2009年6月8日月曜日
2009年6月3日水曜日
ジョセ・ジーベン・R・セギの卒業演説
一つになろう、誰一人欺くな
３人の工事請負人がホワイトハウスのフェンスのちょっとした修理に対して値をつけている。１人はアメリカ人で、もう１人はメキシコ人、そして最後の１人はもちろんフィリピン人である。彼らはホワイトハウスの役人とフェンスを調べに行く。アメリカ人の請負人は巻尺を取り出していくらかの測量を行って数字を弾き出す。「ええー」彼は言う「この工事は９００ドルになります。４００ドルが材料費、４００ドルが私の従業員への支払い、そして１００ドルが私の儲けです」。メキシコ人が今度は測量を行って言います「私ならこの工事を７００ドルで請け負います。３００ドルが材料費、３００ドルが私の従業員への支払い、そして１００ドルが私の儲けです」。フィリピン人は自分の顎をいじり、ホワイトハウスの役人に寄り沿って囁く「２７００ドル」。役人は不信に満ちて言う「何だって？そんな値段で行う修理を私がどう思うと思っているんだ？だいたい君は測量も何もしてないじゃないか！」。「簡単なことですよ…」フィリピン人は説明する、「１０００ドルがあなたへの賄賂、１０００ドルが私の儲け、そして(残りのお金で)メキシコ人を雇いましょう」。翌日、フィリピン人は(このことを何も知らない)メキシコ人と一緒にフェンスの修理をしている。
私がこのジョークを最初に聞いたのは３年以上前です。高校を出たばかりで、希望に満ちて目を大きく見開いた新入生の頃で、このジョークをとてもおかしく思いました。このジョークを聞いて、私はフィリピン人であることを誇りにさえ思いました。私は思ったのです「フィリピン人ってすげえ！俺達は計算が得意なだけでなく抜け目ない！(Hanep talaga ang mga Pinoy! Magaling na mag-add, ma-utak pa!)」
しかし４年間のフィリピン大学での生活と現実がもたらす数え切れないほどの苦労は人のものの見方を変えるものです。最近このジョークをまた読んだとき、これを面白いとは思いましたが、誇りに思う代わりに、やりきれない気持ちと恥ずかしさを感じました。この類の不誠実さは私たちの国で実際に起こっていて、それもより大きな規模で起こっているのです。
このジョークは私たちフィリピン人が持っているいまだによく見受けられる悪い態度を暗に言い当てています。母はこれを「誰かを欺くためにみんなが１つになる(mang-iisa-kung-magkaka-isa)」態度と呼んでいます。この態度は高位の政治家に見られます、彼らはより明るい将来とより良いリーダーシップについて壮大な約束をしながらいったん当選してしまえば議員室で、自分たちの利益を人々の福祉よりも優先するのです。よく路上で目にする交通整理官もあいまいな交通標識につけこんで自分たちの「おやつ代(pangmeryenda)」を(ドライバーから)取り立てます。もしくは私たちビコール人が呼ぶところの「相手をわざと混乱させて金を取る(libong libong pabor)」にこの態度を見ることができます。「ねぇきみ」一人の男がその友達に言います「きみボクにお金を借りてたよね？」「覚えてないな。いくらだっけ？」友達は尋ねます。「１００ペソじゃなかった？今週払うって言ったよ」。「ああーわかったよ」、「１００ペソだよね」と確認して友達は払います、それが本当は１５０ペソだったと知っているのに…このように、彼らはすでに友達なのに、そうではないのかも知れません。(Biro mo, magkaibigan na iyon; lalo na siguro kung hindi.)
