The ploy to keep the Speaker loyal
October 17, 2007 by mlq3
Filed under Daily Dose
My Arab News column for this week, The Ploy to Keep the Speaker Loyal, further refines an earlier blog entry on the revival of the constitutional amendments plan. The point of my column is that while many observers think the revived Federalism scheme is the same old script reused for the same old purposes, a larger purpose may be in the Palace’s mind. Constitutional change is being dangled to entice the Speaker to patch things up with the Palace. The Speaker himself, like the old pro that he is, is non-commital to keep his options open: De Venecia welcomes Charter change talk but not this year. In his blog, Mon Casiple says the Charter Change revival could be all talk -or a sign of darker things to come.
The column was written before I had a chance to interview Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. on my show last night. He’d already spent the day sounding fairly belligerent: JdV: End govt corruption: Statements hint at possible split with President. His son was certainly doing his best to foster the impression his father wasn’t in the chirpiest of moods: Arroyo admin won’t change, says Speaker’s son.
On my show, he waved a document at the camera and said, he was preparing a letter to the President, urging her to purge her cabinet of corrupt officials, curb smuggling, and, if the peek I got was correct, somehow reform the pork barrel system. JDV talking of reform and fighting corruption at the very least will probably have people rolling in the aisles, but like most things, there’s an element of self-preservation at work, too. He pointed out that he was quite appalled, during the last election, to see how mercenary both candidates and the electorate had become. And he went into a rather lengthy description of how, unless the spiraling costs of campaigning weren’t reduced, officials would have to raid the public treasury and break rules just to be able to run for, and keep, office.
To be sure, this limited awareness had its origins in his facing an unusual situation, for him, last May. He normally runs unopposed. The Palace is said to have strongly backed the candidacy of his rival who spent oodles and which led to JDV having to spend oodles, too, to be re-elected. And so, the Speaker said, “I have committed my share of sins” but this all getting too much, already. What JDV has come to realize is the same kind of realization the older generation of premartial law politicians came to realize when faced with Ferdinand Marcos. By golly, the guy recognizes no limits. The Speaker, it seems to me, is increasingly frightened by the prospects of a President he strongly supported, giving him the treatment she formerly used to to dish out only to their mutual opponents.
He is a man in search of a mission, because his old career as the Fella Who Gets All Folks to Get Along is obviously facing a dead end. His choice is a stark one: total surrender, which means maintaining his position but without power, in effect becoming a decoration, or fighting it out, and risking it all, when his problem is, he may have lost the means (the numbers) without which he can’t expect to put up a good fight.
The Great Consensus-builder is, I think, ill-equipped to fight it out, mano-a-mano, with a President, much less the present incumbent. Alone of his contemporaries, among his political peers, de Venecia by all accounts, has no personal enemies. His fellow politicians on all sides of the political fence all think he’s a nice guy. And that, precisely, is his problem. Whatever his other defects, having a mean streak is not one of them.
He is not a fighter, by instinct, he’s a consensus-builder and what’s more, in the traditional mold, who lacks the imagination to think that certain political behavior is even possible (a liability many traditional politicians of the old school suffer from, with regards to the President: up to now I keep hearing some of these leaders express shock and horror at the President’s habit of dropping in on the wakes of her deceased critics, which leaves old-fashioned oppositionists at a loss on what to do or say, except, well, express shock and dismay after the fact -I think the President derives a kind of malicious satisfaction from doing such things because it’s a reminder of the residual awe in which even her critics continue hold her office).
So one moment he sounds like he’s fed up, has had enough; the next moment he’s literally pleading for the President to seize the day and become a crusader for good government; then the Speaker’s mood deflates again as he says he has to give her this last chance but… but… What? I don’t think he knows, or to be more precise, he doesn’t want to have to reach the point of no return. Or admit that point was reached last week, when the President showed she had 180 congressmen in her pocket and forced to pick between her and him, JDV’s fellow congressmen would pick her and not him (though being on the whole, not cut out for battle, either, they’d like to keep them both).
John Nery in Inquirer Current, says the Speaker’s headed for a fall. In this light, the above could be his Swan Song.
Meanwhile, is the inoculation in danger of failing? An article in the Inquirer two days ago -House to pursue rules vs bogus impeach rap–majority leader- gives a hint:
Majority Leader Arthur Defensor said on Monday the lower chamber would proceed with key amendments to the impeachment rules, essentially to keep lawmakers from having to deal with apparently bogus complaints.
The changes — which would allow the consolidation of two or more complaints before they reached the committee on rules and included in the order of business — was scheduled for plenary deliberations last week.
But Defensor, the main author of the revision, withdrew the schedule to avoid being accused of trying to influence the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Roel Pulido against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo…
..The amendments created a stir at the plenary hall among legislators loyal to the President on Monday night last week, another senior member of the majority told the Inquirer in a separate interview.
Amid the suspense on whether Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. would refer the Pulido complaint to the House committee on justice, the Arroyo allies asked the majority leadership to withdraw the amendments from the order of business.
“They thought we were going to change the rules so a stronger impeachment complaint could be consolidated with the Pulido complaint,†the congressman said. “They even wanted us to adjourn the session at the height of the budget deliberations.â€
This account was confirmed by another administration lawmaker who played a major role during the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2008 national budget. Both lawmakers asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of their positions.
When the opposition says it will file a new, improved complaint, the odds still favor the original Pulido complaint; but an opposition impeachment complaint would open up the opportunity for the House to amend its rules on impeachment (going beyond what Defensor’s proposed) or the filing of a case in the Supreme Court.
RG Cruz points out the Palace is not helping itself by stonewalling reporter’s questions. The cabinet officials who do speak up aren’t helping matters any more than the President’s Congressional allies: Atienza says ‘cash gifts’ are normal fare in Arroyo Palace.
The Palace’s stonewalling, as RG Cruz puts it, comes at a time when economic developments seem to have slipped under the radar, to emerge as threats to the Palace propaganda line that the economy is super duper and the Peso’s appreciation is fantastic. RP balance of payments slips into deficit in September, comes the news, and there is a concern over the prices of basic commodities: Yap orders SRA to release sugar reserves to stabilize prices so that the administration has had to admit there are problems beyond back-biting within its own coalition (and squabbles that keep requiring presidential intervention). As the news yesterday put it, Cabinet tackles ‘major risks’:
National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) acting Director General Augusto Santos said an emergency Cabinet meeting has been called by the President to discuss the possible measures government may undertake to mitigate the ill effects of these threats.
Santos said three threats—rising oil prices, decreasing value of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) dollar remittances that may crimp the spending of beneficiaries, and reduced exports—may be attributed to the strength of the peso.
Santos said a stronger peso is good for the economy, however, in terms of making imports cheaper, decreasing the amount to be paid for debt service, and increasing investor confidence.
The Neda has already prepared economic simulations and recommendations, but the documents were not yet available to journalists as of press time.
He added that some of these measures may include the reduction of tariffs for oil imports, but the trigger price will still be determined by the Cabinet after today’s meeting.
This news coming during the opening of the Christmas season, is not politically-beneficial for the Palace. In its editorial, the Business Mirror editorial explains why:
As the peso strayed into historic territory last week, reaching seven-year highs and flirting with the 43 level, the exchange continued to dismay even more overseas-based workers: in one case that found echoes in many households, a minor construction project, projected to cost P25,000 two months ago, suddenly became too expensive for an OFW’s $500 remittance, budgeted way back. As a result of the project’s deferment, the worker found his $500 merely stood at over P21,000 when it reached Manila. And so on and on, similar tales of financial woe can be heard from the OFW sector (workers and beneficiaries) as the robust local unit continues to hold its own.
Meanwhile, the other sector hardest-hit by the strong peso, the exporters, have not stopped complaining about how the impact of a steady appreciation has gouged their pocketbooks, forcing dozens to either close shop temporarily in hopes of regaining their bearing after some time, or downscale operations and thus put thousands out of job.
To be sure, the executive has lined up a series of remedial measures to blunt the impact on the badly hit sectors, but still the “massacre†continues. To underscore the gravity of the situation, Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting was set solely on the major economic risks faced by the nation in light of recent developments, and as this paper’s banner story on Tuesday underscored, three of these risks—rising oil prices, declining value of the OFW remittances even as their volumes surge, and export cuts—were all somehow tied to the peso, albeit in varying ways.
A few months back the Bangko Sentral warned exporters to brace for a stronger peso and counseled them to seek shelter in hedge facilities that had long been there, while Malacañang directed state financial institutions to seek ways to prop up their sector.
The situation of exporters could get even more challenging, meanwhile, because as Trade Secretary Peter Favila reminds, they’re bound to come up against stricter regulations in the global markets arising from the creation of exclusive trade blocs.
Certainly there’s no way the “hurting†sectors of the economy, such as the OFWs and the exporters, can be separated by some firewall from the rest. One consequence of OFW families getting less for their dollars is that they will spend less, thus crimping the other productive sectors of the economy. As for exporters closing shop, imagine the impact of that on jobs and on the overall GDP projections.
Of course any administration has to do a balancing act handling the economy; but the timing is bad, if only because the holidays might be a little less cheery and it comes at the heels of a new round of scandals that won’t go away. As Manuel Buencamino points out in his column, one reason the scandals have political traction, is that with 2010 in mind, both politicians and the public aren’t inclined to be left holding the bag. Since Buencamino tackles why China’s government-owned corporations are being courted by the administration, it would do well to keep up to speed with developments in the Middle Kingdom: High stakes for China as party congress begins and Missing the barefoot doctors.
The Inquirer editorial tackles Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio’s taking the money -and why he should return it, even if no one will accept it.
big mango explains why the revived Charter Change proposal doesn’t leave him thrilled.
Technorati Tags: Charter Change, constitution, House of Representatives, impeachment, media, philippines, politics, president
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Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:11 am
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”- Sun Tzu
Speaker De Venecia:This must be your defining moment to transform from the archetypal traditional politician to a Filipino statesman.
You can do no less than than your brave son.Speak the truth,accept the consequences .
Be with the PEOPLE now.
Be the SPEAKER for the PEOPLE.
SPEAKER DE VENECIA:Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa po?
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:23 am
I saw part of your “The Explainer†tonight, you had JDV as a guest. What was this “letter†all about?
tonio on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:37 am
equalizer:
i don’t think the Speaker’s built that way.
hvrds on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:41 am
It is so very obvious that the standards we require of public officials are still steeped in the traditions of royal doctrines and dogmas.
Governments run on patronage and patriarchal interpretations of law. That is what we get for living under the Spanish Civil code and at the same time integrating Anglo Saxon Common Law and the American version of it.
It will continue to create problems on the differing standards of moral and legal values. Having a predominantly conservative Catholic Church does not help.
In China it became known as the Confucian standard. Patriarchal in nature. This is what now prevails in China.
Here in the Philippines the culture of constitutional republicanism has never taken hold as the evolution of political culture will take time to develop. Economic empowerment is simply a slogan. “Landlordism” still prevails. The treasury belongs to the sovereign and is to be shared with her loyalists.
The Marxists who rule in China know this and hence they know the necessity of social harmony and stability will depend on their rush to create a middle class from over 1.2 billion people. They are also slowly learning the environmental cost to their country. Like the Philippines they have made their seas and rivers septic tanks for their people. Also being astute in political economy the Chinese know exactly how to push GMA’s buttons.
They are also slowly learning that the curse of inequality
is rearing its head and with corruption is threatening to affect their hold on exclusive political power.
Their experiment in influencing and creating their history is an unprecedented event happening on this planet.
For those in power and their cronies – God Save the Queen!!!!!
