Sir Paul reconnects with the Philippines

Sir Paul McCartney, photo courtesy of his website

Forty seven years had passed since Paul McCartney set foot on Philippine soil as a member of the Beatles during their 1966 World Tour,and no he didn't have any good memories out of that tour and perhaps that is the main cause why the Beatles had stopped playing live.As nothing can be more dangerous with what they had experienced in Manila.

But last July 19, things seem to have change with Paul's bad sentiment about the Philippines that he wrote a letter to Filipino president Benigno Aquino III regarding the welfare of Mali,the lone elephant at the Manila Zoo.The elephant was known to have suffered stress in captivity and was having all sorts of skin diseases that needed medical attention.

Sir Paul McCartney has been supporting PETA and has been speaking for the organization since the early 90s with his late wife Linda.Both Paul and Linda has also been promoting vegetarianism and the banning of  the killing of animals for food consumption,a matter that has caused some problems with some of their road crew who didn't even want to become veggie.

Mali,the lone elephant at the Manila Zoo has been in captivity for the last 33 years.The elephant was a gift from the Sri Lankan government to the Marcoses in 1981 when the elephant was only three years old.Marcos was known to have ruled the Philippines for 20 years from 1965 to 1986.The elephant  recently was noted to have a sore foot and several skin problems that has urged PETA to plea with the Philippine government to transfer Mali to a sanctuary in Thailand to be able to give her the proper care she needs.

Mali at Manila Zoo,photo:PETA

The letter of Sir Paul's to President Aquino was addressed to the Malacanang Palace which is the official residence and office of the Philippine president.

His Excellency Benigno Aquino III
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Office of the President Malacañang Palace

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to add my voice to the many others who are supporting the transfer of Mali, the lonely elephant currently being held at the Manila Zoo, to a sanctuary in Thailand as soon as possible. I respectfully urge you to use your good offices to expedite the transfer as, with every single day that she remains in the zoo, Mali suffers.

I have great regard for governments that intervene on behalf of animals, just as yours did with the May 2012 directive ordering that Mali be evaluated and considered for transfer. That said, time is passing, and it has been more than a year since that directive was issued—yet Mali seems no closer to enjoying her well-deserved retirement at an approved sanctuary.

I have heard from my friends at PETA that various government authorities are continuing to deny that Mali’s welfare should be within their jurisdiction and that the veterinarian who was brought in to perform a health assessment failed to address Mali’s debilitating foot problems and the unimaginable loneliness of a herd animal kept alone. Action must be taken for this ailing elephant, and you hold the key. The video footage of Mali is heartbreaking. You only have to have a heart to see what so many experts have already pointed out: that the way she continuously favours one leg is a sign of constant pain. I was shocked to learn that Mali has never even received proper preventive foot care when foot and joint problems are the leading cause of death among captive elephants kept on hard surfaces and when this type of care is something that every reputable zoo in the world offers. Please know that everyone who cares for elephants is awaiting the day when Mali will leave the zoo for her new retirement home at the sanctuary and—surrounded by other elephants—take her first steps in freedom. With the stroke of a pen, you can bring an end to her suffering, and I urge you, with all my heart, to direct that Mali be given that joy now.

Let me end with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that I hope you believe in, too: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Sincerely,

Paul McCartney

Filipino President Benigno Aquino III

 Paul's plea and concern however,was greeted with a not-so- kind reply by the mayor of Manila and former Philippine president Joseph Estrada.The latter was remembered to be the 13th president of the island nation whose government was overthrown on a non-violent revolution in 2001 when he was found guilty of plunder and was even convicted for years until then-President Arroyo granted him a pardon and forgave his misdeeds.Estrada got back into power as Manila mayor on a recent 2013 election.A former actor,mayor,senator and president, Estrada has been into much controversy and was known to have regarded himself as the Filipino counterpart of Ronald Reagan's. In a published article from the Philippine Star,Estrada rudely answered back to Sir Paul's plea telling him to stop interfering with issues in the Philippines.Estrada even challenged McCartney to change his citizenship from British to Filipino so he can freely interfere with what he regarded as purely Filipino affairs.[No reply has been yet posted by President Aquino].

Sir Paul probably was thinking that much has changed with the Philippines with Aquino having a good household name when it comes to Philippine politics that he decided to give it a shot.But an ill-mannered reply by Manila's mayor probably had taken him a-back.And yet made it again unclear for a possible comeback tour of the Philippines.The memories by then goes back forty seven years ago during the Beatles' disastrous tour of Manila in 1966.

Promotional poster of the Beatles 1966 Manila concert

(c)Keith Vernon Adagio

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