By Elinando Cinco
Raw mayhem, it appears, is the order of the day in many urban centers the world over.
They are reeling over in disarray and ruins. From Hong Kong and Teheran to Santiago, Chile and Baghdad. But Metro Manila is comparatively peaceful and clean.
There are deaths and injuries to rallyists, and millions of dollars are wasted in terms of lost business and destroyed properties owned by government and the private sector.
All the while the gentle situation in Manila is a big wonder to local observers and foreign media veterans.
Yet Filipinos are no strangers to street demonstrations and protest marches. But what’s with the silent demeanor among local activists, left-leaning groups and militant academe these days? The answer seems to be they are not easily agitated by what is happening overseas.
Or, there may be some reason to it.
One is there is truth to the regular public opinion survey results that show Filipinos, in general, are satisfied with their well-being and give a thumbs-up sign of their trust in the Duterte administration.
In fact, survey findings indicate that 84 percent of them are happy with the things happening around their lives.
Contrary to what skeptics are peddling and retailing to the public.
So why then are the cold shoulders by the Filipinos to the anarchy overseas?
First, our social orientation gives way to the pleadings of “proverbial cooler heads,” thus, dampening highly charged encounters from bursting.
Second, our family upbringing suppresses anger and emotional flare-ups paving the way to calmer propositions.
Third, only a few Filipinos have myopic eyes. Many are advocates of the pros-and-cons approach to a dispute the result of which prevents an eruption of hostile encounters.
Here are some major cities of the world whose current urban-jungle upheavals are rocking their good standing before the international community:
HONG KONG – The umbrella-clad protesters started their virulent protests over a Beijing-sponsored law that mandated trials of offenders be held in the Eternal City.Dissenters destroyed office and traffic facilities, paralyzed the city’s financial district, transportation hubs and lately, school campuses.Not even the deletion of the controversial provision last July could appease the headstrong crowds, this time asking for more reforms.
SANTIAGO CITY, Chile – Police teams in the city were so daring as to even fire live ammunition at protest marchers killing some of them, according to media reports coming from the urban center. New government programs were being asked for by the crowd.
PNOM-PENH, Cambodia – Reforms promised by the present administrators are slow in coming, said the opposition. Their leaders based overseas are all poised to come home to lead the demonstrations.
CAIRO CITY, Egypt – Rallyists demand the phasing out of what they called overstaying officials. Early elections plus, other similar actions are popular changes that are being asked.
GUINEA – This tiny north African country is angry and hungry. Residents are demanding their government to program an efficient food distribution system.
TEHERAN CITY, Iran – People are against the government’s plan to increase the prices of oil products. They said the public never enjoys the benefits of oil priced subsidy.
BAGHDAD CITY – One of the most cruel police organizations that tried to quell dissent and protests in Iraq. Armed military and police teams openly fire live bullets at riots and opposition crowds resulting in unaccounted casualties, media reports claimed.
LA PAZ, Bolivia – Evo Morales, the first Bolivian native ever freely elected president of the geographically highly mountainous nation, could not stand the pressure of his countrymen calling for reforms. Fortnight ago, he resigned and sought asylum in Mexico which was granted. Then mostly native Bolivians took to the street in massive demonstrations demanding for their ex-president’s return.a