Playing with Fire
Global economy on a downswing
By Gonzalo Duque
FROM where we are, now in Pennsylvania, news bits from around the world reaching us frighteningly show a limping global economy.
The news headlines about the US economy on a downswing may not mean anything to you out there in our own country, but Filipino Americans in the mainland are weeping openly.
You would hear them groan and grunt in their homes, in their workplaces and even in bars and coffee shops.
However, a fellow visitor from the Philippines confided to us that the economic meltdown has somewhat done him good because many Pinoys in America now have the time to tour their visitors anywhere. May oras na silang ipasyal ang kanilang bisita, kasi wala silang trabaho.
Kaya, kayong mga kababayan diyan sa lupang tinubuan, alalay lang mga agagui ang pag hingi abasto sa mga taga rito sa Amerika. Hirap sila.
But there’s one bright thread we saw in the Americans. They are resilient and capable of bouncing back very quickly. Aliwan anawet so ulo ra. Aliwan singa aray kabaleyan tayo ya agaylay ingka paweg da. Aliwan practical so Pinoy, say labay to sikat ya naynay, but he doesn’t pay the price for success.
We’ve been told our audiences here that the global economic crisis has its bright side as it teaches us to be more thrifty, discreet and circumspect in our lifestyle, to focus only on the essentials and discard the frivolous and meaningless.
* * *
If you believe the reports that the Barack Obama-John McClain presidential race looks like a draw, it really is.
But the black candidate is winning on points because he is a fiery speaker, youthful, vibrant, and witty although he lacks experience. McCain moves with measured pace because he is old, but many Americans, if we could read their minds, wouldn’t want to gamble on the inexperienced and experimental. The US economy is so precarious that the electors are reflecting deeply on their real choice, avoiding as best as they can a mistake or a lapse in judgment on voting day.
It’s interesting to note that our fellow Dagupeno, Jose Esteves, who is mayor of Milpitas, is with the campaign group of John McCain. We thought Pinoys should naturally be for colored people like Obama, and so we find Joe Esteves’ choice unusual.
There are talks that while the Clintons are on the campaign trail for Obama being their party mate in the Democratic Party, many of their allies are supporting McCain. Lumangtugtugin? Parang Pinoy politics? Sabi ko na sa inyo noon pa e, that the Americans are learning from us especially in the dirty side of politics.
* * *
Our dainty Pangulo was a hit in America when she addressed the United Nations last week.
It is simply not true that Ate Glow has lost her luster as a political leader. In fact, people we met here who’d despise her on the outside prayed that she would be successful in parrying the blows of an adversarial press here.
Nothing of the sort happened except those you had anticipated already. What the Americans want to happen in the Phi-lippines is to remain faithful to its interests and the democratic precepts.
Much of what they discuss here, aside from the $700 B bailout measure, is the death of the blue eyed legend, Paul Newman. He was a giant in the movie screen, and everybody believes that it would take a century to fill in his shoes.
Among Pinoys, they are excitedly swapping views on who would win Pacquiao or Dela Hoya?
Singa ak met lamlamang walad Pinas, thanks to the internet. The news we see here are almost the same news that you see there everyday.
See you soon!
(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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