The recent hostage-taking crisis in the country really shocked me. Why 11 hours? Why the silliness and seemingly comical techniques of the police? Why the rope to force open the door? Why the little car, not a truck to force open the door? Why did the police arrest the hostage taker’s brother? Why? Why? Why?
But the biggest question on my mind is why did the president do nothing during the crisis?
I am not for the movement that he resigns. I do understand why the Chinese reacted the way they did. They called for resignation because that is an integral part of their culture. I have lived with the Chinese for about two years in their native land and have learned their ways and their language. What happened to the president or what he did is, in Mandarin, very “diu lian.” He lost his face. His face fell. He threw his face.
And you step back when that happens. Or in ancient Chinese culture, you kill yourself. It is similar to the samurai or Kamikaze culture of the Japanese.
The concept of face is very strongly rooted in the Chinese culture. They would rather die than lose face. I understand why they reacted that way especially when there was no strong apology from the president expressing sincere grief. He was caught smiling in some photos.
In a Chinese perspective, the president is “makapal ang mukha.”
But I would rather have a president that other nation’s think to be “makapal ang mukha,” than to have no president at all.
I believe in the careful handling of the issue through proper investigation and prompt action. Prompt action could have saved P-Noy’s face. But the damage has been done. And in Chinese culture, the way you regain face is by submission, down-to-earth humility and a billion apologies.
Or you lose your face forever. Yes, by suicide.
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