*A Movement of Increasing Complexity*

In a Chinese book, The Three Kingdoms, the first line is: “What's united
shall dis-integrate; what's separated shall unite.” This is long a view
of history. Historical movement involves both integration and
disintegration.

Another view is that there is an increasing complexity in the society.
This movement involves three strands which develop simultaneously:

1. Increasing uniqueness or deepening subjectivity or increasing
individuation

(For ethnic groups, the Bisdak molabyog na gyod og Bisrak. Bisaya gyod
ko. Nagkalalom ang pagtuo ug gugma sa pagkabisaya. Unsay bililhon sa mga
Bisaya ginahandom. May kaugalingong panglantaw sa pagkabisaya. ‘Nong
tayo’y mga sanggol, tayo’y magkamukha....apan pagdako, Bisaya na kaayog
dagway ug barog. Sinultihan binisaya pod. Unsay iya talagsaon gyod.
‘Noong tayo’y mga sanggol, tayo ay magkamukha, ngunit karong dako na ka,
bisaya na kaayog barog ug dagway. Gahi pa gyog dila.)


2. Increasing differences or diversity
(In the midst of a more and more colorful peoples of the Philippines
diverse cultural festivals will occur, differences in cultural
development will become evident as the peoples in the Archipelago will
have different choices and decisions, they'll be more distinct from one
another. As each tribe take seriously their right for self-determination
and walk their different paths of cultural development. Uniformity fades
away as a thing of the past. Diversity flourishes. Diverse languages
will be singing different but meaningful songs.


3. Increasing communion or comm-unity

(There will be increasing inter-regional cooperation,
collaboration,inter-regional
trading,federations,alliances,intermarriages,exchanges,inter-island
tourisms,inter-regional events, intercultural exchanges or
inter-communications all over the air, land and seas of the Archipelago,
gone is the monopoloy of Imperial Manila. There will be sharing of
events all over the country, increasing participation, increasing
bayanihan resulting to a common vision of the ‘Philippine Nation', 'The
Filipino” , the community of communities sharing common meanings and
common good. (common, connotes that what is good for all is also good
for one). Common-Unity that’s good only for Tagalogs is fake and false.
Not good for the whole country.

But sadly,

the colonial mentality, low cultural self-esteem ,Tagalista forces,
institutionalized uniformity, and all other forces that suppress or
repress this movement seem so say:


Muffle down your voices, 'calm down Bisaya, don't react to the slur(even
if it hurts your core), let's not talk about your feelings, its not
important, dont take seriously your thoughts about it, it’s just a
normal joke, forget about it, shut your mouth, you have nothing really
to say, you’re not unique, you are just like us Tagalogs. Better be it.
You don’t have your own perspectives, just follow the trends of Tagalogs.

And the chant goes on, we are all Filipinos, we have so many problems to
face as a country, let’s be united,don’t rock the boat,it might break
our (fake) unity, let's just put aside our differences, for differences
are not important(so is diversity be taken for granted), let's be weary
and afraid of our differences, don’t mention them,they cause disunity,
we are all Filipinos (as long as you are tagalog/ or tagalized), and we
might lose our 'uniformed' identity as Filipinos, so let's be the same
in the image and likeness of Tagalogs.

Another refrain. Ethnicity is not an issue. We have more serious
problems than that. Senators should have better things to do than watch
SSS. Lets not discuss it. Your protest is an overreaction. We need not
hear about it, nor need to respond to it.Let's not talk about it, let’s
not talk at all. Let’s not talk about you, about your ethnic group, your
culture and local situation, etc. You're promdis and not worth talking
to nor talking about except in a slur. Let's talk about Manila and the
showbiz.Let's have a one way (monologue) 'communication' which means we
talk , you listen, so that we can build a happy community, with a common
vision and dreams, of course tagalog that of tagalog nationalistas dream
for a strong centralized republic. So keep on paying your taxes and send
it to Manila. You, Mindanawon, Davaoeno orButuanon, be not proud because
you are not aloud to sing the song of self-determination otherwise we
will use the tax you paid to buy bullets and return them to you with
sincerity and love, for the greater love of our strong and united
country, the Philippines. Dont’s struggle. Be stable under the table.
Wait for the crumbs.


But the good news is,

it’s a losing game for those who go against the tide of increasing
complexity or the

process of evolution. Who could successfully suppress the increasing
light of awareness of peoples rights, and who could stamp down the
awakening of self-consciousness of many ethnic minorities. Who could
muffle down the diverse voices who want to sing the harmony song of
unity in diversity. The mother singing a lullaby to the baby in the
duyan and the Father singing the ballads and the songs of heroes to his
young. Who could silence the dila of the people’s consciousness and
conscience.


Hopefully, we have enough courage and clarity to face the increasing
challenges ahead, using diverse ways and means to face them, promoting
collaboration and cooperation inorder to ride smoothly with flying
colors on the wave of increasing complexity in our society.

Believing in our own self, our own people, let’s make a difference for
our country.

Padayon.

Akoy

2008.01.10

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