Some learnings I've gathered:
1) "Butuan" is pronounced "boot-WAN," not "bu-TU-an" which was how a lot of us from Metro Manila have been pronouncing it. Locals cringe at the wrong pronounciation because "butu" in Bisaya means "testicles." Well, that's one more new word to add to my now-expanding Bisayan vocabulary, hehehe.
2) Again, my trip to Caraga taught me that not all of Mindanao in inhabited by Muslims. Caraga is so predominantly Roman Catholic that even the locals themselves discrimate against Muslims! Siargao, for example, has an unofficial no-Muslims-allowed policy, according to their mayor, because "anywhere there's a Muslim community present, trouble follows." And when we were telling our DTI escorts that we encounted a couple of masungit entrepreneurs in Region 12, the first thing they said was ,"Baka mga Muslim sila." I just found that to be so sad.
3) There are Iglesia ni Kristo churches EVERYWHERE. Even in the remotest of towns or the loneliest stretch of unpaved highways. They're not huge structures, but they can't be missed either. You have to hand it to the Manalos, they sure take their evangelization seriously.
4) I think one major reason the region doesn't prosper is because the local officials there are more interested in making a family business out of their postions than engaging in public service. Each province is literally being run by one family—the father is the governor, one son or daughter is the congressman, another relative is the mayor, other relatives are councilors, etc. And every three years, when their terms expire, they just switch places! So there are no new ideas coming in, no fresh initiatives to get the province on track. And because these politicians act like gods--with their huge mansions and fancy cars and because they give away money during elections--the locals treat them as such and actually revere them. I wasted a lot of my time during this trip paying "courtesy calls" to this mayor or that governor because the local DTI people were afraid that these officials might feel bypassed and harbor resentments. Ugh.
5) Still, am beginning to believe that federalization should be the way to go. Political and economic power has been been concentrated far too long in "Imperial Manila" that locales elsewhere, especially in Mindanao, have been virtually neglected. Maybe if they are more empowered, or if they have their own laws and policies, they will have more free hand in charting their direction.
Now, how do I say all these in my article without getting my magazine in trouble?
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4 comments:
That's easy. Explain what federalization is, then give its benefits.
Question is more like, how would you propose federalism? Do you break it by province? Or do you break it by region?
If Federalism do occur, you think officials won't be corrupt? Sure, the area would be self-governing & self-sustaining, but the officials would still be the same ones in power.
Unless, there's some constitutional mandate stating people who are related can not held local/provincial/national gov't position.
Hi Col. Sanders--You have a point there and I'll be the first to admit that for all my idealism, I am also realistic enough to admit that the country really has a long way to go towards progress and development. I think the bottomline should be good education--so that people won't be poor and they won't be so prone to corruption or even support it.
Re political dynasties--some congressmen/senators have actually been pushing for an anti-dynasty law. But, of course, they get shot down by all those with vested interests.
So in short: Quo vadis, Philippines? :(
ahm u have it wrong.
butu/bilat - vagina.
itlog - testicles
otin - penis
Hi Les! Thanks for the correction. That's 3 more new words to my vocabulary! LOL The one who told me that butu=testicles was someone who grew up there when he was a kid but hasn't been back in ages, so he must've gotten it mixed up :) Still, it still makes sense why they don't want to say "butu-an," :)
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