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:42 am
his last chance for a place in Phil. history
rollchan on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:53 am
JDV-geezer is such a snot. for goodness, just because JDV-young was in grave situation, now, you turn upside-down? c’mon…I won’t believe every word that you mutter. haa! eat my short!
rollchan on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:56 am
before, you want cha-cha in a fast paced manner as it should be. now, you say cha-cha is not the right time? what? what? what?
oh yeah, I dun wan Federalism, it might lead over to boastful seccesionist states in the long run. im still for centralized governance! down to Federalism! why now? Federalism should have been implemented in the past but not today.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:57 am
“The President is a righteous president.JDV”
speaker for the people:”Feel kindly toward everyone, but be intimate only with the virtuous.Confucius”
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:18 am
“The President is a righteous president.JDVâ€
I’ll believe this only if GMA faces us squarely, and tell us the truth. If she really is a leader in her heart she will have the courage to face her constituents squarely and ask point blank if she still has our confidence, and if the answer is “no” honorably step down. No legal mumbo jumbo, no scripted “I’m sorry,” just plain truth coming from her.
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:18 am
ramrod, he says he’ll be giving the president a letter on monday, asking her to “cleanse her government.”
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:21 am
Ramrod:I still have high hopes for the speaker For the People,NOT for her HIGNESS
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:22 am
“oh yeah, I dun wan Federalism, it might lead over to boastful seccesionist states in the long run. im still for centralized governance! down to Federalism! why now? Federalism should have been implemented in the past but not today.” – rollchan
I’m not so excited about Federalism either, unless someone gives us the pros/cons, swot analyses, cost/benefit, etc. Face value, its scary even, given the Filipinos penchant for easily being divided. For me, in order to chart our own destiny we must have a united stand as a people.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:30 am
“ramrod, he says he’ll be giving the president a letter on monday, asking her to “cleanse her government.†– mlq3
Interesting. Provided this announcement was made in good conscience and the letter written with pure intentions, this could be very interesting indeed. I will not make any travel arrangements until the end of the month.
watchful eye on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:37 am
haha … “to cleanse her and the government.”
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:37 am
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/64632/Woman-cries-rape-after-sex-with-wrong-man
…just like some politicians, they receive some money and they do not know who gave it because they did not see the face…
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:41 am
Woman cries rape after sex with ‘wrong man’
10/16/2007 | 01:55 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A Malaysian woman who had sex with a houseguest says she mistakenly thought the man was her husband and has filed a complaint that she was raped, police said Tuesday.
The 40-year-old housewife in eastern Terengganu state alleged that her husband was away at work when she went to bed early Friday morning after making preparations for the annual Eid al-Fitr festival that weekend, said K. Manoharan, Terengganu deputy criminal investigation chief.
An hour later, she claimed a man whom she thought was her husband snuggled into bed and that they had sex although she didn’t see his face, he said.
She only realized her mistake when her husband returned and asked her about seeing their guest, who is his colleague, leaving her room, he said. The couple later lodged a complaint with police that she was raped, Manoharan said.
”We are a bit suspicious on the claims made by the victim. It’s strange – a woman not knowing if it’s her husband or not,” Manoharan told the Associated Press.
None of the three people were identified.
Police questioned the guest, a 29-year-old laborer who has been staying with the couple for the past two months, and released him on bail, he said. Investigations are continuing, he said, declining to give further information. – AP
……just like some politicians, they receive some money and they do not know who gave it because they did not see the face…
p.s. expecting a double blog due to “moderation”
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:50 am
JDV might just be the “Deep throat” in the “Gloriagate”.He must know a lot.
I wonder who is in a more desperate situation? the speaker or his former partner in….?personally I think she is..
What do you think?
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:57 am
JDV might just be the “Deep throat†in the “Gloriagateâ€.He must know a lot.
I wonder who is in a more desperate situation? the speaker or his former partner in….?personally I think she is..
What do you think? – Equalizer
I wonder if it will be a “Like father,like son” or “Like Son,like father” scenario.
cvj on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:00 pm
As i mentioned recently in a previous comment, the failure to maintain ethics within any of society’s subsystems would leave it vulnerable to a morality which is alien to the system, which may in turn lead to that system’s destruction. Niklas Luhman said that the primary purpose of ethics is to defend against morality. In the case of the Philippine political system, JDV has belatedly made this realization.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:12 pm
“Tzu King asked: “What would you say of the man who is liked by all his fellow townsmen?” “That is not sufficient”, was the reply. “What is better is that the good among his fellow townsmen like him, and the bad hate him.” Confucius
Speaker FOR the People:the choice is clear!
Bencard on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:15 pm
jdv now going to his closet to change his coat? why should that be a surprise? that’s one of the oldest games in philippine politics. it’s infested by these chameleons through and through. just one reminder for him: remember drilon and to a lesser extent, abad. guess they are having the time of their life in political limbo, along with the likes of stinky soliman and john osmena.
i know the gloria-haters here despise this guy but since he is now proclaiming himself a gma enemy, the club (in desperation) has to embrace him as a “messiah” while thumbing their nose to protect them from the stench coming out of this two-face creature. a letter…, my foot. it probably would be a thesis on hypocrisy. who will read it but the gullible, pushover bunch in this blog. shame, shame, shame.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:17 pm
An ABS-CBN News Channel report on Wednesday said that Pulido has announced he is ready to drop his petition to give way for the opposition’s complaint. It was not clear however if Pulido can still withdraw the complaint after it has been referred to the House justice committee last Thursday.
“I will not make any travel arrangements until the end of the month” – ramrod
I think we will have a lot of developments in the weeks ahead.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:33 pm
“jdv now going to his closet to change his coat? why should that be a surprise? that’s one of the oldest games in philippine politics. it’s infested by these chameleons through and through.”
Expect the unexpected in politics!
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:43 pm
Bencard,
I believe you are not even a GMA hater, you and the habitues of this blog are against anything unconstitutional, illegal, corruption, hypocrisy, and everything that may serve as an impediment to good government. Be that as it may, I don’t see any signs of people here who would actually participate in rebellion or stage an unconstitutional removal of the President. Of course we all have our unique ways of expressing this, whether acceptable or irritating. Some of the very expressive “hate GMA” pronouncements may just be a ventilation of frustration at the way things are. GMA is just in a less admirable position as she is the figurehead and most likely be the obvious target, it comes with the territory. Of course, it would be nice to exercise “civility” but then again acceptance of each other inspite of certain imperfections makes for lasting friendships.
As for JDV coming out like this, it might be good or bad, nevertheless we are witnessing how a very strong mechanism like the administration go through the initial stages of self-destruction.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:45 pm
Sorry Bencard, it should be “you are not even a GMA lover.”
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:59 pm
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.â€- Sun Tzu
Equalizer, remember also “the use of deception.” Some things may not be as they seem, as usual we observe the events that unfold before us with a certain degree of guardedness. “Trust in God, but lock your car.”
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 1:01 pm
ramrod:use of decpetion on whose part? speaker or his former partner in…..?
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 1:02 pm
i meant deception
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 1:20 pm
Equalizer,
From both. I see you like reading The Art of War, there’s another great book that will complement Sun Tzu’s strategies, “The Book of 5 Rings” by Miyamoto Musashi.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 1:32 pm
if you learn strategies/tactics from Sun tzu and wisdom from Confucius,you will survive in this tough world.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 1:53 pm
“if you learn strategies/tactics from Sun tzu and wisdom from Confucius,you will survive in this tough world.”
Perhaps. But it shouldn’t always be about survival, the support of people who love you, the love you are willing to give/share, this is not such a bad world really. In fact, borrowing from Bencard’s words, we could feel better really if we learn to “count our blessings.” If you are not already, fall in love, this will give you a different perspective of the world…
Shaman of Malilipot on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 3:14 pm
A strong peso, long touted by Gloria as an indicator of a super-duper economy, is now being viewed by the Administration as an economic risk.
No surprise there. There has been no super-duper economy, in the first place.
Shaman of Malilipot on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 3:17 pm
Ramrod, for millions of our countrymen, there are no blessings to count. Only hungry stomachs.
Shaman of Malilipot on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 3:21 pm
Both GMA and JDV stink. Let them fall together.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 3:32 pm
Shaman,
There are always something to be thankful for, if we were born in Burma, it would be a different story for us. In terms of the economy, I’m as perplexed as you are. I normally look at one country’s economy and business climate in terms of :
GDP = in Usd
GDP growth % = from ‘04 to ‘07
Exchange rate = 1Usd
GDP per capita = in Usd
% construction change = from ‘04 to ‘07
% advertising expenditure = ‘04 to ‘07
Inflation = from ‘04 to ‘07
Prime lending rate = in %
Population = in millions
Population growth = in %
Literacy rate = in %
Major recent/upcoming political events
Try to fill in the blanks and you’ll see what I mean.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 3:48 pm
“Ramrod, for millions of our countrymen, there are no blessings to count. Only hungry stomachs.Shaman”
100% agree!
INVOLUNTARY HUNGER is a stark reality in the Philippines. (Not what GMA says she also feels when she has many meetings during the day!)
In March 2007, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported that 19 percent of Filipino families (or an estimated 3.4 million households) said they experienced involuntary hunger at least once between December 2006 and February 2007 (SWS Media Release, 19 Mar 2007).
The SWS survey found that hunger worsened in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, although it declined in the Visayas and barely changed in Mindanao.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:06 pm
I think we should put things in the proper perspective.
1.If a highly respected and credible leader (priest,pastor,minister,imam,teacher,etc..)will tell me to count my blessings, yes, I will. But if GMA will tell me to “count your blessings”, I’m going to tell her “tell that to the marines”. So I guess, it depends on who’s talking.
2. Telling a hungry family especially the children to “count their blessings”, I think is adding insult to injury, they will not undertand, they will even misconstrue it as a bad joke.
But I think ramrod was leaning more on the spiritual aspect of life, indeed there are many things in life we should thank God for…
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:12 pm
Yes. I will tend to agree with the survey. But did they also do a survey as to the reasons for this involuntary hunger phenomenon? Is it because of unemployment? Is it because of inadequacy of income? Is it because of lack of employable skills? This has been an issue for quite some time already. How do we solve this, can all of us contribute some money to buy food for all this people? Should the government allocate a budget to feed these hungry people?
Life, as Equalizer put it earlier is literally “survival” for some, no for most, but what can we do about this really? As long as the population of the lower income (or no income) is bigger than the middle income (or at least with income), this will always be the case. It has come to a point where “eating” has become a privelege only for those who can afford to buy food (naturally). If we look around the garbage dumps, we see an emergence of a different species, one that subsists on the garbage of others, leftover, thrown away food from the local fastfood restaurants. They are sturdier, more resistant to disease, and not to mention e coli, salmonella, dengue, and a host of other diseases we are afraid of.
What can we do about this really?
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:15 pm
If we decide to contribute to give to these hungry people, right now I’ll shell out 100Usd, just let me know where to give it.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:16 pm
TRIVIALIZING HUNGER:How callous she be!
“THE recent Social Weather Stations survey showing a record-high 19-percent hunger incidence among Filipinos has elicited yet another callous response from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who said that she too had experienced going hungry once.
“Even I have missed one meal in the last three months,†quipped Arroyo in an obvious dig at the question used by the SWS to solicit responses from survey respondents about going hungry or missing a meal in the last three months.
The polling firm’s use of the phrase “nakaranas ng gutom at walang makain†(experienced hunger and did not have anything to eat) in its survey question specifically refers to hunger that is involuntarily suffered by households.PCIJ”
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:17 pm
“2. Telling a hungry family especially the children to “count their blessingsâ€, I think is adding insult to injury, they will not undertand, they will even misconstrue it as a bad joke.”
No. We can’t do this. Of course not, giving them a boxful of noodles and several kilos of rice will be more appreciated.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:18 pm
“THE recent Social Weather Stations survey showing a record-high 19-percent hunger incidence among Filipinos has elicited yet another callous response from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who said that she too had experienced going hungry once.
Now this comment if indeed coming from her was ill advised.
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:19 pm
ramrod, the basilica of the black nazarene conducts feeding programs for the urban poor. i also think you can contact the red cross which might have programs to provide meals for school kids.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:24 pm
thanks, mlq3
I will try to contact these two charities and I will also try to get my colleagues in Singapore to do the same.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:29 pm
Hunger :An Immersion
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/63110/Hunger-An-immersion
Hunger has become an everyday occurrence for 16.7% of our population, according to a recent SWS survey. In this documentary, Jay Taruc discovers what it is like to feel prolonged hunger. For seven days, he lives with families who have dozens of mouths to feed but nothing to serve on their tables.
