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Friday, November 4, 2011

Lara Bohinc and the Aliping Namamahays of the World: Is the Slave Mentality Widespread Among Filipinos?

Here’s one for the Pinoy Pride buffs. Another bubble of the Proud Pinoy was burst by jewelry designer Lara Bohinc.

A story on the Huffington Post mentions the designer’s disdain for “freeloading stars”.

Jewelry designer Lara Bohinc – who has designed pieces for everyone from Lily Allen to Michelle Obama – sat down with The Telegraph to discuss her disdain for “freeloading stars.” She explains, “I think celebrities should buy their own jewellery… I don’t send stuff to anyone.”

She doesn’t even gift items to supermodels, “Kate Moss asked for a belt once, so I gave it to her, but I had to say, ‘Are you sure she’ll be wearing it?’ I didn’t want to see it on her Filipina maid.”

This statement is already being challenged by Filipino groups who are demanding an apology from Lara Bohinc. For example this petition states

We the undersigned believe that the comments made by designer Lara Boninc are unacceptable, why is the Nationality of her maid of any relevance?

We would request an apology for the offence caused!

I assume that there will be more statements that will be circulated online.

Frankly, I will just let the statement slide.

It is understandable that Lara Bohinc – who designs jewelry for big name celebrities – want to make sure that only celebrities wear her designs. From a branding point of view – it will be disastrous when her jewelry is worn by maids because celebrities will shy away from her pieces.

Closer to home, that’s like seeing your househelp using Louis Vuitton bags. And that kinda lowers the perception of value of the brand – it cheapens it. That goes without saying that flip chimays (local and overseas) buy knockoffs and parade them like the real thing.

Second – I say – MERESE. Statements like this HELP to call attention to the fact that the remittance economy of the Philippines has as its core – the services of what in the old days were called – aliping namamahay and aliping sagigilid.

As a social class, “alipin” had subclasses as well, documented by numerous Spanish historians, who took note of the local social norms as the Spanish conquest of the Philippines began.

Aliping Namamahay (translated as “Servant who is housed”) refers to an alipin that has his own house, which usually sits on the property of the person whom he serves. He can buy his own freedom and can also marry without the consent of his master.

Aliping Sagigilid (translated as “Servant in the corners [of the master's house]“) refers to an alipin , which is usually a war prisoner, without a house and whose existence is completely dependent on the graces of the person whom he serves. He can be sold to other datu’s and can only marry with the consent of his current master.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alipin

When one compares the function of the Filipina maids and punaspwets to that of Aliping Sagigilid – I’d say the description fits to a T. We have actually raised slavery to the next level – we now export our aliping sagigilids to the world. Aquino’s EDSA did not deliver Filipinos from slavery – EDSA People Powered delivered Filipinos to slavery abroad – via Philippine Airlines. They live in their master’s house, when the master says “jump” – the pinoy/pinay chimoy/chimay says “how high”. It comes easy when you have been raised to be a submissive and docile servant all your life.

How many times have we heard Filipinos say “Taxes is the lifeblood of government. I have to pay taxes for the good of the general welfare” instead of “thieves have taken my hard earned money by force”?

How many times have we heard Filipinos say “I have to go to the NBI to get my NBI Clearance renewed” instead of “I’m visiting the local office of the security clearance extortion racket to pay my protection money so I can have the ‘privilege’ of earning an income”?

Filipinos typically do things in the way presented by the first statements. To me it shows that they have not thought though the reality of the situation. It also shows that Filipinos do not recognize that they have a governing class in whose interests they are being sent to work as slaves – overseas. These slave remittances in turn are sent to the Philippines to buy up commodities and services which are all owned by the Filipino oligarchy. It goes without saying that these lousy and expensive commodities have no competition because the oligarchy is protected from foreign competition by the constitution.

It used to be that the slavery was a domestic issue. Today we have an abundance of serfs and we now export serfs – MAIDS.

Thus, when people like Lara Lohinc candidly relate Filipinas to MAIDS we shouldn’t cry foul – because that’s the REALITY.

But the slave mentality of the Filipinos will not be outdone. It will cry foul at people’s observations about their slavery instead of asking – why are they looked at as slaves – and what are they doing about it. A free man will have the power of choice – and will choose not to be a slave. In contrast, slaves have no choice but to OBEY.

We must change our slave mentality to one of thinking we are free and capable of doing things for ourselves. We must relearn how to be personally responsible for our success. In addressing the oligarchy we have many choices. The path of least resistance is to go with the flow. Another is to vote with our feet and move to areas where there are better opportunities to rise above our servitude. On a different level of engagement we can advocate for more economic freedom so we have more choices of jobs, goods, and services.

Instead of carrying protest signs in front of EDSA or Makati or Manila stating we are POWERLESS. We should exercise our POWER by choosing our leaders well . Don’t just OBEY what the barangay captain or purok leader said. We should THINK when choosing leaders and THINK about the Principles they stand for. After thinking – then we CHOOSE.

At EDSA’s onset Filipinos used to sing songs to freedom; today we’re singing ourselves to slavery and still singing in bondage.

Every day we all stand at a crossroad – one way or another we make a choice to be free or to be a slave. I choose to be free.

What Filipinos choose to be is quite obvious – MAIDS, SERFS, SLAVES.. and proud of it.


About the Author

BongV

has written 307 stories on this site.

BongV is the webmaster of Antipinoy.com.

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170 Comments on “Lara Bohinc and the Aliping Namamahays of the World: Is the Slave Mentality Widespread Among Filipinos?”

  • Felipe wrote on 26 October, 2011, 16:10

    Make no mistake, the Philippines is indeed the DH capital of the world!

