The Search :
- A closer look

05-Dec-2007 10:44 PM

Fernando Amorsolo's painting of the bayanihan said it all.
At first glance of the painting you will notice some pretty good thing going on.
Bayanihan means camaraderie, its what the usual interpretation of the painting.
Men helping together to relocate a nipa hut, it's sounds good.
But what it really means, Camaraderie? Yes, but that's not the only meaning of this painting. If you'll look closely (but not too close) you will find some questions. Why are they doing that? Why build a nipa hut in a different location, then transfer it on the other? Why not build the nipa hut where it should settle? My analysis here is that the nipa hut were its been is a private property lot. So It should be move to different location from time to time. In short it's a squatters nipa hut.

Vice president Noli de Castro has been a broadcaster first for many years before he got into public service. He has been thru all places in the Philippines, making a report of the people's problem both live and on recorded tape. The project his now developing as a vice president is a result of his first hand experience on the housing problem. He is, the very qualified person to see the problem of professional squatters where a person or group squat on a private land and ask help to the government. The government answers there plea and give them a house and lot. These professional squatters will then sell there house and lot and move to a different private lot and squat again. Some of them don't sell there house and lot, they offer it for rent. Not all squatters do this but these professional squatters are making the housing problem much worst than before.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando breaks thru barrier of traditional policy when he "In force" the rule of law. Although it may look like a bad thing, the result is a cleaner and more productive metro manila. He confiscate wares of the sidewalk vendor, he smash literally houses by and on the creek. This acts of Chairman Bayani can't be done by politicians who's afraid of losing vote.

Think about it:
In the Philippines, houses can be found everywhere, along side of train rail, under the bridge or along side a creek.

On the lighter side:
What do Fernando Amorsolo, Vice President Noli De Castro and Chairman Bayani Fernando have in common?

They view life with a stroke.

Fernando Amorsolo, stroke with a brush.
Vice President Noli De Castro, stroke with a pen.
Chairman Bayani Fernando, stroke with a mallet. :)