| Christmas in July By Antonio C. Abaya Written July 26, 2006 For the Standard Today, July 28 issue The State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Arroyo before a joint session of the reconvened Congress last July 24 has been likened (in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 25) to a board meeting of a corporation in which the CEO made a PowerPoint presentation of her achievements in the past year and her plans for the immediate future. My impression, however, which I expressed in Dong Puno�s Viewpoint program over ANC that evening, was that of a Santa Claus distributing Christmas gift packages, in July, to cheering boys and girls wildly ecstatic that they are in Santa�s gift list. No wonder President Arroyo was applauded 166 times, the most ever accorded a SONA-reading president. By contrast, the Inquirer noted, President Cory Aquino was applauded 80 times in 1986 (or 1987?), President Joseph Estrada 23 times in 1998, and GMA herself 33 times in 2005. Whoever ghost-wrote GMA�s speech deserves an all-expenses-paid vacation in Beirut. It was a masterpiece of feel-good rhetoric that dangled something for practically everyone except the Hezbollah. It was, as I said, Santa Claus giving away Christmas packages in July. The caveat here is that the gift packages, nicely wrapped in cheerful Christmas paper and adorned with Christmas ribbons, are really empty, with a note saying: Not to be opened until 2008 or 2009 or 2010 or even Ever. I do not have the actual text, but my sense is that of the 166 rounds of applause that interrupted her speech, fully 100 were for infrastructure projects that have yet to be built. The early-Christmas list included an airport in this town, another airport in that town, a connecting highway in this province, another connecting highway in that province, a public market here, another public market there, an irrigation canal in this region, another irrigation canal in that region. And so on and on and on.. And for every infra project in the list, there was a group of congressmen(women)-mayors-governors in the audience who showed their gratitude for the nicely-wrapped but empty box that they got, that they were even included in the list at all, by applauding. So it was applause after every 15 seconds of speech. A friend of mine who occupied positions in the Marcos, Aquino and Ramos governments told me he was laughing as he listened to the SONA because most of the future projects dangled by President Arroyo, he said, had been planned as early as the Marcos presidency with the aid of the World Bank. The retort to that, of course, is why didn�t the previous presidents get around to building those projects during their watch? The answer, also of course, is the perennial lack of money.. Now how confident is President Arroyo that her government would have sufficient funds to put something in those empty Christmas gift boxes when it is time to open them in 2007 or 2008 or 2009 or 2010? UP Economist Ben Diokno, who was Budget Secretary under President Estrada, said on TV that evening that he estimated that President Arroyo�s infra wish list would cost about half a trillion pesos. President Arroyo�s Budget Secretary, Rolando Andaya, said in the Inquirer of July 26, that these infra projects would cost P207.8 billion, of which P96.5 billion would come from perennially money-losing government owned corporations, P74.l billion from the national government, P36.8 billion from the private sector through the build-operate-transfer or BOT scheme, and P400 million from the local government units. Between Diokno�s P500 billion and Andaya�s P207.8 estimates, there is no way for us poor taxpayers to tell which one is more realistic. The beauty of promising Christmas gifts in the future is that there are a thousand and one explanations than can be cooked up when the gift boxes turn out to be permanently empty or only half-full when it is time to open them: the price of oil shoots up to $100 per barrel, the remittances of OFWs fall below expectations, tourism arrivals suffer a drop as a result of another high-profile kidnapping of tourists, our export of electronic components experience a major slow-down in the global marketplace, the NPA or the Abu Sayyaf score a spectacular victory, World War III begins in the Middle East, Kris Aquino enters the nunnery, etc.. In the meantime, the mayors and the governors and the congressmen or women and their hangers-on who are in the gift list � and that includes practically everybody who is anybody - will be dancing in the streets, figuratively speaking, for the next 12 to 18 months in anticipation of the opening of their Christmas-in-July gift boxes. This nationwide feel-good euphoria will be enough to ensure quashing of the pending impeachment resolutions, and to ensure the shift to a unicameral-parliamentary government in 2007, the installation of GMA as president-prime minister from 2007-2010, and her election as prime minister, practically for life, in 2010. If she does succeed in building most of these