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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Pauperized by Politicians
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Nov. 21, 2007 For the Standard Today, November 22 issue The Philippines , which was the second most prosperous country in Asia � second only to Japan � until the late 1960s, was overtaken by one after another of our neighbors starting in the 1970s and 1980s when we did not follow their example of gearing their economies to the export of manufactured goods. This was the start of their industrialization which created millions of jobs for the broad mass of their people, lifting them from poverty into the middle class prosperity which is very evident when one visits any urban center in South Korea , Taiwan , Hong Kong , Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand and China . The same process is being replicated in India and Vietnam . By the time the Philippines woke up from its self-absorption with its navel � during the 1990s under President Fidel Ramos � the global marketplace had become crowded, especially with the entry of China . There is a penalty for being late, and our penalty for being late is the diaspora of millions of Filipinos who were forced and are being forced to seek jobs abroad that they could not and cannot find at home. Compounding our failure to industrialize at the same time and to the same extent as our neighbors was our premature and accelerated embrace of free trade and globalization, ironically also under President Ramos, with the legislative support of then Sen. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, both under the influence of Opus Dei economists Jesus Estanislao and Bernardo Villegas. There is something obscene, even comical, about a country that cannot even produce its own door hinges, enthusiastically embracing free trade and globalization even ahead of such emerging industrial giants as South Korea and Taiwan . Whatever industries we managed to establish during our delayed and nominal industrialization were inevitably put at risk as we naively opened our economy to the products of other countries, forcing thousands of domestic producers to close shop or reduce their operations, thus throwing hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers out of work To make matters worse, the Roman Catholic Church continued and continues to forbid the use of artificial methods of birth control, a diktat that is largely ignored by the upper and middle classes, but still carries weight among the lower classes, who are multiplying like tilapias, even though they are the least able to afford the many children that they continue to have. In the 1970s, Thailand and the Philippines had almost exactly the same population size , about 45 million. Because Thailand had and has an aggressive population management policy and the Philippines did not and does not, in 2005 the population growth rate in Thailand was 0.68 percent, compared to 1.95 percent in the Philippines . In 2007, there are an estimated 66 million Thais, compared to 88 million Filipinos. By any yardstick of commonsense, and all things being equal, it is easier to feed, house, clothe, educate and find jobs for 66 million people than for 88 million. And because of its correct (and our flawed) economic strategies, Thailand �s exports in 2005 totaled $105.8 billion, compared to the Philippines � $42.7 billion. In 2006, Thailand attracted 13 million foreign tourists, the Philippines less than three million. As I did in my article titled Malaysia�s Success (Oct. 25), I venture the opinion that Thailand�s surpluses over the Philippines, of $63 billion in exports and 10 million in tourist arrivals, can be translated into millions of jobs that Thailand generated and the Philippines did not, in these two sectors alone. So whose fault was all this? Obviously, much of the blame rests on the shoulders of the chief executive officers, the presidents who have led (or misled) this country since Ferdinand Marcos, and must include him, since our decline in relation to our neighbors started during his presidential watch. But because in our American-style governmental set-up, the legislative and the judiciary are co-equal with the executive, they must also share in the blame for the failure of our government since the 1970s to give the people the minimum goals of governance: a secure present and realizable hopes for a better future. In this article, I will argue that aside from having failed to give this country these basic minimums, the legislatures of the past 30 years, but especially of the present � meaning the politicians from both administration and opposition parties � have actually helped to pauperize us through the extravagant compensations that they have given themselves. I thank Reynaldo O. Arcilla for having sent me a copy of his column (in Malaya) last Nov. 1, titled �The Perks of being a Congressman.� He tells us that every congressman or woman in the Lower House gets much more than the P35,000 monthly (or P420,000 yearly) salary, plus his or her yearly pork barrel allocations amounting to P70 million. The last is divided into P20 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and P50 million as congressional allocation for public works projects. (To be fair, the P50 million are not given out to them in cash. It is the value of the public works projects that they endorse to the public works department for their electoral district. The crooks among them extract kickbacks from the contractors, who are sometimes their relatives or cronies.) But aside from this, according to Arcilla, using data from the Commission on Audit, each congressman or woman gets the following amounts each year: P220,867.70 for foreign travel; P650,000.04 for district staff allocation; P120,000.00 for consultants on a contractual basis; P396,000.for �research�: P788,763.71 for consultative local travel; P129,600 for communications; P120,000 for supplies; P308,400 for public affairs fund; P1,982,033.58 for central office staff; P21,537.84 for equipment, furniture and fixtures; and P600,000 for other maintenance and operating expenses. Or a total of .P5,757,202.43 a year for each of the 230 members of the Lower House, as of 2005.. Or at least P1.324 billion a year to keep the Batasan trough fully stocked. These figures do not include what they pay themselves for being officers and members of committees, which in 2005 amounted to another P92 million. Arcilla also quotes from the Philippine Center of Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) that the annual upkeep of every congressman or woman has been climbing from P2.83 million in 1994 to P5.77 million in 2005. The average amount paid by the government for the foreign travel of congressmen and women each year has climbed from P98,444.80 in 1994 to P220,867.70 in 2005. In 2005, the