| Stability from Failures
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on March 4, 2009 For the Standard Today, March 5 issue In my article No More EDSAs (Feb 23), I had commented on President Arroyo�s assertion that our political stability has insulated this country from the worldwide financial meltdown. �She noted that the financial crisis had driven two thirds of the world into recession, while the Philippines remained relatively unscathed. �Our political stability today is one of the reasons why we have escaped thus far the worst effects of the global recession.�� President Arroyo is falsely claiming credit for why �the Philippines remained relatively unscathed� by the �worst effects of the global recession.� The main and major reason why this country has not been as shaken as our neighbors have been by the global recession is our failures to develop exports and tourism to the same extent as our neighbors have. These two sectors are the lynchpins of our neighbors� prosperity, and the collapse of these sectors worldwide has unhinged their economies, leading to closure of hundreds of thousands of enterprises and the loss of jobs for tens of millions of workers and employees. In other words, our failures in exports and tourism have ironically become our temporary salvation We can conceive of the current financial crisis as an Intensity 6 earthquake that has struck our neighborhood. Those of our neighbors that have built skyscrapers as a result of their success in exports and tourism have suffered the most structural damage, while our modest 3-storey walk-up has so far remained unscathed. Small is beautiful. Truly our consuelo de bobo.. In The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2009, the export figures for East and Southeast Asia in 2007 (BC or before the crisis) are as follows: China, $1.2 trillion; Japan, $676.9 billion; Singapore, $450.6 bn; South Korea, $371.5 bn; Taiwan, $246.7 bn; Malaysia, 181.2 bn; Thailand, $151.0 bn; India,150.8 bn; Indonesia, $118 bn; the Philippines, $49.3 bn; and Vietnam $48.1 bn. It is no wonder that the worst hit economies in East and Southeast Asia are China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, as global demand for their export products, especially in North America and Western Europe, decline drastically as consumers lose their jobs and/or their homes, reduce their purchases for fear of losing their jobs and/or their homes, and are unable to obtain credit for high-ticket purchases, either because their equities in their homes have been reduced or their bankers have been bankrupted by the failure of millions of their borrowers to repay their loans. In tourism, the picture is just as discouraging. The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2009 does not give the data on tourist arrivals, only the estimated income from tourists. (I have written the publishers that they should enter tourist arrivals, not estimated income from tourism, as the more accurate gauge of performance in tourism.) The income figures for 2007 (BC, or before the crisis) are as follows: China, $33.9 bn; Thailand, $13.4 bn; Malaysia, $10.4 bn; India, 8.6 bn; Singapore, $7.2 bn; Japan, $6.5 bn; South Korea, $5.8 bn; Taiwan, 5.1 bn; Indonesia, $4.4 bn; the Philippines, $3.5 bn; and Vietnam $3.4 bn. This is more or less consistent with press reports that in 2008, China attracted 26 million tourists, Malaysia 16 million, Thailand 13 million, Indonesia 6 million, the Philippines 3.2 million, and Vietnam 4.2 million. (President Arroyo recently gloated over the fact that tourist arrivals in the Philippines grew by 10 percent from 2004 to 2008. But that�s only an average of two percent a year. Nothing to brag about, really, but for which Tourism Secretary Ace Durano was voted �one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men� by the Philippine Jaycees. Amazing! (Vietnam�s tourist arrivals grew by 15 percent in one year, which is how and why Vietnam has just overtaken the Philippines in tourist arrivals by one million in 2008, just as Vietnam is about to overtake the Philippines in exports. See the data above.) But this is all BC, before the crisis. The tourism industry worldwide has been decimated by the financial crisis as consumers cancel or postpone their holidays abroad because they have lost their jobs or fear they may lose them soon. Hotel occupancy even in Metro Manila declined last December 2008 from 79 percent to 61 percent. An omen of things to come? Those who are exalted will be humbled, as our more successful neighbors� economic skyscrapers crack or crash in the Intensity 6 earthquake, while the modest Filipino 3-storey walk-up remains relatively unscathed, so far. Thank God or Allah - as well as our clueless trapos, - for our failures. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in acabaya.blogspot.com. Tony on YouTube in www.tapatt.org. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. . OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Stability from Failures� More Reactions to �Turning 20� More Reactions to �Contemplating 2010� More Reactions to �Snubbed Again� More Reactions to �Anachronistic� Response to Dick Morales Response to �GMA Moral Renewal: A Joke� �About Philippine Banks� �Abolish the Lower House� �Is there a Filipino Identity?� In your March 5 column, you failed to give due credit to the millions of our countrymen abroad whose remittances amply if not more than compensate for the shortcomings you alleged in our export sector and tourism. That undeniably is something which many of the neighboring countries you mentioned obviously do not have. In admitting that the Philippines remains unscathed by the global financial crisis, let us also recognize the very unpopular efforts of the well-meaning specially in government who have to sacrifice to achieve fiscal stability for our country . Daniel Balaoing Valdez, (by email), Taguig City, March 05, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I'm no longer surprised or amazed whenever Gloria Arroyo makes some fantastic announcement, she being the MASTER OF DECEPTION. That's the reason why I abhor this 'evil" "bitch". She enjoys taking us for a ride. A HYPOCRITE and a DECEIT, that's what she is! Sadly, there are still some Filipinos who are dumb, stupid and in denial. As the famous saying goes: " Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me " and for the Tagalogs, " dalawang tao sa mundo, manloloko at ang nagpapaloko ". Bayan ko, gumising ka! Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City, March 05, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: By an ironic twist of fate, the failure of the Philippines in the critical areas of exports and tourism is proving to be a blessing in disguise! It is of course understandable why President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should crow about the "stability" of the Philippines compared to the crisis now enveloping her neighbors, the so-called economic "tigers" of Asia She has nothing much to crow about, which explains why she is desperate to seize even the remotest of possibilities, in this instance "stability." The reality is that this relative "stability" happens to be due to the failure of the Philippines in the areas of exports and tourism. If Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo's logic is pushed ad absurdum, failure is a "consummation devoutly to be wished." The more failures, the more blessings the Philippines is bound to reap. Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers, NY, March 05, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More unfortunately. I have not read nor heard of any change in our socio-economic development strategies, given the causes of the crisis. Globalization, exports, laissez-faire have to be revisited. Looking more inwards is the better alternative. Regards, Cesar Sarino, (by meail), Ayala Alabang, March 05, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Is it ever possible that the International Criminal Court may charge Bush et al for what they have done in Iraq, Guantanomo, etc, as they have with Milosevic, Sudan, etc? Ben Lim, (by email), Makati City, March 05, 2009 (Ben: Before the 2008 US elections there were some fringe groups threatening to file genocide/war crimes charges against Bush and Cheney before the ICC, but they seem to have crawled back into the woodwork. Without a group or groups filing such charges, I doubt if the ICC by itself will initiate such action. Regards. Tony) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi, Tony, This is the dilemma of the Filipinos electing the likes of GMA, who thinks that the Filipinos are dumb and a no brainy. Ever since she always fool the Filipinos. Remember that issue about classrooms claiming that it was solved, then we found out that the class were just split? Now she is again fooling us that the Philippine economy is good and not affected by the global meltdown. Thanks and more power ! Bert Celera, (by email), March 07, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Turning 20� (Feb. 18, 2009) Dear Tony, Your regimen of exercise and basic lifestyle change is what I am trying to follow since my MI Dec. 24th 2008, little over two months ago. A friend lent me a book: Reversing Heart Disease by Dr. Dean Ornish. The copy I have is circa 1990 but still very good. The reason I have been following, or rather, doing my best to follow his regimen is that I do not want to have an angiogram or any such procedure to "fix" my heart. As I explained to my cardiologist, a blockage can again happen if no life style changes are made by me. I hope to get off medication in due time for as long as I can keep with this changes in life style. Take care of your health. I expect to continue to read your articles long after GMA is no longer president! LOL Cheers.. Chito Prat, (by email), March 07, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Chitong - Read your "Turning 20" article much more slowly, with great attention and much reflection, even made a hard copy! After being medically responsible, exercising, eating healthfully, getting enough sleep, etc., AND reading the recent studies on how to keep one's brain matter flexible - bottom line has always been that when one's time is up...well, healthy or not, time's up! I also became keenly aware that we've known each other for almost 60 years now! Especially since Kevin's death, I have learned to be deeply grateful just for each day and for each other. Thank you . Cayo Marschner, (by email), Moraga, CA, March 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Our people could only wish that you will live forever. Your courage and insights have given hope to our people and I personally hope that you immortalize them by publishing a book for generations of Filipinos to read and be inspired by your love of country. Your insight could also help guide our leaders who are interested in good governance. Tony, you should be proud of yourself for your initiative and self-discipline in following such an exercise program. Not many people can do it. However, I am afraid that you might be exceeding your maximum heart rate (MHR) for your age. You can determine your MHR for a cardiovascular exercise program by deducting your age from 220 if you are in the state of good health which I assume you are. To improve and maintain good circulation and heart function we need to exercise 50 -70% of our Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) for 20 � 30 minutes at least three times a week. You mentioned that since 2002 you have been adding one additional routine from 12 for each passing year so that for the year 2009 you are now performing your exercise routine up to the count of 20 that takes you 20 to 25 minutes to finish. In addition you walk on the treadmill for 32 minutes daily that you also keep on increasing. I believe you are doing more than enough to satisfy the requirements of cardiovascular exercise. I am concerned that your routine requires you to exercise longer the older you get, which is the opposite of what is recommended for cardiovascular exercise I mentioned above. You were also asking why you had a heart attack 35 days after you passed the cardiovascular testing and considering your healthy lifestyle and family history. But you seemed to have answered it already. Heart attack usually is caused by blockage of an artery supplying the heart by a blood clot. I do not think this will happen to you. But sometimes it could be brought about by spasm of the coronary artery or ventricular fibrillation resulting from an oversupply of epinephrine (adrenaline) that comes from intense stress or emotion and physical exhaustion that you mentioned. Bart/Bart Saucelo, MD, (by email), South Bend, Indiana, March 09, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww SIR ON YOUR HEALTH AND AGE (I'M OVER A YEAR OLDER THAN YOU), MAY YOU HAVE ANOTHER 100 YEARS TO LIVE. MY MOTTO AT 74: ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA. MAYROON ISANG PASYENTE, NAGTANONG SA KANYANG DOKTOR BAKIT PAYAT SIYA, MASAMA ANG PAKARAMDAM NIYA. TANONG NG DOKTOR: MALAKAS KA MAGSIGARILYO! HINDI PO AKO NANINIGARILYO. TANONG NG DOKTOR: MALAKAS KA UMINOM! HINDI PO AKO UMIINOM. TANONG NG DOKTOR: PARATI KA NANG-BABABAE! HINDI PO AKO NANGBABABAE. SABI NG DOKTOR: HINDI NAGSISIGARILYo, HINDI UMIINOM, HINDI NANG-BABABAE. MABUTI PAKAMATAY KA NA LANG. (joke lang po). Juan Manuel C. del Prado, (by email), March 09, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Contemplating 2010� (Feb. 21, 2009) Hi Tony, Read your email exchange with Dick Morales. I agree with you that the real danger to the country are the criminals who have been or are presently occupying positions of power, and their extensive network of accomplices in and out of government. These are the guys that betrayed the country and the people. However, in my view, any successful revolution starts and ends with self-change. Despite our seemingly hapless situation, I would like to believe that things are in ferment below the radar screen and that, someday in God's good time, i.e., when those of us who are working for a united brotherhood for the common good attain real critical mass, these cretins will be history. Perhaps not in our time, but their regime of crime and corruption will be history. All the best, Raffy Alunan, (by email), March 15, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, This is in reaction to the opinion of people who think Mar Roxas is a possibility for president. Ask anyone who was following the JPEPA issue, who attended the Committee on Trade hearings which Roxas presided over and the interpellations in the Senate where he was a main defender.. He heard all the arguments against JPEPA which were overwhelming. Former Justice Feliciano reportedly called