Saturday, April 30, 2016

Repost: Lea Salonga Writes a Letter to the Next Philippine President

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By: Lea Salonga

DEAR Sir or Madame:

Before writing further, allow me to congratulate you on your victory in these last elections. This one is hard won; this campaign season was one of the most divisive this country has ever seen.

Facebook feeds have been filled with negative posts and vitriol, with everyone drawing lines in the sand and taking sides. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that friendships have been broken as a result of this year’s election, despite the lifetimes that those unions have lasted.

However, the people have now spoken with their ballots, and you have emerged the winner. Hopefully, the fever generated on social media and elsewhere will now cool down, and that things will return to something closer to normal.

Allow me, please, as an ordinary citizen of this country, to offer my own two cents.

Of course, it is your prerogative to ignore everything this missive contains. This is not intended to tell you how to do your job, but rather to share the desires of my heart as one of the millions yearning for a brighter future for the next generation. I may be showing my naïveté, but kindly allow me a few minutes of your time.

Firstly, please decentralize the congestion in Metro Manila. Surely as a nation of 7,107 islands, Metro Manila cannot be the only place where the manna has fallen. Can’t the opportunities for jobs and education be spread everywhere?

As a result, perhaps the traffic situation that many from Metro Manila complain about will improve, because there will be less people flocking to this metropolis as the perceived central location for work.

Speaking of traffic, if the previous administration had a really good public transportation plan, please consider its merits.

Millions of commuters depend upon the rail and bus systems to get them from place to place. If there are ways to make sure that our commuters get to their destinations safely and expeditiously, including the maintenance of all these systems, and the roads that everyone uses, that would put smiles on their faces.

On that note… if there are programs, infrastructure or personnel from previous administrations that are actually working, it might be a good idea to have those things stay on, and maybe get reinforced.

Cultural presentations

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), for example, is a building built during the Marcos administration, and has remained as a premier location for stage plays, concerts and other cultural presentations. It is also in need of care. I’ve seen it glorious, and I’ve seen it in less than pristine condition.

Many artists and art companies call this place home. Given that the Filipino artist has been hailed all over the globe as “world-class,” it might be a good idea to nurture the arts in a world-class home.

A society can be judged on how it treats its artists. The late US President John F. Kennedy himself said, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over cities, we too will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.”

After all is said and done, just know that I shall support you because of the office you now occupy. Whether or not I actually voted for you is at this point irrelevant. I shall presume that you have the absolute best interests of our country and countrymen at heart, and will do everything in your power to

effect actual, tangible, visible change—the kind of change we have all been desperately craving for.

The word “change” means something different to different people, though… To some, it means the end of systemic corruption, horrible traffic snarls and feeling taken advantage of. To others, it means not having to leave one’s family to find work abroad, being able to walk safely at night and having access to good health care and education.

It’s a pity that you have such a short time period in which to provide all this. But know this: I know that you by yourself are not a miracle worker. One administration will not be enough to turn things around 180 degrees. That would be impossible.

All I ask for is to put the mechanisms in place that future generations can build upon in order to move our country forward. And I ask that future generations, without malice or vengefulness, continue whatever good work has been started.

Thank you very much for reading.

46 comments:

  1. Lea Salonga para sa Senado!

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    1. A society can be judged on how they are disciplined on the streets obeying and respecting rules not on how they treat their artists! You narcississtic feeling high faluting nakatungtong lang ng mga broadway eh wala namang impact yan sa buhay ng mga tao! Sa iyo lang! You entitled tita lea you!!!!

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    2. This campaign season one of the most divisive???? it has been like that ever since Marcos-Aquino! And every election! Nagpapaloko kasi mga tao sa systema! Hindi nila alam magkakabrod mga yan ang mga gusto lang nila ipakita sa mga tao ang pinapaalam nila pero behind the scenes eh magkakabrod yan! Kayong mga goyims o utouto sa mga patakbo lang nila ang apektado! Sample e sina Joey constant kindness Salceda at Roilo Golez at Ernesto Maceda mga political butterflys kahit sino manalo eh magkakakonektado pa din sila! Pero syempre yung mga Goyim ang nakikita lang e yung media na sinusubo sa kanila!

