Read the Inquirer editorial, Battle for Burma, and Alex Magno’s column, Emergency. Asia Sentinel has Horror in Burma, and asks, Where are Burma’s Monks?
The Irrawaddy News Magazine Burma Protests page has continuous updates. So does More on Burma in the Guardian Unlimited.
mlq3,
I’m particularly interested in our “true history” not these watered down textbooks that are more like reading material for beginning readers. Historians seemed to favor a different account sometimes, for instance the spanish came in and brought christianity, bringing salvation to “savages” who would have otherwise gone to hell because they were not baptized. Or the Americans, because of the Tomasites brought education, etc. Little is discussed about the massacres and the real intentions of these colonizers.
one more thing cvj, although you’re a non practicing christian, don’t you know that our clergies are involved in a lot of charity works? which do you prefer they march on the streets or tend to their destitutes and needy flocks?
Historical variables do count a lot in trying to really comprehend WHAT and HOW things are before and WHAT and HOW things in the “here and now.” The local inhabitants of the Philippines were really the Aetas (Negritos). When Malay Datu’s came – their first settlement was in Antique Province, it was the start of the spread of the Malay blood throughout the Archipelago. I have even witnessed the BINIRAYAN FESTIVAL, it’s the re-enactment when DATU PUTI (one of the Bornean Datus) bought some land from the Aeta Chieftain Marikudo with a GOLDREN SADOK (salakot or head gear). Datu Sumakwel and the other Datus went to journey into other territories and the rest is history. We cannot consider the settlement of the Bornean Datus as OCCUPATION simply because the locals welcomed them with open arms.
There are a lot of considerations in trying to understand Philippine History and Culture (you have look into Geography, History, Anthropology/Sociology, Politics, Economics, and so on and so forth). At the time of the First Republic, what was considered sa “THE PHILIPPINES THEN” up to now. As MLQ3 has mentioned, we have to look into the different historical evidences. During the time of the Spaniards, did Philippine Territory already had 7,107 islands. How many islands were considered the Philippine Archipelago at the time of the Americans, the short occupation of the Japanese and eventually the Philippine Independence up to the time the father of GMA raised a flag in Turtle Islands in the South.
ramrod, i don’t know if there’s a “true history”. only interpretations which support their interpretations with data you can agree with or disagree with. or surveying the landscape. people can be as fanatical about interpretations as religious zealots are about church dogma. there’s even the debate if history is a science or literature.
but each interpretation builds on past interpretations, the idea is to keep moving forward rather than become fossilized in your thinking. anyway, that’s my view.
we have a lot of top-down history, too little bottom-up history, and even less synthesizing of the two, pointing out where the clashes in interpretation should lead others to clarify things further.
personally, the book i recommend to people as their basic introduction is patricio abinales’ “state and society in the philippines,” as it takes us from prehispanic times to edsa dos. i understand al mccoy has long been due to publish a history of the philippines, which would be remarkable. one historian, glenn may, was basically run out of town by angry filipino historians because he dared to ask if what we think we know about bonifacio is really true.
manolo, since you are teaching (at Letran?), why don’t you assign some of your research projects on history (e.g. philippine territory during Spanish times) to your students? for bonus points?
ramrod, no religion is as docile as Buddhism but i guess the monks reached a tipping point. Unlike the idealistic days of 1986 (and 2001), i think the Catholic Church went beyond the tipping point and got coopted by the system. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the Bible and Church doctrine has enough leeway to rationalize all sorts of positions.
karah, if you were born a muslim, i bet (but of course cannot prove) that you would have done the same (but this time with the Koran and Islamic studies).
In terms of sophistication, i think the Roman Catholic Church is the most sophisticated in that it takes account of both tradition and the bible. it adjusted itself to scientific discoveries like evolution. those who take the bible literally are a threat to modernity (to the extent that its practitioners cannot compartmentalize their lives).
cvj, because this sem i was teaching opinion/editorial writing and next sem, i’ll be teaching proofreading and copyediting. it would be a stretch. let me earn my own academic spurs first and then i can unleash teams of students on study projects.