top 10 spenders on foreign travel among members of the Lower House were: Antonio Cuenco, P1,294,058.05; Roque Ablan Jr., P1,014,006.90; Monico Puentevella, P960,789.66; Emilio Espinosa Jr., P806,904.43; Ernesto Nieva, P795,350.89; Juan Miguel Zubiri, P787,582.99; Abdullah Dimaporo, P777,886.88; Hermilando Mandanas, P741,172.72; Arnulfo Fuentebella, P733,777.65; and Reylina Nicolas, P731,196.50. The above list does not include the foreign travel expenses of House Speaker Jose de Venecia. According to the PCIJ, the congressmen and women �are not expected to submit a payroll of their district staff or report their function, salaries and withholding taxes. No one starts asking if they do not produce a report on the research their offices are supposedly undertaking. There is no demand for them to produce the list of consultants they have hired, as well as the contracts they draw up for those whose services they need. As far as the current (lack of rules) go, how the legislators spend their public affairs fund is their business and (theirs) alone.� Says Arcilla: �The generous perks do not end there. The House Speaker is himself a source of funds with a vast discretionary largesse at his disposal. From this are mostly drawn the representatives� monthly allowances (which can range from P50,000 to P100,000 each), Christmas bonuses (P100,000 to P200,000 each), as well as �payoffs� for votes during speakership contests and �appearances fees� (P50,000 each as minimum) for attending plenary sessions to vote on crucial national bills�.� And, I hasten to add, bags full of cash (P200,000 to P500,000 each) distributed to them by mysterious individuals in Malacanang or elsewhere whenever the President needs their undying support, such as to block an impeachment motion, or to push (again) for a shift to the parliamentary system before 2010. Considering that, according to the World Bank, 15 million Filipinos live on less than one dollar (P45) a day, and 43 million live on less than two dollars (P90) a day, the P5.7 million-plus each that the House politicians pay themselves each year is a criminal, immoral and obscene extravagance that is a slap on the faces of 58 million pauperized Filipinos No wonder so many Filipinos want to become politicians, no matter what their qualifications (or lack thereof) may be, even if it involves lying, stealing, cheating or killing. It beats working in a 9-to-5 job, or practicing a profession, or running a business. It is the fastest way to fabulous wealth and the first step towards the inevitable family dynasty. It is also a possible passport to the ultimate political plum, the presidency, even if it involves even more lying, more stealing more cheating and more killing, and even if it involves pauperizing much of the rest of the country. No wonder that when a bomb killed one congressman last week, the general sentiment in cyberspace was mock sorrow that it eliminated only one of them.. If SWS or Pulse Asia were to conduct a survey on how the public views our government, �abolishing Congress� would likely be in a dead heat with �declaring the Presidency vacant.� Either of which can be seen as a tacit endorsement for a revolutionary government. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and acabaya.blogspot.com . OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Pauperized by Politicians� Mr. Tony Abaya, The politicians ought to be ashamed of this and more people ought to know these scandalous expenditures. Can your article be reprinted in the larger circulation Inquirer or Star? Mag Albarracin, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, what you wrote in your last paragraph might just be what our country now needs. Let us abolish Congress, declare the Presidency vacant, and go for a revolutionary government. Cory did it before, although she bungled everything. If you could think of anyone who could be trusted and could genuinely and honestly save our country from the quagmire and miserable state it is in, let's go for it-- a Revolutionary Government! Best regards and Merry Christmas to you and your family! Jeremias Decena, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww We've tried everything already- including a revolutionary government. And look where it took us? We released Joe Ma Sison from prison so he could consolidate the NPA's. Worse, Cory's supposed democratic government re-wrote the constitution and established the biggest anomaly in Philippine History - the party list! The party list provided "opening" for the left - something which they could NEVER have before. In the end they brought Luisita (karma?) to its knees. Bringing to shambles the once mighty Cojuangco sugar estate. Now they are so established, the country side funds (pork) are being utilized for cadres in the mountains through their various fronts. And to think (unless I'm mistaken) the Makat Business Club (or a group within) is supportive of this call for a revolutionary government makes me wonder if they are only naive or really stupid. I don't like GMA, but to take her out of power now will even be worse for our country. There will be so much power play on the political side that the military might just take over and lord it until the end of time. We HAVE to make democratic processes work. We want GMA impeached but if the majority of congressmen won't sign the impeachment complaint- that is part of the democratic processes. We voted them into power and it is us, voters who are to be faulted. We just have to pray the years until 2010 would not bring more misery for our people. The last thing we need like a bullet to our heads to make the majority of our people feel helpless that one day they will just bite hook, line and sinker the propaganda of the left and launch a rampage leading to a revolution. But we have to choose the best (at least corrupt) in 2010. 2010 may be our last chance. We cannot let a new set of thieves take over the previous set of thieves. Gerardo Delgado, (by email), Chanmai , Thailand , Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I am one of your admirers and avid readers. Please note my new email address. Thanks. Just a slight correction � the piece you referred to on the Perks of a Congressman is not mine. I merely forwarded it to as many people as I could when I received it. Please note that at the end of the piece there were the following notes: �Posted by Alecks P. Pabico in Governance at 09:48 | Comments (31) | Trackbacks (0)� �SPREAD THIS TO OTHER PEOPLE YOU KNOW. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE INFORMED OF WHAT THIS POLITICIANS ARE DOING TO OUR LIVES!� Best wishes. Rey Arcilla, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 (Thank you for the correction. And my apologies to Mr. Pabico. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, This column confirms our suspicion all along. The short cut to wealth, political dynasty and power is through politics. One neighbor of mine who used to go to Mass in a Volkswagen 12 years ago when he was a struggling businessman. He started to have a fleet of Mercedes Benz and BMW after he won a congressional seat. Such perks are immoral when you see daily people begging in the streets and asking for money for food. This indeed is sacrilegious. Their conscience is already insentized, like PGMA. I am for a revolutionary government and support a Resign All movement. May God save us all. Vic del Fierro, Jr., (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww My heart aches as I read your article because the information in it is not a surprise for me, although you wrote it in detail. I do not live in the Philippines so it should be easy for me to say "KE SERA SERA", but I could not. I have been in the U.S. for 44 years but my thoughts are behind with the Filipinos at home. Indeed, things could have changed for the better, but politicians are businessmen doing work solely for their personal gain. The fault lay on the voters who failed to understand the value of their votes. Tito Anquillano, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Kuya Tony, Really, all the bad things that happens in our country, the past and the present, admitting that our leaders did a lot of wrong and bad things, the main fault is ours. We, the Filipino People, sovereign kuno, allowed all these things to happen. We have not asserted our being the sovereign from whom all powers and authority emanates. So, the blame is on us. Until we stand up and fight for it, we will continue to be where we are and will be becoming worst for the days to come. God have mercy for our faults, omissions and lukewarmness, etc. Leona Guerra, (by email), Australia , Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I�m sure most of your readers have long wanted you to write about the real plunderers in our society. Isn�t it clear that these people practically legalized plunder for them to enjoy? Do we have to wonder why Political Dynasties are proliferating? That is to ensure that our greedy politicians hand down their very lucrative undertaking to their descendants, what else! In that way they retire secure in the wealth they have accumulated and further secured by what will be accumulated by their political heirs/descendants. Have we not realized that we are trapped in this Democratic system that has been so manipulated by these greedy politicians to suit their insatiable appetite for money and power? How can we re-do this despicable situation that we have allowed for so long to fester in our Society? We probably have the costliest process of making laws in the whole world! And to think that many of these laws are not even efficiently implemented! We see them in their finest sartorial garbs, costumes I should say, to make them appear distinguished- looking as they bleed the country and make everybody else poorer with the misuse of the taxes imposed on us. We are trapped because there is no way we can get a majority in our Legislature who will pass a law that will curtail their abuse of the country�s wealth. Who will have the guts and conscience among them who will say �Enough! Nakakahiya na itong napalaking kinikita natin mula sa kaban ng bayan habang napakaraming naghihirap!!� The one who will say that and immediately work for the reduction of their many perks should be considered for the Presidency! But is there at least one who will renounce their scandalous allowances? Ha, tignan natin kung meron sa mga mapopormang ito will have the guts to say and do just that. I am witness to the many poor who can not get adequate social services in government hospitals. I am aware of how they are easily told to comeback with this and that clearances or signatures from some politicians to avail of much needed medical interventions .You can see and smell for yourself anytime, any day the terrible conditions in our government hospitals. I have seen the harrowing conditions in our jails where, very likely, they are keeping in its bowels many innocent but poor victims of injustices. Yet I see everyday these greedy despicable politicians �investigating� this and that and giving privilege speeches or interviews to media hounds hungry for just anything to print from out of the frothing mouths of these �honorables�. What honor? How about their lifestyles? See their fleet of cars sporting 7s and 8s and their mansions as the rest of us suffer in the streets and the life of the working middle class even made more miserable by the unjust so-called �coding scheme� depriving his family the use of their second-hand car once a week. This, while the privileged and those who can bluff their way thru (esp. media people) thumb their noses at the kotong traffic �enforcers� who are quick to pounce and victimize the next harassed motorist. How long must we suffer this condition? How long can we allow this unjust situation? Can we not just assign the task of law-making (�unmaking�) to the law schools with government giving them some subsidies for the job? I am sure the idea can work but I am also sure that the idea will be shot down by our legislators. Some mechanics can be drawn where Law schools can harness their resources and linkages be established between them. Legal Panels of accredited Law Schools (with members paid honoraria, not salaries) can �test� or counter-check each others legislative work to prevent vested groups, etc from getting into the act. As they say in Sesame Street: �It sounds so crazy it might just work!�. Your erudite readers (naks!) might find the idea amusing but then again we must try something to stop the continuing insult heaped on us by our �honorables� and prevent a worst explosion that may ignite from the hazardous methane produced by our legislative septic tanks. Caramba! E. J. T.Tirona, (by email), Paranaque City , Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: More people are realizing the truth: false leaders have made paupers of us all, notwithstanding our country's immense natural wealth and human resource talents. And there are no true leaders any more - certainly not in the executive, legislative or judiciary. Because of this, our choices are now reduced to waiting for civil war or accepting a revolutionary junta. It may only be the second that can immediately deal with the problem of false leaders - as a civil war will still be led by the wheeler-dealers. Let's hope our soldiers take the cue. If they do, maybe Christmas might still come this year. Tito Osias, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: Again, once more, you hit the nail right on the head! Sad to say, the Philippines has been drifting aimlessly all these years since it gained "independence" in 1946--that's a total of 61 years--and going nowhere fast. It is like a rudderless ship, tossed here and there by an angry sea. Not only has it been overtaken by its neighbors, Taiwan , Singapore , Malaysia , Hongkong, and South Korea in the race to reach the land of milk and honey; it has been left far, far behind and now is known worldwide as "the sick man of Asia ," and "as the most corrupt country in the world." Why has the Philippines come to such a tragic pass? At the risk of over-simplification, the country's leaders all these years have suffered from either a lack of imagination and competence, or they have unalterably been preoccupied and obsessed with perpetuating themselves in power, a malignant obsession which required them to amass wealth by hook or by crook--but in the main by crook! Attending to the general welfare, to the good of the greatest number, was never a significant part of their personal and political agenda--although in public they would routinely mesmerize and seduce a gullible people that they were there to serve them and their interests. It was only a question of time when the country woke up to the brutal reality that it is in the vise-like grip of an avaricious politico-economic elite which, indeed, as you so accurately point out, has "pauperized the Philippines ." It is no hyperbole to assert that the Philippines is wallowing in massive and chronic poverty, and that corruption is so deep-seated and widespread that it is already systemic. Massive and chronic poverty, coupled with systemic corruption: this is a deadly combination. Is there hope at all that the Philippines could ever survive this long dark night of its tribulations and perhaps in some distant future see the light at the end of the tunnel? I doubt it. Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers , NY , Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I don't know if this is the same one you received from Mr. Arcilla. No wonder a lot of Filipinos are poor. The budget of each congressman is appalling, and most of them are just warming their seats in Congress. It's not a bad idea to abolish Congress. Regards, Yett Montalvan, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony. When 59% want the president to resign while 25% say they are willing to do anything to get her out, I agree that we are staring at a revolutionary situation. As to who will carry it out and take over is the stumbling block. People are still repelled by the faces of the opposition. The lack of an answer is what keeps the present administration firmly glued in place. But should the 25% find a leader and take direct action I think the rest who want peaceful change through voluntary resignation will likely go along with the fait accompli. But while a super majority of Filipinos want her out, forcing the issue before 2010 will not necessarily cure the nation's ills. I hold the view that our ills stem from our nation's character weaknesses. The cheapest and fastest way to transform is through self-reform. If we, as a collective, only do what is right at home, in our communities and in the workplace, half our daily burdens will likely melt away. Admittedly, it is easier said than done, but we must nevertheless try to free ourselves from the chains of ignorance, self-gratification, repression, greed, and everything else that prevent us from being a great and noble race. A strong society will have a government it can be proud of. It won't tolerate and allow the corrupt, abusive and narcissistic to worm their way up the ladder of public service. It won't abdicate its role as the sovereign of a free and democratic country. A weak society only invites tyranny and bloody overthrows that could likely churn the wheels of misfortune ad infinitum as we've sadly experienced after 1972, 1986 and 2001. Sure, Gloria and her political ilk, and those before them, have pauperized the people in many ways - politically, economically, socially, legally and morally. But our weakness as a people these past decades made their rise to the top, and their entrenchment, a long-playing living nightmare. The next revolutionaries, if they succeed, should bear this in mind to avoid squandering the opportunity for real change no matter how difficult doing the right thing may be. On this note, I echo Fr. James Reuter's admonition that prayer is a powerful antidote to evil given its guiding role in history. It cultivates courage which, in turn, makes all the other virtues possible. Best regards, Raffy Alunan, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, This is Gerry A. Garay, businessman, past president of Bislig City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, chairman- Peoples Economic Council-Bislig City , president of Gideons International, Bislig City , Rotary Club Member. In this political instability facing our country today, we badly need a credible leader whose sterling performance and integrity will validate his standing, I am recommending our good friend Congressman Roy Golez, to be an alternative replacement of GMA, How can we help him be in place in Malacanang? Your suggestions and advices in this regards is highly appreciated. Our friends in the Visayas and Mindanao is anxious of the state of our country. Graft and corruption is harap harapan. How can we help our country get back to its feet and be the next tiger in Asia ? Thanks of your reply. For a Progressive Philippines , Gerry Garay, (by email), Clermont , Florida , Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Politicians are not the only group to be blamed for retarding the growth of the country and sapping its resources. The government is equally to be blamed for the mess because it is unable to collect taxes in the from the likes of Lucio Tan, from Erap and his jueteng money, from the Marcoses and the Cojuangcos when they were in power, to name but a few. The government has failed miserably in directing the country into the future. Because population control has been a big problem, I think we should use India as a model for growth. India is now the 12th largest economy despite its high population growth. The high literacy rate in the Philippines should make the country a very good recipient of global outsourcing of customer services or "back office jobs." Manufacturing requires huge capital investment and a country reliant on manufacturing has to balance its revenue with the costs of protecting the environment from manufacturing waste that affects the air, the water, and the soil (Chinas' nightmare). The country produces thousands of doctors, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacies etc. yet we are not in biotechnology or pharmaceuticals. We have kids who are computer savvy yet we are not in software development much as we would have wanted to. The country should focus on the talent of its own people on telecommunications, and nanotechnology instead of thinking of manufacturing so much as if the country's existence and survival rest solely on it. Are we better of exporting? Importing? Or import substituting? I have no answer to those rhetorical questions for I am not an economist but a plain and a no- nonsense observer. I wish I were. Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, Reading those mind-boggling amounts given to or stolen from our kaban ng bayan, makes me puke so that abolishing Congress, for me, is not the solution. I think we have to kill all of them (sorry), in fact eliminate the generation after Marcos. Thanks. Bert Celera, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Just to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed your article about our politicians making us and our country paupers because of the ridiculous expenditures. Hopefully because of your excellent writing, some of them will be enlightened and do something good for our country. I believe that all our politicians should be accountable and transparent in all their activities that are related to their office. I believe that we have too many politicians, most of them are inutile and useless. We should change our political structure thru a constitutional convention and reduce the number of congressmen, governors, etc based on population. I am sure most of the people will agree to this scheme. More power to you and your tribe!! Elmer Cahambing, (by email), Vancouver , BC , Canada , Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, Correct me if I'm wrong, Philippine Airlines was the first commercial airlines in Southeast Asia . We are the best English speaking country in Asia as well. Being so, why haven't the Philippines taken advantage of what Thailand and Singapore are enjoying economically? The airports and the seaports. I've been traveling around Asia and whenever I see the gigantic airports and seaports in Thailand and Singapore, which obviously are contributing to the great economic development of both countries, I keep on wondering, Why isn't it the Philippines? Philippines is the first country, or would I say, the gateway to majority of Asian region from the Pacific. Therefore it is more strategic for ships and airplanes as ports from the pacific countries. Singapore Airlines has to refuel in Taipei or Japan before it can continue its flight to the US . Philippine-based airport can accommodate long haul flight eastward to Americas or even westward to Europe . Philippines should be the main rival of Hong Kong interms of airline industry. Big and efficient airlines and airport system are also one of the reason why the regional headquarters of American and European corporations are based either in Singapore , Thailand or Hong Kong . When you have this business headquarters, tourism comes along with it as business people would need to relax add to this, the staff of every company that will travel from to time between main headquarter and regional. I believe everything is not yet too late. We can think of expanding our airline and navigational industry in Cebu . Regards, Edel Anit, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr Abaya Po, You recently criticized both politicians for their corruption and the Church for it's stupid policy on contraception in a piece that seemed despairing of the Philippines ' future. You ended by asserting that there is tacit support in the population for a revolutionary government. Here is certainly an opportunity for the Church to lead. In Poland a couple of decades ago the Church had no qualms in rousing the masses and leading them in a revolutionary struggle against an evil, corrupt, oppressive communist government, and by the grace of God they prevailed. Why is the Church in the Philippines so coy about leading the masses in a righteous, perhaps even holy, revolution against our evil, corrupt, oppressive Mafia-Capitalist government? [email protected], Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: In response to your usual excellent and information-loaded article, it's so good it raises one�s blood pressure and causes the readers migraine headaches, I must admit am fully livid after having read it! How on earth can the Philippines find itself in such a dire predicament? I know all the politicians have been screwing the country so badly. The big question, when will it end? And how much longer will the Filipinos put up with the grafts and corruption? I get so sick and tired reading words such as morally bankrupt nation, blatant injustices, inept congressmen and senators and nation plundering presidents, To put it bluntly I am full of rage and literally wish to blow off all maniacs in the central government into smithereens! This will give the long suffering Filipinos an ounce of victory and satisfaction for once. A new beginning and a New Philippines cannot begin UNTIL � a system of birth reduction is in place. � pork barrel ceases. � the mindset abhors bribes and kickbacks. � the Catholic Church realizes it is more sinful to bring destitute babies into this world. � the people recognizes stolen wealth is stolen wealth. � Filipinos recognize they lose their tax share when bribery/kickbacks occur. � Filipinos are willing to dirty their hands to do an honest job. � there is acceptance of honor working as a blue collar person � nepotism is disallowed. � the population rebels to follow the status quo families. � there is a sweeping change, a revolution to start a new government. � we Filipinos decide to make a total change in our attitude and way of life � we seize our own destiny and the future � we walk our talk � we take the I can do attitude; � we establish the country's direction and priority. � a plan of action is committed. � stop playing the role of a victim � we develop, produce and acquire wealth. � develop our resources � we aspire and become a major placer in the world stage � and on and on The list is endless so you know fully well the Philippines is in a pile of s----! What to do, where to go is the big question. Regards, Oscar Apostol, (by email), Roseville , CA , Nov. 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I can't believe my eyes when I saw those figures. It is obscene, disgusting, and just outright nauseating. We have millions of Filipinos trying to eat a decent meal for at least twice a day, while politicians spent large amount of money on travels. The amount of money they "milk" from the nation is eye popping. I am a Catholic but I do agree with you that we should educate our people about artificial means of birth control. Edgardo Dacpano,(by email), Dallas , Texas , Nov. 23, 2007 Specialist, Dallas Independent School District wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, I read your article �Pauperized by Politicians� with incredulity because your source had all the numbers related to these extravagant congressmen but nowhere is there mention of the same (I�m pretty sure!) extravagant senators. It�s articles like these that discourages me from thinking with a critical mindset because of it�s slant. Sorry but your article is not even worth .02 cents Erwin Pader, (by email), Waltham , Massachusetts , Nov. 23, 2007 Consultant, Iona Technologies (The article, �Perks of a Congressman,� on which my column was based, confined itself to congressmen and women, as its own title implied. You can keep your two cents. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I hope this piece of yours will awaken some more Filipino souls and realize that crooked politicians and government officials masquerading as public servants (and I dispute the common line that they are a minority) are the core reasons why we are in this saddest state. This is the reason why I have not been exercising my right to vote since my first and I hope I don't have to explain anymore why. My basic premise is if the voting turnout becomes insignificant, everyone, including the politicians, will be convinced to go back to the drawing board to reconstruct the social contract. In my rounds to various communities as a development worker, I have come across a number of politicians thanking me (and the institutions I work at) for funding small community-based infrastructure projects like health centers or water system in their areas (these projects cost about P400k) but unmindful or numb to the fact that they can fund these from their own local budget or congressional allocations, or even with their "personal" money. Politicians praise donor agencies for these small necessities to poor people but they become numb to the fact that they live in mansions and extravagant lifestyle. The time to change the contract is past due. Roy Tordecilla, (by email), Nov. 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi, Tony. I agree with you completely that our people have been pauperized by politicians; by our failure to industrialize; by globalization . . . and if I may add, by our long-standing unjust social and political structures where the wealth and income of the nation are so inequitably shared. Yes, the Philippines was one of the more prosperous nations of Asia . In the early 50s and on to the late 60s, the Philippines had one of the highest GNP per capita in Asia - next only to Japan and Malaysia . At that time, our GNP per capita was 80% that of Malaysia and 50% that of Japan . We were doing better than Taiwan with 1.3 times GNP per capita and twice that of Korea . From the beginning of the 70s, we nose dived to our present dismal state. In 1989, our GNP per capita stood at 30% that of Malaysia ; 3% that of Japan ; 14% that of Taiwan ; and 16% that of Korea . In 1994 (Asiaweek figures), our GNP per capita was now only 25% that of Malaysia ; 2% that of Japan ; 8% that of Taiwan and 11% that of Korea . I don't have the today's figures but I suspect that our figures may have further deteriorated. I am afraid you give too much credit to the Church by saying that still carries a lot of weight among the poor, most of whom are "unchurched". They are making babies for reasons other than the Church prohibition on artificial birth control. Ricardo I. de Leon, (by email), Nov. 23, 2007: wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thank you so very much for a well written article.....and most of all for telling the truth about what is really going on with the most corrupt, elite, and soulless politicians in the Philippines. No place else that I know of who readily shipped out their citizens to be enslaved by other countries but the Philippines . The 'Pilipino Diaspora' that you mentioned is so sad and I felt anger more so when I hear GMA so proud of 'how well the OFW's are keeping the economy going!' even encouraging them to not come home yet.... We should look at all these politicians to be real criminals for living off from the blood, sweat and tears of their own citizens. But how long before the Filipinos wake up from their seemingly eternal stupor???? Or are we going to be like the Jews being led to slaughter and not much of protestation...not even a whimper...for we are all conditioned to accept our miserable condition because... that's just the way it is in the Philippines!!!!! [email protected], Hawaii , Nov. 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, "Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink"....to paraphrase a line in a poem. This is the case with us. Lots of money...yes, hoarded by the government, but not a single coin for the poor people. When it's spent by the government for huge foreign contractors or under the unconscionable "tayo-tayo system," shared like pigs in a trough by selfish and greedy representatives and senators instead of creating jobs locally, is this not "plunder" in the guise of legal transactions, emoluments and discretionary funds? What constitutional limits are there on these unconscionable allowances and payouts? What is to stop the fat swine from increasing the length, and depth and width of their trough? Lionel Tierra, (by email), Sacramento CA , Nov. 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) P'reng Charlie, You are op kors right. It's like the briber and the bribee, it's take two to dance the pasa doble. But this time it's a tragic square dance with plenty of blame to pass around. You already know all this of course. The dumbing of the Pinoy is almost complete. A nation existing in poverty begets dumb people due to malnourishment, no access to meaningful education, and bad surroundings. Dumb people get even poorer. Poor people sell their votes for that bag of coarse rice, few cans of sardines, or a fistful of inflated pesos. If I was starving, I'd probably sell my vote, too. If I was a waif with no skill whatsoever, I'd probably steal a pan de sal to quiet my growling belly. But the far more grievous sin falls squarely on those politicians giving out bribes to get votes. Most of them after all are not dumb. In fact, most of them are smart and certainly far from poor, much less starving. Most are vain, greedy and hungry for power. They also have all these debts to pay to those businessmen who supported them with the bribe money. They too will have to be paid back op kors plus a substantial ROI once their candidate is elected, or be appointed to lucrative government positions. The other culprit, of course, is the Catholic Church and their fanatical supporters fighting a national population program that would otherwise have helped in less but more quality Pinoy children who would grow up to be prosperous and knowing better not to sell their votes to these greedy politicians. The fourth and fifth are the media and our schools which have no vision for our people. I certainly learned nothing about love of country in my four years in Ateneo. Thank heavens for my father, though, I learned some from him. Perhaps you did at the Ateneo. Perhaps I was asleep or daydreaming in class. So most of us who are not poor do not have this fervent love of country like the Chinese, the Koreans, the Japanese and the Vietnamese have for theirs. Instead most of us thought we were Americans, or desired to be one. So we are the fifth participants. Our television is mostly thrash, imported foreign thrash at that, depriving our own talented performers of income. Although sad to say our local movies are inexplicably no better. The media could have been a great conduit to inculcate patriotic values of hard work, love of country, small families, uplifting themes and values, etc., etc. But they have also failed us in these. Yes, P'reng Charlie, our problem is predominantly Filipino, a stunted shrub of mostly infested leaves and britle twigs, but the root is alien. And this insidious medieval system of religion that's supposed to nourish, instead saps us of our national vitality with all their focus on prayer, heaven, and forever saying Amen to the Vatican . Louie Fernandez, (by email), Nov. 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You should have put the last two words of your article (�revolutionary government�) in HUGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Cesar Sarino, (by email), Nov. 23, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Never a revolutionary government! Before 2010 we must put up the candidate we have studied well, prepared for and campaign strongly for, come the election. Let people send their candidate and let united media do the screening. Present to the people through the different media and let civic organizations vote. Then re-screen. How do you evaluate Gov. Panlilio? He will probably be my candidate. Pura Flor Isleta, (by email), Nov. 24, 2007 (Did you protest when Cory Aquino led a revolutionary government from February 25, 1986 to September 1987? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, As always, terrific insights on the sad state of affairs of our beloved Philippines . Since the subject is on politicians, particularly congressmen, what can be done is to close down Congress and just let the Executive branch implement existing laws. While there are really legislations needed by the country for us to move forward, the members of Congress - congressmen and senators - have not passed them. However, I will go back to my position of the dire need to have a parliamentary form of government. Even members and leaders of Congress like Speaker Jose de Venecia and Senator Edgardo Angara have realized the flaws of the 20- year presidential system we ( under the 1987 Cory Constitution) and that it breeds or produces "bad politicians." The parliamentary system is not the panacea, but it will be good start with the fusion of the legislative & executive branches of government. We may say that it is still the people who will be in government that will matter and not the structure or system such whether presidential or parliamentary. Like what is the point of going parliamentary if Speaker Joe de Venecia and his ilk will be there again anyway? True. But what will happen is that a better political system will attract better and more qualified Filipinos to serve under a parliamentary system. Why? For one, we will not have a president who is elected nationally, but a Prime Minister who be chosen by his peers (MPs) of his ruling party or coalition. My best argument for a parliamentary system is it will preclude the "tyranny" of the tens of millions of poor and uneducated Filipinos who elect idiots like Joseoph "ERAP" Estrada. Under the parliamentary system, people like Erap or even the late Fernando Poe, Jr will have no value except just be a Member of Parliament (MP). But with the kind of debates in Parliament, the likes of ERAP or Ronnie Poe will not be interested. Same for past and present senators like Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla (and his father Ramon aka Nardong Putik), Tito Sotto and Robert Jaworski. Again, i go further of proceeding later to a Federal Parliamentary form of Government like Australia , Canada , Germany and other progressive and prosperous nations in the European Union (EU). Close to home, Malaysia is a good example. Best regards, Ric Ramos, (by email) Santa Rosa , Laguna, Nov. 24, 2007 (I also think the parliamentary system is superior to the presidential. But in the present circumstances, a shift to parliamentary before 2010 would just be a ploy for President Arroyo to remain in power beyond 2010, as prime minister. I think parliamentary should be discussed and debated only AFTER Gloria Arroyo is out of Malacanang. (As for federalism, let us make haste slowly. There must be a practical reason why the two archipelagic countries aside from the Philippines � Japan and Indonesia � have remained unitary states and have not toyed with federalism. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, With regard to your statement: "To make matters worse, the Roman Catholic Church continued and continues to forbid the use of artificial methods of birth control, a diktat that is largely ignored by the upper and middle classes, but still carries weight among the lower classes, who are multiplying like tilapias, even though they are the least able to afford the many children that they continue to have." "... The crisis is not the ethics but in the unethical. The failure is not the law, but in the law-breakers. �The truth of this observation is borne out by the failure of such writers to distinguish between the problem of making people conform to standards and that of making standards conform to people. Instead of urging people to pass the test, they alter the test. Instead of inspiring them to hold to their ideals, they change the ideals. �In accordance with this logic, they urge that morals be changed to suit those who cannot live morally, and that ethics be changed to please those who cannot live ethically. All this takes place in accordance with the democratic principle of certain philosophers, who are prepared to construct any kind of philosophy that people desire. If we want ghosts, the democratic philosophers, who know the will of the populace, will write a philosophy justifying ghosts; if the man in the street wants to follow the line of least moral resistance, philosophers will develop for him the justifying philosophy of �self-expression�; if the person-about-town has no time for the thoughts of eternity, then philosophers develop for him or her the philosophy of �space-time.� "There are ultimately only two possible adjustments in life: One is to suit our lives to principles; the other is to suit principles to our lives. �If we do no live as we think, we soon begin to think as we live.� The method of adjusting moral principles to the way we live is just such a perversion of the due order of things." --- "From the Angel's Blackboard, The Best of Fulton J. Sheen." Pierre Tierra, (by email), Great Falls , Virginia , Nov. 25, 2007 (It�s easy for people like Fulton Sheen to pontificate �about adjusting moral principles to the way we live� as �a perversion of the due order of things.