HMMMM...
I've been doing a lot of thinking this week. A dangerous act, I know.
Throughout the week, it's been a real myriad of mental data, some good, some bad, some whatever. It's been theocracy, democracy, internet gossip, war, cheap ligations in Caloocan, Gawad Kalinga, high fashion, low fashion, Intramuros politics, calorie management, The Cultural Center of the Philippines Shop, The Sofitel Hotel, high food prices, global warming, Catholic Church politics, Manila Street Art, Poverty Tourism, and Tesa's Yoga Retreat that has been on my mind all week.
And now, fricking this...
Don't click on it unless you have two hours to kill. I'm off to walk along the boulevard to clear my head.
Mood: Don't know...
Labels: carlos recommends, movie, zeitgeist
posted by carlosceldran @ 9:00 AM
39 Comments:
Intramuros politics?!
do tell...
It has nothing much to do with me. Bambi Harper is getting death threats from the squatter cartels who run the drugs in the squatter areas. I hope she gets through it. A squatter free Intramuros would make a world of difference in helping our national image and increasing tourism revenue. How can you sell Intramuros to Investors if you have squatters ruling over everything?
If squatters fight and refuse to leave their Barong-Barong, why not SPRAY them with insecticides...:) lol!
I was able to watch Zeitgeist, The Movie last year. It can really mess up one's mind.
And with the non-stop oil price hikes, food shortages, global warming and whatnot, one wonders, is the creation of a One World Government already on its way?
On closer scrutiny, though, there is no way for anyone to accurately verify all the "facts" that have been mashed-up, spun and weaved into a convincing story of collusion among bankers, corporations and clergymen to take over the world.
In a way, Zeitgeist, The Movie achieves its goal of provoking one to question authority, religion and government.
Just the thing conspiracists and anarchists want--who, by the way, are the ones behind the making of this film.
Don' make me more paranoid than I already am.
The clergy part I could buy. The bankers and the WWII scenarios maybe.
But when it came to the Rockefellers and the computer chip, I was like.. wha? Excuse me? I had to rewind that part over and over again.
Either way, it was a masterful manipulation of one's attention span and a beautifully orchestrated arrangement of information (whether factual or not). And it was kinda low budget. For that I'll give them a shizload of props.
The microchip idea was indeed freaky. That was way too much indeed.
Well I didn't click on it because I've got two people to kill.
I had to download the film as a bittorrent. I knew I wanted to watch it on my laptop, in bed. I love films like these which make a persons search for truth more exciting. Now I actually want to check out of the rat race, live on an island and off the land and just eat fish and veggies and swim all day long. No need for a currency! Thanks for the link!
I didn't realize that the squatter problem was that prevalent in Intramuros with drugs.
I hope that the Manila government is supportive of Bambi Harper. They just need to do what they need to do to correct the situation. They are lucky that I am not the Mayor of Manila because I would totally go Pol Pot on those problematic bad ass squatters. The nice ones, I can relocate fine and possibly give them jobs through cooperatives. The bad ones need to be thrown in the Intramuros dungeons where the crabs can eat them after they starve to death.
It's just an opinion, more like a dream really.
BC from SAV
This just goes to show that we just cannot accept whatever is fed to us. Including this film. I've seen and read so much about 911- and I do agree that the media has fed us with so much lies- that the lie has become a truth already to us. People will believe anything that will make them feel better.
As people, we should search for our personal truths and not just accept anything that is bullied upon us. I believe that God is much bigger and better than the Church teaches us. He cannot be put in a box. In terms of religious truth, I am still searching.
For political truth and world domination, I am most likely leaning to Part 2 and 3. Although that friend of the Rockefeller, who knows, he could have made that up. But with how things are going now... it just makes you want to know really- what is going on?
We cannot dismiss films like this as mere conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories spark the beginning of the search for truth. I'm sure the theory that the earth was round was actually once considered a conspiracy theory.
Thanks for such a great link. Makes Philippine politics look so small time... which by the way should not be treated lightly.
Cheers.
