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Learned Helplessness
Why Are the Filipinos Letting GMA Abuses Go Unpunished
by
Jun Lozada
One of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century, Martin Seligman, observed a phenomenon called “Learned Helplessness“. He describes it as a psychological condition in which a human being or an animal has learned to act or behave helpless in a particular situation even when it has the power to change its unpleasant or even harmful circumstance. He conducted an experiment among dogs wherein subjects were confined in a very small place where they were given electric shocks and over which they had no control, that is, no matter what they did – struggling to break free, writhing in pain – they could not stop the electric shocks. Eventually, one by one, the subjects stopped struggling, then they stopped whimpering, then they just stopped reacting altogether when given additional electric shocks. But the most striking observation of the experiment was when the dogs were put in a larger space, where ordinarily they can move away from the electric shock and get relief. However, these dogs, previously confined and subjected to shocks, “learned” that they are powerless to stop the shock; they have come to believe that no matter how hard they tried, nothing they did would make a difference, so they stopped trying. They simply lay down and completely refused to move even though a few steps would have made all the difference in the world.
Are the Filipinos already afflicted with “Learned Helplessness” with the abuses of GMA ?
Is that why people are apathetic to the widespread corruption in our midst? Is it the reason why there seems to be no outpouring of collective outrage over the brazen abuses that the government of Gloria Arroyo has done against the people? Kaya ba karamihan ng mga nagdurusang Pilipino ay tanggap na lang nang tanggap ng karagdagang pagdurusa dahil “natutunan” na nila na kahit na anong gawin nilang pag-pupumiglas ay wala ring mangyayari sa kanila? Kahit pagnakawan sila ng bilyon-bilyong piso, kahit na sila ay itaboy na parang mga hayup sa kanilang tinitirhan at pinag-titindahan at kahit na kailangan na sila ay pumila para sa bigas sa ilalim ng init ng araw, at kahit sila ang magbabayad sa lahat na mga kinukurakot ng mga opisyal ng Malacanang sa pamamagitan ng mas mataas na buwis sa kanilang mga pangunahing bilihin katulad ng gasoline at pagkain? Kaya ba manhid na ang mga Pilipino sa pang-aabuso sa kanila?
Sana naman ay huwag, kundi ay sayang lamang ang lahat na dugo nina Ninoy, Mabini, Bonifacio, Rizal, Gomburza at Lapu Lapu, atbp.
- Posted by jun at 02:16 pm
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Well, if you have an electoral system that is tilted to favor the few ruling minority elites and the criminals in politicians clothing dictating the rules of the game the people indeed are reduced to experimental dogs………. just look at what is happening in Pampanga in a recall initiative to oust Gov. Ed Panlilio on Graft and Corruption charges, now that’s something for the book….. the book of the absurd and the perverse in a nation ruined by rulers whose vested selfish vested interest legitimate or illegitimate comes above anyone else……
Welcome back.
No not really. I give the Filipino more credit for being a resilient species. Personally, speaking for myself. I just do not see the point in fighting a power as big as this. I am busy with our own survival to care about conceptual issues that have existed for so long. I know I shouldn’t but that is how I feel.
No offense Jun, your intentions are good but you are on the losing end. People like winners and fighters. Malakas ang kalaban tapos iiyak iyak ka sa likod ng mga madre.
In history, the people who can galvanize a nation and single handedly convince the collective to act are those who are not afraid - to physically die and get hurt.
It is a sad state of mind, that the Filipinos have come to learn. We are being trampled upon, and yet we do nothing about it ; we are being robbed, and allow it to continue; we are being made beggars, and we seem to love it…begging for more gooides; We are being duped, and yes, we know it, but have we done something about it?..None!; someone cried foul in all these harmful acts, what did we do? We Mocked him…..:
Pathetic really.
Has GOD forsaken us? I don’t think so. We still have time to be involved and right what is wrong.
We can not simply wait for the priests…led by Cardinal Rosales (as he himself said…LET IT BE, what Gloria is doing to us…) are you out of your mind Cardinal?
If we allow Gloria to squander our wealth and leave us in great debt, I don’t think I could allow that to happen. Now if the Filipinos would LET THAT BE, then Filipinos are fools who have mastered the art of LEARNED HELPLESSNESS.
I encourage us all to fight. MY PHILIPPINES, DESERVE A BETTER LEADER THAN GLORIA!
Ohhh… Welcome Back Jun Lozada….
Welcome back! Looking forward to more post.
If you really advocate good ideals for the Filipino, why do you have to delete posts which could be contrary to yours, Mr. Lozada. I have posted about 5 messages already in your blog, all of them are deleted. It shows you cannot tolerate the opinion of others if they are against you and you talk about freedom. That’s hypocrisy in the first order.
Many of us here have been trying to find solutions to the problems we are facing as a country. But a lot of people here have failed to realize that THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE ARE THE ONES WHICH CONCERN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. We have to address that first if we want to get anywhere positive.
“But SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) KJV
The two BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE HERE IN OUR COUNTRY are these: IGNORANCE OF GOD’S LAWS and DELIBERATE DISREGARD OF GOD’S LAWS.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6) KJV
We can’t plan anything that will oust the government (GMA’s or whoever next occupies Malacanang). We can’t be praying or wishing that Gloria dies. We can’t be joining organizations that plan to overthrow the government. Those are the wrong moves to take. Why? Because it goes against God’s word!
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. WHOSOEVER THEREFORE RESISTETH THE POWER, RESISTETH THE ORDINANCE OF GOD: AND THEY THAT RESIST SHALL RECEIVE TO THEMSELVES DAMNATION.” (Romans 13:1-2) KJV
Let’s read more of Romans 13, shall we…?
“FOR RULERS ARE NOT A TERROR TO GOOD WORKS, BUT TO THE EVIL…” (Romans 13:3)KJV
And….
“Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law…..Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW.” (Romans 13:8,10) KJV
How can we be loving to our neighbors - THAT INCLUDES GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO- if we wish for their downfall? Remember, love is not doing anything to hurt others.
“But I say unto you which hear, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THEM WHICH HATE YOU, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU….AND AS YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE ALSO TO THEM LIKEWISE.” (Luke 6:27-28,31) KJV
I’m not saying GMA and other people in positions of power have done nothing wrong. But to the bloggers here who are quick to condemn these people- I ask you: Have you done nothing wrong in your lives? Are you sinless?
The reason these people(and everyone else ignorant of the TRUTH) do unimaginable evils is because they’re possessed by the devil! Why do I say that? Because these people HAVE NOT HEARD THE TRUE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST(Ignorance or blatant disregard of God’s laws) and THEY DON’T HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD(Ignorance or blatant disregard of God’s laws)
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. NOW IF ANY MAN HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS.” (Romans 8:9) KJV
“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they, BEING IGNORANT OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and GOING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:2-4) KJV
Our Dearest Jesus HAS COMMANDED US to do good to all peoples, even our enemies. Besides giving them food to eat, water to drink, being kind and understanding toward them, there’s something that we can do that is by far, THE BEST THING, we can do for others. What is this thing? Preach to them the TRUE Gospel of Our Dearest Jesus. To share with them the TRUTH.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: and lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) KJV
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:15-16) KJV
Praise the Lord! Alleluia!
well, oo nga talagang abuso na ang administrasyong GMA. paulit-ulit na nating naririnig yan. paulit-ulit na talaga. pero ano na ba nangyari sa ipinaglalaban mo mr. jun lozada? sa iyong magandang sinimulan? bakit naglaho na yata ang ningas ng apoy ng iyong mga taga-suporta at ang prinsipyong ipinaglalaban? dating laman ng lahat ng tabloid at pahayagan ang iyong pangalan at ipinaglalaban at akoy talagang umasa diyan. pero hindi kaya mas pinagtuunan na lang ng pansin ng mga kababayan natin ang pagbabalik ni gabby concepcion, pelikula ni richard at ni kc, o ang sunod-sunod na tagumpay nina manny “pac-man” pacquiao, charice pempengco, o si ariel pineda? o baka naman busy ang lahat sa pagpapaganda ng balat at minabuti na lang kumunsulta kay vicky belo? mabuti pa yata eh mailagay ang larawan sa billboard para laging sikat. ito yata ang mas sinasamba ng mga ating kababayan kesa mga bagay na may katuturan.
Pare ayaw mo makinig bakit patuloy kang nagpapagamit sa mga taong yan.
test
naku, mr. jun lozada mukhang hindi gumaganda ang mga kasunod na pangyayari. sabi ng CA hindi raw kidnapping ang nangyari sa yo. pano na yan? sino kaya ang paniniwalaan ngayon ng mga usyosong taong bayan. ang marami sa ating mga pilipino ay mahilig lamang sa mga uso, fad, in or haka-haka. subalit ang tunay na saloobin at pinaglalaban ay kulang sa sinseridad. kadalasan, kung merong kontrobersiya na nauuso at pinagkakaguluhan, ang nakararami ay parang sinisilihan ang mga puwit para lang pumapel o magbigay ng matatalino at kahanga-hangang opinion. mahilig magpapasok ang nakararami subalit pag dating na sa seryosohan at aktual na labanan ay eto ang kanilang kadalasang katwiran.
“bahala kayo sa buhay nyo, basta ako bahala sa sarili ko”.
kumbaga sa sasakyan, magaling lang sa arangkada pero walang binatbat sa rekta. hindi kaya ganito ang nangyari sa iyong kaso? sa dinami-dami ng sumuporta sa yo nung umpisa, bayan, madre, pari, pulitiko, celebrities, artista, media at kung sino-sino pang mahilig pumapel sa uso ay mukhang bigla na lang nawala. hindi bale, panalo ka pa rin. alam mo kung bakit, dahil kailan lang ay nasira ang pangalan ng dating pinagpipitagan at iginagalang na Court of Appeals. sira na ang papel nila ngayon at tulad mo, nalagay din sila sa uso, usap-usapan at kontrobersiya. mas okey ngayon ang kaso mo dahil ang court of appeals eh walang kuwenta sa ngayon so hindi rin maniniwala ang taong bayan anupaman ang kanilang maisulat na desisyon sa kaso mong kidnapping. ganito ang maganda sa ating inang bayan. sa tindi ng graft and corruption, hindi mo na malaman kung sino ang iyong paniniwalaan at pagkakatiwalaan.
Nagattaka lang ako kung bakit yung 2 posted comments ko, di lumalabas. Pero yung mga anti Jun lumalabas, di kaya mina maniubra ito ng mga galamay ni Gloria na huwag lumabas ang mga comments? pero yung” test” lumabas!!!
Re CA decision, nagtataka ka pa ba???? we all know there are no court “justices” in the Philippines. Lahat sila hawak ng ating Secretary of Injustice. Puro takot, at walang paninindigan. Di na nahiya magpatawag ng “your honor”.
reply to bernadette:
tama ka diyan bernadette. napansin ko nga rin tinatanggal yung comment pag di nila type. ewan ko ba kung anong dahilan. may post ako na nakapasok but the next day wala na. wala naman akong sinabing masama. sana basta totoo wag na nilang i-censor he he he….