it the worst treaty he had ever seen. He and former U.P Law Dean Magallona pointed to the provisions which were against the Constitution.. Trade experts pointed to, besides other things, the lopsidedness of the economic provisions and thus to the significant losses in revenue of the government versus the much smaller gain in Japanese investments which were only optimistic projections by government bureaucrats. Environmentalists stressed the provision on waste ; Japan may export municipal, hospital, sewage, hazardous, nuclear! waste to the Philippines! On the Senate floor, Enrile pointed out that whereas the Philippines would gain around 10 million dollars (Pesos? can't remember now), we would lose around 30 million dollars (pesos?) in so many years.. (Of course Enrile subsequently voted for the treaty; so what else is new?). Noynoy Aquino pointed out that studies of think tanks showed that JPEPA would not improve trade and investment, because what are needed are good governance, infrastructure, communication facilities, etc. We noted that Roxas did not contest this. (Noynoy, preceptive and consistent, voted against the treaty. Has anyone thought of him as president? He has the name and, to my mind, the character.) Roxas heard it all but still he kept pushing this awful treaty! Why? That is the big question. Is he for big business, no matter everything else? Or are there worse reasons? Notwithstanding all the other arguments, how can one who sets aside the unconstituionality of a treaty be president, whose main duty is to defend the Constitution? God help our country and enlighten us to choose our next leader for the good of the nation, not our own narrow interests. Nina Galang, (by email), La Vista, Quezon .Coty, March 15, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, just read the many comments, suggestions re subject matter, and I am indeed sad to know that there seem to be no better alternatives for presidentiable candidates. As i surmise, we are looking at the present personalities who are now in government/political position. What should be the Qualities of the Leaders that we are supposed to vote? Maybe, there should be a forum where the candidates/parties could expound their platform or visions for the future Philippines. Maybe they can discuss the following: Repeal of the RVAT law or its amendment; Nationalization of Public utilities which is for the national interest as mandated by our Constitution; Accountability of government loans which have reached to so many billions that each of the 90 million Filipinos have to be pay php46,500.00 for the debt including inters; free elementary and high school education, including pre-schools; Amend laws to strengthen the COA, and to be able to file cases on Corruption practices. And what do they envision the Philippines to be energy sustainable without Nuclear Reactors by using the Green Environment Technology; strengthening PhilRice, BFAD, DOH, and Cheaper Medicines. Also, how do they envision the industrialization of the Philippines by Filipinos; and maintain the 60-40% ratio of Filipino:foreign owners of corporations? Yes, there should be some kind of debate, to allow the Filipinos what kind of candidates they will be having, and what kind of future they will expect from the winning parties. Avelino Lagman, Jr., (by email), March 15, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The search for a messiah is a futile or frustrating experience. The Jews have been waiting for him for thousands of years now, and what the Christians found only polarized the world while keeping his own followers splintered. This early, some of his most ardent backers are already beginning to think that Obama�s promised change might be anything but for the better. The Kapatiran Party looks more like Ang Kapapatiran to me: too many rules, too many stumbling blocks. The falling out of its best performer in a senatorial election based on one issue alone underscores this point. What we need is a goal which we can pursue despite our differences, not a hole where we can all fit in. 2010 elections will just be what it is: another shot of dope, a recharging of false hopes. Nothing will change, whosoever wins. Even Tony�s idea of a revolutionary government is nothing more than a pipe dream. Ironically enough, the gravity of the situation we are in and our good intentions keep us glued to far-fetch solutions. It blinds us to a sensible one that is enshrined in the Constitution and is within the power of Congress. Eustaquio Joven, (by email), March 16, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Snubbed Again� (Feb. 11, 2009) Mr. Patalinjug wrote: It was all too obvious that she avoided the Philippines, a country of 92 million people, the only Christian nation in Asia, once a ward of the United States, and supposedly an ally of the United States in the "war on terror." This, I say, was a deliberate snub! (What about Australia, also an 'ally of the United States in the "war on terror"'? Ms. Clinton did not make a side trip to Australia, yet Australians don't seem to have the idea that they were being 'snubbed'. Aussies have a better sense of self than to make a big deal out of a non-visit! Think how much the Philippine government had saved in terms of expenses for security, receptions and general disruptions had Ms. Clinton visited. Count your blessings! The Philippines is not the only Christian nation in Asia - we have East Timor, and Australia and New Zealand too, if you consider location! (So what that the Philippines is a 'Christian' nation - does that necessarily imply that all Filipinos practice the Christian values of humility, honesty, morality, respect for all people, mercy, among others? What an ideal place the Philippines would be if all Filipinos acted in a Christian manner. Then perhaps the issue of being 'snubbed' would not even matter ("... If God is for us, who can be against us?...' - Romans 8:31). Evelyn A. Opilas, (by email), Sydney, Australia, March 8, 2009) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww With regards to the reaction of Evelyn Opillas, we Filipinos have a strong sense of pride that is why most of us condemn Gloria Arroyo for embarrassing the Filipino nation with her lowering the dignity of the office of the president of a sovereign nation and I totally agree with Mr. Abaya that " Many Filipinos, this one included, do not consider Obama�s snub of GMA as a snub on the entire Filipino nation, for the simple reason that we no longer consider her as our representative and leader." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tony, Definitely, America never means to demean the people of a country, only it's leaders who are perceived to be insensitive/oblivious to the needs of their people. But the American government until today is clueless as to how to effectively communicate it's agenda. Americans believe the world wants to be like them. So they find no reason not to impose their culture everywhere they go. You would think with all the mistakes Washington makes, specially during a Republican Administration, they might learn They are also always in a hurry. Only recently have they understood that even as the filipino is willing to work as hard as the next guy, HOWEVER the weather, and other conditions debilitate him. And then there is the lack of a w ell funded governmental structure because precisely 3rd world countries do not have the tax base needed to fund a republican form of government, even at their best. So rather than criticize they should conceive all projects/agendas with these constraints in mind. Allowing for typhoons, floods, heavy rainfall, scorching heat, many official holidays, poor infrastructure, etc. The only consolation is that America makes the same clumsy mistakes everywhere in the 3rd world. They love to rely on these so called experts working in the Brookings Institute or some other think tank who know little if any of the actual nuances of a culture because they have not really immersed themselves in the country. Of course they can get an American who has lived in the Philippines nearly all his life. There are many of them. But these people will tell them things they do not want to hear. These people will enumerate all the mistakes made in delivering aid or working with the locals. People in Washington do not want to be told they are ignoramuses even if many times they are exactly that. IT WILL EMBARRASS MANY IMPORTANT PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE. Now if Washington went all over the world helping build economies with a healthy tax base, instead of exploiting the natural resources, would it still need a political agenda? The next question/premise I will not propose because almost all of you know more or less what that question would be Lynn Abad Santos, (by email), Washington DC, March 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww GMA need not insist on a pictorial or audience with Obama. She only has to seek the approval of her citizenry by her good deeds and by reining in her husband from high profile deals. The rest should follow automatically, including respect, admiration, even accolades. It must begin within her domain, our country. and then other presidents will notice and the same attention shall be given her. In education we learn of the great leaders. Scandals and payoffs , or getting involved in it or blamed for were never part of their total behavior. Perhaps we are wrong in judging our president, but I do not think that our media can be so wrong as to picture her as such. Victor Ma�alac, (by email), March 09, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Anachronistic� (Nov. 24, 2008) I find it hard to connect the continuing "communist" insurgency in the Philippines due to failure to create an export oriented economy. We had been exporting a commodity, the labor force, for quite sometime already and this is probably what kept the whole societal fabric of the Philippines from collapsing. If you say that there are only two remaining dyed-in-the-wool Communists in Europe and they happen to be Filipinos, what do you call the crop of local insurgents still mouthing anti-US imperialism, anti-feudalism and anti bureaucrat capitalism? Are they really motivated by a "defunct" ideological program, continuing a struggle that is staged managed by remote control by the two you have identified based in a decadent capitalist country in Europe, or are there other more compelling reasons? The structural basis you have cited as the most probable causes, could be valid, but not necessarily absolutely correct. How about the inept, traditional opposition whose main purpose is to advance their own careers, interests and positions. They cannot be relied upon by the common tao, thus a continuing virulent insurgency that is conveniently labeled a communist one, both by the military and the Maoist mythical army trying to survive in what you call an anachronism. Probably, by calling this insurgency by another label, communism could probably be buried in what is called the kangkungan ng kasaysayan. Felix Zamar, (by email), March 09, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Response to Dick Morales What is this "Emergency Powers Act of 2010" proposed by Brig. Gen. Ricardo C. Morales, (by email to Tony Abaya), Feb. 22, 2009 Philippine Army HQ, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City". It seems that this thing could evolve into a "Myanmar-Type" dictatorship. It's filled with so many "ifs" and "buts" once adopted before the emergency can be lifted. Would this be better than the "People's Jury Initiative" where the people on their own independent decision, the people will be able to send all government greedy grafters all over the country all the time to jail judicially and peacefully? It looks like this so-called Emergency Powers Act of 2010 is trying to control the people instead of the government grafters. Why control the people when they are not the ones who are stealing the people's money? WOULD YOU AGREE TO THIS? He said: "I will be leaving the AFP next month - permanently. However, I intend to propose - not necessarily to the AFP - an Emergency Powers Act ratified through a national referendum along with the 2010 elections. This Act will allow the application of populace and resource control in insurgency affected areas for limited periods of time. I think it will require some sort of a citizens' initiative to get to the referendum stage. Emergency powers may be applied only upon the occurrence of widespread insurgency-related incidents and must be lifted, mandatory, if six months elapse that is violence/incident free, and may not be re-applied within a year after being lifted. Unique to this approach is the national referendum where each citizen - the high and mighty along with the poorest and the humblest - each will have one vote. The AFP should not meddle with the outcome of the referendum because it needs to hear its master's voice - that of the collective sovereign Filipino people. The Left should support it because it will eliminate Extra Judicial Killings." (FALSE assumption) Seguradong lalaway naman and dila ni GMA nito. Marlowe Camello, (by email), Homeland, CA, March 15, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Response to �GMA Moral Renewal: A Joke� Well said. But hardly done. Truth outs sooner or later and once revealed all that was said become worthless. And better that it was never mentioned at all. A cry for "Moral Renewal" requires a credible source . And there is hardly anyone in government who can lead this crusade, because such a renewal requires a change deep within. Such a "change" can be very uncomfortable for many who govern. There is too much to give up. I remember a story in the Bible : that a young rich man approached Jesus and asked how he may follow Him in his mission. But he backed out immediately when he was told to leave behind all his wealth and to lose these to the poor. That will be the same for GMA and her friends in government and business. Better that they be quiet and consciously work on a program of renewal. And when the core becomes new so too will the behaviour ( "action follows being..."). And when behavior changes, then there will be no need for speeches, only actions that are easier to follow. Victor Ma�alac, (by email), March 05, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww About Philippine Banks Tony, You know by my previous letters to you that I love the Philippines, so I don't mean to be negative,e but what in the hell is the matter with the banking system there? I learned long ago to forget about getting travelers checks cashed at a bank there, no matter how many photo ID's you have. It just doesn't happen. If you happen to be near a American Express outlet you can do it after a grilling that is worthy of the best detective in the world. The police should use these clerks to interview suspects! Well I thought I had figured out how to solve this problem: next trip to The Philippines I would send a certified bank check to my wife there and when I got there she would cash it .. There could not be a better way of doing it. I had my problem solved! Wrong! When we went to her bank to cash the certified bank check, we were met by another bank manager who was determined to prove that good old Yankee ingenuity just did not work in The Philippines. We were told that if we deposited the check we would be able to draw on it in from three to four weeks! When asked why, he calmly replied that we have to mail the check to your bank for approval and then it has to be mailed back to them and then we could draw on it. I thought that certainly that it was my lack of knowledge of Tagalog or his lack of English that caused a misunderstanding. I asked my wife to please ask him in Tagalog why it could be not be done electronically which is how most bank transactions are done these days. After a long speech to my wife, which of course I could not understand, he handed the check back to my wife and she started to explain to me in English. I just shook my head and told her not to bother as I knew a wily old bank manager had foiled me again. I knew that it could only be that bank . My much traveled bank check was carried back to the United States where it was voided out and the money was wired to her account in that bank. Tony, I swear to God this next story is true. The big day finally came where we would be able to payoff management for our home there. We already owned the house and now we were to own the property , or was it the other way around? I still don't understand how you could own the house but not the property or own the property but not the house but that's another story. My wife happily proceeds to her bank, all excited about finally owning our own home. Nothing else could go wrong in this long process that we had gone through. Not even the bank president could stand in out way now. Oh how wrong I was again. When she went to the teller to withdraw the final 493,000 pesos that she had to bring to management to close the sale. She asked that a bank check be given for the funds. She was sent to the manager. Oh no! The same manager! When she made her request she was told that she could not make the withdrawal in a bank check but had to take it in cash. When she asked why, she was politely told, no wait scratch that politely and put arrogantly told, because that was the bank policy. Now the manager was faced with a four foot eleven, 90lb bundle of Filipino fury, (Sorry, I don't know metric). She asked him if he expected her to walk out on the street with 493,000 pesos, didn't he care about his customers and she was met by his standard answer, bank policy. Now she was angry enough to take on the bank manager but could this tiny little beauty take on purse snatchers, robbers, thieves? She smartly decided not to risk our hard earned savings so she left without her money. Well we are looking for plan B now. Should we hire body guards? Should we take the chance and walk down the streets of Manila with all that money? Well, Tony, we think we have a plan. We will wire the money to management! Our only obstacle now will be our nemesis the bank president. Will right triumph over wrong? Will good vanquish the unmoving? Stay tuned for next chapter in our ongoing saga of dealing with Mr Bank President. Time is running out. we only have 15 days to close the sale or lose it. Will justice prevail? Tony, You know I am writing this with tongue in cheek. I still love your wonderful country. It is just a certain bank president I don't care for LOL He truly is probably only following bank policies . I guess I am spoiled after dealing with the same bank here for many many years without a problem. I will say that while traveling in another part of the Philippines a few years ago I met the president of another bank who could not have been more helpful with a small problem I had, so he has made things even! Jay R Brundage, (by email), Ridgefield, Connecticut, March 09, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Abolish the Lower House! This is in reaction to Senate Bill 3123 filed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile which seeks to increase the current 250 members of the House of Representatives to 350 and which increase Sen. Francis Pangilinan wanted postponed or limited. This government is already top-heavy and an additional 100 more would mean an increased burden for an already impoverished population. How many millions more would be spent for the salaries and office and staff requirements of those additional 100 is beyond us, not to mention their pork barrels and other perks. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must be abhorred to the idea of 100 more salivating tongues licking her feet. Have the present members not been remiss in their duties and responsibilities to their constituents proper representation in the legislature would have strongly guaranteed an uncompromising response, have effectively met and provided for the needs of our growing population, which Enrile himself should have known. What most of the present representatives have ensured is impropriety in their job performance or nonperformance. They have reneged on their promises to effectively meet and provide for their constituents' needs and instead used their positions to enrich themselves. They have sold their souls and principles to the devil, have received bribes, gifts in cash or in kind and by colluding with unscrupulous business operators as in the World Bank-exposed contractors' cartel and the controversial Legacy scandal. Enough is enough. Ramon Mayuga, (by email), Essen, Germany, March 13, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Is there a Filipino Identity? Dear Tony: Is there such a thing as a Filipino identity? I remember 18th century Scottish philosopher David Hume saying that there is no such thing as self but only a bundle of selves. Using Hume�s argument, there is no such thing as a Filipino identity- only a bundle of many Filipino identities. By asserting that the Filipino is just a bundle of many identities it means that there is no sense of Filipinohood in us that should bind us as one people. The bundle theory of Hume sidesteps our sense of unity and interconnectedness within our country and in the larger sense among all Filipinos worldwide. There may be a point in arguing about the continuity of the physical attributes of Filipinos like having small flat nose, brown in complexion, and with small physical structure, and the like. There may be physical regeneration of our physical attributes like some of us today are mestizos and mestizas but they are not that substantial to miss our traditional looks and posturing. There may also be psychological continuity that we persist as Filipinos because we can remember our past. In other words, our Filipino psyche is long-term. However, if I were to put words into the mouth of Hume, these ongoing identities in terms of physical and psychological identities do not make up the Filipino identity. The continuity of physical and psychological identities is not a ground for making out a genuine Filipino identity. In the world of Hume, we have many Filipino identities. These identities are our subjective experiences. We experience Filipinohood or simply a sense of being united as Filipinos when we are in a foreign land. For instance, we are proud as being Filipinos by speaking Filipino or eating our own food in a different country, meeting regularly with our kababayans, working long and hard because it is the mark of being a Filipino toiling abroad, etc. But there are also some of us who after staying for sometime in a foreign land would willfully forget our sense of Filipinohood � we talk the way foreigners do as if our native tongue is a social taboo, or we eat and live like their foreign counterparts. On a different vein, we likewise feel this closeness and solidarity as a nation within ourselves when we pool our resources to help victims of man-made and natural calamities. But we feel indifferent about the untold social calamities in our midst caused by power-hungry politicians. Simply put, the Filipino identity is erratic. We seem not to get the real picture of the Filipino identity.. Hume explains that it is nonsensical to grasp the self because there is no such thing as self. Just like us Filipinos it is without any sense to talk about unity of the Filipino people when there is no clear cut and definitive Filipino identity. This Filipino identity crisis undeniably has been a perennial problem. To date we are unable to comprehend what it takes to be a Filipino. From all indications, it appears that we are still grappling for our Filipino identity, a Filipino being whose self is unified. The Filipino today is no more than a collection of his many and varied subjective experiences. Hume�s bundle theory asserts that a unified self does not even own these experiences because the self has no peculiar identity among the many and confusing selves almost leading to a Shakespearean comedy of errors. Our physical continuity and remembered experiences as Filipinos do not guarantee our Filipino identity. Thus in conclusion, we still have much to discern what it is to be a Filipino. The bundle theory of Hume is compelling and very telling yet I am hopeful that the necessity to have a Filipino identity will dawn upon us soonest. Thank you. Very truly yours, Reginald B. Tamayo, (by email), Aparri, Cagayan, Feb. 28, 2009 Member, Sangguniang Bayan OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 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. |
 |
 |
| ON THE OTHER HAND |