“Quite recently, there’s a Plan to merge CENTCOM (Central Command) which is within Cebu City, one of the Unified Commands of AFP and the AirForce Base in Mactan somewhere in Mactan as well.” – karah
The air force base is called “Mactan Air Base,” I used to go there a lot because at the time I could get a free though not very comfortable flight in the C130 to Manila, even Mindanao. And yes, its quite a safe place also, though lately there is a growing Korean population. In my childhood, we come home after school and take our bikes to any direction and we could be in a beach already (for free) in 30 mins or so. Now, everywhere you go are resorts, you have to pay. My favorite by the way everytime I go there to meet my clients if Mactan Shangrila, its a pocket paradise.
cvj I don’t think it relevant anymore to speculate on that. I was born a Catholic and that’s my reality. But in the business of LIFE and GROWING UP, there are no guarantees you know. Even sons/daughers of Catholics born into really Conservative and Fundamental Families does not guarantee that that person would follow the family stand.
One of the reasons the Catholic Church is still vibrant (in some continents) is that it EVOLVED, it GREW, and it listened to what they call “THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.” The TRIPOD of the Catholic Faith is (a) THE BIBLE; (b) THE SACRED TRADITIONS; (c) THE MAGISTERIUM. Just imagine the sturdiness and stability of a THREE CORNERED CHAIR compared to only one or two (just an analogy).
mlq3, re: rosales. has it been reported that rosales has dipped his hands into politics in the past? i think he’s just being consistent with his beliefs and principles maybe. people should just respect that. i myself have commented in the past that if sin is still around, maybe gloria ouster is a forgone conlusion now. but i don’t blame resales for that. i just say gloria is very lucky. and smarter too (than her detractors). i still hate her though for that “hello garci” scandal. it’s a betrayal of public’s trust. but i put the blame on our congressmen for not doing their job.
agree with you about that may 2007 backlash and just like what i wrote above, if there will be no elections in 2010 expect another backlash from the people.
grd, well, the public issue where the cardinal’s been consistent is the environment, and so, well, good for him on that.
re: 2010 and everyone knows my views on this, an interesting take by tony abaya’s here:
http://acabaya.blogspot.com/2007/10/dominatrix.html
“ramrod, no religion is as docile as Buddhism but i guess the monks reached a tipping point.” – cvj
I agree. I would have been very disappointed if they didn’t. No one, even the most pious can ignore the suffering of another for long. I’m willing to bet even GMA’s life that even the Trappist monks will come rushing out of their monasteries if they hear the wailings of suffering, tortured, maimed, raped, and hungry people over their walls.
manolo,
re: lapu-lapu. has it got to do with religion why not much is written about him?
Ram You’re one of the beneficiaries of these so-called “Mercy Flights.” Was able to ride one of those C-130 . Been inside the CENTCOM in Lahug , pretty much to most of the tourist destinations in Cebu + more. I even toured Cebu from Daan-Bantayan to Santander. 😀
So I heard there are a lot of Koreans going to Cebu – mainly to English and some “rejects or shall we say stubborn students in Korea” are exiled in the Philippines. The growing Korean community also became an opportunity for Koreans to put up their own Business for the Koreans and for the Locals. There are reports too of some Abusive Koreans but I hope they realize that they are in a foreign land and start behaving.
Used to go to Plantation Bay, Tambuli, and Maribago Blue Water. Shangri-La is a nice place as well as well as its IMPORTED WHITE SAND. Mactan Island is rocky and the beach has a lot of corals (that’s why there’s the famour Mactan Rock). Even been to Cordova, there’s a nice resort there. Quiet and cozy resort but quite far from Lapu-Laput City itself. I miss SUTUKIL in Punta Engano.
grd, i don’t think so, just a lack of primary sources and perhaps also, not enough information putting leaders like him in the context of what was going on in the region at the time.
manolo,
thanks. this push for a parliamentary form of govt, you think it has a chance before 2010? i just can’t imagine how they are going to do it without another backlash.
grd, some time ago i boiled down palace approach as brinkmanship and the scorched earth policy.