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    3. Haaay.. Ang malungkot na sinapit ni Pilipinas after how many years of the misued word of CHANGE. I just want a President and a Vice that is a unifying and efficient leader. Goodluck sa mananalo. SANA WALANG DAYAAN AT MANIPULATION.

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    4. Agree 1:01! That narcissistic b_t_ch is at it again. I have no respect for her.

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    5. Grabe 1:01am, laki ng galit mo kay Leah.

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    6. Omg, anon 3:10 ang lakis mka mura. She is a respected artist. She has every right to say what she wants and yhe hell she cares what you say. At sya relevant e ikaw kay?

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  2. I like this tita lea!

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  3. Ang tanong miss leah botante ka ba? At sigurado ka bang makakaboto sa eleksyon?

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    1. Research din muna bago kumuda.

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    2. siya ang kaunahang pinay na bumoto sa new york, where she is currently based. may karapatan siyang magbigay ng opinion, suggestion at kritisimo dahil responsible siyang botante at tax payer. at hinahangaan ko siya dahil doon. she walks the talk.

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    3. tinatanong mo si Tita Lea? ay kilala ko yung mga ganyang banat eh. Brando ikaw ba yan?

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    4. Kaya hindi umaasenso ang Pilipi as dahil sa mga katulad mong mag-isip eh. Bakit ba ang hirap makita ng mga katulad ninyo ang mabuti sa isang bagay? Bakit ba ang babaw ninyo mag-isip? Bakit kailangang may iguhit kayong negatibo sa mga sinasabi ng mga tao tungkol sa kabutihan ng nakakarami? Nagpapahayag lamang siya ng kanyang saloobin o kaisipan tungkol sa Pilipinas, sa ngalan ng lahat ng Pilipino. Hindi mo ba naisip magpasalamat na lamang at may isang kilalang tao na, hindi sangalan ng pag-eendorso, ang nagpapahayag ng mga 'dapat' gawin o pag-isipan ng magiging bagong Pangulo natin. Ikaw? Tatanungin kita kung makakaboto ka na ba, alam mo ba talaga kung sino karapat-dapat? Alam mo ba kung gaano ka-importante ang isang boto o baka sa isang libo'y matutumba na ang karangalan mo? Wag puro bash, minsan kailangan nating sumang-ayon o manahimik na lamang kung ganyan din lamang kababaw ang masasabi mo.

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    5. Anon 12:29 she has already voted. We overseas Filipinos have already recieved our ballots. Dada ka ng dada dyan!

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    6. 12:29, shunga tpos n sya bumoto...

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    7. Yes, she is.

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  4. Mejo nakakatouch basahin.

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  5. May endorsed na ba si Tita Lea? I hope parehas kame ng bet.

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    1. Based on her post, alam na natin kung sino ang binoto nya! Isa lang naman ang may platapormang ganyan, yung iba nangopya na lang kasi hirap ns hirap nang humabol!

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  6. Love her concern for our country. Tama siya

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    1. Truth di kagaya ng iba dtio na puro ka nega-han lang alam! Kaya hindi unuunlad Pilipinas e

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    2. Nagpahayag lang naman si Leah ng saloobin nya as a Filipino citizen! Lahat ng sinabi nya, yun ang hangad ng bawat isa sa atin! Grabe yung mga nega dito kaya hindi umaasenso ang bansa natin e!

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    3. For sure yung mga nega hindi binasa ang letter at basta na lang kumuda ng kanegahan!

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    4. For sure yung mga nega hindi binasa ang letter at basta na lang kumuda ng kanegahan!

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  7. a much, much better read than all those hateful FB posts. bongga ni tita Lea dito!

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  8. true role model. she gets her point across na walang pasaring, walang comparison, hindi kailangang mag-put-down ng iba. diretso. matalino.

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  9. Tumoak. Sama makinig ang next president. Lea is the rare celebrity that truly cares about our society. She always makes sense.

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  10. tama naman si lea. personally hindi ako masyado nageexpect sa magiging presidente dahil unang una masyado malaki problema ng bansa para maayos nya ng 6 years. pero umaasa ako na kahit papaano may magbago. maayos lang tlga ng next president ang mrt/lrt1&2/pnr malaki bagay na to pra sa mga Pilipino.

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  11. this touched my heart... sana may chance na mabasa to ng future

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  12. I am now officially Ms. Lea Salonga’s fan! Goosebumps here! I wish she can study how to manage a country and run for presidency the next time. But, in so wishing, I hope she would apply all the good things in her head and wouldn’t be eaten by the system! Love … Love … Lea Salonga! And, this will be the LLLS Movement from now on!

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  13. sigh... tatak tita Liya!

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  14. Bakit ba dami haters ni Ms. Lea? I like her. She's very straight forward and may point lagi ang kanyang mga opinions. You can't blame her. She's intelligent and an achiever... and she has a heart for her fellow pinoys kahit sinasabi nilang astang kano na siya dahil matagal siyang tumira abroad. Well, tingin ko natutunan lang niya ang mga bagay bagay sa totoong buhay na di nakikita ng karamihan.

    I agree with you Ms. Lea.

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    1. Haha... Kasi po ganyan ang Pinoy. Balat sibuyas pag tinamaan pero grabe naman kung maka-pintas. Iilan lang ang mga Pinoy na sasabihin to your face ang tingin nila sa yo at mas lalong iilan ang tatanggap non objectively.

      Himayin man natin ang sinabi ni Lea, wala akong makitang masama sa sinabi nya. Pero meron at merong magsasabi ng masama not because they don't like what she said, but for who she is: intelligent, successful, and a woman who speaks her mind.

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  15. Hay nako... Pilipinas kog mahal !

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  16. Bat naging NARCISSISTIC c Lea dito?? Should you not be sharing same sentiments??? That kind of attitude sounds like PNOYTARDS to me!!! I admire Lea for writing this!!!

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  17. I love my country, no matter what. Mahal ko talaga ang Pilipinas, I love being a Filipino and I 100% agree with Ms Lea here. Every single one of us is thirsty and desperate for that "change", nang tayo naman ay angat kahit man lang among SE Asian countries muna, let's start there.

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  18. I don't think Leah is a narcissistic. She has valid reasons and so glad she addressed those to the future president of our country. Very well said Ms. Lea. I truly admire your intelligent!

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  19. Well-said Ms. Leah!

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  20. Its not what she says that's annoying kasi may point naman siya. Its her demeanor and how she says things. Medyo Ms. know it all lang and peg. Ang sarap takpan ng masking tape and bibig.

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    1. 2:24 Korek ka dyan!

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    2. I like it actually 2:24. No pacute, no sugar coating. Just the facts.

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  21. I think Leah is for Tunay na Pagbabago.

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  22. 2:24 what about her demeanor? How she says things? She is confident, direct/upfront, has valid points, articulate, respectful in her tone, educated, fair, tactful, straightforward. Perhaps it is your perception that's flawed. Instead of nitpicking, why not try to understand the essence of her letter? Maybe, you could learn a thing or two from her missive, could be more proactive with national issues, and put your two cents worth to good us.

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  23. 12:29, ang tanong, naintindihan mo ba ang point ni Ms. Lea Salonga?

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  24. 1:01 Arts/artists, refines a culture/gives culture its spirit/soul. Try living without music, without literature, without, movies, without tv, without the beauty of the great works of arts, etc. Without creativity and imagination, the world will be a barren, boring, place, among other things.

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  25. wow ang haba, ang dami niyang time.

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