The Long View
Power
By Manuel L. Quezon III
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:57:00 02/24/2010
BACK IN 1998, TEODORO L. LOCSIN JR. wrote an essay for the literary journal Pen & Ink, and quoted some lines from one of Danton Remoto’s poems:
But in the empty palace,
He walks slowly;
Everything, everything’s gone
Save this long hallway
That seems to have no end.
Locsin recalled, “I was there, that very evening, in that hall, right after Marcos fled. It felt exactly like Danton Remoto says it in his poem.”
Some years earlier, Locsin had mercilessly mocked the TV mini-series “A Dangerous Life” for incongruous scenes of Sri Lankans making the “Laban” sign while chanting (as Locsin put it) “Curry! Curry!” after a Sri Lankan chief justice with a velly, velly, Indian accent administered the oath of office to Laurice Guillen, who portrayed “Curry” Aquino. Yet who can forget that powerful scene in which Ruben Rustia as Ferdinand Marcos, preparing to depart the palace, bestowed a solemn kiss on his desk in his last few minutes in the country?
Lord Acton famously observed, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” Marcos viewed himself as a great man; his country ejected him as a bad one.
In the time of the Caesars, as they rode in triumph, someone would be tasked to whisper in their ears, “Memento mori,” or “Remember, you will die.” A feature of papal coronations was the interruption of the litter bearing the pontiff three times, so he could be presented with a staff on which was a piece of slowly burning cloth, with the injunction, “Sic transit gloria mundi!” (Thus passes the glory of the world!)
In 1981 Marcos was mercilessly mocked when Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” was performed at his “inauguration” - at the time for the astounding vanity of it all but later on, in the fully Greek (Ancient, that is) sense of a chorus that informed theater goers of the hidden meaning or true feelings of the protagonists in a play. And the lines –
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords;
– became the musical foreshadowing of the hubris (extreme haughtiness or arrogance) that, as the ancient Greeks also loved to point out, results in nemesis (divine retribution). The nemesis being, first, Ninoy Aquino, then Cory Aquino.
Marcos had achieved fame because of an assassination – the killing of his father’s political rival Julio Nalundasan, for which the young Ferdinand was convicted although the sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court – and achieved infamy because of another, that of Ninoy Aquino. He maneuvered to keep people guessing about his actual culpability for both, and yet they will always define the start and finish of his political career, and his underlying attitude to power: whatever the veneer of legality applied to his acts, all relied on buttressing wiliness with force.
The ultimate lesson, as Marcos himself crowed in his diary after his martial law gamble succeeded, was that “nothing succeeds like success!” (itself an expression coined by Sir Arthur Helps in 1868). The best that might have been expected was that violence simply begets more violence, and in that case, holding a plenitude of armed might, Marcos would always succeed. And so it was for so long, as his opponents confronted him with armed resistance.
This is not to disparage those who resisted martial law by means of armed struggle. But it is to point out that collectively we seem to hold those who resisted peacefully but still paid the ultimate price for their integrity through martyrdom, in the highest esteem of all: Rizal, Abad Santos, Aquino. It could be, as the Spanish intellectual Miguel de Unamuno put it, writing of Rizal as both the Tagalog Christ and Hamlet, that a people used to being powerless but longing for redemption have always known the futility of fighting fire with fire; or who believe that it requires a “great soul” (which is what the reference to Gandhi as “Mahatma” means) is the most effective nemesis to hubris.
This day reminds us, then, that in the face of what the desire for power and the ruthless use of it in order to keep it does to leaders and the led, it is rare, indeed, for leaders who have clawed their way to the top to listen to the Lincolnesque “better angels” of either their or their people’s nature. Yet surely it is a cause for deep pride and even deeper humility that time and again we, the people, have held up holding true to that better nature as the more authentic expression of our national characteristics and beliefs.
A blogger, Scriptorium, once observed, “The Edsa ideal, that the people can and must battle injustice by peaceful means, remains the public ideology, a part of the political climate that any leader must reckon into calculations. The Center as Center, guarded by Church and People, is even now stronger in the Philippines than elsewhere in the world (where Left and Right tend to possess greater force), and remains the popular base of truth and justice against lies and tyranny.”