infra projects, she would be even more indestructible. And there is nothing that the opposition trapos or the communist movement � her most vociferous critics � can do to counteract this scenario. They simply do not have anyone in their ranks who can match the craftiness of the incumbent. I said in Dong Puno�s Viewpoint that her SONA performance proved that President Arroyo was THE master politician bar none, not in the Jeffersonian sense, but in the Macchiavellian sense. She may be deceitful and manipulative, but she is also resourceful and resilient, able to muster her allies even when her chips are down. Having survived the strongest challenge to her political life last February 23-24, she is self-assured and confident � even if no one else in the middle class shares that assurance and confidence � that �Our Lord put me here� or that Pope Benedict XIV approves of her governance. She is able to nimbly navigate through the minefields of Philippine politics, knows what buttons to push and what levers to pull and who to buy off and for how much. She knows when to step back a little to absorb a blow, and when to counter-attack with added fury. For better or for worse, this Little Girl has parried the thrusts and blunted the challenges of such machos as Erap, JV, Jojo, Ping, Gringo, Peping, Boy the pastor, Tito, Tita Cory, Frank, the Hyatt 10, the Batasan 5, the Magdalo, Lolo Abat, Dinky the Dink, Oscar, Rene, Boy the communist, Dodong, Randy, Danny, Beaver the beaver, Querubin, the White Ribbon movement, the Bukluran ng Katotohanan, the Black and White movement, the Running Priest, Joma and the entire communist movement. She has managed to sow discord and division in the ranks of both military adventurers and Catholic bishops. She has even survived the machinations of Uncle Sam and Uncle Dick to remove her from power. Anyone who still dreams of overthrowing her must go back to the drawing boards and analyze what they have been doing wrong and what she has been doing right. But they have to do it soon, before she can put something tangible in those empty Christmas-in-July gift boxes. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles since 2001 in www.tapatt.org. Current articles also in tonyabaya.multiply.com and tapatt.yahoogroups.com OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |
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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Reactions to �Christmas in July� Dear Tony; I am sorry you took such a pessimistic view of the SONA. I thought the only major fault was the failure to address the issues on the elections and fertilizer fund. Otherwise, I lked the form and content. Vic Lim, [email protected], Asian Institute of Management, July 25, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Am very disappointed to read your comments re. SONA. I completely disagree that these programs are not doable. Your position truly reveals that there are those incapable of thinking out of the box and disregard biases and partisanship, in this case for the glory of the country and its people. However, when parts of or all of the SONA objectives are achieved, despite naysayers like you, may you and your children enjoy their benefits. Mike Gonzalez, [email protected], July 26, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya: Based on empirical calculations, the President�s �Christmas in July� isn�t all that far-fetched. While the bases may not be entirely covered, the figures are well within the ballpark. Barring, of course, possible disasters you mention such as crude oil above $100 per barrel, OFW remittances and tourism arrivals drying up, global recession, terrorist attacks, etc., the expenditures can theoretically be covered by the resources at hand. Although those disasters are not beyond the realm of possibility, if we work on normal to slightly optimistic economic forecasts, President Arroyo can deliver on her promised goodies. 1. �Christmas� in this case covers a four year period. The figures of P207 billion, or even P500 billion, are not all that daunting. Up until today, government has improved on tax collections and the revenues from VAT have been encouraging. According to Sen. Ralph Recto, he expects additional revenues of P100 billion per year. 2. As you mention, many of those projects were conceived since Marcos� administration but were not acted upon by succeeding administrations. However, some of the projects the President mentioned are already underway, some even nearing completion. Case in point: the Cebu convention center. Therefore, it can be assumed that some of those projects have already been initially funded and only the balance will have to be covered. 3. Perhaps going into a more optimistic, though not unrealistic, mode, expectations are for the economy to achieve economic growth annually. Economic growth will mean additional government revenues that will fund the President�s programs. A reasonable 5% annual growth could add as much as P5 billion annually to the coffers. 