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:41 pm
ramrod, by the way, in case you or your foreign friends are interested, let me recommend this book as the best introduction to our society, culture, and political development:
http://www.amazon.com/State-Society-Philippines-East-Asia/dp/0742510247/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-8989032-5833531?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192610317&sr=8-1
it’s available at national bookstore. it’s the book i always recommend as the best introduction to our history for filipinos and foreigners alike.
also, any of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Philippine-books/lm/1PAJOQT4FYAPZ/ref=cm_lmt_dtpa_f_1_rdssss0/104-8989032-5833531?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=listmania-center&pf_rd_r=1E19Q6NZH6FGTSZ2NBSM&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=253462201&pf_rd_i=0742510247
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:47 pm
What can we do about this really? – ramrod
I hope this will not be a self-serving statement, I’m not a resident of Manila, but me and my wife, we are involve in a feeding program , that feeds the poor in a depressed area to be chosen by the coordinator. We help financially in our own little way and when there is an opportunity we,join them in the feeding centers, I’m not the crying type of a person but sometimes I can’t help it especially when I see the smiles in the faces of these children whenever I hand them a cup of porridge or champorado.
That is the reason why I join this blog, believing that I can contribute something even if it is just as small as a cup of champorado, but our leaders can do more.
By the way, we are planning to join, I forgot the name of the organization, the one that Karen Davila is promoting, I will look for the brochure…
If I’ll have another opportunity,I’m going to share my experiences with the poor inside government hospitals.
Sorry about this, I don’t intend to do it, I just can’t help it when Shaman and Equalizer brought it up and you asked the question.
Shaman of Malilipot on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:54 pm
Ramrod, all those metrics that you look for in an economy do not mean anything when the fact that 20% of Filipino families experience involuntary hunger stares you in the face.
It is very easy for us with comfortable lifestyles to admonish the hungry to count blessings. How would you feel, or what would you do, if you and your family had nothing to eat and someone told you, “Count your blessings!”?
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:00 pm
qwert, i do hope you’ll share more. regular reader rego from abroad als has a scholarship program with a small group of fellow ofws.
i’m a firm believer in alex lacson’s “12 little things you can do for your country” aside from the big picture stuff.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:01 pm
mlq3,
Thanks a lot! The site is a treasure chest. I’ve been collecting the classics like Tom Sawyer, Moby Dick, Call of the Wild, etc. for my son but I wasn’t able to find any good material lately for him to appreciate his own country.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:03 pm
MLQ3,
thanks for the encouragement…
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:03 pm
ramrod, sometimes in old manila (they have branches in megamall, etc.) they have copies of the old philacor books for young children, those were fantastic books for kids on our culture and history. also long out of print are nick joaquin’s pop stories for groovy kinds. his retelling of our ancient legends. i’m sure they’re prohibitively priced at old manila but keep an eye out for them and maybe you can bargain them down.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:06 pm
“If we look around the garbage dumps, we see an emergence of a different species, one that subsists on the garbage of others, leftover, thrown away food from the local fastfood restaurants.ramrod”
I have seen stray dogs avoid the food that these street children will eventually pick up and eat.It tears you apart.
Here is the government talking about placing priority on ZTE/NBN and CyberEd deals with China.
What can you expect from a very callous person whose definition of hunger( “Even I have missed one meal in the last three months” ) sounds like Marie Antionette’s quote “Well let them eat cake.”
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:08 pm
Shaman,
What I meant for all those metrics is that in some sectors of our society, there are people with more than enough. Businesses are doing quite well combined with low interest rates, this is not supposed to be a time for hardship. Just look at Burma, we have a colleague there that we could not contact until now, he has no internet access, we don’t know whats happened to him.
Its not to admonish the hungry, its to assure ourselves that we are not helpless to do something about it.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:12 pm
“By the way, we are planning to join, I forgot the name of the organization, the one that Karen Davila is promoting, I will look for the brochure…” – qwert
Is this the one where you can send a child to school or something? I believe scholarships would have a more long term impact.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:18 pm
“sometimes in old manila (they have branches in megamall, etc.) they have copies of the old philacor books for young children, those were fantastic books for kids on our culture and history. also long out of print are nick joaquin’s pop stories for groovy kinds.” – mlq3
I passed by this store in Megamall several times already, the one on the 5th floor right? I’ll try to drop by and take a look. Thanks…
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:28 pm
Ram,
It’s World Vision,this is the website: http://www.worldvision.org/
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:29 pm
MLQ3: if you are still on line,do you think the speaker is willing to be the “speaker FOR the people”? like son /like father?views pls
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:30 pm
Ram,
It’s World Vision, I pasted the website on my first submission but it’s awaiting moderation.
Shaman of Malilipot on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:34 pm
qwert, I assure you that it’s perfectly all right to be charitable towards the less fortunate. You have nothing to apologize for. But let us keep in mind that charity is only a stop-gap measure, a first-aid treatment, so to speak, and it cannot be the permanent solution to the problem.
Let me cite just one thing that people can do, if only they want to, to have a more lasting effect on the well-being of others.
Businessmen can share profits with their employees. How many businessmen rake in profits that they won’t be able to spend in ten lifetimes while paying their employees just the minimum wage, nothing more?
I’m fortunate enough to belong to a group of companies whose core values include compassion. This value of compassion assures that every employee to the lowest messenger gets an equitable share of the profits.
But many of our neighboring countries have taught us that the one thing that can have a wide-ranging radical effect on the economic welfare of a people is the quality of political leadership.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:35 pm
QWERT:Excellent idea! thanks!
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:44 pm
qwert,
This is it, World Vision, do they have Filipino recipients? Thanks for the link.
Shaman of Malilipot on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:45 pm
Well, Ramrod, it’s not enough that there are businesses that do well. It’s what they do with the profits that matters. If all the profits simply go to the owners, their “success” is empty.
broadbandido on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:46 pm
JdV and GMA are of the same mold. I really hope that they fall by the wayside together.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:48 pm
Shaman,
Yes. I noticed that one American company here practices some sort of profit sharing like Timex in Cebu. But most labor intensive, family owned, Chinese businesses will probably never entertain the thought.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:48 pm
Shaman,
I concur with your point especially this one:
“the one thing that can have a wide-ranging radical effect on the economic welfare of a people is the quality of political leadership.”
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:53 pm
“the one thing that can have a wide-ranging radical effect on the economic welfare of a people is the quality of political leadership.â€
Me too. We have at least three years to look for these leaders.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:55 pm
ram,
that I also would like to know, the brochure was handed to me by my sister-in-law… I would also prefer Filipino recipients and beneficiaries.
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 6:06 pm
equalizer, it may not matter, it may be too late for him, politically. A while ago on DZBB, JDV said he’s writing a letter to the president in the coming days and he will ask from her the cleansing of the government by undertaking a revamp in cabinet and gov’t financial institutions.
politically, even if that’s his intent, it makes no political sense to telegraph his moves. also, even if we assume he’s come to realize he should fight, it may be too late for him to fight. she already showed him last week she has 180 congressmen and he doesn’t.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 6:10 pm
What a reprieve to know that we can do something in our own little way to alleviate the plight of the poor. So, whenever I criticize our leaders and that includes GMA,I’m sure that it is not personal, it is, more than anything else about the poor.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 6:19 pm
“politically, even if that’s his intent, it makes no political sense to telegraph his moves. also, even if we assume he’s come to realize he should fight, it may be too late for him to fight. she already showed him last week she has 180 congressmen and he doesn’t.” – mlq3
So he has nothing to lose and nothing to gain…What are the chances he will do a “Chavit Singson?” He certainly knows how the insided of the administration looks like.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 6:49 pm
MLQ3:thanks for views!
JDV :You can forget those 180 Tongressmen!GMA can have all of them.
You may be goner politically.
But if YOU decide to be the Speaker for the People:
1)You will redeem the “De Venecia” name.
2)You will honor your brave son.
3)Most importantly will earn the gratitude of the suffering Filipino people.
Speaker De Venecia:You can do it.Expose the corruption of your ex-partner in C…….You KNOW all the stink of the Gloriagate chapter of our sad history.
Transform from a tradpol to a statesman.
It just takes one man to create the tipping point.Remember
Lech Walesa,Poland’s brash union organizer.He stood up to the Kremlin and dealt the Eastern bloc a fatal blow.
I hope JDV will not miss this defining moment in his life.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 6:58 pm
So what are the chances that we’ll have a new President before Christmas?
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:06 pm
ramrod:I starting to think that the idea of an “Interim” President Noli De Castro may not be bad at all.At least he feels the pulse of the Masa.
Alam ni Noli na talagang gutom ang tao!
I hope he never says ““Even I have missed one meal in the last three monthsâ€
What do my fellow bloggers think?
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:12 pm
All I Want for Christmas Is A New President
(Sung to the tune of All I Want for Christmas
Is My Two Front Teeth)
All I want for Christmas is a new President,
A new President, a new President.
Gee, if I could only have a new President,
Then I could wish you “Merry Christmas.”
It seems so long since I have seen,
“Juan de la Cruz with hope on his face.”
Gosh, oh gee, how happy I’d be
If all trapos would be gone without a trace.
All I want for Christmas is a new President.
a new President, a new President.
Gee, if I could only have my new President,
Then I could wish you “Merry Christmas.”
* Just for laughs
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:16 pm
ramrod, chavit thought his life was stake. no one thinks jdv faces such a risk. chavit was always, to put it mildly, a brawler. jdv has built a career on trying to make everybody happy.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:16 pm
ramrod:if you have been a good boy Santa might just give you your Christmas wish.But you didn’t say which Christmas? 2010?
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:17 pm
mlq3:what is the influence of the brave son on the father?
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:24 pm
Arroyo will not step down(yet)!
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/64827/Arroyo-wont-step-down—Palace
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:33 pm
mlq3,
So JDV takes the “win/win” option all the time? This will mean he will try to look for a third option always. The question that comes to mind is, “is it going to be win/win for JDV and GMA? Or win/win JDV and Filipino people?”
rego on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:35 pm
ramrod,
Id still dont see it. Or I dont want it.
I would still go for impeachment. I wanted to see Gloria recapping his governance by facing the impeachment court and defend herself of all teh accusation that were thrown at her during her “reign”. And with Full TV coverage. That way everything is settled before the new admin comes in.
I belive the impeachment process should really be given a chance to happen and be institutioalized as a way of removing any president or higher official in power.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:37 pm
to Ramrod
Re your comment : Yes. I noticed that one American company here practices some sort of profit sharing like Timex in Cebu. But most labor intensive, family owned, Chinese businesses will probably never entertain the thought.
Please do not assume that just because someone is chinese, one is not charitable or is unwilling to share. That is the implication of statement above. The CHinese in the Philippines have been contributing a lot to the economy by providing jobs when there are NO jobs available from abroad. Also, there are a lot of Chinese charities which DO NOT advertise themselves unlike your socialites and politicians who seems to love to have their pictures taken as they distribute their goods.
The real problem in the economy is not that the people are paid a measly wage, it is that there are too many people chasing too few jobs…and do you know why??? Because we always shoot ourselves in the foot by having all these liberal rules on labor…nobody wants to invest in the country despite the fact that Filipinos are the most hardworking and ingenious people in the world. Businesses are in it for profit. If there are too many demnands from labor, jobs move elsewhere. Lots of manufacturing jobs have been closing down and settling elsewhere because of that. It has nothing at all to do with race but with economics.
You may have a point that some businesses do not want to share their profits but you have to be sure it’s really because of greed and not because there is no profits in the first place. It’s hard to be profitable now in the Philippines if you really follow the rules to the letter. Magsasara na lang ang mga kumpanya. Just because there are lots of sales does not equate to profitability, given all the rules and regulations, as well as the inefficiencies in the country.
