Feedback Time!

For a writer, no joy can be compared to receiving letters and e-mail from readers. Whether the comments are positive or negative, they are sure proof that he is being read.

I am one person who gets extra excited whenever I receive a word or two from readers. It is with great anticipation that I open my e-mail. Reading what people have to say is always an exciting, learning and illuminating experience.

Here are some recent comments on my articles "Bet You Didn’t Know" which appeared on June 3, and "Nasty Resurfaces: Yours is a Democrazy!" on May 27.

Bet You Didn’t Know

Hi! I would like to refute this item under "Things You Don’t Normally Know": A piece of 8x10 bond paper cannot be folded more than 7 times. Try. - Alwin-Boj

I believe what Renchi Arce meant was for you to fold it in a perfect half each time. Read Ryechi’s e-mail below and see if you agree. – Dero

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Hi! I read your April 4 article (Bet You Didn’t Know!) and I loved it! Anyway, I’m here to correct some entries... 1) Nixon and Clinton are not the only U.S. presidents whose names contain all the letters found in the word "criminal." Case in point: Abraham Lincoln. 2) "I am." is not the shortest complete English sentence; "No." is even shorter. 3) You cannot fold any piece of paper (not just an 8x10 bond) in perfect half more than 7 times even if you had a piece of pulp the size of our universe (assuming you can fold it!), there is no way it can be folded more than 7 times!

Anyway, thanks for the time & keep on writing groovy stuff! - Ryechi

Regarding item 1), Lincoln’s name has only one "i"; 2) I believe what they mean by "complete English sentence" is that it should have a subject and a verb. "I do" is another "shortest sentence" but if you say it in marriage, it is forever! Out of curiosity for item 3), I took a piece of toilet paper and was able to fold it eight times. Try it! –Dero

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Nice column you came out with last Sunday. As you said, you cannot "guarantee " the veracity of some of the items in that article. This may be one of those needing more accuracy: "You blink your eyes about 20,000 times a day." This figure might be on the high side. If a person sleeps the recommended 8 hours a day, he is left with 16 waking hours (for blinking). Twenty-thousand times in 16 hours comes out to "1 blink every 2.88 seconds. Someone blinking that often might have something wrong with his eyes."

You write a wonderful column. Have a nice day. - Glen

You have your numbers right, Glen. Thanks! – Dero

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Erratum: Under "I Never Knew That!" was this entry – "When a person shakes his head from side to side, he is saying ‘yes’ in Sri Lanka." It should have read: "In Sri Lanka, when a person shakes his head from side to side, he is saying ‘yes.’" Can any reader familiar with Sri Lanka confirm this? Thanks.

* * * Nasty Resurfaces

Hi Dero,

I thought the Lifestyle section of your paper decided to feature a major issue with two treatments of "Revolution 2001, Philippine Style." First, there was Ms. Martel’s in-depth interview of Bayan Muna’s Satur Ocampo; then there was your column with ex-Filipino "Nasty" expressing thoughts that a lot of folks had in their minds but were afraid to say out loud.

Listen to them:

NASTY: "...boil with anger...Come on, get mad... Maybe then, you will finally accomplish something good for you and your country."

SATUR, exhorting the Arroyo administration: "...be very conscious of the root causes of popular disaffection that gives rise to rebellion and to revolutionary struggle."

Watching recent events unfold over there (the Mendiola siege, the recently concluded (?) elections which had the expected violence and cheating but the unexpected or confounding battles among the COMELEC commissioners, the to-build-or-not-to-build-a-prison-house-for-Erap dilemma, the unrecovered Marcos billions and still fumbling recovery attempts) – lead a lot of Filipino expats out here to share Nasty’s and Satur’s frustration over the state of affairs in the old country.

The question lurking in our minds is: "Are we wasting our time and money getting involved in Philippine-related activities, e.g., raising funds here for various causes there, using our networks here to connect our alma mater universities there with other universities here for education and research projects, participating in festivals and events†celebrating our cultural heritage, or simply being proud of being Filipino or even being part-Filipino (but certainly not ‘ex-Filipino’)?"

I found the answers from Satur and yes, Nasty. Satur optimistically pointed to "the people’s growing political awareness of their human, political and democratic rights." And Nasty (chest-thumping ex-Filipino that he proudly claims to be – in spite of himself!) submits a list of "possible solutions to realize the Philippines of your dreams."

In other words, change is happening! Change among the people; change in Nasty (he cares!!!).

In Makati for one, the favorite target of Erap camp class-war mongers, previously impregnable social barriers separating Manila’s 400 (how arcane!) from the rest of the populace are being knocked down by the same elite. For decades now, the doñas and señoras of the buenas familias have not only been hobnobbing with but have been moving cheek-to-cheek with the "under class" from the other side of the riles so to speak – in the person of dance instructors (AKA as "attorneys" or "commissioners").

Way ahead of their time, some of these ballroom dance clubs offered and continue to offer generous compensation packages for these graceful professionals: per occasion – one or two sets of clothes fit for entry to exclusive private country clubs or other hotbeds of activity; Spanish language lessons (the better to spice up the conversation with an excited "Oye" or "Que asco!" at the right moment); crash courses in social graces (the better to blur class distinctions); sometimes, cars and homes.

Furthermore, as full-fledged members of the dance club, some of these instructors have been elected to their board of directors alongside their society patron (ah, matron) with whom they are now on first-name basis (instead of the "Ma’am," "Doña" or "Sir"). This parity is taken one step further that very few local businesses could probably claim: profit-sharing from the proceeds of their pasayaw. And inevitably, there have been class intermarriages. And inter-class love. Love, marriage, revolution, war: Nasty, there is hope, indeed!

And finally, to Nasty: Come to the Bay Area anytime in June. There will be so many Filipino fiestas and celebrations going on around here – in San Francisco, San Jose, Vallejo, Berkeley, San Mateo, atbp. Parang nasa Pilipinas!!! - Susan Po-Rufino (not an Ex-Filipino), San Francisco, CA

The Doña Victorinas of Rizal live on! – Dero

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Dear Dero,

So Nasty’s back! With a vengeance! His article does pack a wallop! Yes, he may be real nasty and brutally frank, but we must admit there’s a lot of sense in what he says. And like it or not, his solutions to our multifarious problems which he dishes out so virulently are never more relevant than today.

Your reaction to his vitriolic criticism is understandable. I’m not perplexed. Of course everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion.

Nasty is entitled to his, you are entitled to yours, and we are entitled to ours. Maybe if Nasty were in your shoes he would feel the same way you do.And if "you" were in his shoes you’d feel the same as he "does."

I just wonder: If you who are in the Philippines cannot do anything to change the state of affairs there in spite of all the articles written by you, Max Soliven, Teddy Benigno and many others, how could we who are 10,000 miles away do anything?

We, who left our beloved country because we could not stomach what’s happening there. Where the rich get richer and the poor poorer; we, who want to give our children a better life – must we be hated or condemned because we could not bear to live in a place with garbage strewn all over, with horrendous traffic with undisciplined drivers, polluted environment, corrupt government officials, with the Marcoses flaunting their "wealth," Erap’s mistresses living in mansions while the poor got buried alive in Payatas, and many more living in miserable, dilapidated shanties lining the streets of Manila and Quezon City?

I remember in one of your articles touching on Nasty, you said "The Philippines is already down, don’t push it even lower. See the positive, beautiful and noble about this country and amplify them. Take note of the negative, the undesirable and the ‘wrong.’ Downplay them, and solve them." Even then I already admired your positive and optimistic outlook on life.

Wish we could do that. But how could we ignore the poverty and the suffering of our people, the stench all around us, the callousness of our greedy politicians who are still elected by the masa? The hopelessness of our situation cannot but make us want to cry.

In the marketplace of ideas, we are free to air our opinions. So please don’t tell us to shut up. We, your kababayans here in the States and elsewhere, are as much concerned with the plight of dear Inang Bayang Pilipinas. We do our best to send our help to our kababayans there every time there’s a disaster or calamity. We send financial help, clothes, medicine and foodstuffs whenever possible.We send medical missions, our doctors and nurses, and other healthcare personnel to even the remotest corner of the country to help even in the smallest way our poor kababayans. We do all these without fanfare. So please don’t hate us because we are here.

Even Jesus Christ, Mahatma Ghandi and our very own Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino, who all gave their lives to save their people, were not able to change the sad situation in their lifetime. Maybe it is in divine order. We cannot change people. We can only suggest, but we can’t change them, I realize that. So if our kababayans would like to change their life, it is up to them. All the spiritual teachers since time immemorial have taught us that in order to change our life, we must change our thoughts.

Thank you for your patience. God bless you. - Soly Paraiso, San Diego, CA

When I said "Or shut up," I was being dramatic to elicit action. (See, you reacted!) What we need are Filipinos (here, in America or elsewhere!) truly caring for Filipinos. Even about my pet PQR projects (following simple traffic rules and not throwing trash just anywhere), no one seems to care. Drivers still beat traffic lights, people still throw cigarette butts and litter everywhere. Divine order, you say? I guess many people don’t yet realize their own divinity and their power to effect divine order! – Dero

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To Mr. Anastacio:

What you mentioned won’t help us, and though you might have planted seeds of anger in our hearts, I doubt if that is the solution to our crisis. I firmly believe that anger would only lead to self-destruction.

You were right in saying we are too nice as a people. I think that value is what has kept us hopeful and optimistic. That is what has kept us believing that our dreams will be realized in time. And that is what has kept us going as a nation.

We are struggling, yes, but we are coping with it beautifully. The least our healing nation needs is an "angry observer" who shouldn’t even care about what is happening because he is an "ex-Filipino." Have love. - Nica Michaela R. Santos, 16-years old, Tarlac City

I am glad that teenagers as young as you, Nica, are already aware and vocal about national issues. Carry on! – Dero

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Dear Mr. Pedero,

I read a book on management by Diane Tracy and under the chapter on handling complaints, it states that "complainers are not disloyal." "It is a mistake to assume that someone who complains about a situation hates the company, management or you."

I don’t think that Nasty is such a bad guy, nor do I believe that he is an "ex-Filipino." He obviously is concerned and pretty well informed about current events in the country, but is obviously frustrated that despite the passage of time, nothing ever seems to change in the Philippines.

Over 100 years ago Jose Rizal wrote about the Filipino in a very unfavorable light (the unfinished novel and several newspaper articles). If you read his words today, the words still ring true. Is this nation cursed to repeat the same mistakes and maintain some of the same flawed cultural traits ad infinitum? I certainly hope not and would welcome any change that would make Filipinos as a nation rectify their problems, embrace excellence as a way of life, and forge onward into the future.

Nasty raises some pretty valid arguments, but his "in your face" style of writing practically guarantees him to be the focus of "Juan de la Cruz’s" anger and not corruption and incompetence in leadership as it should be. A little editing and a lot less venom would go a long way towards making his complaints more palatable and not evoke the impulse reaction to fight back.

Mr. Pedero, your short reply is a cop out. Don’t shoot the messenger just because you donít like the message or the manner in which it was delivered. Read the message, judge and act appropriately. - Raymond F. Acosta, Angat, Bulacan

I did not shoot the messenger; in fact, I gave him press space. It’s just that like Nasty, I too, am getting a bit frustrated. How long before we cross the rivers of Jordan to the Promised Land? – Dero

* * * More Reactions To Nasty

If we recognize our defects, and realize that we are capable of failing, if we start at restoring by the destruction of our follies, then we can stand tall again, head high. If we start at the earnest task of tending to our growth now rather than justify our faults to nonchalantly ignore our decline, then we can rise again. - Gil Utanes

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I find Nasty brave and he has a lot to say. I agree with him on some points especially the ones he made about showbiz and politics. However, I don’t agree with his idea of legalizing jueteng. - Matthew Tuberlleha

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Stupid Pinoys! Some don’t learn at all. In the elections most still voted for money and popularity. I am ashamed of it! - Cannabis69

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I’ve always liked your articles. And I have followed the Nasty series. We don’t need an ex-Filipino to figure out that the Philippines is in difficult times. Nasty is not a problem. I am surprised that he is still in touch with the events of our country. I think it shows that deep inside him he is a Filipino and he can’t deny that. Dandreb , Panaligan, Cavite

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Dear Nasty,

I am quite happy that there is someone in another part of the world who shares my views about this country. I’m not an ex-Filipino like you. I still am very much a Filipino but like I usually say, I am not proud. What you sent to The Philippine STAR says a lot about what I think of the Philippines. I agree with you 100 percent. - Jb Galvez

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I am an avid reader of your column and I am glad that Nasty is back! Hope to hear from Nasty again! - Voidmaster_04

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I think Nasty has totally lost it. He seems to have all the solutions to our country’s problems – that guy must have been a classmate of Miriam in Harvard... another Brenda. So why bother reacting to this jerk? He seems lost as to who he really is – a pompous arrogant ass. - Ramon Guadal

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Dear Dero,

I thank you and your faithfulness in continuing to influence our country’s population to open their eyes and start "doing," instead of "dreaming," while at the same time maintaining a fidelity to the country, which it truly deserves.

The media is an excellent way of reaching out to our countrymen and you are blessed to have this vehicle to use. May God give you the wisdom and the inspiration to do as He wills – to forge ahead with His love and never to willfully hurt. God bless! - Tessie Morales, Toronto, Canada

* * * How To Access Philstar Archives

To access Nasty Resurfaces: Yours is a Democrazy! go to Web page http://www.philstar.com/philstar/archive.asp?content_id=43293&category_id=18 For Bet You Didn’t Know! go to Web page http://www.philstar.com/philstar/archive.asp?content_id=44082&category_id=18

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I’d love to hear from you! E-mail deeperdoor@yahoo.com or deropedero@hotmail.com. Should you want to pass on portions of this particular article, please acknowledge The Philippine STAR Lifestyle Section, LIVING ALIVE by Dero Pedero. My book Jewels for the Mind, a collection of thoughts, formulas and affirmations for success, prosperity and fulfillment, is available at National Book Store, Powerbooks and PageOne, Rockwell. Thanks for all your letters and e-mail!