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    N0oNg panah0n pa ni marcos yan e,unti unti dumami ang dh ksi humirap ang buhay sa pinas.ninakaw nya kasi ang kaBan ng bAyan

    [Reply]

    Felipe Reply:

    Hindi uso ang maraming DH na OFW nuong panahon ni Macoy. Nag-uumpisa na yan kayCory. Dahil dyan sa 60/40 restriction sa “Cory constitution,” mahirap magpatayo ng malalaking business ang mga foreign investors sa pinas. Ayaw ng mga kaibigan at kamag-anak nila Cory na magkaroon ng mahuhusay na kompetisyon.

    Dahil ayaw lumapit ang trabaho sa kanila, ang mga pinoy nalang ang nag-abroad at syang lumapit sa dayuhan upang manilbihan at magpaalila sa kanila. Tignan mo mga doktor sa pilipinas—hindi kaagad doktor sa ibang bansa tulad ng America. Karamihan sa kanila ay nagiging taga hugas ng pwet ng foreigner. Kung sa pilipinas pa sila, baka doktor pa rin sila hangga’t ngayon.

    Kay Erap talagang nagdagsa ang mga DH na OFW.

    Kung ano-ano pang dahilan ng mga taga suporta ng mga Aquino upang ilihim ang kakulangan ng mga rehimeng Aquino kaya’t patuloy ang pagdurusa ng mga pilipino.

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Nagumpisa ang dagsa ng OFW/OCW n0oNg panah0n ni marcos, pero mas dumame it0 n0oNg si Tita Cory na ang presidente dhL nga ninakaw na ni marcos lahat at pnapangit ang Pinas.

    Auriga

    Auriga Reply:

    Kung ganoon kagaling na pangulo si Tita Cory mo, e di bakit hindi nagsibalikan ang mga OFW?

    palebluedot_ Reply:

    vincenzo, please give us figures, graphs, stats that shows there’s more ofw (aka alipin) working abroad during marcos time than later. because during marcos time, when i am already aware of the different industries around me, all we wanted to do is become leaders of the different multinational corporations surrounding our city. going abroad was never an option since there are so many possibilities in the philippines during marcos time. it was only after 1987 when my family started to consider working abroad or urging us to consider US/UK etc, because according to my father, who used to have American bosses and who followed American work ethics, “the 1987 constitution ripped you off of your dreams”.

    AlvinEternal

    DaidoKatsumi Reply:

    Vincenzong Sinungaling:

    Fact is all because of the 1987 Constitution.; agree ako because since it prohibits foreign businesses, it’s lack of opportunities for jobs. At mas lalong pumangit ang Pilipinas after EDSA. THAT’s the reality.

    There you go on your “hearsay and LOL evil Marcos” mouthings, Vincenzong Sinungaling. No wonder why you’re a horrible person being brainwashed by Yellow Propaganda. :P

    [Reply]

  • gaga4 wrote on 26 October, 2011, 19:34

    Don’t bother asking for an apology as you probably will not get a response from the slovenian. Rather, contact Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron and tell them how you feel about the insesitive comment the Slovenian made. You can also email Bohinc at her website and tell the slovenian how you feel about her comment.

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Gago yang Bohinc na yan e dapat ipakain sa kanya mga alahas nya.

    [Reply]

    nada Reply:

    Bohinc has a point kaya ikaw ang gago ulol. If you want to wear Bohinc’s jewelries then you’re making yourself look like a mediocre gangsta. What makes you think na karapat-dapat kang magsuot nuon kung isa ka lang na mababang-uri ng tao na kapag napikon sabay magmura?

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    tang ina m pla eh,pwd naman intsik, hap0n o muslim sbhan nya d0on db?bkt Pilipino p?

    nada Reply:

    UM! Kita mo na nagmumura ka na naman e. You mad pinoyfag?

    Jay Reply:

    Vicenzo is jelly.

    AlvinEternal

    DaidoKatsumi Reply:

    Bakit Pilipino? Because the majority of Pinoys are a bunch of f*ckin’ freeloaders! Kung hindi binigay ang gusto nila then they will play the victim card and so on. That’s why the Filipino culture of ENTITLEMENT sucks.

    It’s like respect: it doesn’t come for you, you have to earn it. If you want to get something, then you have to work hard to earn it. That’s why the CCT program wouldn’t work because it will make Pinoys freeloaders than normal citizens.

    That’s what we call MENDICANCY.

    [Reply]

  • TaengGorbachev wrote on 26 October, 2011, 19:37

    Indeed, this is how the local media acts like a propaganda machine on turning the Philippines into anti-foreigners, so that the 1987 Constitution will remain safe from amendments. All for the sake of laziness in part of the oligarchs, they will accuse the foreigners of being this and that, while not looking at themselves the same way, to protect themselves and their interests. Better nuke the Philippines then. It’s hopeless…

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Talaga naman eh! Bastos msyado yang Bonich n yan. And our media is not propaganda machine and your hearSay protectionist BS, but they are telling the truth.

    [Reply]

    nada Reply:

    Baka ikaw yung bastos. Hindi ka na ba nahihiya sa paggamit mo ng delusional yellow propaganda mo’t pagmumura sa amin?

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Ano b cnsb m0ng propaganda? Hnd naman totoo yan. Kung totoo man,tagal n wla ang mga network n nagbabalita. Problima sau ayaw tanggapin ang kat0t0hanan.

    Auriga

    Auriga Reply:

    “Problima sau ayaw tanggapin ang kat0t0hanan.”

    WHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

    TaengGorbachev Reply:

    @Vincenzo
    Hahahaha!! LOL at you, Vincenzo!! Vincenzo dared to reply to ME!! LOL!! I may be Filipino but only on paper, and that doesn’t mean I can’t say negative about my country. There is the saying, “Spare the rod and spoil the child”. So, let me rephrase it: “Spare the criticism and spoil the nation”. But then again, this country sucks, it will never respond to change. Why? This is the Philippines!! Progress and change is not meant for the Philippines because it absolutely sucks!!

    [Reply]

    TaengGorbachev Reply:

    I need to get out of this steaming, stinking, smoldering country of monkey crap, fast!!

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Tito Noy is our president. Alam nya ang gagawin. By 2016, magiging maganda na ang sitwasy0n ng Pinas. Take a l0ok si Gloria tumatakas na, pero hnd ito papayagan ni Tito Noy.

    nada Reply:

    ^ In your dreams delusional flipfag.

    Ihavenoidea Reply:

    @vincezo

    What you meant to say is that by 2016, magiging mas mahirap na ang Pinas, right? you can’t even trust the douche of a president to do something right.

    Jay Reply:

    @Vicenzo

    PGMA is still in the country. If you want to catch her yourself you can.

    AlvinEternal

    DaidoKatsumi Reply:

    She needed to get overseas para maoperahan but she decided to stay in order to face the charges against her.

    So ung sinasabi mong “tumatakas” si Gloria is a proof that you’re not only delusional but you’re also PARANOID.

    Tama nga ang sinabi ni TaengGorbachev: he just laughs at you saying na hindi naming tanggap ang “katotohanan?” It seems it points more to YOU because all the Cory/Noynoy nonsense is NOT what the Philippines is all about. Sorry, but yours indeed IS PROPAGANDA. You just don’t know it yet.

    [Reply]

  • Jack wrote on 26 October, 2011, 21:22

    Well, She was wrong …plain and simple…, some 200 yrs back..She would have said..I don’t want to see it on some African Slaves…..

    She is clearly demented, She can’t differentiate between what is right and wrong….What is wrong with being a Maid and being from PH…Being a Maid is a respectable job not like dealing in drugs or wall street and cheating people…Its a sincere and honest job that Filipinas excel at…

    Im not even a filipino but i appreciates the sincere works maids do from there plus..even billionaires and queen of england and countless royalty have Filipina maids and if you are a UFO buddy..Even Alien Grey’s had once come to a Filipina and given them their baby for day care…not making this up..just youtube it…

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Thank u 4 complement. But dont use that example, (dealing drugs, cheating people) nanabwicit e

    [Reply]

    Felipe Reply:

    Filipinos are also notorious as drug mules.

    Pinasalamatan mo yang dayuhan dahil sinasabing mahusay na alila ang mga pilipino. Pupurihin ka nyan basta’t alila ka sa kanila. Uto-uto ka bang talaga?

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Tanga. Kht katul0ng yan marangal n traBaho,ikw naman utak talangka msydo

    nada Reply:

    More like slaves you moron.

    Felipe Reply:

    @Vincenzo B. Arellano

    Tanga. Kht katul0ng yan marangal n traBaho,ikw naman utak talangka msydo

    Hmmm, may kahinaan ka nga ata talaga.

    Paanong naging “talangka”?—Lahat ng katulong naming mas-bata pinag-aaral namin. Meron na kaming dating mga katulong na yung isa, naging midwife, at isa rin, naging sales supervisor. Bastat nakita naming meron ambisyon at disiplina, inaangat namin.

    Baliktad ang katulong sa ibang bansa—maraming doktor nagiging hugas pwet. Aanhin mo mga papuri ng mga yan kung hanggang dyan ka nalang? Ika nga, “talk is cheap.”

    Magsikap ka Vinzencio at ‘wag tatamad-tamad… esep, esep esep…

    AlvinEternal

    DaidoKatsumi Reply:

    Fact: Crab mentality is for CRAB PEOPLE.

    But what Felipe is talking about is most of Filipinos ended up being drug mules because most of them are tanga. That’s because those who bring illegal drugs in other countries are punishable by death. Pero hindi nila sinunnod.

    Kaunti lang ung may mga marangal na trabaho, unfortunately.

    [Reply]

    BongV

    BongV Reply:

    going beyond (insert ethnocity)-slaves – the question is – is the slavery imposed from without or self-imposed?

    [Reply]

  • nada wrote on 26 October, 2011, 23:05

    “She doesn’t even gift items to supermodels, “Kate Moss asked for a belt once, so I gave it to her, but I had to say, ‘Are you sure she’ll be wearing it?’ I didn’t want to see it on her Filipina maid.””

    I agree with her. This reminds me of the documentary I watched on National Geographic Channel about making a katana. There is this museum (I think) in Japan about traditionally made samurai swords in which they sell some of them and the most expensive, famous one costs around 5 million pesos. But even if you have that amount of money to buy that sword, the owner will not just gonna sell it to you because you need to be so worthy and deserving to be the owner of that sword that you’ll not just gonna use it for fame and bloodthirsty violence.

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Ang yabang pala ng kumag na yan

    [Reply]

    G. T. Reply:

    Parang ikaw hindi, pareng troll.

    [Reply]

    nada Reply:

    Look who’s talking now. Mayabang ka kasi pinagmamalaki mo na magaling si pnoy at masama ang dating administrasyon. Mayabang ka kasi bulag-bulagan mong iniisip na talagang uunlad ang bansa dahil kay pnoy kahit hindi mo nakikita ang tunay na kulay nya. Mayabang ka dahil iniisip mo na sa pagmumura mo sa amin, mananalo ka sa debatehan. So if you, for example, ever want to buy that famous sword so badly only for your fame, that Japanese owner will simply say F U to you because of your rotten attitude. Hell to add insult to injury, he might gonna decapitate you with his katana if you ever flame him. If you don’t get what I said, then you’re indeed a nut-brained moron.

    [Reply]

    RETURNOFTHECOMEBACK Reply:

    Who cares? Eh di bumili ka na lang ng baril at balikan mo ang may-ari, BANG! Unless sasabihan mo niyang sirain ang mga bala gamit ng katana niya, hah, over na iyon, ano iyan, anime?

    AlvinEternal

    DaidoKatsumi Reply:

    RETURNOFTHECOMEBACK :

    Obvious troll is obvious. :P

    nada Reply:

    That’s because that Japanese person kills the example with honor and not for bloodshed. And what about you hostile troll, what kind of honor do you have? Your moronic pinoy prayd?

  • Dark Passenger wrote on 27 October, 2011, 0:56

    I don’t know what’s more depressing, the fact that we are a nation of servants, or the fact that Pinoys get upset when foreigners point this out. It’s the truth, isn’t it?

    [Reply]

    Vincenzo B. Arellano Reply:

    Pagsisilbihan ka na nga ng magandang serbisyo tpos ganyan lang gagawin sayo, ipapahiya sa mga followers m0, kumag pala sya e. Arroyo kasi na yan eh

    [Reply]

    AlvinEternal

    DaidoKatsumi Reply:

    Victim mentality at its worst. You’re such a horrible person, Vincenzong Gunggong.

    [Reply]

    RETURNOFTHECOMEBACK Reply:

    Bah, Lara Bohinc is a COWARD because she only went after a safe target. If she said that about Blacks, Hispanics, or Muslims, even Red Chinese nowadays, she knows she could very well get killed immediately. Pasalamat lang siya na mabait talaga ang mga Pinoy kasi kung talagang pikon tayo kagaya ng ibang mga grupo diyan, todas agad na siya malamang.

    [Reply]

    Auriga

    Auriga Reply:

    Maybe…

    “Pasalamat lang siya na mabait talaga ang mga Pinoy”

    … Or it’s just that Flips are all bark and no bite.

    [Reply]

    RETURNOFTHECOMEBACK Reply:

    Anong gusto mo, tuluyan na namin siya? Hah, kung ganon nga ang nangyari, baka magreklamo ka na asar-talo ang Pinoy. Pweh, wala nang ginawang tama ang mga Pinoy para sa katulad ninyong mga traydor na gustong maging ibang lahi. Hindi ginagantihan, puro salita ka lang. Gantihan mo, asar-talo ka naman.

    BongV

    BongV Reply:

    no such thing as filipino race. there’s only the human race.

    Auriga

    Auriga Reply:

    “Anong gusto mo, tuluyan na namin siya?”

    Sige lang. Ipakita ninyo sa mundo na meron pa rin kayong pinaninindigan at hindi lang kayo puro angal. Asar-talo ka nga siguro, subalit NANINDIGAN KA. Ipinatotoo mo ang lahat ng sinabi mo. Mas gugustuhin ko naman iyon kaysa sa isang puro angal na nagtatapang-tapangan lang.

    “Pweh, wala nang ginawang tama ang mga Pinoy para sa katulad ninyong mga traydor na gustong maging ibang lahi.”

    You’re gravely mistaken if you think I want to change my race. It is impossible and even if I become a citizen of [insert country here] I can never change the fact that I was born a Filipino. No one can, and doing so would only be tantamount to deluding oneself. And besides I plan to die a Filipino, proud of my own achievements and not others’.

    AlvinEternal

    DaidoKatsumi Reply:

    Then what do you call on most Pinoys TROLLING on sites that Pinoys are the best, etc.? Your lying, man. :P

    [Reply]

  • Amused wrote on 27 October, 2011, 1:46

    I follow your argument but still feel, like many filipinos, that Lara Bohinc’s mistake and what has caused offense is that she brought race in to her comment at all. The argument about devaluing brands would still stand & be as potent without the use of a race tag. Why should comments such as this be acceptable when other public figures have been held accountable for similar statements e.g. John Galliano and Jean-Paul Guerlain?

    [Reply]

    BongV

    BongV Reply:

    filipina maid… filipino boxer… good for gander, good for goose.

    [Reply]

  • Auriga
    Auriga wrote on 27 October, 2011, 1:52

    @Dark Passenger:

    *Let me reply here because your comment is already getting trolled (LOL)*

    I think the mere fact that Flips get all butthurt when they are called “maids” only proves that they too think lowly of it as a profession.

    So yeah, pot calling the kettle black.

    [Reply]

    Dark Passenger Reply:

    No worries. I ignore trolls. They’re not worth replying to.

    If Flips hate being called maids and slaves, then they should stop whining and actually do something about it. Wake up, for one thing. Stop allowing yourselves to be brainwashed by the media, the church, the oligarchs…everyone who stands to gain from your submissiveness and slave mentality. Stop voting for people who want to keep you slaves.

    The reason Pinoys are butthurt is because it’s true, and the truth hurts. They just can’t handle it.

    @Amused: You can’t compare this incident with John Galliano’s anti-semitic outburst. Bohinc merely stated a fact. So she mentioned that the maid was a Filipina. It’s true, isn’t it? Whereas Galliano’s statements were fueled by hate, like “I love Hitler” and “People like you would be dead today – your mothers, your forefathers would be gassed.” There is really no comparison. If Bohinc had made similar hateful comments toward Filipinos, then maybe it warrants public outrage. As it stands, I fail to see what the big deal is.

    [Reply]

    RETURNOFTHECOMEBACK Reply:

    Because you are NOT A TRUE FILIPINO PATRIOT. You are a RACE-TRAITOR. If you had any love or pride for your race, you would understand perfectly, but as it is, you do not at all.

    [Reply]

    BongV

    BongV Reply:

    no such thing as race. do not mistake phenotype for genotype.

  • TaengGorbachev wrote on 27 October, 2011, 2:33

    @Vincenzo
    Again, I say, “This is the Philippines” and the others have said that even your Tito Noy can never solve it. Look at Russia during the 1940s. It rose to a superpower through a very strong dictatorship(from a pile of monkey crap to a very strong power from just 1920s to 1930s alone), not like America which rise to power took about almost two centuries(from 1776 to about the period of the 1930s or 1940s). So what this country needs is someone stronger than Stalin, Hitler, and a lot than Marcos. Someone who is stronger than them can solve the economic problems of this country, not through elections(which always gets cheated everytime) but by force. Do not believe in democracy, Vincenzo. Yellow democracy is complete crap. Stalinism(not Maoism) is the real hope, for Stalinism can force anyone to work. Away with humanity and forgiveness, and embrace the force. And Stalin is not corrupt. He is a dictator, but he is not corrupt.

    [Reply]

    AlvinEternal

    DaidoKatsumi Reply:

    I think I should disagree but China is better than Russia if we compare it. China progressed under Deng Xiaoping and they learned a lot from Singapore.

    Actually, I want the Philippines to be just like Singapore and Malaysia.

    [Reply]

    RETURNOFTHECOMEBACK Reply:

    JESUS CHRIST, ARE YOU ACTUALLY DEFENDING STALIN?! NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD DO SO TODAY. IN MANY WAYS, HE’S AN EVEN WORSE BASTARD THAN HITLER EVER WAS. MY GOD, WE HAVE A CERTIFIABLE MADMAN RIGHT HERE.

    [Reply]

    balutpenoy Reply:

    While I agree that Tito Noy will not make an impression on the prosperity of the nation, I would have to disagree on your conclusion regarding economic development.
    In the field of development economics of the old, democracy is one of the requirements for economic development. However, recent developments on the field changed that view. Nowadays, the consensus is that economic development of a country requires: respect for property rights – through the rule of law, of course; regulations that facilitate competition; and a strong social structure – proper rewards and punishments through cultural norms and mores. Democracy is only an afterthought once prosperity is achieved – as in the case of the “second wave of democratization” countries, namely: SoKor, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore (note the dates where these countries achieved democracy: SoKor 1993 through Kim Young Sam; Taiwan in 1988 through Lee Teng Hui; Malaysia when Mahathir stepped down in 2003; and Singapore when LKY stepped down in 1990).
    You note that Soviet Union under Stalin progressed to become a superpower. While that is true militarily, in economic terms it is not. Soviet Union during those times exports energy and mineral resources to the west just to be self-sufficient in food. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_trade_of_the_Soviet_Union). Additionally, Soviet “aid” comes in the form of military hardware and advice. That is why we can say that during those times the Soviet Union is a tiger on the outside but a sheep on the inside. The economic malaise became apparent in the 1980s as fuel prices plummet and grain harvests were bad. Gorbachev tried to address this by slowly introducing market reforms; but to no avail. It was too late to save the system.
    So, here you go: you might have concluded that the prosperity of South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Singapore is the same as with the Soviet Union in the 60s-80s, but it isn’t. They are of entirely different matter. Soviet Union was as strong, maybe much stronger than the US militarily; but US outlasted the Soviet Union economically; and that is what mattered in the end. Socialism’s purpose is to enforce equality among its subjects but its subjects end up as serfs and quasi-slaves in the end.
    I’m not into the dictator thingy, but if that is what it takes to bring a country to prosperity – I will consider it a nice idea. It might be that the the social structure of South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore were not that conducive to free market hence the advent of dictators. But that is another story. Besides, once there is prosperity, the people will clamor for democracy.
    Btw: you guys might want to read The Road to Serfdom by F.A Hayek. It’s a nice read – the book made me climb to the other side of the fence :D

    [Reply]

    TaengGorbachev Reply:

    @DaidoKatsumiChina is better than Russia now, but I think Russia was better than China before(remember Mao). True, but in my eyes, in how I understood how I read it before, it was total control and total espionage from the government when it comes to labor and production that caused Russia’s rise during that time. If people don’t work well as seen by the government, those people need to be killed as warning to those who plan to sabotage labor through laziness. Very effective actually during those Five-Year Plans during that time.

    @RETURNOFTHECOMEBACKStalin is indeed a worse bastard than Hitler(in terms of being a dictator), but look at Russia during those times. it was thriving when the rest of the world(which was democratic) was closing shop(remember Great Depression). And remember what the rest of the people in this site quote from Lee Kuan Yew, Discipline is needed, not democracy. So, someone like Stalin is needed to instill such discipline. Don’t be bothered much about the death record of the two; Hitler managed to decrease unemployment by forcing them to work, and labor is important, to create something meaningful. But if you will remain bothered, take the Malthusian idea instead and realize that death/population decrease is important for the nation. As Ted Turner once said, “More people use more stuff, and less people use less stuff”. Very useful idea if we want to save stuff.

    @balutpenoyYou said if there’s prosperity, people will clamor for democracy, then why did the Soviets ask for such when their economy was in downfall during that time? I read somewhere that during those times when people began democratic revolutions, that was when their economies were low(like Poland, for example, and even pre-Soviet Russia, mostly from Eastern Europe), well that’s how I understood it.About what you said also about the eventual effect of socialism(“Socialism’s purpose is to enforce equality among its subjects but its subjects end up as serfs and quasi-slaves in the end.”), well, I think it became true only because well, I have to take the idea of the philosopher Xun Zi that man is evil because of the presence of desires/self-interests, plus the idea of realism and neo-realism in foreign relations being practiced in human relations, and I ended up with this idea that man is only rational when fueled by egoism(even egotism) that he is able to attack his fellow man, who is also like him, rational when fueled by egoism/egotism. Thus the “conflict of interest” as expressed in realism/neo-realism. Perhaps this is where socialism failed, for man doesn’t want to be equal, but wants to overpower anyone, thus the lack of equality, I suppose.
    And your maybe agreeing for the idea of a dictator, well, I believe in the saying, “End justifies the means”, but one has to make the end so fool-proof that perhaps one can never criticize the means(like, for example my end is to pass, but I want to pass cleanly, so my means are everything but cheating. I don’t know if it’s a right example, but I hope it works). If the leader has to become a dictator, so be it. Results matter.

    [Reply]

    balutpenoy Reply:

    I see where you’re coming from; you certainly got some points there. But I guess you must beyond the “side” which you are in now – meaning you must verse yourself with the ideological foundations of both sides of the coin (in this case, materials from both Left and Right, as well as centrist ideas).

    Once I was on the socialism thingy, I thought, well, there is no human nature, only “Class” nature. Your nature depends on the Class you’re in (if your proletariat, chances are you are “industrious” but oppressed, etc etc). Now this is where the problem lies. If the theory does not take into account the nature of the basic building block of society (which is the individual), then how much more can you account for the larger pieces of it (class, family, society, nation-state). This is where Marxism or any other socialist-based ideology fails: they failed to take into account the human nature into their theories. An exception would be Plato, in his The Republic, but his description of human nature is also class-centric and to some extent, an idealism.

    The most plausible theory of human nature is explained by psychology: that humans are motivated by the expectation of rewards and at the same time avert of punishment or failure. Expectation for rewards is the engine of human ingenuity and will. Countless inventions and innovations are the product of independent minds seeking either fame or fortune (material and non-material rewards). To call this “self-interest” evil and greedy is to invoke hypocrisy.

    In the Soviet Union, even during Stalin’s time, there was no incentive for growth of the individual. If you strive to be the best you can be, or be “bibo” of sorts, chances are you’ll be spending the rest of your life in a god-forsaken Gulag Archipelago. This is what happened to army generals (Tukachevsky is a prime example) and moderates (Zinoviev, etc). Plus, the forced collectivization of farms that produced the famine of 1932-33 and 1947 (all under Stalin’s time) can be attributed to the suppression of innovation and entrepreneurship in the farming sector. After these famines, the Soviets under Kruschev allowed the farmers to establish private gardens. In time, these private gardens became a major source of non-grain farm produce in the Soviet Union (I’ll try to post the sources, but pardon me as I read those some time ago so I can’t quite remember where to find them). As we can see through the years, the Soviet leaders realized the value of individuality and entrepreneurial spirit that they relaxed their grips gradually, culminating in the market reforms of Gorbachev.

    Regarding the clamoring for democracy during the downfall. The Soviet Union’s economy was already in a dire situation when Gorbachev became the premier in 86. Even if he were superman, he would not have saved the Union of its problems. Seeing no other alternative, and having caught a glimpse of capitalism through the glasnost and perestroika, the Soviets naturally chose the democratic path.

    @additional comment from your comments to the other posters: Stalin did not impose discipline, mind you, but Terror! So much so that even capable men are sentenced to death. You should read some World War II tactical analysis to see that the Soviets were almost defeated because capable officers were wiped out during the Purges. And no, no lazy people were sent to the gulag, only activists, progressives, moderates, and CAPABLE men capable of challenging the authority of Stalin. Those kind of people are not lazy IMO :) . (e.g Field Marshal Zhukov was posted in Siberia after the war because he was so popular as a war hero).

    AND PS: Please read other ideas as well (read: non-leftist, free market, even centrist) before throwing the towel into an ideology. You will be enlightened :D

    [Reply]

    TaengGorbachev Reply:

    @balutpenoy
    Actually, I depend on this site for ideas and sometimes, I cite this site for my papers. I just tend to over-analyze stuff that I read and by such, I tend to get a somewhat different big picture compared to the rest.
    Well, just like what was written in my last comment, “The end justifies the means”. If there is a need to impose discipline through terror, then so be it. But the end should be detailed to make the means foolproof, like I want to impose terror that makes discipline, for example. Therefore, the terror that I will impose is justifiable upon the actions of the people if they become disciplined or not. If discipline is present, then the terror is justified. Based on how I understood some readings, Lee Kuan Yew also tried to rip off some of Stalin’s tactics, but to a low extent. Not the Brezhnev style, which is an obvious fail, but the distinct Lee Kuan Yew style that works.
    In my eyes, then perhaps the dictator should go against the dumb ones then. I mean, imagine if Gordon becomes a dictator. Perhaps he can rule without the people pissing him off.

    About taking into account the individual nature of man in contrast to the class nature, then all the more that humanity should be equal(but then again, the end product will remain inequality). Man is rational when fueled by egoism and egotism. That is, when realism and neo-realism, two thoughts on foreign relations and foreign policy, become applied to human relations. As a result, it can be viewed as somewhat commensalist, mutualist or anything but the hidden motive is either parasitic or competition-like or even the mix of both. Man is in search of power, but if he can’t search for power, he searches security. Just like states search for either power or security, depending on the situation. So, that’s how I understood it. Those who searched power(in this context, wealth, influence) ruled over those who searched for security(protection, aid, etc). Because security-seekers can’t seek power, they will prefer to be under the powerful, just to feel secure. I don’t know if you can agree on this, but these are my thoughts as to your explanation on the individual nature of man.

    balutpenoy Reply:

    To each his own i guess. The foundation of the framework that I am subscribing is the one i posted previously. Now, we may be tempted to ask: if self-interest is the crux of human existence, is it possible that there are no limitations to this insatiable desire? In theory yes, but let us remember that there exists three powerful checks to this unbridled self-interest: namely Laws, Norms, and Mores. These provide limits by which an individual ought to act in the society. Variations exists depending on the culture, but the concept is more or less the same. It is the degree of laxness or strictness, the perversion or progression of these checks that determines the success of the society. I think that framework has a lot to say about this site: that Filipinos should realize that their society has a perverted concept of these checks and that it should be amended – otherwise we’ll continue to rot while our neighbors bask in their new-found prosperity.

  • G. T. wrote on 27 October, 2011, 6:00

    I will say one thing: Lara’s comment was harsh.

    Make of that what you will, fellow followers of AP. I won’t say if she was right, or wrong, because this is highly subjective. Regardless, we shouldn’t flame her like we’ve flamed other critics in the past. Is there any reason we should further prove that we are unworthy of wearing her work?

    Imagine, if you will, that she apologized and gave some of us free jewelry to enhance the statement. Would it not lower its value? Not only because she just gave them away, but because we got them by whining. It’s not exactly a fair association, but then her products will be branded with titles like “for dirty impoverished whiners”. It’s not something you would want for your stuff, and it applies to her as well.

    Wouldn’t it be better if we instead worked harder on improving our country and established ourselves as a stable nation and, equally importantly, a race with INTEGRITY? We can’t give her more ammo to fire at us. If the fliptards think that their ‘fighting back” is helping any, then they’re evidently not thinking outside the box. There’s more than one way to fight a stereotype, you know.

    [Reply]

    Fanny Serrano Reply:

    It may be harsh but it is the truth. The world of fashion is harsh and cold. If Pinoys are ugly and un-classy, that’s what they will say they are. If you want to change perceptions, change reality. If Pinoys want to be known as classy and engineers and scientists, then enrich yourselves by improving yourselves.

    [Reply]

    Auriga

    Auriga Reply:

    Kudos to you for your comment. :D

    [Reply]

    Dark Passenger Reply:

    “Wouldn’t it be better if we instead worked harder on improving our country and established ourselves as a stable nation and, equally importantly, a race with INTEGRITY? We can’t give her more ammo to fire at us. If the fliptards think that their ‘fighting back” is helping any, then they’re evidently not thinking outside the box. There’s more than one way to fight a stereotype, you know.”

    Well said, G.T.

    [Reply]

  • nona wrote on 27 October, 2011, 6:59

    a lot of sensitivity and over-reaction.

    an old joke. you have to be able to laugh at yourselves sometimes

    What’s a European’s idea of heaven?
    It’s where the English are the police,
    the French are the cooks, the Swiss are
    the bankers, the Italians are the lovers,
    and the Germans are the engineers.

    What’s a European’s idea of hell?
    It’s where the English are the cooks,
    the French are the engineers, the Swiss
    are the lovers, the Italians are the
    bankers, and the Germans are the
    police.

    maybe someone could come up with an asean version.

    not you vincenzo. aquino doesnt feature in anyones version of heaven.
    go instead and play with your blow up doll of p-noy

    [Reply]

    Lightzout Reply:

    What’s a Filipino idea of heaven?

    Lahat libre!

    [Reply]

    Lightzout Reply:

    What’s a Filipino idea of hell?

    -Hard work
    -Intellectual thinking
    -Logical Reasoning

    [Reply]

    palebluedot_ Reply:

    100% correct lightzout…

    [Reply]

    BongV

    BongV Reply:

    Pinoy version:

    where the police are from manila
    the Kampangans are the cooks
    the Tsinoys are the bankers
    the bisdaks are the lovers
    and the cebuanos are the engineers
    and everything is FREE!

    ASEAN version:

    where the police are from Philippines
    the Cantonese are the cooks
    the Hong Kong folks are the bankers
    the Thais are the lovers
    and the Chinese and Indians are the engineers

    [Reply]

    RETURNOFTHECOMEBACK Reply:

    Heh, is it because Manila/Philippine cops are so competent that they can do anything or is it because they are so corrupt that as long as you pay them, they’ll let you go?

    [Reply]

  • Ozneh wrote on 27 October, 2011, 10:27

    Why is the Nationality of her maid of any relevance? Oo nga, ano nga kinalaman niyan? Why should she state the obvious? To create a racial slur? Even a fact when it can be potentially perceived as a derogatory remark by an individual, group of people, or a race shouldn’t be mentioned. Also, we export more professionals than domestic helpers. Filipinos in America are mostly middle class and wealthier than other races who migrated there (even with the whites). During the recession, some Filipinos were targeted in Europe by racist people because they ended up having better lives than them considering the fact that that is their country.

    [Reply]

    BongV

    BongV Reply:

    alangang namang sabihin nyang chinese maid if the maid was Filipina.

    [Reply]

    Ozneh Reply:

    Pwede naman sabihing maid lang.. Hindi na i mention yung nationality.

    [Reply]

    BongV

    BongV Reply:

    a ba’t ayaw mong ibanggit ang nationality ng maid? is that wrong? if you can mention the nationality of a boxer – why not the nationality of a maid?

    Ozneh Reply:

    Kasi nobody dreams of becoming a maid. Pero kung ibang professions yan oo.. Tsaka isa pa, kung documentary yan okay lang.. Sa documentary nga ng BBC tungkol saten.. di ako naoffend although nakakahiya yung sitwasyon na pinapakita nila..

    Ihavenoidea Reply:

    @Ozneh:Kasi nobody dreams of becoming a maid

    nobody dreams of being a maid nga, yet why do pinays, (most pa nga TNT eh) strive hard to go abroad para lang maging isang alipin ng mga foreigners? na minsan minamaltrato pa nga eh.

    Ozneh Reply:

    Because they pay more abroad. They have no choice kung gusto nila kumita ng malaki. Pero di nila pinangarap maging maid.

    palebluedot_ Reply:

    “Because they pay more abroad. They have no choice kung gusto nila kumita ng malaki. Pero di nila pinangarap maging maid.”

    insane Ozneh, if di nila pinangarap maging maid, then why did they opt to become maid? is it because of the money??? then they are paying the price to be called FILIPINA MAID. because logically, if you do not want to be described as FILIPINA MAID, no matter how much the price is, you will never choose that type of work. malaki naman bayad sa kanila, (according to your statement), tama lang na meron FILIPINA before the MAID. these people paid them well so that they can use those two words —> FILIPINA MAID.

    Auriga

    Auriga Reply:

    “because logically, if you do not want to be described as FILIPINA MAID, no matter how much the price is, you will never choose that type of work.”

    QFT.

    Ozneh Reply:

    “because logically, if you do not want to be described as FILIPINA MAID, no matter how much the price is, you will never choose that type of work.”

    Money is blinding. Money is always a factor to consider unless the job you are taking into consideration is againtst laws, morals, customs, public order and public policy (assuming you are a principled person). Contestants in Fear Factor eat bugs, worms, and other stuff because of money. Filipina’s don’t want to become a maid but they want money. So they have to choose. And because of the situation they are in, they have no choice but to be a maid. Extreme example, who would want to become a prostitute? Of course no normal person would want that but we have them because of money again.

    Also, the issue is why is there a need for race tagging when she can make herself understandable without saying the nationality of the maid. It is a fact that we are worldwide producers of maids but as I have said earlier even stating a fact has its implications. If you are a father/mother and you have a child who have scabies, can I say this: The mother, together with his child which is full of scabies is going to church. If it is irrelevant it shouldn’t be mentioned. It depends on the situation.

    Dark Passenger Reply:

    “we export more professionals than domestic helpers”

    It doesn’t matter how wealthy some Filipinos abroad are. The general perception is, we are a nation of servants. That is our reputation. Take Japan, for instance. I’m fairly sure there is such a thing as an undisciplined Japanese. Not all Japanese people are disciplined. But they are known as a nation of disciplined people. That is their reputation and how the world sees them. It’s all about branding, and right now, the Filipino brand is stained with cheapness.

    As G.T. mentioned above, rather than blow our tops at the issue, why don’t we try to improve our reputation instead? If we fix that, then we won’t have to worry about foreigners looking down on us in the first place.

    [Reply]

    Ozneh Reply:

    The fact that we produce more maids than other countries or maybe even the rest of the world is not an issue. The issue is the need to mention the nationality of the maid (which is also a fact).

    If we fix that, then we won’t have to worry about foreigners looking down on us in the first place.

    -Foreigners looking down on us publicly is what’s causing the outrage. If they are looking down on us, at least they have to be discreet. If they really look down on us, we can’t blame them but not to the point that they have to tell us that which I think is an insult to us.

    [Reply]

    Dark Passenger Reply:

    After WWII Japan and South Korea were where we are now — backward. A ‘Made in Japan’ tag was cheaper than the cloth it was sewn on. Westerners belittled them. But did they whine and demand diplomatic apologies each time foreigners hurt their feelings? No. They got their act together and look where they are now. Foreigners wouldn’t dream of looking down on them now, publicly or otherwise. And if they do, still it’s with begrudging respect. Why? Because these countries have earned it.

    BongV made a very good point when he said our slavery is self-imposed. We can change this if we really wanted to, but Filipinos seem more than happy to be maids and slaves of the world. But then we get all onion-skinned the moment a foreigner points this out. It’s like we go around with a “kick me” sign taped to our backsides (which we ourselves taped there), and when people do kick us, we get mad. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

    Ozneh Reply:

    I know about our situation and its not an excuse for foreigners to insult us by stating the obvious. There are proper ways to tell us that even if we already know that.

    [Reply]

    Dark Passenger Reply:

    Our sorry situation is our own fault. We shouldn’t complain. It’s as simple as that.

    jrock* Reply:

    that’s the problem, you’re insulted because the foreigners stated the obvious. even if you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a f*cking pig. stop playing the victim card already.

    Dark Passenger Reply:

    @jrock: I agree. It’s one thing to feel insulted and demand an apology. It’s quite another to do so over and over again. This isn’t exactly the first time something like this has happened. If we don’t change, then we’re practically asking for it. That’s what some people fail to realize. The bigger problem is, there is clearly something wrong with us, yet we do nothing to address it. We’d rather just cry and complain at every perceived insult, demand an apology, and when it is given, we all go back to the way things were–until such time another foreigner ‘insults’ us again. Don’t expect this vicious cycle to end anytime soon.

    Ozneh Reply:

    We must work on how to improve ourselves. At the same time, we must not let others step on us. Whether it is a fact or not, an insult is still an insult. Being silent while having the idea of improving yourselfs is not a good idea. It demoralizes a person and in order for us to continue our plan for ourselves we must have a fighting spirit. If it will take a couple of years for us to see improvement in our country, it means during the transition process we should just eat all the things that they have to say.

    BongV

    BongV Reply:

    if your work involves being stepped upon – like wiping ass…
    you either get out of the job –
    OR
    face the truth –
    your job is one where you are paid to be stepped upon.
    and that’s your only qualification – to be stepped on.

    Dark Passenger Reply:

    I can’t say it enough: If we don’t change, then we deserve to be insulted.

    How many times has an issue like this cropped up in the past? How many times have we protested and demanded apologies from foreigners? Christ, this must be the longest transition process ever. Maybe if Pinoys had started improving back when the first ‘insult’ ever came out, we wouldn’t be worrying about similar issues now.

    I agree, we must improve. The question is, DO PINOYS WANT TO IMPROVE? Because by the looks of it, they seem quite content being slaves and then raising a ruckus when a foreigner calls them ‘slaves’. And when the foreigner apologizes, da Pinoy happily goes back to being a slave — until another foreigner insults us again. And round and round it goes. I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of this pathetic cycle.

    So how do we put a stop to this pathetic cycle? Do we file diplomatic protests and petitions, which are only temporary band-aids, or do we get to the root of the problem and fix it there?

    And no, I don’t care about da Pinoy’s onion-skinned sensibilities. Being onion-skinned and refusing to change are a bad combination. Choose: If you refuse to change, then grow a thick hide and brace yourselves for more insults in the future. Or you can improve yourselves so you don’t have to worry about foreigners hurting your sensitive feelings. Which will it be then?

    If you don’t want to be insulted, then don’t give anybody a reason to insult you.


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