#onerelevantpostaday

In the 80s, I’ve had a long talk with (German) Ambassador Klaus Zeller when he first came here. For so many years, I’ve been interested in how nations develop. So I had this conversation with him. I said, “Klaus, was it Garibaldi who founded Italy? Ataturk who founded Turkey and Bismarck, in your own country?” He said, “No, no, Franky, you are all wrong. The people who laid the foundation of modern Germany like Beethoven, Schiller. Never underestimate how important literature is in the shaping of history, memory and a national identity for a particular people. So please keep that in mind.” Now this is one thing that we must be able to do, to speak out our minds, to criticize when criticism is necessary because in literature, there is a great shortage and that shortage is the critical tradition. Unless we writers exercise our finest critical facilities, there will be a lot of fakery that will come out as real goods when they are not. There is an old Latin saying which means evil prospers when good men stay silent. Mediocrity flourishes when the critics are silent. Please keep that in mind. Francisco Sionil Jose National Artist for Literature Philippines #LiteratureIsTheFoundation #SenseOfNationalism #OneRelevantPostADay

Not that Filipinos need copy what the Japanese do to a tee, but the most interesting thing to note about societies like Japan is that nobody has the desire to grandstand. Individuals do not want to show that they are more important than everybody else. This is in stark contrast to people in societies like the Philippines where people in general want to be the “star.” And this is the reason why some Filipinos think that they are above the “law” or above even just simple “guidelines.” Discipline should be inculcated at an early age. If people are not taught how to follow rules and regulations when they are still young, they will be shocked to realize once they enter the “adult” world that they will have a hard time coping with life if they keep deviating from the rules that put order in society. Which is what is happening to most Filipinos now. Ilda March 21, 2011 #DisciplineIsTheMissingPiece #DisciplineDedicationDetermination #OneRelevantPostADay

“Politics : the art of convincing decent people to forget the lesser of two evils is also evil.” Edward Snowden @Snowden Twitter June 11, 2016 3:56 AM Photo credit : Wired Magazine www.wired.com ________________ “I would rather be a janitor than a politician.” JC7 2012 #MoralConscienceAndMoralConviction #InAidOfMoralConscience #OneRelevantPostADay

“Nelson Mandela International Day” July 18, 2017 ________________ "In my country we become President first and then we go to prison." Angat Pinoy 2004 Perlas Ng Silangan | Matatag Na Republika Daang Matuwid _________________ The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted the former Yellow President for usurpation of authority and graft over his alleged hand in the botched 2015 Mamasapano operation that cost the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) cops. Source : Philippine Daily Inquirer _________________ We bleed politics in our country, while our neighbors set their sights on their economic sustainability and security in the foreseeable future. Praying that the massive infrastructure projects would still push through despite the adversities. #LeadFirstServePrisonNext #BananaRepublic #OneRelevantPostADay

"There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.” Calvin Coolidge _________________ Despite his billionaire status, come, observe, and take a look at his living lifestyle as shown in the photograph. #LiveSimply #StayHumble #WeAreAllTheSame #MarkZuckerberg #OneRelevantPostADay

#TheGreatestBritishAmbassadorToThePhilippinesEver #AsifAhmad #OneRelevantPostADay