The Dominance of LDP

Online Session #4

My initial idea as to why the Liberal Democratic Party is still the dominating party in Japan is because of their popularity but as discussed by Ethan Scheiner in his talk, my initial idea was proven to be false. LDP lacks popularity among the Japanese population because of an economic collapse and political corruption. But despite being disliked by the population, LDP remains standing on top. There were a number of arguments Ethan Scheiner discussed which contributes to the longevity of LDP. First, LDP helped Japan regain their economic stability. Of course, who in their right mind would not want to vote for leaders who helped recover their country’s economy? Second, the LDP has appeal to the public. Third, LDP knows how to come up with a suitable policy that caters to the needs of the Japanese population. Ethan Scheiner explained that these were only parts of the reasons why LDP continues to be a hegemon. Another argument is that the LDP candidates have a greater advantage over the opposition candidates. In some cases, candidates from the opposition party, the DPJ, would run against a candidate from LDP who has a higher level of experience. There are also cases wherein a candidate from the LDP, despite having no experience in politics, still won victoriously against his opponents.

In the documentary “Campaign” directed by Kazuhiro Soda, a forty-year-old man was abruptly chosen by the Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro to run for a vacant seat in Kawasaki City. If Yamauchi Kazuhiro does not earn enough votes to win, his failure will overthrow LDP as the dominant party in Japan. Backed by the LDP, the party establishes a robust campaign team to publicize Yamauchi Kazuhiro to the people in Kawasaki City. The campaign team consisted of influential leaders. In the end, Yamauchi Kazuhiro won the election. This reflects the “desire of people maintain a ‘pipeline’” which was explained by Ethan Scheiner. In this context, what Ethan Scheiner meant by ‘pipeline’ is that on one part of the so called pipeline was a group of local LDP politicians who had connections with a national patron from the LDP. So basically, a local politician would ask assistance from a national politician who in turn would request support from the central government to aid for the needs of the local politician.

In conclusion, what accounts for the longevity of the Liberal Democratic Party is the people’s need to preserve a connection with the central government. This relationship helps cater their concerns and problems. Despite being unpopular and being disliked by the Japanese people, LDP remains to be a dominant party because of their experience, their overall performance and their effectiveness.

ticked me off.

I accept the hard fact that the Philippines is not a very ideal country to establish a fulfilling life. I also accept the facts that majority of the Filipino people are living in poverty, there is a presence of corruption in our political system, the instability of our economy and so on. I recognize all these as truths and realities which cannot be changed until due time. But to call my country- the land where I was born and raised, ‘disgusting’ is beyond any insult I have ever heard or received.

While I was browsing through the internet for information about the Asian Youth Forum and how I could somehow be involved, an article of an exchange student of DLSU in Japan for three years caught my attention. He shared his experience about how his Japanese professors and classmates admired him and the other Filipino students in their class for their excellent presentations and such. I felt optimistic until I stumbled upon a “hate letter” written by an unknown person about how Filipinos are ‘trashy’ and how we do not have our own identity. Which is probably true- three hundred years of Spanish colonial rule shaped our history and culture followed by the Americans who ‘saved’ us from the Spaniards and then came the Japanese who occupied the Philippines for only a short while. And finally, the Americans returned and granted us our sovereignty (the granting of our independence is heavily circumscribed, actually but that is besides my point). The Filipinos may be at fault for having an identity crisis because, I quote my professor in Japanese Government and Politics, “the Filipinos did not take these to their own advantage”. But of course, not all of the people in the entire world would know the history of the Philippines and I assume that the person who wrote the “hate letter” does not.

Their extensive involvement in the U.S. Armed Forces is proof of the trashy kind of qualities all Filipinos tend to exhibit on a regular basis – The involvement of the Filipinos and the U.S. Armed Forces is a bilateral agreement called Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which was ratified in 1999 that helped revitalize the security relationship of both the US and RP. If it were not for the reinvigorated security relationship between both countries, the Philippines would not have joined the coalition against a common threat.

Are they really Asian? - Let’s see…The last time I checked, the three islands of the Philippines rests on a tectonic plate called Eurasia.

Nothing respectable has EVER been created by Filipino people during our entire human history. – The Philippines have produced several respectable people and one of which is our national hero Jose Rizal who is considered to be the renaissance man of the Philippines or the modern Filipino hero the late Ninoy Aquino who opposed the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. And let us not forget the first EDSA revolution which overthrew the Marcos administration. This remarkable event during 1986 showcased the power of a collective effort of the people to democratize the government and free the country of violence.

The only Filipinos that can live successfully in Japan are the Filipino prostitutes. But that’s the case for most Filipino people no matter where they live in the world. – No. There are Filipinos who earn their living by teaching English in schools or being nurses at hospitals, engineers and those who specialize in the fields of information technology or computer science.

They have no architectural, artistic, or cultural influence which is in ANY way, Asian. – A Filipino sculptress named Julie Lluch uses clay as a medium for her artworks. Clay can be easily found in Asia (wood too!). Therefore, in using these resources, which are found in the Philippines and most parts of Asia, as a medium for her artwork, there is, in a way, Asian influence. I quote my introduction to arts professor, “art is a commentary of culture”. Oh, and a little trivia: Julie Lluch’s 1988 terracotta sculpture called “Thinking Nude” is displayed in an art museum in Singapore. And how can I forget Juan Luna’s masterpiece “Spoliarium”.

There is NO WAY that you can connect yourself to Asia other than location. – Trade, politics, ideals, origins etc. Everything is connected with one thing, person, country and culture to another.

Nothing good has ever come from Philippines and I don’t believe anything good ever will. – I beg to differ.

You have no concept of culture…no concept of asian ideas or asian philosophy! Can you demonstrate how you use Confucianism or Taoism in you everyday life?? – The Confucian concept has various aspects and on of which is the filial piety. This is most common in Asia and the Philippines is not an exception. And with regards to Taoism, Filipinos and other Asians, we try to veer away from social conflicts.

A lot of people place Japan, China or Korea etc… on a pedestal and I completely understand why but these countries are no exception to poverty, corruption, economic instability or any other crisis which the Philippines and probably other countries constantly have to deal with. First world countries have some degree of flaws too which cannot be eliminated. We are all connected in some little way. We might have borrowed some ideas from other cultures and shaped it in accordance to our way of living.

For me, being a Filipino means standing up for what I believe is best for my country and for the society; being optimistic despite all the burdens I have to carry as a daughter, a sister, a student, a civilian and a Filipino.


I apologize for any wrong grammar or spelling.