A nation of cheats?

[Monseratto]

On Target : A nation of cheats?
By Ramon Tulfo
Inquirer


EVEN if we won our gold medals fair and square, can we blame other countries for thinking that we cheated in the Southeast Asian Games?

No less than Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra accused the Philippines, the SEA Games host, of cheating.

But can we blame them, given the reports that we ourselves announce to the world about our country?

Election fraud. Cheating in the board and bar exams. Corruption in government and in the private sector. Foreigners falling victim to holdup men and con artists. Policemen fleecing foreign tourists. These are news items about the Philippines that reach foreign countries.

And, let’s face it, cheating is prevalent in our society. We admire cheats as long as they don’t get caught.

A couple of years ago, winning entries to the Manila Film Festival were announced on stage. The names of the winners were not called; the losers were the ones whose names were announced.

“Take it, take it,” said the emcee of the show to an actress who didn’t win in the tally but who was called on stage to claim the winner’s trophy.

Sen. Alfredo Lim, then the mayor of Manila, couldn’t stomach the shenanigans and went up the stage to denounce the fraud. There was a big scandal and an investigation was conducted. But nothing came out of the investigation.

The “pasimuno” (mastermind) of the blatant cheating lay low for a while from the limelight. But where is she now? She is the host of a popular show biz show. People have forgotten what she did.

It’s a case of the boy who cried “wolf” too often for our country. Even when we’re honest, other nations don’t believe us.

* * *

I am not being unpatriotic in playing the devil’s advocate in the SEA Games controversy but somebody’s got to tell us the view from outside.

Let’s go to Saudi Arabia that employs millions of Filipino workers. Do you know what most Saudis think about Pinoys? Oh, you wouldn’t want to hear this, but the general perception in that country is that Filipinos are thieves!

When Filipinos window-shop in the flea market in Saudi Arabia, the shopkeepers keep close watch on them. Why? Because many shops, especially those selling jewelry, have fallen victim to the Pinoy’s salisi method of stealing. “Salisi” means taking advantage while the storekeeper is busy with the other customers.

I once had a friend who had an employment agency that sent doctors and nurses to the United States. She said many hospitals that hired foreign doctors and nurses complained of pilferage of hospital equipment by the Filipino staff.

During the time of Imelda Marcos’ travels abroad, hotels where she and her entourage stayed would give allowance for pilferage of hotel bed sheets, towels and other small items, and charge the theft to the Philippine government.

You want to listen more to the Pinoy’s propensity for taking things that don’t belong to him?

Here goes: After the Americans left Clark Air Base in Pampanga, there was massive pilferage of items within the former US military base. Even the toilet bowls in the former houses of servicemen were stolen.

Many of the looted items taken from Clark were found in a restaurant and a house in Cebu owned by a military general who was still in the active service at that time.

The saving grace was the state of the former Subic Naval Base after the Americans had left: Nothing was lost only because Richard Gordon employed strong-arm methods in dealing with thieves.

* * *

It’s natural for us to get hurt—very hurt—by the accusation that we’re a nation of cheats. But we have to face reality: We have destroyed our reputation as a nation because of reports that come out in the media about our country.

As the police chief in the movie “Casablanca” said: “Round up the usual suspects.”

We are the usual suspects.

[badkuk]

there are some notable exceptions though; like a number of taxi drivers who returned money left on their cabs, and the airport janitor who returned a foreign businessman's suitcase


i'd like to point out that other countries/races also have their bad eggs:

-- remember the Rodney King trial/LA riots? lotsa looting took place, to the point where (mostly) Korean owners needed to man sniper positions to keep looters at bay

-- a few days after Victoria and David Beckham were wed, they went on the TV asking their guests to return the silverware used during the reception( i doubt if the couple knows anyone from the Philippines)

-- quite recently, New Orleans stores also suffered looting

-- in China a few years back, authorities were surprised to see a vacant lot where a building was supposed to be(guess where the money went?)

-- i saw footage from a reality TV once wherein a man in Peru was robbed of his food and a few pieces of vegetables by a mob. now, i know going to public markets isn't exactly a pleasant experience, pero so far di pa naman ako nananakawan ng saging.



yes, we do deserve that stigma, pero it's not exclusive to pinoys only

for me it has a lot to do with poverty overriding morality, to the point that people feel justified in their wrongdoing, to the point that stealing almost becomes second nature. i think most people feel betrayed and abandoned, and that's why they feel no guilt, 'coz hey, "why should i listen to you? hindi ikaw ang nagpapakain sa akin!"