Be right back. It’s so hard to be on your own. I’ll just put my clothes in the washer. Do some cooking and leave if for a while whilst blogging.
ok manolo. that’s interesting to watch. let’s see then how these palace spinmeisters can ram through the house another initiative without getting the ire of the people.
karah, i think you have a very good grasp of what reality really is.
grd, the rank and file clergy may not have sold out (like some of their Superiors), but the line of reasoning which uses vocational or community based service (including charity works) as an excuse for apathy on national matters is a cop-out on their part.
To blame our legislators (or other politicians) alone ignores the role of the Public Sphere in disciplining or holding accountable the agents of the State.
“ramrod, feel free to speak up against high-tech gadgets. i belong to the services side of the business and in terms of gadgets i’m agnostic and i make it a point to use technology that is one or two generations older (i.e. mature). of course sometimes, as they say, it’s better manual.” – cvj
Its true. I feel like I’m duped everytime I lock my sights on a new toy. Take for example the Sony Erickson P910i, there was a lot of hype before it hit the market but when it finally did pfffft, “thats it?” I couldn’t even use it for our company “push mail.” I complained to Smart and they pointed me to the SE service center, when i went there I was told that its a network issue, that they were not ready to support push mail, but I see my colleagues from Europe and Singapore access their pushmail when they’re here in the Philippines (of course their using Nokia communicators or Dopod). Another thing, I had this idea that the work can be done here even without putting up an office and staff and work as an extension of Singapore office, so I had this “virtual office” I have a business address in Makati where people can call and a call center will answer say my company’s name and forward the call to me wherever I am as if I’m just in the other room. Along with this, I used the “we roam” so I can be anywhere in the Philippines and still have access to the office intranet. You know how it is, you can acess all data you need through the website (with VPN of course) so there’s no need to bring tons of paper and reference materials. In my mind, I really believed that the work done before by two companies can be handled by one person provided there is the “equalizer” – technology. What I failed to input in the equation was that the Philippines may not be that prepared for this kind of set-up and as you said some things are better done manually, but it look so good in the brochures…
deny –> distort –> deflect –> distract –> defuse.
all these Ds. that’s what everything has been to me so far.
Ramrod, i think there’s a place for leading edge users of technology like you and slackers like me. In this sense, you’re like the Buddhist monks who take the lead and pay the price (in this case of the S*ny Ericks*n P91Oi) as a result. I’m like the rest of the population who benefit by getting more mature versions of these devices at a lower price.
ramrod, your story re: your virtual office woes, reminds me of a funny story a friend from the dfa assured me was true.
some years back, a new dfa sec. was appointed with grand ideas of modernizing the entire department. computerize everything! then one usec. submits a requisition for 60 typewriters. the dfa sec. is furious. modernize! modernize! the usec. starts laughing. why are you laughing there? modernize! modernize! the usec. kept laughing.
finally, the sec. starts screaming, give me one good reason why i shouldn’t fire you for this stupid requisition?
“brownouts, mr. secretary.”
the dfa sec. grabbed the requisition order and signed it.
“The best protection the military can afford the Constitution is staying out of the political arena.”-Jaxius
I couldn’t agree with more. I was referring to why the soldiers did not open fire on civilians and this being not a derelection of duty if you look at the soldier’s code of conduct. The military in politics is a double edged sword, it can be to the advantage of the real patriots or used to the advantage of scrupulous people but how do we discern who is who?
tonio :
deny –> distort –> deflect –> distract –> defuse.
all these Ds. that’s what everything has been to me so far.
Welcome to Psywar 101
Peregrine Worsthorne, who used to write for The Times UK, writes for The First Post UK:
“In theory, China, Burma’s neighbour, could intervene. But Burma is now a burden for the great Asian nations, India and China, to shoulder even that – for the same kind of reasons that have wrecked American intervention in Iraq – might make matters more bloody.
“The truth is that Burma is now a burden for the great Asian nations, India and China, to shoulder, and the less the ex-colonial power has to say about it the better. The same goes for the United States. Western medicines which have failed so tragically in the Middle East are no more likely to serve any useful purpose in South East Asia.
“Asia for the Asians. It is their turn to take charge. In the multi-polar 21st century, that is how the cookie has to crumble.
