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Feel free to browse through my essays on the mysteries of the universe (nyak hahahah). This stuff is basically articles, commentaries, and random WHATeverrrr, ika nga...



Prelude:
(written April 20, 2002)

I wrote this for Social Studies class in my senior year of high school. A bit of background for those of you who have never taken SS under Ms. Joedy Bazar: We had to illustrate our concept of an ideal state for our final grade. Our only restriction was that it had to be set within the geographical settings of the Philippines.

This was my idea of a perfect society/nation THEN, and is therefore a portrait of the person I was then. Should any of my ideas seem odd or offensive to you, please feel free to send me your comments. Then again, there IS a reason why things should sometimes NOT go the way I want them to.


*Liuanag - A Utopian State*
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light..."

Introduction:

My first ideal state was named Lydjata. It was a society built on the principles of balance and moderation, on a scale that must be kept in perfect balance. When I was given back my first paper, I was somewhat shocked at the reflection it gave me of myself.

I'm not like that anymore. Though some of the ideas still hold true to me, the principle of moderation leans too dangerously toward lukewarmness when it comes to moral values, and I won't have that. The Christian must always strive for the right-hand path. The scale must always be tipped in favor of good, never left suspended in the middle.

Now, the scale is applicable only when subordinate to the principle of truth. The truth has been a struggle for mankind since the beginning of existence. I believe that truth can be found only in God, and upon this belief, I built my current ideal state.

The newer ideas found here were influenced by the Bible and philosophical discussions with my closest friends. Current events also defined my ideas of an imperfect existence. My experiences in the United States and Germany broadened my perspectives on societies. Many of my political views were influenced by discussions with Prof. Oscar Yatco, and some ideas on the structure of government were based on Germany's. Credit must also be given to the book "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, for showing me an "imperfectly perfect society", and to Star Wars author Timothy Zahn for the term "learning the memory."

An ideal state is a reflection of oneself...what one is as well as what one wants to be. It reveals what you believe, what you desire...who you are. My ideals do not stop here; they are constantly in evolution. What is written here is all as of the present.


Statistics

Name of State: Liuanag
Name of the people: Tanglaw (noun) / Tanglaon (adj.) Literally, "The People of Light".
Languages: Liuanag (noun and adj.), English is considered a must, as is fluency in several other foreign languages.
Population: 9,000,000
Population density: approx. 30 people per square km
Land area: 300,300 square km
Religion: Roman Catholics make up the majority although there are also a few other Christian churches. Atheism is practically non-existent.

The most important principles of Liuanag thinking are truth and love. These are the foundations of Liuanag society. Everything else is secondary to these and the teachings of Christianity.

The Tanglaon ability to communicate goodwill and understand makes them very skilled diplomats. During international conflicts the service of a Tanglaon mediator is often called for, for the Tanglaw are much respected by the global community.


History

The oldest existing records of Liuanag's history reveal that its people originated here, being only of one bloodline. These early people believed in the four elements, being born of earth, water, air, and fire. There existed a great reverence for nature and its beauty.

Liuanag was once known as Lydjata. Due to Lydjata's location, interaction with foreigners began early. The early Tanglaw, then known as the Djateii, traded with the Chinese, The Arabs, the Indians, and other Asians. From them the Djateii acquired a wealth of influence and knowledge from the outside world.

Once independent communities combined through intermarriages, conquests, and agreements, and slowly, the entire archipelago was united. When Magellan's expedition arrived, Lydjata was already a fairly powerful state. The Djateii treated the Westerners with caution bordering in suspicion and rejected Christianity. All the ensuing Spanish expeditions failed to conquer this proud nation, as did all other countries that even dared to try. Lydjata had a strong fighting force, and all its citizens were trained in combat from an early age.

The economy prospered, arts and culture flourished...Lydjata grew in power and reputation in the international community. It was recognized as one of the world powers, and the people took great pride in this. Everything seemed to be going fine...

But sure as power corrupts...pride began to eat away the nation from the inside out. Those in power began abusing it, seeking personal gain and satisfaction and living on the sweat and blood of the helpless. Gradually, the whole thing, the system the Djateii so carefully built turned into a fight for survival. Violent revolts against the government broke out, and crime became rampant.
Bit by bit, everything they worked so hard for came crashing down. In the span of merely fifty years, Lydjata became one of the world's poorest nations. From then on, the images of war, death, destruction, hunger, and hate forever remained engraved in the memories of the Djateii.

Finally, after over three centuries (later termed the Age of Darkness), a glimmer of hope was offered to the people of Lydjata in the form of Christianity, the religion they once rejected. Saint Francis Xavier and the Jesuits came upon this picture of desolation and offered them hope in faith. St. Francis' stay was short, but it left a profound impact on the Djateii. Slowly, painfully, they began to rebuild their lives around God. It was not an easy task, but little by little, they surrendered everything to Him.

It took five hundred years for Lydjata to fully recover, with about a million setbacks along the way. They adapted a new name, Liuanag, to show their yearning for the truth, and called themselves the Tanglaw, the People of Light. Out of the darkness emerged a new nation, a new people, tested in fire and revealed in brilliance.


The Government

The Tanglaon government is not so much a typical government as it is just another well-paying white-collar job. It is a service-oriented, non-profit organization working for he common good, which it was designed for. It is not for power, for ambition. The fringe benefits are good, and require only the best, which ensures good service. Therefore, the point of view of the average citizen toward the Tanglaon government is very different from the perspective other nations have of theirs.

The main functions of the government are:

1.) to render general service like distribution of the country' wealth for things like transportation and communication,

2.) to make collective decisions involving the entire community, like policies for trade and foreign relations, and

3.) to produce representatives to the international community.

The standards for becoming a member of the government are extremely high and selective. Should one wish to work in the government, he or she must present his or her credentials before the people, who then decide whether to vote him or her into office.

There is no typical judiciary system, since there are practically no laws that govern moral behavior except those already provided by religion. Tanglaon discipline has become legendary, and the crime rate is virtually zero. The Tanglaw see no reason to further hamper the freedom of the individual by creating too many rules, therefore minimizing the risk of the mentality of changing the validity of law.

The country is divided into what is known internationally as federal states. Each state is basically self-sufficient, instead of relying on the capital state. The capital state is called such mostly for international relations. Every state has its own universities, cultural centers, adequate jobs for its citizens, and so on.


Economy

The main source of income is agriculture, thought the industrial aspect of the economy is also strong. The concept of sustainable development is very much applied. The country's natural resources are maximized yet cared for.

Liuanag is virtually self-sufficient when it comes to commodities. It manufactures its own machinery (e.g. vehicles, appliances, computers, etc.) so there is practically no need to import goods from other countries. Only thing that cannot be found in Liuanag due to factors like climate and the given natural resources are imported from other countries. The trade policies on products entering the local market are very strict, and most imported goods are heavily taxed. Despite all that, due to the country's strategic location, it is one of the world's most important trading posts.

All citizens pay taxes only to the state where they reside, and they can clearly see where their money is going. Trade between states is very good. Understandably, owing to the different geographical conditions, the states are interdependent on each other for things like goods and raw materials.


Transportation

Liuanag has an exceptional transportation system, especially for sea travel. Because it is an archipelago, the Tanglaw have been developing and refining their watercraft for thousands of years. Presently, it takes practically the same time for one to travel from one island to another as it would by plane, or in some cases, even faster. The public transportation services (both on land and sea) are so reliable one seldom needs to own a private vehicle.


The People

Different they may be, but the Tanglaw all have one thing in common: an eternal desire for the truth that they have found in God. Truth for them is the center of everything.

The great emphasis on religion is evident in their society. Visitors immediately notice the feelings of warmth that permeate the atmosphere. Respect, honesty, and justice are held in high regard, though all only second to love. The Tanglaw have learned the elusive secret, the key to seeing God's image in all things: the willingness to seek and see it.

Individual differences are held in high regard and are greatly respected and celebrated in society. This is evident in the equal recognition of both science and art, as well as intellect and physical strength. They recognize the intricate relationships between the two sides of the mind, and the mind and the body. Every individual is important to the community in a different way, and one is entitled to a variety of options of what to do with one's life.

Another important principle is "Live in the light but know your darkness". The Tanglaw live to preserve truth and goodness, but they are always aware of the dark aspects of reality and take care not to get caught up in self-righteousness. They have already learned their lesson from the Age of Darkness. They know better than to let such darkness prevail again.

The most unusual trait of the Tanglaw is their ability to inherit and learn memories. They have no need for history books and records, which are unreliable; their memories are more accurate. Every child is born with dormant memories inherited from his/her parents that are awakened with time and familial guidance. This guidance determines specifically which memories are awakened and retained active for life. Memories can also be learned from people other than one's own parents, though it requires a deep emotional connection between the two people concerned. And they never forget active memories, except voluntarily. Once a memory is chosen to be forgotten, it never returns and cannot be passed on or inherited. This is seldom chosen, though, because of the general attitude is focused on learning from past mistakes.

When one inherits (and awakens) or learns a memory, with it comes everything: the impressions, colors, sounds, and sensations. This is one of the things that preserve their society. They do not wish to return to darkness, to repeat past mistakes as if they never occurred. Past may be past, but it can define the future.