３人の工事請負人がホワイトハウスのフェンスのちょっとした修理に対して値をつけている。１人はアメリカ人で、もう１人はメキシコ人、そして最後の１人はもちろんフィリピン人である。彼らはホワイトハウスの役人とフェンスを調べに行く。アメリカ人の請負人は巻尺を取り出していくらかの測量を行って数字を弾き出す。「ええー」彼は言う「この工事は９００ドルになります。４００ドルが材料費、４００ドルが私の従業員への支払い、そして１００ドルが私の儲けです」。メキシコ人が今度は測量を行って言います「私ならこの工事を７００ドルで請け負います。３００ドルが材料費、３００ドルが私の従業員への支払い、そして１００ドルが私の儲けです」。フィリピン人は自分の顎をいじり、ホワイトハウスの役人に寄り沿って囁く「２７００ドル」。役人は不信に満ちて言う「何だって？そんな値段で行う修理を私がどう思うと思っているんだ？だいたい君は測量も何もしてないじゃないか！」。「簡単なことですよ…」フィリピン人は説明する、「１０００ドルがあなたへの賄賂、１０００ドルが私の儲け、そして(残りのお金で)メキシコ人を雇いましょう」。翌日、フィリピン人は(このことを何も知らない)メキシコ人と一緒にフェンスの修理をしている。
私がこのジョークを最初に聞いたのは３年以上前です。高校を出たばかりで、希望に満ちて目を大きく見開いた新入生の頃で、このジョークをとてもおかしく思いました。このジョークを聞いて、私はフィリピン人であることを誇りにさえ思いました。私は思ったのです「フィリピン人ってすげえ！俺達は計算が得意なだけでなく抜け目ない！(Hanep talaga ang mga Pinoy! Magaling na mag-add, ma-utak pa!)」
しかし４年間のフィリピン大学での生活と現実がもたらす数え切れないほどの苦労は人のものの見方を変えるものです。最近このジョークをまた読んだとき、これを面白いとは思いましたが、誇りに思う代わりに、やりきれない気持ちと恥ずかしさを感じました。この類の不誠実さは私たちの国で実際に起こっていて、それもより大きな規模で起こっているのです。
このジョークは私たちフィリピン人が持っているいまだによく見受けられる悪い態度を暗に言い当てています。母はこれを「誰かを欺くためにみんなが１つになる(mang-iisa-kung-magkaka-isa)」態度と呼んでいます。この態度は高位の政治家に見られます、彼らはより明るい将来とより良いリーダーシップについて壮大な約束をしながらいったん当選してしまえば議員室で、自分たちの利益を人々の福祉よりも優先するのです。よく路上で目にする交通整理官もあいまいな交通標識につけこんで自分たちの「おやつ代(pangmeryenda)」を(ドライバーから)取り立てます。もしくは私たちビコール人が呼ぶところの「相手をわざと混乱させて金を取る(libong libong pabor)」にこの態度を見ることができます。「ねぇきみ」一人の男がその友達に言います「きみボクにお金を借りてたよね？」「覚えてないな。いくらだっけ？」友達は尋ねます。「１００ペソじゃなかった？今週払うって言ったよ」。「ああーわかったよ」、「１００ペソだよね」と確認して友達は払います、それが本当は１５０ペソだったと知っているのに…このように、彼らはすでに友達なのに、そうではないのかも知れません。(Biro mo, magkaibigan na iyon; lalo na siguro kung hindi.)
Valedictory Speech by Joseph Jeeben R. Segui
Magkaisa, Huwag Mang-isa (Let's be one, don't fool anyone)
Three contractors are bidding to do some minor repairs on the White House fence. One is an American, the other, a Mexican, and the last is of course a Filipino. They go with a White House official to examine the fence. The American contractor takes out his tape measure, does some measuring, and then works out some figures. “Well,” he says, “I figure this will cost about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew, and $100 profit for me. “ The Mexican then does his measuring and says, “I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew, and $100 profit for me.” The Filipino scratches his chin, leans over to the White House official and whispers “$2700.” The official, incredulous, says, “What?! How do you expect me to consider your service with that kind of figure? Plus, you didn’t even measure anything.” “It’s simple,” the Pinoy explains, “$1000 for you, $1000 for me, and we hire the Mexican.” The next day, the Filipino and the Mexican are both working on the fence.
I first heard that joke more than three years ago. Fresh out of high school, a wide-eyed first year college student, I found the joke hilarious. It even made me more proud to be a Filipino. I thought to myself, “Hanep talaga ang mga Pinoy! Magaling na mag-add, ma-utak pa!”(=“Filipinos are awesome! We're not only math geniuses, but we're also shrewd!”)
But four years of UP college life and an innumerable number of slaps from reality changes one’s perspective of things. When I read the joke again recently, I still found it funny but instead of pride, I felt frustration and shame. This kind of dishonesty really happens in our country and it happens on a much larger scale.
The joke alludes to an adverse yet prevalent attitude that we Filipinos have. My mother calls it the“mang-iisa-kung-magkaka-isa”(=“deceive someone only if we are one”) attitude. We see it in the high-ranking politicians who give out grandiose promises of a brighter future and a better leadership but once elected in office, place their interests above the welfare of the people, to your run-of-the-mill traffic enforcer who capitalizes on ambiguous traffic signs to exact their“pangmeryenda.”(=“money for their snacks.”) Or to what we Bicolanos call the libong libong pabor.(=attempt to confuse you to favor money from you.) “Pare,”(=“Hey you”) a guy says to his friend, “may utang ka sa akin diba?”(“You owe me money, don't you?”)“Hindi ko maalala. Magkano?”(=“I don't remember. How much?”) the other asks.“Hindi ba 100? Sabi mo babayaran mo ngayonng linggo.”(=“Isn't it 100 pesos? You said you pay me this week.”)“Oo nga,”(=“Yeah, that's right.”) the other affirms,“100 nga pala yun,”(=“It's 100 pesos.”) even though he knows it was really 150. Biro mo, magkaibigan na iyon; lalo na siguro kung hindi.(=You see, they are already friends, Imagine if they're not!)
