I received this through email from a friend of mine, and it was an electronic copy of an article that appeared on the Manila Times site, June 12 (Independence Day) issue…. it is indeed quite a compelling article, and does make us wonder and think about the points the author puts forth.
But more than just actually taking into consideration the valid issues he presents, I think we should consider not only how we got to be this way, but look look forth and ask how we can improve the current situation and move forward.
I believe there is no perfect system, but perfect enough to for a certain need and to suit certain requirements and conditions and to serve perfectly the people that system serves.
In the same way, I am very liberal about religion; in the old days, one professed his faith by extolling his faith’s heroes and dogma, at the same time ridiculing the other faiths. I believe there is no perfect religion; religion was instituted by man’s need of faith and hope, to believe in something intangible and maybe not entirely understood… thus he just simply has faith. Religion is also a manifestation of our desire to make us better people. Thus, there is no such best religion, for the best religion is that which you practice that does make you a better person.
On that note, and before you go on to read the article, I believe there is a need for a change of systems if they are not working, regardless if they be drastic or transitional, peaceful or otherwise. In the end, if it achieves its end; and if that is what is the only recourse to achieve it, then so be it. If the government is not working as it should be, then it is not simply enough to change the government or the system is employs, because the system could also be the mere machine to achieve an end, and like any machine is still run by “people” who could still manipulate the machine to serve their own intentions.
So, what do we change? Do we replace our politicians with another set who all come from the same oligarchy and elite? Do we change our government system with another system which would still be flawed? Or do we simply change ourselves and collectively change the face of a nation?
Anyways, enough freewheeling thoughts… here is the article.
THE EVIL OF DYNASTIES
“Virtual Reality” column of Tony Lopez
Tue, June 12, 2007 Issue of The Manila Times
Just how bad dynasties are to the economy and the country can be gleaned from the amount of taxpayers’ money these people have access to.
Take the Senate. There will be siblings - Pia and Alan Cayetano. In addition,Alan’s wife, Laarni, took his old congressional seat from Taguig. There will probably be a father-and-son senator - Nene Pimentel and Koko Pimentel. The No.2 most popular senator, Chiz Escudero, has his father, Sonny, as congressman from Sorsogon, his son’s old turf. Ed Angara is senator; his son and namesake is a congressman.
A senator draws P200 million in pork barrel; a congressman, P70 million. Therefore, Pia, Alan and Laarni will rake in P470 million a year, or P1.4 billion in three years. Nene and Koko will have P400 million between themselves yearly, or P1.3 billion in three years. Chiz and Sonny will enjoy P270 million per year, or P810 million in three years, just like the Angara father-and-son tandem.
How much does the average poor make a day? A third of the 85 million population, or 25.5 million of the people of this country make less than $1 a day, or P365 (or P17,155) a year.
According to Ping Lacson, the P200-million pork barrel of a senator is just a starting figure. If a senator sponsors a Cabinet department during the budget hearings and sessions, he/she is given access to P350 million in the
line budget of that department. So P200 million plus P350 million, that’s P550 million.
What do the Filipino people get in return for electing these people? Very little, if any.
In the last 100 years since Filipinos began electing their representatives, the Philippines dege-nerated from being the No. 1 economy, trading and commercial power in Asia to No. 73 least compe-titive country in the world.
Today,the Philippines is less free than it was a century ago. Did you know that the Philippines used to be Asia’s industrial power?
As late as the 19th century, the Philippines was already one of Asia’s premier industrialized countries and was the center of culture and education. The country was producing iron-ore sheets, refined iron ore, liquor from
molasses using then unheard-of boilers, fine textiles for export, and was using steam engines and steamships. It established the first bank in Asia, made the first typhoon forecast in Asia, and set up the first European-style
universities in Asia.
Manila had a street car system, just like San Francisco; and had a ferrocarril line from the city to Dagupan in the north and from Manila to Batangas and Bicol in the south. By 1895, Manila had an electric light system. The first
taxi fleet, the first airline, the first modern newspapers, the first conglo-merate were established by Filipino tycoons. What happened after that?
During the last 100 years, Japan became a military power and the world’s No. 2 economic power next to the United States. During the last 50 years, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore became economic miracles. Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore became nation states (they used to be unknown islands while Filipinos were already conducting diplomatic relations with Europe and China). In fact, at one time, the Sultan of
Sulu was a frequent visitor in China because he liked it there. He stayed there for three months, but died of syphilis. The Chinese erected a monument in his honor.
In the last 30 years, the Philippines became the slowest growing economy per capita in Asia, bar none. During that time, Congress produced 15,000 laws and law schools 30,000 lawyers, half of whom are active. So two lawyers for every one law. Yet, the Philippines has a very poor human rights and economic rights record.
We got our priorities wrong. We gave the people the power to vote even before the people and those they elect learned how to govern properly, or at the very least, prepare or educate themselves to have a modicum of competency and honesty.
These days, people kill people just to be able to serve the people. People bribe people just to be able to serve the people. That is the meaning of a heated electoral contest. And of fraudulent elections.
Should our politicians be blamed for the nadir we have fallen into? I will say No if those families mentioned in the first part of this column will return their pork barrel and declare, “from now on, I will truly serve the
people.” C’mon, give the money to the 12-million school-age children who are out of school because of extreme poverty. You don’t deserve so much money. You didn’t earn it.
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