[maykel]

there are some notable exceptions though; like a number of taxi drivers who returned money left on their cabs, and the airport janitor who returned a foreign businessman's suitcase

korek!

hindi cguro nagbabasa and bwiset kaya hindi nya alam ang mga tungkol sa katapatan ng pinoy. wala lang maisulat yan bwiset na tulfo na yan!

[van_wilder]

there are some notable exceptions though; like a number of taxi drivers who returned money left on their cabs, and the airport janitor who returned a foreign businessman's suitcase


i'd like to point out that other countries/races also have their bad eggs:

-- remember the Rodney King trial/LA riots? lotsa looting took place, to the point where (mostly) Korean owners needed to man sniper positions to keep looters at bay

-- a few days after Victoria and David Beckham were wed, they went on the TV asking their guests to return the silverware used during the reception( i doubt if the couple knows anyone from the Philippines)

-- quite recently, New Orleans stores also suffered looting

-- in China a few years back, authorities were surprised to see a vacant lot where a building was supposed to be(guess where the money went?)

-- i saw footage from a reality TV once wherein a man in Peru was robbed of his food and a few pieces of vegetables by a mob. now, i know going to public markets isn't exactly a pleasant experience, pero so far di pa naman ako nananakawan ng saging.



yes, we do deserve that stigma, pero it's not exclusive to pinoys only

for me it has a lot to do with poverty overriding morality, to the point that people feel justified in their wrongdoing, to the point that stealing almost becomes second nature. i think most people feel betrayed and abandoned, and that's why they feel no guilt, 'coz hey, "why should i listen to you? hindi ikaw ang nagpapakain sa akin!"

extreme cases lang yun sa taxi... sa atin kasi news yun... sa ibang bansa there is nothing new about it... ibabalik talaga yun...

un sa china... it only happened to them once... sa atin... hay naku! countless times... it wont even make the news na kasi nothing new and sensational about it anymore...

it has nothing to do with poverty... well just a little bit... parang prostitution yan... asa tao yan wala sa lugar yan... maybe corruption has penetrated well enough the moral fiber of the ordinary filipino that it already became normal to them...

oh at bakit tayo pinagbibintangan na cheaters? because ang hilig natin magbintang and magsensationalize ng isang bagay na hindi naman tayo sigurado... we love drama and telenovela so much na akala natin ganito rin ang buhay...

in life most of the time appearance is more important than the real thing... we only make one first impression in our life... and whether the saying "first impression lasts" is true or not, why not just make a good one?

[vicoyski]

Alas, this is what we get when the media, in all their brazen freedom, sensationalize the infamous over the exemplary!

[j_avonni]

A nation of cheats.

I still remember the Philippine junior softball team who in the US a long time ago. Then, a Filipino sportswriter, Al Mendoza, disclosed that most of the team members were already over-aged. So, the Philippine team was stripped off of the championship.

[nugundam93]

A nation of cheats.

I still remember the Philippine junior softball team who in the US a long time ago. Then, a Filipino sportswriter, Al Mendoza, disclosed that most of the team members were already over-aged. So, the Philippine team was stripped off of the championship.

hehehehehe. funny how that topic came up at the same time at a US-based subaru online forum. :lol:

[empy]

galing talaga ni Tulfo. so an entire nation is now guilty until proven innocent what has he done in his entire career but criticize? of course, that will get you the vice presidency these days so it might not be a bad strategy :hihihi:

[imprezawrxsti]

Self Bashing Na Naman !!!! Pag Ikaw Ba Eh Nagkasala Pinupokpok Mo Ba Ang Sarili Mo ? Hindi! Tulfo, Al Mendoza Dapat Tumira Kayo Sa Ibang Bansa Para Malaman Nyo Kung Paano Nila Mahalin Ang Kanilang Kamalian At Kabutihan. Yong " Al Mendoza Incident " Na Yon Hindi Ko Talaga Makakalimutan Hanggang Ngayon. Alam Kaya Ni Al Na Nalagay Ang Pilipinas Sa History Nang Sports Sa Baseball Dahil Sa Pagbubunyag Na Yon, Ano Kaya Ang Napala Nya Don Kung Tama Man Sya Don....pwede Tayong Maglabas Ng Mga Baho Natin Pero Kung Ang Nakataya Ay Ang Karangalan Ng Bansa Natin Ito Ay Dapat Nating Ipagtanggol.