Manifestations of this Pinoy trait can be seen even in UP, especially during the enrollment period. I once had lunch with this girl I really liked. She was a registration assistant for most of her college life and we inevitably talked about her experiences during enrollment in UP. She shared with me the different strategies UP students would use to try to get the slots that they want. Basically there are four strategies; she got everything down to a science. The first is ‘persuasion.’The student tries to be charming and funny in an attempt to befriend the RA(registration assistant) and then possibly find a soft spot and persuade the RA to give him or her priority; nakiki-flirt ba. (=flirting.) The second is ‘commiseration’. Here the student simply appeals to the pity of the RA; nagmamakaawa. (=trying to get sympathy.) The third is ‘intimidation’. Here the student tries to force his or her will onto the RA; nagtataray. (=intimidating) The last is ‘tactics’. Two people who've struck a deal coordinate the timing of one's cancellation of his slot to the other's request for a slot. Just to let you guys know, this crafty scheme usually works.
Just from this story, it's pretty clear how clever and resourceful we Filipinos are. Biruin mo ‘yun, enrollment na nga lang, may mga nalalaman pa tayong mga strategy. (=You see, it is just an enrollment but we already know a lot of strategies.)
There is no doubt in my mind of how capable Filipinos are in achieving their goals. From sports: boxing, billiards, wushu, patintero agawan base; to music and to the sciences, we continue to exhibit our prowess despite the tough economic conditions plaguing our country. Filipino kids who migrate to the US and anywhere abroad really, almost always find themselves at the top of their class. And often, we hear news of some Filipino making waves abroad. Time and again, we Filipinos have shown our capacity to do good work.
Hindi talaga matatawaran ang galing ng mga Pinoy. (=No one can beat the resourcefulness of the Filipinos.)
Some of you may be thinking,“If Filipinos are so competent, why then are we this ditch-of-a-situation?”I don't have the absolute answer but what I do know for sure is that a big part of the problem has to do with the Pinoy's“mapang-lamang”(=“taking advantage of others”) attitude.
It may not seem so serious, but this Pinoy quality is cancer to our society. It goes unnoticed but it is terribly damaging. This kind of self-centered mentality is precisely the root of corruption and dishonesty. Personal wellbeing outweighs communal, even national benefit. It pits Filipinos against each other in a struggle to get at an advantage over another.
As we prepare to leave the University and go on our own ways, we, the soon to be leaders of this nation, should be free of this detrimental quality. If we are to effect positive changes that would bring this nation to a better tomorrow, we should first start over with ourselves.
We must change our self-centered mindset. Let us refrain from engaging in ‘tactics’ that elevate our own status at the expense of others. We must change the way we view our fellow Filipinos. See them not as hurdles to our individual advancement; rather, as comrades in the struggle towards national progress. And we must constantly remind ourselves that our personal gain picayune compared to the nation's interest.
Look at the person seated next to you. Look them in the eyes and reassure them that you have their back.
Kahit mukhang kontrabida yan, Pilipino yan, komrad mo yan.(=Even if he/she looks like a villain, he/she is a Filipino, he/she is your comrade.)
Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.(=Good afternoon to everyone.)
Three contractors are bidding to do some minor repairs on the White House fence. One is an American, the other, a Mexican, and the last is of course a Filipino. They go with a White House official to examine the fence. The American contractor takes out his tape measure, does some measuring, and then works out some figures. “Well,” he says, “I figure this will cost about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew, and $100 profit for me. “ The Mexican then does his measuring and says, “I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew, and $100 profit for me.” The Filipino scratches his chin, leans over to the White House official and whispers “$2700.” The official, incredulous, says, “What?! How do you expect me to consider your service with that kind of figure? Plus, you didn’t even measure anything.” “It’s simple,” the Pinoy explains, “$1000 for you, $1000 for me, and we hire the Mexican.” The next day, the Filipino and the Mexican are both working on the fence.
I first heard that joke more than three years ago. Fresh out of high school, a wide-eyed first year college student, I found the joke hilarious. It even made me more proud to be a Filipino. I thought to myself, “Hanep talaga ang mga Pinoy! Magaling na mag-add, ma-utak pa!”(=“Filipinos are awesome! We're not only math geniuses, but we're also shrewd!”)
