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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| What to Do?
By Antonio C. Abaya Written July 04, 2007 For the Standard Today, July 05 issue Having been a newspaper columnist since 1987, I realize that it is not possible or desirable to a have 100% agreement from my readers. I am probably the only columnist in Manila � at least I was the first � to have a website where my articles are archived, along with the reactions of my readers, pro or con. But some readers are just impossible to please. Lionel Tierra ( Sacramento , California ) has what he thinks is a brilliant idea on what to do to transform the Philippines . He wants to set up a Filipino Global Fund (FGF) to which OFWs and patriotic Filipino expats will contribute ($10 a share) and which will be managed by a Board of Stewards (of which he wants me to be vice-chairman.) �My $10 is ready. How about yours?� The FGF will finance a) the teaching of entrepreneurship; b) a Microlender Bank; c) rewards for informers and whistle-blowers in corrupt government offices. Unfortunately, I could not accommodate his paper as it was too long (nine pages). . Which apparently piqued him. He wrote in reply that �May I suggest that all RX to your illuminating articles that consist only of praising you for your journalistic ken or how fantastic your articles are, or agreeing with you on your exposes and critiques, but do not offer a solution (no matter how ridiculous the proposal may be), then the RX should be considered trash and thrown to where it belongs, your garbage can. May I suggest that you print only positive and viable proposals so we can get going�..� May I suggest to Mr. Tierra that he put up his own website for his FGF and elicit reactions (and hopefully $10 bills) from his readers, if he has any, so that he can see for himself how easy or how hard it is to translate grandiose schemes into workable reality. And, yes, no letters praising him or his ideas should be published, only those that offer solutions, �no matter how ridiculous they may be� Good luck, and let me know when your $10 becomes $10 million. This recalls an earlier exchange I had with another reader, Ramon del Gallego (no city of origin given) who wrote: �It is time that you should be offering more constructive solutions to the problems you are bemoaning of, rather than continually harping on these problems by blaming others which you yourself cannot even present a viable solution. Why don�t you present constructive ideas instead of giving a long list of reasons why something cannot be done�..� I replied to him by recalling a list of �constructive ideas� that I had proposed in this space, as follows (in bold face): MY REPLY. I�m not sure I can recall all the �constructive solutions� I have suggested in this space, but here goes. I have suggested that our electoral rules should be rewritten to require all candidates for public office to pass qualifying exams so as to discourage the stupid and the ignorant from running for public office no matter how popular they may be with the squealing masa. I have also suggested that senators be elected by regions instead of nationally so that all regions are always represented in the Senate. Years before the (recently concluded) French elections, I suggested that we should have a run-off or second-round in our multi-candidate presidential elections, so that the winner always has the support of more than 50% of the electorate. I have also suggested that convicted felons and coup plotters be disqualified from running for public office. I have also suggested that all political ads be banned from radio and TV, to even the playing field for rich and poor candidates alike. Instead, government-owned Ch. 9 and Ch 13 and their radio networks should be taken over by a constitutional body during every election campaign period, which will schedule programming with FREE airtime for all registered candidates and parties. I have also proposed that we should not have another election until the entire process has been completely computerized (with paper trails for verification in cases of disputes) to make fraud harder to commit.. I have also suggested that we should dismantle all political dynasties, even if it takes a revolutionary government to do it, since incumbent politicians will never agree to dismantle their dynasties. I have also suggested that an electronic voters� ID card be the basis for an electronic national ID card, to weed out multiple registrants and at the same time systematize government functions such as the issuance of driver�s licenses, passports, police and NBI clearances, gun permits, as well as private sector (identity) checks related to bank loans and connections to power, water, cable TV, telephone and internet service providers. I have also suggested that the Philippines follow the example of Iceland and declare a deliberate official policy to wean ourselves from the present carbon economy and move towards a hydrogen economy, including the use of hydrogen fuel cells, as demonstrated to me in Los Angeles in 1995. I have also suggested that fuel cells should get their hydrogen, not from methane or natural gas (which still generate carbon dioxide when burned) but from the electrolysis of ordinary water, using electricity produced by wind turbines or solar panels. I have also suggested that Metro Manila �s daily 6,200 tons of solid waste be buried in sanitary landfills and the methane gas produced by the decomposition of organic matter be collected and used to generate electricity, as was shown to me in Australia in 1996. I have also suggested that, to reduce road congestion and air (especially diesel exhaust) pollution in Metro Manila, our chaotic jeepney-buses public transport system (?) be scrapped and replaced with an electric tram network inter-connected with the LRT-MRT trunk lines, as in most European cities. I have also suggested that to reduce