The tyranny of today is both more insidious and bolder than that of the Marcos years. The lying, cheating and stealing, as the phrase popular since 2005 puts it, have relied on the Marcos playbook – divide and conquer and proclaim always you represent the “silent majority” – as modernized by the Republican playbook of the Bush years, which relies on mobilizing minorities and ignoring the politics of consensus.
After all, the negative consensus has been there since 2005, but until recently, a positive consensus couldn’t form. Put another way, almost everyone agrees on what they are against, but most have been hard put to agree on what they are for. It remains to be seen whether in May the country can achieve a majority consensus by means of its choice of leader.
Always Remember…
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall — think of it, ALWAYS.” Mahatma Gandhi
“The tyranny of today is both more insidious and bolder than that of the Marcos years.”
By the very dictum that you use in this piece, Marcos had absolute power and was corrupted absolutely. GMA only flirted with it, and so cannot be deemed more abhorrent than Marcos. I think we are at present a bit too involved with current events to detach ourselves from them. An otherwise lovely piece though.
“It remains to be seen whether in May the country can achieve a majority consensus by means of its choice of leader.”
I believe this lack of consensus has to do with the ambivalence currently felt by ordinary people towards the “civil society” that backs Aquino and his Hacienda Luisita ties. Only by debunking the myths associated with their “evil intentions”(see The Cusp, “The Market for Rules” 25 Feb 2010) and by signalling a clean break with his kin viz the Luisita issue can a clear consensus in Aquino’s favour possibly emerge. Otherwise it is “politics as usual” protestations of “Villarroyo” dangers aside.
If the popular will is thwarted in May by any one or all of those everyone is against, then there’s no doubt that it will be very easy for everyone to have something to agree on. That’s why everyone should be alert from now on!
Hello Manolo,
I’ll likely send you an e-mail soon.
Hope you get the time to read it.
Good day.
no, in many ways she is worse; not least because incapable of the imagination fm was at least able to commission.
‘The Center as Center, guarded by Church and People, is even now stronger in the Philippines than elsewhere in the world (where Left and Right tend to possess greater force), and remains the popular base of truth and justice against lies and tyranny.‒
No left and right means no politics? An apolitical revolution like Edsa I? Edsa II being a politically motivated revolution, based on class?
You’re begging too many questions.
I believe the preponderance of the media including the internet magnifies the warts that we see in government these days, whereas during the 70s you simply wouldn’t hear or see any of it. To my knowledge fm never went on tv to apologise for “indiscretions” on his part nor would he have indulged cabinet members to hold a “sit in” at the Hyatt. Nevertheless, I realise that this must be a personal hobby horse of yours, and that we should just agree to disagree on the issue.:)
When we look back at this era, however, I think we will realise that the Estrada & Arroyo administrations were both necessary steps in our development as a nation. For without Erap we would never have realised the value of rule-based governance in our economy. And without Gloria who helped us realise the folly of our ways at EDSA Dos, we would never have realised the importance of due process and democratic rule of law in our politics.
These lessons should serve us well whether it be Aquino-Roxas or Villar-Roxas or any other combination that wins come May ’10 doomsday scenarios aside.
Well said, cusponline! Methinks Manolo is just too deeply involved with the Aquino campaign to see things objectively. 🙂
if you consider a hobby horse objecting to a situation where to be free of accountabilty you can imprison anyone you like and so forth. if you set aside the moral imperative of things then of course everything can be blandly discussed, cusp.
-from Dante’s Inferno
“It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.”” – ascribed to Abraham Lincoln
By calling GMA’s regime worse than Marcos’ in its tyrannical nature are you not making a case for toppling her in a manner perhaps more aggressive than the way Marcos was brought down? On the other hand, if we allow her to finish her term, are we not therefore tolerating it because it has not aggrieved us as much?
Then that means that compared to FM, GMA is more in keeping with our democratic traditions. That’s the only reason why I took exception to your statement about GMA being worse than FM. Of course these judgements are really subjective in nature.
“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” – John Lubbock
Manolo looks for what fits into his propaganda spiel. 🙂
both she and fm faced military revolt even while able to hold off public protest, but i do believe her finishing her term presents a dilemma: the public consensus on one hand, that fear of the unknown held back the public while hoping public institutions might resolve matters, and so allowing her what might be a conditional pass; but the other horn of the dilemma is it ain’t over til the fat lady sings and the final aria won’t be her leaving the presidency. having seen the parameters she can’t change, she has been emboldened anyway to purse putinesque paths.
and that makes her worst than FM? I totally disagree!!!
we’ve been disagreeing on this since around 2006, alden.
Putinesque paths? Manolo, aren’t you again engaging in hyperbole?You are insulting Vladimir Putin. 🙂
The reference to Dante;s verse is indeed apt.
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Anaïs Nin
It’s a Filipino fantasy to have a perfect government, be a perfectly moral woman, perfectly strong man, perfect, perfect… very immature minds, easily swayed by U.S. opinion.
MLQ3, we’d be proud to have a Philippine Putin, as many Russians are proud of the original. Putin is a worthy reflection of their desires and they identify Russia’s glorious past and future with the man. If we had a politician like that, it wouldn’t be too bad.
MLQ3 makes a valid point. The body politic was divided in 2005 (unlike in 1986 and 2001) on the question whether GMA had breached the standard for legitimately holding on to power or alternatively on whether it was practical to remove her from office at that time (despite her breaching the standard).
As a result, there is a Catch 22 in place. Given the lack of a credible commitment to enforce the standard on the part of civil society due to this lack of consensus, GMA has been able to commit additional infringements-the last of which might be a prolonging of her grip on things.
MLQ3, we’d be proud to have a Philippine Putin, as many Russians are proud of the original. Putin is a worthy reflection of their desires and they identify Russia’s glorious past and future with the man. If we had a politician like that, it wouldn’t be too bad.
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Its fairly evident you haven’t been to Russia…I suggest you try to live there and do business there and come back with intelligent comments in a year or so….
…but I agree, we need a strong leader (but not KGB relics), someone like Lee Kuan Yew…now that is someone people can be proud of – taxi drivers, executives, have nothing but praises for the man…and at 80+ or so he still packs a strong wallop as evidenced in his last speech to the people.
Pfft I’m glad GMAs reign will be over in a couple of months we can finally get a reprieve from the ‘Gloria Resign Na!’ idiots.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY I’M SICK OF THE COMMENT THREADS WHICH DEGENERATE INTO EMOTION-CHARGED, POINTLESS MUDSLINGING WHEN THE FOLLOWING ASSHOLES CLASH:
*MARCOS LOYALISTS AND CORY LOYALISTS (THEIR FAMILIES ARE RICH WHILE YOU’RE STILL POOR YOU OFW PEASANT ASSHOLE!)
*PRO LUISITA AND PRO C.A.R.P. (ADMITTEDLY, I WAS IN THE FORMER CAMP ‘TIL I REALIZED HOW POINTLESS THIS SHIT IS I DON’T CONSUME SUGAR ANYWAYS THAT SHIT WILL ONLY GIVE YOU DIABETES OR MAKE YOU FAT SO WHO CARES WHICH ASSHOLES PRODUCE THE SUGAR IN LUISITA!)
*PRO US AND ANTI US (THOSE FUCKING LEFTIST SPOUTING TUTA NG IMPERYALISTANG KANO TO U.S. LOVING PINOYS WHO LONG FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM SHOULD TRY FOCUSING ON OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE-EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, WHEREVER COZ THE AMERICANS DON’T GIVE A SHIT FOR EITHER OF YOU!)
*NEO-CLASSICAL ASSHOLES VS. NATIONALIST PROTECTIONIST ASSHOLES (LET’S DISCUSS THE BEST ECONOMIC POLICY FOR OUR NATION…WHILE EITHER OF US ARE OUT OF OUR NATION TROLLING THE INTERWEBITUBES FROM THE COMFORT OF OUR ADOPTED COUNTRIES!)
I think some people are just talking without checking the facts when they discuss Putin. Vladimir Putin happens to be the most popular man in Russia today. His approval rating with the Russian public is stratospheric, certainly making any comparisons with our own president irrelevant.
Sure, Putin is tough and ruthless, especially with those who cross him. But it doesn’t seem to bother the Russian public, because Putin has been tough and ruthless with terrorists and blackmarketeers as well. And he has stood up to world powers, such as the U.S., who would want to carve up Russia into a country they could manipulate.
True, Putin has his cronies. But it doesn’t seem to faze the Russians too much. It seems to bother the Americans and the Europeans more, because they cannot manipulate Russian resources as they would like.
“Putin is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing the rule of law.During his eight years in office, due to strong macroeconomic management, important fiscal policy reforms, and a confluence of high oil prices, surging capital inflows, and access to low-cost external financing, Russia’s economy bounced back from crisis, seeing GDP increase by 72% in PPP(sixfold in nominal), poverty cut more than half, and average monthly salaries increase from $80 to $640, or by 150% in real rates. Analysts have described Putin’s economic reforms as impressive.” – Wikipedia
It goes on to say that “during his presidency, Putin passed into law a series of fundamental reforms, including a flat income tax of 13 percent, a reduced profits tax, and new land and legal codes.”
During the 2008 worldwide financial meltdown, Putin and his anointed successor, Medvedev, steered Russia out of the minefields quite successfully. Compared to the U.S., there were relatively few defaults on Russian debt. Today, most international banks and financial institutions are signalling
that it may be time to come back and invest in Russia.
I don’t know what some people here have to say about living in Russia. Maybe some foreigners don’t feel comfortable there. But, judging from Putin’s high approval ratings, the vast majority of Russians like it fine.
The comparison to Putin is just Manolo highlighting GMAs political bullying-that is all.
Russia is an oil rich superpower while we’re an oil-less third world beggar.
So Carl and Brian, it’s pointless to use Putin as evidence to the merits of dictatorial bullying as a way to alleviate poverty because the contexts are very different.
Killing journalists, both common to Putin and GMA, have different reactions to Russians and Filipinos because Russians are used to leaders like Krushev and Stalin who between them killed millions while our past leaders, with the exception of Marcos (whose purges vis-a-viz the aforementioned two Russians are a drop in the bucket), have been relatively tame.
Killing journalists, both common to Putin and GMA, have different reactions to Russians and Filipinos because Russians are used to leaders like Krushev and Stalin who between them killed millions while our past leaders, with the exception of Marcos (whose purges vis-a-viz the aforementioned two Russians are a drop in the bucket), have been relatively tame.
Though I have to admit, GMA has killed more journalists than Putin, so she out-Putin’ed Putin.
Increasing nominal GDP sixfold. Important fiscal reforms. Strong macroeconomic management. Cutting poverty by more than half. Building up reserves that amounted to USD750 billion before the “Great Recession” of 2008. Those certainly resonate under any circumstances.
Manolo certainly engages in embellishments when he tries to bring home a point. Not very apt. 🙂
All those reforms won’t be possible without oil and mineral revenues:
Increasing nominal GDP sixfold – mineral and oil drilling revenues during the commodities peak were reinvested into the economy, increasing GDP. Foreign investors wanting a piece of the newly liberalized economic pie would of course setup shop there, adding to investments.
Important fiscal reforms – cutting income taxes to 13% flat is only possible if budgets can be balanced from other tax sources, namely oil and mineral royalties
Strong macroeconomic management – touche, Putin did reform laws and improved enforcement that GMA could have emulated.
Cutting poverty by more than half – I don’t know how this happened, but I reckon a small component of this is made possible by some form of welfare, paid for by tax revenues from oil and mineral royalties.
Building up reserves that amounted to USD750 billion before the “Great Recession†of 2008 – oil and mineral revenues spot prices peaked before the great recession
Face it, Putin and Russia has some inherent advantages in the form of oil and mineral reserves that Pinas don’t have.
Put it this way, if Putin is made president of Pinas, can he replicate the Russian miracle with a mere $15 billion annual OFW remittances while having to pay for 340,000 barrels per day for 365 days at $70/barrel?
($15 billion annual OFW remittances) – (340,000 barrels consumed per day X 365 days X $70/barrel=$8.5 billion) = $6.5 billion annual reserves for Pinas.
How is it that Russia can have $750 billion in annual reserves while Pinas can only pile on aroung 10 to 20 billion? Oil and minerals baby!
Battling injustice by peaceful means is one thing; Edsa, another. We gave the world the formula; Gloria, the antidote which Thailand and Iran perfected: cunning and naked force. In this, at least, she beat fm. A good thing, really.
Paradoxically enough, it was Edsa 1 and 2 that kept us glued to our seats despite the perception that we have more valid reasons for another Edsa. They thought us that mob rule does not pay. As Manolo himself would have it: we may have rid ourselves of what we didn’t want, but never came to achieve what we really wanted.
This is why Noynoy and Mar could be drawing blood instead of milk from this Edsa 1 thing. It might revive memories of the good old fm days when we had to eat with bare hands because gg and rice is best eaten that way. For millions of us who now have to subsist on rare and tasteless noodles, this is a luxury!
Tuloy ang laban? Noynoy hardly fits the role. And Mar Roxas quit the presidential race right after this bold proclamation.
Ramrod, your idea of Putin must’ve come from Western media. Most Russians love Putin. If he’s ruthless, then they love him for that as Russians are a ruthless people. My point is that he is the epitome of modern Russianness, and his countrymen believe in the Russian future that he envisions.
In contrast, our own leaders and nothing to be proud of, neither good models to be imitated nor good leaders to be followed. And they hurt no one but their own countrymen.
Edsa 1 & 2 taught us that there is no substitute for the Constitutional or legal processes. This is why our leaders who never learn failed to foster another Edsa despite the worst perceptions of Gloria. She will have to face the music even if she gets a seat in the next Congress. Ask Lacson why. Mercy’s possible role notwithstanding!
My seeming obsession against Noynoy applies to the rest of the hopefuls too. Being against everybody also means that I’m for anybody as long as he wins the elections, by fair or foul means. While it matters what we do at the precinct, what we do after leaving it matters more. While we may not find a Putin or a perfect leader, we can at least strive for perfection in ourselves. Ask not what our leaders can do for us. Rather, ask how we can help them do their job. Sayang naman ng galing natin maging sa mga bagay na international!
Ramrod, your idea of Putin must’ve come from Western media. Most Russians love Putin. If he’s ruthless, then they love him for that as Russians are a ruthless people. My point is that he is the epitome of modern Russianness, and his countrymen believe in the Russian future that he envisions.
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True. If we look at it from our own perspective he’s a nightmare, believe me, the country and people have an aura of strength and ruthlessness even the call girls scare me – but it seems he’s the perfect leader for a unique people…I’m still hoping we’ll find the leader that will also be a perfect fit to our uniqueness…I was rooting for Lacson a while back…
Ask not what our leaders can do for us. Rather, ask how we can help them do their job.
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My thoughts exactly…we choose…after elections all campaigns should stop and we get down to the serious business of nation building…and no more bellyaching about who cheated who…
Putin may look good on the spreadsheets but Russia is still a big investment risk especially if you’re talking about actually putting up business there, the government could take it away without batting an eyelash. Its not about the US or Europeans not being able to manipulate it, they just don’t play fair and business ethics mean nothing to them, the russians are as manipulative as they come, no, they just strong arm you period.
They are just lucky they have vast natural resources thats all…but it works for them so be it…and colleagues working there seem to be seeing some improvements…
…thats why most companies would rather set up shop somewhere else…
I don’t know about you guys but it seems like everybody is joining the Villar bandwagon nowadays…even some I didn’t expect would…too bad…there is an unselfish, no strings attached, overwhelming desire from these people to lead us to the promised land… 🙁
Some people have been reading too much of the Wall Street Journal or watching Fox News too often. They parrot the American Establishment’s version of “news”. Confusing opinion as information. These people are way beyond their depth.
Well, anyhow, the news tells us that Noynoy’s camp is now in a state of panic. After thinking it would simply capitalize on Ma and Pa, and glide on to be elected president, Noynoy’s campaign is now frantic. It’s now going more and more negative, resorting more and more to personal attacks against it’s leading rivals. It’s said to be the brainchild of Serge “Pendejo” Osmena. When you can’t claim any positives for your man, you just go on attack mode and dig up all the negatives, right? When you can’t propose constructive solutions for the future, you resort to talking about the past (especially your parents). Napakababaw naman! He always thought everything would be given on a silver platter.
Carl Cid Inting,
Leaders cannot go at it alone. If the followers can provide support; then they probably should.
Manolo, whats your take on this unholy alliance between communists, military reformists, Marcos scion, and Brenda on Villar’s camp? Even some forums that were pro Noynoy before (or seem to be) are critical of him now as they follow their military reformists?
…for what its worth, I’m sticking with whoever you support, even as friends move to the other side…too bad, but reality bites…
When leaders start hedging by placing the burden of their success or failure on their constituents, that reveals just how weak and shallow the leader is. They are playing the blame game even before they have given it their best shot. That’s the mentality of a loser. That’s how Cory apologists defend her dismal record at improving the state of affairs in our country, after she took over the leadership from Marcos.
As J. Paul Getty once said:
“A man may fail many times but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.”
Balding Dayunyor rides Pa and Ma, as a fly would perch on a carabao’s back for an appearance of height and might. The deceit is obvious though.
Pa was widely admired for his pen, tongue and balls. Was he able to pass on any of these to the not so great pretender? No! Even the last item which was supposed to be his alone went to his sisters instead. Or so it seems.
Ma tried to please both the left and the right, and ended up displeasing both. It was both her strength and her weakness; half of which, the latter, she passed on to Dayunyor. Plus the CARP exempt Hacienda Luisita and the Mendiola Massacre.
Some of us here are trying to lead Dayunyor to victory. The problem is, who would lead him in case our worst fear is realized?
…I was rooting for Lacson a while back……Ramrod.
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This is the reason why I cant go with yours and Manolo’s choices. I warned Manolo about Lacson and he was just so blinded with his hatred to Gloria that he even defended Lacson to me. Now look at what happened. I was proven right.
And I think you are wrong again with Noynoy. Ill stick to my gun.
Leadership has been defined as the “process of social influence in which one person is able to enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common taskâ€. And that came from a lot of sources.
But this is the first time I’ve come across this blame game thing with regards to leadership.
I wonder what book that came from.
…I was rooting for Lacson a while back……Ramrod.
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This is the reason why I cant go with yours and Manolo’s choices. I warned Manolo about Lacson and he was just so blinded with his hatred to Gloria that he even defended Lacson to me. Now look at what happened. I was proven right.
And I think you are wrong again with Noynoy. Ill stick to my gun.
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What is essential is invisible to the eye…
I’m pretty sure some light will be shed on this matter. Just give it some time…
…I hope…
I have this recurring nightmare that I was the Lone Ranger with all these bloodthirsty indians all around…and when I turn to Tonto and say “so my friend, this is the end” he turns to me and says “speak for yourself, white man.” 🙁
Leadership is simply the ability to make others move your way. It is not the process of finding what is acceptable, but of making your ideas acceptable until is is adopted as the common task.
For this you may have to cajole, motivate and inspire. In the end though it is the strength of your convictions that will count most. This is why the pen, the tongue and the guts is important for anyone aspiring to be a leader. Is Noynoy anywhere near?
Ramrod, the simple solution to a nightmare is to wake up. We usually rid ourselves of recurring nightmares simply by accepting them as such, nightmares. You will be amazed at what a simple change of position can do. You really don’t have to stay too close to Manolo, do you? Ikaw din, baka magkapalit pa kayo ng mukha!
Taxj,
Your view on leadership seems more akin to a dictatorial one.
And that comes on the heel of your idea that EDSA 1 is no substitute for the Constitutional or legal process even though practically everyone knows ex-Pres. Marcos was cheating in his last election (Are you actually one of those who don’t?).
Maybe you should quit already before more of your words betray you.
Taxj,
Your view on leadership seems more akin to a dictatorial one.
And that comes on the heel of your idea that EDSA 1 is no substitute for the Constitutional or legal process even though practically everyone knows ex-Pres. Marcos was cheating in his last election (Are you actually one of those who don’t?).
Maybe you should quit already before more of your words betray you.
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So true… hmmmmmmm.
Ramrod, the simple solution to a nightmare is to wake up. We usually rid ourselves of recurring nightmares simply by accepting them as such, nightmares. You will be amazed at what a simple change of position can do. You really don’t have to stay too close to Manolo, do you? Ikaw din, baka magkapalit pa kayo ng mukha!
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Nah. These nightmares keep me real, unlike you (and most people) I’m really one of those who are least affected by any political upheavals whatsoever, whoever wins, I can just play golf…there’s just a hopeless romantic in me that indulges in Quijotic causes… 🙂
For this you may have to cajole, motivate and inspire. In the end though it is the strength of your convictions that will count most. This is why the pen, the tongue and the guts is important for anyone aspiring to be a leader. Is Noynoy anywhere near?
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You’re describing dinosaurs even in the corporate setting. The time of the pot-bellied, red-faced, high blood pressured, with ulcers – bosses have come and gone a long time ago…its the iron man athlete, practical shooting, spa, wellness, zen, etc era of leadership already…I bet you muat still be working for a minimum wage percentile company. Wake up man, there’s so much more to life than being “masa.”