We need ROLE MODELS!

(excerpt from my journal entry dated March 20, 2012)

. . . And then I remembered the issue with the Azkals, the Philippine football team. Right now, they have a sexual harassment case (there are two, actually), and in his commentary, Arnold Clavio, a broadcast journalist, pointed out how abusive the Azkals were of their fame. Arnold even went on to say (or so I think) that they’re not really Filipinos but just pretending to be Filipinos. Of course, the Philippine Football Association found this to be a racist remark.

I saw the Arnold Clavio video on Youtube. In the comments section, I remember one viewer commenting that the the Azkals members (most of whom are half-Filipino half-foreigners) did not have to represent the Philippines yet are doing so out of their own efforts and finances (so they say) and for that we should be thankful to them at least, and that if there be a case against them, just let the courts decide on the matter, etc.

Now, I do not have to agree or disagree on anything about the issue (as if I have a say on this and what I have to say would matter). I just remember Michio Kaku’s video about what keeps America afloat despite the rise in the “stupid” index of its populace.  Kaku says it’s due to the US government’s H-1B Genius visa, which basically employs highly skilled immigrants in various industries and provides them the option to become US citizens once their tenure is over. Of course, along with that are the many opportunities and privileges, which most Americans tend to be complacent about.

While Americans take their opportunities and privileges for granted, highly skilled immigrants tend to take advantage of those. And when they excel, they are urged to stay and are given even more privileges. Canada does that, too, and among such privileges is free education (with allowance) from grade school to high school for children (although I think Canada does that to keep their people from leaving and living somewhere else).

I’m wondering, why can’t we do the same thing here? For the right people, I mean. Which is not to say that the Azkals are not the right people. What I’m saying is why not invite over, say, a hard-nut tree-hugger and make him/her head of (or at least consultant to) the DENR?

Not that our local tree-huggers do not have the qualification. It’s just that, more than the technical know-how, we need people who are almost “maniacal” for the task. Maniacal so as to be above the politics. Maniacal so as to be above the corruption and the culture of padrino and mañana. In short, WE NEED ROLE MODELS(!!!!!!) because the role models we have currently are too close to be familiar (and familiarity breeds understanding—and “understanding” in this country is often abused).

[Note: I think “technocracy” is the term for this, but you can form your own conclusions. Follow this link, if you like: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/11/2011111675931523936.html]

We can do the same in other departments, say, crime scene investigation or garbage management. I mean, our 5-star hotels hire foreign chefs for their kitchens, and private companies do that for their operations, why can’t our government do the same?

Of course, this will be met with opposition from so-called “nationalists” who will allude to Filipino pride being stepped on. But when you think closely on it, you realize there’s just no way that national pride be involved in this. National pride is not equivocal to a Filipino’s individual pride. In the end, it’s just all in a day’s work.

Ang hirap kasi sa karamihan ng mga Pinoy porke matagal na daw sila sa trabaho, dapat mataas na daw ang sweldo at posisyon nila sa isang kumpanya. They resent those who, although new to the company, are promoted because they show a lot of promise and excel. ‘Yan din ang problema sa mga rights at sa pag-a-uphold sa mga rights.

Not all men are created equal. In God’s eyes siguro, oo. Pero kasi sa mundong ginagalawan natin, may mga exemptions. ‘Yung mga disabled (or differently abled) halimbawa, our society has more lenience toward them. Equality ba yun? The truth that we’re not all equal means that our rights and privileges should not be equally extended and applied. These rights come with responsibilities and so I think only those who are “responsible”—or who can live up to the responsibility—should enjoy them more.