Marlon’s World

I’m typing this blog entry in SM Marilao, since for some weird reason, my computer doesn’t post Friendster blogs.

To go to SM, I had to pass a rally on Meycauayan Highway. Before this, I never knew that people from my town could indeed say words such as "rehimen," "pasista," etc., etc. The reason? The proposed North Railway project would entail knocking down illegal housing (read: squatters) in the town and transfer the said people to a reclaimed area in Bayugo. Demolitions have begun but the transfer site is not ready yet.

This is checkmate, in my opinion. In the first place, we live in a country where the squatters are guaranteed protection by the law (the Lina Law, that is). Sa’n ka ba naman nakakita na ikaw na nga ang ilegal, ikaw pa rin ang may mapapakinabang? Many lands are not tilled in the provinces but still many people prefer the sights and sounds along the riles. Somehow, I have this bothersome feeling that majority of Filipinos depend entirely on the government to put food on their table.

Besides, isn’t it one of the major "platforms" of Doña Gloria to improve traffic in Luzon? Why did you vote for her, people, if you don’t believe in the project?

Then again, the vicious circle haunts us: Did Gloria really win? And why are these people poor, in the first place? Why did Government value armed combat more than its people, that instead of providing state education, it supported the farce that is the war (in Mindanao and in Iraq)?

And it seems rather inconsistent for Government to strive to make ends meet — to relocate entire barangays every so often — if it still does not have a solid plan on population. Haaay…

The question, therefore: who budges in first? At the state of the country now, who must first give in? Should Government stretch its Machiavellian arms? Or, should people trust the vision of Government?

Monday morning saw the people of Meycauayan jolted up. The sad news is, why only now?         

I have no Internet credits left but after I’ve seen Star Wars 3, I just can’t help but post this.

Call it overreading, but I think George Lucas had made a rather good statement on world politics when the last installment of the Star Wars talked about how ambition and lust for power make men fall, and how unjust wars bring out the worst and the futile in all of us.

The line I really liked was Padme Amidala’s when she asked Anakin Skywalker if they’re indeed fighting on the right side of the force. For Anakin, the Republic was everything but Amidala questioned the legitimacy of an institution that was slowly adapting the very principles that the Republic ought to vanquish.

Cheesy scenes and drab commercialism notwithstanding, the film was a fitting close to a saga that began decades ago. I hope that Star Wars fans like me would see more than the cinematic effects and the "a-ha" moments when the Darth Vader puzzle is finally completed.

In my opinion, Star Wars 3 has become an eternal testament how foolish policies and public deception drown out the principles of democracy. Then again, I might just be overreading it…