Time to throw out our political patronage!

The Cebu Customs post has become so highly politicized that people who desperately want to replace current Cebu Customs Collector Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang would go to the extent of being grilled before the Cebu provincial board in the hope of getting an endorsement.

That’s exactly what Customs division chief Purita Parojinog did last Monday when she appeared before the Cebu provincial board, asking for their endorsement, vowing to increase the Cebu Port’s collection and telling them, "If I cannot succeed, I will voluntarily resign." Well, the provincial board would make the decision this coming Monday. It just makes me puke that ambitious bureaucrats who are not even qualified would kowtow so low just to get an endorsement for themselves. This is what we call political patronage and if I know the members of the provincial board, I doubt if they would endorse her! Gov. Gwen Garcia didn’t! Let’s fight corruption and throw out political patronage!

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For you armchair historians like me, quickly grab the June 2006 issue of the Military History magazine where you will find a very interesting piece entitled, "KRIS VS. KRAG" written by Miguel J. Hernandez in eight glorious pages. This is the story about the Battles of Bud Dajo, Jolo and Bud Bagsak in the Sulu archipelago where for the first time, the US Army faced the infamous "Moro Juramentado" who fought the US soldiers and Philippine Scouts with a kris, while the US soldiers used a Krag-Jörgensen rifle in what was supposed to be a one-sided battle.

But it was the first time that American soldiers fought pitched battles with Muslim fanatics. As the author wrote, "The Juramentado believed that upon death, he would enter Paradise mounted on a white horse, accompanied by the infidels he had killed, who would be his slaves. His conception of heaven was based on the Koran: ‘On couches with linings of brocade shall they recline and the fruit of two gardens shall be within easy reach. Therein shall be the damsels with retiring glances who no man hath touched before.’"

Indeed, the Juramentado of yesteryears was the precursor of today’s suicide bombers… similar tactics with different weapons, but with the same chilling effect… to wage terror to the infidel. We hear so much about these terrorists today… who have been promised instant martyrdom by their imams and when they die they would be met by 72 virgins in heaven. Reading this piece gives us the impression that nothing much has changed since 1913.

One notable historic figure that made his bones fighting the Moros in Mindanao was Captain John "Black Jack" Pershing who fought with extraordinary heroism against the Sultan of Bacolod who had a strongly fortified position in the hills to the west of Lake Lanao with some 600 fanatical tribesmen. Captain Pershing first tried diplomacy and asked the Moros to lay down their arms, but they refused. On April 5, 1903, he led his men against the Moro entrenchments and defeated them.

Ten years later, he was already a general and he went back to Mindanao and fought the famous Battle of Bud Bagsak, Jolo almost exactly 93 years and eight days ago on June 15, 1913 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. How was Pershing able to subjugate the Moro rebellion? Actually, he prepared himself by learning about the native languages and dialects of Mindanao and studying the Koran.

He also knew the political situation in many areas, where the Moro sultans ruled. Gen. Pershing was also responsible for making the request to Colt Firearms Company to make the world-famous 1911 caliber 45 pistol… the only firearm that could stop a Juramentado. By 1913, the Muslims were no longer making trouble for the Americans.

In 1916, Gen. Pershing led a force of 5,000 American troops in pursuit of Pancho Villa and his Mexican rebels, and in 1917, Pershing’s experience and charisma made him the logical choice to command the Allied Expeditionary Force when the Americans joined World War I. Now what I would like to know is, what has the National Historical Commission (NHI) done to commemorate that historic battle? A monument in Jolo perhaps? We ought to recognize the bravery of our Moro brothers even though they were defeated in that battle! Don’t we have one for the defeat in Bataan?

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In response to our article last Wednesday, we got this e-mail:

"Sir: This is to comment on your article discussing the probability that the GMA administration will not succeed in eradicating communism in the country, which was published in The Philippine STAR. I would readily agree to your statement considering that it is indeed a problem that has become as perennial as the oil crisis that has pestered the country for the longest time.

"However, I am inclined to suggest that there is no need to battle insurgency considering that communism is a valid ideology that may have an economic objective, but has managed to set up a political system to achieve its end, which is being demonized by the Catholic Church and capitalists pretending to be liberals fighting for the democratic institutions of all countries to preserve the system of free enterprise and the freedoms we are allegedly enjoying.

"You are correct in saying that poverty is one of the main reasons why communism thrives in the Philippines. However, it is not the sole reason why it continues to persist and is strongest in the countryside. People are simply sick and tired with our democratic institutions. Frankly speaking, these establishments are neither democratic nor institutions. They, as viewed by a plurality, are facades of a tyrannical, despotic, feudal system that until now engulfs the Philippine political and economic landscape.

"While I may not be a communist, having seen a lot by simply meeting with people adhering to the communist principles and having heard their reasons for joining the movement, it is not an exaggeration to say that they have embraced communism because Philippine Democracy is a demon that has gone crazy, and is now threatening to destroy the very fabric of our society.

"Let us admit it, the Philippines, no matter how much we try, cannot free itself from nepotism, corruption, graft, and other political vices unless we follow the French example centuries ago. And in case the communists decide to do just what the French did, may they start with eliminating the crooks in government so they can breathe some fresh air into the life of this dying nation. Bhenjar Toor, former president, The UST Journalism Society, SY 2002-2003. [email protected]"

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For e-mail responses to this article, write to [email protected]. Bobit Avila’s columns in The Freeman can also be accessed through The Philippine STAR website (www.philstar.com). He also hosts a weekly talkshow, "Straight from the Sky," shown every Monday, 8 p.m., only in Metro Cebu on Channel 15 of SkyCable.