air (especially diesel exhaust) pollution in Baguio City �s downtown and add to that city�s charms, a modest cable car network, similar to the one in San Francisco , be installed. I have also suggested that a subway be built under the existing PNR right-of-way from Caloocan to Muntinlupa, for a high-speed commuter rail line that will run from 5:00 am to 1:00 am the next day, and for the transport of containers from Port Area to a container yard in FTI in Taguig during the slack hours from 1:00 to 5:00 am, to remove road-hogging container rigs from the metro streets. Years before Gawad Kalinga, in the program of government that Presidential Candidate Miriam Defensor-Santiago requested me in 1992 to draft for her, I proposed, and she accepted, that student volunteers be organized into production brigades to build housing for the poorest of the poor, and that the housing beneficiaries be organized into manufacturing co-operatives that will fabricate items for which there is a real demand and need, starting with, but not limited to, the components that go into housing. I have also suggested that Roxas Blvd, from Luneta to the Cavite border, be made into a non-stop freeway by building at most three new interchanges (at Pedro Gil, President Quirino, and MIA Road), and this non-stop Roxas Blvd-Coastal Road be connected by a major interchange near the Chinese Temple to C-5, which should also be made non-stop all the way to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. In my only one-on-one with President Arroyo, in September 2001, I suggested � and repeated that suggestion several times in my column � that, to generate employment opportunities, especially in the rural areas, each municipality of a certain minimum population size should have a one-hectare manufacturing zone, on the reasoning that one hectare of agricultural land, planted to rice or corn, cannot sustain even only one family, but that one hectare of land, if converted into a manufacturing zone, can sustain several hundred families. When I started writing a column in 1987, I pressed the point that the key to the success of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore was the manufacture of goods for export, and that this success formula was being replicated by Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, but not by the Philippines. I have also suggested in a meeting with President Ramos in 1995 that the tourism marketing efforts of the Philippines were pathetically inadequate compared to those of Malaysia , Thailand , Indonesia , India , etc and I wrote in 2001 or 2002 that the �Wow! Philippines � TV ad should be withdrawn as a waste of money since it was poorly conceived and was not likely to entice tourists to come. I have also suggested that, to defeat our Communist insurgency, we should adopt the legal and constitutional methods used by Malaysia and Singapore to defeat their Communist insurgencies, without the need to kill anyone. I have also suggested that, assuming the government is credible (as it was when I made the suggestion in 1987), it should have a one-hour program everyday, carried simultaneously by all radio and TV stations, without exception, during which the public will directly hear/see what the government is doing for them, and the public can speak directly to the government and air their requests and grievances, without the intervention of commercial media, which often have their own selfish agendas to push. I have also suggested, when GMA foolishly sent 51 Filipino policemen to Iraq as a gesture of support for Bush�s Coalition of the Willing, that the best way to help the Iraqi people was to send shipments of Philippine-made medicines and drugs to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society to help civilian victims of the war, especially the poor, innocent children. I wrote that if this gesture were repeated for other civilian victims of other wars (Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan) as well as victims of natural disasters (earthquakes in Pakistan and Iran, tsunami in Indonesia, famine in Sudan), the Philippines would earn the goodwill of the members of the Organization of Islamic Conference, who would then be in the proper frame of mind to help us solve our own problems with our Muslim community. Islam is especially sensitive to gestures of charity. What have you suggested lately? Del Gallego did not bother to reply. Neither did he acknowledge that he had made a mistake, nor did he apologize for it. Mariano Patalinjug ( Yonkers , New York ) commented: �I would suggest that Ramon A. del Gallego take the time and effort to carefully read and digest the long litany of �constructive solutions� which you patiently listed in your reply to him. If he is fair-minded enough to conclude that these indeed are the constructive solutions he has been expecting from you, I would suggest further that he take the trouble and the expense of printing enough copies and sending these to all top officials in the Executive, the Legislative and Judicial branches of the Philippine government, as well as to all Governors, City and Municipal Mayors and to all officers of government-owned or �controlled Corporations�..