Yes, you may argue why there are still companies existing. Check out the prices they command for their products or services. They are probably a lot hire than what is affordable to the masses. Most businesses in the Philippines (except for telecoms, property, banks and maybe food services) are in a very bad situation.
rego on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:38 pm
I suddenly remember the template thing that Bencard mentioned before. In a negative way though.
I believe there shoudl be some kind of a template that peopel will just fill up everytime they see a misbehaving higher officials. Make the process easier.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:40 pm
Equalizer,
I don’t think its a matter of influence of the brave son on his father, JDV has no choice, he has to stand by his son. All things considered, through his arrogance, his son cost him his political career. That is if all this is not a big script with a more complicated plot.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:44 pm
“That is if all this is not a big script with a more complicated plot.Ramrod”
“God writes straight with crooked linesâ€
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:46 pm
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgQgzKVX9jc&mode=related&search=
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:50 pm
Proud to be Tsinoy,
I didn’t say these Chinese companies don’t want to engage in profit sharing, I just said they will not entertain the thought. Profit sharing is not an indigenous practice, so you just see this in Multinationals, we may have other similar practices. Basically, labor intensive family owned Chinese companies are not that profitable, some, if not most, exist because of the people they employ, the people that are dependent on the jobs that these businesses provide. They simply cannot afford profit sharing.
cvj on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:51 pm
Tsinoy, i think Ramrod is just sharing a widely held perception (which i think is true). You complain about negative perceptions towards Chinese compared to American companies but even in your post, you make clear your desire to rid the country of its ‘liberal’ labor laws. That, of course, would further reinforce people’s perception that Chinese businessmen only seek profit at the expense of labor’s welfare.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:56 pm
“I believe there shoudl be some kind of a template that peopel will just fill up everytime they see a misbehaving higher officials. Make the process easier.”
There should be one, how are the people expected to react? Give an erring public official a pat on the back and say “thats okay, we understand, don’t do it again ha?”
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:02 pm
equalizer, to the best of my knowledge the son was estranged from the father for a very long time, the present situation has brought them closer than they used to be. perhaps the one with more influence on jdv would be gina de venecia.
and in general, a lot of political momentum was lost when the senate went on vacation so let’s not jump to conclusions about tipping points yet again.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:04 pm
“Yes, you may argue why there are still companies existing. Check out the prices they command for their products or services. They are probably a lot hire than what is affordable to the masses. Most businesses in the Philippines (except for telecoms, property, banks and maybe food services) are in a very bad situation.”
Yes, sadly this is true also. Its all a matter of efficiencies of scale, those companies that are more efficient, large scale production infrastructures that reduce costs of operations significantly while radically improving the quality of their products, speed, and services. These companies can swallow smaller, less efficient companies, they can reduce their prices without hurting the bottomline. They have leverage against strong suppliers and leverage against strong buyers.
rego on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:04 pm
On hunger, feeding program is good actually very good. But I find this is just a temporary corrective action.
It would be better if in every feeding center there would be something like a an informal interview to really find out what the is cause of hunger to really understand teh problem. Then there should some lecture to teach these people on how to ” hunt for food themselves. They may have to look for a job etc etc.
I remember my growing up years in Masbate. We are constantly viisited by workers or katiwala in our house in the town proper. And thes peopel will see my father to get cash advance to buy food.
my father would readily give cash but with out failing t to deliver some kind of lecture. It woudl always be like, “you have my land ( 70 hectares) . and I dont take anything from the secondary products ( Our primary producst are Copra, rice and corn, peanuts and bamboo and cattle) so you can plant anything you need that can feed you and your family.That way you dont have to cash advance.
Take note they also have a share of the rice and corn so there should be know problem on this. They have cash shares for any proceed of of copra and all teh primary products. Camote and cassava are all theirs Ang problema na lang sana nila ulam. They can plant vegatables and raise animals for that. Pero nawawalan pa rin sila ng rice an corn aside from cash. Why? they sell their share of rice and corn and some of them goes is used to finance their vices like gambling and alcohol.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:14 pm
Rego,
That is normally the case with lifestyles based on agricultural cycles. For charities, I’m leaning towards scholarchips from now on, you know the website qwert came up with? worldvision. Who knows, one of these kids could grow up to be a senator years from now?
So you are our resident haciendero? 70 hectares, wow! My mother has a farm in Lagao, Gen. Santos, its only 12 hectares and I thought that was big already.
rego on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:22 pm
i know the gloria-haters here despise this guy but since he is now proclaiming himself a gma enemy, the club (in desperation) has to embrace him as a “messiahâ€
————————
On the other hand, Bencard I see it as a good development for the Gloria haters. I used to believe that they will not emebrace and welcome to their fold anybody that were not with them from the very beginning. Like the way they isolated Bong Austero.
I believe everybody is entitled for self redemption. If that is JDVs way of redeeming himself. Thats fine. We just can hope that soemthing positive for the country and the peopel can come out of it.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:25 pm
“I believe everybody is entitled to self redemption. If that is JDV’s way of redeeming himself. That’s fine. We just hope that something positive for the country and the people can come out of it.REGO”
AMEN
“God writes straight with crooked linesâ€
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:26 pm
Ram,
update on world vision, there is a philippine website http://www.worldvision.org.ph, and you’ll see smiling Filipino children that needs help for them to go to school.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:32 pm
On the other hand, the recent events could even redeem GMA? All these bribery issues coming out, unorthodox disbursements of funds of the cash kind, JDV’s admission of what candidates have to contend with just to mount a decent campaign and the payback after. All these are happening under the watchful eye of the media and we get the news almost “real time.” She can say “see what I have to contend with?” What a President must do to get things done around here? …and you wanted the truth?! you can’t handle the truth!
That would be scary.
cvj on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:33 pm
Rego, by admitting his mistake, i think Bong Austero is also on the way to redeeming himself.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:35 pm
“On hunger, feeding program is good actually very good. But I find this is just a temporary corrective action.” – rego
I agree,there must be a holistic approach to this problem, feeding them is a good start but it is not enough…
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:45 pm
qwert,
Thanks, I bookmarked it already. I even showed it to my wife just now, we’re sponsoring a girl. At least this is one thing we agree on. She’s says she’s glad I’ll stop sponsoring those “other girls not deserving,” whatever does she mean?
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:49 pm
“I’ll stop sponsoring those “other girls not deserving”"
RAM:agree with your wife!One of them is Her Highness!lol
Dirk Pitt on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:52 pm
jdv now going to his closet to change his coat? why should that be a surprise? that’s one of the oldest games in philippine politics. it’s infested by these chameleons through and through. just one reminder for him: remember enrile and santiago. they are having the time of their life fattening themselves in the trough, along with, to a lesser extent, Joker.
i know the gloria-lovers here will despise this guy since he is now proclaiming himself a gma enemy, the club (in desperation) has to attack him while thumbing their nose to protect them from the stench coming out of the palace near the pasig river. a letter…, by golly. it probably would be recommendations based on inside information. who will reject it but the gullible, pushover let’s move on bunch in this blog. shame, shame, shame.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:10 pm
ram,
we are looking for a child preferably near us, so that we can visit him/her from time to time to find out more what is needed. Maybe I’ll pay them (WorldVision) a visit, I am planning to go to Manila after All Saints Day.
frombelow on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:25 pm
i felt this Febraury 10 1986. On January 2001, I was eating lucnh, I also felt this strange feeling. Would you belive I am feeling it now again.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:25 pm
I have to say goodnight guys. Another long day tomorrow.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:33 pm
” I am not saying that what happened last week was justifiable. I am not saying we should condone it. All I am saying is that there is context around it. This culture of political patronage has been around for quite some time and will continue to be around for as long as voters continue to hound their elected leaders for all kinds of assistance.
What made what happened last week galling was the brazenness and shamelessness of it all. In short, bastusan at garapalan na talaga.Bong Austero”
On the way to self redemption…hopefully.
DevilsAdvc8 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:34 pm
“and in general, a lot of political momentum was lost when the senate went on vacation…”
the understatement of the year, if i ever heard one.
i’d like to crucify each of the junketing senators if i can. it seems Gloria’s political survival has been nothing but one reprieve after another.
cvj on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:36 pm
frombelow, i hope you’d make it three out of three.
Nonoy on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:45 pm
“If we look around the garbage dumps, we see an emergence of a different species, one that subsists on the garbage of others, leftover, thrown away food from the local fastfood restaurants.”
When FPJ said that the biggest issues facing the country were “breakfast, lunch and dinner”, well-to-do people just laughed at him.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:53 pm
“i felt this Febraury 10 1986. On January 2001, I was eating lucnh, I also felt this strange feeling. Would you belive I am feeling it now again “- frombelow
strange feeling indeed and if I may add this strange news:
“Reyes said a protest march against the alleged payoffs and bribes will be staged Thursday afternoon. Marchers are expected to assemble at Fort Bonifacio at 2 p.m. and begin a motorcade from there.” – GMANews.TV
Isn’t it strange that the assembly point is a military camp?
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:57 pm
“i’d like to crucify each of the junketing senators if i can. it seems Gloria’s political survival has been nothing but one reprieve after another.”
The CAYETANO clan is in Geneva for the family junket:
Sen.Pia Cayetano
Sen.Allan Peter Cayetano
Rep.Cayetano from Taguig (wife of Allan Peter).
Official business can wait! We are on holiday!
supremo on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:16 pm
mlq3,
Is there a plan to sell episodes of The Explainer on dvd?
frombelow on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:19 pm
I am serious.
i felt this Februury 10 1986. On January 2001, I was eating lucnh, I also felt this strange feeling. Would you believe I am feeling it now again.
Another, during those times, uneasy peace reigned. as if all are waiting for something.
Dont you feel it now people. We are not agitated but subconncioulsy we are waiting for something.
i felt that Februury 10 1986. On January 2001, I was eating lucnh, I also felt that strange feeling. And I am feeling it now again.
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:33 pm
Arroyo present during cash distribution–Manila solon
By Norman Bordadora, Christian V. Esguerra, Dona Pazzibugan
Inquirer
Last updated 10:12pm (Mla time) 10/17/2007
MANILA, Philippines — A preacher in the House of Representatives has added his voice to those bearing witness to the alleged distribution of funds to lawmakers and local government officials in Malacañang.
Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante, listed in the House website as a “Minister of Gospel,†admitted on Wednesday to receiving five bundles of P100,000 each, or a total of P500,000, from a person wearing a barong (formal Filipino shirt) — one of many involved in the distribution — during a breakfast hosted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Thursday.
Abante said Arroyo herself was present during the distribution of cash.
justice in waiting on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:53 pm
To be honest when Gloria started as President and before I have any knowledge of allegations of abuse, and corruptions under her administration I used to admire her especially during her State visit in U.S. where she delivered an address that Terrorism are sometimes caused by a group of people left marginalized, and at that time, although her Presidency was questionable, that she will dedicate her contested mandate to alleviate the plight of the poor. But scandals after scandals, and how she helped covered up the people of her administration of all allegations of corruptions against them, then my initial belief of her intentions has now changed.
Starting with how she threw patronage to the people who helped her in her quest, putting them in positions where they are able to influence her decisions toward their own personal or business interests, allegations of how her own relatives suddenly have acquired assets beyond their normal and legal incomes and how she make sure that legal oppositions and media critical to her government are muzzled, then I can only conclude that she is no different from all other Corrupt Presidents before her and a President being used by people around her…And it will take a lot of redemptions on her part to make me change my mind..
cvj on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:00 pm
frombelow, so am i.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:02 pm
“i felt that February 10 1986. On January 2001, I was eating lunch, I also felt that strange feeling. And I am feeling it now again.FromBelow”
THEN
Marcos Won’t Step Down!-Malacanang
Although Marcos held an inauguration ceremony at Malacañang Palace on February 25, it was boycotted by foreign ambassadors (with the exception, in an apparently unwitting gaffe, of a new Soviet ambassador). It was, for the Marcoses, the last, pathetic hurrah. Advised by a United States senator, Paul Laxalt, who had close ties to Reagan, to “cut and cut cleanly,” Marcos realized that he had lost United States support for any kind of arrangement that could keep him in power. By that evening, the Marcoses had quit the palace that had been their residence for two decades and were on their way to exile in the United States.
