I mostly agree. Most Pinoys forget the past. This is why history repeats itself. We never learn. – Paul Quebrar, Cavite City
It’s a trait acquired due to our Christian upbringing. Madaling umunawa at magpatawad. – Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City
The path of least resistance
Yes, the lessons of the past are so easily forgotten. This stems from either of the following: We’re such a forgiving people, or we tend to follow the path of least resistance. - L.C. Fiel, Quezon City
We Filipinos remember things but most of us are too tolerant. Some just don’t care. That’s why the same things keep happening. - Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City
I don’t. Having a short memory is more of an individual trait. The Pinoy’s psyche emphasizes agreeing with nature and a mentality that is not afflicted with anxiety or pressure. It’s a psyche that causes any perceived negatives to be buried in oblivion. – Rey Onate, Palayan City
No, we just tend to be complacent about what we see or hear despite knowing our responsibilities as citizens. - Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City
Forgive and forget
We don’t tend to have a short memory. It’s just that we readily forgive and forget. - Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
Yes, we easily forgive and forget, especially when it comes to our politicians. We should really remember their ways; more so during elections. - Che Hernandez, Quezon City
Filipinos tend to have a short memory since we easily forgive and forget negative events that happen to us. We just don’t mind them and go on with our lives. - Johann Lucas, Quezon City
Let me say it’s not the case but we can be very forgiving. If not, why did they forgive a killer, a rapist, plunderer, extortionist, etc.? (I’ll exempt the mutineers!). I believe that people haven’t erased from memories some past abuses but proof of our forgiveness is in every corner. We possess this rare trait and it makes me proud to be a Pinoy. – Imee Aglibot, Rizal
Yes, I agree. Generally, Filipinos easily forgive and forget. Wrongdoings of government officials are easily forgotten as time goes by. - Nap Cinco, Rizal
Not really. I think Filipinos just tend to easily forgive and forget. - Nonoy Gahol, Davao City
Jun Lozada who?
An overwhelming yes. Filipinos are known for that ningas cogon habit. Look at what happened to the “Gloria, resign!” protests generated by the heat of Jun Lozada. - Ella Arenas, Pangasinan
Filipinos indeed have a notoriously short memory. How else can we explain Jun Lozada being all but forgotten while Abalos is doing brisk business with his “Ben’s bur-jers.” - Don Hernandez, Las Piñas City
It’s a coping mechanism
Forgetting is a coping mechanism. With all the problems that overwhelm Filipinos, they could become insane if they do not have a short memory. But this has made Filipinos hardened and fatalistic. - Robert Young, Jr. San Juan
At the rate graft and corruption is happening, aba, you will have a shorter focus talaga! - J. Sandico, Pampanga
Yes, because the majority of Filipinos today live below the poverty line. They are kapit sa patalim for money and doleouts from politicians. - June Deoferio, Cavite
It’s at the same time an asset and a liability. Forgetting, on the one hand, helps us to easily move on, but on the other hand, doing so without learning the lessons that the past has to offer has been quite costly for us as a nation. – B. Javier, Quezon City
We forget history
I’d have to say yes. We do tend to have a short memory. - Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City
After the Second World War, “comfort women” were still around, asking the Japanese government for an apology, but our young entertainers seem to have forgotten our pride. – Victor Alim, Caloocan City
We keep repeating the same old man-made problems that can be solved by implementing long-term solutions. – Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City
Yes, for after we ousted Marcos in the first Edsa revolution, we all forgot to return to a two-party system. – Edgar Siscar, Iloilo City
Yes, we sometimes support politicians even when we already know the bad they’ve done. – James Gaw, Quezon City
True, as exemplified by our tendency to re-elect politicians who rendered a disservice to us, and also by people with amnesia who refuse to acknowledge past favors. - Ching Gaspar, Laoag City
“A short pencil is better than a long memory,” is an adage not for the Filipino majority. Politicians tend to exploit this. - Elpidio Que, Vigan
More like a bad case of amnesia
Yes, Pinoys tend to have short memories, our government officials especially. PGMA herself forgot that she said she would not run for President. - Rency Santos, Rizal
A bad case of amnesia is a better term. Look at the political chameleons in our government. - Dr. Manolo Cristi, Quezon City
Corruption would not have reached its present magnitude if we didn’t have a short memory. – Ric Vergara, Calamba
Yes, especially politicians. They seem to forget what their campaign promises are right after the elections. - Danny de Leon, Al-Khafji, Saudi Arabia
Are our brains’ memory chips cheap? Or, do hackers throw golden monkey wrenches during elections? - Carlos Nepomuceno, Zambales
Yes. We are conditioned by politicians, past and present, who promise heaven and earth during election time and forget these promises when elected. - Ed Alawi, Davao City
Pinoys having short memories is more of a euphemism for stubbornness and lack of discipline. We can only blame ourselves for the country’s present sorry state. - Jong Sorra, Parañaque City
As if nothing happened
Yes, we have a short memory. The depredations of Marcos have now been forgotten. Even the “Hello, Garci” scandal is in limbo. - Jim Veneracion, Naga City
We “flips” have short memories. Erap’s available again, as if nothing happened. - Noel Diaz, Manila
What memory? 20 years of Marcos dictatorship and Imelda, Imee and Bongbong were still elected. Erap was convicted, yet Loi, Jinggoy and JV were still elected. Ano iyan? - S. Calupitan, Quezon City
It seems bad enough that Filipinos tend to have a short memory, and what makes it worse is that we never learn from our mistakes. We keep repeating the same blunders. The Marcoses, Gringo and Trillanes are proof of how short the Pinoy’s memory is. - E. Linsangan, Isabela
Short circuit
Yes. It’s because our minds are loaded with so many problems, from earning a living in order to feed our families and corruption in government. - Eric Gopilan, Taguig City
I don’t agree. We are short on food, which tends to make us lose our memory. – Materno Baculio, Salvador City
No, it is only that the majority of Filipinos are poor and uneducated, and would rather be subservient and survive than involve themselves in other issues. - Rodolfo Capili, Caloocan City
No, we only tend to give priority to more important matters, like personal interests and the satisfaction of our own hunger for food and power. - Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan
Slow justice makes us forget
I don’t think so. “Truth” is now for sale in this country, and only a few can afford it. This why we’re believed to have short memories. – Jun Cajucom, Tacloban City
Short, indeed, but daily we are reminded of the harsh, turtle-paced justice for the poor and “in-justice” for the “in” crowd. - Luis Lesaca, Quirino
Our justice system relies on Pinoys’ short memory. That’s why it grinds very slowly when it comes to cases that involve government VIPs and the elite. – Ed Alawi, Davao City
Yes, indeed, tumpak at siyang tunay. Look at what happened to Marcos, et. al. They are now holding positions in government, elected by the same people who shooed them away. They were able to regain their wealth and lost glory. What we know is that they won all the cases against them, though evidence of their loot and even human abuses were crystal clear. They are even celebrities wherever they go. What happened to the billions in amassed wealth? The same is happening to Garcia, mapapawalang sala pa iyan, for sure. His name will be instilled in the mind of Pinoys. Tatakbo pa iyan like Garci. Why are they all free? Iba talaga ang kinang ng pera. - Rose Leobrera, Manila
Only those in the executive branch of government have short memories. Binalahura nila ang kaso ni Erap. Look what the old guy is doing now.- Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City
Absolutely! The excesses and abuses of the Marcos dictatorship and cronies are quickly forgotten and their court cases have been delayed exceedingly or surprisingly won favorable verdicts despite strong evidence. Whatever guilt they’ve committed then did not prevent their regaining respectability. – William Gonzaga, Marikina City
Kidding aside
After a major operation, most Pinoys say they have amnesia. But they only have a “short memory” because of the surgeon’s professional fees. - Dr. Hiram Tiburcio, Lapulapu City
Only Pinoys who are at the stage of senility and “swindlers” tend to have short memories. - Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City
I beg to disagree
You might want to talk to senile senior citizens or adults. You’d likely get answers to your question, even stories about conquests, inventions, discoveries, historical events and places, reasons, exploits – all facts from long memory. Ergo, no. - Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City
We can be gullible sometimes
Our short memory allows us to put aside the misfortunes and shames committed by Marcos and Erap. Learned Filipinos remember them but the majority are illiterate and gullible. Without rational thinking, they want to perpetuate the reign of their wrongly perceived idols. They are badly in need of proper education. - Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City
No, we have a long memory, but Filipinos are a mixture of intelligent people and idiots. The latter forget easily and never care. - Leonard Villa, Laoag City
Yes, quite true. But we can still correct ourselves by enhancing our memory through reading then apply the PSQ5R in reading. – Jessly Enog, Davao City
Because of lack of education, lack of information, and lack of good nutrition. These are the main problems we suffer from now! - Crizel Fernandez, Baguio City
Not all
Not all Filipinos have a short memory; there are those who are vengeful and unforgiving. - Gerry del Cano, Tarlac
I beg to disagree; only a few, but not all Pinoys! - J. Quizon, Isabela City
THINKING OUT LOUD
What Christian compassion is Monsignor Achilles Dakay practicing? Does he mean gays can be humiliated any time? – Jon Go, Caloocan City
What? We will have 75 senators, 350 congressmen? Hu hu hu hu hirap na hirap na ako sa PDAF today, dadagdagan pa? Maawa na kayo, please? – Col Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City
I have observed nowadays that public hospitals and small private clinics are crowded with patients. It seems diseases today are born out of poverty and hunger. How can poor people avoid getting sick under this present situation? – Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City
Why doesn’t RP try a one-country, two-system setup like in China to see whether or not we need to change our government system. – Claro Ramirez, Quezon City
REACTIONS
To William M. Esposo: For Catholics falsely professing as Christians, GK means not Gawad Kalinga but greedy kami. – Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City
To N. V. Lansangan: Erap is an exception to the general rule laid down by E. Linsangan. – Romeo Caubat, Masbate
Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.
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