Five on Friday: Thoughts on Philippine Democracy

Today’s date marks the death of Ninoy back in 1983, an event which has led to the world–changing 1986 EDSA Revolution. If not for that period in Philippine history, the reign of Marcos’ dictatorship might have never stopped, and just maybe we can never just put out thoughts to share with everyone. Blogging (and freedom of speech) may have never been born in the Philippines.

I think I’ll just share five thoughts on the democracy that we have now.

  1. The Philippines is a democracy. It is not perfect, but in its twisted form, it is still a traditional democracy. Unfortunately, our form of government, or more precisely, our way of running our government, has always been wrong. Politicians have never grown out of their dark pits, and sadly the young ones are encouraged (and they oblige) to dig their own too. It’s a dark world they have out there, and I don’t think I can clearly point to one who has swam out of their self–made Hades that is Philippine politics.
  2. Though we hear about suppression of information and limitations to freedom of speech, most of us Filipinos get to say what we think. Some though die for it. It is a sad fact that our society has developed a webbed network that lets information move freely, generally, yet we have all grown the seeds of apathy within us. Our voices scream revolution but our actions spell lethargy.
  3. Democracy is the rule of the people. Ideally, democracy calls for unity after a plebiscite or an election; we respect, uphold, and defend the popular choice, even if it’s not one’s own belief. You may still have your opinions, but you have to use it to better what has been the consensus. It does not happen in the Philippines. We instead choose to put down each other into chaos.
  4. The disparate distribution of wealth and education in the Philippines has produced a less than ideal democracy. Because the rich and the poor have different concerns, they tend to patronize different values and personalities. This has led the poor to elect a president in ERAP, for he championed the cause of the masses. In some way, it has also elected GMA in 2004. If she really did win, perhaps it was an act of the middle class and the filthy rich trying to “choose the lesser evil” and saving us from FPJ, which would’ve been ERAP part two. The truth hurts, and it’s painful to know that our democracy has fueled a clash of Filipino classes.
  5. We have in our sleep sown a democracy ruled by rulers, not by the people. We have grown leaders that have no sense of accountability to every Filipino. We have failed to punish the wrongdoers and have made pedestals for our leaders. We put them up when they should be raising every Filipino above the drowning waters of mediocrity. Instead, we have politicians grouping among themselves according to their own self–serving interests. Their loyalty is to their cabal, not to the Filipino people.

One day, the Philippines will again be ruled by the Filipino. I could again use “we” to collectively point to all of us, but such a word has been corrupted so much that everyone thinks it is their brothers’ and peers’ duty to fend for their person. It’s time to use “I,” to do it in your own way, here, and now.

(Okay this post missed Friday by a few seconds. Bummer.)

Sugarfree: Mornings and Airports

Mornings and Airports’ front cover.

The first time we heard about Sugarfree’s latest album, Hana and I eagerly waited for news on its final release. The moment we heard that it’s supposed to be on its way to the record stores, I sent an SMS to the band’s number just to ask which shops already have their stocks. Unfortunately, their manager told me it might take a few more days since the CDs just arrived that afternoon; she added though they’d have copies of it available in their gig later that night. I was told they were playing at 70’s Bistro, though it was on such short notice since someone else was supposed to play on that date.

So off we went to 70’s Bistro, hoping to get a copy of Mornings and Airports. There weren’t much people as the gig was largely unannounced. Our hopes were surely not dashed as we had one of only six copies they managed to sell that night. And to make it even sweeter, we got all of Sugarfree to sign it!

Our signed passport-inspired CD insert.

Mornings and Airports’ album insert certainly is one of a kind. Designed to look and feel like a well–used passport, the pages appear filled with stamps and stickers documenting the album’s songs and the band’s history. Also included is a nice sticker I wouldn’t dare waste on just anything yet. Inksurge’s design work on the previous album Tala–Arawan was excellent though I think they did even better with Mornings and Airports.

The album CD designed with airline boarding pass images.

I was initially under the impression that tracks from Mornings and Airports were not as catchy as those in Tala–Arawan. “Hay Buhay” though is a different thing: it tells a story of life rarely put beautifully in a catchy song. It is so easy on the ears that you’re singing to it even on just the first time you hear it.

A few loops and shuffles and a few days later, I finally got to hear and “see” the songs in a more than casual manner. For starters, this album has more English tracks than you’d expect in a Sugarfree album. This is the most likely cause for my initial impression regarding the songs’ “catchiness.” Just as Ebe told us as we spoke to him after the gig, the songs have gone through a lengthier production process that put a different flavor to them. I must agree, they don’t sound as raw as their earlier hits, they seem more “mature” in technical terms, yet the most important ingredient is more evident than ever: strong songwriting that always seem to speak directly from the heart.

A page from the album insert.

Surprisingly, four of the 14 tracks were not written by Ebe; Jal and Kaka have contributed two each. Kaka has “Get Over It” and “Where Do We Go?,” both of which are good English tracks. His songs put a nice twist to their sound and considering these are his first contributions, I think he deserves to write more for their next albums. Jal’s “Patawad” and “Form Factor” almost immediately scream of lost love. Whatever his reasons may be for writing those two songs, they’re right up there with Ebe’s best on this record.

The album’s back cover.

It would actually be easier if I name songs Ebe wrote that I don’t listen to as much, but that would be cheating. “Feels Like” is an English rock love song, the type you’d love to sing shouting your heart out live at the arena. Though I have this personal bias not to like it, it has kept growing on me. “It feels like love tonight!”

“Wala,” “Hang Over,” and “Wala Nang Hihilingin” are the tunes that will haunt you. They’ve got the chorus–you–can’t–forget trademark of Ebe’s hits paired with vocal melodies that flow smooth like silk. If I had to pick a favorite song though, it would be “Heto Na Naman Tayo.” The song’s theme is typical Sugarfree—heartbreak. The music’s just as typical, launching Ebe into his iconic melodious wail. But it’s how typical Sugarfree’s music is that has kept us singing their anthems—it’s just like speaking from your own heart.