“Eventually our solutions, on their merits, may prevail. It is right to hope so. But equally certainly, Western force-feeding will delay, rather than promote, that outcome.”
I agree.
Also agree entirely with Jaxius and more particularly with Bencard’s proposition here:
“soldiers are soldiers… they are to defend the constitution and the constitutional government and its instrumentalities, even against the people who would try to overthrow them.”
Soldiers, officers and at whatever level must know that while they are expected to obey orders superiors blindly, they are bound by military laws and soldiers’ traditions to refuse to follow illegal orders, i.e., to fire on unarmed civilians, whatever the cost on their career, on their lives.
It would take a great deal of moral courage to defy illegal orders but soldiering is not only all about physical courage – a soldier and an officer must possess both physical and moral courage. Sadly, most of our current crop of officers do not possess moral courage.
And Esperon, a political appointee – (chief of staff position is a political appointment), doesn’t possess the ultimate courage, moral courage, to say wrong is wrong no matter who says or does it.
MBW, but isn’t Worthstone using ‘Western Medicines’ as a weasel word? I mean, what’s so Western about Buddhist monks marching against an oppressive government? His comparison with the Middle East (which i suppose refers to Iraq) is not applicable in the sense that (1) to my knowledge, there is no planned invasion of Burma and (2) the outrage was not the result of manufactured pretexes (e.g. WMD, Saddam-AQ conspiracy etc.).
cvj,
I think by Western medicine, he wants to pre-empt a British, as Burma’s former colonial master, military jump into Burma using the SAS.
Don’t believe he meant the Buddhist monks.
Don’t get me wrong – I’ve never been and admirer of Worthorne’s (his ultra conservative, more ultra impossible) rhetorics but this time I agree with him – Britain or NATO (unless UN approved) should not step in in case things get worse on the military front internally, Burma is an Asian problem in that respect.
MBW, i just read the entire column, i think your understanding of what he referred to as ‘Western Medicine’ (i.e. as the Brits ‘doing something’) is correct.
“Eventually our solutions, on their merits, may prevail. It is right to hope so. But equally certainly, Western force-feeding will delay, rather than promote, that outcome.â€Â
Western military intervention especially US will quickly dispense with the ruling dictator, however, what happens after? The Burmese people are capable ot charting the course of their destiny as a people and as a country whether bloody or not, at least they will able to say “we did the Burmese way!”
Free Burma!
If at all there should be external internal military intervention, it should come from the Asian countries. However, I advise against overt military intervention by anybody. It should be covert if at all that’s what is required.
An overt military intervention from the outside is not a guarantee that the Burmese will be able to chart their own course and as Ramrod says, what next?
One thing to consider, Burma has 400,000 or more troops in active service. A fraction of them can effectively get rid of their junta and the latter’s loyalists.
I’m reminded of Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia which put an end to Pol Pot’s Killing fields. Twenty-five years later, Americans tried to follow that model in Iraq but failed miserable.
As we speak, I’m pretty certain that Aung Sii Kyu has already been approached by some officers of the Burma military regarding the possibility. Dr Aung is no doubt worried about an eventual bloodshed.
sorry, i meant miserably.
“It would take a great deal of moral courage to defy illegal orders but soldiering is not only all about physical courage – a soldier and an officer must possess both physical and moral courage.” -MBW
There is an impasse really, the soldiers “code of conduct” is not in the “articles of war” and I think there is no mention of the same in the constitution. If there was, Querubin and others could have been justified in their “withdrawal of support.”
“1. I am a Filipino Soldier . FIRST and FOREMOST I will support and defend the constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.â€Â
“3. I am a Filipino Soldier. I will obey the law,
legal orders and decrees of my lawful superiors at all times.â€Â
This does not mean blind obedience. But blind obedience is in fact being demanded of soldiers who question the origin of the chain of command  the commander-in chief  as being in clear and present violation of the constitution which they have sworn to support and defend.
