I didn’t care about Prince William’s arrival in New Zealand yesterday, as well as his scheduled visit here in Australia tomorrow. But it doesn’t mean that I hate the monarchy...
It is The Prince’ first official overseas trip on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II— ...since yesterday my mind has been troubled in finding any direct or indirect effect of this event in the life of a foreigner who's working as a chook-minder in the monarchy of Australia. Perhaps, I care... but this doesn’t mean that I love the monarchy, either.
As an innocent boy being raised in a small village in Southern Philippines, I had the belief that the dominion of kingdoms, if they existed, has already ended many years ago... that those kings, queens, princes and princesses are only fictitious and are only present in the pages of fairytale books. Well, obviously I was wrong because they are factual and still exist until today.
I know that I need to read more to understand more about the British Throne, especially its absolute relevance in the Commonwealth Realm of the present day when every nation has its own government chief executive. A survey in New Zealand—a member of the Commonwealth of Nations has, somehow, surprised me. It says that in the recent years, around 40 per cent of the Kiwis voted to end their royal ties with Her Majesty and support the creation of a republic. Today, Australia’s Channel 7 is inviting the Aussies to participate in the poll tonight asking if this Land Down Under still needs monarchy. I can’t believe that these two developed nations have been considering to gain complete independence from the British Monarchy—whom, I believe, they owe a lot.
For me, there’s a thing called ‘British Magic’, and I believe in this magic... in its power to establish economically-stable nations such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand! Just like the Philippines who bravely fought for independence from the Spanish, Japanese, and American rules, it is worthwhile to think about the ‘what if’s’ had South Africa and India dwelt under the British authority until today.
Singapore and Hong Kong are very fortunate! The two countries’ history was almost the same- while under the British Empire, both islands were occupied by the Japanese during World War II but the British regained their control after the war. These currently-wealthy cities didn’t fight through a bloody battle to achieve their independence from Britain, they waited for ages to gain their stability and used the war of words: Singapore outlined some policies that convinced the British; while Hong Kong, through the People’s Republic of China, initiated diplomatic negotiations. It is not destiny, it is the strategy.
Source: Wikipedia
16 comments:
Politically, it doesn’t matter wither the citizens of Australia and New Zealand wants to severe relationship with the British Monarchy or not. The Queen’s role under the Commonwealth of Nation is purely ceremonial. She doesn’t have a “say” to the day to day dealings of each of these nation.
I think what made them decide to break away is the expenditure of maintaining the monarchy which each nation share a fraction of the cost.
BLOGUSVOX
Excellent! Galing at tapang niyo po talaga, hindi ko nga isinama ang role ng Royal Family pero tumbok agad. Iniiwasan ko talaga itong banggitin, baka sabihin ng Reyna rude ako. U
Binuo niyo na po ang post ko. Tamang-tama first comment. o",)
Kaya nga po, palaging issue ang finances; then kapag may mga travel, palaging sagot ng bansang pinupuntahan.
Wala akong kaalam-alam sa workings ng isang monarchy, i.e. as to how big their clout is in a country's affair.
Questions, RJ:
Nagmadali ba tayo masyado? Naging atat ba tayo for our independence? Had we waited until we 'strategically' planned our sovereignty from the US, mas magiging maunlad kaya tayong bansa?
Kung tayo ay napasa-ilalim ng Britain, instead of US, mas naging okay kaya ang Pinas? Economically, I mean.
ISLADENEBZ
Para sa akin, sa first two questions niyo, YES po pareho ang sagot ko. Then sa ibang mga natirang katanungan, POSIBLE. Yan talaga ang nais kong i-point out dito sa post ko. o",)
Ang Kaharian ng Saudi Arabia, kumusta naman po ang kanilang pamamalakad?
Try mo i search sa Google kung saan number 1 ang Pinas?
haha! So sad but its the truth.... Ewan ko ba? But I still love the Philippines... so much!
Most of the European Countries are under Constitutional Monarchy. The monarch's roles are purely ceremonial yet they attain stability both politically and economically. Another great thing with the European monarchy is that they have a parliamentary forms of government. Iyan ang wala sa atin.. that's why we're not stable and will forever remain poor and ever corrupt!!
on the other hand,
hindi naman maikakaila na may maganda ring naidulot ang monarkiya na namahala sa ilang mga bansa.
Ikumpara natin ang ilang mga bansa na napasailalim nila----sa mga hindi.
Pero sa makabagong panahon,
wala na silang silbi. Palamunin at dyosdyosan nalang sila ng mga bansang naniniwala pa rin sa kanila tulad dito sa amin, wala naman silang ginagawa pero kung bumisita sila dito akala mo mga dyos sila.
(tama ba yung pinagsasabi ko? wahaha.)
i'd like to meet the queen someday. of the princess. i am just really fascinated by royalty. hehe!
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hindi ko maxado napag-isipan ang setting...but yeah, maybe. i love england. hehe! maybe he's on the hogwarts express! hahaha!
hmmm...i'm not sure. i guess darkness is a good figurative element...like everything will come out as a surprise. but generally, i like the eeriness of it. it's the best part of the day to think and reflect.
i love tragic endings too. just imagine if jack dawson survived in titanic. tragedy should stay in the world of fiction. unfortunately, that's not how things are happening in reality. life is full tragedy. no wonder we crave for happy endings.
MANGYAN ADVENTURER
Alam mo ba kung saan number 1 ang bansa natin? Sabihin mo nalang sa 'kin. U
BRAGGART_21
Mahusay po ang iyong paliwanag. o",)
KOSA
Tapang, translate mo sa Ingles bro para maunawaan ng Reyna ng Canada. (,"o
TAMA!
LUCAS
Sayang wala na ang Prinsesa ng Wales, di mo na siya mami-meet.
nasabi na nila lahat, antatalino nyo.. wala na akong masabing iba pang reaksyon.
sarap siguro maging isang royalty ano? biruin mo, taong bayan ang bumubuhay sa marangya nilang pamumuhay. walang iniintindi kundi ang gumasto at bumyahe ng swabe. ma-examine nga ang dugo ko baka bughaw ang kulay nito..toinks!
SLY
Sa tingin ko hindi masarap ang magkaroon ng 'dugong bughaw'. U
Ano bang gagawin mo, Sly, haematology? o",)
i have seen a real queen, the queen of spain visited intramuros then. aliw!
Wag na doc!
basta ang Reyna ng Canada eh sya ring reyna ng Ingglatera.
teka matanung ko,
sinu yung bata sa Litrato?
CHYNG
Kailan 'yon, Chyng? Ano naman ang naramdaman mo nu'ng nakakita ka ng real queen?
KOSA
Pamangkin ko, bro. Bakit? o",)
In my personal observation/experience, monarchy influences the way the political leaders are governing the country. It is not "purely ceremonial" but the Royal family plays an important role in shaping the society (like the UK). Yes, they share a portion of the country's expenses but they have ongoing projects (and charities) that benefit the community. I did experience it particularly in Thailand where some of the projects in the countryside are managed by the King and Queen (Sirikit). Maybe for Aussies and Kiwis, the presence of the Royal Family is not a big deal but for Northern Ireland and the rest of British Isles, monarchy will continue to play a vital role in social, economical and political terms.
@Reymos, here,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/477405.stm.
Read for yourself the debate between the “royalist” and anti-monarchy advocates. And by the way, we are talking about British Monarchy and not any other’s countries’ monarchy like Thailand whose king still has some political clout. Don't compare the two as if they are one and the same. Here in the Middle East, monarchs are still “all-powerful” as they were in the past.
“… but for Northern Ireland and the rest of British Isles, monarchy will continue to play a vital role in social, economical and political terms.”
What is your basis on this opinion? Social role, yes, but in economics and politics, no. The term “ceremonial” means not only attending social functions but also heading “charities”. But they don’t make decision when it comes to the political and economic affairs of UK. That’s the job of the Prime Minister and his cabinet. That’s also one of the reasons why the Queen doesn’t like Margaret Thatcher because the “Iron Lady” doesn’t confer with the monarchy on her administration decisions. Kahit pakunswelo de bobo man lang.
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