4. Some of the projects cited are B.O.T.�s. This means government will not have to scrounge for the funds to finance these projects. Other projects are covered by grants, while others are said to be private sector initiatives. 5. Lastly, in the arsenal of remedies that any administration can resort to in case of shortage of funds, there is always a �final option�. This has been the silver bullet of all administrations since Ferdinand Marcos. It is called debt. Although this would be a last recourse, debt is very tempting to use in order to accomplish programs. The current administration basks from the impact of a completed project, while it leaves to the succeeding administration the onus of its burden. With the current upgrade in ratings of Philippine sovereign debt, there will be no shortage of lenders. If push comes to shove, no administration will resist the temptation to borrow in order to display its accomplishments. This is a dispassionate assessment of objectives vis-�-vis resources available to attain them, not a rationalization for their fulfillment. While I personally do not endorse debt, for example, I cannot ignore the fact that it is highly seductive and the temptation to resort to it is far too great for any administration. No administration has ever made debt reduction a priority. Very truly yours, Carl Cid S.M. Inting, [email protected], Cebu City, July 27, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir, it would be very much appreciatted to come up with a follow-up report re: flight of OFWs. While watching GMA's 24 Oras, there is this OFW who was said to be in state of shock/ her co-evacuees were telling that she was raped and that they have seen signs of physical abuse. They are saying that they can only talk to her during her lucid intervals. GMA keeps on bragging of the OWWA funds intended to support OFWs in distress. It should be properly used to aid our countrymen evacuating from Lebanon. Vonne Villanueva, [email protected], July 27, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww We now seem to be witnessing the transformation of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo into a dreamer who has gone out of touch with reality, the reality being her not legally elected president of this country but presiding over the lives of its people anyway here and now which would shape their and their children's future. She has "blazed" the trails that might condition our minds into believing that we are on our way to her "enchanted kingdom," reminiscent of Imelda Marcos' "hole in the sky pointing to the Philippines," figment of her deranged imagination. Arroyo made the preposterous pronouncement backed up by a one-billion-peso fund to defeat the communists in two years. Even military experts doubt it is possible with some of them making a safer projection of at least five years to do the job. Killing unarmed leftist elements, human rights activists, volunteer workers for the poor, or local media practitioners might be the focal objective. The police and military do not need one billion pesos to buy state-of-the-art weaponry to annihilate these easy targets. They are being killed daily with impunity already. Now Arroyo is proposing the creation of "four super regions," and all of a sudden "there is money for all these projects." Today's editorial mentioned about an expert's findings how much was/is needed to service the growing national debt which takes the lion's share of the national budget. If the country has to meet its debt obligations there will only be a fourth left to make the government machinery run. Arroyo announced that her goals (dreams) would be realized in three years, 11 months, a few weeks and days from now on. Oh yes. Arroyo, the well-trained economist knows better. Representative Joey Salceda, whom she tutored as one of her college students in her economisc class, as stated in your editorial, is one of the members of her economic team, and her economic adviser, as columnist Belinda Olivares-Cunanan wrote in her column. This is too much for my simple mind to grasp. All the while I thought that an adviser must be a person who knows much more than the person advised. I am perplexed. That Salceda must be an economics genius. Was that one of the reasons why Arroyo boldly proposed the creation of her so called super regions? Arroyo has been known to exhibit a flair for young "boys" as members of her team. The young ones are mostly dreamers and idealists while the elder ones (except for Raul Gonzales), are normally pragmatists. If the latter refuse to see reality and indulge in dreams instead, then it is aging process in reverse. Arroyo must have read George Bernard Shaw's line: You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?" Dreaming, as you wrote is free. But Arroyo is not being paid the people's money to dream the impossible. Ramon A. Mayuga, [email protected], Essen, Germany, July 27, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir: I was amused by your article on the President�s wish-list (or Christmas list as you would