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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Wash Sycip Asks
By Antonio C. Abaya Written March 06, 2007 For the Standard Today, March 08 issue In a recent speech before the Management Association of the Philippines , Washington SyCip, the revered elder statesman of Philippine Business ventured to ask some hard questions of his audience but did not always provide the answers. I am excerpting some parts of that speech below and giving my answers to his questions (in bold face). Wash first gives a nod of acknowledgement to the generally good news that have brightened up the first two months of the year (until the massive sell-off that hit the bourses around the world starting Feb. 27): �international confidence in the Philippines has improved, budget deficit and interest rates are down, inflation is under control, the stock market, business profits and foreign exchange reserves are up, the peso has strengthened, remittances from Filipinos abroad are increasing and are now going into apartments and houses,� etc He gives credit to President Arroyo for �being willing to push through economic measures that may not add to popularity. With major Chinese-financed infrastructure and agricultural projects signed last week, there is reasonable hope that, in the next four years, economic growth can seep down to the bottom group of our society. The success story of China �s fight against poverty, without lectures from Westerners on democracy, may usher in new ideas for our politicians and our NGOs.� Of course, China achieved its spectacular progress using capitalism and the profit motive to stimulate economic activities by its entrepreneurs, but within the coercive environment of a one-party police state, with the Communist Party enjoying total political control. The same can also be said of Vietnam. The concept of a one-party, or quasi-one-party, authoritarian state using capitalism and the profit motive to generate economic growth can be said to have succeeded also in the South Korea of Park Chung-Hee, the Taiwan of Chiang Ching-kuo, the Singapore of Lee Kwan Yew, the Malaysia of Mahathir Mohamad, the Indonesia of Suharto, and the Thailand of a succession of generals. The Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos had the opportunity to duplicate the success of its neighbors, but failed, largely because of its choice in economic strategies. While the eight Asian tigers geared their economies to the export of manufactured goods, the Philippines under Marcos chose to concentrate instead on its domestic market. Wash quotes Kishore Mahbubani, former Singapore ambassador to the United Nations: �Take the rule of law: no segment of society, especially the rich and powerful elite, should be immune from the rule of law. Asian societies have the external trappings of modernity: a parliament, courts, but the culture is very feudal. One of the saddest cases in Southeast Asia is the Philippines . On the surface, the Philippines is openly democratic, but culturally, it�s still very feudal, with a few families still controlling the wealth of the country. The people at the very bottom have no avenue to grow and develop except to go overseas and work as foreign workers.� Europe did not emerge from feudalism until the Industrial Revolution drew millions of quasi-serfs from the estates of feudal lords and into the factories in urban centers, there to become the core beginnings of the educated middle-class that is the heart of bourgeois democratic society. In East Asia (except Japan, which had started its Industrial Revolution much earlier), the drive towards export-oriented manufacturing created the region�s own middle-classes, at first under authoritarian governments, eventually (for some) under more liberal political environments, though not quite to the same liberal standards as in North America and Western Europe. Having been left behind in the manufacturing-for-export boom of the 70s and 80s, the Philippines did not develop its middle-class to the same extent as did South Korea or Taiwan or Singapore or Malaysia or even Thailand. That is why the Philippines has remained semi-feudal up to the present. �With a talented and intelligent population, we see widening economic gaps between the rich and the poor, declining standards of education, a fairly constant poverty rate, and outward migration of the young to what they see as countries that have more opportunities for them. �What are the roots of our problem? Is it an overdose of democracy, Western style? When poor citizens sell their votes, do we not have a democracy of the upper class who have the money to buy the votes.� The root of our problem is our failure to industrialize when we had the opportunity to do so in the 70s and 80s, as all our neighbors did, which meant our economy could not create enough jobs for a growing population; which widened the gaps between rich and poor; which led to the deterioration of our standards of education as our best teachers left to work as maids in Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East and Europe; which, together with an exploding population, kept the poverty rate constant; which forced eight million of our people to go abroad for the jobs that they could not find in our economy. Did/do we also have �an overdose of democracy, Western style?