Under the present circumstance, a declaration of ‘withdrawal of support’ to the commander-in-chief by soldiers breaking out of he chain of command is not the appropriate declaration. The declaration should simply be, “I hereby honor my pledge to support and to defend the constitution.â€Â
cvj,
right! So do you think a Western military intervention, particularly from the US or Britain is the right solution? I don’t think so.
this is perhaps the moment required for Asean nations to be more forceful, their moment of glory, in only morally. ASEAN leaders should get in there and toughen their stance against the Burmese junta. Of course, military intervention is not always a solution, as we’ve seen in Iraq.
Let this be a test of Asean resolve!
Let’s see the moral backbone of Asian leaders today!
Ramrod,
But I think, this passage here is excellent: ““3. I am a Filipino Soldier. I will obey the law, legal orders and decrees of my lawful superiors at all times.†”
Of course, no. 1 sums it up!
In British articles of War, similar to no. 3, “I will obey the law, legal orders, etc.,” exists.
cvj,
Besides I wouldn’t want a military jump into Burma under Brown! Beurk, beurk, beurk! He will mess up things just like Blair!
cvj,
There are Vietnamese mercenaries in the world today, maybe Aseans should hire them to get in there and do away with the burmese Junta (heheheh!)
MBW, Western (or Asian) military intervention did not cross my mind, but setting up refugee camps in India, China and Thailand and demanding safe passage for the monks (and other protesters) who want to leave is something that the surrounding countries (China, India, Thailand and Laos) can and must do.
There is also a well known highly paid Filipino mercenary who used to operate in Africa (he was once of those caught by French secret service in the early 70s but later released to the Americans).
cvj,
I don’t know if their leaving en masse, ie monks or other military would be defectors crossing into refugee camps (although these should be set up now in preparation for such an eventuality by UN or ngos) is the right answer. They should “fight” it out within Burma after all Burma is vast enough. Dr Aung needs help from within!
I think some elements of the Burmese military are now on on the move albeit clandestinely. There was a defection already, a Major in the Army at that. Suppression and cruelty to a fellow human being is not a “natural” act and will most certainly put so much stress on these men that eventually they will have to say “enough!” Granted of course that there are not many incentives to this “unnatural act.”
The next news I would like to hear is that some junior officers plotted to remove the junta, I mean “already” removed the junta, (heaven forbid that they suffer the fate of Hitler’s officers who were nipped in the bud).
And with the removal, the installing of the rightful president. The problem with coups is that there is the temptation for the military to stay in power…
Right! “The problem with coups is that there is the temptation for the military to stay in power…”
That’s why the monks should stay in, they are greatly respected, Dr Aung needs them in case a coup by junior officers gains ground.
“There is also a well known highly paid Filipino mercenary who used to operate in Africa (he was once of those caught by French secret service in the early 70s but later released to the Americans).”
I was thinking more along the lines of advisers. You know, teaching the people the rudiments of people power, how all the elements must come together, timing, and of course calculation of impact.
I think it’s evident that the only way to resolve the BURMA DILEMMA is “external intervention.” In this case, the ASEAN, as an organization could step up and prove its mettle (if it has any, that is). Burma (Myanmar) being a member of the ASEAN is already a political advantage for other ASEAN nations to convince the present Military Junta to step down and pass power to a democratic Government. It might not be easy but “expelling” Burma from ASEAN would cause more harm than good.
We all know that the UN, especially the UN Security Council is quite INUTILE in solving International Issues (may it be among fighting nations or domestic disputes). The UN is like a TIGER without TEETH and CLAWS.
By any estimation, the problem of BURMA should be resolved by the Burmese people but if other nations could help (except militarily) then why not. Frustrations comes in sometimes due to helplessness but Burma as a nation, they have their own journey to tread on. What we can do individually is to support ADVOCACIES, put pressure through popular dissatisfaction of the present Military Junta. Other than that, we can do only as much.
Re: “By any estimation, the problem of BURMA should be resolved by the Burmese people but if other nations could help (except militarily) then why not. ”
Except for overt military intervention, I think the whole world is doing that already through sanctions, intel feed, advisory level to the clandestine forces network, etc.
And right, ASEAN must prove its mettle today. This is the ultimate test of the Asian union’s resolve and in line with the union’s political doctrine of democracy.