Obama declares martial law

It is difficult to love this country, so we leave Ask any of the new college graduates about their plans for their future, and you will find that most of them want to leave this country. They do not see their future here. I had the same feeling way back. When Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, I was not allowed to travel. I lost my journal Solidarity and, now censored, I lost income as a publisher, and was also harassed with fictitious lawsuits. But I should not complain too much. What I suffered was trivial compared to those who were imprisoned, tortured, and killed. When I finally got my passport back in 1976, I went to the United States to look for a job. At the time, several Filipino expats in the United States were actively opposing Marcos. I was invited to one of their meetings in the Chicago area. I was amazed at the vociferousness of the meeting and I found it ironic and even comic – these Filipinos shouting revolution … [Read more...] about It is difficult to love this country, so we leave

Ever since the Philippines declared independence in 1898, its people has called  itself the showcase of democracy in Asia. But if we look at the country’s history during the past 120 years, keeping democracy alive and vibrant has been a constant struggle.  During these past 12 decades, there have been four big stories that can explain this struggle and offer a vision for the nation’s future. After the Philippine war for independence against the Spaniards and the Americans came the long period of non-violent movement for independence from American colonization. That was the era of the great “wise men” in Philippine politics. There were Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Lorenzo Sumulong and young nationalists like Claro Mayo Recto. In both these historical stories, the leaders came from the elite educated class. It started with the ilustrados like Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar and Antonio Luna whose families were rich enough to send them to be … [Read more...] about Keeping democracy alive