 |
 |
| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| �Get out of the country!�
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on June 09, 2008 For the Standar Today, June 10 issue This was the curt rebuff of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to representatives of foreign chambers of commerce who had been �invited� to the Senate last June 6 to explain their letter of May 27 to President Arroyo, asking her not to amend the EPIRA law. The Senate has been debating the EPIRA law in an effort to find ways and means to lower the price of electricity in the Philippines, said to be the second highest in Asia, next only to Japan�s. �Get out of the country if you can�t live with us!� Sen. Enrile snapped at the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) � representing some 2,000 investors from the US, Australia-New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the European Union, who employ some one million Filipino employees and workers � whose spokesman that day was Frenchman Hubert D�Aboville, current president of the European Chamber of Commerce. D�Aboville has been living in the Philippines for the past 31 years and is married to a Filipina with whom he has four children. He must have had his socks blown off his feet when he was told to �get out of the country if you cannot live with us!� This sounds very much like President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe telling off foreign investors to stay away from his country, as if anyone needed any telling to avoid a country with one million percent inflation and 80 percent unemployment. Or like the military junta in Myanmar refusing to allow foreign aid and foreign aid workers to enter or land in the cyclone-ravaged Irrawaddy delta, even while one million of their impoverished people languished in makeshift shelters., without adequate food, water, medicine and housing. But Sen. Enrile�s bristling xenophobia is hard to understand given that he is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and was an architect and chief administrator of President Ferdinand Marcos� martial law regime, which had the backing and blessings of the US government at that time.. The object of his ire, the hapless D�Aboville, tried to ingratiate himself to the senators by starting his statement with a �Magandang umaga sa lahat ng mga ginang at ginoo.� (Good morning to all ladies and gentlemen.�) Which Sen. Enrile promptly and ungraciously cut off with �We understand English, don�t worry. Like you, I value the correct use of my language and I hope you understand our nationalistic feeling.� Clearly, D�Aboville and his JFC had crossed Sen. Enrile even before they set foot on the Senate floor on June 6. And what was the cause of this rhubarb? The JFC had apparently committed a faux pas by addressing their letter to President Arroyo, instead of to the Senate or to Congress, which has the exclusive prerogative to amend or not amend any law. That�s all? Well, D�Aboville refused to specify to the senators the amendments that they were objecting to. He also refused to name the legislators whom the JFC said were �making unwarranted accusations regarding the bedrock principles of the power industry�that are sound and in fact practiced by many progressive power industries around the world.� But was this enough to warrant telling foreign investors to �get out of the country if you cannot live with us.� This xenophobia is outdated. It was fashionable in the 50s and 60s when communist ideologues like the late Renato Constantino Sr. blamed the underdevelopment of the Philippines on foreign capitalists and the �conditionalities� of the World Bank-IMF In 2008 and the preceding two decades, it was foreign investments that fuelled the Chinese and Vietnamese economies, both managed by Communist parties, to achieve the highest growth rates in the world, then and since. . By his xenophobic outburst, Sen. Enrile has helped ensure that foreign investors will stay away from this country, and that some of those already in the country will have second thoughts about staying. And Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who had taken turns with Sen. Enrile, in chastising the JFC, can kiss goodbye her ambitions to be named to and accepted by the International Court of Justice. And all because of a faux-pas over protocol, for which the members of the JFC apologized.. Sen. Enrile�s xenophobia seems to be selective. On the same day that he was bullying D�Aboville and telling foreign investors to �get out of the country if they cannot live with us,� another foreigner was telling our government what to do and what not to do. Valerie Guarnieri, country-director of the United Nations World Food Program-Philippines, told reporters that �the food crisis is not a purely Manila problem. The poor in Mindanao and elsewhere in the country are equally struggling with high food prices.� �She pointed out that the subsidized sale of NFA rice was focused only in Metro Manila, depriving the poor in Mindanao and other areas of the country of the cheap staple. This was the message aired by Guarnieri during her visit to a warehouse of the NFA in Quezon City �.to see for herself how the distribution system was working.� (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 7, the same issue which carried the banner headline: �Foreign chambers bullied.� And sub-headlined: Enrile tells them off, �get out of the country.�) Shouldn�t Sen. Enrile and/or Sen. Santiago, or some other senator, be telling Ms. Guarnieri to �get out of the country!� for having the nerve to tell us what to do or not do.? And what about the US State Department � in a paper titled �Advancing Freedom and Democracy� released on May 23 � telling us to our face that �corruption and weak rule of law continue to be the underlying factors exacerbating (the Philippines�) vulnerability to political turmoil, recurring attempts to use extra-constitutional means to resolve leadership crisis, human rights abuses and concerns about credibility of elections�� (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 1). Shouldn�t some senator fire off a broadside at State and tell them to mind their own business? And, hello, what�s this? No less than US Ambassador Kristie Kenney herself tells a gathering of 200 members of the Philippine Bar Association last June 7 that this country �needs to keep on looking for ways to reduce the backlog of cases (in courts)�I think the judicial system here is overloaded �You have people living in jail for years before their case even comes to trial. You know, that really undermines people�s confidence and faith in the judicial system�� (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 8) Shouldn�t some senator- perhaps the eternally mute Sen. Lito Lapid � tell Ambassador Kenny to �get out of the country� if she does not like the way we run our affairs? I was genuinely puzzled by Sen. Enrile�s sudden outburst of xenophobia, until I read a news story in a recent back issue (May 29, 2008) of the Manila Standard Today, titled �Foreign chambers hit Cagayan�s used-car imports.� �The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines yesterday urged the government to immediately stop the importation and resale of used vehicles through Port Irene in Cagayan Province . ( Cagayan Province is Sen. Enrile�s home bailiwick. It is known as Enrile Country. ACA) �Since these imports started in June 2005, nearly 8,000 units have entered the country through the port, competing with vehicles assembled by local subsidiaries of American, Japanese, (Korean), and European car companies. ��We are of the opinion that these used-vehicle importation and sales at the Cagayan economic zone are illegal and contrary to the policy of President Arroyo,� the JFC said in a letter of Finance Secretary Margarito Teves. The group urged the Bureau of Customs to stop the imports immediately�..� When Sen. Enrile told the JFC last June 7 to �get out of the country,� did he mean the Philippines or Cagayan Province ? ***** Reactions to [email protected]. More articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com. . To subscribe, send as blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Get Out of the Country!� Dear Tony: It is indeed unfortunate that a senior senator of the Republic like Juan Ponce Enrile should lose his "cool" and scold this hapless President of the Foreign Chambers of Commerce, a Frenchman, the way he did. If the Frenchman committed a gaffe by addressing that controversial letter to President Arroyo instead of to the Congress, I think Mr. Enrile committed the more serious gaffe by asking the man to get out of the country if he could not live with Filipinos. One expects better of a Senator like Mr. Enrile. Tsk. tsk. tsk... Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers , NY , June 10, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony This is the story of old distinguished dogs whose job is to show passers-by how they can be mean and tough and bark loud.. They were trained to attack.. by barking.. Made headlines right?? The BandZeTEs have come-by (and not hopefully gone) but have we heard the same barking from the distinguished dogs? Well we get what we deserve, they should have been kept in eternal retirement since from their younger days they were just that....being "watch dogs". . Old dogs are just normally allowed to be asleep (because its hard to teach them new tricks) but from time to time may be awakened by the Master when needed to "show" something ..like a growl, show some teeth , a bark here and there. Do bark at the wrong tree but make it loud!! Bow wow wow!!...who are the Dog Masters?? Get them out!! All the best, Tony. Eric Manalang, (by email), June 10, 2008 Ang Kapatiran Party wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, This is a great article. I agree with you. Mr. Enrile, a graduate of US profoundly esteemed Harvard University as you stated, is a perfect example of someone who learns but does not know how to practice and apply what he learns. He, along with his friend Senator "show-off" Miriam Santiago, grows backward in maturity and statesmanship. Both consider their superior display of egotism and showmanship more important than the general interest of millions of Filipino workers--- and the Philippines in general. Good job on this article about these two senators. I applaud as well your mentioning that other unproductive, no-good, eternally mute Senator Lito Lapid of Pampanga. As a fellow Kapampangan, I don't have the slightest pride in this person. Perhaps he is being very mute, quiet, and very low key for his truly lack of intellectual power and alleged mismanagement and corruption as then-governor of Pampanga. Also, in same vein is President Gloria Arroyo who is turning the Philippines in the like and level of Zimbabwe of Africa in corruption, spread of poverty, inflation, and tremendous loss of value of the currency. It's nostalgic to remember my youth in the 1950's and 60's when I had a peso and I could buy and use it for lot of things. Now one peso has nothing to buy, which is another nightmarish economic legacy of Gloria Arroyo and her congressional cohorts such as Enrile, Santiago , and Lapid. Inspite of our agreement on this nothwitstanding, our disagreement is very stark in my siding with Senator Mccain and your support of Senator Obama in US presidential election. This is one significant issue that requires a lot of prints for you and me; so, take care for now, my friend. Pacifico Talens, (by email), Virginia Beach , Virginia , June 10, 2008 US Navy (Ret.) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Senator Enrile was rude, unprofessional and acting like an old irritable senior. He needs to be retired to live in the mountains of Cagayan. Nakakahiya!!! I can not reconcile his qualification being a graduate of Harvard Law with his current behaviour. He needs to take a class in ethics and good behaviour. Such behavious of a government leader will drive away our very much needed foreign investment for our nation. Click URL below to see how he behaved in the meeting: Enrile's arrogance towards guests invited to Senate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg0jVta1PVk Rudeness, arrogance of Enrile of Marcos' Martial Law http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6JoV-jAIXw&feature=related JPEnrile Rudeness and Arrogance part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gbPJMPNqGs&feature=related Enrile arrogance reminiscent of his role in martial law http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TONq-lrO-YQ&NR=1 Enrile to Schumacher: We don't like your kind here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cVgxgI6eL0&feature=related Nonoy Ramos, (by email), Pennsylvania , June 10, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, It saddens me, and it should all Filipinos, that Enrile had the audacity to tell the foreign representatives of world chambers of commerce to "Get out of the country if you can't live with us," as if he owns the country. Especially at this time such statement is reckless, irresponsible and stupid. This is the time when we should do everything to encourage foreign investors to our country more than any other time. I think Senator Enrile should be impeached for what he said. It brings the country even deeper in poverty. The consequence of such statement will punish every Filipino and cause us all more suffering for decades. The foreign chambers of commerce representatives should have been given the red carpet reception instead of driving them out of the country. We should be grateful for their suggestions and recommendations that are sound and proven practical as applied to Vietnam and South Korea and in other progressive countries of the world. One of the big reasons why factories or industries are discouraged from establishing business in the Philippines other than the stupidity of our leaders is the very high cost of electricity, the highest in Asia except Japan . If our leaders do not know this, then they should be replaced and soon before we continue to suffer and be forced into a violent rebellion. Bart Saucelo, (by email), South Bend , Indiana , June 10, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya: We respectfully clarify that Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, as chair of the Senate energy committee was not rude to the Joint Chamber of Commerce. The videotape and the transcript of notes during the proceedings will show that Sen. Santiago was firm, as she always is. When Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile asked the president of the French chamber to name the legislators and the practices criticized by the foreign chamber, the Frenchman refused to answer the question. Instead, he read his opening statement. Sen. Enrile insisted two to three times that Mr. Hubert D�Aboville should give a particular reply, instead of reading his statement. Mr. D�Aboville, for two to three times, just kept on reading his statement. At this point, under the rules of procedure, the chairperson has the duty to ask the resource person to answer the question or explain why he couldn�t answer it. That was exactly what Sen. Santiago did. We would appreciate it if you could publish this clarification. Thank you. Sincerely yours, Tom Tolibas, (by email), June 10, 2008 Public Affairs and Media Relations Officer Office of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago . So much for his posturings and righteousness. Virgilio I. Gonzales, (by email), California , June 10, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, We know who should get out of the country -- Enrile and his ilk. So much for his posturings and righteousness Virgilio I. Gonzales, (by email), California, June 10, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I will continue to vote for Sen. Enrile and Sen. Miriam Santiago, although I have to admit that they have gone toooo abrasive with their language. They talk like �gods�. Their time will pass. Welcome the likes of Chiz Escudero with mild manners and language. Very respectable� Rue R. Ramas, (by email), Gen. Santos City, June 10, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Harvard gradate he may be, but he is crude, unquote and expendable. The Philippines has so much problems that it cannot afford an insensitive boar like him in the Senate. It is high time the Filipino discard him like a wet rug. He obviously does not represent the interest of the country and the people. I see too much personal ego in his grandstanding. The question is, who does he think he is? Addressing the complaint to GMA rather than to Tonto Enreli was definitely an affront and ego-deflating to his perceived importance, whether such a maneuver is unintentional or otherwise. That is why Tonto Enreli unleashed his venomous juvenile persona. How embarrassing! During my two-week visit (the last two weeks) in May, I found things have remained the same. Money talks. The shortage of rice is oblivious to me. People were eating out. The malls jampacked with people shopping or just plain cooling off with very few purchases to show. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Roseville , CA , June 10, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, What in the world? Senator Enrile gone bad to worse? He is probably ticked off about JFC meddling with those imported used cars in Cagayan, his "country". Making money out of dirty old cars that will pollute the so much polluted Philippines . Eternally muted Lito Lapid. That's funny! Possible scenario if these investors really leave the Philippines , our country plunging deeper into "shit hole" and eternally becoming the laughing stock of other countries. Kaawaan ng Diyos ang Pilipinas! AMEN Edgardo Dacpano, (by email), Dallas, Texas, June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I wish to share with you my comments regarding the 'stage show' that happened last June 6 at the Senate (Please see below my email to Sen. Pimentel which I have forwarded earlier to Ducky Paredes in reaction to his article below and to Rey Gamboa in reaction ot his article in the Philippine Star, entitled 'Best Intentions'.) I wish to clarify that it was Henry Schumacher, a former president of the European Chamber of Commerce, that Sen. Enrile told to 'Get out of the country if you can't live with us'. He is the one who has been living in the Philippines for 31 years with a Filipina wife and not D'Aboville. Warmest personal regards, Jerry Quibilan, (by email), June 11, 2008 (According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer of June 07 [page 8], �I�m doing my job here the best I can,� D�Aboville who is married to a Filipino and has lived here for 31 years, told reporters. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww It is funny that Senators Enrile and Santiago , known as some of the brightest brains among legislators, make such hard to understand and harder to excuse mistakes. Probably anyone can argue about Epira, pro and con, but the general message was simply that too much changing, amending, canceling of contracts has a negative meaning to investors. Means also, better think more before signing such contracts instead of later to need changing it one-sided. No matter how disadvantageous to the government, country or partner a contract may be, the party in favor can always insist that it was signed and is legal. Not checking well or just not understanding a contract is not a real good reason for later to complain and to change. The more it is not a good reason to say "go home" to representatives of foreign investors in a country which is not yet bankrupt only thanks to OFW remittances, earned in foreign countries and to the billions of foreign credits and loans. How Enrile would react if foreign investors and creditors would say "OK, we go, with all our investments and with amending all loan contracts so that all has to be repaid when we leave the country"? For sure he would insist that "contracts are contracts" and cannot be changed. It looks like the post Marcos cry "Ami go home" and at the same time and since now asking the USA for help. There has not been much of a faux pas with writing to GMA instead of to the Senate. For sure, members of the Chamber know very well that lastly it is Arroyo only who would change or amend, how and what she likes. Congress will do what she requests and the Senate can do whatever they want, GMA will not much care if it is against her will and advantage. So, why not contact direct that one who anyway will make the final decision? Kurt Setschen, (by email), Switzerland , June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, This is the irony of the Filipinos. Senator Enrile should not have been there in the Senate in the first place, if you look at his sins from the time of Marcos. Wala siyang malasakit sa mga kamag-anak kong nabigyan ng trabaho ng mga foreign investors na ito. Buti siya milyonaryo na sa paraang hindi maganda mag mula pa. Ask Senator Nene Pimental. Regards and more power ! Bert Celera, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I would like to see someone with the guts to tell Enrile to apologize to the Filipino people and foreign investors or else have all of his illegal activities which hurt the country and people exposed during his many years as senator. J. Stager, (by email), Quezon City , June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr Abaya: Your articles in the Manila Standard are very timely and effectively written. I hope your ideas will also be known by the masses, not just the more educated ones. More power to you. Jose Dado, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sen. Enrile's bull-like outburst in that hearing is indeed uncalled for and undiplomatic. There are certainly more professional ways of sending his message (or real motives) across without sounding like an arrogant and idiotic tyrant. These businessmen have legitimate concern and while they may have mistakenly addressed their issues to the president instead of the senators or congressmen, it may well be an indication of the real impression even outsiders regard our system of government. Who is really in charge of what? What impressions does our lawmakers project or created at present? Are they not only known for conducting hearings better left to the proper investigating agencies and coming out without any fruitful or meaningful results? They are known for grandstanding and embarrassing people invited in the hearings in the guise of unveiling the truth and banking on their immunity from suit as a license to call these people whatever names they want. Actually, Sen. Enrile doesn't have to tell these foreign businessmen to get out of the country. At the rate things are going in the Philippines and the way the country is being run, some of these businesses have started packing up and moving to other countries with a more business friendly atmosphere. China , Thailand , India , and even Vietnam are just eagerly waiting for them and have laid down the red carpet. Sen. Enrile and Santiago can only satisfy their own ego and take credit for accelerating these foreign investors' exodus to other countries. Ramon Macalalad, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sen. Enrile was at his usual element during the hearing, arrogant and grandstanding bs. As if he was the ultimate example of of PINOY nationalism. At the start palang of the hearing, he made it clear with the guests that he is the BOSS and in charge. No wonder taxpayers like me get frustrated to see polticians displaying hubris to people who may differ with what they want to happen. Third World country na nga, mayabang ka pa, more so with foreigners that are investors pa. Tell me, can Sen Enrile remove the shitty VAT from our bills? Mike Delgado,(by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir Tony, Enrile is indeed senile as he cannot even remember the downhill turn of the economy in the early 80s. Foreign investors stayed away and this forced Marcos to call a snap election so that these foreigners will know that Marcos is still popular, Marcos still runs the country. If memory serves, Enrile, in his prime, was not able to solve the problem of the economy. I highly doubt it if Enrile and his cronies can even solve the power problem in the event these foreign power plant owners decide to pack out and take their plants with them. Robbie Tan, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I think the concerned foreigners are mature and sensible enough not to take up the ridiculous challenge hurled by some of our emotional senators. They should also know that what those lambasting senators said does not necessarily represent the collective thoughts of Filipinos. Those senatorial emotional impolite outbursts are the concerned senators own opinion. There are countless ways you can convey your message and feelings across. The uncourteous uncivilized way is only one, and so embarrassing at that. Regards, Andy Paras, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mang Tony, This is quite like a predicament. How are we supposed to react? Choose the less evil? Who should get out? I really can't decipher Enrile. He is the father of all trapos though I voted for him once because I was left with few choices and believed that I have to fill up the ballots then. The following elections, my ballot was more than half empty because I didn't want to commit the same mistake of creating my own misery, that's what happens when we elect the kind of politicians (btw, not all of them but don't ask me who are excluded because I still have to know them) that we have, we are digging our own grave. Does the good Senator really look after the country when he told the foreigners