NOW:
“Arroyo won’t step down – Palace”
10/17/2007 | 07:04 PM
“Malacañang rejected the call of some senators for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign and turnover the government to Vice President Noli de Castro following alleged instability and threats of a civil war.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Mrs Arroyo has been elected until 2010 and she would step down after her term ends.
“We maintain that the Armed Forces are loyal to their commander in chief and they will adhere to the chain of command and the President has a mandate to serve up to 2010,” he said.He believes that the military would not resort to any unconstitutional means to force the President out of office.
Senators Francis Pangilinan and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. called for Arroyos’s resignation to avert civil war. GMA NEWS TV”
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:04 pm
supremo, i think you can order individual episodes, i;ve been lobbying, without success, to have them post all episodes on youtube.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:10 pm
manolo: what are your views on the idea of an “Interim President Noli De Castro”?
mlq3 on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:27 pm
equalizer: since i’ve been pointing out that one apparent consensus tha’s emerged is the public prefers a constitutional solution to things, then this means accepting the vice-president is the constitutionally-ordained successor. the refusal of civil society and some political groups to accept this in 2005 helped prolong the president’s stay. since i don’t think there is much public support for an extra constitutional solution, i think the vp should be reassured that there’s a consensus that he’s an acceptable successor.
i don’t get the “interim” part, though. unless it means he should give some sort of pledge not to run for the presidency in 2010.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:31 pm
manolo,as always,thank you so much.
“Pimentel said anti-Arroyo forces would agree to Vice President Noli de Castro as a caretaker president until 2010.
“(President Arroyo) should resign and turn over the government to Vice President de Castro as caretaker until 2010,” Pimentel said.GMA NEWS”
frombelow on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:37 pm
the feeling is getting stronger, i tell you people. THIS IS IT. IT IS NOW. ROLLING LIKE A SNOWBALL. I AM SERIOUS. DONT YOU FEEL IT GUYS?
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:43 pm
From below:
to reach tipping point:
1) we need JDV to take a real strong stand
2)Civil society and political groups to accept the idea of Noli as caretaker president till 2010.
3)support of the military
4)CBCP taking a stronger stand.
5)one more big scandal exposed(CyberEd?)
frombelow on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:45 pm
on february 1986, people were angry but resigned. Marcos had just won the elections. Until i was informed at about 5 pm by a journalist friend that Enrile holed himself inside aguinaldo.
january 2001, people were angry but helpless. Until…
Now, i really cant explain. the emotions that i felt during those two incidents. iam felling it now.
Will something happen. I REALLY DONT KNOW.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:47 pm
from below:you are on the right track…
frombelow on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:49 pm
ONE THING, I DONT FEEL LIKE THIS ON FEBRUARY 2006. THE SO-CALLED NIGHT WHEN SOME SEGMENTS OF MILITARY PERUSADED THE AFP LEADERSHIP RO WITHDRA THIER SUPPORT TO…
THIS FEELING IS STRNAGE.
ONLY FEB 1986 AND JANUARY 2001.
Manila Bay Watch on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:10 am
Agree with Mlq3. Gina wields great influence on her husband more than any other person close to him.
supremo on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:30 am
rego,
There’s an event at the Phil. Consulate this Saturday. It’s about Fil-Am organizations. It’s a whole day affair. Ambet Ocampo is guest speaker. This is a good way to network. Free food the whole day.
rego on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:38 am
I’m leaning towards scholarchips from now on, you know the website qwert came up with? worldvision.
—————-
Ramrod,
No I havent seen the site.
Our scholarship program is run by an informal or casual group of people.
We designated 6 people from among us to be the execom. The execom drafted the rules. The execom eventuall became teh screening committe that screen the aplicants.
We also designated a fund manager who manage the funds and give us financial report every time a new contribution arrives.
Then there is revolving a scholar manager that attend to the needs of the scholar. He conduct one-on-one meeting every month with teh scholar and discuss family, lovelife , social life, extra curricular activities and anything under the sun that can affect the scholars academic performance. Its something like a holistic approach.. The scholar manager regularly sent a monthly report to all donors.
There were 6 fund solicitor all over teh world and in Manila.
And there is even 3 ambassador of goodwill, one in NYC, one in Sidney and one in Vienna. These are people who travels a lot due to the nature of the job. One is a UN inspector, one is a psychiatrist that work in a very prominent pharmaceutical company. Their job is to meet as many peopel as they can during their travels and introduce the scholarship program.
The scholar has his own ATM card. The account oepend by the schorlarship program. The fund manager trasfers the monthly stipend every month. Th efudn manger is based in Guam.
We are now on our 8th year and has produce to scholars thatis working now. How ever with our unique way of doing it. we cannot manage more than 2 scholars.
Everybody has their jobs to attent too.
I think Vic is involved on scholarship too. You can also get inputs from him.
Shaman of Malilipot on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:43 am
“jdv has built a career on trying to make everybody happy.” mlq3
Actually, that’s the tragedy of JDV. He never learned the maxim: “You can’t please everybody”. A career built on trying to please everybody is bound to fail, as JDV’s is failing now.
As a politician, the only way to really succeed is to serve the interest of the people and make them happy, at least most of them, even at the risk of displeasing other politicians, including the President.
Look at Rep. Tony Cuenco now, publicly agonizing between telling the people the whole truth about the bribery last Thursday or hurting Gloria and his fellow congressmen. What kind of a public servant is he? Siding with the people is always a no-brainer.
tonio on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:45 am
equalizer:
1) we need JDV to take a real strong stand
not gonna happen.
2)Civil society and political groups to accept the idea of Noli as caretaker president till 2010.
not gonna happen. noli is an outsider who cannot be trusted to support their agenda, in other words, he is no somos
3)support of the military
not gonna happen. she’s got them in her pocket.
4)CBCP taking a stronger stand.
it might happen, but do you really want this to? the days of Cardinal Sin and the political church are over, let’s not resurrect them.
5)one more big scandal exposed(CyberEd?)
this could very well happen, but as soon as this leaves the front pages, then what?
rego on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:46 am
So you are our resident haciendero? 70 hectares, wow!
——
But if you divide that to 10 sibling its no longer an “hacienda”.
And we were not born just waiting for the produce of that farm to fall on our mouths we worked on that farm too. I remember my father required me to plant coconuts on my own in one hectare of land before I left for manila for college.
Plus with the political conditions in Masbate, its really hard to optimized the farm and get more money from it.
That is why I have to really work my ass off here.
ay_naku on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:46 am
frombelow, magdilang-anghel ka sana.
rego on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:47 am
supremo :
rego,
There’s an event at the Phil. Consulate this Saturday. It’s about Fil-Am organizations. It’s a whole day affair. Ambet Ocampo is guest speaker. This is a good way to network. Free food the whole day.
——————————————
Thanks supremo, if I finsih this one project by Friday. I may go.
supremo on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:54 am
mlq3,
I can’t find The Explainer video in Starry Starry Store. Is there another website?
supremo on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:02 am
rego,
The event is Bayanihan sa Amerika. There’s a schedule in pcgny.net
Pilipinoparin on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:14 am
Per Regos’s post…..
“Our scholarship program is run by an informal or casual group of people.
We designated 6 people from among us to be the execom. The execom drafted the rules. The execom eventuall became teh screening committe that screen the aplicants.
We also designated a fund manager who manage the funds and give us financial report every time a new contribution arrives.
Then there is revolving a scholar manager that attend to the needs of the scholar. He conduct one-on-one meeting every month with teh scholar and discuss family, lovelife , social life, extra curricular activities and anything under the sun that can affect the scholars academic performance. Its something like a holistic approach.. The scholar manager regularly sent a monthly report to all donors.
There were 6 fund solicitor all over teh world and in Manila.
And there is even 3 ambassador of goodwill, one in NYC, one in Sidney and one in Vienna. These are people who travels a lot due to the nature of the job. One is a UN inspector, one is a psychiatrist that work in a very prominent pharmaceutical company. Their job is to meet as many peopel as they can during their travels and introduce the scholarship program.
The scholar has his own ATM card. The account oepend by the schorlarship program. The fund manager trasfers the monthly stipend every month. Th efudn manger is based in Guam.
We are now on our 8th year and has produce to scholars thatis working now. How ever with our unique way of doing it. we cannot manage more than 2 scholars.
Everybody has their jobs to attent too.
I think Vic is involved on scholarship too. You can also get inputs from him.”
Congratulations, Rego. That is a very noble thing to do for our kababayan.
I think many Pilipinos have similar groups/organizations both locally and internationally managed. We have almost similar group, a high school alumni group which organized an alumni scholarship foundation more than thirty years ago and is still growing. Some members are suggesting that we form a global scholarship foundation in addition to the original local foundation for the benefit of our poor alumni and present students. However, this is still in the embryologic stage and no one knows if this will become true entity in the near future. Global foundation will surely help in the logistics since most of our donors are fil-ams, canadians, australians and OFWs.
I think organizations like Rego’s together with remittances from OFWs are a great help to our kababayans.
Shaman of Malilipot on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:17 am
Rego, it’s good to know that we share two commonalities -both of us are Bicolanos and come from landed families.
My mother inherited land, much bigger than your 70 has., but I’m not saying how much. She tried to resist land reform, but to her consternation and eternal disappointment, I sided with the tenants. I always believe that land belongs to the tiller. Now, I’m happy to see that our former tenants are leading prosperous lives.
I hated living off the toil of the tenants, especially on inherited land. But in your case, it’s okay since you worked the land yourself.
Manila Bay Watch on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:21 am
If Gloria does resign from her bogus presidency, de Castro has to step in till 2010.
I’m prepared to go for de Castro just to get Gloria out.
I don’t believe he can do worse than Gloria. Impossible to do worse than Gloria.
rego on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:35 am
Shaman,
I am also in favor of land reform. For simple reason na kung hindi naman maasikaso ng mga landlord yung lupa. Sayang naman kung naktiwangwang lang. Marming nagugutom eh.
And I remember DAR visited my father visited several times. But when the land was distributed subdivided to the siblings and the apos. walang ng natira sa DAR.
vic on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:26 am
rego,
you mentioned our charitable works among my townmates in North America and now it involves all townmates worldwide, thanks to internet.
ours involves mostly giving back to our town (see alimodian.net) mostly in infrastructure, like helping finance a barangay centre or chapel, and lately my townmates in Northeast and western states started the project of supplying thousands of books and a Reading center in town and also distributing the books among barangays. Its been going since l986 and we also take pleads for donations among the town’s civic citizen and raise funds for them, mostly by contributions from our town mates here that keeps growing with later arrivals.
but we are open to suggestion among town mates and even consider some from our LGU officials. And I believe we are making some impacts…
(posted this on the other thread)hope MLQ doens’t mind..
tess on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 3:33 am
Are seeing the last days of Gloria?
tess on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 3:34 am
Are we seeing the last days of Gloria?
watchful eye on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 4:01 am
it seems the only question to resolve now is what ice cream flavor to buy. hehe
masyado kasi niyang ginagago ang mga pinoy, eh.
Gago nga ba ang Pinoy? Tingnan natin ang susunod na kabanata.
Sino sa palagay nyo mga pre ko ang mag-ooffer sa kanya ng pardon?
hi Ben, you’re ok?
Bencard on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 4:43 am
sino ba ang nagimbento ng mga salitant “ginagago”, “bastusan”, o “binabastos”? tila sa tingin ko e si mestisong cayetano. ang gago ay talagang gago, hindi na kailangang gaguhin. kailan pa ba naging pino and pulitika natin. mabuti na nga and bastusan kesa patayan, di ba?
marami ang nagkukunwaring matalino at marangal sa atin pero usisain mo ang kanilang pananalita at gawain, walang makabuluhang laman at magaspang pa sa papel de liha.
The Ca t on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 5:47 am
Take alka selzter. Kabag lang yan.
sosorry4u on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 6:20 am
Don’t you know that Gloria is two or three steps ahead of any situation she had been in? Mas magagaling ang mga thinktanks ni Glow kaysa sa mga oppositionists. The end of the tunnel is still far far away for Glow. Luli
DinaPinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 7:29 am
hindi charter change ang kailangan ng pinas.
CHARACTER change – as in moral character.
kahit paalisin si gloria at si noli ang maupo, the ussual casts are still in place.
di ba sabi eh hindi naman si marcos ang magnanakaw kundi ang mga nakapaligid sa kanya.
si erap mabait, maka masa. hindi siya ang corrupt. ang kurap as si atong ang, chavit, jose velarde et al, pero nunca, hindi nagnakaw nga kaban ng bayan si erap.
pwede ring sabihin, hindi si gloria ang magnanakaw. it’s the characters around her. and the circus goes on and on……
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:28 am
cvj
It is not that I do not agree with the liberal labor laws that I mentioned. It is just that at this stage of the country’s economic development, you cannot afford to shoo away jobs that will be generated if the investor’s perception regarding these laws are less “liberal”. Of course, I am not saying this is the only component in attracting foreign investors, but a lot of negartive perception that I hear from friends outside the country always starts off with these labor strikes. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when you talk to these people.
As a people, we can afford to have these democratic ideals only when the country has become strong economically. Why do we have a lot of people leaving the country. It isn;t just because the jobs do not pay well, mind you. It’s really because there’s not enough jobs out there to begin with.
watchful eye on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:28 am
Did you try to maximize the fine print on the bags?
It says: THIS IS WHERE YOUR TAXES ARE BEING SPENT.
(and some were in renminbi denomination, oops.)
watchful eye on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:33 am
Proud,
Is that why some in the US say the only way for GM to catch up with Toyota is for the US Congress to pass a law abolishing labor unions?
frombelow on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:34 am
This is strange feeling. I got a nightmare last night. All will be over before Christmas. I saw GMA speaking triumphanlty. And the streets werer all dark and gloomy. BELIEVE ME>
watchful eye on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:38 am
fromB,
Are you from fromB(urma)too?
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:45 am
I would just like to play devils’s advocate and ask this question. If one looks at what is going on in the past few months, don’t you think that obviously, somebody is orchestrating all of these so called revelations of shenanigans in the present administration. I am no great fan of GMA but at the same time, I have an eerie feeling that at the end of the day, the Filipino people will still be left holding an empty bag here.
It seems to me that the people, especially the masses, are being conditioned to have a negative perception of the present administration.
We always have a romanticized view of the previous administrations’ so called good performance. Or what I refer to as “they were a lot better than it is now” syndrome. Even now, revisionists are saying the Marcos days were a lot better than what the people are now suffering from under the current administration.
At the end of the day, isn’t it the case that ALL administrations have their skeletons in the closet??? One has to realize that the Philippine politics IS dirty. Why? It is because WE, the people, demand it to be so. What do you think is going on when the politician’s constituents go to them to ask for money. Di ba, the standing joke is that , KBL, yan? (Kasal, Binyag and Libing). kulang na nga lang idagdag ng O (Ospital.)
One may argue who will the masses turn to in times of need. So it really begs the question then. What should be done? DO the politicians turn them away so that they don’t need to steal money just so they can help the masses? The politics of patronage is a two way street. We always say it’s the politicians who are to blame. Isn’t it time to look and see that BOTH are the to blame for the sorry state of Philippine politics? Isn’t it the case that when a candidate wins, their constituents have EXPECTATIONS that are not exactly congruent to the welfare of the majority, but rather for themselves???
Just a thought.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:47 am
Watchful eye
To some extent, I agree with that statement. Labor Unions have their place in the world, BUT, is there any point to a labor union if the company their constituents work for is gone??? Who will they be bargaining with then????
frombelow on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:56 am
so what do you propose Proud to be Pinoy?
Just move on or do something. As i see it you abhor what you have observed.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:57 am
watchful eye
This is a real case in point of what I am talking about. I was once passing by a manufacturing subsidiary of a major company in the Philippines. Do you know what the workers were striking against? They were striking against the closure of the company! This company has had a long history of animosity between labor and management and so the company decided to just shut down since it has become an unprofitable enterprise and yet, they are not even being allowed to do that. Labor is even DEMANDING that they reopen. I didn’t even know that the investors have less rights on what to do with their capital in our country.
In the US, because of the economy’s relative strength, they can withstand the closure of major companies and they still won’t miss a beat. Tayo, we can’t afford that. Just have around 100 manufacturing companies shut down and don’t think there won’t be blood in the streets.
watchful eye on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 8:59 am
Q: One may argue who will the masses turn to in times of need?
A: The Saudis?
Q: Isn’t it time to look and see that BOTH are the to blame for the sorry state of Philippine politics?
A: No. Just those “proud to be tsinoy.†And I’m not trying to be smart. The taipans think they own the country so they want to govern it.
Q: Don’t you think that obviously, somebody is orchestrating all of these so called revelations of shenanigans in the present administration?
A: Who has the power to control public opinion? Not Bencard or cvj, I’m sure?
Q:Is there any point to a labor union if the company their constituents work for is gone??? Who will they be bargaining with then?
A: Have you heard too of CAPITAL strike?
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:02 am
frombelow
I do abhor what is going on. At the end of the day, it is NOT RIGHT. But can it be changed overnight? We have changed leaders what, twice already, and so what happened? Isn’t it the same old sh*t.
What we really need in our country is an attitude adjustment. I do agree with a statement made on this commentary by DinaPinoy. What we really need is character change. and I will add to that. It is character change of the Filipino. We have mimicked and internalized the worse characteristics of the Spanish and American influence we have experienced in our country and evolved it into one of our own. A much more savage beast which do not really care for the welfare of the country. All of us really have to do our share to mold the minds of the younger ones. Sila na lang ang pag -asa ng ating bayan. The old faces are still around and the new faces are now being influenced by the old hands. It’s really the system that’s screwed.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:10 am
watchful eye
I agree that some of the taipans are not exactly people I am proud to share lineage with. But at the end of the day, they HAVE provided jobs for people, albeit their pay is measly.
As regarding your point on them thinking they may be able to govern the country, well, I don’t know. At this point, that may be an option worth considering.
This is what I can tell you of the chinese mindset. We always want to leave a good legacy so that our descendants can be proud of us. I am sure a lot of thse taipans now have that in mind and if they can help turn the country around by running them, they will be glad to do so. Leaving a good name is the foremost on the minds of these old fogeys. Cheers.
Public opinions CAN be shaped. Think Nazi. How did Hitler shape the majority of the minds of the people??? Propaganda. Media has been very helpful in this regard in this day and age. Just look at recent history. Ganun din naman ang ginawa kay erap, di ba??
Yes, there’s such a thing as a lockout. But let me tell you this, what would your opinion of the company be if they go on lockout. Di ba majority will say, di naman sila naawa sa manggagawa??? That’s the state of Philippine management and labor relations in our country, adversarial and confrontational.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:14 am
Proud to be Tsinoy, i don’t think laborers go on strike just for the heck of it. If you take away the ‘liberal’ labor laws, how then do we protect the rights of the worker? And if we take away the rights of the worker, how will their welfare be ensured? Can we count on the Tsinoy businessmen to do this out of the goodness of their hearts?
You talk about managing the perceptions of your friends, that’s well and good but that perception must be based on underlying reality, because sooner or later, the truth comes out. More importantly, in managing perceptions, we should draw the line when it comes to real people. Man for man, woman for woman, laborers are as much real people as Tsinoy businessmen and businesswomen so we have to give these individuals the respect due to them. Take that to heart and probably the people’s perceptions towards the Tsinoy community would also improve.
As to whether we can afford democracy, after all that that has been revealed, can we afford not to be one? We live in a country were the elite (in business and government) conspires with foreign governments against the general public. Democracy is government by discussion. Last i saw, that exercise in democracy (however flawed) just saved us 329 Million USD in real money.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:26 am
BTW, if you compare the Chinese-Filipino Taipans with their counterparts in Korea, Taiwan and Japan, you would see that they compare very poorly when it comes to national development. The latter are bonafide industrialists who have created sophisticated products for export to the developed world while the former have just gotten rich via real estate or by extracting revenue from millions of Filipino consumers while paying their employees minimum wage. On the basis of this meager achievement, these Taipans then believe they are entitled to a bigger voice than the common Filipino. Hindi na nahiya.
frombelow on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:30 am
Proud to be Tsinoy
“I do abhor what is going on. At the end of the day, it is NOT RIGHT. But can it be changed overnight? We have changed leaders what, twice already, and so what happened? Isn’t it the same old sh*t.
What we really need in our country is an attitude adjustment”–Proud to be Tsinoy
I can’t see the logic.It seems that from your point of view it will be easier for the whole nation to change attitude than to kick out corrupt leaders in high places.Those corrupt leaders are few. The whole nation changing its attitude will be a very long process indeed.
But changing those corrupt leaders overnight? It has been done in three nights. Marcos Erpa. Wanna bet let’s start our vigil tonight in front of EDSA. Millions of us and in three nights, those corrupt leaders (soem of them will remain for sure ) will be gone. If we are luck enough, thue will be kiccked out overnight. So let us start.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:39 am
cvj
Again, I am not saying that liberal labor laws are wrong. I am saying that maybe we should put a moratorium to it until we can really get our economy going. I am also not saying we should get rid of labor laws. Just get rid of labor laws that are too one sided for labor.
I am also not saying that labor should be given subsistence level pay. All I am saying is strikes have no place right now at this stage of the country’s development. What do you think is going on in China? What did you think went on in Korea and Taiwan and why did they become the rich country they were? Partly because they did not allow any form of strike to hamper production. This allowed the country to grow. Then when they are already stable, then and only then, is labor given ALL their rights and privileges.
As for the perception issue, I am not sure where it’s coming from. We are able to get where we are because we are careful with how we spend our money. We do not have a consumer mentality. As much as possible, we do not buy on credit. That is how we were able to save some money so that we can buy things in cash. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for you), I have seen this mentality eroding amongst the younger generation Tsinoys.
I do agree with your comment that laborers are people too and should be accorded the respect they deserve as partners of investors. But as a side comment, what would you feel if even after all the respect accorded them, they still spit you in the face??? I myself has been a victim of that. There is a running perception (and I know it is partly true) that once you give Philippine labor your hand, they will TAKE your arm. and if you give them your ARM, they will take your shoulder…..). THAT is the perception. ANd you wonder why Tsinoy businessmen tend to be less “generous” from your perspective? Philippine labor right now has the mentality that since they’re the ones who make the goods, they should get more of the profit. They don’t think of it as a partnership.
BY the way, it’s the same democracy that has given a lot of foreigners the perception that we couldn’t get our act together while the other economies around us zoom by…..
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:42 am
frombelow
I guess I am just too tired of kicking every as*h*le politician we have out there and not seeing the desired results from it….and meanwhile the economy suffers in the process.
Maybe you’re right. I really don’t know anymore what can be done. That’s why people are leaving the country in droves. They really do not know what to do anymore.
watchful eye on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:43 am
Proud: At the end of the day, they HAVE provided jobs for people, albeit their pay is measly.
W: The taipans could provide more jobs if they build more, and risk more. The OFWs have taken the plunge. So must they.
P: As regarding your point on them thinking they may be able to govern the country, well, I don’t know. At this point, that may be an option worth considering.
W: I’d be glad if they take that option . . . if the consensus is there.
P: This is what I can tell you of the chinese mindset. We always want to leave a good legacy so that our descendants can be proud of us. I am sure a lot of thse taipans now have that in mind and if they can help turn the country around by running them, they will be glad to do so. Leaving a good name is the foremost on the minds of these old fogeys. Cheers.
W: There’s the rub. They must talk about the Filipino mindset not any mindset or Chinese mindset. The hyphen, the contraction must go. Then we can ALL be “proud to be pinoy.â€
P: Yes, there’s such a thing as a lockout. But let me tell you this, what would your opinion of the company be if they go on lockout?
W: I’m actually looking for investments and reinvestments. Not just loans to the government with guaranteed returns.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:48 am
cvj
Again, not every Tsinoy Taipan is bad. You just have to realize the economy were in and see why they’re in those businesses. It really then begs the question: How do we get to the point where these taipans will be building the stuff we all dream about? We go back to my argument. Make the economy strong first.
And then again, business is really all about profit, it’s not about being a welfare state, you know. So extracting revenue while paying a minimum wage is a natural thing.
What you should really think about is how to generate enough jobs out there so that the time will REALLY COME that labor becomes a scarce commodity and the highest bidders will win his/her skill set. That’s how a real economy works.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:51 am
watchful eye
I agree with all your comments. Except I did make themistake of saying chinese instead of Tsinoy. You are also right there that the hyphen must go. I have always been proud of my being Filipino of Chinese heritage.
The taipans ARE adding more investments into the country if you look at the dailies hard enough. They are always looking for opportunities.
watchful eye on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:56 am
P:The taipans ARE adding more investments into the country if you look at the dailies hard enough. They are always looking for opportunities.
W: Not enough, per cvj and I agree with him, especially if you take into account their successful counterparts in the region. Juan de la Cruz can only do so much. The taipans must take the lead.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 9:58 am
Hmmm….maybe I should start talking to Lance…..:-) Cheers
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 10:04 am
Proud to be Tsinoy, you are missing a step. It is true that in Korea, Japan and Taiwan, they were able to industrialize by concentrating the means of production to a few wealthy businessmen (via what Alice Amsden calls the reciprocal control mechanisms). They were able to do that because these countries had greater equality in terms of income and in terms of land holdings. This (together with the repressive labor laws) allowed the government-business partnership to industrialize in peace. Same with China (and Vietnam), they first had a communist revolution to get rid of their oligarchs. We havent yet had ours. The Philippines today is a society with stark inequalities that cannot be ignored. If you suppress labor laws unilaterally, then this just fuels further discontent.
The Tsinoy Taipans got rich by taking advantage of the Filipino people’s consumer mentality so i wouldn’t criticize that too much if i were you.
If you have a grievance against Philippine labor, then take it to the people and convince them that a moratorium on strikes is in the country’s best interest. That’s part of your ongoing process of Filipinization. If you want to use strong arm tactics, then go back to China and hope that you won’t be on the receiving end. Over here, it is not for you to *give* or *take away* rights or privileges.
As to your comment…
…i once saw Rico Hizon interviewing John Gokongwei where the latter said the same thing, i.e. that over the past decades, our neighbors have passed us by. I don’t know why Rico did not ask the logical question on why Gokongwei seems not to have done too badly for himself during these same time period.
As a local who knows the situation on the ground, I would consider those foreigners’ comments as a simple matter of flawed perception fuelled by a Chinese-Filipino elite that has a case of Lee Kuan Yew-envy, undeserved by the way.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 10:19 am
cvj
You are correct regarding the fact that I did miss one step. We did have that problem of not having equitable distribution of land holdings. I do not know about a more equal distribution of wealth part though.
As for the consumer mentality, I do want to criticize it because that is one of the main problems of the Filipino psyche..the need to acquire even if they don’t have the means for it yet. That attitude should change. I ahve seen some go to great lengths to get into major debt just to see pawn it back to the sellers.
I have tried taking it to the department of labor on this issue to no avail of course. Who I am but a small tsinoy businessman..:-)
Your last comment…it is NOT a flawed perception because I also see it. It’s just having two different points of view…and I do respect your point of view. We just don’t agree that we’re looking at the same thing the same way.
I suppose if we look at it in micro terms, then you may be correct that democracy has given us the freedom to do what we want to do. But it is also a bane if we do not become responsible citizens for it. I know you’re one. I know most people in this forum are responsible citizens. The question is, are the rest of the Filipino people, responsible? I guess having to survive day to day allows us to become irresponsible citizens (in the Philippine context, at least) right?
frombelow on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 10:22 am
The Philippines I think is the only county in the world where businessmen have the habit of blaming politics for thier misfortunes and the politicians blaming business for theirs.
When the economy is bad, it is due to politics.
Well, they say you can’t separate politics from economics. But i think the essence of that dictum is that everthiong is political, which all social scientists have agreed.
But not in a sense that businessmen use blaming game as cover for their lack of business inimagination. Business is your province, you have nothing to blame, not labor, not culture, not politics, not corruption, if you fail. It all falls on you.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 11:16 am
frombelow
“But not in a sense that businessmen use blaming game as cover for their lack of business inimagination. Business is your province, you have nothing to blame, not labor, not culture, not politics, not corruption, if you fail. It all falls on you.”
If this si the argument then, should government then get out of the way? (Just playing the devil’s advocate here) and let the chips fall where they may? But then again, bleeding hearts will dictate that rapacious businessmen will take advantage of the situation to the detriment of other people.
The point is…there is a correlation between culture, politics, labor relations, corruption and the success of an enterprises, because all of them impinges on the ability of the enterprise to do it’s thing. Now this is NOT to say that lack of imagination is also to blame for the failure of an enterprise.
ramrod on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:17 pm
Most businessmen would rather not have anything to do with government. At a certain degree, they are shielded from the impacts of whatever is going on around here. Businesses will survive even without government help as long as the fundamentals are there. In fact, in some aspects government is hurting the business sector, take for example the money they have to shell out to customs (this is not part of the computed costs), etc. bottomline, corruption impacts business.
These big businessmen have been cynical when it comes to politics, politicians come and go. It is only lately (perhaps later part of Marcos’ time) that some members of the business community are vocal about certain issues but this I believe is a minority. If they talk about politics, its just a matter of “discussion” or more of the “tsismis” type and laugh or complain about it. They would even prefer not to read the newspapers nowadays because of all the stench, to quote one “pare pareho lang lahat, all corrupt.” If some corrupt officials put pressure on them to pay, they’d rather pay quietly. Arguments, noise, hostility, controversy, do not make good business. In terms of labor issues, it depends really on the businesses we are looking at, family-owned, labor-intensive, mostly Chinese businesses, because of efficiency issues and competition from cheap imported products from China are not that profitable, they’re barely making it year to year.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:58 pm
RAMROD
I agree with your statement
“In terms of labor issues, it depends really on the businesses we are looking at, family-owned, labor-intensive, mostly Chinese businesses, because of efficiency issues and competition from cheap imported products from China are not that profitable, they’re barely making it year to year.”
Hanggang ngayon kasi, di naiinintindihan ng mga manggagawa at mga ibang liberal do gooders na iba na ang panahon ngayon. Masyadong maliit na ang kinikita ng mga negosyanteng tsinoy. Minsan nga, mas mabuti pang ilagay na lang sa bangko at mas malaki pa ang kikitain nito ng walang kahihirap hirap.
The average profit margin, net of taxes, lagay, miscellaneous expenses, etc. is around 3-5% maximum. To get more absolute margins in pesos, you would have to do volume business but not everybody has that kind of money to begin with…to grow the business.
That’s exactly the reason why it’s hard to take risks in the Philippines, too many unreliable factors. Nagtataka pa tayo kung bakit sa property lang at consumer businesses nag stick ang mga big time tsinoy taipans? It’s hard to build new innovations knowing that there’s no market and that the colonial mentality is still at work. Then they wonder why we have shoddy products to begin with? Eh, kung lagyan mo naman ng kalidad, mahal naman daw????
Hay….
ramrod on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:24 pm
tsinoy,
I have made a career of serving Chinese wholesalers since I graduated from college. If you look at the business through western eyes, it would be better to put all their money in the bank, or speculate on stocks, or sell the business, considering the actual margins. But if you really look closely, these businessmen are not really here for just the money, they employ people that are otherwise non qualified for multinationals, high school level, grade school level, these people can’t avail of BPOs also. At times, I think they’re sticking it out because of their employees and some sentimental reasons that these businesses are legacies.
Our government can do these people a favor by limiting corruption, extortion, and providing a favorable business climate for all concerned.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:29 pm
Proud to be Tsinoy, that missing step is a crucial one and would spell the difference between a Latin American-type dictatorship that serves only the few, or one that leads to economic takeoff. Also, if you study the example of our rapidly growing neighbors, you will see the the formula of goverment getting out of the way is just the opposite of the actual policies that these countries implemented.
By “irresponsible citizens“, i suppose you mean those people who engage in smuggling and cheat on their taxes. I agree that we have to be more draconian towards these people but i bet you won’t see these kinds of people in the slums or among Erap or FPJ supporters. Rather, they are more likely to be found among the Arroyo/de Venecia crowd, e.g. in the golf courses of Wack-wack. Some of them might even be complaining that they have given the people “too much democracy” even while they think of ways to saddle more foreign debt on the rest of us Filipinos. Maybe it’s in that sense that we have too much democracy in that we let these people get away with too much. As i mentioned before, i would approve of the jackboot of dictatorship only if it is used on the faces of these characters.
As a tsinoy small-businessman don’t you have some association that you can go to? Why not form a small employer’s union? Why not use the ways of democracy for your benefit? I can understand that you’re also caught in the middle, between the few big guys and the huge majority of poor folks. However, does that mean you always have to take the side of guys like Lance? Could it be that just like the common folk, you have a stake in having a good government that treats everyone fairly?
When you say ‘Filipino psyche’ i suppose you are excluding yourself. I’ve been here in Singapore for a couple of years so i can now appreciate that the ‘Chinese psyche’ that is presented to the Philippines is more like the ‘Binondo Chinese psyche’. Over here, shopping is a favorite pastime by the locals (especially the ‘Tai-tai’) and the Chinese have enthusiastically embraced the consumer mentality.
In macroeconomic terms, i don’t think the Philippine business community would really want the locals to give-up such mentality since that would mean plunging the economy in a liquidity trap like what happened in Japan in the 90’s. That would be bad for business.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:39 pm
That’s where the Japanese and Koreans (who are *not* Chinese by the way) and Taiwanese have over the Tsinoy Taipans. Over there, they produce results. Over here they can only give excuses. (Benign0, why don’t you share with our Tsinoy Taipans Nick Joaquin’s essay?)
ramrod on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 1:48 pm
“That’s where the Japanese and Koreans (who are *not* Chinese by the way) and Taiwanese have over the Tsinoy Taipans. Over there, they produce results. Over here they can only give excuses. (Benign0, why don’t you share with our Tsinoy Taipans Nick Joaquin’s essay?)”
Cvj, tsinoy,
Not all Chinese businesses are still in the Binondo stage, quite a number have graduated to even global competetitiveness. But these small businesses have their role to play in society, as I said they provide jobs for people who are otherwise not qualified for other companies due to educational attainment or age consideratons. (provided their not sweatshops)
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:20 pm
Ramrod, i agree and that’s a good thing. No one argues with the enterprising nature of Chinese. Where you have Pinoys like me working as professionals (aka employees) you have the Chinese (from the mainland) going overseas to work as small businessmen. There are thousands of them in Africa right now.
Where i take issue is that the Binondo crowd do not seem to have put a stake in our democracy. At the same time, they are all too willing to side with the current powers and take from the rest the only equalizer, i.e. their political freedoms. These people would benefit from an attitude change.
ramrod on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:27 pm
“Where i take issue is that the Binondo crowd do not seem to have put a stake in our democracy. At the same time, they are all too willing to side with the current powers and take from the rest the only equalizer, i.e. their political freedoms. These people would benefit from an attitude change.”
They have to maintain anonymity or avoid getting attention to themselves for some reasons.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:32 pm
There you have it then, another excuse for apathy. Valid maybe but an excuse nonetheless. I don’t know if that’s something Tsinoys can be ‘proud’ of.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:42 pm
Ramrod
Ramrod, you are correct. We do have world class pinoy companies like Ayala corp and Jollibee. We also have small businesses whether pinoy or tsinoy owned, struggling to meet the payroll. They do have their roles in society. For me, the main issue has more to do with the economic environment where companies are regulated too much to the point that they break the rules anyway since if they don’t, they might as well close shop.
It’s really very easy to kibitz when one has not gone through running a business where everyday, expenses are incurred while revenues have not been as good as 20 years ago.
Well, I suppose cvj is right. All we tsinoy businessmen offer are excuses. Guess what, when the day comes when I can fire inefficient, lazy people (with justification of course) without considering the feelings of the emotional pinoys and the resultant dealings I have to make with the Dept of Labor to justify said firing , then I am sure results will happen. The day when I do not have to deal with leeches in customs who asks for a bribe so that we can release our shipment (even if we pay the proper taxes), then results will happen. The day when we can go deliver our goods in metro manila without someone flagging us down and trying to get some lunch money from our drivers, then results will happen. The day when government, instead of hampering business by putting all sorts of rules only for the selected few to go around these rules , just allow business to do business, then results will happen. In the end, if you realize what I am saying, it’s the people in government, whether it’s GMA, or Ramos, or Erap, or Marcos, and the leeching bureaucracy, that’s the main problem.
The government in the countries you mentioned, ARE OUT OF THE WAY. They provide businesses with the proper environment for them to grow. There are regulations per se, but these regulations generally do not hamper the flow of business. Unlike in the Philippines where every step means dealing with somebody’s palms out in order to facilitate the process.
In Hongkong, setting up a business will not take you more than a few days. It’s ministerial in nature. In the Philippines, setting up a business is regulatory in nature. Aside from having to deal with the National Government, you also have to contend with the local government.
So, CVJ, it’s not about excuses really, it’s about leveling the playing field. and you’re right, the taipans have not leveled the playing field for all businessmen, tsinoys and pinoys alike. That I agree. A lot of my small businessmen friends in many industries are now hurt by the SM juggernaut. I have a relative who used to own like 21 shoes stores all over the province. It’s now down to 9 because of SM. I have a friend who decided to just shut down their factory employing 1000 workers and just import and trade the same goods because it’s cheaper to buy it from abroad and you have less employees (I think around 25) to deal with….
and these are just a few of the examples I could give you. That is the real world in the Philippines CVJ….not some theoretical mumbo jumbo we all love to talk about.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:49 pm
CVJ
You have to realize something as to why Tsinoys are “apathetic”. We do have a stake in the country but we do not believe in violent immediate changes. Look at CHina, it took them a few years to get to where they are. It wasn’t like Deng Xiao Peng turned on the switch and the next day, CHina became a powerhouse.
It’s the same argument. We need to make changes. The CHinese are just more circumspect, I suppose. But Let me tell you that a lot of Tsinoys ARE involved in the democratic movement. It’s just that they’re low key. I believe the majority is more inclined towards making small changes. As for the Binondo businessmen, I understand your issues about their apathy. The older generation really have a different view of the Philippines. I can tell you, sir, that I love the Philippines more than China. I guess we just have a different view of how we can change things in our beloved country.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:52 pm
CVJ, Ramrod
I have learned a lot from your discussions with me. I thank you for telling me your point of view and will digest them. Peace brothers!
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 3:05 pm
Proud to be Tsinoy, you’re again missing a step. Before Deng, there was Mao. Remember him? Deng’s reforms would not have been possible if he had the oligarchs and warlords with all their resources to deal with. I’m not saying we should imitate Mao and stage our own communist revolution. However, why do they choose to cooperate with the current powers against the masses?
As i see it, it’s only when it’s economically convenient that Chinese businessmen come out. I can still remember all those ‘Congratulations President Estrada’ banners outside those Greenhils mansions during the eve of Erap’s election victory back in 1998. I can understand why the masses could have placed false hope in Erap. They’re desperate after all. That’s not the case with those Tsinoy businessmen. It was pure opportunism.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 3:08 pm
Thanks as well Proud to be Tsinoy. (I was typing my comment before i saw the above.)
tonio on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 3:51 pm
the rift between the tsinoys and the rest of the philippines is something which earlier Filipinos, their minds clouded by Spanish (and later American) conditioning imposed on them. in fact there are many instances in other countries where “Chinatowns” were built to supposedly marginalize and seperate the Chinese immigrant populations from the rest of the locals. all perpetuated by Caucasian colonial powers who immediately saw the threat to their power an entrepreneurial Chinese population wields.
in the Philippines, they did a pretty good job, and it has screwed relations ever since, produced a lot of the stereotypes (which i will not repeat anymore because they really bother me) we have about the tsinoys.
naturally, in response, over the years the tsinoy community developed reciprocal mechanisms for self-preservation. some of these mechanisms are still there. (anyone who’s tried courting a chinese girl will know what i am saying.
)
and despite the turning of the years, like it or not, these attitudes still here. tsinoys will more or less stick together in social situations, will more like likely deal with other tsinoys, etc.
and many filipinos will continue to look on tsinoys with distrust and envy.
set against this climate, you now expect the tsinoys to the economic messiahs of the country?
and i agree with some of the opinions expressed here that the small-scale tsinoy entrepreneur hardly makes any profit. their money is better off invested in banks. and yet they are there, risking their capital and providing economic activity. and i also lament, to a certain extent that the many tsinoy youth seem to be just as into the entire consumer mentality as the rest of the country. how’s that for integration, eh?
i don’t think the same can be said of the elites of other backgrounds, who would much rather funnel the bulk their profits (what we have to be thankful for is just the tip of the iceberg for these elites, methinks) into ostentatious displays of wealth, or in bank accounts and holdings in mi madre patria, or what have you.
added to that the small percentage of Filipino nouveau riche, who, rich off of illegal activities, influence peddling, and politics are the worst of the lot, those who would gladly feast of the starving corpses of their countrymen just so they can hang out in golf courses and play their little power games.
and you wonder why this is all going to heck.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 3:58 pm
tonio:
Your point is interesting. It kind of hits the nail on its head.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 4:37 pm
I didn’t realize the Tsinoys had their own victim mentality. Of course, they are expected to be the economic messiahs. After all, they are already acting as if they were.
If Tsinoys cannot deploy their capital for the welfare of the country (just like what their mainland and Taiwanese counterparts are doing), then they should turn it over to someone else who can, just like Mao did in the mainland and just like Chiang Kai Shek did against the Taiwanese elite.
Tsinoys are expected to do their part, not just within their own Tsinoy community but as part of the larger Filipino community, that is if they really want to be Filipino. As a start, the Tsinoys should at least police their own ranks of cronies and would be cronies.
One thing Lee Kuan Yew did right in Singapore is to force assimilation between the races (Chinese, Malay & Indian). That’s one thing a would be dictator right here would do well to imitate.
ramrod on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 4:46 pm
Anyway, there are several big, globally competitive Chinese industrialists as well (my clients) who have companies that are ISO certified (900/1400). These companies are even regional players and they actively contribute to the dynamism of our economy. They are not however, immune to the harassment from customs, especially during December ETAs. Thats whats keeping me busy nowadays, to move shipments from falling in December to January ‘08 and its a lot. One time I had to go talk to the customs people who asked for additional fees from my client which is not supposed to be because our mills in Europe arranged all shipments “prepaid,” the nerve of these people, I had to threaten and name drop (good thing some of my mistahs are well known).
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 4:55 pm
Ramrod, i do get the impression that corruption at Customs is equally damaging to the business environment as labor unrest and yet, when asked, the first thing the Tsinoy would want to take away is the rights of the laborer because the latter has too much democracy. Could it be because those who protect Customs are more powerful than the ordinary worker so they choose to pick on the latter?
ramrod on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 5:15 pm
Some companies have managed labor unrest through an open line of communication with the top management and the people. I don’t think all Tsinoys have that mentality anymore, a lot have MBAs and even US or European education. There’s some sort of evolution from the pure Chienese family owned business into professionally managed companies, at least for the ones who aspire to be globally competitive and part of the supply contract with customers abroad like Perseco (McDonalds), etc. is corporate responsibility, these send auditors every year to check if their suppliers adhere to ISO, HACCP, GMP, etc. ot include employee welfare. So in effect, exposure to multinationals has helped mold these companies into responsible employers.
As for customs, before it was linked to Estrada (Jinggoy), but during that time they focused more on getting money from smugglers, etc., now its linked to the first gentleman and this Aduana royalty (Vicky Toh), they have expanded operations as to extort even from legitimate businessmen.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 5:56 pm
Ramrod, that first hand info from you is good to hear. Hopefully the younger generation of Pinoys and Tsinoys would do better than their elders when it comes to working together for a better Philippines.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 5:59 pm
I was of course referring to your first paragraph and not the illicit Pinoy-Tsinoy smuggling collaboration in the next one.
Manila Bay Watch on Fri, 19th Oct 2007 12:04 am
My only experience with customs trying to fleece ‘me’, i.e., pay more duties, etc. was some 4 or 5 years ago when a friend and I sent a few dozen Compacq 2nd hand computers that we had promised to an NGO in which my brother was a member.
Customs wouldn’t release the parcels saying the computers, printers, etc. were brand new and therefore should be levied taxes. My brother had received copies of the documents by mail beforehand (also wired some money in anticipation of duties) proving that my friend and I had purchased the items in an auction house — the docs were properly translated in English and authenticated by Paris city hall translation bureau — and as such were second hand (although almost brand new, some flat screens too, coz they were only a few months old before they were seized by the courts and auctionned off when the company that had used them went bankrupt.)
The customs broker in Manila or someone like that boldly told my brother that if his organization paid grease money the items would be released and be charged only appropriate tax, i.e., less money.
The grease money being asked was extortion in my view and so told my brother not to pay, that I’d rather he destroyed the computers right there and then than pay bribe money. Fortunately, one of the members of the NGO was a lawyer friend working for a known law firm in Makati was able to talk to some petty ‘chief’ at customs and prevailed upon customs to tax the items accordingly or correctly.
The items were released after my brother’s NGO group paid the appropriate customs duties or stamp duties of some kind.
Juan Miguel Alonzo on Fri, 19th Oct 2007 10:31 am
I have resigned myself that this fu%^ing administration will survive until 2010 or even beyond. They are so adept in hiding their crimes and short circuiting the legal processes that this administration should be called appropriately as a criminal organization. My blood boils everytime Gloria’s political henchmen try to explain with a straight face the controversies surrounding her criminal organization. The gall of these minions trying to peddle their ludicrous explanations, perhaps assuming that we are all dimwits. Well again perhaps we all are, because we have allowed Gloria to dupe us since 2001. F*%k, how I wish, I’m wrong.
Bencard on Fri, 19th Oct 2007 10:48 am
juan miguel, dimwit? you have just proven it yourself. however, speak for yourself. don’t include others in your description, unless you are their designated mouthpiece and have authority to label them the same.
Juan Miguel Alonzo on Fri, 19th Oct 2007 11:54 am
bencard,
ever heard of sarcasm and irony? anyway i’m so sorry wise and infallible one if i have hurt your feelings. come now child coo coo coo.
Proud to be Tsinoy on Fri, 19th Oct 2007 12:29 pm
CVJ, RAmrod
I agree with your statement that the younger Tsinoy generation are now more or less more open in communicating with the workers/Labor. CVJ still does not get my point. I am not saying we should be less democratic. I am saying that we should just have a moratorium on strikes and too liberal labor policies until the economy becomes stable enough to withstand any external shocks.
I guess it’s really hard for CVJ to understand it unless he has been on the other side of the fence (as an employer).
cvj on Fri, 19th Oct 2007 7:15 pm
Proud to be Tsinoy, i’m not against a moratorium on strikes, but i’m against the decision being arrived at un-democratically. Same principle applies to those policies that you find too ‘liberal’. Try to pursue your advocacy via discussion and numbers rather than relying on force. You’d be surprised what you can get other people to do if you ask nicely.