� Carlos L. Agustin (President, National Defense College of the Philippines ) analyzed and commented on each of my suggestions, and agreed with almost all of them. In my brief reply to Agustin, I recalled more �constructive suggestions� that I had made, as follows: I have also suggested that the AFP develop or acquire from abroad pilot-less aircraft or drones to help in patrols against smuggling, illegal logging, poaching by foreign fishing vessels, as well as in locating and pinpointing the training camps of rebels and terrorists. I have also suggested that the AFP develop or acquire from abroad a fleet of amphibious vehicles (with Styrofoam-filled rafts in tow) that can be used for rescue, medevac, resupply and military operations during floods. I have also suggested (in 1988) that the government prepare and publish a topographical map of the country, showing the low-lying areas that will be vulnerable to rising sea levels as a result of Global Warming. (I repeat, in 1988). I have also suggested that the international success of Filipino boxers and billiards players be used to promote nationwide searches for new young talents in these sports through nationwide competitions for 16 to 19 year olds. Because these two sports have large followings in the lower-income sectors, such a search would give disadvantaged youth an outlet for their energies and help in character-formation by teaching the values of hard work, fair play, self-discipline and a striving for excellence. I have also suggested that, to discourage political turn-coats, politicians who change parties be automatically disqualified from running for any office in the next elections. I have also suggested that all political parties must have specific programs of government to which they must adhere, at the risk of losing their Comelec accreditation if they abandon or stray away from that program. All these reactions, and reactions to reactions, are archived in my website www.tapatt.org, where the articles are arranged not only chronologically but also by categories and subject matter. There is no space here to provide dates of publication, but I am prepared to supply those to anyone who wants that information. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �What to Do?� Hay, Manong Tony, That only shows that there are still a lot of bright looking guys around (or shall we say, guys that look bright). After all, ideas are a dime a dozen, but putting these into reality�ehem�hehehe. With regards to your suggestions, I agree with them. All are feasible, but will need a really great deal of political will to push thru. Maybe if we have a leader in the likes of Lee Kwan-Yew. Trillanes, perhaps? Best regards and more power. Bong Alba, (by email), July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww HI TONY JUST DO WHAT YOU DO BEST AND WHICH IS IN MY MIND YOUR CHALLENGING THE FILIPINOS TO THINK LATERALLY AND US TO BE OPEN TO PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT VIEWS. WE CAN ALWAYS DISAGREE AS I HAVE MADE MY FAIR COMMENTS AGAINST YOUR PRO CHOICE STANCE,BUT WE NEED NOT BE DISAGREEABLE IN DOING JUST DO IT WITH CHRIST LIKE KINDNESS IS WHAT WE NEED. THE FORUM SHOULD GO ON GODS GOODNESS BE ON ALL OF US. Eric Manalang, (by email), July 05, 2007 Couples for Christ, Mandaluyong (Please refrain from using all-caps as they are difficult to read. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww God bless you for keeping at it, T. There�s certainly hope for us as each one does his share. Lydia B. Echauz, (by email), July 05, 2007 President, Far Eastern University wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, What I do admire is your tiyaga in responding to all these comments, including from self-glorified Filams with brilliant solutions for the country. Rica Cortes Rentzing, (by email), Germany , July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi, Tony. In spite of the fact that I have disagreed with many of your opinions, I certainly prefer to read your article than that of other columnists that attack and criticize the administration with nothing but gibberish and b.s. One such columnist used to wreck my day while he wrecks his chair so I have decided to stop reading his column. It is really the simple and best thing to do, if you dislike reading a particular column. Cheers! Bobby Tordesillas, (by email), July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. A.C.Abaya: Thank you for these constructive suggestions for Inang Bayan. Will make copies of these suggestions and mail them to our decision makers, friends who are still in the Philippines , friends who plan to retire in the Philippines , and our local Barangal Officials. Start at the grass-roots. Hope you propose Family Planning Programs in all our Barangay. Too many mouths to feed with limited resources produce mediocre citizens. The Church evidently has not shown the compassion for our poor and exploding population. Listen to their homilies, talk shows, etc. Started Student Loan "with no interest" program to deserving but poor relatives (charity begins at home). Know of several friends who extend to children of their household help. Plan to expand these, but need logistics (as always). Do recall that the Bangladesh banker who gave small loans with no interest to his countrymen. Why can't our ultra rich politicians do the same? Eliminate the 5-6 loan sharks. Regards. Ernie Aragon, (by email), Hagerstown , Maryland , July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Mr. Tierra's suggestion is no different from many ideas that have sprung in the past. Filipinos can never get themselves united to contribute without being suspicious that the money will really grow and positive results will be seen; there is so much distrust. OFWs and immigrants have had a taste of being gypped, first by their friends and then by a total stranger when it comes to investment in their motherland! Tierra's idea won't fly. Won't it be better if every penny remitted by any OFWs through the banking system be matched in some form by the government? Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww DEAR KUYA TONY, MAY I ALSO SUGGEST ON YOUR BEHALF THAT MR. RAMON DEL GALLEGO REVEAL WHAT "CITY OF ORIGIN " HE IS FROM. THUS WE WILL KNOW IF HE IS IN THE PHILIPPINES TO GIVE YOU THE COMFORT THAT YOU ANSWERED HIM WITH SO MANY MANY GOOD "SUGGESTIONS" PALA. Leona Guera Jettu, (by email0, Quezon City , July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I think it is understandable why many newspaper readers are already numbed by the daily dose of criticisms from newspaper columnists. Most columnists seem to nitpick on the current events for possible irregularity that they can expose, actions they can question or persons they can criticize. Very few columnists seem to analyze the news from a holistic point of view -- is it because that takes time and requires knowledge of the subject? Very few columnists write about the positive aspects of current developments -- is it because they are conditioned to only �look at the hole but not the doughnut�? I think there is nothing wrong with writing about �constructive ideas or suggestions� in a newspaper column; but it should not be surprising if nobody take and follow them up to implementation. Some suggestions, like building a subway under the existing PNR right-of-way from Caloocan to Muntinlupa, require detailed feasibility studies that will cost a lot of time and money. Unless taken up in the proper forum, the �constructive ideas or suggestions� will just be �brainstorms� (You obviously do not know that more than ten years ago a Spanish engineering company, EFE, did a feasibility study on the subway idea and offered to build it under a BOT scheme � which I supported in my column then. But President Ramos, playing politics because he wanted a constitutional amendment to allow him to run for a second term, gave in to a group of Metro Manila politicians led by then Cong. (now Quezon City mayor) Sonny Belmonte, who happened to be the majority stockholder in the construction firm, to whom the Philippine National Railways right-of-way was given away for the proverbial song. ACA) Maybe a newspaper column can be used to nudge decision or action by �keeping score� on vital national issues -- like in the computerization of election process, by periodically reporting who among the Comelec commissioners, senators and congressmen are for it or against it so that the readers will know the score. If an anti-dynasty bill is taken up in the next Congress, a periodic report on who are for it or against it among the senators and congressmen will inform the Filipino people who are actually blocking the bill. Nonoy Reyes, (by email), July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, All suggestions made here under are all valid and workable. The only problem is where are they going to get the money to do all this? Politicians and Military people are laundering money left and right, and yet no money is coming in, except from our OFW's and our people who have migrated abroad. Right now, these are the biggest dollar resources of our country but it's not enough because of too many problems and rampant graft and corruptions. What we need is the flow of foreign investments, more food production to bring prices down and export excess to bring in dollars. We also need to concentrate on mass production of quality goods to export that will bring in dollars and provide employment. Our neighboring countries improved because of their ability to produce in mass and export them to the world. Their money came from trading with the world by supplying cheap and workable products. All the suggestions and improvements can come after these dollars starts coming in. But where can we start? My suggestion? Make Philippines a FREE PORT country like Hongkong and Singapore . This will bring in foreign investors, foreign goods that will be available to the tourists, foreign buyers and travelers. It will also solve the problem in our Customs department, it will improve shipping, our Hotels and Restaurants would prosper, employment would boom, prices would be affordable, our tourism will greatly improve because we have more to offer and experience than Hongkong or Singapore . This should be coupled by bringing in Farm Machineries that could be leased or sold to our farmers at affordable prices to increase food production. We can also import small machineries that could make small items such as nails, stapler wires, food sachets, plastic bottles, caps, etc, etc, and distribute them in the provinces available for lease or purchase and all excess can be exported. Small machineries that could fit in a small room of a house and produce quality products in large quantities. There are so many small machineries available in Taiwan which are so cheap, and we could copy them to make it even cheaper. We could make a community produce an item that all parts/components are produced and assembled by the people around, (items like TV, Radio, printers, calculators, other gadgets and electronic items. etc, etc.) geared for export. (this was done in Japan and in Korea ). All these can be done because our prices on raw materials, equipments and machineries will be cheaper due to tax free and make our selling prices competitive. We just need to be creative and business conscious to choose and produce the products. Along with this, we need to improve our railway system to ensure fast, low cost and efficient means of transporting goods from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao . Philippines can impose that all corporations and foreign investors who would like to do business in the Philippines would need a Filipino partner of at least 5-10% in the initial 5 years, and go up to 10-20% on the next 6-15 years, then 25-35% on the next 16 to 30 years to ensure that our people will prosper together with the foreign investors. Hongkong started with nothing, no raw materials, and a very small country used by the British to bring in foreign goods at cheap prices. Now, Hongkong is not only self sufficient and rich but they are the top producers and manufacturers of so many items being exported to the world. Watches, dolls, toys, electronics, dresses, pens, plastic materials, raw materials, and almost anything. We can also achieve all of these, but we have to start at the very simple beginning of making Philippines a FREE PORT country. This is the only way to get foreign investments and people with money interested in our country. This will also give more money for our politicians and military, but the simple fact remains, money keeps