Good Morning President

So what is more important? Ethics or personal gain? It really is a rightful question for each and every politicians from the past, present and in the future. And in this movie, main characters, which are politicians, faced tough decisions in their lives. They are tempted of power and money, I believe, are the two primary goal of politicians to achieve. They see these two things as what they will give them good and sustainable lives. But what they have chosen?

In the film, we can see that it has been very difficult for them to fight the temptations lingering just under their noses. Also, there are several factors that increases that wantness of these things. but in the end, they realized the importance of ethics.

A man with an honorable heart and with dignity is a man who would have the greatness life can offer. Maybe not through acquiring money or power but to live a truthful and contented life.

The Special Relationship

Bill Clinton and Tony Blair were just like many of us. In our life, we have met that person that you'll willingly do anything with, whether how good or foolish it may be. It seems like he/she is your long lost brother/sister. This is what Bill and Tony felt as they let their friendship grew. Even to the extent that their countries are also "best of friends" of each other. However, in any friendship, there will always be times wherein one's interest is not the other's.

Like what had happened with Bill and Tony, at times, they argue on certain things they do not agree with each other about. Then, there will be withdrawal of support for each other. Eventually, after sometime, they will be friends again. But whether they like it or not, the damage has been done and it will be forever be known to them.

In the end of the film, Tony was asked, what do he think are Bill and his common grounds. And sadly, with a realization that came to him after all, he said none.

Distinguished Gentleman

It is brilliant how this movie presented the idea that a government, whether we refer to it as the most respected institution of the land or the bastion of truth and justice, is also full of con artists. Why? Some politicians does not portray what a real politician should be. Knowledgable of the law of the land and is open to the idea of real public service. However, in the Philippine context, we have politicians that are showbiz artists, athlete, tv hosts, and even former sexy stars. It seems like our own government is no different to media.

It is commendable what these kinds of politicians have done, some of their political achievement are exemplary. However, what I am worried about is this new trend that is happening. What we are having are people who learn about the laws of the land, just when they enter office; as supposed to an ideal politician, equipped with the knowledge on laws before engaging into politics.

How are we going to attain development if the mechanism for it is run by these "mere" politicians? Willingness to provide public service, if this really is their true calling, is not even enough. Proper training together with deep rooted nationalism is a must to become an ideal politician.

Reaction Blog: Iginuhit ng Tadhana

"It is a propaganda", I told to myself while watching the movie Iginuhit ng Tadhana. Then, after the movie, sir Teehankee confirmed it. The movie is about the life of Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator known to every Filipino. He was known as the dictator that issued the Martial Law that resulted to the iconic EDSA Revolution I.

It was said that the movie was released prior to the Martial Law era as a propaganda to appease the masses and to "mapabango ang pangalan ni Marcos na sa panahon naiyon ay nababahiran na ng kung ano anong di magandang kuro kuro".

The movie was shutdown.

However, due to the influence and power of Marcos, he then changed the decision and the movie went back to the mainstream.

I say the movie was portrayed so well that the ordinary people would think of it as "just another good movie in the mainstream with actors and actresses they love and adore". But for critical thinkers, they will see the biased story line of the movie. Yes, it really is a propaganda because the movie denounced the accusations to Marcos. However, the people who think this way could be the opposition to Mr. Marcos. Thus, pitting their own bias to it.

Therefore, one may not say this movie is biased, even me, because our thinking has a pre-set already or has been influenced by another idea, a person or an event that made us think this way.

Reaction Blog: Pirates of Silicon Valley

The movie Pirates of Silicon valley shows how these two marvels, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, changed the way we deal with technology nowadays. They are the two most important people that created Microsoft and Apple Computers, respectively. However, the story of these two geniuses may not be known for many of us, including me, not until I have watched this film. The movie shows how everything have started. From scratch, to discoveries, triumph and success, downfall and getting back up. It is full of twists that would make you think, "hey, I never thought it all started like that".

If you don't know, Bill and Steve are both college drop outs. They have not finished their school but it doesn't hindered them to achieve their dreams. Bill worked somewhere will Steve had his parents garage for his first office.

Then, after all the hardship of Steve, he came our with his first model of a Macintosh computer. From that point on is the rise of Apple. The glory days have come. Everybody wanted to purchase Mr. Jobs' product. 

But as he arose, he have developed attitude problem. He has been neglecting his work and got stuck with the perks of being famous. He then started mistreating his friends and his employees. 

His greatest mistake is trusting the wrong person.

He also got fooled by his friend, Bill, that has been the start of his downfall.

It is given that in every man's success is another man who would want to bring him down. In this case, Steve has reached the top but because of Bill's greed, he pulled him back down and replaced him to the top. In life, even though it is given to us in a different context, the same idea lingers. What we could do it play life hard and play it smart. And if by chance, you'll fall down, have the courage to stand up and get back to your own two feet like Steve has done. 

  

Reaction Blog: Hitler: The Rise of Evil

This documentary depicted the biography of Adolf Hitler, the known dictator of Germany, who has been notorious all over the world because of his brutal acts towards the Jews. No one, from the time he had ordered the killing of the Jews up until the new generations would have never known what he just did. He will be marked through time as the man who have committed the most gruesome sin a man could ever do.

In this chronicle, we have seen the young Hitler and how he did developed his hatred to the Jews. He never liked them from the very start because he though of them as parasites to the land of the Germans. Of course, it is a given fact that he had a very gloomy childhood. That, I think, contributed why he had developed such despicable attitude.

By the time he arose from the rank in the military, he further developed his hatred to the Jews. At that time, he realized that they should not stay in their homeland. That Germany should only be for the Germans. So when he have gained eyes on him, he took advantage of it and then his advanced his intentions and influenced many people. He then lead the Nazis. 

Then, revotions arise from time to time with his leadership and his allies.

After he has been elected, he had declared the killings of the Jews. Not feeling any mercy on them and having no conscience, for Hitler, it is the fulfillment of his dreams.

Adold Hitler has been the most notorious man in the world. He had committed something that no man could have ever done. His hatred to the Jews must have been a victory in his eyes and for the Germans that he have influenced but for the rest of the world, it is very immoral. 

Reaction Blog: All the King's Men

All the King’s Men (1949) is a fascinating story of the rise of a nobody to power. Willie Stark is a hick from countryside of Kanama whom have rised to become a governor. However, the road to seat for Mr. Stark isn’t really that easy. It is tough. In the story, he faced challenges along the way. But in the end, he reached his goal and unconsciously transformed himself.

In movie, Willie Stark is a person that claims to be an “honest man”. Of course, not all people bought the idea. They thought that it is just an identity that Mr. Stark would want to use and to be known for when he ran for country treasurer an then will trash later on. This prevails every election where politicians make use of “make-up-identity” to get the votes of the people. 

When the voting for the position is over, he lost. He failed to win because he is plainly a nobody without enough education. So he decided to take up law, passed it and become a certified lawyer. When he felt that this is the right time, he ran again for governor. But now, he had his political mechanism. He is backed up with his trusted person. Jack Burden, his number one supporter, and a reporter who have covered the rise of his career and his “right hand woman” Saddie Burke.

  

  

hmm...     aha!!!

During his rise, he needed support. So he made several deals with so many people to pump up his campaign. He was bringing in a lot of money and is creating a powerful influence. It didn’t come to him that he is slowly transforming himself to a person he wanted to replace in the seat of government in the first place; corrupt and injustice. Mr. Honest has never been as honest as he was.

In reaction to the film, I’d say that political aspirants are geared up to bring change for his society. But along the way, there will be choices he have to make and gamble he needs to play for survival. Mr. Stark has been a man with values, but when the desire for money and power eat him up, he became the complete opposite if what he wanted to be. 

In conclusion, it is a movie that showed the rise of a nobody to power. It also presents the susceptibility of a person and his vulnerability to temptation of money and power. This is yet another movie that is recommended for students of politics and public governance along side the movie Citizen Kane.