Many people commented on Blackshama's piece entitled "My Anti-Pinoy Hero: Jose Rizal" over at Filipino Voices (I am inclined to write about it as FV's anniversary nears). Blackshama says, and I quote:

Jose Rizal is the quintessential AntiPinoy. He is my hero and probably yours too. His two novels are considered by Leonie Guerrero (himself a translator of the novels and prizewinning biographer of the Hero) as the “Gospels of its [Filipinos] nationalism” While we may think that the two novels are anti-friar, it is also anti-Pinoy. Part of the basis of our national identity is being AntiPinoy!

Though I agree on some of the points raised by Blackshame in his article, it is largely inaccurate.

First, in Rizal's time, there is no such term as "Pinoy". There is, however, a term "Filipino" which was a reference to half-bloods. These half-bloods were sired by Castillians married to indigenous elites.

Second, the term "Pinoy" is of recent origins. It probably became popular during the 60's or 70's when the Second Enlightenment or "Propaganda Movement" occurred. Pinoy is street lingo, which many mean "Filipino".

What Blackshama tried to do is make a philosophical distinction between these two terms, and spark a debate similar to the ones which Rizal and other Ilustrados did in their time. 

The debate I am referring to was the one which somewhat divided the nation back then--the debate between the half-bloods and the pure blooded.

The half-bloods and "nationalist" pure blood described themselves as "Filipinos", or Spaniards living in a place considered as part of the Spanish regime. They were proud to be called "Filipinos" because the term glorifies the name of one of Spain's most beloved and most powerful monarch--King Philip. 

Those not of noble birth or do not enjoy property rights back then were called "indios", a term which Rizal and his bunch of moneyed intellectuals disdain. "Indio" was a derisive term not for the indigenous folk who do not care less if they were called such, but for those who thought of themselves as educated and moneyed enough to be considered "Filipino". People back then were satisfied to be called "Pampangos", "Ilokanos" or Cebuanos.

Like Blackshama and those who consider themselves now as superior over most Filipinos (especially those spending time writing polemics or political pieces over the Net) wanted to say that they are anti-Pinoy, as if it really means much, or is really substantive enough to be discussed online.

Rizal was an accidental hero. He became one not because he suffered at the hands of those cruel or brutal Spanish soldiers but because he wanted to become Filipino. Like others in his time, Rizal was desirous to be one of those pure-blooded weak-minded Spaniards solely because being a Filipino was a "status". The term was not invented to describe a nation--it was used first as a classification. It classified people based on the nobility of their birth or what we now describe as a colonial caste system. If you're born poor, you're an Indio. If you're born in Spain and lived in a colony, you're a peninsular. If you were a half-blood bastard (or not), then you're insulares.

Rizal was neither--he was not born a Spaniard nor was he a son of a pure-blooded Spaniard. He was a Chinese born in the Philippines. His parents were second or third generation Chinese who elected to live in the Philippines, who embraced Christianity and the Western-inspired life.

That was Rizal's problem--he was seeped in Christian and Western philosophies and was so good at that that he agonized over the very fact that in the colonial caste system, his very own person do not count for anything. In his milieu, status was everything.

Rizal was undoubtedly superior over his Spanish classmates but lacked one thing---status. He cannot claim to be an insulares though his maternal grandmother Regina Ochoa was described as "Spanish-Chinese", because to be called one means being born from a union between a pure-blooded Spaniard and an indigenous elite.

Rizal suffered an identity problem, unlike his other Ilustrado buddies such as Antonio Luna and others who were pure insulares.

Insulares such as Luna considered themselves of a different stock. They, themselves, invented the term Filipino, derived from its etymological source "Las Islas de Filipinas". Those born in the Philippines, of half-blood, were described as "Filipinos".

It is inaccurate though to describe Rizal as the "quintessential" Anti-Pinoy because, for the record, Rizal's struggle was exactly one that was directed at owning the very category of being "Filipino." He wanted everybody to be called "Filipino" and not "indio" to spur a sense of nationalism and for everybody to unite and form a "nasyon" or nation. That way, his status was made certain and concrete and his place in society secured.

Now, if Blackshama is trying to distinguish the terms "Pinoy" and "Filipino" differently, ascribing a derisive meaning for the term "Pinoy", cutting it from its original etymological umbilical cord, his attempt falls flat on the floor.

If Blackshama wanted to say that being "Pinoy" is being of an ill-natured brute, uneducated, immoral, un-cultured and wanted the term to serve an anti-thetical purpose, wittingly (or unwittingly) Blackshama is creating a sociological divide that has no rational basis.

If Blackshama wanted to say that being "Pinoy" is equivalent to an "Indio" of Rizal's time, then, his postulate is historically inaccurate.