But four years of UP college life and an innumerable number of slaps from reality changes one’s perspective of things. When I read the joke again recently, I still found it funny but instead of pride, I felt frustration and shame. This kind of dishonesty really happens in our country and it happens on a much larger scale.
The joke alludes to an adverse yet prevalent attitude that we Filipinos have. My mother calls it the“mang-iisa-kung-magkaka-isa”(=“deceive someone only if we are one”) attitude. We see it in the high-ranking politicians who give out grandiose promises of a brighter future and a better leadership but once elected in office, place their interests above the welfare of the people, to your run-of-the-mill traffic enforcer who capitalizes on ambiguous traffic signs to exact their“pangmeryenda.”(=“money for their snacks.”) Or to what we Bicolanos call the libong libong pabor.(=attempt to confuse you to favor money from you.) “Pare,”(=“Hey you”) a guy says to his friend, “may utang ka sa akin diba?”(“You owe me money, don't you?”)“Hindi ko maalala. Magkano?”(=“I don't remember. How much?”) the other asks.“Hindi ba 100? Sabi mo babayaran mo ngayonng linggo.”(=“Isn't it 100 pesos? You said you pay me this week.”)“Oo nga,”(=“Yeah, that's right.”) the other affirms,“100 nga pala yun,”(=“It's 100 pesos.”) even though he knows it was really 150. Biro mo, magkaibigan na iyon; lalo na siguro kung hindi.(=You see, they are already friends, Imagine if they're not!)
Manifestations of this Pinoy trait can be seen even in UP, especially during the enrollment period. I once had lunch with this girl I really liked. She was a registration assistant for most of her college life and we inevitably talked about her experiences during enrollment in UP. She shared with me the different strategies UP students would use to try to get the slots that they want. Basically there are four strategies; she got everything down to a science. The first is ‘persuasion.’The student tries to be charming and funny in an attempt to befriend the RA(registration assistant) and then possibly find a soft spot and persuade the RA to give him or her priority; nakiki-flirt ba. (=flirting.) The second is ‘commiseration’. Here the student simply appeals to the pity of the RA; nagmamakaawa. (=trying to get sympathy.) The third is ‘intimidation’. Here the student tries to force his or her will onto the RA; nagtataray. (=intimidating) The last is ‘tactics’. Two people who've struck a deal coordinate the timing of one's cancellation of his slot to the other's request for a slot. Just to let you guys know, this crafty scheme usually works.
Just from this story, it's pretty clear how clever and resourceful we Filipinos are. Biruin mo ‘yun, enrollment na nga lang, may mga nalalaman pa tayong mga strategy. (=You see, it is just an enrollment but we already know a lot of strategies.)
There is no doubt in my mind of how capable Filipinos are in achieving their goals. From sports: boxing, billiards, wushu, patintero agawan base; to music and to the sciences, we continue to exhibit our prowess despite the tough economic conditions plaguing our country. Filipino kids who migrate to the US and anywhere abroad really, almost always find themselves at the top of their class. And often, we hear news of some Filipino making waves abroad. Time and again, we Filipinos have shown our capacity to do good work.
Hindi talaga matatawaran ang galing ng mga Pinoy. (=No one can beat the resourcefulness of the Filipinos.)
Some of you may be thinking,“If Filipinos are so competent, why then are we this ditch-of-a-situation?”I don't have the absolute answer but what I do know for sure is that a big part of the problem has to do with the Pinoy's“mapang-lamang”(=“taking advantage of others”) attitude.
It may not seem so serious, but this Pinoy quality is cancer to our society. It goes unnoticed but it is terribly damaging. This kind of self-centered mentality is precisely the root of corruption and dishonesty. Personal wellbeing outweighs communal, even national benefit. It pits Filipinos against each other in a struggle to get at an advantage over another.
As we prepare to leave the University and go on our own ways, we, the soon to be leaders of this nation, should be free of this detrimental quality. If we are to effect positive changes that would bring this nation to a better tomorrow, we should first start over with ourselves.
We must change our self-centered mindset. Let us refrain from engaging in ‘tactics’ that elevate our own status at the expense of others. We must change the way we view our fellow Filipinos. See them not as hurdles to our individual advancement; rather, as comrades in the struggle towards national progress. And we must constantly remind ourselves that our personal gain picayune compared to the nation's interest.
Look at the person seated next to you. Look them in the eyes and reassure them that you have their back.
Kahit mukhang kontrabida yan, Pilipino yan, komrad mo yan.(=Even if he/she looks like a villain, he/she is a Filipino, he/she is your comrade.)
Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.(=Good afternoon to everyone.)
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