JET LI & THE PHILIPPINE ELECTION
I’m a fan of Jet Li. It all started when I watched his Chinese film, “Once Upon A Time In China.” After that time I would really make it a point to watch his movies. I was really happy to see him break through in Hollywood. But I don’t like most of the story in his Hollywood films compared to the Asian films he made. It was mostly visual but no deep story or values at all. I guess that’s what most Hollywood films are anyway.
With the election coming near and the pressure to write something relevant in my blog, I recalled a film by Jet Li that speaks of our current condition and hopefully, the politicians will realize.
The film is “HERO” showed last 2002. It’s a story of China long ago divided by wars and kingdoms. There was bloodshed and everyone wants vengeance upon each other. It’s a story of King of Qin played by Chen Daoming who wants to be the first Emperor of China. But his ambition is threatened by three powerful assassins bent on killing him. They are Broken Sword played by Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Flying Snow played by Maggie Cheung and Sky played by Donnie Yen.
The king gave word that whoever could kill the three assassins would be given the opportunity to have dinner with him. This is when Nameless played by Jet Li comes into the picture. He devised a plan to kill the three assassins so he can have an audience with the king and thereby kill him. Flying Snow and Sky agreed but not Broken Sword. They would made it appear that Nameless killed them all. Nameless defeated Sky and Flying Snow and they made it appear that Broken Sword was killed by Flying Snow out of jealousy.
When everything was set to motion, Nameless was now ready to go to the king. But along the way he was met by Broken Sword and told him what changed his mind why he no longer wanted to kill the king. Broken Sword wants Nameless to abandon the plan. He said that there is too much bloodshed already. Killing the king won’t solve anything. It would send China in a worse crisis. Broken Sword understands that the motive of the king is to unite all of China. War may not be the ultimate solution, but the king has no choice but to use it in order to achieve unity and peace in China. It may not seem right, but the King has got to do what he needs to do. Broken Sword believes it is the King of Qin who will unite all of China and he would not step in the way of fulfilling this to bring unity and peace in the land. Broken Sword wrote on the ground that says, “all under heaven” then left Nameless to go to the King.
In the presence of the king, Nameless shared how he defeated Flying Snow and Sky. But the king was too wise the see the inconsistencies and did not believe Nameless at all. He knew Nameless was there to kill him. Nameless then shared Broken Sword’s reason of abandoning the plan to kill the king and shared their conversation before he came. The King broke down in disbelief to see that the only person who understands what he was doing was his enemy and yet he willing to sacrifice his personal goals for him.
The king revealed the ultimate achievement of swordsmanship:
1st: Unity of man and sword
2nd: Sword exists in man’s heart
Ultimate: The absence of the sword in both hand and heart.
The swordsman is now at peace with the rest of the sword. He vows not to kill and to bring peace to mankind.
We have to understand that for a swordsman, his sword is everything. But Broken Sword understands that is when he lays down the sword will he ever bring fulfillment of his goals and pursuits. Ironic, but profound.
In the end, Nameless was executed but given a heroes burial. And this is the only Chinese movie I have seen Jet Li died. Watching it again made me cry not because Jet Li died but the story itself. It’s about sacrifice. Eventually the King of Qin unified all of China and had peace in the land. He built the Great Walls of China. He became the first Emperor of China and was called Qin Shi Huang.
So what has this movie got to do with the Philippine election?
Our country is severely divided and the election has divided it further with the number of presidentiables we have. We have 9 candidates each believing they can turn this country around. They have lots of promises: Villar (tatapusin ko ang kahirapan); Aquino (hindi ako magnanakaw); Estrada (ibabalik ang ginhawa); Gibo (mabilis na pag-ahon); Villanueva (babangon ang Pilipinas); and I really don’t care about the rest.
The problem we have is that these candidates do not believe the other candidate can bring about positive change to our country. They believe it should be them but not the other candidate. And this speaks volume of how much distrust they have for one another. If they believe that others can bring positive change for our country, it would mean they would drop out of the race. But I doubt if they would do that.
This is where the movie of Jet Li is so critical to understand. A swordsman laid down his sword for the greater good of the country. Broken Sword let go of his anger and vengeance because he saw and believed what King Qin can do. Shouldn’t a politician lay down his political ambition to see this country change for the better? Why do we have politicians who have “Messiah Complex” thinking it’s them who will lead this country for a better change. Couldn’t we have better politicians who knows to give up that others may lead and all of us see a better Philippines?
I think the best politician ever is someone who will lay down his political ambitions in order to achieve the greater good of this country even if others will lead it and not him. It’s about desiring the same thing for our country: peace and progression but allowing others to take the lead. The greatest politician is someone who has given up his political ambitions and yet passionately pursues what is best for the country even if it means supporting the other candidate. Who would ever do that?
The election will never receive a majority vote because of too many candidates. I can only hope that the next president will truly serve the country well.
So, who am I voting? A candidate who can give up his political ambitions! I hope there’s one!
a politician that can give up his political ambition? meron nga ba nun.. one thing na natutunan ko sa post na ito at isa rin sa mga bagay na pumapasok sa isip ko mula pa noon ay “bakit kailangang mag away ng mga politicians if all they really want is the betterment of this nation? Kailangan ba tlagang manalo sa election para mag serve? or kahit matalo sa election mag serve na lang at tulungan ang nanalong kandidato? hehe.. nakakatuwa pero sa totoo lang during campaign period lang lahat nangyayari ang mga public services.. after the election wala na.. nakakalungkot di na sila willing mag serve kasi wala sa position.. kaya ang nagiging picture ng service sa bansa natin ay “ANO BA ANG POSITION MO?’ KUNG WALA, WAG NA LANG..
Having 9 candidates running for President really makes it difficult. Actually 99 people applied to COMELEC to be presdentables, but only 9 qualified! I agree with the article. It would be so much better if most of the candidates backed down for the good of the country. The movie presents a great analogy for the greater good of the country. Who will be the first to bow down?????
Thanks kuya Terry! Didn’t know 99 applied – that would have been worse!
ala naman pong ganun eh..hanggang plataporma lang sila.. sana si noynoy may mgagawa.. hahaha..
puro kasi porma. many don’t see that it’s the people who sacrifice that will change the country.
WHO WOULD GIVE UP? well i hope the other 2 unknown would give up their ambition. No matter how noble their intentions are, they are not “winnable”.
Jamby? she too must bow out of the race. I would rather see her concentrate on exposing more anomalies in the govt and really pursue those involved. Magsanib pwersa kaya cla nila Pia at Miriam…yey…Girl Power!!
Erap? naman, after all that has happened. Ung “sentence” nya wala plang period, comma lng. Gordon? senate na lng ulit o kaya sa Red Cross or DSWD kaya, kse sa dami ng nagdonate na pinadaan sa knila nung typhoon eh definitely not all the donations went to the victims. I like the guy pero d sya pang masa.
Binay and Bayani, sa Senate na lng muna….mag team up din sila…..ang bagong B1 & B2.
Loren? khit si Sara pa ang kunin nyang endorser, mas sikat pa rin si Mar. Mag asawa na lng kya sya ulit para maging mabango ulit name nya….andyan naman si Ted Failon
Gibo, matalino talga, kso taga Admin, eh alam naman nating mraming galit sa Admin.
Villar? linisin nya muna ung issue nya bago nya linisin ang bansa natin.
Noynoy, showbiz ang dating. The throng during his mom’s burial does not guarantee they will vote for him.
Bro. Eddie? Let the Lord’s will be done. Wala akong masabi…after I finish the book of Pat Robertson of the 700 club, “The Plan” who run for US presidency way back 1988 saka na lng ako ulit comment.
tnx, para kang galit. lol!
hahaha… si ate joy kasi talagang galit kasi wala ang idol nyang si eddie gil ngayon sa pagka presidente… hehe
hahaha hindi naman..
Who will vote for who?
ERAP – his die hard fans who still envisioned him as a hero just like in his movies
JAMBY – d aristocrats. mga kasama nyang kumakain ng salmon at lapu lapu
VILLAR – d poor, d illiterates, d OFWS.
GORDON – members of the Red Cross and those who believe that “transformers” really do exists
VILLANUEVA – members of his church and those who believe that church and politics can mix
NOYNOY – all Aquino and Cojuangco clan, and all artistas who like Krissy at lahat ng dilaw ang mga ipin at mata
D 2 UNKNOWN – mga kamag anak nila
With the automation, i wonder how the illiterates, the oldies, those who are farsighted and worse, those with arthritis will do in filling up the ballots. under shade, over shade…..if i were the candidates i will give out sample ballots with ovals para makapag practice na ang mga botante.
haay..i didn’t see the m0vie..buti na lang kwenent0 m0, yun pala yung st0ry nun!
ngay0n alam k0 na, hahaha..!
palibhasa nung watched mo un arev, walang subtitle kaya d mo naintindihan….lol
oo nga po ate lalo na ung mga korean movies at mga chinese na wlang translations. hehe
luka.. tagalog yung version na napano0d k0, jum0ng nga dating eh!
jumong ba? si kuya aron ata mahilig nyan ate.. hehe
dapat padala m0 ‘to sa mga website nung mga candidates.
the thing is, do they really have t0 run f0r office para lang makatul0ng?
pede naman kseng hindi eh.
ngagawa nga natin yun dibha, and yet we’re n0t even elected sa mga p0siti0n na ganyan.
Pagpaparaya, yep our politics has been a circus. Merging Political Parties (which are rival way back then but the truth is, unity is not achieved), United Oppositions, Lakas-Kampi-CMD and the so many mergers which according to them aims Unity to that effect.
Actually the cahracteristic of Philippine Politics to name a few are; mud slinging, too many candidates and too many political parties, black propaganda and the like.
I remember the story of King David about the sword and the rest is history.
And the biblical and adage, “Obedience is better than sacrifice” is still true. (Maybe, Jet Li learned to sacrifice when he knew that he is disobedient). Disobedient in a sense that he himself new that the King can do more that leads him to sacrifice. Actually those two go along together.
Maganda ito kaibigan. God bless!
thanks for the pingback, hope the article helps in finding leaders to lead us for a better philippines