to get out? Well, most of the politicians don't really care about the country but only about their pocket (money). Maybe, they don't need much the dollars of the foreign investors because they have the OFW bringing in the dollars already which is maybe enough an amount that our local politicians needed to deposit to their bank accounts in the US . Yes, while the OFW's bring in the money, the politicians just take it out to the US . What about the foreign investors? Do they really care for the Philippines ? Well, they just like to build the best investment climate possible for their own sake as well. But anyhow, thanks for the jobs and economic contributions that they are bringing in here. Yes they help a lot in industrializing communist Vietnam and China but they are also leaving these countries and their people in ruin just like what happened in the Philippines and most third world countries. But I know that this is the bitter pill to swallow and yet we can maybe still able to stomach it unlike the other choice. So who should get out? Well, I think it's time for the good senator to go. Masyado na syang halata. Habang may natitira pang konting respeto sa kanya ang ilang tao dahil na rin sa mga ilan o konting bagay na kanyang naiambag noong mga nauna nyang panahon. Nakakahiya na rin sya sa mga senate hearings, minsan bastos na sarcastic, it's a character unbecoming of a senator. Baka madamay pa ang mga pangalan sa Senado tulad ng Diokno, Puyat, etc. It is quite obvious that he is just trying to manipulate things in the Senate floor for his own sake. If Senator Enrile is no longer happy in listening to Senate deliberations, then he should get out of the Senate floor. Nakakahiya hindi na nakakatuwa. Edilberto Anit, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: Exactly the sentiments of Filipinos overseas - we can't live with the likes of politicians like Enrile, that's why we are out of the country. Enrile represents lots of what's wrong with the Philippines - tired, obsolete paradigms, antiquated perspectives, arrogant warlord SOBs who are detached from the reality of the workingman's quest to find food, clothing, and shelter. The international community is being asked to intervene and engage in the Philippines because the Philippine leadership is deaf, blind, and mute to the depth of poverty in the country. The international community is being asked to intervene and engage in the Philippines because the Philippine people have been gagged and hostaged by oligarchs, warlords, and gangsters whose only desire is to perpetuate themselves in power. Investments are a lifeblood of growth. Not just for the fair rates foreign companies pay but also to mitigate the flow of talent overseas. Filipinos can't rely on domestic investments. Not when your choice of employment is from one locally owned company that pays starvation rates and another locally owned company that pays malnourishment rates. Thus, the need for foreign investments. And now this histrionics from Enrile? When will all this lunacy end? Is the Philippine selection pool so retarded that the choice of leaders are limited to warlords and cronies of former kleptocrats? Warlito N. Vicente, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, hi, What do you expect from recycled and aging trapos in the Senate. I feel so disgusted and sad, as well, to be represented by senators like Enrile and Santiago . May their tribes decrease and rest to oblivion. The Filipinos are hospitable daw. You can confirm this joke with those hapless foreign investors. I'd been an OFW for so long that I grope for words to describe what those foreigners might have felt to be treated in such despicable manner. Nakakahiya ang mga senador natin. Arcy F. Sibal, (by email), Sta. Maria, Bulacan, June 11,2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Sir Abaya; I couldn't stop heaving a sigh of frustration reading this article regarding Senators Enrile and Santiago . Are they so dense in thinking this country will survive without foreign investors? I can understand any Filipino's animosity towards foreigners who say something bad about Filipinos, its like "we can say what we want about our own country men, but you're not (to foreigners)." I feel slighted just as well when some foreigners I know say bad things about our own undisciplined attitudes. But that's OUR fault. If we were disciplined people in the first place and had our priorities right, our country wouldn't be in such a mess to begin with. But this "outburst" really made me shake my head in disagreement. Foreigners, especially those who have invested heavily in our country - will look out for their interests first before anyone else - even Filipino investors do that, so why climb up the wall over the EPIRA? Fine, the JFC addressed their letter to PGMA herself - maybe they saw it the same way most Filipinos do - Congress and Senate take "forever and a day plus a couple of waiting hours" to get some Bill get passed into Law.. Lets not be hypocrites about it either - the justice system as well as the judiciary and legislative bodies in this country are like turtles on land. While the rest of the world leap-frogs around us, our government is at a snail's pace when it comes to vital laws, bills, reforms, etc that the country needs in order to move forward faster than the snail. Frankly, if I knew PGMA's personal email, I'd go directly to her as well and not go through the "grand halls" of Congress and the Senate. I've sent several emails to the various Senators via their web sites and I have NOT RECEIVED any reply whatsoever from them or their staff. If they want to disprove their own slow-paced system, maybe they could show the people a short timeline on bills and laws they passed that could save this country faster.... anyone want to volunteer information on a bill that was passed into law within 2 months from the time it was first proposed on the floors of these two houses in recent years? Funny, the truth hurts. Maybe these Senators were 'slighted' by the JFC's total disregard of protocol - but I understand why they (JFC) went straight to the head honcho. If they (both Congress and Senate) moved just little faster than a snail, maybe they would have received that letter and not PGMA. On the other hand - foreigners telling Filipinos what to do inside our own country - my take on this is "can we blame them?" Foreigners see the potentials our country has to be a force to be reckoned with in Asia , if not globally. The only ones who don't see it that way are Filipinos themselves. I don't like "guests" telling me what to do with my own home - positive or not - especially when I'm no asking for advice from guests. By any culture - it is totally improper to insult the host of the house when you're just a guest. But these investors are not just "guests" in our country anymore. They've invested time, money, blood, sweat and tears into our country giving our people jobs. Like you said : "... representing some 2,000 investors from the US , Australia-New Zealand, Canada , Japan , South Korea and the European Union, who employ some one million Filipino employees and workers. " Turn the tables and we invest in another country - only to be told to get out of the country if you can't live with us - wouldn't we, as investors feel just as insulted as the JFC? I know I would, I'd take my business somewhere else! With a spoiled-brat outburst like that - we can kiss 50% of those investors goodbye before December comes and are these Senators going to be able to give those laid off jobs before that month? If the reproach was made on a personal level, well then that's just plain stupid. When you serve publicly, there's no room for personal prejudices here and your personal opinion does not count because as a government official, a senator at that - you put the best interest of your countrymen first BEFORE your personal issues. As for foreigners telling us what to do in our own country - we've been letting foreigners run the country's biggest businesses for the longest time anyway so what's the big deal? We've been letting these people get richer in our own soil while the rest of the country grow poor, killing the small purely Filipino industries. We've been letting foreigners harvest our ground resources like anything and we give away land like a gift like the Spratlys, we prefer importing than patronize our own produce, we don't even explore and develop our own natural resources to be self-sufficient, we impose taxes upon taxes upon taxes on ourselves, killing ourselves and any hope for new enterprises to grow - yet we get peeved when they tell us what to do. Now that's funny. Maybe Filipinos who have a chance for a better future abroad should be the ones to get out of this country because with government leaders like these, who needs enemies? Hahahaha!!! Best regards and God Bless. Jenifer Xavier, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Your article "Get Out" hit the mark. I think the dynamic duo of Enrile and Santiago are just being very consistent. They have been very arrogant and rude during their investigations that led to just waste of time and money. They see themselves as above everyone else. If these foreign investors would leave the country and withdraw their investments, the ultimate losers would be the ordinary citizens of this country, not them as they are already very rich. To deter senators with similar propensity, the Senate, as a body, should come up with rules against abusive, insulting and counter-productive remarks from senators during senate investigations. Also, after GMA's term, to amend the constitution to make the subject of senate investigations limited to matters material and relevant to pending bills. Perfecto Corpus, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww . The paper is revealing. It answers the popular questions about the issue with brevity and objectivity. The reader now can know what is behind a seemingly xenophobia or inexplicable behaviour of JPE. Yours truly, Ernie R. Gonzales, Ph.D, (by email), June 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, For those of us who "understand" the reason or reasons of Sen. Enrile & M.Santiago reactions to "foreigners" telling our people in government that their abuses are too obvious to ignore, your telling them to set a better course for this country and people should set the record straight. Your represent us, the Filipino People - because our own representatives.(meaning- our President, Senators and Congressmen and their sub-alterns) don't seem to understand the extent to where they brought this country. It's pretty obvious the Foreign Chambers of Commerce can't remain silent anymore. It's as if to tell these nincompoops whereof they are being judged by the world at large! Go - friend, we are behind you. Just remember, we the small people, are still on watch. These "public officials" think our country is for them to do as they please. Somehow- they will pay the price of abuse! We are just reminding them that Life is a Gift and theirs is granted to them for a purpose. We all are made to pay our dues! Jose I. Regino, (by email), Zamboanga City , June 12, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The action or words of Mr. Enrile are typical of the man. For someone with his checkered past he shows abominable arrogance. And he speaks and acts as thoughhe has cornered the supply of brains in this country. With the "get out" statement he probably wants to send the message that he loves being a Filipino. Does he really? The wonder of it is that he still gets elected. Who should we blame for this? Remedios F. Marmole�o, (by email), June 12, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Good point, Tony. Fr. Rannie Aquino, (by email), June 12, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Someone sent me the latest on your observations on the JFC grilling in the Senate. "Abaya vintage par excellence", to say the least. Walter Bucher, (by email), June 12, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, What is wrong with Sen. Enrile's outburst "get out of the country if you cannot live with us?" What is wrong with Sen. Santiago's chastising D'Aboville and his JFC? What is wrong with the manner of how our highly-educated as well as lowly-educated leaders respond to the concerns of foreign investors? Okay, critics will say such overreaction is expected from administration senators rushing to defend the President from the concerns of foreign investors. What about the non-administration senators? Where's the immediate in-house rebuttal from the so-called opposition senators? Why did they suddenly become muted? I can understand why the inarticulate senators are tongue-tied. What about the highly-educated and the supposed articulate bunch? What is wrong with this scenario? NOTHING! This is not an aberration but the normal way of how our hyper-personalistic and hyper-nationalistic democratic subculture operates. It is a way of life that produces political bombasts with anachronistic and displaced sentiments rather than political visionaries with long-term and pragmatic solutions to the problems plaguing the archipelago. We have to put an end to a political system that is repetitively dysfunctional and extremely corrupt. There are two alternatives: the easy way and the hard way. The easy way is a revolutionary or military transitory government needed to do the "housecleaning." The hard way is a proactive and a no-nonsense provincial leader who is determined to do the task of relatively independent "city-state" development (island or provincial) no matter what. (Anyone in mind? ACA) Efren Padilla, (by email), Hayward , CA , June 14, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dar Tony, This is not unusual for Enrile to react against foreigners who have the courage to criticize him and the province from where he hails. Indeed corruption is so pervasive in Cagayan province that Cagayanos are aware and dare not speak about the economy of Cagayan province being dictated and controlled by the Enriles. This public display of arrogance by Enrile is deplorable. It brings back the memory of the Marcos's repressive regime where abuse of power, lack of respect and complete abandonment of civility are non-existent. If I were a citizen of the country, I will vote a million times for any candidate other than Enrile. Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , June 16, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Gentlemen: I watched this embarrassing display of rudeness and arrogance by Enrile to visitors to our country. I have no idea what they were talking about. I am, however certain that they were NOT there to ask for money or to beg for help. And we pride ourselves with our so called "HOSPITALITY". For shame, Senator. That was one big bucket of dirty water you managed to pour on our guests. Filipinos Overseas Workers in Europe and the US are known for their civility, hard working ways, intelligence and good manners. I hope these gentlemen will recognize that YOU speak strictly for yourself........ not our people. I had to stop before finishing everything as my blood was boiling. Enrile is the biggest SOB ever. How embarrassing and rude. Yet specially his x wife loves going to Europe . E.J. Saguil MD, (by email), June 21, 2008 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO All reactions to [email protected]. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. |