Well the chip is already in my new Spanish passport. They told me it is better so I don't have to go in person to the Visa section of the US or Aussie Embassies. I hope the chip won't jump and get into my ear and stays in the lubular part of my brain. I'll call Dr. House in that case.
Seriously at this part of the game I can believe anything.
About Jesuschrist I have faith he actually existed. In any case his preachings, without any other consideration, are a synthesis of the best of the human condition: generosity, compassion, love, etc. etc. Another thing is the Church in capital letters.
Cheers!
Carlos, I love your blog. You are witty and there's absolutely no doubt that you do more than most to promote Manila as a tourist attraction. But I cannot for the life of me understand why you are such a defender of Imelda (and Gloria, for that matter). If you know something the rest of us don't will you please post it someday? I don't mean to be rude, I just find it incomprehensible, given the damage that both of them have done to the country you clearly love.
Haha. Yes perhaps I do know something others don't. Or maybe perhaps I just don't take ONE side of every issue here in the Philippines at face value.
But first of all, I am neither a defender of Imelda nor Glo.
I just believe that is more to everything than meets the eye in the Philippines and Glo and Imelda are just two good examples of that. Not everything is black and white. Really, the world is way more nuanced than that.
Yes, they have done damage I agree. But they also have done good - Imelda (Population management, Kidney Center, Heart Center, Tripoli Agreement, CCP, PICC, Design Center) - more than Glo I can safely say). And those two claims I will stick by.
Come to my tours and you'll realize that I'm not THAT Much of a fan of Imelda NOR Glo. Really, see what I do first and let's talk afterwards. This blog isn't all that I am about and it really isn't a concise reflection of my politics and advocacies.
Cheers British guy. (But I think I know who you might be...)
Carlos, you forgot about Imelda's Green Revolution program - something we so need today to counter pollution and global warming.
I also think that Glo should ask the advice of the Marcos cabinet ministers on how they were able to lessen the impact of the oil crisis then.
Hi Carlos.
Thanks for your reply. I agree, Imelda was responsible for some wonderful things. But if, for example, I steal 100,000,000 pesos from you (or whatever) and use one tenth of that to build hospitals and the rest to buy jewels, does that make me a good person? I don't mean to be flippant or critical of you. I really am interested to discover why Filipinos still want their picture taken with someone I consider a murdering witch. I will certainly come on one of your tours. In fact, I have been meaning to for a long time. And I hope we can have a chat. As I said, I have great respect for what you are doing in terms of putting Manila on the map.
I would be very surprised if you know who I am. I'm really nobody. But then I tried to tell Brian he was the same and he clearly doesn't believe it. Ho-hum.
Ah. Yes. Well, the shoes and the jewelry and all the excess are indelible impressions I agree . But how interesting it is that you have the impression that it is a "tenth" (or a pittance) that she left behind to build those hospitals (or any other project). And murder? WIld. How interesting that you have come up with that impression as well. I guess the evidence out there must be quite convincing.
Truth be told, I don't think you are being flippant or critical. I just think you are ignorant about some matters on the Philippines and it's history and it's context and I cannot blame you at all for that. Philippine history (especially recent) has always been written with some form of slant or agenda so it isn't your fault.
My only advice here is to not come to any conclusions about The Philippines and it's history which may seem convenient. I highly recommend looking beyond the surface in all matters.
And that goes through all aspects of Philippine society, history, etc..
And oops! I guess I was wrong, dude! I know another British guy who has almost the same notions as you do about Imelda and Glo and The Philippines - and how a logical guy like me can actually not hate someone like Glo or Imelda - for that matter. I just assumed it was him. Hope I'm not being to offensive either. I am only talking to an anonymous post here... I hope nothing is being taken here personally.
Looking forward to having you on the tour! Whoever you are. You don't even have to tell me it's you.
Cheers!
Lol. No, no offence taken, and none intended on my part either. I'm just curious. I've read a lot about the Marcoses, from various sources, and the evidence IS pretty convincing. The figures mentioned with regard to theft are truly staggering. But if someone - i.e. you - has a different take on her then it makes sense to enquire why (my way of saying I'm trying hard not to be ignorant). Also, I'm still smarting over her treatment of The Beatles. Poor Ringo was a basket case for weeks.
Anyway, this is your tours blog so I guess I'm a bit out of line waffling on about Imelda. I look forward to joining you for a walk someday. I'll tell you it's me. Hell, you'll know anyway as soon as I open my mouth.
Thanks so much Carlos, for setting that British dude straight!
And for illuminating all of us to the complete-not one sided-in context TRUE nature of Imelda/Ferdinand's reign. The loved ones of all those young and idealistic students buried under shallow graves in the 70s and early 80s. Amnesty International. Ninoy with the bullet in the back of his head. Everyone who was at Edsa February 1986. The families of the workers who died at the Film Center collapse in '81, (widely acknowledged to have been a. caused by her meddling with the construction schedule b. such a horrific tragedy, with a death toll spiked by her refusal to dig out survivors because it would delay her film festival/beso beso with Ceorge Hamilton et al. Watch "On Borrowed Land" about urban squatters at the time, and has a segment on the Film Center collapse. Watch this instead of stale pseudo-indie shit like Zeitgeist. All these silly folks. They just didnt see the whole picture! The Kidney Center, of course!! The CCP, how dare they fail to kiss her toes for that architectural marvel. The Tripoli Agreement, ah yes that peace agreement that worked so well for Mindanao. Thank God we have your for your impartial summary.
Ironic how you chastise the Brit for being ignorant and failing to see beyond the stilted and agenda driven history and current events texts. You have any idea what kind of Orwellian shit the Marcoses pulled with Dept of Education textbooks in the 70s. Did you ever see the Malakas (strong, for Ferdie) and Maganda (beautiful, for your beloved Ma'am.) books they forcefed to elementary level kids back then?
You sound like Cheney sneering at global warming theories as "pseudo" science.
You sound like that old Marcos propagandist Teodoro Valencia, railing at the world and proclaiming everyone else deluded.
Yes, there is corruption in every presidential administration. Yes Ramos stole too. But if you can't identify the Marcoses as their own category of monstrous leaders, than you need to loosen that top hat of yours. Its cutting off your brain activity
The British dude shouldnt have to take your tour to see how you supposedly criticize Imelda, when you wave pompoms for her all over the blogosphere. (nice pic too, man, you look real objective with your best "Nice to meet you Ma'am" sycophantic smile").
The British guy sounds like he's read his history. And shame on you for doing the passive agressive "you're an ignorant fucking foreigner but do come on my tour" crap. Deal with the message, not the messenger.
Are you: A. A closet fence-sitter, taking a I'm Seeing the Big Picture stance so you dont have to wade in messy politics, and focus on your walking tour. No harm in that, but you dont have to spin away 30 years of documented atorocities, do you?. B. Seeing the crowd go THERE to protest , so you, Mr. All The Press Mentions Swelling His Head Pied Piper of Manila, go HERE? C. Power, even nefarious power, makes you hot.
I used to admire what you do and was looking forward to signing up for the tour. But if you're so fucking myopic about Imelda (and dont get me started on Glo), then all that historical background on Old Manila is really just fluffery, aint it? I hope you come out of this self induced alternative reality. Because it'd be sad to see an older Carlos Celdran still babbling about Imelda Did Some Good years from now!
I respect your right to hold a Blue Lady, este, alternative, view of the Marcoses. I hope you respect my right to call you a history denying idiot.
And you owe that Brit a fucking apology.
the microchip idea is way too freaky. but then again, reality can sometimes (even many times) be stranger than fiction.
Just in case you haven't watched it yet and if you're still into thought-provoking stuff, you might want to check out "The Century of the Self" documentary series.
You'd have to kill more time, though--around four hours :)
Carlos, please don't forget to include LRT among Imelda's major achievements.
FYI, the LRT came into operation way before the Singapore MRT was built.
Of course, it is common knowledge already that the Cultural Center of the Philippines was built way before the Sydney Opera was built. Now, the Singapore Esplanade copied all of Imelda's vision.
