courtship and marriage, I would like to reiterate have nothing against the LGBT community. I also believe same-sex marriage per se runs against the Family Code of the Philippines, enacted in 1987. It specifically states that ‘marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life.’

Thus I am appealing for calm upon both sides since it appears that Pacquaio’s expression of his opinion conjured up a storm especially among netizens. I believe there are more important problems to be solved and that we should simply respect Pacquiao’s religious beliefs (it’s not like he’s actually forcing LGBT people to stop being themselves).

The “Century of Humiliation” and why China Wants to Rise Once More: A Theory

The People’s Republic of China, now the second largest economy by nominal GDP in the world is aiming for greatness once more.

This vying for international and economic dominance became noticeable starting in 2013, when the East Asian giant became to assert its “undisputed” sovereignty over swaths of sea islets way beyond its coastal borders. Not content with simply occupying small islets and reefs, it started reclamation projects in order to build artificial island where construction of lighthouses and other similar outposts can be built. Strategically speaking, one viable rationale for doing such an effort is that the Spratly Archipelago and the surrounding reefs are lying on top of vast oil and gas deposits.

Spheres of influence in the Chinese Empire, two years before
the last Emperor of China abdicated.
(Source:
http://www.slideshare.net/Elsa2010/effect-of-imperialism-to-china)

The desire of the socialist state stems back centuries ago. One hundred and fifty years ago, generations of Chinese have pursued one nationalistic goal: to restore China’s greatness – Fu Qiang, or “wealth and power” (or sometimes translated as “prosperity and strength”). The book “Weath and Power” by Orville Schell’s and John Delury’s explains in detail about this valiant determination catalyzing the desire of Chinese leaders to embark on projects aiming to make China a superpower. The authors argue that such undertakings were partly driven by a sense of shame and humiliation. In the book “A History of the World” by Marvin Perry illustrates how the Manchu-Era Chinese Empire viewed themselves as the only civilized country in the world, a prideful view that didn’t go well with militarily-superior western imperialist nations who wanted to establish regular trade with China (starting in the 1700s). In the early nineteenth century, China was shaken by the western imperialist nation. Conflict sparked in the form of the First and Second Opium Wars with the British, and coupled with devastating wars with “barbarians” - the French, Portuguese, and even the Japanese, the defeat of imperial China signaled the start of the “century of humiliation”, a term they referred to these events.

The Psychology of "Victimhood"

Victimhood is a powerful unifying emotion that fueled the determination of the Chinese people, as I have observed. Sometimes, it is said that the Chinese authorities see it as a tactic to deflect criticism or bolster public opinion against “western imperialism”.

This feeling of victimhood is also being used as a tactic by some powerful Filipino politicians facing serious corruption issues, as the masses’ “mapalad ang inaapi” mentality is strong.

In China, “making our nation strong so that nobody can mistreat us anymore” overrides all other agendas. This vindictive psyche, however, makes it appear aggressive among its geographically smaller Asian neighbors, the latter labeling China as a “bully”. Its disputes with Southeast Asian neighbors are still thankfully benign.

However, one must be careful especially when a nation’s pride is sensitive. In a Forbes article, it was reported that “the sense of humiliation is so deeply entrenched in the Chinese psyche, that even today while the rest of the world considers China a strong and powerful nation, many Chinese still behave as the ones being bullied and mistreated, with a watchful eye for “hostile foreign forces.””

It is no wonder that the People’s Republic of China is still hell-bent on “expanding” its control towards it claims to be under their “undisputable” sovereignty (which is loosely-based on historical records). Indeed, I can only marvel how a feeling of victimhood can drive one nation (or one person) to prosperity – all in the name of restoring past glory.

Design Expert

One of the software we used in our undergraduate research (thesis) was Design Expert.

Link to download (may be removed if deemed violating copyright rules): https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0_hGPxb2nRBdjJ0QjhZSGdGVms