� The answer is Yes, especially in the matter of dealing with our communist insurgency. While ALL our non-communist neighbors did not hesitate to use draconian measures to squash their communist insurgents, we have been and still are immobilized by the internal contradictions of what I call �American-style liberalism� that gives our �legal� communists the freedom to organize, mobilize and proselytize against the state, while their illegal armed wing wages an armed revolution against that same state. In no other non-communist country in East Asia were/are communists allowed to have their cake and eat it, too. �Economic freedom with effective enforcement of laws and long-term planning for needed infrastructure has been the success story of East Asia . Political freedom gradually increased as income levels rose. The widely praised four �tiger economies of Asia had authoritarian governments that were able to eliminate hunger and increased spending on education. Elements of democracy came naturally with a growing middle-class.� Exactly my point. The Philippines put the cart of political freedom (during pre-Marcos days) ahead of the horse of economic growth. No wonder the Philippine horse-and-buggy kept falling into the ditch of coup d�etat, EDSA fifol fower, and meaningless elections. �Should we not encourage churches to be used as school houses in towns where many public schools have no chairs and even no books?� Better yet, use churches to deposit malnourished children from the slums for the anti-birth control Catholic bishops to feed, house, clothe, educate and find jobs for, in a program that I proposed to be called Iwanan sa Simbahan. �Shouldn�t law schools be replaced by engineering schools?� Good idea. But do you want to be lynched by a mob of 40,000 lawyers? And the core question: �Why are we always lacking in national unity? Is it because we are an island nation with a Latin heritage that may be more at home among the Caribbean islands.� We are lacking in national unity in part because we did not win our independence on the battlefield, like the Vietnamese and the Indonesians. Nor were we threatened with invasion in our first years as a sovereign nation, as the Malaysians and the Singaporeans were, by Indonesia. Our independence was given back to us by the Americans on a silver parliamentary platter in 1935 and 1946. Which is why our most prominent national figures � then as now � were/are not victorious military generals and guerilla leaders, but lawyers, quarrelsome and contentious to a man (and woman). Those who fought and died for our original independence in 1896 � warriors as well as writers subversive of the status quo � are too far removed in time, and have effectively been erased from our collective memory by a soulless media, to have any influence on the present generations. Because we have no great monuments to remind us of a glorious past civilization � like Borobodur or Angkor Wat or Pagan � we have no collective memory of a shared beginning. And because our national leaders have all been mediocre thinkers, they have not articulated for us a collective vision of a shared destiny. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles (since 2001) in www.tapatt.org and (2007 only) in acabaya.blogspot.com. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to � Wash SyCip Asks� More Reactions to �Casualties of War� More Reactions to �An Idiot Nation� Dear Mr. A.C.Abaya, It has been my habit to wait and read your columns. And if confessions are to be made, I have enjoyed every one of them immensely, especially the topics on the majority church's proclivity to get involved in our domestic politics. Re the last one "Wash Sycip Asks", I really felt a dagger pierce my heart after reflection on the last three paragraphs...The helplessness of them all, with no resolution in the near future. I often ask this question 'why' it has to be our forsaken country to suffer the slings and arrows of obnoxious politicians? Do we still have good people to lead us into the promised land? With the present set of leaders, I think several lifetimes are necessary but it still is a long shot. Thank you for your time and God bless... Roberto E. Cabilao, (by email), Valle Verde, Pasig City , March 08, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tocayo, When I debut-ed in my acting career at age 10 in 1942 it was Wash Sycip who was our financial manager working with Narciso Pimentel, Jr. founder of DRAMATIC PHILIPPINES INC. which presented Martir Sa Golgotha (Fr. Joseph's Mulry S.J.'s A PASSION PLAY). Martir was a classic translation into Tagalog by Soc Rodrigo who also voiced - in deep baritone - the last words of Our Lord over the public address system of the Metropolitan Theatre. My debut role was that of a "Dead Boy" and I had zero lines. But I had 45 seconds of dramatic focus when I was raised from the dead by St. John (Gustavo Gonzales). Tony Joaquin, (by email), Daly City , California , March 09, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I believe the key question that Wash asked was the following: �What are the roots of our problem? Is it an overdose of democracy, Western style? When poor citizens sell their votes, do we not have a democracy of the upper class who have the money to buy the votes.� And you gave your answer. In my humble opinion, the main root is the moral degeneration in our society as a whole - the preponderance of graft, corruption and greed and apathy. Bert Peronilla (an avid reader of yours), (by email), March 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi- Tony - you summed it up succinctly when you said (re Sycip article) that "our mediocre-thinking leaders have never been able to forge or hold the people together for the vision of a shared destiny." We have always been a culture of power-loving, name-dropping, kanya-kanya tribal thinking and tragically, that is so ingrained I doubt that will ever change. Cayo Marschner, (by email), Moraga , California , March 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi. I note your answers with interest, and I am sure that (as usual) in your comments you have 'hit the nail on the head'. That is, except for one comment which you have now repeated so often that I feel I must take you up on it. I refer to:- "�American-style liberalism� that gives our �legal� communists the freedom to organize, mobilize and proselytize against the state, while their illegal armed wing wages an armed revolution against that same state. In no other non-communist country in East Asia were/are communists allowed to have their cake and eat it, too." How can you honestly say that to allow communists to have their cake and eat it, too is a copy of �American-style liberalism�. The Philippines is the only country in the world that tolerates (and at times seems to encourage) such things. And this is probably an extremely important factor in holding back economic growth (Inward investment discouraged by the fear of a militant labour force, tourism discouraged by fear of being set upon by marauding militias etc. etc.) (EXACTLY. ACA) The Americans would not allow such people to have at the same time both a political party and an armed insurgency. Don't blame them for it. Yours (OF COURSE, THE AMERICANS AS A WHOLE WOULDN�T ALLOW IT. BUT THERE ARE ENOUGH ULTRA-LIBERALS IN THE U.S. THAT THE COMMUNISTS WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM TROTTING THEM OUT HERE TO CONDEMN THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT FOR CLAMPING DOWN ON BOTH THEIR LEGAL AND ILLEGAL COMPONENTS. To understand what I mean by �American-style Liberalism�, see my article �Our American Heritage.� Feb. 20, 2007 . ACA) Doug Adam, (by email), March 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I'm now using [email protected] in all my mailing lists and it's easier for me to forward your columns to these lists from this primary account. Although I notice your column is cross-posted in many lists. You must now have an effective readership of hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Please send to my gmail account and no longer to Yahoo. Many thanks. Vic de Jesus, (by email), March 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony- Your have not heard from me in a while, but I have been reading you assiduously, and agreeing with almost everything. I think you are clearly right that the country chose the wrong economic and population policies, and largely as a consequence feudal relations are still rampant. Where I disagree is that if the kinds of economic and populations polices that you espouse had in fact been put in place, it probably would not have been necessary to impose as well a draconian Internal Security Act with which to bash/massacre Communists. ( Malaysia and Singapore did not use the ISA to massacre Communists, only to put them in jail, indefinitely and without trial. ACA) A more rapidly growing economy, a better distribution of wealth and opportunities, and a smaller population putting less pressure on the land and other natural (and social) resources, would have sharply undercut the attraction of the Communist party. It has been the failure to deal meaningfully with endemic sources of poverty that has enabled the Communists to gain such continuing popular support and headway ( Malaysia and Singapore continue/d to enforce the ISA even after prosperity was achieved. ACA). On another, and perhaps related point, you mention at the very bottom of your answers to Wash Sycip the Philippines � lack of great monuments from earlier times comparable to those all the other countries have. You are, of course, right, but I suspect that even more important than the monuments themselves were the large scale, internally disciplined, states and state building bureaucracies which made those monuments possible. All the other countries you mention had deep historical and indigenous (not colonial) traditions of rajahs, kings, sultans, etc., with large courts, and deeply embedded structures and systems of justice, tax collection, education, patronage of the arts, disciplined armies, foreign relations, religious hierarchies, schools of architecture, etc. etc. Unfortunately, the Philippines had none of these large scale institutional traditions, structures, strengths, or histories to draw upon, to point to, or to build upon, in its collective memory. In this sense, the Philippine nation and the state is starting from scratch. ( Malaysia and Singapore did not have a deep historical past either, but they had visionary leaders who made up for it by convincingly conceptualizing a realizable future. Comparatively speaking, the Philippines has no past, and it has not found a future either. We are forever aimlessly scampering about in a perpetual present. ACA) It can only look back to scattered and contentious small communities with transient and very local leadership, which were only forced together by very foreign colonial powers, skilled in pressing their own interests, and in classic systems of divide and rule. The great monuments the other countries you mention are simply(?) dramatic products of what really makes the difference; their long histories of highly centralized, disciplined and hierarchical social and political systems. More personally, I very hope to get back to the Philippines for at least a month towards the end of the year, and would love to see you again. In the meantime, warm regards and all best wishes. Yours, David Szanton, (by email), Berkeley , California , March 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr Abaya, Although I haven't been commenting on the columns you so kindly send me, I want you to know that I read them and always am impressed by your encyclopedic knowledge of history, current events and political analysis. Ethel, (by email), March 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Antonio, Thank your so much for your excellent article "Wash SyCip Asks," my comments are in regular type, yours in bold. Better yet, use churches to deposit malnourished children from the slums for the anti-birth control Catholic bishops to feed, house, clothe, educate and find jobs for�.I wish I had said that! but I will! You then went on to say Europe did not emerge from feudalism until the Industrial Revolution drew millions of quasi-serfs from the estates of feudal lords, quite right but with the �acts of enclosure� that drove the peasants off the common land that earned them their living, into the factories in urban centers causing terrible deprivation, starvation, plagues and millions of deaths which was a terrible price to pay, there to become the core beginnings of the educated middle-class that is the heart of bourgeois democratic society. No example for the Philippines to follow there I suggest. {NO ONE IS SUGGESTING THAT WE FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF EUROPE TO THE LETTER, INTO THE SLUMS OF LONDON AND MANCHESTER IN THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES. MY POINT WAS THAT WE CANNOT HAVE A BROAD MIDDLE CLASS WITHOUT INDUSTRIALIZATION, AS AGRICULTURE ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO CREATE THE JOBS NEEDED TO LIFT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM POVERTY. ACA) The trick is how to transform the Philippines from a semi feudal system to a capitalist system with a minimum of pain. Of course, China achieved its spectacular progress using capitalism and the profit motive to stimulate economic activities by its entrepreneurs, but within the coercive environment of a one-party police state, with the Communist Party enjoying total political control. The same can also be said of Vietnam . but only after the ravages of colonialism, wars of intervention, armed insurrection and the millions of deaths those wrought. The type of pain inflicted on Europe, China and Vietnam is, I suggest again, not an option for the Philippines . (BUT MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE DID NOT GO THROUGH THAT HELL, AND NEITHER DID TAIWAN AND SOUTH KOREA . ACA) Nor can the Philippines follow the U.S. which reached the present stage you call �liberalism� many would describe it less euphemistically, very painfully through the stages of slavery, feudalism, a war of independence, a massive civil war, civil disturbance by equal rights movements, industrial action by labour unions and the �squealing masa� etc. Our independence was given back to us by the Americans on a silver parliamentary platter in 1935 and 1946 which is most significant because the last vestiges of which came not through. an eruption of revolutionary fervour but through the eruption of Pinatubo. (AGAIN, TAIWAN , SOUTH KOREA , SINGAPORE , AND MALAYSIA INDUSTRIALIZED WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE GROWING PAINS OF THE U.S. ACA) Those who fought using violence and died for our original independence in 1896 � warriors as well as writers subversive of the status quo � are too far removed in time, and have effectively been erased from our collective memory by a soulless media, to have any influence on the present generations. Who could possibly disagree with that? But this might bring some to the conclusion that the change is only to be brought about through the barrel of a gun. (Mao) You would be described by many as a subversive writer (OF COURSE, I AM. ACA), therefore you are applauded for your courage, many writers of your ilk have lost their lives fighting for justice with the pen.. There is an historical example that can help the Philippines ? The solution if is to come or even wanted, is to be uniquely a Philippine solution surely? You say left wing ideology and trade unionism cannot play a part as they have in Europe and the U.S. so the question remains which class is going to lead a revolution in the Philippines ? Can it be a peaceful one? I do not think the elite are going to take the lead nor can I see the so called �Middle Class� taking a lead, they only aspire to become part of the elite and want to jump on to the band wagon of corruption as soon as possible. (I STILL HAVE HOPES IN THE MIDDLE CLASS. ACA) �With a talented and intelligent population, we see widening economic gaps between the rich and the poor, declining standards of education, a fairly constant poverty rate, and outward migration of the young to what they see as countries that have more opportunities for them, (THIS IS A QUOTE FROM WASH, NOT FROM ME. ACA) so the question goes begging for an answer, who, how, and what, is going to give the leadership that will bring about a radical change to the Philippines if one is needed at all? The symptoms have been correctly diagnosed most eloquently by this article and others of yours, all of which are excellent contribution and provocation to serious discussion, what is needed now is what surgery and medicine is required to cure the patient Philippines ? (I HAVE GONE ON RECORD SINCE 2002 AS FAVORING A REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT, BUT A NON-COMMUNIST ONE. ACA) Kind Regards Doug Adam, (by email), March 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Unedited) What I think the Philippines needs at this very time is for the improvement in the Spiritual lives of Filipinos. It is sad to note that many of our people, the corporate people, employees, masses and especially, PUBLIC OFFICIALS are two -faced. When I say two-faced, they hold strongly to the established religion and yet, when it comes to their lives, " balik na sa dati." As for me, maybe we cannot do anything about the corrupt higher ups and government officials, but as an individual, I could make small things, properly. The reason why I cited the above is that there is no honor in what we do today. People do things just to make ends meet. Nawala na yung goodness and jingoistics sa atin. However, I never lose hope for this country as I still continue to meet people who are upright, honest and prayerful. For me, as starters, I try to always buy Philippine made items as this could spur something. I also buy grocery items not from big companies but from small ones. Dont buy Spam anymore ha. He he. But if all officals work and think like Bayani Fernando, me pupuntahan tayong maganda. Mike Delgado, (by email), March 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww We have too much "democrazy" in the treatment of the Communists and in the exercise of freedom of speech and expression. On the other hand, a great many of us have little or no sense of obligation. individually and collectively, to what it means to be a responsible citizen in a democracy. Tom de Guzman, (by email), March 11, 2007 Peace and Joy Every Conscious Moment! wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Unedited) Since the the year 1967, I was been a political activist, and prior to martial Law, I dropped out from college and as my commitment takes care of the poorest of the poor; accepted my assigned task from KASAPI organizing the urban poor of Bo. Magsaysay in Tondo together with Sen. Joey Lina. My pose as critical of govrnment continues up to the year 1983 and i stopped after February Revolution. Why? I realized that while criticizing government, I was also ruining myself, because being critical, I made myself demoralized and I don't want to participate in any economic activity or emanicpate myself from myersonal economy,,, just like the people I was organizing, i felt, I am becoming poor.. poor and poorer like the people I am organizing! This is what had happenned to many of my comrades languishing in the agony of being economically poor but very rich in political ideas. the way i anlyzed it, in Maslow hierarchy of Achievements, they have reached the level of Self actualization first before economic satisfaction. Till now they don't stop blaming government, and standst to condemned all who ever sits in government! Now like you andme they are very old, left un attended by mdical doctors and without food to eat , some had died due to illness. What can we do, some of their comrades who joined govenment, had been prosperous, enhoyed the "fruits of the spoils" also left them. except me, but i also got my limits, i can help maybe a few of them and at all times, because i also have my own problems. This is the reality of life, a lesson i will never forget! It is only me who can help myslef, and my family. With a little of my excess, I directly help the por ones, by being a memeber of an organized civic action groups. Actively participate in Medical missions. We organized a Foundation to help the informal settlers acquire their lots thru CMP. Once in a while, we are also critic of government but on an issue for issue basis only, and support waht is seen good of government and its officials. even dogs needs praises to make them more effective and plays more enjoyable tricks. I realized there is beauty in life that i missed during my younger days, now that i hve changed myself, by playing by the legitimate rules of govenrment, (not the politicians) I imrpoved my self ecnomically and was albel to help many. Maybe what we teach our felllow Filipinos is to look and live a positive life ahead, Let us hope and pray, work hard to feed our own family the most respectable way. As to the past I don't care anymore, past is past, and let bygones, bygone! To our OFW's I can see them like swarmed of beess taking back home honey from the fruits of labor of other countries. they have a very special and honorable task to perform. whileserving other nationals, bringing home the dollars, makes our country improve economy, showering like tiny sprinkles of rain to their families to our small time businesmen, when they purchase goods and services. What i am teaching many of our comrades is count the blessings, whatever it be, live by it because its only what you got. Stop comparing yourslef with your neighbor. Have originality and mind your own business...and THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK! Rodolfo Cada, (by email), March 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Agree with you that our leaders of late have been mediocre thinkers. One question, what economic strategy do you think should we adopt at this time ? Currently, we have plenty of jobs in Metro Manila and probably Cebu for well-educated people ( call center agents and managers, IT profs, accountants/CPAs, HR, some engineering/archi disciplines etc..- but how do you provide livelihood for the poor? That is what I want to hear from our senatorial candidates. Is it too late to industrialize? Is going the service route (BPOs , shared services and tourism) a viable alternative and will that be sufficient to provide jobs? (I have an economic strategy for providing jobs, but I will offer it only to the next government, if I am convinced that it is clean, sincere and able to implement it. ACA) Lastly, do we have an integrated plan with a focus on the critical things that must be addressed? I think people have realized that these are the questions that need to be answered; that's why the opposition has failed to galvanize people to action. People want to see if they have a better idea- and if in fact they have thought about these things. (No, the opposition is just as clueless as the Arroyo government. ACA) Grace Zeta, (by email), March 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Reaction to �Casualties of War� Hi, Mrs. Escoda, although I have no memories of the war, I saw your mention of Balayan, where my maternal grandmother used to live, and where I spent part of my childhood. When I read the rest of your account, you also mentioned V. Mapa in Sta. Mesa. Uncannily, I also used to live here, when I was a freshman and sophomore at UP. I have fond memories of both these places, and somehow I feel a kinship with you, from your account. Ethel, [email protected], March 21, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Reaction to �High on Hydrogen� Dear Mr Abaya, I read your article on producing hydrogen gas through the innovative application of solar energy. Interestingly, I came across the same article in Wired magazine, which can be found in http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.03/play.html?pg=9. I am reading your column in Malabo , Equatorial Guinea , a pinprick of an island on the armpit of the African continent. Regards, Chester Montenegro , (by email), Malabo Island , Equatorial Guinea , West Africa , March 20, 2007 MY REPLY. Thank you for your email and the link you supplied. I am flabbergasted that someone in the armpit of Africa has read an article of mine and has taken the time to react. What are you doing there? There must be oil where you are. Again, thank you. Mr Abaya I just wanted to contribute to the topic, and add to your column's geographical readership distribution. I'm a chemist in the LNG plant in Equatorial Guinea . You can find our plant�s location map through maps.google.com , just type " Malabo , Equatorial Guinea ." Sometimes, I find that violent, sarcastic, leading reactions and comments to your columns are more entertaining. This is good since this balances the hurt (the gut-wrenching truth that our country is becoming globally insignificant) that your article expounds on. Keep on doing this stuff, and keep the faith. Regards, Chester , March 22, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Reactions to �An Idiot Nation� Just read your article on the subject only now as it came around from the forwarding friends (fiends?) in the States. Anyway, I have always told whoever wanted to listen that we Pinoys should stop cursing, and blaming, and pointing the finger on our politician clowns and thieves simply because we, collectively as voters, put them where they are now, enjoying all kinds of illegal and immoral sources of funds. You ranted at the people manning the Comelec for allowing men like Honasan, Misuari, Jalosjos and Trillanes be official condidates. Why, were they convicted with finality, according to court rules? Have you forgotten that phrase: "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law"? ( I won't vote for any of them, but not because you are against their candidacies.) Rocky Denoga (by email), March 22, 2007 MY REPLY. Obviously you are not aware that Romeo Jalosjos was tried and convicted of statutory rape of an 11-year old girl, in a court of law. Or that Gringo Honasan was amnestied by the ever-forgiving President Fidel Ramos, meaning Honasan admitted his guilt in the coup attempts against the government of President Cory Aquino and was pardoned (perhaps to ensure that he would not stage a coup against Ramos.) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Tony, Bravo Zulu to your superb articles. You truly define the cutting edge of journalism as an unbiased writer. My ultimate gratification would be justified if those incumbent idiot politicians, political clubs, and those aspiring idiots could get to read your articles and the feedback from your readers with regularity. Keep writing and more power to Gawad Kalinga. Dante Salcedo, (by email), March 27, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr Abaya, Along the lines of educating our voters can someone form a group that can be called maybe "Voters for Christ" (granting CFC will not protest) or whatever who can advocate responsible and informed voting ? We need near miracles to put in the needed reforms in both our God-forsaken electoral and political systems. Ernie del Rosario, (by email), March 28, 2007 MY REPLY. There has never been a shortage of religion-based citizens� groups advocating electoral reforms. The most prominent is the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or PPCRV, which has just been accredited to oversee the 2007 elections. They were also active in the 2004 elections, but were powerless or lacking in oomph to stop or expose the cheating then. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi, Tony! Who said Pacquiao is not going to run? He just made his decision. I wonder if his COC was filed. Mind you, Tony, I saw his grades on Amb. Soliven's column. My eyes couldn't believe it. 99% and up. Wow. Those who checked and analyzed his answers must be worth millions now! A group of Master's Degree graduates couldn't believe the results, too. They could have given him the entrance examinations in English and Math, with Pepe and Pilar as main characters. What a fool for them to think we are fools! However, congratulations for a clever job! Thanks! Renato Santos, (by email), Los Angeles , California , March 28, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I am big fan of yours and I really like the opportunity to respond to some issues, particularly, the "RX to Idiots". There were a lot of proposals, from electoral reforms, education, harnessing religious groups, pre-qualification exams, etc. I would like to point out that none of the above will work without ENFORCEMENT of LAWS. Congress can pass laws until all congressmen turn blue in the face, but without ENFORCEMENT, it is just a farce. We can discuss all the theories of good government, but without ENFORCEMENT, all of it is empty rhetoric. The bishops, INK, El Shaddai, etc. can rail, rally, rant from the pulpit about politics, but without ENFORCEMENT it is all but demagoguery. We can formulate questions and do pre-qualifying exams, but without ENFORCEMENT, these become meaningless exercise. I believe, that what we need is equitable enforcement of the law. No rich, no poor when it comes to law enforcement. Congress (and the government, in general) has become a haven and an escape route for those who have money to escape prosecution...May I ask, if the laws are enforced today, how many congressmen/senators will be left...Do we still have governors and mayors in the provinces once the law is applied? Do we have enough jails to hold them? But who will enforce the law? Even the judiciary has become a tool of the politicians. Ahhh..quo vadis, Pinoy? edp, (by email), March 28, 2007 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |