TRAPO,
n. dishrag, rag (see also Traditional Politician)
1. recycled cloth
2. used again and again and again to clean dirt
TRADITIONAL POLITICIAN n. trapo
1. recycled statesman
2. runs again and again and again no matter how dirty
HOW TO SPOT THEM
1. Easy, just watch TV, and wait for infomercials that hammer the brain of viewers (also called electorate) with the candidate's name, "advocacy", skills, talents, ability to hold a
sulo, ability to look cool, ability to smile in the slums area, ability to make people stand, inability to keep his promise to the poor (that's why you can trust him to keep his promise if elected in 2010, including his promise not to be caught next time), inability to show sincerity during great accomplishments for the less fortunate...and so much more. Keep watching, you're bound to see them try more stunts, and show more tricks.
2. They have "updated" their look very recently. Either by wearing the same color, and even the same shirt in their best attempt to brainwash the people, or by discarding their old, boring ensemble to appeal to maybe matronas, single ladies, or single men. And, like the annual sports events and intramurals in school, you'll bet they are surrounded by a flock of supporters wearing the same color as the Trapo, and yes, most likely the same, exact shirt, too.
3. They speak the same rehearsed scripts, from the time they entered politics. Using the same delivery that seemed to have been key to their winning. Speaking in impeccable Tagalog, which they made sure they learned because despite the English Campaign in schools promoted by the same old Trapos, they believe that Election Speeches should be delivered masa-style. Why not? They sincerely believe that the masa will only understand them in Tagalog.
4. They will always have a word or two AGAINST their competitors --they believe that a show of machismo, or aggression is what their audience (also known as constituency) wants. Why not? The applause from supporters gets even louder when they bash their enemies anyway.
5. Follow the media trail -- where there are more cameramen, reporters from major television stations, radio stations and newspapers -- for sure you'll find a Trapo basking in the limelight. It doesn't really matter what they say, or talk about. Who cares anyway? They are celebrities and stars in their own right. Most of them were celebrities and stars, in fact. And besides, better to make the media ready for them when they decide to make their own movie, or television show after, or maybe during their term.
TRAPOS: STARS OF CURRENT PHILIPPINE POLITICS
They believe that they own the Philippines and the Filipinos. They build wherever they deem fit to run their businesses. They make businesses out of people's taxes. And they even use the money for calamities, and services for their own personal use --some of which include property and expensive dinners abroad, and of course, to fund their campaigns in the upcoming elections.
While we see more and more children and families homeless in the streets, and communities living below poverty line --we see more and more mansions in high-end villages, multiple cars in their garages, and television ads worth millions of pesos that are "not prematurely campaigning", and only "paid for by their friends" to ensure that they remain in position, in power, to continue their reign of greed, hoping that the constituency remain blind, deaf, mute and numb to their in-your-face corrupt and inhumane ways.
Justice is a concept for them that can be bought, sold, auctioned, and silenced with stolen money and stolen powe
r.
And of course, who can easily forget Mother Nature who left many Filipinos traumatized?
She is not spared in all these, because Trapos own her too! Oh, Reming, Milenyo, Ondoy, and Pepeng are just some of the ways these Trapos deal with overpopulation. They still have mother nature at their mercy. They will never give her up, who would? She's got a never-ending supply of lush forests, coral reefs, metal ores, pets, clothes, food and souvenirs that bring millions, or is it billions, er, maybe trillions of dollars to the Philippines. Who can keep up with the math anyway?
TRAPOS: CLOWNS IN THE CIRCUS THAT IS OUR NATIONAL ELECTIONS
As May 2010 draws near, election fever is already running high, and the Circus is ON! Don't fail to watch our politicos putting on their best masks, and painted faces. Jumping from one political party trampoline to another, choosing the one that will bring them to greater heights!
The best gimmick, whether it's the never-ending tear-jerker, the run-of-the-mill slapstick, or the usual action-packed scenarios -- they will do everything, sell everything, and be everything just to "win the hearts" of the Filipino people. As the old saying goes (as old as trapos, perhaps), whether it's through
santong paspasan or
santong dasalan, they will always get what they greedily want.
Traditional Elections, sibling of Traditional Politics is always about the best show and the best performance. The audience, or sometimes called the electorate, will vote for the candidate that wins anyway -- the major core belief of Trapos, thus for them, the TrAE is a done deal and simply a formality.
TRAPOS IN 2010 AND BEYOND?
Well, as I said, 2010 according to Trapos (and even Trapo followers) is a done deal. And any candidate that does not wear the color of Trapo
will face the consequences of guns, goons and gold during elections and beyond. Not even the power of the people can match the power of rotten apples, er, Trapos in their quest to be the "saviors" of this country.
"INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
SO, HOW ABOUT YOU?
ARE YOU GOING TO BE INSANE THIS COMING ELECTION?
WHAT IS YOUR VOTE WORTH?
ARE YOU GOING TO CHOOSE TRAPOS OVER THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THIS COUNTRY FOR THE BETTER?
OR WILL YOU JUST WAIT UNTIL WE ALL SINK TOGETHER, AS A PEOPLE, IN CORRUPTION MUCK AND FLOODWATERS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE?
ME?
I may be wild, weird and crazy going for the road less traveled -- but I'd rather take a chance on the NEW and believe that this country is Worth Living For. Than accept "the way things are", or the "lesser evil". I am powerful. We are all powerful. We all have the power to create our reality. If we choose to.
THINK ABOUT IT. Or better yet, just open your eyes, ears, mind and heart.
WHAT IF we can really change this country? WHAT IF we really deserve the best life we can ever live? WHAT IF...the
New Philippines...the
New Politics...or the
New President is just waiting for YOU??
For your help. For you to believe in yourself, and believe that the rest of the Filipino people can take action and move together for God, Country, Fellow Filipinos, and Humanity.
TAKE A CHANCE. TAKE BACK YOUR POWER.
AND LET US ALL LEAVE THE TRAPO MENTALITY BEHIND.
But slowly, and surely, all these events trigger continued awakening in each of us. Opening our eyes, hearts and minds to understand that we are much more than what we see, feel and think right now. We are much more than all these disasters, diseases, violence, hate, anger, guilt, worry, doubt and fear.