flowing in, and it will keep our people fed, clothed and sheltered. What would be the disadvantages? I don't see anything except the politicians greed and inability to help our people. This is my suggestion on WHAT TO DO? Thank you, Fred Santos, (by email), San Ramon , California , July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, You and your readers have many good ideas and suggestions. Some of them are being addressed by both the citizens and government. We don't expect all to be done in a day. It is a life time process as Jecus Christ Himself said " You will have the poor with you up to the end of the world ". Let us not insult and criticize each other if our own ideas are not accepted or given consideration, for we too may be doing the same on the ideas of others. Magbigayan at magkaunawaan lang tayo at may respeto sa isat isa. I like most of your suggestion including the $10 fund raising for a better Philippines . (This was not my suggestion, but that of Lionel Tierra. ACA).Yet working and earning daily for your family and neighbors is doing even better as silent and unknown heroes of our time. Rex Rivera, (by email), July 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, I read with interest your latest article regarding your readers, particularly Lionel Tierra. For all its worth, you must be doing something right for him to choose you as vice-chairman of his brainchild the FGF. It's not for me to comment whether his idea will work or not. I'd rather leave it to the experts. Given a different approach, I would have fallen for it, but because of his arrogant attitude, I've decided to keep my money even if he reduces it to a mere dollar. Regards, Noe Castanos, (by email), Toronto , Ontario , Canada wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: You have been in the difficult profession of journalism for so long now--for some 20 years in fact--to realize that you cannot please all of your readers. As a matter of fact, a journalist worth his or her salt should never strive to please readers or institutions, whether public or private, one way or the other. If this is what motivates a journalist, that journalist is simply an apologist. On the other hand, it is natural for a good journalist to assume an adversarial position vis-a-vis the government and other public institutions. Not for nothing is a free and independent press considered "the fourth estate." And that explains why, for instance, the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, renowned for their very deep understanding of human nature and the tendency of even democratic governments towards mob rule and despotism, made sure, in the Constitution, that the Congress shall pass no law abridging the freedom of speech, of the press, of religion, and of the right of the people to peaceably assemble for redress of grievances. A free, knowledgeable, objective and responsible press acts as an effective check on government. It is a sine qua non to the system of checks and balances in a democratic system of government. I know that you have been the object of ridicule, insults, criticism and possibly even threats. In the face of all these which surely have come your way, my sense is that you have maintained your calm and your equanimity. But I think it safe to say that more of your readers find themselves in agreement with the positions you take on public issues of great moment. Here, likewise, you have steadfastly maintained your calm and your equanimity. At the risk of seeming to be gushing, I have only the highest admiration for you as a journalist. Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers , NY , July 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I fully agree with all your "constructive ideas." How I wish all of them would be appreciated and implemented by those concerned for us to have a beautiful tomorrow! More power to you! Sincerely yours, Linda Baisa, (by email), July 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya: Your suggestions are indeed worth looking into by government or the private entity concerned. May I suggest that you ask your readers to find practical methods (not necessarily using the judicial system) to make the Comelec employees (from Benjie Abalos to the lowest clerk) accountable for their participation, if any, in the cheating and other irregularities in the 2004 and 2007 elections. It is so disgusting to see these Comelec officials, especially Benjie Abalos, make a mockery of our election processes and insult the voters in the most brazen manner. Example: Abalos claiming he just went to Makati Shangrila to take his favorite soup and use the CR. And that there was nothing unethical about socializing with the parents of a senatorial candidate whose fate may be in his hands as Chairman of Comelec. The ethics committee of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines should take proactive steps to censure this guy for unethical conduct in full public view. Another example: immediately dismissing as "honest mistake" a dagdag bawas on Chiz Escudero. We have seen so many others committed by Abalos and company openly. The sad part is that all these did not create OUTRAGE from the public. We seemed to have become as insensitive as the perpetrators themselves. Clearly we need media's help. John Salamat, (by email), July 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir Antonio I am glad that someone in our country still advocates for the betterment of society and is acting on them not just merely stating some �solutions�. Though, I might not agree with every opinion you write,I still read them since it is insightful. Many of my batch still think our country is nothing and but a waste of time if they try to do something concrete. I still believe our country can pull itself out of this mess. It won�t be tomorrow nor the next day, but time will come it will. I�m from Cebu and I�ve been working in Makati for a year already. I have seen how people just don�t respect themselves and other people. But, I also saw some good people who still do their best and excel on their fields. I am one of those who want to become an entrepreneur. Some of my friends in Cebu have started a small charity enough to do some small work. But, I�ve always believed big things come from small beginnings. Anyway, I figured I just want to share this with you. Nothing sinister about it. I�ll still keep reading your articles and see if there are still those who really want change. Respectfully yours, Jerahmeel Fandrall B. Chen, (by email), July 06, 2007 Assistant General Manager, Trans-Tec Int'l Mktg. Phils. Inc. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I must confess that I became acquainted with your writing only a year or so ago, but that's clearly my loss. I just wanted to congratulate and thank you for your insight and inspiring journalistic courage. I was impressed with your "What to Do" article. There has been little you've written with which I've disagreed. Most importantly, your love for your country and people always rises boldly to the surface. More power to you. Sonny Alforque, (by email), July 07, 2007 Artistic Director Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association Sacramento, California wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) Antonio C. Abaya has very good suggestions: �I have suggested that our electoral rules should be rewritten to require all candidates for public office to pass qualifying exams so as to discourage the stupid and the ignorant from running for public office no matter how popular they may be with the squealing masa. �I have also suggested that senators be elected by regions instead of nationally so that all regions are always represented in the Senate.� Ernesto Aragon, (by email), July 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Nice solutions,. May I know if you have people/groups(including suspected communist groups?) in mind who might serve as champions for each area of concern? How about solutions to address widespread Pinoy cynicism? How about solutions to address the bane called Ilustrados, a different race of Flips who have the power, money and influence in the Philippines and are only after the welfare of their illustrious families and dynasties? I am one of those guys who have lost the fire and passion to take an extra mile for my country. I guess I am not the only one. You might have solutions too to this kind of affliction? Felix Zamar, (by email), July 08, 2007 (Widespread Pinoy cynicism � and its twin, the crab mentality � has no known cure, so it is useless trying to address it. As for the ilustrados, it is they � not the proletariat � who create the jobs needed by the economy. It is from their ranks � not from the proles � that the enlightened leader will have to emerge to tie loose ends together into a coherent whole. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, Kingsley Amis said: If you can't annoy somebody, there's little point in writing. (I hope I got that right, just read it in a local paper here in Davao .) So, you are doing a great job, considering the annoyed people you mentioned. Mr. Tierra should go ahead with that fund suggestion he has, register it as an LLC in California or Delaware . A web site would be good to elicit funds and projects for funding. I can work with him from Davao on some aspects of his plans and in implementation. We continue to look for financing for small and medium enterprise, main drivers of the Philippine economy. Best regards Guillermo Prat, (by email), Davao , July 08.,2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) Hi Ernie, I agree with you that Tony Abaya�s suggestions about revising the election laws to upgrade the qualification requirements of candidates for public office and to change the senatorial representation from national to regional are good. Other newspaper columnists have written about these suggestions too. So far, it is just repetitious talking the talk, like talking about the weather. Apparently there is no effective communication with those who can possibly start and sustain a movement for making a change. Frankly, I think that newspaper columnists will outlive their usefulness if all the things they write about are snippets of the many things wrong in our country and general solutions that are already well known -- because we already get these in the neighborhood barbershops, except that barbers do not have the gift of words. (What you were reacting to was a LIST. By its very nature, a list can contain only �snippets� of information. Each of my suggestion was discussed at length in a previous column or columns. (The subway idea, for example, about which you are an expert, was discussed in an entire article �Dumb and Dumber� Sept. 30, 2004, archived in www.tapatt.org. When the idea was first broached in 1995-96, I wrote in support of it in five articles in my column in the Philippine Star (not yet archived). (I don�t know about your barber, but my barber does not know anything about hydrogen fuel cells, methane from garbage, the electric tram system in Europe, run-off elections in France, computerized elections, export-oriented economies in East Asia, the Internal Security Act in Singapore and Malaysia, the role of charity in Islamic culture, pilot-less aircraft, and topographical maps. ACA) I wish we will have more newspaper columnists who have more depth, breadth and seriousness of thought in the topics they write about so that their readers will be enlightened about important issues. I wish we will have more intelligent op-eds in our newspapers, like what I read in my daily e-mail feed from the New York Times and Washington Post. (I also receive a steady stream of articles and columns from the New York Times and the Washington Post, as well as from The Economist, the BBC and Truthout. But of the last 100 such articles and columns, perhaps