put it). It did seem like a catalog of pork barrel projects that would warm any Congressman�s heart. However, realistically speaking, don�t you think that pork barrel projects also please the electorate? And isn�t the electorate the people? Maligned as these Congressmen are, their primary goal, after helping themselves, is to please their electorate. They are an important link to the people. And that is what many ivory-tower, holier-than-thou proselytizers just don�t get. And when elections come around, as they are expected to do in 2007, these sanctimonious blabbermouths will once again whine and protest because they won�t know what hit them. The fact of the matter is that people are tired of rhetoric. They want to see tangible improvements and delivery of services. People at the grassroots are not too difficult to please. To paraphrase Sam Lefkowitz, they will not quibble over the cup being half-empty or half-full. They will be grateful to at least have a cup. It will not be an issue of whether the President can fulfill all of her promises. If she can deliver a significant part of them, she will have been perceived to have done something. The President and her advisers know that all too well. Perhaps that is what you mean when you say: �Anyone who still dreams of overthrowing her must go back to the drawing boards and analyze what they have been doing wrong and what she has been doing right.� Under our present circumstances, with a Constitution that leaves much room for unbridled politics, these procedures are par for the course and are eagerly anticipated by the grassroots. Finally, after making a case that the President�s Christmas boxes will most likely be empty, you add this caveat: �But they have to do it soon, before she can put something tangible in those empty Christmas-in-July gift boxes.� Is this an indication of some concern that the nimble, Machiavellian Little Girl might eventually make good on those Christmas packages? Very truly yours, Juan Deiparine, [email protected], Toril, Davao City, July 28, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww IS PGMA BEING UNFAIR TO THE AFP AND PNP? Yes. PGMA can go beyond the billion peso support for an all-out war even with all the military and police strength against the NPA but will fall short of resolving the insurgency problem. It is very unfair to sacrifice the lives of the soldiers and the policemen to resolve the problem of insurgency that government has created and failed to resolve because of bad governance. The one billion fund will not suffice to support active counterinsurgency operations; more so, to take care of the families of the soldiers and policemen who will be killed or maimed, and the collateral damage on the properties and lives of the non-combatants. FVR's Social Reform Agenda, had it been implemented early enough during his term could have contributed strongly to the resolution of the nation's socio-economic and political problems (poverty, injustice, corruption, inequitable development and poor delivery of basic services, etc.) that could have reduced the intensity of insurgency. FVR's call for negotiations with the different insurgent groups was an effort to resolve the insurgency. Unfortunately, it was not followed with government sincerity to reform itself as well as institute the necessary reforms in the social, economic and political fields. Civic action by the military and the police are efforts to bring the government close to the people. But it remains a palliative for as long as government fails to meet the people's basic needs. The bibingka symbol will remain a symbol for as long as money and personality remain the most effective ingredient in the selection of leaders. I have lost hope in HOPE. Only a total overhaul of our system will create hope for our country to reach NICHOOD. We have to go through a period of transition to clean the whole range of our system of governance before we can slide smoothly to a parliamentary system. Hurrying with a cha-cha will only perpetuate the status quo that we want to eliminate. A revolutionary change is necessary to build the proper edifice of our social regeneration. Apolinario Mabini adverted that this change should be bold and radical not only of our institutions but also in our manner of behaving and thinking. Fortunato U. Abat, [email protected], July 29, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Nice, Mr. Abaya. I have become your "forwarder", just like some friends in some egroups I moderate, such as the famous UP poet, Mila Aguilar. Compared to you, Mr. Abaya, do you have any data how many people read your columns in comparison with say, Conrad de Quiroz, Mr. Doronila, Randy David, Rodel Rodis, Perry Diaz, Ducky Paredes or Alex Magno, and others? (I have no idea, but probably less than the other gentlemen you mentioned since their papers have much wider circulations than mine. ACA) Frankly, sharing your columns with us in an egroup is very innovative and very humbling on your part. I admire your humility. You do not expect