[Heretic]

Self Bashing Na Naman !!!! Pag Ikaw Ba Eh Nagkasala Pinupokpok Mo Ba Ang Sarili Mo ? Hindi! Tulfo, Al Mendoza Dapat Tumira Kayo Sa Ibang Bansa Para Malaman Nyo Kung Paano Nila Mahalin Ang Kanilang Kamalian At Kabutihan. Yong " Al Mendoza Incident " Na Yon Hindi Ko Talaga Makakalimutan Hanggang Ngayon. Alam Kaya Ni Al Na Nalagay Ang Pilipinas Sa History Nang Sports Sa Baseball Dahil Sa Pagbubunyag Na Yon, Ano Kaya Ang Napala Nya Don Kung Tama Man Sya Don....pwede Tayong Maglabas Ng Mga Baho Natin Pero Kung Ang Nakataya Ay Ang Karangalan Ng Bansa Natin Ito Ay Dapat Nating Ipagtanggol.

Nandaya na nga tayo doon sa insidenteng 'yun may karanagalan pa? Ang hirap sa atin, kinokondena natin ang mga nagbubunyag ng mali, imbes na mag-reflect at itama. Hindi tayo malalagay sa kahihiyan kung wala tayong ginawang kagaguhan kasi walang mailalantad. Sa ginawang pagbubunyag ni Al Mendoza, nasira ang reputasyon natin sa iba, pero ang karangalan natin matagal nang sira kasi matagal na tayong nandaraya pero walang pakialaman kasi nananalo.

Naalala ko tuloy si Erano Manalo. "Pinigil ko yung kapatid na nagbunyag sa akin ng mga ginagawa ng ibang mangangaral. Bakit? Mawawalan sila ng dangal kapag nalaman ng ibang kapatid na sila pala'y magnanakaw at tampalasan." Nagnakaw na't gumawa ng katampalasanan may dangal pa rin kasi hindi pa nabubunyag?

[imprezawrxsti]

Nandaya na nga tayo doon sa insidenteng 'yun may karanagalan pa? Ang hirap sa atin, kinokondena natin ang mga nagbubunyag ng mali, imbes na mag-reflect at itama. Hindi tayo malalagay sa kahihiyan kung wala tayong ginawang kagaguhan kasi walang mailalantad. Sa ginawang pagbubunyag ni Al Mendoza, nasira ang reputasyon natin sa iba, pero ang karangalan natin matagal nang sira kasi matagal na tayong nandaraya pero walang pakialaman kasi nananalo.

Naalala ko tuloy si Erano Manalo. "Pinigil ko yung kapatid na nagbunyag sa akin ng mga ginagawa ng ibang mangangaral. Bakit? Mawawalan sila ng dangal kapag nalaman ng ibang kapatid na sila pala'y magnanakaw at tampalasan." Nagnakaw na't gumawa ng katampalasanan may dangal pa rin kasi hindi pa nabubunyag?

masyadong naman yata tayong naging literal sa pagbigay ng kahulugan sa aking paniniwala. hindi ko sinasabing mandaya tayo at ikondena natin ang ating pagkakamali pero ilagay natin sa tamang paraan at huwag ipahiya ang sariling bansa. wala sa bokabolaryo ko ang salitang pandaraya sa salita at sa gawa. ang buong punto ko dito ay ang pagmamahal sa sariling bayan ng kanyang kabutihan at pati na ng kanyang kamalian. Si Al Mendoza lumabas para mag " dinner " kasama ng mga kano para i "treat " sya dahil sa pagbubunyag na yon.....tama ba yon ? dapat nagluluksa rin sya dahil sa kahihiyan na sinapit ng bayan nya.....sampung taon sa tatlong mauunlad na bansa at hindi ko nakikita ang tinatawag na "self bashing" kagaya ng ginagawa ng ibang pilipino sa sariling bansa lalo na harap ng mga banyaga....
kung sino man ang gustong maging marangal ...umpisahan mo sa IYONG SARILI sa maliit na bagay, sa pamilya, sa kapwa, lalong lalo na sa ngangailangan...iwasan natin ang maging banal na aso at santong kabayo....amen.

[theveed]

ang buong punto ko dito ay ang pagmamahal sa sariling bayan ng kanyang kabutihan at pati na ng kanyang kamalian.

umpisahan mo sa IYONG SARILI sa maliit na bagay, sa pamilya, sa kapwa, lalong lalo na sa ngangailangan...iwasan natin ang maging banal na aso at santong kabayo....amen.

Well said...

I was about to quote the same message sa kanta ni Yano hehe.

I hate to say this but a lot of people in this board that just can't seem to open their eyes to the truth in some critism about the culture...

Note, we're referring to the culture and actions, not the nation itself, not the people itself.

We're all criticizing what CAN BE CHANGED FROM WITHIN...

