PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON

This is one of my favorite song when I was a child. Being raised by two uncles who were in a folk rock band, I can't help but be influenced by their music. Puff is my favorite dragon next to Bruce Lee and Mushu (little dragon from Mulan).

Yesterday as I watched the news, they said that America is threatened by the booming Chinese economy. Each year a big percentage of Americans lose their jobs over the issue of "outsourcing". One of the problems could be that Americans tend to pick white collar jobs, and leave the blue collar jobs to immigrants, illegal aliens, aliens from outer space (Tulad ng sa palabas na Roswell), and to third world countries such as China, India and the Philippines.

If this is the case, our country could do more damage to the US if the political bullshit can be avoided. China has benefited a lot from multi-national companies, and local entrepreneurs as well. Could this factor be influenced by the Chinese diet of noodles? If this is true, then the Philippines could be the next emerging dragon of Asia! Because instant noodles is the only food that the common-tao can afford with their extremely low wages. (optimism ba to?)

But what is really installed for us in the coming years, if TV has pre-occupied us with telenovela's? if our fallen heroes "the Japayuki's" are now unemployed? if the political scene continues pull the economy down? if the nurse's leave our sick behind for greener pastures? if we keep electing substandard politicians? Our Asian neighbors had left us by a thousand miles towards progess. And in 10 years if the situation is still the same, the only kind of people that will be left behind is the poorest of the poor, some would migrate to another country. And those who can afford to pay for a change of citizenship will only have memories of the old Pinas.

"A dragon lives forever,
but not so little boys
painted wings and giant's rings
make way for other toys.

One grey night it happened
Jackie Paper came no more
and Puff that Mighty Dragon,
he ceased his fearless roar.

His head was bent in sorrow,
green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play
along the cherry lane.

Without his life-long friend,
Puff could not be brave
so Puff that Mighty Dragon
sadly slipped into his cave."

posted by Dennis "por all op our kabayan prends"