Let us give credit where credit is due.
Hey British guy, don't go too far. Why do people take pics of the British royalty? Like hello, after the colonization of Africa, has anything changed except made these colonizers richer?
The Brits always think that they are different. These made them the laughing stock of the European community.
I don't think I'm different. Not at all. There are big chunks of British history which I find shameful. I just believe one gets to the truth by asking questions. And the closer we get to the truth, the more chance we have of avoiding the mistakes of the past. However, I'm sorry if I offended anyone.
Jesus fucking Christ, bembol, all Carlos said was that Gloria and Imelda deserved a nuanced look. It's not like he started worshipping them as the Messiah or something.
So he doesn't hate them the way you do. So what? Grow up and get a fucking clue.
There is one thing I want to retract. I don't believe Imelda ever pulled a trigger or thrust a knife, so using the word 'murdering' was inaccurate and wrong. (I wish there was some way to edit comments after you've posted them!) I was, of course, thinking of some of the events Bembol pointed out and got carried away. Sentiment over accuracy. Not uncommon in the blog world but still annoying - though sometimes understandable.
Britishguy, I admire your graciousness. Thank you for posing those questions. I was curious myself, Carlos.
is there nothing that the local governement can do to get these people out? Who do they think they are?!
it's NAPALM time!
To Bembol,
"I used to admire what you do and was looking forward to signing up for the tour," says it ALL.
Not having gone on the tour makes YOU myopic. SHAME on YOU. YOU are the sad one for not going on Carlos' tours, an older Bembol in his self-induced one-sided reality.
"Sentiment over accuracy. Not uncommon in the blog world but still annoying - though sometimes understandable."
You said it right there.
So if this is true for bloggers, can the same be said for writers of history?
Bembol, what do you think?
Anyhoo. Bembol, I offer an olive branch. My apologies for not being very clear about my position. And micketymoc, thank you for clarifying my position for me.
Come on a tour, Bembol. Come as a guest and lets talk about these issues after. Calmly and over a beer perhaps.
"I really am interested to discover why Filipinos still want their picture taken with someone I consider a murdering witch."
To the britishguy, I am also interested in knowing why the Brits adore the members of the royal family in spite of all the scandals and why do they need to courtsy these suckers of colonized lands' wealth.
I am also interested in knowing why after every soccer game, the hooligans rule the streets of London. I cannot see this happening in Manila when Pacquiao loses one of his boxing matches.
'So if this is true for bloggers, can the same be said for writers of history?'
Yes, of course, Carlos. But it works both ways. David Irving, a British historian (if he still merits the description), maintained that because there is no documentary evidence that Hitler ordered the Final Solution, ipso facto he couldn't be held responsible for it and quite possibly had no knowledge of it. Given Hitler's rants against the Jews and all the outrageous new laws applied to them at the time, plus the fact that very little happened without his say-so and that the extermination camps were so huge and required enormous funding, this hardly held water.
I'm no lawyer so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but in a court of law (certainly in the jury system) circumstantial evidence can be used to convict someone when it is overwhelming. Historians use the same principal. It's a question of probability. And sometimes the probability is so great that one has to come to a conclusion. That was the point I was making. Of course, if someone has an opposing view it makes sense to talk to them and ask why. The past is rarely black and white and sometimes conclusions are revised. Hence my question to you.
Right now my view of Imelda is based on what I perceive as the general concensus among historians. If that view is wrong no one with any sense would mind being corrected - me included.
I'm not sure if Sgt Oinky's comment was directed at me. If so, I have no idea what I said that prompted such a violent response. But I apologise for it, whatever it was.
Incidentally, I downloaded Zeitgeist. Given the effect it had on you I think I'll watch it after I've stocked up on Valium!
I'm not sure, but I think Oinky was aiming it at Bembol. Not you...
Yeah. Zeitgiest. Wild movie.
Now I don't believe EVERYTHING in the movie, it just REALLY got me thinking, that's all...
:o)
To Anna:
You will see that I modified my reference to Imelda in a later comment.
As for your other questions - yep, I'd be interested to know the answers too!
Talking about taking a "nuanced" view of Imelda sounds wonderful. Except she really hasn't been brought to justice, has she? Did I miss something? Did she compensate all those torture victims and I didnt hear about it?
Micketymoc, we have the poisonous collective disease of amnesia as a people. We can't progress until we can look at who we did or did not benefit from, and can glance backward farther back than last week. It's not a question of hate, though I do, um, really dislike the Marcoses. It's a question of recognizing that she still hasn't be brought to account. And until then, the toll from the Marcos years continues to rise. Does this make any sense to you? Because you sound like a high schooler with your awkward syntax and unsubstantive reply to my post, summarized thusly: Nyah nyah lay off Carlos nyah nyah nyah.
Tess, I'd jump on anybody who criticized a loved one online too. Peace. And I am not going to be old for a while.
British guy, the David Irving analogy is spot on. In our case in the Philippines, there's enough documentation on what went down in the 70s. The sky is blue. The Marcoses fucked up the country for a loooong time. But intellectual 14 year olds like mickymetoc think it should be an Idol-style popularity thing. You dont have to think like me. Though most smart Filipinos do(excepting those with economic and regional ties to the Marcoses). You dont have to think like me, but then you'd be shutting your eyes tight against the obvious. Imelda should share a cell in the Hague with Bush and Cheney. Except she gets a lesser sentence because she's a old ho and built the CCP. There, wasnt that nuanced?
Carlos, you might just see me at your tour. Offer of calm discussion over beer gladly accepted. And yes, I got hot under the collar and the original post couldve been more civil. I'm sorry for the tone. Your blog speaks to a lot of the Pinoy generation that matters; it kills me that a young person reading your stuff on Imelda, like mickeymtoc who probably sneaks into his older sister's room to use the Internet, will fail to even get a chance to comprehend the painful lesson we shouldve learned. But, we can have that talk over a San Miguel one of these days. And respect for posting my first message unedited.
To end, I say, nyah-nyah-nyah nyah. (kidding)
Bembol
more on imelda. . . she built the national arts center and the philippine high school for the arts in makiling. PHSA though a bit run down now is still in full operation with around 200 scholars from all over the country (dance, thater, writing and music). We are the first high school for the arts in Asia, Singapore is doing the same thing just now. but as my daughter (who is a scholar at PHSA) says, the school of the arts (sota) in singapore is waaay cooler. too bad
A nuanced view of Imelda? How's this: she exemplified everything that was wrong with our political culture and was as much a creature of our making as we (Marcos-babies generation) were of hers. Those of us who imagined we had a clue thought that once the Marcoses were out, the country could make a go of things. Yet here we are, 23 years after Edsa I, still held back (if not falling inexorably behind) by poor government, economic inequality, social injustice, 'false consciousness', etc. At some point, we have to take responsibility for our own political failings. Bembol, you are right, Imelda should be brought to justice for specific crimes that have been documented (corruption, abuse of human rights, etc.). But we should also ask ourselves whether she was really so different from our abuellas and assorted matriarchs of so-called good families whose prestige actually rested upon a history of political violence.
A nuanced view of Imelda? How's this: she exemplified everything that was wrong with our political culture and was as much a creature of our making as we (Marcos-babies generation) were of hers. Those of us who imagined we had a clue thought that once the Marcoses were out, the country could make a go of things. Yet here we are, 23 years after Edsa I, still held back (if not falling inexorably behind) by poor government, economic inequality, social injustice, 'false consciousness', etc. At some point, we have to take responsibility for our own political failings. Bembol, you are right, Imelda should be brought to justice for specific crimes that have been documented (corruption, abuse of human rights, etc.). But we should also ask ourselves whether she was really so different from our abuellas and assorted matriarchs of so-called good families whose prestige actually rested upon a history of political violence.
Yo! Carlos, so one can buy a piece of land in Intramuros, because I would love that, really? Manila is my birthplace and would love to have a place there (Intramuoros preferrebly), business and residence, wow!
Thanks, C.
Oh Im not buying! Good lord. I wish. I'm renting.
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