Think about it
Vulnerable
By Jun Velasco
“I know that he (Ferdinand Marcos) found the treasure of Yamashita,” Bongbong Marcos to Biz News Asia
IT was a source of comfort for Metro Manilas to hold an earthquake drill last week. The activity validates scientific findings of the environment’s vulnerability from Mother Earth’s fury.
In our province, environmental concern seems to have not reached alarming levels in spite of a World Health Organization document citing the province’s vulnerability. We are pleased though that the City of Dagupan has installed a tsunami watch center manned by a competent team.
We sincerely hope our politicians are able to re-chart their priorities beyond the here-and-now of ego trip called politics. It is the pervasiveness of ego that, everybody knows anyway, has largely made the nation a laggard in Asia, and yet not enough effort is being done to arrest it.
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Like what we posited in our column last week, President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) would be viewed contrastingly with 1) an excellent or a passing grade of accomplishments in which Daang Matuwid would be on top, and 2) a dismal rating by the professional no-no groups, including the militants who even burned the president’s effigy.
Very little has been accorded a quiet, conscientious reflection in the mold of revered PDI columnist Randy David who says “there is nothing who’s with good governance as a government goal. But using it as the prism through which to view the problem of poverty only creates fatal blind spots.”
He adds: “here is nothing wrong with good governance as a government goal. But using it as the prism through which to view the problem of poverty only creates fatal blind spots. Many good governance norms, such as those developed by the World Bank’s “World-wide governance Indicators”, cannot realistically be adopted by underdeveloped societies given their existing conditions. Often, such societies devote precious time and energy putting governance reforms in place just to qualify for development assistance. Instead of using their limited resources and strengths to develop appropriate antipoverty strategies, they find themselves paying homage to good governance by participating in rituals of compliance under the supervision of global technocrats.”
“The truth is: Corruption is found in every cavity of our political system. It is the heart and soul of patronage politics – the kind that thrives in societies where mass poverty exists. Every politician knows this. The traditional ones work within the system by projecting themselves as the poor’s source of relief, and they have no problem getting themselves and their kin elected. “The modern ones seek an end to poverty through well-conceived strategies of economic growth and social development. That they seldom get elected is part of the curse of mass poverty.”
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You should get a copy of a book documenting the awesome experience of Dr. Eden Alexander titled “Proof of Heaven.” You’re lucky to find one in the National Book Store; we got ours in Urdaneta City branch a couple of months back.
Almost given up for dead due to a brain ailment, Dr. Alexander (he must be in his early 60’s) was advised by family members after he regained consciousness to document his trip to heaven and never read any other book or books on near-death experiences, to prevent any adoption other people’s impressions.
The result of Dr. Alexander’s astral travel is another shining evidence, a confirmation of God’s real love for His creatures.
We’ve assured Dr. Ernie Mataban of Region 1 Medical Center we’d gift him with a copy if we’d get another one – or probably lend him our copy with an advice to xerox copy it.
Dr. Mataban, older brother of our departed friend Tony of Bayambang town, is our fellow book lover, just like another Dr. Al Arcinue, also a R1MC consultant.
Al, by the way is younger brother of bookworms Oscar (real estate business partner of tycoon Cesar Duque and Mayor Bing of Sual town).
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Over a cup of coffee at the Batasan’s Southwing, Congressman Jonathan dela Cruz and his wife recalled our days with Neal Cruz who, with the late Pat Gonzales– a former editor of the Manila Bulletin — was our boss at the defunct Philippine Tribune… May he rest in peace.
We appreciate Cong. Pol Bataoil’s treating us to a humbler resto (Batasan canteen) and a DOLE Usec. It showed his humility and self-effacing countenance.
We heard he’d be facing former Gov. Victor Agbayani in his district. It will be a thrilling encounter, will Pol be enjoying a slight edge because of his good performance. We asked him his unbiased view of the Mark Cojuangco—Pogi Espino if ever it happens. His reply was not unexpected, but he lamented the sad turn of politics-tainted broadcast commentary in our airless.
The book, “Marcos Legacy: Raiders of the Lost Gold” authored by our friend and colleague Erick San Juan (we are both members of Kapihan sa Klab of Club Filipino) belies accusations that Senator Bongbong’s father bled the national treasury dry. His vast wealth came from General Yamashita and big-time gold miners. He was a multi billionaire many times over even before he became president, according to Erick’s books.
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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