� But where was he, or what did he say, when the Catholic Church decided it wasn�t a mortal sin, after all, to lend money with interest, after it had preached for centuries that it was, and then went on to open its own banks? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, what you have laid out is indeed outrageous, obscene, immoral, and possibly beyond solution. Beyond our empty boast that the Philippines , once upon a time, was second only to Japan in terms of its economy remains meaningless in the context of how rapidly we have fallen down the ladder. We are so far behind I see no scenario where we can ever keep up. There is no arguing that the lack of industrialization and the premature embrace of free trade has hurt the Philippines quite badly. Posting those paltry numbers in terms of tourism and our exports as compared to those of Thailand just lays bare the lack of good economic planning that took place over successive administrations, with resultant massive unemployment from the lack of jobs, and the dire statistics on poverty. When more than 60% of Filipinos are barely subsisting on $1 or $2 dollars a day, that is indeed a tragedy that's not hard to notice. It's no wonder the exodus of Filipinos to find work abroad has gone unabated. Making things worse is the prolific way Filipinos have been multiplying. Granted most of us are Catholics, beholden to the teachings of the Church, but it was a big mistake not to have crafted a policy of population control even if this had gone against the teachings of our ecclesiastical elders. I left the Philippines in 1964, when the population was hovering about 25 million, and to think that it has almost quadrupled in 43 years is shocking. How are we going to feed all those millions of mouths with the scarce resources we have? Before that population bomb explodes, we need badly to control that growth, or the alternative is to find ourselves become a third-rate country where mass hunger as we are now seeing in Darfur will visit us in a few years. Oh, those perks given to our politicians. How can they justify spending so much when they do so little, and amid a setting where most of their constituents are barely getting by? As the old cliche says, when they say it's not about the money, it's still about the money. It's not hard to shed tears for our beloved country when it is rapidly going downhill. We need new heroes to rescue her from that descent, but a lot of them have gone elsewhere. What we need, I think, is a miracle, though that is not being realistic. Wishing for something to happen when that's not possible tells me we have reached a state of ultimate tragedy. R. G. Lacsamana, M.D,(by email), Daytona Beach , Florida , Nov. 25, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi! Tony, am Patrick Donato Pantaleon, three years ago I formed a group called La Salle Ateneo At Lahat Na, to support the call of the La Salle Brothers to "oust GMA" and the Ateneo Jesuit Priests to "seek for the Truth".....Please continue emailing me, Thanks and God bless! wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I only have a one-line comment on your article entitled "Pauperized by Politicians": Most politicians amass possessions but lose their values. Best, Ben Sanchez, (by email), Makati City , Nov. 26, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thank you for putting the article of Mr. Arcilla in the internet. It is so disgusting to note how these congressmen and women enjoy so much perks and to realize that we, the taxpayers who work so hard, pay taxes that these greedy personalities dip their hands in. What about the senators? How much are their takes? I wish the investigative journalists in our midst will take the cue and take their profession at heart. Let's have all the list of the congressmen and senators with their respective list of expenses. We can start from there. The LGUs starting from the governors should be included. This will enable us to identify and weed out the good eggs from the bad ones. Isn't there anyone who can make accounting mandatory? I am abhorred that these people are not mandated to account for their expenses. What is the Commission on Audit doing, for God's sake! Are they also in the pocket of these politicians? I think many if not all of these congressmen and senators and governors etc are big plunderers themselves just like the disgraced Erap. But the disgraced former president can only be a living bad example of "crime truly pays". To my mind, this is the legacy of President Arroyo to the nation. What a pity! Josie Banaag, (by email), Nov. 26, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Your article can be summarized simply that Philippine politicians are corrupt. There is nothing wrong with our form of government. The whole problem is the people who are running the government: starting with the President, the Senators and Congressmen. Many have a private payroll that the government pays, but none or very little goes to the people listed in it. This is just a start. They fleece the government by their expensive junk trips as you mentioned. The worst is bribery which is embodied in the way government employees serve the public. You cannot transact business with the government, whether it is applying for a license or bidding for a government project, unless you put up grease money. Go to the Bureau of Customs, for example. Or try getting a copy of your land title from the Bureau of Lands. The law enforcement people, especially, are very notorious in this. Even the military is not exempt from this corruption. Corruption is well part of our political system. Of course, there are government employees and officers who are honest, through and through, but they are pitifully very few. The form of government is not to blame. Our present political structure is sound. But any form of government can be corrupted. What we need in the government is NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN to educate the public about the need for a qualified and honest public official who can serve in the government for the public good. We need to encourage and focus attention on exemplary government officials to be emulated by those who serve the government, like Gov. Panlilio of Pampanga. WE NEED A CRUSADE FOR A CLEAN AND BETTER GOVERNMENT. WE NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT IS FRIENDLY AND SUPPORTIVE TO BUSINESS. IT IS BUSINESS THAT PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT TO PEOPLE. WE DO NOT NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT SACKS BUSINESS FOR MONEY AND PRIVILEGES. GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES ! [email protected], Nov. 26, 2007 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |