Marlon’s World

As some of you know, I have always wanted to work in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines, thinking that perhaps my language skills (and of late, my interest in migrant workers welfare — I’m doing my Master’s thesis here in Spain on this topic) would prove to be valuable in this like of work. Recent developments in our foreign policy, however, have convinced me now more than ever that, as a former professor put it, our government is but an appendage of the White House.

The victory achieved by rights groups to have US soldier Daniel Smith convicted for raping a Filipina teenager in Subic was diminished by the very sly and underhanded move of the Arroyo Administration to transfer the convict from his jail to the custody of the US Embassy (Read story here). To add insult to injury, the embassy spokesman proffered that the said transfer was consistent with the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and USA.

Words fail me to express how I am so disgusted with the way things turned out. From where I am standing, it seems that the foreign policy of my government is just to sell human resources abroad and cover up for the mistakes committed by foreigners in my own country. And worse, both Philippine and US governments seem to think that they could fool everybody.

(In)Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez (yeah, him again!) has been very vocal about his support for this convicted rapist and has made insinuations before that Smith could be transfer to US custody anytime soon. The suspected rapist friends of Smith had been previously transferred to US installations in Japan posthaste after the court did not find sufficient evidence to convict them.

Add these incidents to the fact that the US, despite all the wars it has waged, places itself above the international courts created to try war crimes. I wouldn’t even venture into the larger questions in justifying this unjust war (i.e., where are the WMDs? where’s Osama? how much oil have you gotten?) 

This is the greatest tragedy of our time. Circumstances push us to surrender ourselves to slavery in foreign lands while our very own government forces us to give up our honor and pride in our country. The one thing that is worse than being raped is when those who are supposed to protect you, are clapping as they watch the brutality of the act.          

Mau Marcelo was named the first Philippine Idol last week. This was a very welcome news especially now that Philippine television is haunted by people with looks but without talent.

That Marcelo, a black and plump gal with very good voice, won the title serves to prove that Filipino viewers have grown tired of an industry that has grown to be so image-based over the years.

Nevertheless, one very important lesson that Mau Marcelo’s victory showed and that most accounts in the blogosphere seem to gloss over was the fact that we, the people, have the right to be heard. We have the power to choose and obtain what we ought to have.

Every time our basic rights are violated, every time those in the echelons of power try to decide for us what’s good and what’s not, every time any form of injustice cripples a system, WE MUST ACT COLLECTIVE TO PROTECT WHAT IS LAWFULLY OURS.

And I am so not talking just about Philippine Idol this time…