Politics in the Past vs. Today

[KE-25]

---

Tarmac, very interesting didn't stumble on articles that mentioned that but ill read your link ....

OT by the way I updated our Pacific thread , quite interesting the interview of sledge and Lackie ..

[balot_sweet]

nowadays I think we only got to choices it's either the one whose extremely corrupt and the other whose less corrupt, that is just my opinion...

[tasyo]

I think I would agree to the Inquirer article I read a few days ago that our current situation is a result of the Manuel L. Quezon curse. He once said that he would prefer a government run like hell by a Filipino rather than run like heaven by Americans. Well, he got what he wanted and our government right now is run like hell

[vipvip68]

Everyone here seems to think highly of Ramon Magsaysay... this might be worth reading...


***excerpts from the book of Alexander Lacson*** a very young and promising politician.



Let me share with you the story of the late President Chung Hee Park of South Korea. After the Korean war in 1954, South Korea became one of the worlds poorest, with so much political instability. Then in 1961, a military sstaged a coup d'etat and installed Army General Park Chung Hee as president.

As president, he tried to borrow money from other countries, but was always rejected because of his country's very bad economic situation. so Park sent many mine laborers, railway workers and nurses to Germany so they could work and send money back to Korea to help its economy. In 1964, Park visited Germany to borrow money. Several hundreds of Koreans came to welcome him at the airport in Germany, and they cried when they saw him. They told him of their hard work, low pay and of the ill treatment they were getting from the Germans. Park cried with them, openly, in front of the press and the public. The German Chancellor was moved by the incident, and Germany became the first country to give a loan to Korea. Park used the loaned money to build factories in South Korea.

When park became president in 1961, Korea had less than 200 university graduates and only a handful with PhDs. The country did not have economists of high caliber, foreign trained or home-grown. Park himself did not have superlative credentials. But he was honest, both in real life and in the eyes of the public. At the time of his death in 1981, he remained a poor man. His nation was pleasantly shocked to discover that he owned only one property, an old apartment which he bought and used for his family before he became president. But in 1981, South Korea had already become an emerging tiger in Asia. Its economy almost 5 times better than the Philippines.

Half a century ago, the Philippines had a taste of that kind of leader - in Ramon Magsaysay. Unlike the first 5 presidents before him - Quezon, Laurel, Osmena, Roxas and Quirino (all bar topnotchers and brilliant lawyers) - Ramon Magsaysay did not have the superlative credentials. He finished his BS Commerce "without distinction" from Jose Rizal College. But like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington and Park Chung Hee, Magsaysay was fiercely honest and humble. At the time of his death on 17 March 1957, he had only P2,000 to leave to his family. Despite the many years he stayed in Manila as congressman, Secretary of National Defense and later as President, he never owned a house for his family in Manila. His friends and sympathizers had to pitch in to buy a home for his widow and children after his death.

Magsaysay was a leader truly adored and followed in spirit by almost everyone in the land. The Filipino had faith in him. As a result, he was able to make the Filipinos work for a common dream, even Hukbalahap leader Luis Taruc. In 3 years that he was president, the country's annual GNP rate averaged 7.3%, the second highest in our nation's history. This happened because Magsaysay had the support of practically all sectors of society, except the opposition. Seeing their president as honest, most government men performed honestly. Seeing this, businessmen and people started paying taxes properly. Unfortunately, death snatched him away from the nation.

Honesty, more than a master's or doctorate degree, is what gives credibility. It is also the one that sustains it. And credibility is essential, because it is every leader's link to the people. It is what makes the people look to one direction, follow a common vision, and perform a uniform act. In short, credibility is what makes people follow the leader.

Honesty more than anything, is what makes a good leader. It is the solid core of the character of every great leader in history. It is the core of one's character, says George Washington. Remove honesty, and the man has no character.

Lao Tzu, a famous Chinese philosopher, said - "In choosing a leader, character is the most important quality. Intelligence and skills come second in importance." Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest leaders mankind has ever produced, had something similar to say - "power is best used by a leader who has character". Plato said "he who does not seek power is the most qualified to hold it"

Honesty is the core of character, while character is the core of leadership. And leadership is the core of every success - In every company's success, in every team's victory, and in every nation's march to progress. According to John Maxwell, "everything rises and falls with leadership."

[Tarmac]

Tarmac, very interesting didn't stumble on articles that mentioned that but ill read your link ....

OT by the way I updated our Pacific thread , quite interesting the interview of sledge and Lackie ..

Yup, been following. Hope the discussions on that thread get more interesting as the HBO series progresses.

Anyone here remember the song, "Mambo Magsaysay"? I believe it was composed in 1953 by the late Sen. Raul Manglapus (himself a known Amboy, but a great statesman nonetheless). The catchy tune helped catapult Magsaysay into the presidency. The lyrics are cheesy but it says a lot about the political situation back then, and how things haven't changed. It speaks of dishonest elections, kickbacks... the lyrics today are just as relevant.

MAMBO MAGSAYSAY

EVERYWHERE THAT YOU LOOKED
LOTS OF BANDITS OR A CROOK
PEACE AND ORDER WAS A JOKE
TILL MAGSAYSAY PUMASOK!

THAT IS WHY, THAT IS WHY
YOU WILL HEAR THE PEOPLE CRY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY.

MAMBO MAMBO MAGSAYSAY
MAMBO MAMBO MABUHAY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY!

FIRST THEY VOTED IN LANAO
AT PATI ASWANG PA DAW
ANG ELECTION LUTONG MACAO
TIL MAGSAYSAY SHOWED THEM HOW

THAT IS WHY THAT IS WHY
YOU WILL HEAR THE PEOPLE CRY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY!

MAMBO MAMBO MAGSAYSAY
MAMBO MAMBO MABUHAY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY.

(INSTRUMENTS)

TOO MUCH PEOPLE’S MONEY SPENT
BUT NO HONEST GOVERNMENT
NO MORE BUILT-IN 10 PERCENT
IF MAGSAYSAY IS PRESIDENT!

THAT IS WHY THAT IS WHY
WE WILL HEAR THE PEOPLE CRY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY

MAMBO MAMBO MAGSAYSAY
MAMBO MAMBO MABUHAY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY

OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAG-SAY-SAY!

You can listen to the tune on YouTube:

YouTube - mambo magsaysay

[peewee_toot]

I think I would agree to the Inquirer article I read a few days ago that our current situation is a result of the Manuel L. Quezon curse. He once said that he would prefer a government run like hell by a Filipino rather than run like heaven by Americans. Well, he got what he wanted and our government right now is run like hell

hala! bitaw sah. mypag laing nasud nlng ang mgpa dagan sa pinas. mangunayay mn gd ang pinoy nga politiko...

[KE-25]

Everyone here seems to think highly of Ramon Magsaysay... this might be worth reading...


***excerpts from the book of Alexander Lacson*** a very young and promising politician.



Let me share with you the story of the late President Chung Hee Park of South Korea. After the Korean war in 1954, South Korea became one of the worlds poorest, with so much political instability. Then in 1961, a military sstaged a coup d'etat and installed Army General Park Chung Hee as president.

As president, he tried to borrow money from other countries, but was always rejected because of his country's very bad economic situation. so Park sent many mine laborers, railway workers and nurses to Germany so they could work and send money back to Korea to help its economy. In 1964, Park visited Germany to borrow money. Several hundreds of Koreans came to welcome him at the airport in Germany, and they cried when they saw him. They told him of their hard work, low pay and of the ill treatment they were getting from the Germans. Park cried with them, openly, in front of the press and the public. The German Chancellor was moved by the incident, and Germany became the first country to give a loan to Korea. Park used the loaned money to build factories in South Korea.

When park became president in 1961, Korea had less than 200 university graduates and only a handful with PhDs. The country did not have economists of high caliber, foreign trained or home-grown. Park himself did not have superlative credentials. But he was honest, both in real life and in the eyes of the public. At the time of his death in 1981, he remained a poor man. His nation was pleasantly shocked to discover that he owned only one property, an old apartment which he bought and used for his family before he became president. But in 1981, South Korea had already become an emerging tiger in Asia. Its economy almost 5 times better than the Philippines.

Half a century ago, the Philippines had a taste of that kind of leader - in Ramon Magsaysay. Unlike the first 5 presidents before him - Quezon, Laurel, Osmena, Roxas and Quirino (all bar topnotchers and brilliant lawyers) - Ramon Magsaysay did not have the superlative credentials. He finished his BS Commerce "without distinction" from Jose Rizal College. But like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington and Park Chung Hee, Magsaysay was fiercely honest and humble. At the time of his death on 17 March 1957, he had only P2,000 to leave to his family. Despite the many years he stayed in Manila as congressman, Secretary of National Defense and later as President, he never owned a house for his family in Manila. His friends and sympathizers had to pitch in to buy a home for his widow and children after his death.

Magsaysay was a leader truly adored and followed in spirit by almost everyone in the land. The Filipino had faith in him. As a result, he was able to make the Filipinos work for a common dream, even Hukbalahap leader Luis Taruc. In 3 years that he was president, the country's annual GNP rate averaged 7.3%, the second highest in our nation's history. This happened because Magsaysay had the support of practically all sectors of society, except the opposition. Seeing their president as honest, most government men performed honestly. Seeing this, businessmen and people started paying taxes properly. Unfortunately, death snatched him away from the nation.

Honesty, more than a master's or doctorate degree, is what gives credibility. It is also the one that sustains it. And credibility is essential, because it is every leader's link to the people. It is what makes the people look to one direction, follow a common vision, and perform a uniform act. In short, credibility is what makes people follow the leader.

Honesty more than anything, is what makes a good leader. It is the solid core of the character of every great leader in history. It is the core of one's character, says George Washington. Remove honesty, and the man has no character.

Lao Tzu, a famous Chinese philosopher, said - "In choosing a leader, character is the most important quality. Intelligence and skills come second in importance." Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest leaders mankind has ever produced, had something similar to say - "power is best used by a leader who has character". Plato said "he who does not seek power is the most qualified to hold it"

Honesty is the core of character, while character is the core of leadership. And leadership is the core of every success - In every company's success, in every team's victory, and in every nation's march to progress. According to John Maxwell, "everything rises and falls with leadership."

Nice Read, enjoyed it....

Yup, been following. Hope the discussions on that thread get more interesting as the HBO series progresses.

Anyone here remember the song, "Mambo Magsaysay"? I believe it was composed in part by the late Sen. Raul Manglapus (himself a known Amboy, but a great statesman nonetheless). The catchy tune helped catapult Magsaysay into the presidency. The lyrics are cheesy but it says a lot about the political situation back then, and how things haven't changed. It speaks of dishonest elections, kickbacks... the lyrics today are just as relevant.

MAMBO MAGSAYSAY

EVERYWHERE THAT YOU LOOKED
LOTS OF BANDITS OR A CROOK
PEACE AND ORDER WAS A JOKE
TILL MAGSAYSAY PUMASOK!

THAT IS WHY, THAT IS WHY
YOU WILL HEAR THE PEOPLE CRY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY.

MAMBO MAMBO MAGSAYSAY
MAMBO MAMBO MABUHAY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY!

FIRST THEY VOTED IN LANAO
AT PATI ASWANG PA DAW
ANG ELECTION LUTONG MACAO
TIL MAGSAYSAY SHOWED THEM HOW

THAT IS WHY THAT IS WHY
YOU WILL HEAR THE PEOPLE CRY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY!

MAMBO MAMBO MAGSAYSAY
MAMBO MAMBO MABUHAY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY.

(INSTRUMENTS)

TOO MUCH PEOPLE’S MONEY SPENT
BUT NO HONEST GOVERNMENT
NO MORE BUILT-IN 10 PERCENT
IF MAGSAYSAY IS PRESIDENT!

THAT IS WHY THAT IS WHY
WE WILL HEAR THE PEOPLE CRY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY

MAMBO MAMBO MAGSAYSAY
MAMBO MAMBO MABUHAY
OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAGSAYSAY

OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE
KUNG WALA SI MAG-SAY-SAY!

You can listen to the tune on YouTube:

YouTube - mambo magsaysay

Tarmac, very straight to the point song ! Somebody should revive it hehehe

[Tarmac]

Nice Read, enjoyed it....



Tarmac, very straight to the point song ! Somebody should revive it hehehe

The song in fact made a revival during the 1986 elections and became one of the soundtracks against the Marcos dictatorship. Marcos wanted to ban the darned song because it spoke so eloquently against his government.

Unfortunately,as the song shows, very little has changed. Oh, perhaps the 10% "tongpats" spoken about is now larger.

[peewee_toot]

i listened to the song "mambo magsaysay" just now. na amazed ko sa tune. mas na amazed ko ky sakto kaayu ang msg sa song. even until now...

[KE-25]

i listened to the song "mambo magsaysay" just now. na amazed ko sa tune. mas na amazed ko ky sakto kaayu ang msg sa song. even until now...

Just goes to show us Peewee little has change , quite sad