Barrios

Back to the barrios Juan grew up in the Mountain Province where he considers his childhood home. This place teaches him the value for family, community and hard work. It also opened his mind to the concept of inequality and realized that not all people lived the same.           World war II came and it brought his family to experience challenges in order to survive. It was an experience that brought them closer.  After the war in 1945, his family moved in Baguio where the rest of their lives begun. He got back to school by the age of nine. He finished grade school and high school on top of his class. In their high school yearbook, it even included one of his classmate’s prediction, “Juan Flavier will go to college at the University of the Philippines, become a doctor, attend the John Hopkins University, and one day become secretary of health.” [1] For him, Baguio gave him and his co-teens paradise and romance all the same. Life in Baguio was full of adventure.      In 1952, he went to Manila to start college. He studied at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine to become a doctor. In UP, he learned community care from Fr. Delaney, an American Jesuit priest, who was a great influence on countless leaders from the State University. He also met his future wife in UP by the name of Alma Susana Aguila, the daughter of a Protestant lay minister and a former governor of La Union. He proposed marriage to her and she said yes in one condition, he would never enter in politics or be in any government position. With that pledge, they eventually got married in 1961. They were blessed with four lovely children.      After graduating from med school, he took up the medical board exam and passed. He also opted to practice and be trained abroad after graduation but due to circumstances, he was not able to do so not until later in his career. He became a teacher in Bacteriology and Pathology for a year at the University of the East Medical Center.      Serving the poor was his calling. His decision to serve stemmed not mainly because of patriotism but from the desire for social justice and his concept of what it is to be a doctor. He was inspired by the works of the legendary Y.C. James Yen, the father of rural development. He even told the latter of his plan of going to the Mountain Province to practice medicine and work in community development. He was also convinced to work with Dr. Yen at the PRRM and he was with him for 31 years.      Life in the barrio is definitely not that glamorous. It was a learning experience for Juan. In the barrio, he realized that there is newness in every moment and new meaning in things that he thought he already knew. He learned the first and most important lesson imparted to him, live among the people in order to serve them. The PRRM gave him experience and adventure in so many ways.      Despite the meager income from the PRRM, he was able to provide for his family by keeping their lifestyle simple. And because of his wife’s own sacrifice and hard work, they were able to manage life’s challenges. His job as a rural reconstruction worker gave him more than enough interaction with the farmers, mayors, governors, senators, dignitaries from abroad, celebrities, presidents and future presidents.           After becoming president of PRRM for a year, opportunities came to him and brought him to different parts of the world, not to mention, America. He went to John Hopkins University to earn his Master’s degree in public health. After which, he came back in the Philippines and joined again Dr. Yen at IIRR, where later he became president.       He was considered to take over the Department of Health under the Ramos administration. Joining the government is also a challenging one. But his experience in the barrio made it easy for him to commit and to be involved with the challenges at hand. I find it very inspiring that he was able to blend with the government with his idealism and virtues intact.      He had this open-door policy that will encourage anyone to come to his office. He even cast a romantic image in the press and develop rapport with them. He was behind the success of the numerous health programs under the Ramos administration despite the controversy with the church leaders. His style of government is admirable.      After his stint as Mr. Let’s DOH it, another chapter of his life and career opened as unexpected. He was offered to run as Senator under the Lakas-CMD party of President Ramos and won the election for two terms. He was convinced that he could bring his campaign under the Department of Health to the next level.      He had this reputation built in the Senate by attending every session and by always being the first to show up. He was even tagged as Mr. Quorum. Through his two terms as Senator, he learned to work with people, to deal with different personalities and learn different things from environment, taxation, land reform, indigenous peoples, children and more about issues on health. He also learned to play politics and compromise.      Over a half century, he dragged his career, family through mountains, barrios, the US and then politics. He was certain that in every road he took, a countless other paths were passed over some other kinds of fulfillment.      He truly find it amazing that among the things he would like to take credit for in this world, more than the laws and bills or trees he planted and the barrio programs he initiated and nurtured, for him, his life has never been wasted.      Juan Flavier in many instances of his life, was able to show his ethical qualities as a leader and as a person. He was a recipient of an award called the Mosby Book Award, in recognition to interns with the “best bedside manners.” He once told himself: “Yes! I am studying medicine precisely because I believe in social justice! I will be a doctor for the poor! For my country above all.”[2] He valued life and promote equal opportunities for all especially in aspects of health care system.      When he was a victim of an anomaly of the “no exam result-no permit to travel” rule. He showed how principled man he was. Even on the instance when Dr. Yen tried to re-insert a dismissed employee for malversation of funds- back into the payroll, he never let it pass his way.[3] He made a stand on his principle of honesty. He was determined to maintain the virtue his parents instilled in him because honesty is considered a virtuous behavior and has strong positive connotations in most situations.       He also learned that there is virtue in not being judgmental. His sense of right and wrong was sharpened by his work in the 11RR.      In this book, he said, “When I became Secretary of Health, I was conscious that I was putting our small, precious name out there for the very first time. I held fast to the values of my parents – faith, simplicity, and hard work – and prayed for guidance from above to keep it all intact.” [4] In everything that he do, the basic principles imparted by his parents to him was never been forgotten.      For me, I would consider him as a role model for an ethical government leader. His way of governing and implementing is so inspiring and full of dignity. He practice what he preached.       His story tells us that being ethical pays off. It tells us that to be an effective leader,one must be a good role model. Being a leader is not merely imposing or setting rules or laws, it is how you impart it and how you practice it.           For Juan Flavier, governance is practice based on the values and virtues of a leader. It is according to his principles and beliefs. It is not only based on influence but on how you were brought up.      Certain development issues and strategic measures were identified focusing mainly on the goal of improving the quality of life of the Filipinos. Public policy-making and service delivery systems were accountable, responsive, participative, demand-driven, client-focused and results-oriented. This is through the efforts of introducing reforms for good governance. However, there are instances that such initiatives were not implemented due to lack of political will, heavy partisan politics, inadequate financial resources and graft and corruption.      Juan Flavier’s story showed us the very aspect and essence of public governance. The very essence of sound development management. It presented the basic elements of governance such as accountability, participation, predictability and transparency.      Reading his story brings us to the reality of what is Philippine governance is all about. And somehow makes us realize that we too can contribute to its reformation.   The Dove and the hawk   L ONG AGO IN NIGERIA, there was a man who had been blind and lame all his life. One evening, as he was sitting in front of his house, he couldn't help but feel sorry for himself. After all, he couldn't walk or see.                 All of a sudden, a dove flew into his robe.                  "Save me," the dove whispered urgently.                 Then a hawk whished up and stopped in front of the man. "This dove is mine," squawked the hawk.                  The man gripped the robe tightly.                 "I beg you, you don't know how terribly hungry I am," said the hawk. "If I don't have that dove, I will die. I am a hawk and you know that we must eat what we can." Then he straightened up and said, "Hawks see for miles around. If you release the dove to me, I'll share the secret of how your eyesight can be restored."                 The man hesitated. After all, wasn't it true that the basic nature of all things is that one beast hunts another'                 "You mustn't listen to that hawk!" chirped the dove frantically. "If you save me from certain death, I'll tell you how your legs can be healed so you can walk."                 What was he to do' Fortunately, the footsteps of his best friend were approaching.                 "Should I gain my sight, or my legs'" he asked his friend.                 The friend was silent. "Well," he said at last, "you have to paddle your own canoe. I can't help you decide this one."                 "The next time you ask, I'll be sure to give you good advice, too!" the man called out as his friend walked quickly away.   The man thought for a few minutes. He asked the hawk, "Suppose you should get a chicken instead of the dove. Would that be all right'"                 The hawk said, "Far better! I couldn't get a chicken, so I had to settle for this dove."                 The man said, "I see." Then he told the dove, "Now, I will save your life, but you must keep your promise to me." And he said to the hawk, "I will provide you with food, and you are bound to keep your promise to me."                 So the man gave a chicken to the hawk. In return the hawk told him that he must get a certain leaf, prepare it, and squeeze the juice from it into his eyes. Then he would be able to see again. So the man released the hawk.                 After the hawk had disappeared into the sky he said to the dove, "I protected you. You must keep your promise to me." So the dove told him what he must do to regain the use of his legs. And he released the dove.                 The man followed the instructions of both the birds, the dove and the hawk, and was delighted to find that he could now see perfectly, and run anywhere if he wanted. The kutiyapi, is a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute. It is the only stringed instrument among the Maguindanao people, and one of several among other groups such as the Maranao and Manobo. It is four to six feet long with nine frets made of hardened beeswax. The instrument is carved out of solid soft wood such as from the jackfruit tree. Common to all kutiyapi instruments, a constant drone is played with one string while the other, an octave above the drone, plays the melody with a kebit or rattan pluck (commonly made from plastic nowadays). This feature, which is also common to other related Southeast Asian "boat lutes", which were influenced by varying degrees by Indian concepts of melody and scale via the Malay archipelago. Lupe Fiasco: The Show Goes On Lyrics Alright, already the show goes on Alright, till the morning we dream so long Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up Just remember when you come up The show goes on! Alright, already the show goes on Alright, till the morning we dream so long Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up Just remember when you come up The show goes on! Have you ever had the feeling that you was being had Don’t that sh-t make you mad They treat you like a slave, with chains all on your soul, And put whips up on your back, They be lying through they teeth Hope you slip up off your path I don’t switch up I just laugh Put my kicks up on they desk Unaffected by they threats than get busy on they ass See that’s how that Chi-Town made me That’s how my daddy raised me That glittering may not be gold, don’t let no body play me If you are my homeboy, you never have to pay me Go on and put your hands up, when times are hard you stand up L-U-P the man, cause a brand that the fans trust So even if they ban us they’ll never slow my plans up! Alright, already the show goes on Alright, till the morning we dream so long Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up Just remember when you come up The show goes on! Alright, already the show goes on Alright, till the morning we dream so long Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up Just remember when you come up The show goes on! One in the air for the people that ain’t here Two in the air for the father that’s there Three in the air for the kids in the ghetto Four for the kids who don’t wanna be there None for the n-ggas trying to hold them back Five in the air for the teacher not scared to tell those kids thats living in the ghetto that the n-ggas holdin back that the World is theirs! Yeah yeah, the World is yours, I was once that little boy Terrified of the World Now I’m on a World tour I will give up everything, even start a world war For these ghettos girls and boys im rapping round’ the World for! Africa to New York, Haiti then I detour, Oakland out to Auckland Gaza Strip to Detroit, say hip-hop only destroy Tell em’ look at me, boy! I hope your son don’t have a gun and that would be a D-boy Alright, already the show goes on Alright, till the morning we dream so long Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up Just remember when you come up The show goes on! Alright, already the show goes on Alright, till the morning we dream so long Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up Just remember when you come up The show goes on! So no matter what you been through No matter what you into No matter what you see when you look outside your window Brown grass or green grass Picket fence or barbed wire Never ever put them down You just lift your arms higher Raise em till’ your arms tired Let em’ know you’re there That you struggling and survivin’ that you gonna persevere Yeah, ain’t nobody leavin, nobody goin’ home Even if they turn the lights out the show is goin’ on! Alright, already the show goes on Alright, till the morning we dream so long Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up Just remember when you come up The show goes on! Alright, already the show goes on Alright, till the morning we dream so long Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up Just remember when you come up The show goes on! Justin Bieber-Never Say Never See I never thought that I could walk through fire. I never thought that I could take the burn. I never had the strength to take it higher, Until I reached the point of no return. And there's just no turning back, When your hearts under attack, Gonna give everything I have, It's my destiny. I will never say never! (I will fight) I will fight till forever! (make it right) Whenever you knock me down, I will not stay on the ground. Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up up up, And never say never. I never thought I could feel this power. I never thought that I could feel this free. I'm strong enough to climb the highest tower. And I'm fast enough to run across the sea. And there's just no turning back, When your hearts under attack, Gonna give everything I have, Cause this is my destiny. I will never say never! (I will fight) I will fight till forever! (make it right) Whenever you knock me down, I will not stay on the ground. Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up, up, up, And never say never. Here we go! Guess who' JSmith and Jb! I gotcha lil bro. I can handle him. Hold up, aight' I can handle him. Now he's bigger than me, Taller than me. And he's older than me, And stronger than me. And his arms a little bit longer than me. But he ain't on a JB song with me! I be trying a chill They be trying to side with the thrill. No pun intended, was raised by the power of Will. Like Luke with the force, when push comes to shove. Like Cobe with the 4th, ice water with blood. I gotta be the best, and yes We're the flyest. Like David and Goliath, I conquered the giant. So now I got the world in my hand, I was born from two stars So the moon's where I land. I will never say never! (I will fight) I will fight till forever! (make it right) Whenever you knock me down, I will not stay on the ground. Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up, up, up, And never say never. I will never say never! (I will fight) I will fight till forever! (make it right) Whenever you knock me down, I will not stay on the ground. Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up, up, up, And never say never. The Grenade lyrics by Bruno Mars Easy come, easy go That's just how you live, oh Take, take, take it all, But you never give Should of known you was trouble from the first kiss, Why were they open' Gave you all I had And you tossed it in the trash You tossed it in the trash, you did To give me all your love is all I ever asked, Cause what you don't understand is I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah) You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Oh, oh I would go through all this pain, Take a bullet straight through my brain, Yes, I would die for ya baby; But you won't do the same No, no, no, no Black, black, black and blue beat me till I'm numb Tell the devil I said “hey” when you get back to where you're from Mad woman, bad woman, That's just what you are, yeah, You’ll smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car Gave you all I had And you tossed it in the trash You tossed it in the trash, yes you did To give me all your love is all I ever asked Cause what you don't understand is I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah) You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Oh, oh I would go through all this pain, Take a bullet straight through my brain, Yes, I would die for ya baby; But you won't do the same If my body was on fire, ooh You’ d watch me burn down in flames You said you loved me you're a liar Cause you never, ever, ever did baby... But darling I’ll still catch a grenade for ya Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah) You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Oh, oh I would go through all this pain, Take a bullet straight through my brain, Yes, I would die for ya baby; But you won't do the same. No, you won’t do the same, You wouldn’t do the same, Ooh, you’ll never do the same, No, no, no, no. Just the way you are Oh her eyes, her eyes Make the stars look like they're not shining Her hair, her hair Falls perfectly without her trying She's so beautiful And I tell her every day Yeah I know, I know When I compliment her She won’t believe me And its so, it’s so Sad to think she don't see what I see But every time she asks me do I look okay I say When I see your face There's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing Just the way you are And when you smile, The whole world stops and stares for a while Cause girl you're amazing Just the way you are Her lips, her lips I could kiss them all day if she'd let me Her laugh, her laugh She hates but I think its so sexy She's so beautiful And I tell her every day Oh you know, you know, you know Id never ask you to change If perfect is what you're searching for Then just stay the same So don't even bother asking If you look okay You know I say When I see your face There's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing Just the way you are And when you smile, The whole world stops and stares for awhile Cause girl you're amazing Just the way you are The way you are The way you are Girl you're amazing Just the way you are When I see your face There's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing Just the way you are And when you smile, The whole world stops and stares for a while Cause girl you're amazing Just the way you are. Lyrical miracle Prodi-G Yo its the greatest ha! Its your boy Prodi-G in the building. Yo! Its a block re what Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G You know im hot i get it poppin so that say Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G and now you know just how i flow and it goes Listen! it's poppin baby you know how we do it in here It's Prodi-G and possibly the dopest one of the year It seems like everytime i stroll in you know i be so in Go ahead and call them girls and bring a couple of friends I'm the flyest of the fly you work the lemonade Shorty gotta be fine sayinig she dont know my name Got my whole crew with me and they aint going no where And we gon get it when finish sayin You know i came a long way i done learn so many lessons But the most important is that my family is my blessing and even when they stressin ha! just let it be without them There's no me Prodi-G Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G You know im hot i get it poppin so that say Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G and now you know just how i flow and it goes Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G You know im hot i get it poppin so that say Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G and now you know just how i flow and it goes Big Momma Big Momma in the house i'm gettin my rap on Don't think i can't hang I party all night long I love everybody keep my family close cause thats all you got what and matters the most Celebrate with good people got no time stress Even at times when they don't always treat you the best Now i ain't here preachin you know how big momma be Now give it up for my man Prodi-G Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G You know im hot i get it poppin so that say Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G and now you know just how i flow and it goes Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G You know im hot i get it poppin so that say Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G and now you know just how i flow and it goes Kurtis They say my name Kurtis Kool old hit-hop player seen me around the school man i'm something like the mayor i got it going crazy you know i bring the drama smooth with the ladies especially big momma Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G You know im hot i get it poppin so that say Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G and now you know just how i flow and it goes Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G You know im hot i get it poppin so that say Hayley Yeah he's a lyrical Miracle baby Prodi-G and now you know just how i flow and it goes Prodi-G What's my name(x2) Prodi-G aaaaaha that Prodi-G. Black and yellow (remix) [Wiz Khalifa] Yea uh huh, you know what it is Black and yellow [x4] Yea uh huh, you know what it is Black and yellow [x4] [Chorus] Yeah, uh huh, you know what it is Everything I do, I do it big Yeah, uh huh, screamin that's nothin When I pulled off the lot, that's stuntin I rep my town when you see me you know everything Black and yellow [x4] I put it down from the whip to my diamonds I'm in Black and yellow [x4] [Young Jeezy] Brown blunts, black Nike's 3 red bone bitches and they all dykes Said her girl on the way, she a yellow bone Said she wanna hear me on the black and yellow song Told her guess what' this your lucky day Smoked an ounce with Young Wiz just the other day Young on the G Mix, should we change the colors Tell 'em hell to the No you pussy muthafuckas Remember cop my 1st lamb it was Black and Yellow You know it had to match the watch so it matched the bezel Bitch I just seen Young in a bananna peel Got that 50 round clip for that bannana feel They tellin' lies for a living, I so Roddy White Pull the plug on them niggas it was nighty night Outta sight outta mind, bitch Im in these streets Next summer, helicopter, black and yellow seats [Chorus] Yeah, uh huh, you know what it is Everything I do, I do it big Yeah, uh huh, screamin that's nothin When I pulled off the lot, that's stuntin I rep my town when you see me you know everything Black and yellow [x4] I put it down from the whip to my diamonds I'm in Black and yellow [x4] [Wiz Khalifa] Got a call from my jeweler, this just in And women love me cause I'm messin' with their best friends Not a lesbian but she a freak though This aint for one night I'm shinin all week bro I'm sippin cleeko and rockin yellow diamonds So many rocks up in the watch I cant tell what the time is Got a pocket full of big faces Throw it up cause every body that I'm with taylor'd [Chorus] Yeah, uh huh, you know what it is Everything I do, I do it big Yeah, uh huh, screamin that's nothin When I pulled off the lot, that's stuntin I rep my town when you see me you know everything Black and yellow [x4] I put it down from the whip to my diamonds I'm in Black and yellow [x4] Stay fly like how I'm supposed to do That crowd underneath them clouds, cant get close to you And my car look unapproachable Super clean but its super mean She wanna ride with them cats, smoke weed, count stacks, get fly, take trips and that's that Real rap, I let her get high, she want she feel that, convertible drop fill, 87 the top peel back [Chorus] Yeah, uh huh, you know what it is Everything I do, I do it big Yeah, uh huh, screamin that's nothin When I pulled off the lot, that's stuntin I rep my town when you see me you know everything Black and yellow [x4] I put it down from the whip to my diamonds I'm in Black and yellow [x4]