BY saying that Rizal criticized the "Pinoy" (in Blackshama's world, the term is equivalent to the "Indio" of Rizal's time), Blackshama was actually telling us that Rizal exhibited the same racism as that of the Spanish colonists. That Rizal was a pseudo-hero, even an anti-hero, was something irreverent for Blackshama or by anybody for that matter.

Rizal loved the indios much as he loved the Ilustrados because he desired for everyone to be called "Filipinos." Fact is, the struggle was for the Ilustrados and the insulares to destroy the colonial caste system so that everyone enjoys equal rights and for what? To protect the interests of the moneyed, the intellectual and the propertied classes not of pure Spanish birth from illicit or illegal seizure of property and from cruelty. Had the Spaniards studied sociology back then and did not build a colonial caste system, probably, we would still be a Spanish colony.

Now, if Blackshama wanted to describe those who criticized the attitudes or mindsets of ordinary Filipinos as “Anti-Pinoy” and likened them to Rizal, Blackshama, for all his posturings, is mistaken. These so-called “Anti-Pinoys” are different from Rizal. Fact is, they are not Filipinos.

They are half-bloods who wanted to impose their so-called “intellectual superiority” over ordinary Pinoys. Or, if they are not bastards or sons or daughters of a foreigner with a Pinay wife, or a Filipino married to a foreigner, and just had the chance to live abroad courtesy of their education or were given a job offers, or were granted immigrant status and think of themselves as superior, then, they are not “anti-Pinoys”. They are derisively bastards of their own race.

Whoever rejects the very ethos of the People living in this revered land, whoever says that Western or Eastern ways are superior than us, or whoever says that the Pinoys are the epitome of crassness or that the problems of this Nation stems from the negative attributes of the People are stupid, idiots and racists. They don't know what they are saying and they are only glorifying a term which means absolutely nothing.

The Pinoy is an intelligent one. He is a hard-worker, a follower of the law and a lover of justice. It is the elite of this country that creates these problems, with their brutish natures, a lover of anything easy, a corrupter of morals and a veritable dictator.

It is the Pinoy elite that is the cause of this country's problems. It is they who exploit the resources of this country, it is they who impoverish the people with their anti-people policies, and it is they who think of themselves as messiahs when all they are are false prophets.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Pinoy. Yet, there is something terribly wrong with the elite. And for us to really move forward, let us destroy the elites of this country and build a government that will create an equitable and just society.

Lest I be misinterpreted, I love being called Pinoy and for every blemish that these people see, for every non-civilized manner, for every so-called "crass-ness" of the Pinoy, being called such is still a badge of honor.

Beginning this day, it is better to be called an Anti-Elite, instead of an anti-Pinoy.





  

That's the problem with appointing non-Communication experts as palace deputy spokespersons--they have a tendency to shoot their mouths off. Clearly, no one knows that every utterance they give becomes policy. They are not there to embellish the impossible--simply to function as conveyors of messages. And probably, palace deputy spokesperson Charito Planas does not really know the implications of her actions.

Her "alarmist" statement yesterday shows how callous this administration is on the effects of statements it makes in public. Imagine, the palace itself tried to fuel these speculations and fears on an Arroyo-instigated martial rule. Planas told a stunned audience that should the elections fail, the military is poised to take over. I don't really know what's on the mind of Planas when she said that, but for me, it was utterly irresponsible.

And it is unacceptable if Planas will try to defend herself by saying that she was asked. Clearly, the issue is speculative and what-ifs are not commonly answered by authorities.

Now, if that Planas' statement is declarative, then, probably that's the real motive behind all these actions--appointments of Bangit and members of PMA Class 1978 and this recent Arroyo instigated SC decision. Even the snub suffered by the PMA leadership after the head of the local police declared that he will not support an extension of his boss' term.

Or, probably, Planas was deceived by her own colleagues inside that snake pit called OPS and was made to believe the yarn that Arroyo was motivated to manipulate even the Supreme Court and the Armed Forces because of her concern for a post-Arroyo military take-over.

Mrs. Arroyo's only concern is simply self-preservation. Arroyo is so afraid to suffer the same fate as that of Erap's that she will do everything in her power to prevent this possibility.

She knows that she stole billions from the public coffers. She knows that her husband did enter into shady deals with syndicates and criminals. She knows that she harmed a lot of people during her administration, and she will not escape liability.

Mrs. Arroyo and her ilk have mastered the Art of Survival, even probably perfected it into a science. They are skillful in manipulating discord and destabilization. Fact is, this administration has thrived with destabilization. And why is that?

We are being mis-directed so that we will not know how government is spending 10 billion pesos worth of calamity funds. The palace is feeding our conspirational minds so that we will forget how they are spending these enormous funds, not for generator sets but for vote buying.

Atty. Alex Lacson has just visited Mindanao and convened with some local government officials there. Many of them are Liberal party candidates and they told Lacson that administration backed candidates are spending their calamity funds to buy sacks of rice, food stuffs, even appliances.

Anyway, Planas should be advised not to give any more statements about the future.

For the first time in Philippine history, the Chief of this country's Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) made a "courtesy visit" with his counterpart in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The visit happened today at Camp Crame, shortly after General Delfin Bangit's induction as the fortieth AFP Chief of Staff.

Sources told this writer that the meeting was "cordial" and "serious." Bangit came with all his service commanders, all his mistahs, which many at the PNP directorate viewed as a "show of force."

The meeting between Bangit and PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa lasted for about thirty minutes, with both men sparse in their words.

Verzosa (PMA Class 1976) was appointed by Mrs. Arroyo to succeed General Sonny Razon. He is set to retire by December of this year. However, sources within the PNP says he will soon be replaced by Roberto Rosales, the PNP NCR director, who happens to be the mistah of AFP Chief of Staff Bangit. Bangit and Rosales are members of PMA Class 1978, the favorite class of Mrs. Arroyo who adopted her while she was still a senator.

A week ago, Versoza vowed to protect the Filipino People from forces anti-thetical with democracy. Verzosa said the entire police force will not allow itself to be used for political purposes.

The source said that Bangit criticized Verzosa for uttering such words to which the PNP Chief acted strongly. Verzosa, the source said, advised Bangit to "just do your job."

An AFP source however say that the meeting was not adversarial, although it was really unclear why Bangit went on a visit with his entire entourage in tow. It was the wishes of the higher-ups, says the source, that both men talk things out.

A call, allegedly made by Executive secretary Leandro Mendoza, was received by Verzosa who happens to be very close to the former PNP chief. It was Mendoza who thought of arranging the meeting between Bangit and Verzosa, upon the instigation of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, the source said (although this is unconfirmed).

The meeting, sources say, did not go well as intended. Both men were tip-lipped though, especially Bangit who did not entertain media inquiries about the courtesy visit. 

Sources say the hatred between men, both belonging to different PMA classes, is historic. According to deep sources, it was allegedly some members of PMA Class 1978 who instigated that Russia fund scam which hit the headlines shortly after Verzosa's appointment as PNP chief.

The role played by some members of PMA Class 1978 in that scandal has been blown. Verzosa, sources say, knew that the plan was for him to become another Bobby Lastimoso, who was immediately replaced after figuring into a scandal.

Rosales, a member of PMA Class 1978, was supposed to replace Verzosa. The PNP chief's closeness with the First Gentleman however saved his neck from being completely severed by the Arroyo administration.

The plot failed. It fizzled out after members of Verzosa's directorate submitted themselves to a Senate inquiry.

After the plot failed, Verzosa, sources say, became his own man. Verzosa reportedly minded his own business and distanced himself from the First Gentleman. He, however, preserved his friendship with former PNP Chief Leandro Mendoza who continues to serve Mrs. Arroyo.

That is why this meeting was cold or in fact, lukewarm. Verzosa, sources say, did not forget what Bangit's mistahs did last year. 

There is no doubt about it---the Filipino soldier is a professional one. Despite the numerous scandals within the military establishment, and these are very serious ones linked to fund misuse and lack of uniforms and resources, the soldier remains loyal to the Constitution and the Filipino People.

The question that always come to mind is this--will the Filipino soldier still remain loyal to the chain of command despite very clear signs that the very authority that he is expected to follow is the very same one sabotaging the very democracy he is supposed to protect?

The loyalty of the Filipino soldier rest on the true power of this Nation--the Filipino People. This rings loud and clear in the Constitution, the truest expression of the People's Will. When civilian authority bamboozle this revered document, mock it and destroy it just to suit personal whims and political caprices, will the soldier be a gentleman and fight those who mock, destroy and despise the very Constitution that he has sworn to protect?

Yes. The Pinoy soldier is bound by his obedience to institutions, not personages. He is duty-bound to protect the institutions of democracy, not those who run it.

The Pinoy soldier is responsible for the protection of the pillars of democracy by which everything stands firm. The Pinoy soldier is a creature of democracy, the very reason he exists is simply to protect the institutions of governance from being destroyed by those elected or appointed as custodians of public service.

When civilian elites fight among themselves, the Pinoy soldier is expected to stay by the Constitution and the institutions it has created. When the very same Constitution is being slowly corrupted by those responsible for its custody, the Pinoy soldier is responsible for keeping the peace.

When democracy is threatened by the intense in-fighting between and among civilian elites, the Pinoy soldier is expected to preserve democracy by governing the institutions by which democracy stands firm.