The most common response seems to be always "DI AKO YAN AH..." and then blame others without offering a hand for the solution...

[falken]

Self Bashing Na Naman !!!! Pag Ikaw Ba Eh Nagkasala Pinupokpok Mo Ba Ang Sarili Mo ? Hindi! Tulfo, Al Mendoza Dapat Tumira Kayo Sa Ibang Bansa Para Malaman Nyo Kung Paano Nila Mahalin Ang Kanilang Kamalian At Kabutihan. Yong " Al Mendoza Incident " Na Yon Hindi Ko Talaga Makakalimutan Hanggang Ngayon. Alam Kaya Ni Al Na Nalagay Ang Pilipinas Sa History Nang Sports Sa Baseball Dahil Sa Pagbubunyag Na Yon, Ano Kaya Ang Napala Nya Don Kung Tama Man Sya Don....pwede Tayong Maglabas Ng Mga Baho Natin Pero Kung Ang Nakataya Ay Ang Karangalan Ng Bansa Natin Ito Ay Dapat Nating Ipagtanggol.

2 wrongs don't make a right, para hindi lumabas ang baho natin, di na dapat nandaya in the first place, para walang baho.
It doesn't matter whether you win or lose a game, it's how you played it.
Huwag nating sisihin ang nagbunyag ng pandaraya, ang dapat sisihin, yung nandaya. Nandaya na nga ano pang karangalan ang dapat ipagtanggol.

[chua_riwap]

Itong si Tulfo, mainit na nga yung isyu tungkol sa "pandaraya" (daw) sa SEA Games, ginatungan pa.

Wala ka na bang puwedeng isulat?

[oldblue]

sino ba nagturo sa tin mag-cheat?

[yebo]

re the baseball little league chammpionship that al mendoza exposed, para sa akin dapat lang yon. a wrong is a wrong no matter what, let the chips lay where they fall ika nga. and in this particular case there were 2 issues of cheating. one was the age of the pinoy "kids". halata naman kasi na overage yung philippine team. they were up against the US team and the pinoy boys were a full head taller than their US opponents. biro mo hangang balikat lang nila yung mga US kids! it was so shameless cheating that happened, and it was only through the civility of the host (the US team) that the pinoy boys were allowed to play. second, the members of the team are suppose to come from one team only. for example kung bacolod little league team yun dapat all must be from bacolod bacolod little league. but what actually happened was that there were several (not few but several) players from other philippine little league teams (canlubang yata and manila). this is very much against the idea of little league baseball.

the philippine team returned the trophy, but i remember the US team did not accept.

kung susundin natin yang line of thought ninyo na "pinoy bashing" and itago ang baho, e di dapat si gen. garcia, garcilliano and most of all gma, must also be subjected to the same hiding of truth. so itago na lang ba ang baho and let garcia, garci and gma go scott free?

for a country to be democratic it must be willing to subject all its citizens to the same laws. and that means all of us, with no exemptions. it hurts yes, but it is one thing that defines a civilized society.

[pnay_fickle_minded]

kung susundin natin yang line of thought ninyo na "pinoy bashing" and itago ang baho, e di dapat si gen. garcia, garcilliano and most of all gma, must also be subjected to the same hiding of truth. so itago na lang ba ang baho and let garcia, garci and gma go scott free?

for a country to be democratic it must be willing to subject all its citizens to the same laws. and that means all of us, with no exemptions. it hurts yes, but it is one thing that defines a civilized society.

i agree....


for me, there`s really nothing wrong about TULFO`s article... totoo naman yung mga sinabi nya... TRUTH really hurts... We always complain about corruption, poverty, etc in the Philippines. Do u really think that these are the real problems of our country? for me its not, the only problem is the lack of love for the Philippines... kung mahal natin bansa natin, we wont do such things na ikakasama ng image natin...

[spiff]

this article was written by tulfo??? gago din yan eh...
one of the biggest among them... i remember a friend of mine had to pay him 500k. granted my friend was doing something wrong.. tulfo kept harrasing him otherwise he woudl have written articles about him

[Isuzoom]

Re Al Mendoza expose against sa team Philippines vs US Long Beach little league.. Tama naman ginawa ni Al Mendoza, hindi lang kalaban natin niloko natin pati na ang mga Fil-Ams nag support sa mga bata sa States at sarili nating pinoy. THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT WINNING BUT GIVING YOUR BEST...sino ang kawawa? yung mga bata.

[zeagle]

E totoo naman yan e. Bakit tayo magagalit? "Bato bato sa langit ang tamaan ay huwag magalit"