The Brown Juan

Having a difficult time right now...

2012-07-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Updating content for my posts are postponed for now. I'm right now accessing this via an internet cafe. My phone connection has been cut off and I'm having trouble paying my bills.

Dear readers, kindly bear with me for now. I'll sort through all my financial mess and will serve you as soon as it's fixed.

Thank you for understanding. :-)

Education in the Philippines

2012-06-18T00:15:00.000-07:00

One of Philippine history’s major myths is that only the Americans brought education to the Philippines. Taking it at face value, it would seem so. Spanish policy emphasized on educating indios with only the most basic education. If Spaniards permitted teaching higher ideals in the curriculum, it will awaken nationalist beliefs detrimental to them. Sure enough, nationalist ideals that ilustrados gleaned from their European education eventually sparked the 1898 revolution.
Truth is, even before the Yankees came, the Philippines had a comparably good public education system. Further improvements came after Gov. Gen. Solano approved the Education Law of 1863. The law mandated pueblos to have gender-segregated schools – at least a pair consisting of an all-boys schools and an all-girls school. Before that, parishes served as the first public schools for the masses – as it was in Spanish colonies like Mexico. But, where in Mexico Spanish was the medium of instruction, in the Philippines it was different. Keeping line with the divide and conquer policy, only the tribal languages served that purpose. The arrival of the Americans reversed that approach – using their language, English, as the new medium of instruction.
What gave rise to the American myth was the way education was extensively used as a propaganda tool. The use of military means to subjugate the rebels was limited. Hence, the Americans were compelled to show Filipinos the benefits of American rule. As a part of the pacification campaign, a massive education drive was undertaken. American teachers brought to the islands – first, on board the USS Sheridan then the USS Thomas – helped in the effort. Teaching in English not only made life easier for the American teachers. It also made it easier for Filipinos to accept Americanized versions of Philippine history to quell nationalist fervor. Education also made it easier for Filipinos to readily accept American thinking and the superiority of the American way of life, further completing the subjugation process. Where the Spaniards deliberately omitted some school subjects to maintain the status quo, the Americans only altered their content to suit their ends (without removing any subjects). The new colonizers refined the tactic of selective education as a colonization tool. In the final days of the revolution, the Americans were successful in subtlety impressing upon Filipinos the futility of the resistance effort – using education. They used it to alienate the masses from the revolutionaries. Once isolated, the revolutionaries surrendered one by one then later tried and executed or exiled. Without the support of the masses from the countryside, the revolution suffered an untimely death.
Rizal exactly predicted the subjugation and weakening of the Filipino identity in his work, El Filibusterismo. Through its character, Simoun, he foretold the subservience resulting from Filipinos blindly adopting too much of foreign ways through education. Unless Filipinos maintained a healthy and mature attachment to their past, they will unthinkingly perpetuate foreign domination of themselves even after being granted political freedom. When the Americans expanded on the existing school system on their terms that is what happened. But, that isn’t saying American contributions must be entirely shunned because of what was mentioned.
The question now isn’t whether the Americans forcibly imposed their brand of education or if Filipinos wholly embraced it. A mature wariness on embracing anything foreign must be exercised. History has shown that the Americans (as with any colonizer) will give away anything of value only on their own terms. Filipinos ought to look towards the Japanese on their approach to learning and adopting foreign ways. 16th century Westerners saw Japan as a nation that seemingly embraced foreign cultures wholeheartedly. First, with China (in the 7th century A.D.), then the Portuguese (15th and 16th century A.D.) and later, the Americans (1845 A.D.), they showed how quick they were to yield to alien ways. In reality, their fancy for those rarely extended beyond acquisition of anything useful. In their frequent diplomatic contacts with T’ang China in 618 A.D., Japan borrowed heavily from China – an example being Chinese writing. But that was done to facilitate its adaptation to the Japanese language. The Japanese maintained to keep their culture robustly thriving underneath. Furthermore, whatever they gain is meant to be used against their creators (more so with technology). Their displays of adopting foreign ways were meant to be a screen. It was a way to keep foreigners from imposing their ways through military invasions, maintaining Japan’s centuries of independence. This was in sharp contrast to China at the turn of the century. Her xenophobia and indoctrinated delusion of being the center of the world made her resist modernity. That fatal oversight made her fall prey to the foreign powers, carving zones of influence from her territory in the process. On the other hand, turn-of-the-century Japan made that quick, seamless transition from feudal kingdom into one of the modern world powers. As with then and now, Japan continued to exercise the motto, “foreign knowledge, Japanese spirit”: letting foreign things serve Japan, but never letting it dominate them.

– Cebuano Word Trivia –
Balai – “House” (English); “Bahay” (Filipino); Derived from the proto-Tagala/Visayan word, “balanghai”. It originally referred to the sea-faring vessels of early Filipinos. Since a whole family or clan traveled in a single balanghai, it eventually came to be used as the word for “family” or “clan”. It then came to mean for the word for “village” (from which the derivative word, “baranggay”, is coined).Ultimately, it came to its present usage denoting “house”. In a cultural sense, a family or clan lives under one roof, so it wouldn’t be surprising that in the early Filipino language, the words “house”, “family” and “clan” are synonymous or wholly interchanged. Incidentally, the Tagalog “bahay” is derived from this word – via the Cebuano habit of pronouncing it sans the letter “l” (ba’ai). The Ilocano term for “house” is also “balai”.

Announcements

2012-06-18T00:05:00.002-07:00

Though being new is not an excuse in the blogging business, in this instance, it should be so. As you can readers can see, it’s currently a work in progress. There are some posts that need to be cross-linked with others, etc. This provides readers here with a better reading and browsing experience.

I’m currently working on an expanded version of my article, “A Primer on Black Propaganda”. The version I wrote for this blog and for the Golden Banner is akin to an outline. I’ve yet to include case histories and other strategies, making readers understand the issue a lot more.

So, for those interested about the said article, I’ll keep you posted on any developments. Just come back here to this section from time to time for it. Thank you.

A Primer on Black Propaganda (5 of 5)

2012-06-12T01:13:00.001-07:00

In light of these developments, propagandists are now at risk of being umasked by a more skeptical public. Thus, more subtle and sophisticated approaches to deception are employed. Borrowing from military tactics, deception can be carried out in four forms – namely…

Deceptive exterior – the propagandist wraps his messages with the impression of concern for society’s welfare. In reality, it means to assassinate a target’s character. The target can be made to look as if he’s a threat to a social policy or campaign. Political messages are often framed that way. Naturally, the public instinctively reacts with indignation towards the target. Elpidio Quirino greatly suffered from such media attacks – as with Filipino politicians of today.

Decoys – in military parlance, it’s using a fake target to divert an enemy’s attention to it. In propaganda, it’s unleashing an outrageously accusatory story that the target works to deflect. In the process, he gets to expose himself to other attacks. The nineteenth-century American businessman, Jason “Jay” Gould, was a master media manipulator. His media attacks either baited enemies to waste time refuting them (thus exposing themselves), or force them into moves that play to his advantage.

Camouflage – this attack is best carried out using the media – like social networking sites, as well as phone-in radio and TV opinion shows. As its name implies, propagandists have to be disguised to carry out offensives. By masquerading as ordinary citizens, their statements give the impression of a public supporting a propaganda message. The callers who phone in their opinions to radio or TV shows are an example. That approach provides the benefit of anonymity. It can be argued they give full contact details, making them legitimate. But the reality is that anything can be made up. Since the callers are mostly faceless (only their voices are heard), their identities are constantly doubted. Another variation is the use of surveys and trust ratings. A group can masquerade through it as a public displeased about a targeted personality or cause. But it’s common knowledge that statistical info in surveys are subject to deliberate human errors and statistical manipulation. The authoritative impression afforded by numbers lends it an air of objectivity. Yet, it alone can’t hide a naked truth: the numbers may be there, but it’s the humans behind its computation that’s the problem.

