The missing Mozart: Hailed by a world that can’t even find him

Sure there are protests against the taking effect of the Expanded Value Added Tax. Who in the world wants to pay more taxes? But pay we must. There’s no such thing as a free ride anywhere in this planet. (Just as the old American expression went: There’s no such thing as a free lunch – meaning that if somebody buys you lunch, he must want something from you).

Some people who oppose GMA and maintain that she cheated to win reelection are vowing to refuse to pay taxes because, they claim, they refuse to subsidize an "illegitimate" President. Rejecting La Presidenta is one thing: it is their right. But when one doesn’t pay taxes, then the Refusenik had better not Dial 117 when crime threatens his person, family, or personal effects. The policeman who answers the call is paid out of taxpayers’ money.

"Tax evasion," of course, is older than the civilization of ancient Egypt, or the 7,000-year history of China and the kingdoms and warring states which preceded its unification by the Tiger of Qin (Chin), Emperor Shi Huangdi, the "maker" of the Terracotta warriors, or even the vanished Roman Empire. Steles found as far from Rome as Romania, when dug from the ground, contain "laws" chiseled in stone which include various penalties for "tax evasion." During the 11 dynasties which followed that of Emperor Shi Huang of Qin, armed guards were posted at the various gates of the Great Wall of China to prevent smugglers from illegally sneaking in horses and goods to be sold in China’s teeming markets without payment of the required "taxes."

But here in the Philippines, some opposition politicians and critics seem to be making tax evasion an act of "patriotism."

Our political scene is truly silly – it’s not even a comedy. A comedy at least is entertaining. The situation here has become tedious and boring. I wish we could just get back to work instead of playing what the British call Silly Buggers.

Will GMA be forced to "resign"? No way. Will the 2007 elections be held? Of course. There’s no way "Cha-Cha" can be fast-tracked since the Senators are stonewalling, ergo no amount of exertion or coercion by their colleagues in the House of Representatives, the domain of Speaker Joe de Venecia can compel, or even shame the Senators into agreeing to convene both Houses into a Constituent Assembly. It goes against human nature to expect the Senators to vote themselves out of a job which they enjoy immensely, since it gives them the opportunity to ham it up on television.

Just consider the zarzuela over punishing the Presidential Commission on Good Government (a misnomer) because its Chairman Camilio Sabio has declined to tell a Senate inquiry the details on how the PCGG forged a settlement on the Covo Levy. Senator Joker Arroyo snarled that, in retaliation, the Senate was giving the PCGG a "zero budget." Senator Johnny Ponce Enrile growled that only if Sabio resigns will the Senate reconsider. By gosh – this would mean 29 resignations, if it’s true Sabio gave himself a position in 29-sequestered corporations!

It was Senator Manny Villar who reminded Joker and JPE to amend their zero stance and give the PCGG a P1-a-year budget instead, because a "zero budget" would conclusively abolish that agency. The idea is that a P1 budget would give the PCGG the opportunity, still barely "alive", to appeal to the Bicameral Committee of both Houses which will meet, in the end, to reconcile the draft budget.

What a stupid tempest in a teapot – I didn’t say one generated by crackpots. I, for one, believe the PCGG should have been terminated five years ago, having outlived its legal writ and its usefulness – and, indeed, for having become pernicious. But, sanamagan, not in this ridiculous manner.

This Republic is beginning to look somewhat like the Kingdom of Lilliput. Somday a book will be written about our politicians, entitled, Gullible’s Travels. They live in a fantasy world in which they are legends – in their own minds.

Even Makati’s Mayor Jojo Binay, bashing Bayani Fernando, imagines himself ten feet tall, taller than Yao Ming. Oh well. At least Jojo’s almost as tall as GMA.

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GMA was all over Bicol yesterday, perhaps to belie the idea that this region in Southern Luzon has become such a playground of the Communist New People’s Army that even the Chief Executive hesitates to go there. La Gloria inaugurated two bridges in Albay, the Basud Bridge in Santo Domingo, and the Quinale Bridge in the town of Polangui – two events which were postponed by more than a week previously. When we were young reporters many decades ago, Polangui town was famous (notorious?) for one thing: the most beautiful "hostesses" and bailerinas – this was before GRO became a more popular euphemism – used to come from Polangui. Even the gals who didn’t actually come from there claimed Polangui as their place of origin. I guess that reputation is no longer a source of "pride" to the townsfolk there.

Their only "product," it seems, nowadays is Congressman Joey Salceda, and I’m not sure he could be described as a beauty.

Ironically, the next town, Ligao, used to be known for producing seminarians and priests, not naughty girls. Since vocations for the priesthood are down, not only here but worldwide, perhaps Ligao no longer has that honor.

In any event, announcing a P500 million fund for the repair of the Quirino Highway in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, La Gloria seized that opportunity to decry "tax evaders" . . . as well as smugglers." The payment of taxes she stated was necessary to build more expressways, as well as the trains which go to Bicol. "The construction of public infrastructure is really dependent on revenues," she averred.

But what’s this? Former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "JocJoc" Bolante, who’s "wanted" to testify in the Senate on the P728 million fertilizer scam of the last election was allegedly spotted in Roxas City "last month." Gee, he gets around, doesn’t he? Chicago to Roxas City, then back again?

The Senators reportedly put a fund together (out of their own pockets?) to raise the alleged "bounty" on the whereabouts of JocJoc to P100,000. Susmariosep. Bolante’s "coming and going", if those travellers’ tales are true, has become downright embarrassing.

When we can’t even keep track of a runaway USec, how can we track down Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists or the Abu Sayyaf?

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Our embarrassment is not unique, on the other hand.

All over Europe, it seems, they’re celebrating the 250th birthday anniversary of the immortal composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Even in Davos, Switzerland, where 2,000 of the globe’s business leaders, leading politicians, academics, wannabes, and showboats convened for the over-touted World Economic Forum and its annual bout of pomposity (China and India dominated the debate this time), they took time out to honor Mozart.

Last Saturday night, the delegates knocked off to attend a Mozart concert by the Zurich Chamber Orchestra under Howard Griffiths. In an Observer piece, cutely entitled the "Hills are Alive to the Sound of Mozart", the Financial Times described the Zurich Chamber Orchestra’s rendition of Mozart pieces as "hardly world class," confirming that the Zurichers might be world class as bankers in their Bahnhofstrasse, but not great musicians.

Over in Mozart’s hometown of Salzburg (Austria), naturally, more than 2,000 people heard a similar, but glitzier program, featuring Riccardo Muti conducting the renowned Vienna Philharmonic, with a surprise stand-in appearance by the enchanting singer, Cecilia Bartoli.

What an irony that everybody loves Mozart today! I hear him played magnificently everywhere, including in the Mega Mall and the Shang Tower.

It’s Mozart who brings the euros and dollars (derived from the name of the original Austrian thaler) into Salzburg. They’ve made a multi-million dollar industry out of Mozart from the overcrowded yearly Mozartfest in August, as well from a mouth-watering candy plum called Mozartkugeln which is exported in foil and waterproof bags or boxes all over the globe. True enough, Mozart was born in Salzburg (which means "Salt City") on January 27, 1756. He was a piano-playing prodigy by age 4 and had composed his first piano piece by age 5. He toured Europe, astounding all with his precocity – performing for England’s King George III and being dandled on the knee of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa at 7 after he composed his first Sonata and his First Symphony. Paris, Rome and the Hague (Holland) went into raptures over the "miracle" child. But when Mozart returned to Salzburg, the reigning Prince Archbishop sternly told him that his "talent" was the work of the Devil! (Tsk, tsk: sometimes it seems Bishops haven’t changed).

Mozart was made to sit at the servants’ table, and soon – after the Court’s Master of Ceremonies, Count d’Arco, had given him a beating – the youth fled to Vienna. He returned to Salzburg only once: to bury his beloved mother.

Vienna treated the fully-grown Mozart little better. He was snubbed, harassed, scoffed at. Even his wife, Constance, didn’t realize the extent of her husband’s towering genius because he was so childish in manner and behavior. His only sister, Nanette, sadly commented that he was "a little boy who never grew up." But his mature soul poured out into a cascade of marvelous music. Mozart frantically scribbled at his work, a race against death, even while he was away from tuberculosis, a dying man possessed by both the Muses and the Furies.

At last, confined to his bed, he couldn’t even manage to complete his Requiem. He died penniless and alone on December 15, 1791, in his early 30s.

The cheapest of funerals was arranged, his rude coffin blessed outside St. Stephan’s Cathedral (on Kartnerstrasse), since only paying guests were allowed inside the famous Dom. He was buried by his few friends to a pauper’s grave in the cemetery of St. Marx. Not even his wife Constance followed his coffin to his grave, for it had begun to snow, and she didn’t return to look for it until 15 years later. By that time, nobody remembered where they had dumped poor Mozart’s body! Sus, not only did the Austrians "lose" his cadaver, they even demolished the apartment where he died – and on the site built a well-known department store!

Before the great Haydn died, he asked that they play Mozart’s Requiem at his funeral. Even the revered Chopin, thirty-five years later, expressed the same burial wish: "Play Mozart in memory of me!."

A hush falls over opera houses all over this planet when they play Mozart’s Ave Verum, or perform Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutte. His symphonies, harmonies, Masses, and minuets, ring from every music hall and musicians’ school. Some years ago, 24 of his lost sonatas were discovered in the attic of a house in Vienna. Mozart’s body, however, remains "missing."

Yet, Mozart lives on! His spirit not only haunts Vienna today, it dominates it.