Think about it
World crosses fingers with Obama’s rise
By Jun Velasco
MOST Americans and people around the world are still pinching their skin to make sure it’s a black American president who has just ascended the stage and now speaking to them these days.
What’s more, Barack Obama got elected leader of the most powerful nation in the world with an overwhelming majority.The millions who came to Washington to witness his ascent to power have brought with them their last hopes and prayers for deliverance from a world gripped by worsening hopelessness. President Obama enters the White House with the world’s baggage on his frail shoulders.
But the man, like a knight in shining armor, showed a steely will, grit, raw courage and a perceived capability to turn things around, warning that because most everyone has hit rock bottom will now pour out all his hopes and illusions — prayers, especially — to see him succeed. This is a situation where the gathering darkness becomes the beckon light of the millions who collectively pine their hopes so that life will go on.
Let’s pray that Obama succeed. Better still, let’s help in our own little, however, inconsequential way that the greatest leader on the planet will see his way through and lift the shroud of despair from the hearts and minds of people worldwide.
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Our friend, new Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Manny Angeles did right for effectively harnessing the talents and resources of the countryside to address higher education issues. Towards this end, Chairman Manny has University of Luzon president Macky Samson his pointman in Region 1’s Ass’n of Higher Educational Institutions) tasked to integrate the inputs from both public and private educational institutions.
A gifted executive, Chairman Angeles is known for innovative ideas that have helped advance education frontiers in the country. Dr. Macky Samson is his pointman in Region l, a role he plays with expertise and excellence considering his marination in the association of private schools, colleges and universities. Now, he reins in both private and public aspects of education. Congrats, Macky.
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Director Mariano Alquiza of the region’s public works and highways is a different cut for being frank and candid, unlike the typical laconic engineering personages that dominate that department. We suspect a number of the well publicized controversies around him came straight from his open mindedness which, we thought, should augur for transparent governance.
Issues raised about certain Cordillera projects, he told a group of newsmen, were overblown a thousand fold and obviously handiwork by displeased parties fit only for the waste basket.
He says he will adopt “Mag OKS” project which was a success in Baguio, which means “Magandang Opisina, Kalsada at Sistema” applied to renovated buildings, comfortable and landscaped office surroundings and excellent inter-personal relations among staff’-personnel.
He will extend that policy to the countryside roads and public works, he said.
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For going out of his way to rescue or relieve typhoon and flood victims crushed by a grave calamity, Mayor Nestor Pulido was slapped by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan with a 30-day suspension last week.
His fault: he drew out a petty P40,000 cash from an “unauthorized source” of the town coffers as an emergency measure to placate hungry townsfolk shivering in the cold.
What the usually empathetic Sanggunian people could have done because they knew too well that there was no ill motive in the mayor’s act was to use the so-called “remedial law” and saved a fellow public servant from embarrassment. The harsh act shows the dirty hand of politics, which is still premature, and bad conscience.
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