only one or two have touched on the Philippines and its problems, probably because their writers know next to nothing about the subject. But according to your colonial mentality, we should not bother to read Filipino writers and columnists because they do not have the �depth, breath and seriousness of thought� of the Great White Fathers. ACA.) Nonoy Reyes, (by email), July 08, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, Further to my reaction to the above subject, it would be an interesting thought about how many Filipino OFWs' have any proposal at all on how to solve the Philippines' problems and are willing to part with their hard-earned $10. Take my particular case for instance. I may not be smart enough to come up with any proposal at all, but I do have the $10. Regards, Noe Castanos, Toronto , Ontario , Canada , July 08, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Very good suggestions! However, suggested to who?Anong halaga kung ang nakakabasa ay katulad naming hindi naman taong gobierno o walang paraan para ma-influence iyong mga nakaupo sa government. So talak ka lang ng talak na walang magandang pupuntahan, Nasasayang lang ang horas mo.A ang magaling na dapat mong gawin ay kumandidato ka kahit na mag-umpisa kang baranggay captain. Kung manalo kay may chance ka ng ipakita ang gilas mo. Otherwise para ka lang si Perry Diaz, putak ng putak wala namang iniitlog. LOL Ross Sedillo, (by email), July 09, 2007 (You are assuming that all those who read this space are �innocent bystanders� like you. But you may be interested to know that many of our readers are prominent in business, civil society, media, academe and the military. It is possible some of them may be in the next government, whether constitutional or revolutionary. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I think it is a good first step. Eliminate the unqualified....like boxer Pacman, actors and actresses who live in a make-believe world. Candidates and holders of public office should have knowledge of the Constitution (ask Erap), workings of the branches of government, taxation (customs and internal revenue), foreign affairs, domestic affairs, law and order, etc. Pinoys are politically immature. They don't vote on issues but on personalities. Hopefully, the barangays will involve grassroots movement for better governance. Each of us can start with our arangay officers. Request budget vs. actual performance. Do any of those living in their local barangays know what their budget is, where the funds go? Ernie Aragon, (by email), July 09, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Agree in principle. But I do not think it will pass muster. It goes against the grain of a Democracy, where any law abiding citizens can run for public office. Majority of Phil. office holders/candidates are well qualified and know the laws, etc. But instead of using that knowledge to advance the welfare of the people, they used it to exploit and cheat and advance their personal agenda. Disqualifying the unqualified candidate should be a good first step as you said. But the second phase is to detect the crooks. How? By a well informed, involved and interested majority of citizens who will take the time to anlyze issues, past performances and qualifications of the candidates. There lies the problem. Don't ask me how since I am not a candidate. I will only be mouthing smarter people than I, who have expressed ideas and visions for the future. As SVR mentioned, ir will take a holistic approach by all levels and parts of society. The schools, media, parents, religious groups, gov'ts at all levels from the barangays to National, and individual commitments. Who will lead and inspire? Another factor to consider. If an office holder is too honest and sqeaky clean and does not compromise, can he/she win reelection? Politics in general is complex but especially so in developing countries. To survive, one must be street smart, pragmatic, and must have financial means. If you are not born wealthy, how will you finance your election and reeelection? Even if one is rich, how will one recoup his/her election expenses after one wins? But let us stay positive. It can be done and will be done in due time. Rey Caringal, (by email), July 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Caringal , Uncle Ernie ... Want to make a REAL difference? Rather than tilting against windmills ... Here's a chance for each of us to make a meaningful contribution. Let us work together for the grassroots transformation of our people. Visit http://www.gawadkalinga.org Albert Aragon, (by email), July 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I share your frustration with readers who take it against you when you criticize. Well, first of all we are a democratic nation, aren't we? Why do people always malign those who articulate disagreement /dissatisfaction with the status quo? To me, an open free market of ideas is always welcome and should be encouraged. If one disagrees, tough luck. He will just have to bear it and be sport enough to voice out his own opinion, however feeble it may be ... and let others react as to his/her merits and demerits. Second, I think it takes a lot of guts to speak up and say "no" in a country where everybody says "yes" even if it is wrong. Third, asking people who speak up about what they have done is totally irrelevant. Criticizing those in government does not only belong to those who had been in government but to everybody, even if one happens to be in the profession of "talking" or writing like journalists and academics (Well, in my case I had been with government as a soldier for 28 years -- do I have to require everybody else to have done the same for them to have the right to speak up? I am not that arrogant!). As far as I am concerned, it is intolerance that has gotten this country to where it is in the first place -- like those who criticize those who criticize. God bless us all! Regards, Col Dennis Acop (Ret), USMA �83, July 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww What to do? Sige, Tony, I will tell you and the rest of you guys. Read carefully. 