Planted information – this works best with credible reporters and journalists. It used to be that propagandists themselves would plant stories with a propagandistic slant. In the mid-1970s, an expose reported CIA covert press operatives planting pro-American stories in the foreign press. They were keeping in line then with the US aim of preventing communists to win elections in democratic countries. Now, a sinister variation would be relaying these to reputable broadsheets or TV networks. This is done anonymously or through relays kept ignorant of the true intent behind the delivery. It can be argued that that can be confused with the actions of corrupt media people. Yet, there are some who are idealistic: those with the established record of genuine objectivity. It’s exactly their reputation that makes them the ultimate couriers of fabrications. When they come across planted info, they get the impression of uncovering the truth. Their reputation further puts a sheen of credibility to it, casting aside all doubt.

     Outright deception is easy to unmask though. Even a combination of deceptive techniques and approaches can still be uncovered. Furthermore, counter-propagandists can wield unmasked deceptions to their advantage – especially if the propagandist still believes they’re unaware of it yet. To solve that problem, propagandists strive to control the situation on the outset. They do so through the following principles:

Give no respite – before a counter-propagandist moves, his enemy makes an aggressive move to seize the initiative. Propagandists follow it up by applying relentless pressure. They know that chance and the unpredictable maneuvers of their foes can damage their strategy. Putting their counter-propagandist foes on the defensive can eventually demoralize them. Push them into the unknown – putting relentless pressure on counter-propagandists can force them into unfamiliar situations. The pressure forces them into efforts that unwarily expose weak points. Propagandists exploit these to put their foes in dilemmas they know not much to get out off.

Make enemies prone to errors – this naturally follows after the propagandist applies the first two principles. But a propagandist understands why this third principle is essential. His foes rely on a strategy that conforms to their strengths. Furthermore, any respite from his attacks gives the other side sufficient time to assess the situation. Mistakes happen when a foe is too focused on fending attacks of the moment. In such a state, a propagandist can gradually gain control of them.

Be in passive control – when a counter-propagandist realizes he’s being led to fight on the other side’s terms, he’ll act to stamp it out. Hence, subtlety is important to the propagandist. He must lead his foe to believe he still can refute attacks, without realizing that his counter-replies are leading to weaken himself. The pressure they apply is subtle. It is to prevent the obvious impression they’re leading on the other party.

     As one can see, propagandists are highly resourceful. No law can ever discourage them to carry out their activities. The best front line defense against their messages is reasonable skepticism and awareness of their methods.
     Thus, it pays to never take the news blindly.

A Primer on Black Propaganda (4 of 5)

2012-06-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Mind Manager’s Craft

Black Propaganda doesn’t rely on merely floating a rumor around. A reliable method is needed to put the public under its influence. This is where advertising techniques come in. As much that the principles of military strategy shaped the art of advertising, so it is with waging propaganda.

Propaganda Techniques and Devices

Schiller’s presentation of his ideas was written for his time, when the Internet didn’t exist. Nevertheless, what he wrote still held resonance today. In fact, Schiller amalgamated all known advertising techniques in his ideas. Unfortunately, he didn’t explicitly state them in his book. To know them, another source was drawn upon for those unmentioned techniques: Prof. Serafin E. Macaraig’s, “Sociology in the Philippine Setting”, specifically the chapter on “Public Opinion, Propaganda and Mass Interaction” (chapter 6, page 107). They’ll be combined here to give readers an idea how manipulative messages influence them.

1) Repetition – commonly used for TV and radio ads, an idea is regularly replayed until it’s permanently recorded in the public’s mind. As to why brands like “Jollibee” and “McDonald’s” are so popular owes much to this technique. Even political messages or ideas are disseminated using this. Speaking of which, repetition isn’t limited to the style of canned advertisements. The essence of this technique is the continuous replay of a core message – regardless of the means employed.

2) Name calling - it’s putting a label to an idea or summarizes the idea in one word. Calling someone “Mr. Suave” is one example of this. It evokes the idea of the person being a debonair and dashing lover. On the other hand, when George W. Bush called the countries of Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the “Axis of Evil”, he desired to demonize the three as being a threat to the free world.

3) Testimonial – its use rests on the general human attitude that prominent people know what’s good for everyone. This would be akin to the Filipino sociological trait of deferring to authority. How a Filipino regards the wisdom of his elders is true as well with figures of authority. Authority, especially here in the Philippines, is seldom questioned. Thus, anything they say is immediately accepted as gospel truth by the mere fact of authority alone. It’s for that reason celebrities are tapped to promote an idea to the public. Case in point is the commercial of Safeguard soap, where a representative from PAMET endorses the product’s effectiveness.

4) Plain folks – this entails identifying an idea to ordinary people. The tagline, “walang mahirap kung walang corrupt”, exemplifies this. But its use isn’t limited to verbal messages. Schiller mentioned the use of “staged events”, where prominent politicians or celebrities would enact much-publicized actions or gestures. Ramon Magsaysay’s presidential campaigns made full use of this technique, going to the most remote baranggay to mingle with voters – with the media reporting them. Those events were meant to buttress his image as being “the man of the masses”, aside from his verbal slogans.

5) Card-stacking – derived from gambling, where card cheats prepare a deck guaranteeing them favorable odds. In this instance, only one side of the issue is forcefully presented in the message: only partial truths are stated. This technique is used in conjunction with the testimonial technique, so as to add force to the psychological impact of the message. Since this also is (in essence) a form of persuasive argument, it’s used by lawyers to influence the judge or jury to accept their statements.

6) Glittering Generality – the idea is somewhat like sweeping generalization, only it’s applied to an individual. It is a descriptive label appealing to emotion than logic: akin to calling someone an “angel” but really isn’t. (Mortals may not be perfect, but this technique makes them so…)

7) Bandwagon – the idea behind this is that the majority is always right. If anyone still recalls the classic advertising ploy of the brand “Beer na Beer”, that is one example (with the line, “7 out of 10 people…”). A recent development has been the use of surveys and trust ratings, like those from Pulse Asia and Social Weather Station. As again, the combination of this technique with another is possible. In conjunction with Card-stacking and the use of testimonials, the average citizen can be driven to easily embrace the message.

To these techniques, Schiller is to add two more: fragmentation and immediacy & overload.

8) Fragmentation – presenting a chunk of unrelated news items (be it on broadsheet or in multi-segment TV shows) to confuse or divert the reader/audience from controversial social issues of the moment.

9) Immediacy and overload – since a large volume of tomorrow’s news arrive so fast, the average human mind is unable to process them all – a condition termed as “information overload”. As a result, one’s attention to the news items is lowered, skimming them instead and foregoing comprehension. Inadvertently, that means disregarding truly vital news. And because the nature of news delivery must be “always fresh”, would make a truly important news item instantly irrelevant once tomorrow’s news arrive.

The last two techniques are not consciously applied with conspiracy in mind, unlike the others. In fact, it is an exploitation of a common process in presenting and delivering news. Clumping unrelated news items in a newspaper layout is a practice to infuse variety. Timeliness is also vital, as it will go against journalism’s purpose if not done so. Nevertheless, the status quo has taken full advantage of all these techniques to create a society passive and docile to their aims. Either they use one technique or combine them all to gain society’s acceptable social judgment towards their aims. Ultimately, a social reality develops that is in the status quo’s favor.

But today’s Information Age has easily neutralized that practice. Any related perspective, info or news item on an issue can be searched and grouped together for an audience. That gives them a clear picture of it. Even news that has been rendered stale by the immediacy technique can still be called up to serve as sources, thus reviving its relevance.

A Primer on Black Propaganda (3 of 5)

2012-06-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

The Five Myths that Reinforce a Manipulative Message

A manipulative message (as earlier said) has to be “natural”, occurring “inevitably” AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE EVENTS that PROMPTED the MESSAGE – and doing that can be somewhat difficult. Though the average person rarely bothers with scrutiny, some enlightened people do – especially with controversial issues. Any flaw in its TIMING and DELIVERY can expose it, as much as it would a flaw in its creation. Thus, for a message to successfully influence the public’s mind, it must work behind ALL the five myths that Schiller details. But in reading them, one would ask: how true is the reality behind each?

The Myth of Man’s Unchanging Nature

With Man’s wrongdoings reported 24/7 (murders, robberies, political scandals, etc.), it lends the impression that the public can do nothing. Man’s evil nature is so fixed that reforming him is impossible. But of course, Man CAN change – provided he is given the genuine, appropriate facts and the encouragement to take action upon them. The myth aims to desensitize (i.e. be passive) the masses to acts of wrongdoing – thus, keeping the status quo’s corrupt activities unhampered. But passivity isn’t limited to physical inaction on an issue. Automatically resorting to inappropriate solutions, without thinking critically of it, is another kind of passivity – that of mental inaction. It’s the result of the masses being willfully denied the behind-the-scenes facts of an issue. At the same time, they’re influenced to support a biased view of it. They then end up taking a course of action they believe suitable – based on what they’ve been led to believe. Subjecting political figures to trials by publicity is one instance of exploiting this myth. Just because the news says a public official is accused of a crime, he is already adjudged guilty even before a verdict is delivered – the conclusions being based solely on what was written. Those rash conclusions on character by the public are what brought down Quirino. Of course, there never really was a “golden arinola”. But because of that popular perception, Quirino didn’t stand a chance in the elections. (Elections are an instance of people taking action without critically evaluating a choice.) It was to be decades later that history vindicated him from that cruel gossip.

The Myth of Neutrality

Are a nation’s societal institutions (i.e. the government, the media, etc.) really that objective towards a social issue of the moment? Anyone answering “yes” to that question is really under the myth’s sway and perpetuating it. The average citizen finds this revelation hard to swallow, but the reality is that these institutions are run by fallible humans. They are bound to use their authority to covertly support a side of the issue they favor. Writer Gemma Bagayaua of Newsbreak exposed the practice of “envelopmental journalism” in the magazine’s March 2001 issue. Whenever the election period draws near, SOME enterprising journalists shamelessly sidle up to politicians, offering to be their spin doctors – shattering the myth of the media’s objectivity. Schools were been made to indirectly propagate the message that because of the colonizer’s presence the Philippines became civilized – via history books that carry a “sanitized” version of its history. Franklin D. Roosevelt needed to preserve his “honest and fair leader” image while manipulating the media. For that purpose, he used his secretary, Louis Howe – especially against the scathing tirades of radio broadcaster, Father Charles Coughlin.

The Myth of Individualism or Personal Choice

Free speech is an illusion, but the myth asserts it does – claiming as proof the many media companies and the laws permitting open expression. In reality, not everyone gets to be heard. The media themselves determine what news and views get reported. They can argue that not everything is news-worthy, hence their right to be selective. The problem is the subjective criteria used to pick out material fit for reportage Things get sinister when some “higher power” themselves dictate the media what news they should release and how to present them. Justified news blackouts are the positive side to that, yet then, subjectivity dictates it. Even if they pick out an “unworthy” item, they would alter it according to the public’s “perceived” taste. They do so claiming it’s for clarity or saving print space, but it really alters an honest perspective at the source’s expense – an instance of denying free speech. New Age teacher Jagad Guru (Chris Butler) complained of an incident regarding a New Zealand reporter. He was insulted by the reporter’s act of altering his statements on a topic regarding spirituality. The reporter says his bosses believed that his topic was “boring”, justifying the alterations. Nevertheless, everyone’s views in a genuinely democratic nation have to be openly expressed without prejudice.

The Myth of the Absence of Social Conflict

According to Schiller, since the myths of Individualism and Neutrality exist, this myth existed as a result. Case in point is the aforementioned news blackout. The premise here is that since there are documented cases of media companies receiving directives not to cover a specific event (like the operations against Muslim insurgents); could a pre-planned blackout be possible? If that’s the case, then anyone who asks if so-and-so happened, he can be told it didn’t exist – because it isn’t in the news. Again, because of Schiller’s other myths, it could be true.

The Myth of Media Pluralism

This last myth is the convergence of the consequences of the first four in action: quantity isn’t an assurance of finding genuine objectivity in journalism. The illusion of choices – the many periodicals and TV channels that proliferate – gives the impression that the public is guaranteed of it. If one broadsheet or TV channel is too biased, maybe the others aren’t. The problem lies with the sources themselves – they have the power to edit, alter or totally censor any detail of an event or issue. Though reporters present the news of the day from different angles, they’re really just saying the same thing – they’re forced to make do with what’s available.

Those five myths were meant to exploit society’s tendency to seek the ideal in all things. The average citizen rarely makes an effort to be skeptical – either owing to ignorance or to habit. It’s that fact that they are perfect fodder for the status quo’s manipulative agenda. The ignorant and common folk, to be blunt, are easier to push around. There have been variations of each myth in practice but the essential principles remain.

Book Review – Confessions of an Economic Hit man by John Perkins

2012-06-02T07:26:00.004-07:00

The book's cover (left), The author (right)

A certain privilege speech by Miriam Defensor-Santiago created quite a stir some years back. I forgot which national broadsheet covered it (Philippine Star or Philippine Daily Inquirer?) but one detail stood out: in her speech, she lashed out at an American firm known only by the initials, “EAGLE”. She claims the firm has been undermining the Philippine’s economic policies for many years now. Hadn’t she uncovered them, they would’ve continued to do so indefinitely. I found her claims back then absolutely absurd – the Americans have long since then left us, how could they still have a grip on our nation? Other news items talking about her mental state further eroded the credibility of her claims. I was about to dismiss her as totally nuts until John Perkins released his book.

The Western powers have taken neo-imperialism onto a whole new level in his eye-opening expose. His introductory life story aside, he draws in the reader to the origin of the EHM profession (EHM – shorthand for “economic hit man”) starting with the CIA-engineered overthrow of Iranian nationalist leader Mohammad Mossadeq. In realizing the dangers of any US agency meddling in world affairs, the US government turned to the multinational corporations to do their dirty work. He also reveals the tight grip such companies have on the White House. That control has lead Perkins to coin a new word to describe them: corporatocracy. In today’s America, the multinational companies have become the de-facto ruling force. They dictate US policies to guarantee more profits for them. One of the nefarious tactics they employ is the use of US foreign aid peddled by EHM to shackle targeted Third World countries. Burdened by the huge debt incurred, these countries are reduced to a state of serfdom – making them pliant servants to US dictates (the Philippines among them). Perkins also narrates the factual instances that the corporatocracy has ruined economies of developing nations using that tactic, citing his experiences in Indonesia and Panama. The clincher of his memoir lies in the shocking revelation behind the reason for the Second Gulf War: Saddam threatened the corporatocracy to invoke the “euro option” – to trade Iraqi oil for euros. Doing so would compel a coalition of international creditors to call in US debt in euros as well. Invading Iraq not only would allow the US corporatocracy to control Mid-east oil but also prevent that precedent.

A few, but significantly stinging, critiques were made by a writer about the book. Notable are those claims of attempts by Perkins to disassociate himself from EHM affairs – in spite of stating his involvements a matter-of-factly. We can understand his allusions of guilt from voluntarily involving himself in these (which may explain his attempts), but many expected this to be a memoir – a form of release from his past. Many expected him to unburden himself from it, by putting his guilt into words so as to stare at it straight up. From that (many claim), his book suffers greatly. They believe it’s unthinkable for him to claim it’s a “confession” when he simultaneously avoids admitting them. It is inevitable then for doubts on it to ensue. With Perkins being formerly involved with the CIA, readers can’t help to think: when you’re with dubious company, wouldn’t their reputation rub on you? (You are who your friends are.) What if this work is an indirect CIA propaganda then - a red herring to mislead many from the real culprit? Thus, for that matter, is it so naïve to believe that the US government had something to do with using multinational corporations as their front liners? For some, they immediately assume it is a textbook prose made in the CIA mind-managing tradition.Yet oddly, majority of his prose echoed old truths – truths written by Felix Greene, the anti-Vietnam war writer. He cited the abuses of the United Fruit Company in Guatemala, with US backing. Furthermore, his diatribes against US foreign aid are instructive – in that, it informs how it used to impose Yankee policies upon targeted Third World nations.Conventional thinking defines imperialism as any action by a powerful state upon a weaker state – be it through colonization or direct subversive diplomacy (i.e. US-sponsored foreign aid). But such interactions between nations are merely a macrocosm of small-scale social relationships. If we want something from someone, there are “a thousand ways to skin a cat”; so the saying goes. One doesn’t need to go to the target directly to get it, wouldn’t it? Sounds theoretical or far-fetched, but for a nation long been hated and branded as a swindler of nations, wouldn’t it be logical for the US to use a cat’s paw? Besides, isn’t the world aware that big-time contributors to US presidential campaigns are the multinational corporations themselves? It’s impossible there’s no tit for tat in such transactions… I often draw the Mossadeq affair as solid truth. I firmly believe it was the genesis of the EHM and neo-imperialism for the motives of the event aptly describes the US national psychology: she can deny the accusations of imperialism heaped upon her by the world, but she still subconsciously compelled to do so – in a covert manner nowadays, if I may add. Hence, readers from Third World nations would then have this constantly nagging thought: must they then sympathize with a nation merely following its instinct for survival? Or must we hate it as expected – and staunchly believe that is what the book’s purpose for? As we must hate one’s misdeeds and not the person, the same is true with an imperialist power. WE MUST HATE ITS MISDEEDS AND GUARD AGAINST IT – BUT NEVER POUR BLIND RAGE ALL OVER HER. Perkins may retain some CIA loyalties in his soul, but at least he spoke the truth though hesitant he may be. In the fighting arts, when two contenders brawl, one fighter has to spot what is called a “telegraphed move”. He then acts to anticipate it, parry and counterattack. Lucky for us, Perkins has offended Third World nations a godsend with that “telegraphed move”. His book may be deemed a half-truth but that is enough to rouse us.

Maybe Miriam wasn’t so crazy after all. We recommend you visit amazon.com for the book...

Raising Money for Your Business

2012-05-23T04:31:00.005-07:00

Capital is the life blood of a business. Aspiring entrepreneurs work to amass considerable sums for future ventures. But is saving really the answer? In business, doing things smarter means a lot: the formula of “industry, perseverance, and determination” is passé and useless – unless one adds “brains” in the end. That’s something successful entrepreneurs deliberately conceal. It’s a secret they hide to be ahead of their competition. Going back to raising capital, what are other viable means? What would be better than years of toil, saving up for that badly-needed “capital”. Consider the following:

Start small - if one’s savings isn’t enough to start his dream business, he should start from simple ventures. A buy and sell business is ideal for the notion that one can earn big returns from purchased cheap items that are resold. Items bought from Divisoria can be re-sold for twice or thrice the price one got them for. One can temporarily focus in this kind of business to save enough money for his dream business. Besides, the seed money isn’t too big to begin this venture.

Disadvantage – unless one is skilled in product trends, one’s inventory can end up becoming the dreaded “sleeping capital”. This is when items become unsold because of lack of demand for them. Buy and sell vendors fear this, since all their money is locked in them. This danger is greater for vendors of perishable items, like food stuffs. Near the end of the day, these vendors are forced to reduce prices to recoup investment, or worse, dump them and resign to a loss. Buy and sell vendors also face stiff competition from other vendors, reducing their chances from making sizeable sales. Unless they’re good at drawing and convincing customers to buy their wares, they’re better off selling elsewhere or go into other ventures. Anyone wanting this option is warned to carefully weigh whether it’s a gamble or a risk.

Earn capital from marketing your talent or skill – the good thing about this option is that one almost needs no money for it. He can peddle his skills first to family and friends. The word of mouth they provide about it can help him gain a sizeable clientele. Truly skilled practitioners can save a considerable sum, enabling them to pursue other ventures or further professionalize their current venture. They do so by purchasing additional necessary equipment to provide better service.

Disadvantage – the only bad thing about this option is the necessity to acquire vital equipment and consumables. In short, one needs money. For those with technical skills to practice, tools don’t come cheap. Without them, an entrepreneur would be unable to perform his service well. The necessary training is also essential, but lacking the essential tools makes it pointless. Both go hand in hand. Unless one’s skills are at par and has acquired the necessities for a service business, he’s better off spending time with other options.

Raise money from family and close friends – probably the easiest and surest way to gain capital. The simplest thing to do is to pitch them the business and ask for dough.

Disadvantage – easy as it is, it’s not without its downside. Because they financially contributed to the business, a reserved right to meddle is believed guaranteed. Even drawing the line on what kin cannot and can do seldom helps. Especially for Filipinos, doing so can be seen as ingratitude, or worse. The Filipino cultural consciousness often causes to refute the logic of such delineations. As a close friend or immediate family, it is right for them to do whatever they please. If one is truly people-oriented, he is able to deal with these kinds of people in business. Otherwise, less stressful means to procure capital are available out there.

Money from usury schemes – usury is defined as a practice of lending money for interest. One common example are the loan sharks, like the notorious “payb-siks Bombay”. The credit card is another easy source. More so if its credit limit is from Php 250,000 and above – the amount being sufficient capital. The cash advances from these don’t need a guarantor, as well as collateral. Some successful entrepreneurs relate their experience of maxing out the cash advances in their credit cards. They used that to fashion their ventures into the ones much praised today.

Disadvantage – the huge interest. If one is sure that the business can turn in revenue suitable for BOTH profit and paying debts, there’s no harm in trying. The deciding factor is the revenue potential. Credit cards usually charge 3.5 percent monthly. Loan sharks demand payment with 10 or 20 percent interest after an agreed period. As before, one has to be careful whether this option for him will be a risk or a gamble.

Borrowing from Venture Capital firms – they lend capital ranging from 1 to 5 million pesos, without collateral. Payment is with 3 percent monthly interest. Aside from lending money, they also can invest in a business and partake in its management.

Disadvantage – unless the venture’s revenue potential is in the millions range, VCs don’t bother lending to modest start-ups. Aside from being notoriously critical, Philippine VC firms are hard to find. One has to do research to seek them out. But even if one does, they rarely respond to cold calls. Networking your way to them through friends and acquaintances is the best option. Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook venture went full blast after an associate introduced him to a VC firm that lent him money.

Lastly, banks and micro-finance companies are other sources to draw upon. But they only lend to businesses that have operated at least one year. Nevertheless, any determined aspirant can seek any of the options here. The most crucial factor is that one should not only know his business but himself. He must also differentiate between a risk and a gamble. A risk is a loss that one can recover from – his resources are not that too depleted so as to consider acceptable losses. On the other hand, a gamble earns a loss that leads to a deluge of problems that can go out of control. A gamble has too many considerations that confound the venture along the way when errors occur. Furthermore, if problems are encountered in a gamble, it turns hard to walk away – or worse.

Hence, the worst thing that one can do is pick an option that he’s not able enough to handle.

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2012-05-21T03:39:00.004-07:00

The Brown Juan Blog Disclaimer

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2012-05-21T03:38:00.001-07:00

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About this Blog

2012-05-21T03:37:00.008-07:00

I grouped my articles under nine sections. Each are described below:

Announcements – any changes to the blog will be posted in this section. Readers are recommended to check here for updates; especially for expanded versions of some of my write-ups.

Book reviews – the hottest bestsellers from Amazon are reviewed here. For books, I put in samples for readers to read or listen to respectively. Some of my personal favorites are also reviewed in this section too...
Check out the announcements section for updates on future tie-ups with Filipino online stores. Any Filipinos wanting to buy the products reviewed in my blog will be directly referred to local online stores via links embedded in the page.

The Mirror of History – this section is a collection of my articles written in my column of the same name for the weekly Cagayan de Oro newspaper, the Golden Banner. Some of the articles are linked to related posts in other sections of the blog. That gives readers a greater understanding of the issue.

Disclaimer and Legal Notices – anyone reading this dreads the idea that I’m implying strict legal vengeance. The law is really meant to not only protect the blog’s owner but also protect readers. As a matter of fact, almost all commercial blogs make it a point to include a disclaimer and legal notice section.

Contact Us – for any concerns or questions regarding this blog, readers are referred to the owner’s contact details in this section...

I update my content monthly, since I have to research for my articles here. Furthermore, I need to meet my commitments with the Golden Banner and other publications I’m affiliated with. Rest assured, reader, that I’ll guarantee content for your reading enjoyment. New sections will also be added in the future, so just head over to the Announcement section for details.

About the Author/Owner

I am Francis Almazan, part-time columnist for the Golden Banner, part-time blogger and freelance writer. I write material on a variety of topics – the content you see here are the result of my efforts. We’re all aware that blogging is all about making money. But most importantly, it’s all about enlightening others...
Indeed, content is king. But content that’s worth a king’s ransom is something that helps someone realize truths they’ve not known. But it’s up to you, the reader, to judge if that’s so for my articles...
More of me
My interests are more into sketching and writing. I’m mostly into right-brained pursuits: activities that delve into creativity. And yes, one might be thinking that people who are into such stuff can be latent psychics (which I have yet to determine if it’s true with me...).
Well, I read books – a lot of books – on almost any topic. I’m figuratively a bookworm. But I mostly read anything about history and politics. I dig Chinese history since I found out how much Filipinos and Chinese thinking have so much in common. Through their history, PInoys can learn a lot from them...
As for music, my favourite genres are jazz and rock. I’m into classic works but I’m picky with the new ones. Inspirational celebrities for me would be Eminem and 50 Cent (though I don’t like hip-hop).
I favour historical movies – and yes, even sci-fi and horror. Chick flicks don’t interest me (I’m your typical straight guy). As for my favourites, that’ll be 300, Sin City, Alexander, Unleashed, Enemy at the Gates, Troy – and my most favourite, George Romero’s zombie saga...

A Primer on Black Propaganda (2 of 5)

2012-05-13T16:28:00.002-07:00

A media manager influences the public’s consciousness through his presentation of images and statements. But that doesn’t solely mean one person is designated with the task. A group can also be engaged in media managing – and any of its members, even the lowliest subordinate, is considered a media manager (i.e. radio, TV and print media company employees – like reporters, journalists, etc.) An advertiser is an example of a media manager (i.e. copywriters, etc.). The ads he creates – especially infomercials – influences the public to clamor for the product or service presented (or readily accept beliefs, in the case of political ads). One can conclude that media managing is also the business of persuasion. Their profession is seen in a positive light when their creations are factual. They become mind managers once their creations influence the public to accept a falsehood as truth. But mind managers can serve a positive purpose – like in times of war. Then again, it depends on the circumstances…

Social Judgment and Social Reality

The key to fully understand how black propaganda influences the public lies in two key sociology concepts: social judgment and social reality. A persuasion theory presented by social psychologists, Muzaker Sherif and Carl Hovland, social judgment explains how people readily embrace an idea presented to them.

From childhood, the average person acquires social beliefs – either by unquestioningly accepting those taught or heard from others; or having experiences that reinforce those beliefs. At some point in his life, those would be challenged by exceptions. When in comparing the new idea (presented by the exception) he finds it more compelling and more logical over his beliefs, he comes to accept them until another exception convinces him to replace it. Otherwise, the next circumstance might cause him to revert to his original beliefs. To comprehend that passage, let’s take as an example how beliefs about stereotypes influence the Filipino consciousness – especially regarding Muslims. (A stereotype is an erroneous view that the traits of a group or race are represented by its individual member.) How one interacts with a Muslim largely depends on his past personal experiences or knowledge about them. If the knowledge or experience was positive, he expects the same with the next Muslim he meets. More instances of positive experiences would reinforce his personal perception or social judgment of them. Otherwise, a negative experience would change all that; or give him an alternative belief that it’s not the ethnic/religious affiliation that’s the problem but the individual. It’s also possible for one to tenaciously cling onto his existing beliefs, believing it compromises supporting beliefs, or forfeit him the benefits gained in reinforcing them. Though one is aware that blindly stereotyping Muslims is an immature and idiotic thought, would it also mean he is in favor with some of their religious practices that he is personally against? Some Filipinos are reluctant to advocate against prejudice towards Muslims since it gives the impression to the uninformed majority that he’s in favor of polygamy (having more than one wife), among other “immoral” practices (from a solely Christian point of view, that is). To openly advocate against prejudice would mean social ostracization for others or for some, a conflict of principles. That expounds the definition of the social judgment theory: when a person decides what he will believe, he compares the new idea with what he already wants to believe and then decides whether to reject the idea (Charles Pearson). Rejecting or adopting a new idea largely depends on the accompanying circumstances that affect a person. That can very much determine the social reality perceived by society about an issue - but, what is social reality?

We learned that one’s social judgment serves as the basis on what would be the truth to him. Reinforcing that are two or more people who share a similar view. From that, we can define social reality – a set of social judgments that a group of people share about an issue or the like. The following example can help to understand that: the issue over cousin romances or marriages.

Filipinos were taught that being romantically involved with a cousin is bad – the reason that it confuses family roles or bear deformed children for cousins who eventually marry and raise a family. One group of people clings to this belief because of personal experiences that validate them. Since each share the same belief (i.e. collective view), all are led to believe that their views are true – their numbers serving to reinforce it. Their collective view then forms a “social reality” of potential influence. Some would go to the extent of ridiculing people they know who do it – labeling them as “perverts”, etc. Here then arrives another group to the defense of the ridiculed – offering a social reality opposite the former. They could be a support or advocacy group of married cousins, who bore physically, and mentally fit children, and whose union was seen as permissible by their families. They also form their own reality about the issue, reinforced by their own collective view. Both groups insist their claims as true over the other, but of course they are – in relation to their respective collective view, that is.

How would this all fit into waging black propaganda? When a propaganda message (allegedly) successfully influences a favorable social judgment from a large number of people, their collective view forms a social reality ready to influence others. Often, the sheer number of believers of that reality is enough to compel others to blindly accept the truth; without them bothering to probe further. As they would think, “if the majority believes it, it must thence be true.” Hence, a collective social judgment on an issue forms a social reality that eventually influences a negative/positive public opinion towards it.

And it is thus that mind managers generate lies and half-truths to market as genuine truth. They would even go to the extent of engineering events or actions to drive home the point.

Taking Garfield’s experience as example, the forged letter was made with the memory of the 1877 anti-Chinese riots still fresh in the public’s mind. A two-decade long economic depression made many white Californians jobless. They blamed their unemployment woes on Chinese workers, who didn’t mind getting low wages. As a result, they incited two riots – the first, in Los Angeles in 1871 then another in San Francisco in 1877. Garfield’s rival wanted Americans to believe the letter was real (the social reality they intended). That would ultimately convince them that he was undermining the job security of all Americans. If only they had been more meticulous of the details…

And this is where Schiller lays down an essential law for successful manipulation: the manipulator must always keep his hands clean. When a lie is exposed, not only does it lose its power, it exposes the perpetrator as well. (To be continued…)

A Primer on Black Propaganda (1 of 5)

2012-05-13T16:27:00.001-07:00

Scandals and intrigues often spelt the downfall of many prominent politicians. Consider these instances of famous Filipino and foreign figures whose political careers have been (or were almost) ruined by it…

· Elpidio Quirino's 1953 re-election attempt was quashed by a circulated gossip. He reportedly bought a golden arinola for personal use in the Malacanang. Thanks to the nasty rumor, rival Ramon Magsaysay won a landslide victory over him.

· Apolinario Mabini fell prey to a vicious tsismis that he contracted syphilis (a sexually-transmitted disease), causing his demise. This arose during the time the still-living Mabini was nominated to be the country’s first Supreme Court Chief Justice. But in truth, cholera claimed the life of the Sublime Paralytic on May 13, 1903. He got ill from it after ingesting unboiled, contaminated carabao milk.

· If not for James Garfield's reputation as a good speller, a letter (that he allegedly written) would have cost him the 1880 US presidency. In the letter, he says he approves of the unhampered immigration of Chinese workers to the US - threatening unemployed Americans. But two spelling mistakes revealed it as a forgery. And so, he went on to become America's 20th president.

All three became victims to acts of black propaganda – any systematic effort to spread negative opinions or beliefs against a person (or virtually anything that anyone wants discredited). Recent approaches have become more subtle, giving the appearance that no smear campaign is being waged. BUT, IF ONE IS AWARE OF THE METHODS, THEY CAN BE NEUTRALIZED AT THE MERE HINT OF THEIR USE. Many have sought how black propaganda is carried out, and the late American author, Herbert I. Schiller gave ideas how in his book, “The Mind Managers”. In reading it, one may get the idea that waging black propaganda is no different from psychological warfare. Also called, “psy-ops” (short for psychological operations); it’s one of the most insidious forms of combat – insidious, in the sense that it involves exhorting a group to turn against one of their own. No weapons are involved except the images, statements or staged actions meant to trick an enemy nation’s citizens to lend support for (or submit to) a cause – that Schiller would say- “not in their long-term interest”. The Chinese military has a long, documented history of augmenting psy-ops into their war campaigns. China’s wordplay over the Spratly issue (including the use of harassing tactics by her navy against Philippine ships) is such an example. Her methods were meant to cause the Philippines to succumb to her demands, without firing a single shot. In an episode in Chinese history, the future first Han emperor, Liu Bang, forced a town to yield to him using mere threats. An insurrection after the fall of the Ch’in dynasty put the officials in the town of P’ei in a quandary: should they go support the rebellion or side with the Ch’in loyalists? They reluctantly chose the former option and enlisted the services of Liu Bang (then an outlaw) for the cause. Liu openly accepted their offer, and then set off for P’ei with a hundred men. But upon arriving at the town gates, they (the town authorities) locked him out. The feeble-minded officials decided at the last minute to scrap the agreement. A furious Liu wrote a threat (that he tied to an arrow to shoot over the gates) exhorting the townspeople to execute the idiots and to let him in, at the risk of being massacred. The circumstances of the moment prompted them to do. They believed that a skirmish with his group (at a time like that) was out of the question. Apparently, his threat got the better of them, as he was rumored to be extremely ruthless and cunning. Either he kills them or the loyalists would, since their leaders formerly agreed to side with the rebels. Liu Bang then became the town’s protector, from where he started his quest to be China’s next emperor. Waging psy-ops fulfills one of Sun Tzu’s tenets: subdue, without fighting the enemy. Winning (or subduing) the hearts and minds of the people counts much in winning a war – or any desired objective. Advertising also counts on winning the hearts and minds of the people for a product, service – or belief. And that leads to Schiller’s definition of what a mind manager is. But first, one has to look at his positive obverse, the media manager. (To be continued…)

What if Japan Hadn’t Fought Alongside the Axis Powers?

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From the column entitled, “THE MIRROR OF HISTORY”

During World War II, the defenders of Bataan had their own day of infamy. What December 7, 1941 was to Franklin Roosevelt, April 9, 1942 was to the USAFFE troops holed up in Bataan. Months of relentless attacks from Japanese infantry and the defenders’ dwindling supplies – coupled with the impossibility of American reinforcements – compelled US Maj. Gen. Edward P. King to surrender his forces. Thus, on April 9 approximately 78,000 combined Filipino and American USAFFE troops ended their resistance. Disease and other harsh conditions decimated a considerable number of the defenders before the surrender. Many of the survivors were to die in the coming days upon becoming Japanese POWs. Of those 78,000 prisoners only about 54,000 lived to reach Camp O’ Donell in Capas, Tarlac. Their forced march from Bataan to Tarlac (the infamous Bataan Death March) claimed 24,000 lives. Casualties perished from a variety of causes: succumbing from sheer fatigue to the brutal treatment of their Japanese captors.

Had historical circumstances been different, a Japanese alliance with the Axis powers never would have happened. As a matter of fact, one of the most profound questions of historians was, “What if Japan hadn’t fought alongside the Axis Powers?” Historians thought of it as they pondered the causes of Japanese involvement. They unanimously concluded that the racist treatment Japan received from Anglo-American powers was to blame – starting with the post-World War I peace conference.

Nine months before Germany agreed to a November 1918 armistice, US president Woodrow Wilson drew up a proposal known as the Fourteen Points. It was a set of aims he intended to bring about a “just peace settlement”. Eight of its items sought definite political and territorial agreements. The others stated general aims in avoiding future conflicts. The last proposed item sought for the foundation of an international organization, which eventually established the League of Nations. Of all the proposal’s items, the clause of racial equality caught Japan’s interest. A year before World War I broke out; the US state of California passed a harsh anti-immigration law against the Japanese. Approval of that clause would vindicate them from American racism.

Unfortunately, the Paris Peace conference in May 1919 widely ignored most of the Fourteen Points’ noble aims – including racial equality. Wilson tried in vain to get ALL of the clauses in his proposals approved. The racial equality clause was vehemently opposed by some influential American political constituents. What made it more difficult for Wilson was that even Britain and Australia backed the opposition. The overwhelming hostility to the clause made him gave up in resignation, when the covenant of the League excluded it as it was made. As a result of that, Japan made no hesitation to scrap an earlier Anglo-Japanese alliance.

Adding further insult to their injury were the results of the 1921 Washington Conference. The event meant to bring forth a Naval Disarmament Treaty between Britain, the US, Japan, France and Italy. A famous Japanese Navy captain, Tameichi Hara, recounted it in his World War II memoir:

The disarmament agreement concluded at Washington in 1921 permitted Japan to maintain only 315,000 tons of battleships, as against 525, 000 tons each for Britain and the United States, and 175,000 tons each for France and Italy. Aircraft carrier strength was limited to 81,000 tons for Japan, 135,000 tons each for Britain and the United States, and 60,000 tons each for France and Italy. As regards [to] cruisers and other warships, the agreement set a ceiling of individual ship size of 10,000 tons

Capt. Hara further mentions another naval disarmament conference, held in London on April 1930. This time, Japan was obligated to set the limit on the strength of her heavy cruisers to 62 percent. America was given a 70 percent limit. The Japanese were again infuriated at the further unfair reduction of her naval strength.

All those instances gave Japan the general view of white power politics at play against them. They regarded them as ostentatious displays of Anglo-American racism and imperialism. Small wonder what that eventually caused…

Japan was to later experience serious economic problems, caused by a worldwide economic depression and foreign protectionist measures leveled towards their exports (i.e. high tariffs). It was compounded by the strain that a burgeoning population increase brought. An ease by foreign governments on immigration policies toward the Japanese could’ve spared Japan a bit from such problems. The racial equality clause could’ve also spurned cooperative international policies and efforts useful in solving the pressing global needs of the times. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, that never came to pass after the May 1919 conference. The Japanese Diet was desperate to prevent an imminent domestic social collapse, making them take drastic measures. The mounting problems they faced made them believe that war was the only solution. Thus, they engineered the Mukden incident in China to justify a renewed invasion – and with it, carry out a policy of territorial expansion. The rest, as they say, was history.

The utter disregard for racial equality was to be the undoing of the Anglo-American powers who largely decided that 1919 Paris conference’s outcome. If only they realized how equality can go a very long way for everyone, they could’ve avoided another global war – and prevent the loss of millions of lives in the process.

In Memory of a Great President

2012-05-06T22:21:00.002-07:00

From the column entitled, “THE MIRROR OF HISTORY”

Our democracy will die / Kung wala si Magsaysay

-a line from Magsaysay’s presidential campaign jingle, 1952

Every March 17^th of the year serves as the death anniversary of a great president, Ramon Magsaysay, who died 55 years ago in a plane crash. Of all the leaders, he was the most charismatic and the most influential – his leadership style was constantly duplicated but never equaled by presidents after him. I dedicate this piece to him in his memory and also to remind the readers of an unparalleled icon in Filipino leadership.

For the masses, many Filipino leaders have come and gone. Yet, they believed they have all been found wanting. Come election time, millions of eligible voters have placed high expectations on their bets (as if voting isn’t akin to gambling) – putting their stakes on their choice candidates. Sadly, as in the gambling houses or outlets, they are stuck with losers. Unlike a regular gambling bet, many are forced to ride out the loss for six straight years – there are no winners. After 1945 and 1986, it seems the Filipino masses were destined to bear the yoke from 380 years of misery – if not for that small break of hope in 1952.

Many historians would claim Ramon Magsaysay was a puppet to humanize American capitalism. But to the simple barrio folk whose lives he touched, he was something else. In spite of that taint, he truly strove to work (on) the mandate bestowed upon him. Long before Erap took to taking the image of a populist leader, Magsaysay projected that ideal 60 years ago.

The son of a blacksmith and a schoolteacher, Magsaysay was born in Iba, Zambales on August 31, 1907.

He studied in the University of the Philippines in 1927 and worked as a part-time chauffeur to help pay his way to college. In 1928, he transferred to the Institute of Commerce at José Rizal College where he graduated in 1932 and received a baccalaureate in commerce. He then worked as an automobile mechanic and shop superintendent.

At a time when the Communist threat was at its height, America was anxious to curb Soviet influence in Asia. At the same time, the problem with the Huks also worried the US and the Quirino administration in the Philippines. A popular sentiment then was that Communists have infiltrated the peasant rebel ranks. Though such suspicions were unfounded, the issues pressed by the Huks were not. Abuses against farmers were rife and their sentiments were that the government doesn’t care for their plight. Here then enters Ramon Magsaysay.

He came to understand their grievances, having been from humble origins as they were. Through his efforts and the common touch he exuded, the people of the barrios found in him the voice they needed for the Philippine government to hear. Though many criticized some of his actions as unwise nevertheless, he was the only one who thought of bringing the government to the people. For so long, the masses have been ignored by government – and this indifference has been long been (in) existence, for 380 years to be exact. He may have led unwisely but at least he led the people well (or the best that he can).

History would have wondered what would have been had President Magsaysay lived. In later years, many would put forth conspiracy theories surrounding the nature of the accident. The tragic plane crash on March 17, 1957 left a nation bereft of its beloved leader. He was to end his presidency on December 30^th of that year. After attending to speaking engagements in Cebu, he left for Manila on March 16 at 1 a.m. in the morning. The whereabouts of the plane were unknown until the afternoon of March 17 when it was reported that the plane crashed into Mt. Manunggal in Cebu. He would have fully gone on to change things for the better had he served out his remaining months in office.

Even till now, the nation longs for another like him. Such is our great loss.

Oriental History for Filipino Enlightenment

2012-05-06T22:15:00.002-07:00

From the column entitled, “THE MIRROR OF HISTORY”

From Russia’s frigid borderlands to Indo-China’s tropical forests, China in its heyday spanned 3.7 million square miles. It was twice the size of another known empire in the West, that of imperial Rome. Never was it called “The Middle Kingdom” for nothing – given the political, military and cultural sway it held upon its neighbors for thousands of years. Both Korea and Japan were to borrow heavily from its influence, their respective cultural heritages almost mirroring it. Some Southeast Asian kingdoms were to have Chinese loan words in their language or reflect Chinese habits in some of their traditions. But near the turn of the 20^th century, its fate took the turn for the worst. It is to suffer nearly a century of Western encroachment. A devastating world war and a civil clash battered it. Then, a debilitating 1958 crash economic program crippled her – starving millions in the famine that followed. If that weren’t enough, the horror of the Cultural Revolution came to mercilessly beat upon an already downtrodden Chinese society. It seemed that China was meant for worse things to come.

But since joining the World Trade Organization in December 2001, the world was to witness its remarkable turnaround. Back in 2003, its economy was worth $1.24 trillion – the sixth largest then, in just two years after becoming a WTO member. Now, its economy is the 2^nd largest in the world, next of the US of A. It’s the world’s largest market for industrial commodities today, like oil and steel; as well as being the largest producer and consumer of technological products, ranging from cars to mobile phones. Such is China’s economic clout nowadays that it helped rally for the have-nots in the 2003 WTO talks in Cancun, aside from the US owing a considerable portion of its debt to it (contrary to statements of pro-US critics).

China has at its disposal an estimated 3 million-man military force, the world’s largest military force to date. With its present industrial capability, it can now duplicate military hardware at par with the West - courtesy of the diligence and nationalism of its spies pilfering know-how from US military contractors and its other agencies. China is also a member of the UN Security Council, an international body responsible for matters pertaining to global peace and order. It also happens to be one of the top arms exporters in the world. It is never farfetched to assume China can use force to maintain its survival, in light of the recent actions in the Spratly territory and other disputed regions. Did I forget to mention that it develops and makes its own nuclear weapons?

Filipinos, then, should turn to Oriental history to understand and improve themselves.

They should put special focus on Chinese history.

But that isn’t a subtle hint to embrace anything Chinese. Besides, who says their invasion is welcome?

The world gained more from Chinese civilization than its gunpowder, silk and paper (cheap cellphones were to arrive centuries later). The 3,000 years of its existence imbued its experience onto generations of Chinese. Their histories record the fools and warriors who respectively showed folly and valiance. The fates they each received spurned the minds of readers on who to emulate…or whose example shall be the reminder to “do what not to do”. The thoughts and actions of crafty ministers and generals were to be penned for posterity as well. Chinese political thinkers, military strategists and social philosophers drew their wisdom from it. They then were to preach it unto the farthest ends of The Middle Kingdom. Even now they still preach to young minds through the writings they left behind. From that civilization also sprung various faiths that offered its society both a focus for worship and social creeds that were to dictate what the Chinese would be. (Though Buddhism is an Indian import, it was through China that the faith came to spread throughout the Orient.) All those served as the social conditioning to forge China into the superpower that it is today – a status that it seems reluctant to embrace (as to why it does so, that will be explained in future issues).

Any civilization, like Rome and China, that left a wealth of information about their society bequeathed a great boon – for the breadth of human experience cannot be fathomed in a mere few centuries. A resilient and enduring society having 10 centuries or more has much to tell – provided it has prolific and objective chroniclers. Enlightening wisdom never is limited to cultures and language; it is human thinking that transcends it all. That fact had Machiavelli (and other political thinkers after him) base his insights on histories from cultures other than his own. More importantly, what goads a Roman soldier to act bravely – or a Japanese scoundrel to contemplate cowardice – is the same for any hero or villain in every culture. In spite of cultural differences they are all the same; they are all human – and so are those who read their tales translated in their mother tongue.

Yet, I would agree that our history is inadequate.

Imperial Rome now exists as broken archaeological ruins scattered in 40 European nations that once comprised it. But thanks to centuries of Roman historians, written firsthand and secondhand accounts survive. Though imperial China now has morphed into a Communist state, their predecessors knew the value of preserving their historical heritage, not just their culture. Nevertheless, a modern global generation is blessed for the wealth of antiquity they retained; the latter being the most detailed.

On the other hand, we have the misfortune of an obliterated early past.

What befell upon the heritage of the Aztecs and Incas, ours suffered the same fate. The Spanish conquistadores stamped out anything native, deeming them Satanic. They retained only our tribal languages to further divide us then imposed their own culture. Whatever past we managed to hold on has been distorted into propaganda justifying colonial rule. Only recently have we begun to take an objective look at our past. As of now, recently unearthed documentary evidences are questionable, if not confusing. Case in point is the disputed first Filipino Christian mass, the facts still being disputed. We have yet to know where Bonifacio’s remains are in the mountains where he was allegedly executed - and the many other mysteries in the early periods of this nation.

History for us then largely has become an archaeological affair. Circumstance has robbed us of any accurate and objective firsthand historical accounts.

As a nation, how then can we approach our history now?

From what we have at hand can be put in comparison to another.

With our histories lain side by side (those of the nations in the Orient and ours) we can see similar faults and how it has mired many in misery, or how wise actions has served for the good of all.

Like a mirror, we can see what is proper or where we are found wanting.

For that is how history’s purpose must be.

– Cebuano Word Trivia –

Bai – “Friend” (English); “Kaibigan” (Filipino); From the Hindu word, “Bhai” meaning “brother”.

The Real Essence of History

2012-05-06T22:14:00.002-07:00

From the column entitled, “THE MIRROR OF HISTORY”

Whenever we hear the word “history”, we are reminded of being bored to death. Bored to death with details, that is. We remember being bombarded with the four Ws – who, what, when, where (rarely the “how” and “why”) – back in our high school and college classes in history. We get to be drowned in info, then forced to commit those to memory. Every day, till graduation, we despised the chore of blind memorization of the facts. We often thought as to what point is it in learning about dead men. Rarely have we been shown another side to it.

Until Machiavelli came along.

An obscure 16^th century Italian writer in his time, Niccolo Machiavelli only gained famed after his death. We know him through his work, “The Prince” – that handbook of statecraft consulted by men of power down through the ages. Two years after his death in 1527, the book circulated outside Italy and has since influenced many famous persons of history. Rumor has it that Marcos himself owned a copy , its ideas influencing his political actions. Whereas, his downfall came when he failed to heed its precepts. The stark, sometimes violent, advice seeming to advocate evil made Niccolo’s surname synonymous to cunning and deceit. It was really an unfair association – the result of the influence of the clergy. Their religious zeal led them to denounce his works, overlooking the pragmatic and down-to-earth ideas on politics that he offered. It was those very ideas that greatly appealed to many readers – and the bane to later generations of moralists.

But Machiavelli was merely echoing such an approach. To the east, a thousand years before, a civilization’s wise men and historians are distilling military and political ideas from their empire’s chronicles. This was ancient China, where later generations are to read of Sun Wu’s “The Art of War” – standard textbook in today’s Japanese, Russian and (of course) Chinese military academies. The wisdom and follies of warriors and kings in “The Annals of the Spring and Autumn Wars” served as the lessons that Sun Wu gleaned – lessons that are surprisingly applicable even in modern wars. The Chinese Communist victories over the Japanese (then later, Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist army) owed to Mao Zedong’s leadership – he, being an earnest disciple of Sun Wu’s precepts. Principles of statecraft taken from China’s imperial history also influenced its governance, as of those of Korea’s kingdoms and Japan’s empire (it must be remembered the two countries are within China’s cultural and political influence).

The common threads between Machiavelli’s approach and of his Chinese counterparts are 1) the belief that human nature influences the actions that shape history...
and...
2) the circumstances of history repeat itself.

A person’s consciousness or nature (what he believes in or how he views life) has a significant impact. His actions are influenced by his personal nature, determining the outcome of events –thereby shaping history as a whole. And the circumstances of history – the factors that bring out an event – recur in a generation’s lifetime; that needs the appropriate action to resolve it.

It is those concepts that served as the framework for Machiavelli and generations of Chinese sages in their works. In addition, the appropriate action – be it immoral or not – determines an outcome for the good of all. The keyword here is “circumstance”. Machiavelli showed in his book examples of leaders who took moral action (often out of vanity) in the inappropriate circumstances, the result being the ruin or loss of their kingdoms. The Chinese wise men were to also warn future emperors and statesmen of the errors of past Chinese leaders in what their unwise decisions had brought them.

In the Philippines, Prof. Teodoro Agoncillo attempted to add social commentaries to our history in his work, “The History of the Filipino People” and its later version, “A Brief History of the Filipino People”. The former is a college textbook on Philippine history, whereas the latter is a rare, non-mainstream work of his (probably out of print now). His insights, sadly, never went mainstream. It will be time before someone musters enough audacity to assert his views to the educational community.

And it is such views that present and future Filipino generations need to appreciate their past. In the Orient and in Western nations, they esteem the role that political history plays in education. They value indeed the lessons learned from the past – an appreciation that Filipinos have yet to develop. How – and who – a nation will be tomorrow depends on how much they themselves today. And it is the light of the past that they will need to for that search.

As a wise Chinese emperor (The T’ang emperor, Taizong) was to remark, “With history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of a nation”. And the Filipinos badly need such a mirror