us to go Googling and then scrolling in your paper because of an idea that since you are a columnist, people will go rushing to where your columns are published or posted.This is where you differ so much from say, Walden Bello, and some of his fellow writers. They diss out those very passionate writings. But they don't give a reader the opportunity to ask some questions. I find this weird, and of course, irritating. At puno ng kayabangan. Para bang God having a sermon on the Mount. Even in graduate classes, one can ask questions. Your paragraph below Mr. Abaya is very telling. As UP Political Science Professor Clarita Carlos shares with us, in two classes where she sounded out the sentiments of her senior students concerning the Philippine situation, the overwhelming sentiment was that "Pare pareho lang iyang mga iyan. Mga Trapos." And perhaps some might add: "Sina Joma na naman? Pare parehong kulay ng bandila...at kaliwang kamao ang nakata-as na naman? Sina Dr. Nemenzo? Iyong mga pare uli? Bakit hindi sila magkaroon ng samahan? A Frente Amplio." Hahahahaha. But of course, the bird brained in President Gloria's ruling group cannot continue to be complacent that with the continuous extra-judicial killings that some people and groups are doing, even the poor ignorant wives of some religious personalities, like what they did to those two UP girls, that she will continue to expect Hossanahs in the future during her SONAS. And this corruption... An admirable young lawyer in the PCGG, Atty. Nick Conti, has designed "life style" checks to check on corrupt officials. Where are they getting their money, considering the salaries they are getting. Result? His poor mother almost died in the apartment they are renting. The point? Even with President Gloria orating in that mellifluous voice of hers against corruption and Atty. Conti's mother almost dying because of a rat-tat-tat on his apartment, it seems corruption continues. I have been informed of nauseating corruption in the Department of Education in Samar. Of all places, in this critical department molding the minds, the values, the mindsets of the young? Is this happening in other poor countries? Anyway, as I was saying, President Gloria and her Knight in Shining Kalashnikov, Jovito Palparan, should not think that it will be forever and ever for them. There is no massive up-swelling of contempt and distaste right now in the Philippines. I think in America, especially in San Francisco, I note the same group of young people expressing their anger at the Philippine situation. They are to me, the perennial idealists. The girls are almost in tears. And the young men, they are practically ready to shout "To the barricades!" But I don't see their numbers increasing. No other colors are joining them yet. This is no reason to be complacent, however. In the case of the No. 1 UP alumnus and No. 2 in Transparency International, some UP Chorale groups were already singing to him as if he was going to rule forever. We know the rest of the story. Cesar Torres, [email protected], July 29, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I caught GMA on TV when she delivered the SONA. She delivered her speech well. Listening to her brought back memories when I was active in the campaign stump. What she decided to do was plain and simple - she used the time tested formula which assured that her speech would be deliriously received by mentioning just about everyone in the audience and offering each with a project gift. Given the feudal state of our political system, such a speech always creates euphoria among the listeners! Yes Tony, it seems that GMA has just about out-maneuvered the political machos, the righteous groups, the left and the so the so-called informed sector. With the present socio-political and economic structure, system and leadership profile, it seems to me that the real option to effect a meaningful and substantive change seems obvious but we are all in the state of self denial or just plain scared. Cesar Sarino, [email protected], July 29, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww In reply to the query of Mr. Cesar Torres, Are there still people who bother to read Conrad de Quiros?? M. G. Espaldon, [email protected], , July 30, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE OPPOSITION NOW? ARE THEY STILL UP AND ABOUT? THAT DINKY SOLIMAN SHOULD BE DUNK (AND PICKLED) IN A BARELLFUL OF ILOCOS VINEGAR! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT CHIZ ESCUDERO HAS BECOME, FOR ME. I THINK HIS ONLY ADVOCACY AT THIS TIME IS TO TAKE GMA OUT OF THE PALACE. HE HAS TRIED IT MANY TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. CAN HE NOT JUST STOP THIS NOW AND CHANNEL HIS ENERGIES TO SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH OUR WHILE? IF GMA IS REALLY GUILTY (AS WE THINK SHE IS) LET US JUST LEAVE BAD KARMA TO TAKE ITS COURSE..............AND TELL ESCUDERO TO SHUT UP AND DO SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL FOR THE COUNTRY. SAYANG LANG ANG LAWAY NIYA. (PERSONALLY, HE HAS LOST FAVOR WITH MANY WHEN HE ALLIGNED WITH THE INFAMOUS ESTRADA). ESCUDERO IS A PRESIDENTIABLE, BUT AT THE PACE HE IS LOSING STEAM, HE MAY YET BE A HAS-BEEN BEFORE HE GETS THERE. Ed Valenciano, [email protected], July 31, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya Like I have previously said, Lady Luck is still with her today since there is no clear person who can challenge her right now, and she knows it very well. You are right when you mentioned that the Opposition must get their act together or lets forget this opposition clamor for impeachment.....it will never materialize...specialy when she is promising so many things to would-be or potential signatories to the impeachment cases. You are also right by saying there is no money in the government coffers and everyone knows it except her and her vultures, because if there was, the government wouldn't look for money desperately through taxpayers or unless the Central Bank decides to print additional new peso bills (directed by government) without IMF knowing it.....then she will pass on (hopefully) a bankrupt government to her successor....and then blame it on him as usual..... These promises she made are just that, promises without substance..... Her strategists are really good in deceiving the Filipinos since this government has not yet experienced a "real" people power wherein there is no politics involved but the cry of the citizenry for change and a better life....which they see will not happen with this government. Infrastructures cannot feed the poor, but will definitely fatten the Vultures. How long will this be sustained is anybody's guess....but it could be sooner than anticipated....We just have to pray for the best because "the Filipinos deserve better governance and are worth fighting for". People should now read between the lines...she doesn't look like she will step down from power but prolong it......because God put her there? Think again, people..... Jose Genato, [email protected], July 31, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I think that all right thinking people in this country are fed up with wrong thinking people thinking they are right. While both sides are sick and tired of each other, the otherwise thinking people are fed up with being sick and tired of their arguments. Peter Pinder, [email protected], August 01, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I enjoyed your email on GMA's 'State of the Nation' presentation, giving hope to people on empty boxes full of promises of her plans for the immediate future. She must believe she has a magic wand. In other words GMA is offering us 'Heaven on Earth' but so far we have seen the road she has traveled since 2001 of removing from Malacanang a President. And in the 2004 elections cheating Fernando Poe Jr., as evidenced in the 'Hello Garci' tapes. From then on, all we have heard and seen have been eye openers of what she is capable of doing to retain the Presidency. I believe that part of the proposed promises GMA might have made, appear in the book written by Bernardo M. Villegas. 'One year of ERAPNOMICS'. The fourth paragraph of the 'Preface' reads in part as follows: "In his State of the Nation to congress on July 26 1999, the President himself rated his performance during the first year with a modest 75%, the minimum passing grade in most academic circles. The Estrada Administration was commended by such international agencies as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for it's skillful management of the economy during the (Asian economic) crisis. "The Estrada Administration, however, will be the first to point out that economic growth, even if a pre-requisite to sustainable human development, is not a sufficient condition. There must be enlightened public policies and corporate strategies that strengthen the social foundations of a just and humane society that addresses directly the needs of the poorest of the poor. �That is why in Part I, I have given prominence to the social dimensions of development, which parallels the emphasis found in Medium-Term Development Plan of the Estrada Government for 1999-2004. Needless to say, the essays I included on the social issues contain certain personal views which do not necessarily represent the thinking of the officials of the Estrada administration. "In Part II, I discuss the rationale behind the importance given to agriculture and to countryside development. This focus on agriculture, however, does not mean that there will be a hallowing out of the manufacturing sector. There are many industries at the down stream levels of production (e.g. garments, food processing, pharmaceuticals, steel manufacturing, packaging, etc.) that can be globally competitive in a free trade regime under the World Trade Organization or ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). Services too, will be an engine of growth, especially the tourism industry. To attain growth with equity, however, the two most important stakeholders of the economy - the consumers and the labor force - must be given due importance by the business sector. "Part III tackles the most important trend of globalization, already a fact, no longer an option. President Estrada and his economic team have not deviated from the liberalization path take by their predecessors in previous administrations. Going beyond circumstantial legislation, the President decided to tackle the very roots of protection by provoking a national debate on constitutional amendments. The essay in Part III may shed light on the various issues related to how the Philippines can be made more attractive to foreign direct investors. "In Part IV some of the political factors that affect the investment climate are discussed. The major political challenge in the first year was to have the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States ratified by the Senate of the Philippines. The harshest criticisms of President Estrada's personal actuations had to do with the alleged return of crony capitalism. The tribal conflicts in Mindanao continue to be the biggest political thorn on the side of the administration, with no solution immediately in sight. "Fortunately, however, there is an increasing number of Philippine regions which are literally stealing the thunder from "Imperial" Manila. Metro Cebu and CALABARZON lead the pack of regional rising stars. We hope to write about more regions in future accounts of the economic performance of the Estrada Administration. "I offer this book as a tribute to President Joseph Estrada and his team for their notable accomplishments in the first year of managing the Philippine economy. I thank William Gatchalian of Wellex Group of Companies for his help in financing this book and the role he has played as Presidential Adviser on Overseas Workers fits well the emphasis we have given to these unsung heroes of Philippine economic development.". Bernardo M. Villegas September 1999 ------------------ *You will note the difference of transparency during the two years of President Estrada and his Administration and that of GMA's. The progress of the CALABARZON'S in different parts of the Philippines, Batangas semi-industrial development, as well as the agricultural and irrigation development that took place in Calapan and Lake Nuhan fishery projects in Mindoro. President Estrada said his own research shows that almost 74 billion yen was received by the Philippine government for four projects financed by the Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) under the loan span. In other words, GMA does not have a single project with JBIC. JBIC projects being implemented were initiated under the Estrada administration. The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway project, was secured in late 2000under a 41.9 billion yen, while the Iloilo airport project was approved in August 2000 with an agreed financing of 14.7 billion yen. The loan for the Mindanao Container Terminal, was signed in April 2000 under a loan of 8.26 billion yen and the Camanava area flood project in Metro Manila with about the same amount, during the period. While we now know that President Estrada was being undermined by his Vice-president (GMA). We see that the Graft case has been on-going for five years now and the Sandiganbayan has not found any evidence to date to make anything out of the alleged claims against President Estrada. Lastly let me point out that President Diosdado Macapagal wrote in his book 'Democracy in the Philippines' as follows: "Like any other human institution, democracy is imperfect and continually subject to improvement but it is still "the best government ever conceived by the mind of man" because it is as proximate as can be to natural laws, It safeguards the inborn rights of man to liberty and dignity, and it fosters the blossoming of human initiative and talent which are the fountain-head of progress. "The prime index of political development and success is economic progress. The achievements in human civilization have ensued from the initiative of great men whose creative genius was not stifled by repression and came to blossom in the invigorating atmosphere of liberty. "I rely on the awakened good sense of our people. And I have faith in the judgment of God Who knows the truth and Whose ultimate justice no man can escape." Yours for a better Filipinas. Abrazos, Jaime Calero, [email protected], Sydney, Australia, July 30, 2006 PS. Incidentally are you aware that Australia has been celebrating Christmas on July 25? wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (The following article was emailed to Tapatt by Gerry Kaimo) 'Singaw ng bangaw' Dispatches from the Enchanted Kingdom by Manuel Buencamino, Business Mirror, August 06, 2006 I was at St.Luke's Hospital when The Patient arrived. Security was tight so I morphed myself into a fly. I wanted to observe without being observed. "What's wrong with her?" someone asked. A doctor answered, "fever, running nose (sic), sore throat, dry cough, and body aches." "Sounds like the flu," someone said. Mike Defensor said it was the flu. Ignacio Bunye said he recently recovered from it. And Arthur Yap said "she was lucid". Lucid?!? Why was Art reassuring the public about the patient's mental health? Was she suffering from dementia? Hmmm. so I buzzed over to the patient's wheelchair. To observe. Up-close. On the way to the elevator, an aide was indiscreetly telling the patient's doctor, the renowned hepatologist Juliet Cervantes, "She hardly slept last week. She was obsessed with her SONA. No one could get any sleep either." The patient overheard her aide's remark so she said, "Please, just tell them I'm sick. My throat hurts and my lungs are congested." The aide apologized for his indiscretion. She replied, "Thank you. Taos pusong pasasalamat sa inyo. Thank you, governors." Meanwhile, the nurse asked the patient if she was comfortable in the wheelchair. The patient grinned and said, "Yes, .thank you.. Taos pusong pasasalamat sa inyo. Thank you, mayors." In the elevator, the operator asked, "What floor?" The patient replied, "Super region, of course. Thank you, generals." Something seemed odd so I zoomed over to the doctor who was in a huddle with one of the patient's aides. "She's been doing that since the SONA," whispered the worried aide. "Doing what?" asked the doctor. "The SONA. She can't snap out of it. She keeps repeating bits and pieces of it, like the movie 'Groundhog Day'," he replied. The elevator stopped. The doors slid open. The patient asked, "Are we in the super region yet? " Uneasy glances were exchanged but everyone remained silent. In the corridor, on the way to the patient's suite, the patient proudly pointed out to her entourage, "My father built this road we are on. It's the Halsema highway from Bondoc all the way to the Jollibee in Basilan. Thank you, congressmen." And then she asked for her laptop. "No laptop. You have to rest," the doctor said. Defiant, she replied, "I just want my laptop but if you want to pick up old fights, I'm game." And she paused for the applause. And that's when the doctor decided to test her lucidity. "Do you know where you are?" asked the doctor. The patient looked around the hospital hallway, noted all the high-tech medical gadgets lined up against the wall and said, "Yes. I'm in the cyber-corridor." Inside the patient's suite now. The doctor probed some more. She asked, "Do you know who you are? What is your name?" The patient turned her head slowly and, with a voice even lower and raspier than Linda Blair's voice in the movie, The Exorcist, grinned and replied, "My name is legion; for we are many." The doctor crossed herself, injected the smirking patient with a powerful sedative, and ran screaming out of the room. All in two seconds flat. The patient called out after the doctor, "I was only kidding. it's a joke between Sigaw ng Bayan and me" Too late. The doctor was already in the hospital chapel praying to Sta. Teresa de Avila. Back at the hospital entrance lobby, Art was yapping to the press, "The President is very much in control, she's not sedated. she was even giving official instructions and was asking what's happening to the projects and to the mega regions." And he added, "Oh, and she was making us laugh when we were in the elevator." The reporters laughed too. Friday morning, at the nurses' station, the intercom buzzed. I heard a hungry voice I heard before - on an audio-tape - asking for something to eat. The head nurse also recognized the voice as the voice on the tape so she told her staff, "The Patient wants her breakfast. Take it to her. Quick. Quickly." Ten minutes later the intercom buzzed again. The same familiar voice - still hungry - came on and said, " Hello,.hello, nurse. Hello nurse. Yun dagdag,.yun dagdag." ***** Buencamino writes political commentary for Action for Economic Reforms (www.aer.ph) OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |
| The SONA recently of GMA if for all intents and purposes at least gives the Filipino citizenry a sense of hope for the nation. The plans for the immediate future at least gives us a sense of direction and targets/goals which everyone of us should strive for. Let us all put our acts together and get rid of partisan politics which has brought us nothing but disappointments and the continuous exodus from the Philippines of our valuable talents which only contribute to the success of other nations.
It might be wishful thinking if ever the plans of the GMA administration would happen but at least this might be the light at the end of the tunnel which every Filipino aspires to see in his lifetime. If ever these plans become a reality, then the entire Filipino people will have something to be proud of and this may beckon those which have left the country to come back. And as one great politician once said, �Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. If only every single Filipino will do this, then our country can really move forward despite of. Robert Sanchez, [email protected], August 07, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww |