Lee Kuan Yew and Ferdinand Marcos

After returning my rental car, I passed by Chapters to browse. Lo and behold, I found a book (From Third World to First : The Singapore Story: 1965-2000) about Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, a dictator I hold in the highest regard…and it's even written by him. I have long hoped that I would get to know more about this man beyond the snippets I get from different readings I've done that mention him in passing.

Coming from the Philippines and having experienced first-hand the iron-fisted dictatorship of the corrupt Ferdinand Marcos, the word dictatorship should leave a foul taste in my mouth…and it does. But I'm talking about a different kind of dictatorship. Lee wielded his autocratic power the way a stern father would for the benefit of his children…tough love, but for the greater good of the nation. He stands alone in the global arena of world leaders precisely because there aren't too many dictators (read: absolute power!) who are:

• intellectual forces of nature [Fidel Castro comes to mind, Ben Gurion too (but he's not a dictator)]
• visionaries [Pol Pot, Mao Tse Tung] and
• good implementors

Let me elucidate. Pol Pot was a man of well-meaning vision…of bringing the glorious past of Cambodia into the here and now. There's vision. Implementation? Millions died needlessly resulting in the killing fields (where a movie with the same name was made). Even today, human skulls pile high as a grim reminder of this madman's unbridled foray into his vision. Mao Tse Tung likewise was a well-meaning visionary. His accomplishments as the "Great Helmsman" of Communist China are legendary. However, his pursuit of a wild utopia and failed program implementation (Cultural Revolution and Great Leap Forward) wreaked famine and death to some 60 million…very bad implementation.

When Lee assumed power in Singapore in 1959, the city-state was a colonial backwater considered by many as a rag-tag piece of swampland mired in political and social unrest by a racially and ideologically divided population…in many ways, very much like the Philippines during that time. I cannot help but make the parallelism between Marcos and Lee. They both came into power about the same time, the political and social condition of their respective countries were roughly the same, both are regarded by many to be geniuses in their own rights, and both are dictators.

Fast forward to 1986 (when Marcos was toppled down), Singapore ranks as the world's fourth-highest per capita real income with mass public housing. The Philippines? 80% of the population live below the poverty line - enough said.

There is common sentiment that Marcos had what it takes to make the Philippines as progressive as Singapore. He had what Lee had…brains, power and implementation (the way he implemented his corruption scheme from the systematic extortion of money to numbered Swiss accounts not to mention Liechtenstein and Panama makes for a good business case study). Unfortunately, he didn't have the one thing Lee had…the one thing in nature that stands beyond reproach…good intentions.

Marcos had a unique moment to be part of history...but he chose the money. While Lee is revered by many (he has his share of detractors and critics as well) for his selfless sacrifices into building Singapore to what it has become, Marcos lies dead with the billions he looted from the Philippine treasury yet you can't distinguish his bones from that of a poor man.

Good Intentions

While having an après-French class coffee with a classmate last Thursday, I was invited to take part in her rock-climbing gig with friends. Not one to say 'no' to an adrenaline opportunity and promise of human connection, I willingly asked, 'Where and When?' The reply: Joe Rockhead's at Warden and Steeles, Sunday at 1:45PM.

Sunday comes and I'm at Warden and Steeles…and there's no Joe Rockheads. I phone the company and was told that the branch closed down a long time back.

This is the crucial part. If this happened a year ago, I'd be beside myself spewing expletives. Now, I'm able to stand back and look at my frustration from a perspective of a disinterested 3rd party. It's funny what I saw. Instead of being negative about the whole thing, I saw a lady who wanted me to be a part of her group. She had good intentions. Sure, it didn't work out, but hey, shit happens. And it doesn't mean somebody has to take the blame. Shit just happens. Whoever said life offers guarantees?

If there's a shortcoming, it's entirely mine. I should have made that call before I came over. I should have checked out the site on the internet. I should have gotten her number…just in case. So many things I could have done but didn't do…duh!

So....how do I feel about the whole thing? Grateful…for the good intention.

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