What exploitation are they talking about?
A RECENT survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) shows Ferdinand Marcos as among the top 10 Filipinos that people consider national heroes.
Topping the list are Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and Corazon C. Aquino.
Marcos ranked No. 7 in the survey of “genuine national heroes,” beating Ramon Magsaysay, the true President of the masses who got 8th place; followed by Manuel Quezon and Lapu-Lapu.
What does the SWS survey signify?
That the majority of Filipinos have forgiven Marcos and forgotten his martial-law misdeeds.
For all his faults, Marcos was a war veteran and statesman.
With the results of the SWS survey, there’s no more reason not to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Interring his remains at the “Libingan” is true reconciliation.
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If many people denounce Willie Revillame for allegedly exploiting six-year-old Jan-Jan, an equal number, or even more, swears by him.
I’ve made an investigation into the controversy and found out that Jan-Jan did not cry because he was forced to gyrate in front of the TV camera.
The boy cried because he got scared of Bonel Balingit, a mean-looking man on the show, whom Jan-Jan thought was a “kapre.”
If ever there was exploitation, it was not Jan-Jan who was exploited but Balingit, whose ugliness was being made fun of.
* * *
Okay, let’s submit for the sake of argument that Jan-Jan was exploited.
Following that line of argument, other TV shows, like Willie’s, also exploit children who are made to dance before the camera.
Why not bear down on those shows as well?
Why single out Willie Revillame?
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Carlos Antolo, 57, who was featured in the Inquirer’s front page on Monday, delivers newspapers wearing a necktie.
Some people may laugh at him for his “unconventional” manner of dressing.
Antolo was giving dignity to his work.
There is dignity in honest labor.
* * *
Who is more respectable: Antolo, the newsboy, or retired Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, who amassed huge fortunes from stealing from the Armed Forces?
Who is more respectable: Mike Arroyo or Antolo?
If you did not choose Antolo in both questions, then you are not respectable yourself.