1. Most importantly, let�s do away with our PREJUDICES and BIASES. This will be hard for those with hopelessly bloated egos but we MUST try at least. If we think we are not then please let�s take stock of ourselves by doing an honest self examination. Let us not allow passion (especially hatred that forms an ugly foam in the mouth like a mad dog) to get the better of us. Yes, we must be passionate to a certain extent but remember, too much of anything can be disastrous. If we can not do away with our prejudice and biases then we can not be part of the solution. We will just be poison to �uncritical� minds. 2. Ok, next. We should be able to put ourselves in place of the object of our criticism (in this case, GMA) and realize that she must know more vital information than we do to justify the decisions that she does. Perhaps, if we were exactly in her place and predicament, we just might be doing the SAME thing! Simply put, give her at least naman (por Dios por santo!) the benefit of the daw, este, DOUBT. We should try to understand her better and for a change be more supportive of her efforts and affirming her on what is truly working for the public good. She will then be getting more accurate and positive feedbacks and become more responsive to the critical needs of the Nation. You may not agree with me but I think, so far, she is still better as President than your over rated friend FVR, Erap and most probably FPJ of the squealing masa, or your friend Miriam, had they won. But let me hasten to add that I do think too that she is far from being perfect. Definitely not! Who can claim that anyway, except perhaps some nitwit broadcasters or columnists. You know what I mean. Amen?!? 3. Thirdly, in looking back (I suggest from the time of ex-Pres. Marcos na lang) to analyze our political situation and why we are still in this rut, let us NEVER, EVER forget the Honasan Factor that for 2 decades(!) hounded, threatened and ACTUALLY seriously set us back economically, morally and even culturally. Economically- obvious, except for those sleeping over the past 2 decades; Morally- look what happened to the many military officers whose minds have been psyched or brain-washed and in the process lost their sense of right and wrong; Culturally- it spawned a new mind-set (no thanks to our irresponsible and spoiled media) that one can make it big time if you have the power of name-recall. How many media creations have managed to get hold of the power levers and where have they led their constituencies and the country? In short, an honest critical analysis of our socio-political situation will lead us to focus on the real problems and come up with the right and workable solutions. 4. Now this, as in Sesame Street , �may sound crazy but it might just work!� PEOPLE POWER! � yes, once again, backed by the Military but this time to allow the President to shake down and REFORM our Institutions, ONE BY ONE, starting with the LEGISLATURE. People Power to recall them all but filter back the few (to represent regions based on population densities) who have shown remarkable or even just DECENT performance to be chosen systematically by professional groups like the Personnel Management Association of the Phil. (PMAP), reputable NGOs like the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Council of the Laity of the Phil. (CLP), the Academe and even some Church leaders (except those obviously biased and prejudiced bishops). Just like the select group who were entrusted by Ex-Pres. Cory Aquino to frame the 1986 Constitution and GMA to study proposed amendments to it. The difference is that this select group should have Oversight Functions to correct mistakes that may come out over time. Next target will be the JUDICIARY. I believe when we have in-place a reformed Legislature and Judiciary the other Institutions may just take the initiative to make honest to �goodness reforms from within. Reforms will thus be done on a per Institution basis but I think the work can fast-tracked and be accomplished before we elect a new leader in 2010, banning ALL past Presidents including GMA (unlike you, I don�t think she wants to perpetuate herself in power and I�m willing to bet you my SSS pension for one month, which is not much anyway, to pay for our lunch. There are nice eating places in Magallanes near your place. God willing, both of us will still be around by 2010. Call?). 5. Secessionist groups who want to dismember and mutilate our country should be outlawed and NEVER be allowed. Their actions should be made criminal and should be dealt with resolutely and severely. The same should be applied to putchists in the likes of Gringo Honasan and his clone Trillanes. Those charged with serious offenses backed by a preponderance of evidence should NEVER be allowed to run for any Public Office. People Power should also call for their speedy prosecution. Media people who love this country and are truly courageous should write in concert about the serious damage in the past 2 decades wrought by the succession of coup attempts and continuous destabilization so the people will be duly reminded. That can be the start of a call for REAL REFORM to cascade into PEOPLE POWER 3. If we can all collectively agree on these and harness all our efforts towards a critical mass of well-meaning citizens capable of critical thinking then we are on our way to a peaceful flexing of PEOPLE POWER backed by the Military Establishment. Who knows, the current �elected� members of the Legislative branch might just resign en-masse in an act of real Statesmanship to give way to genuine REFORM. May God bless us all. Ed. J. Tirona,, (by email), BF Homes Paranaque City , July 15, 2007 Mang Senyong OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |