Some quick thoughts on SONA 2011

I didn’t vote for Aquino in 2010 but I don’t want to be the person who tells everyone, “I told you so.” Over the past year, Aquino has come across to me as an incredibly weak leader and nothing in this year’s SONA has changed that. But what it has done — and this could be a good thing — is that it has help me set more realistic expectations of him. No, he won’t be that inspiring leader we need. No, he’s not even a leader to begin with. But perhaps, if we get out of his way for a bit he’ll get things done. He’s folksy enough. He pays enough attention to detail. He may not be the perfect president, but he can be a really good mayor.

He lacks vision, to put it frankly. And while he’s now bannering himself as the anti-corruption crusader, I just don’t buy it. I believe solving corruption is integral. A lot of money is wasted, sure, and a ton of good can be done if it went to where it’s supposed to go. I’m just not sure that he’s the man to do it. Maybe he can do it for a municipality or a small city — but a whole country?

That requires a lot of will, courage, and the political gut to stand by what you believe in. Thus far, all I’ve seen him do is shrink away. Case in point, the RH Bill debate. When things got so sour late last year and early this year, that was a chance for him to show leadership. He could’ve stepped in, mediated, and put the country on a path forward. Instead, he blinked. The RH Bill stalled. Now both sides of the debate are seen to be uncompromising, bigoted, and completely irreconcilable. Both sides are shamed. Instead of being the leader of one country, Aquino now looks like the leader of two.

I’m also in disbelief after the former Ombudsman resigned. She was made to appear like such the bad guy then. The administration seemed so hell bent on proving that she’s corrupt, but now that she’s resigned — what happened? Has the case been magically dropped? Will they be pursuing criminal charges? Because what it appears to me is that they’re using this anti-corruption drive to simply weed out people who aren’t so friendly to them and once they’re out, that’s it. End of story. But it shouldn’t.

I also don’t appreciate all the pot shots against the previous administration. Sure, GMA isn’t the most well-loved. But what is he doing about all her alleged crimes besides injecting them into speeches for quick thrills? I find it as pandering really, and that’s the lowest form of political communication. Giving people what they want to hear is one thing, following through on them is another. I see Aquino in a game of poker with the Arroyos — but does he have a winning hand or is he simply bluffing?

That leads me to what I would’ve wanted to hear.

Well, I know the logistics of the SONA. The President only has so much time to brief us on the State of our Nation; a detailed run through of every single initiative may as well convene the entire nation in a week-long conference.

For one, I would’ve wanted to hear finality on the RH Bill. Discuss that in the context of a wider commitment towards improving our people’s health and well-being. Second, I want something more concrete on jobs. I would’ve wanted government to acknowledge how global events shape our policies towards OFWs and hence argue for better quality jobs here at home. Obviously, I want something concrete on education. Nothing on K-12? What a shame. I know for a fact that the DepEd is trying to railroad it for 2012 but until now there is no clear road map on it.

But I want to hear something even beyond all this.

I want the President to call us out.

I want the President to call us to do something greater for our country. We need a JFK moment — I want to hear our equivalent of “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”

I want that President to challenge us that the utak wang-wang is not just something we see from our politicians. The mentality is in each one of us. Whenever your dad runs the red light. Whenever your parents exploit your political connections. Whenever a student copies a homework or cheats in an exam. Whenever an employee forges a time card. Whenever we ask the easy way out and look for the way to do the least, all that is utak wang-wang. The sins of the system are in each one of us, and hence change can only begin from within us.

“But sir,” a student may be challenging now. “I don’t think Noynoy can do that. No one will take him seriously”

I know. And that’s my point.

Thinking about magic

I.

The entirety of my Saturday was consumed reading The Storm of Swords, the third book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. It is a work of fantasy but it is written in a jaded, starkly realist style that grips you not so much in wonder but in disbelief. I don’t usually read this genre and I don’t usually read a thousand pages without pause, but last Saturday I did. Now I am shaken, cynical, and yet deeply enthralled by the world of Westeros and the unceasing politicking and in-fighting of its elites. It is a world where magic has been long presumed dead and yet is unspoken of, feared, as it slowly reenters the world through its margins.

II.

This in complete contrast to our world in which the adventures of a boy wizard came to a close this past weekend. Harry Potter is in reality a small thing, yet is a powerful reminder of the significance of story. And magic. This is what atheists, freethinkers, and all other anti-establishment forces fail to understand about the human condition. It is simply insufficient to annihilate ideas; they must be replaced. And for them to be accepted they must be seen true but not only in the realm of logos or reason but even moreso in the realm of mythos or magic. This is what the Sages of old intuited, hence parables, koans, and analects. Science has a long way to go before becoming sexy, but perhaps they can pick up a thing or two from Rowling. But then they’ll have to develop their own mythology, their own legend, and there’s the trouble. They steer away from all semblances of religion not so much as a matter of principle but as a matter of pride. Thankfully magic, and its sole property to inspire awe, is a good reminder of what we really only are in this world.

III.

As I was having my hair cut this afternoon, I saw a most curious sight. To my left was a child, barely four, with an iPad. From the corner of my eye, I observed how he worked the machine. Did he conform to my preset image of a child non-melodically hammering on the capacitive screen with his uncoordinated hands? Not quite. His fingers had the command of an adult and the grace of a maestro. He slid only where he had, and not once did he fumble with the OS as he switched from app to setting to app. It was impressive. I was in awe. And then my mind fumbled forward and hurried. What will this child be like in ten years? As I caught him type phrases, I wondered if he will ever still write with a pen on paper? What will his notion of a book be? His horizon is already infinitely wider than mine was at his age. I could not see what his world will be like. Perhaps I can find comfort in the words of the great Tagore, “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.” Comfort, but with equal parts hope and dread. Sounds like the recipe for a spell.

IV.

“Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called The Pledge. The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course… it probably isn’t. The second act is called The Turn. The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you’re looking for the secret… but you won’t find it, because of course you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn’t clap yet. Because making something disappear isn’t enough; you have to bring it back. That’s why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call The Prestige.”

From The Prestige by Christopher Nolan

The FAIR USE policy APPROVED for 2nd Quarter Evaluation!

Greetings to the Pisay community! I have great news!

The FAIR USE policy has been officially approved by ManCom for experimentation and evaluation this 2nd quarter! It’s really a big shift in terms of how we treat gadgets in campus, and a necessary one if we’re to meet the future head on.

The policy takes effect on AUGUST 1. In the coming weeks, I’ll be orienting everyone on how it all works. Look forward for a fresh start this 2nd quarter!

For now, some thoughts. I’m sure a lot of you are wondering what this all means. What is the Fair Use Policy and how will it affect everyone? First of all, we now classify devices according to their use and not necessarily their nature. Students will now have more freedom to use their laptops and smartphones for academic purposes, but in exchange they will be held accountable for its proper use. We’ll give you some leeway on how you can use them for personal entertainment, but abuse of this leeway will lead to the revocation of Fair Use privileges.

So if you need to use your laptop to type a paper while you’re in the front lobby or if you need to use your iPhone’s dictionary while working at the library, you can now count on being able to use your device freely and comfortably. Just don’t walk along the halls with your music player blaring, or don’t get caught playing games while in a formal affair and you’ll be fine.

The Fair Use also empowers teachers to use modern technology in ways they deem most appropriate. Need to have your students download an app for class? Not a problem. Want them to use Twitter for a forum? Go ahead! But you want them to write an essay and rely solely on their vocabulary and not use any dictionary, paper or electronic? Sure, they can’t complain. Different subjects will have different needs, and each student must abide by the specific demands and rules of the teacher.

You can read the entirety of the approved policy below. But for those of you who looked at the policy before, here are some big changes:

• Smartphones don’t need to be registered anymore
• Categories of devices are more clear
• We include tablets as a device you can have registered
• You can download the Device Registry and Object Permit Forms online

Not in the draft yet are some changes that may come to the dormitory. I don’t want to go into specifics yet since the SSD is still coordinating with the dormitory managers. Suffice to say, the Fair Use policy will cover the dorms in some fashion. Wait for further details on this.

View this document on Scribd

In the coming weeks, I’ll be meeting each class to explain the policy and to tell you what’s at stake. I’ll explain what being under evaluation means and I’ll make it clear how your behavior in the next quarter can change things positively for everyone for this year and beyond.

I’ll be meeting teachers. I’ll also be meeting parents. I want everyone on board in trusting our students to do the right thing. The Fair Use Policy is built on the twin principles of empowerment and responsibilty. Making this succeed therefore, can only open us to even bigger things.

I hope we can make this work! So let us make this work. Stay tuned for more announcements as we roll out the Fair Use policy little by little. It takes full effect on August 1.

The Discipline Office FAQ Issue No. 1: Dengue uniform, bags, Fair Use

Every now and then, I’ll address some frequently asked questions in a Discipline Office FAQ entry. I’ll use this to address specific concerns raised to me. Unlike announcements in the Pisay Direct page, these entries will be a bit more detailed as I take time to explain the reasons for why we do certain things.

This first is a short one.

ON THE DENGUE UNIFORM

Question: Sir, what if I don’t have light-colored blue pants? Just regular blue?

Consider this image:

Ideally, we would prefer that you wear the type of blue on the right (light blue) but we understand that a lot of you own the type on the left (darker, newer). So if you come to school with the left kind of blue, will that get you in trouble?

Understand that the dengue uniform is a precautionary measure. This is in place to manage risk. With your best interests in mind, the school does what it can within its power to ensure your health and safety. Ultimately though, the only one who can guarantee your health and safety is you.

The thicker garment actually goes a long way to protecting you. Having a lighter shade of blue further minimizes risk and hence offers the best protection. But this alone isn’t the full solution. We’d still like you to wear insect repellent and steer away from dark and dingy places with a lot of mosquitoes. These are all guidelines. How far you go into following these rules reflects your own effort into keeping yourself healthy.

Having said this, I hope you comply with the light-colored blue as much as you can. If your reason is that you don’t have any other pair (and I know jeans can be expensive), then it will fall on you to look after yourself a little bit more. I trust you guys are smart enough to do that.

We will, however, have to draw the line with wearing blue, or what can pass for blue such as faded black or ash gray. This is still a uniform after all.

ON THE LEAVING OF BAGS IN THE GAZEBOS

Question: Sir, is it okay to leave our things in the gazebos?

Let me answer with a question: Were you ever allowed at all?

Alright, here’s the thing. I’m working on the principle of teaching you guys to be responsible for your things. I understand why you leave them lying around and that’s why I’ve been working to setup our bag deposit areas. Nonetheless, we do have to deal with the problem of lost items and the heavier issue of theft. For that alone, it’s best you don’t leave your stuff just anywhere.

Nonetheless, we’ll be more reasonable. Here is how our rules go especially once the bag deposit area in the back lobby is established.

Leave bags unsupervised in public places at your own risk. Public places include the cafeteria, the front lobby, and the gazebo areas. Leaving bags in these places with minimal supervision (at least one of your peers) will be tolerated only during the following times: the 9:10 to 9:30 break, the 11:10 to 12:50 lunch or universal break, or the 2:30 to 2:50 break.

During PE and CAT time, it is highly recommended to use the bag deposit areas or better your lockers.

Things left unsupervised during or beyond the allowable times will be confiscated and must be redeemed in the Discipline Office.

Simple as that.

ON THE FAIR USE POLICY

Question: Sir, how is the Fair Use Policy coming along?

Pretty good. I’ve presented it to the faculty and we’re optimistic we can get it done. The draft on this site is already out of date and we’re working with a sharper and more well-defined version.

What’s happened is that I have encountered a happy delay. Apparently my proposal has hit the right chord somewhere and I now have to adapt it to the dormitories as well. So keep your fingers crossed! I hope we can look forward to more sensible rules regarding our electronic devices in campus very soon.

Foreign Talent or Menace? Debating foreign workers in Singapore

An interesting blog exchange has gone on in the Singaporean blog, Temasek Review, shedding some light into the plight of foreign workers in Singapore. It began with an article written by a Filipino who then offered some clarificatory remarks in light of some passionate comments he received. Then came a fiery rebuttal from a Singaporean.

I find this exchange incredibly thought-provoking as it presents another angle into why sending Filipinos to work abroad is not sustainable in the long-run. We lose our talent here, and eat into the jobs there.

Before you proceed though, I suggest you check your nationalism at the door.

It all began here: Jobs and the economy from a foreigner’s perspective

Let me get things straight right off the bat. I am one of those who Singapore calls “foreign talent”. I was born in the Philippines, but moved to Singapore four years ago. I work as a manager in a Singaporean company and I hope to have my application for permanent residency approved soon. I want to make Singapore my home.

I understand that there has been a lot of resentment towards people from my country as well as other countries. The sentiments have been expressed very vocally and at times even viscerally on the internet. It has even been turned into a political issue.

The reason is that disenfranchised Singaporeans who are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living have the perception that people like me are here to compete with them for jobs. Apparently, we are favoured by companies because we are willing to work harder for lower wages.

I would like to say that it is not true that all of us are willing to accept lower wages. It may be true, though, that people from countries such as the Philippines, China, India and Myanmar benefit from the exchange rate and the relatively lower cost of living in our home countries, especially when we remit money home.

However, we don’t live in the Philippines, China, India or Myanmar. We live in Singapore. We have to pay the same as Singaporeans for a plate of chicken rice or for a ride on the MRT.We have to pay the same utilities bills and telephone bills. We also have to rent our own accommodation, something that many Singaporeans do not have to worry about because they either live with their parents well into their 30s or even 40s, or live in HDB flats purchased directly from the government at a subsidised rate – something that is not available to us foreigners.

So, just as Singaporeans are feeling the crunch from the increasing cost of living, we “foreign talents” are feeling the same. When I first came to Singapore, it was possible to rent a condominium apartment in Bukit Panjang or Chua Chu Kang for just slightly over $2,000 per month. Now, we are having to pay $3,000 a month for the same. Either we have to cough up more, or we will be forced to downgrade our lifestyles.

So, it is not true that we are willing to work for “sweat shop” wages. After all, we are human beings, and we have aspirations and ambitions too. We are not going to be happy if we are stuck in a job that pays $3,000 a month for the rest of our lives. Like Singaporeans, we want to achieve financial freedom, material comfort, and career success.

The difference is that we may be willing to work much harder in order to achieve that aim. Coming from countries that aren’t as wealthy as Singapore, we know what it is like to live in poverty, and we are appreciative of the oppportunities that Singapore has given us. So, we might be willing to work 12-hour days, work on weekends, and take on as many assignments as we can. We do so because we want to impress our employers and prove our worth to the companies who have taken a risk in hiring us. But, don’t Singaporeans do this too? What is so wrong with wanting to be the best that we can be?

I hope that Singaporeans will not think that because we were born in so-called “third world” countries, we have no right to share the fruits of the first world. We didn’t choose to be born in our respective home countries. But we chose to come to Singapore. Most Singaporeans today are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of immigrants from countries such as China and India. Their forefathers came to Singapore in search of a better life. Generations later, a new wave of immigrants is now doing the same. Even Americans and Europeans are now flocking to Singapore in search of opportunity. This is testament to Singapore’s success at creating abundant opportunities for all.

Many of my friends are Singaporeans. I find Singaporean culture unique and interesting. I love Singaporean food and I have even begun to use Singlish expressions in my speech. I hope that Singaporeans can see us for what we really are – we are just fellow human beings who want a better life for ourselves and our children. We are not here to steal anyone’s jobs, nor are we here to use Singapore as a stepping stone. In fact, by working hard, we are contributing to our companies, and therefore contributing to the Singapore economy as well.

Brian Carillo

Then the author offers a clarificatory note to all the comments in We make Singapore a better place to live

Hi everyone,

I was surprised to see that my article received so many comments. Some of you want to know why I am not going to apply for Singapore citizenship. Some of you also ask why I am bringing my entire family here, and why the Philippines has failed to provide people like me with job opportunities.

Well, I can only say that my intention has never been to compete with Singaporeans for jobs or “steal” their jobs. I respect Singapore and Singaporeans. I am grateful for the hospitality that your country has extended to me. By working hard and doing my best, I am contributing to the Singapore economy. However, at heart I remain a Filipino. Some of you have rightly said that nationality is not simply a pragmatic or economic decision but an emotional one. The fact is that the workforce is now becoming more and more global. In cities like New York, London and Hong Kong, there are workers and professionals from every nationality. Globalisation is the way forward and to try and fight against it or resist it would be foolish.

I have no comment on why the Philippine government has not provided adequate opportunities for talented Filipino professionals. But all I can say is that wages in the Philippines are definitely lower than in Singapore. For the same reason, many Singaporean professionals seek opportunities in Europe, the USA or Australia.

I also have no comment on your government and their policies, because I am a foreigner and do not wish to concern myself with local politics. All I can say is that the Singapore government has done a much better job over the past 50 years than the Philippine governments. For example we had Presidents such as Marcos and Estrada who were bad for the country. So, we foreigners are extremely impressed by the Singaporean government, and feel that Singapore has everything. One of the cleanest cities in Asia, one of the best public transportation systems in Asia, one of the best education systems in Asia, one of the safest cities in Asia. The list goes on.

I feel that Singaporeans should also take these things into consideration and not take them for granted. Your government may have made mistakes but everyone does. Overall, your leaders have served you well, more so than Filipino leaders overall (even though we had good leaders in President Corazon Aquino and President Fidel Ramos).

I also hope that Singaporeans can be more accommodating to foreigners and not just see us as people who come here to steal your jobs. We are contributing to the economy and we are also adding to your cultural diversity. In so doing, we make Singapore a better place to live.

I hope my comments can be taken on board and if there is to be debate, let it be a constructive one.

Thanks.

Finally, it all comes to a head in a comment by a Singaporean in We are not competing on equal grounds

Brian,

Firstly, I DO NOT fault you when you say your heart is with Philippines even though you are Singapore PR (Editor: Actually, he said he was in the process of getting his PR application approved). As I myself am a Singaporean who works overseas and like you I too have PR elsewhere, yet my heart too solidly remain with Singapore and not the country I am residing in currently.

HOWEVER, do you know what is the fallacy of your argument when you said QUOTE: “For the same reason, many Singaporean professionals seek opportunities in Europe, the USA or Australia”

As Singaporeans, we go out elsewhere to work based on equal pay structure with the LOCALS in that country. So we are competing solely based on experience, merits and ability to go through interviews. We do not earn the right to work in so call Australia, Europe because we ARE CHEAPER LABOUR. We are measured on the SAME platform based on EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. Employers do not employ us because we are cheaper or willing to work longer than local, but in Singapore, most of you foreign workers on employment pass tend to secure a JOB which can be fulfilled by any Singaporean purely because you guys are willing to get a lower pay than local, because by your OWN ADMISSION, your wages in Singapore is many folds HIGHER than your own country. Also, we do not bloody BRING our whole family and village to the country we are working in. Our families stay where they are.

I know this unequal discrimination very well because I used to have to work with a team of helpdesk agents, out of which 10 are from your country and only one from Singapore and one from Malaysia. I later found out “salary” discrepancy was one of the major determinant of jobs going to people like you, and not because you guys are technically better. In fact, I had to fire 3 Pinoys because they are too slow witted to understand instructions and never improve. Instead, the Malaysian staff was the best followed by the sg, I had to fight thru all the HR crap to secure more jobs for sg uni fresh grads to prevent people like you depriving another local from experience.

Also, you call yourself a manager? Well, in HK i had the luck of working with a so call “Filipino” manager who is supposedly to be sooo good in manila office, but guess what? She is good at presentation, all flattery (like in your essay) and all talk but when it comes to push and shove, she always disappear for actual work and comes up with a million excuses leaving us Singaporean and Hong Kongers to do the shit for her. While the HK MD “pushed” her out (fired) for being so useless, she found a way to work in Singapore because she got her new company branch in Philippine to employ her and use “relocation”excuse to work in Singapore. Its a joke because we didn’t want her in Hong Kong but Singapore sees her as “valuable” asset, at a lower pay than what she had in HK.

So please, do not try to convince us that you people are NOT stealing our job. You are whether it is by your own unknowing admission or with our govt support that allows you to come in and compete on UNFAIR grounds with our locals.

In Australia FYI, PR do not share the same rights as citizens. Even at immigration, we PR have to Q with fellow tourists. Jobs also go to citizens first. There is a very very clear distinction. In Singapore, u people are lumped as citizens category which is a big fat joke.

So until the day you are competing on equal grounds, please learn to suffer whatever “discrimination” from us because your very existence here in our land is a discrimination to our own sg citizens..

What do you think? The comments that followed the above post are also very revealing.

Honestly, I think both our governments have to do a better job of giving our respective peoples the life they need and deserve. If the Singaporean government has been too lax in letting foreigners in, the Philippine government has been too reliant on overseas remittances for far too long.

I’ve always been about developing our local industries and markets. Otherwise, we subject ourselves to a premature globalization that will inevitably lead to conflicts such as these which on the surface seem marred merely by racism and discrimination.

Nevertheless, I also understand we can’t wait. We do have a lot of brilliant talent in the Philippines but there simply isn’t anything for them here. How do we reconcile this though with the needs of the people in the places they go to?

If it were the reverse, I’m sure the Filipinos would be saying the same thing.