The hostage taking and killing tragedy that besieged the Philippines last week should serve as a wakeup call, not only for Noy Noy Aquino, who was blasted by Hong Kong media for not only NOT taking the direct calls of Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang when this tragedy was unfolding, but also for having a smile on his face during the press conference, which many in Hong Kong had misconstrued as indifference to the tragedy that happened. While Aquino apologized for having the smirk on his face, this first test of his administration facing adversity was an utter FAILURE.
Who was in charge of the hostage situation and who, if anyone was doing the negotiations with Officer Rolando Mendoza, an officer who spent his entire career serving the people of the Philippines with dignity, garnering multiple awards for his service and then being summarily fired on charges of extortion, charges that were later dismissed because the alleged extortion victim failed to appear in court. I am not saying that Mendoza was innocent of the charges, but the facts are he was not reinstated to the force and his retirement benefits were not reinstated, all of which more than likely led to his going off the edge. What Aquino must do now is call for a full revamp of the PNP's unit that botched this event. Clearly, and on television no less, the officers who participated in the storming of the bus were ill equipped, ill trained, and ill prepared. What was the status of the negotiations in this debacle? Who did the negotiating? Where was ace negotiator Sen. Bong Revilla, who personally led a successful negotiation with a hostage taker in a similar bus incident some years ago that was also broadcast live for the world to witness? There are so many questions and so much that needs to be improved in an effort to minimize the loss of life when future events such as this take place in the Philippines.
Which brings me to the next bone to pick, that of Hong Kong's citizens blasting and harassing Filipino Overseas Foreign Workers in that part of China, and the enablers, the Philippine government that readily sends its citizens abroad to build other countries while its own country remains the laughing stock of Southeast Asia. Hong Kong relies on the hard work of many Filipinos, but after this tragedy occurred, which could have happened in any country, and does all the time, Hong Kong residents have created a tense situation for those overseas Filipinos, and especially the domestic helpers who work in that city. The killing of the Hong Kong tourists was the work of a deranged gunman, and an inept police force, and DOES NOT reflect the attitudes of Filipinos living and working in Hong Kong or Filipinos anywhere else. To think otherwise is blatant racism.
When Corazon Aquino's People Power Revolution broke the iron grip that Ferdinand Marcos had on the country, the newly democratically elected government of Corazon Aquino, and by extension, the Filipino people, had two paths in which to follow; that of instant gratification and the fast buck, or that of hard work, perseverance, and nation building. The Philippines was in shambles. Aquino was amid the ruins. Her signature piece of legislation, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Plan, or CARP, enacted in 1988 was supposed to benefit the farmers, yet the Philippines remains one of the biggest importers of rice and other foodstuffs, and the breakup of Hacienda Luisita, the Aquino family's massive agri-farm, is still, more than two decades later, in litigation in the courts.
The notion of the overseas foreign worker at that time was not new. Filipinos have been going abroad for decades to eke out a better life for their families back home, but during the last 25 years, more and more Filipinos have been seeking higher and sweeter fruits abroad, to the detriment of the Philippines. Rough estimates peg the number of these overseas Filipino Workers at around 10 million give or take a few million, accounting for more than $15 billion in revenue sent back to the Philippines each year, not a paltry sum, about 13 percent of the Philippines GDP by some estimates. However, these same people, these doctors, physical therapists, nurses, accountants, military servicemen, IT professionals, engineers, architects, entertainers, technicians, teachers, seafarers, students, caregivers, domestic helpers and household maids should be building their own country rather than other countries. There are tales of woe that these OFWs are subjected to, from beatings and indentured servitude, to rape and murder. These people are skilled workers who often go abroad to perform menial labor, becoming severely underemployed in positions that are below their training. So what is the problem? If the Philippines is to get rid of its third world moniker, eventually it needs to put all these people to work in the Philippines, and stop sending them abroad to build other countries while their own country continues to wallow in abject poverty, corruption, and based on what we saw on TV during the hostage crisis, ineptitude and impotence. Gross incompetence was on display for all the world to witness. I hope to live to see the day that the Philippines does not have to send millions of its citizens abroad to work in some far off desert, some swanky Asian metropolis, or the United States. When the services are no longer needed of the overseas Filipino worker, the Philippines will have reached and polished its own star on the world stage. The current administration needs to work on that goal.
President Aquino has a unique opportunity to move the country forward. He was given a clear mandate by the people, a mandate that the people are sick and tired of the corruption in government that occurs at all levels, from the executive branch to the House and Senate on down the line to the barangay captain. As the last several administrations have proven, corruption starts at the top and trickles down to all levels of Philippine society. So what are some solutions for Aquino to consider? Below are just a few to get the ball rolling.
Contraception
Nothing more can really be said about this. The Catholic Church in the Philippines, which has held sway over many a political issue during its 450 plus year reign of contraceptive terror must stop condemning the use of contraceptives in the Philippines. In fact, the Philippine government should take the lead on this issue and provide free or low cost contraceptive devices to any Filipino who wishes to avail of them. The Church needs to stay silent on this issue or continue to see the population of the country explode, which mitigates any economic gains and prosperity. All Filipinos who have sex ought to think twice about it and protect themselves, especially if they don't want children right away. The macho mentality that prevails needs to die. Who are those who make babies but then abandon the mother and child? They are not macho, but rather they are cowards who bring a baby into this life but run away from their responsibilities.
Feed the people
The Philippines is an absolute breadbasket of food production yet it imports tons and tons of food each year. Why is this? And where is the food that is produced in the country going? Out of the country. More food production in the Philippines will be mandatory as the population of the country goes unchecked. Philippine business, and especially the ethnic Chinese Taipans need to stop building subdivisions and megamalls and focus on growing food that will feed the average Filipino, and not the rest of the world.
Oil independence
It sounds like a pipe dream, but if Brazil can do it in 25 years, so too can the Philippines. Brazil is the second largest producer of sugar cane based Ethanol fuel, and mixes 25 percent ethanol with dino oil to come up with the blend. It took Brazil 25 years to become energy independent. The Philippines is also a large producer of sugar cane--it is one of the biggest crops in the Philippines, yet there has been little effort to turn this crop into biofuel. I was on Negros Island a few years ago, a relatively small island compared to the major islands, and I was in a car that drove two hours through nothing but sugar cane fields on both sides of the street. There is plenty of potential that just needs to be harnessed. The government needs to invest in agricultural biotechnology similar to that of Brazil to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and build biofuel solutions.
Kill Corruption
Corruption has run rampant in the Philippines even after Marcos. President Aquino has stated that he will not tolerate corruption. This accidental president had better stick to his guns and go after those in all branches of government who enrich themselves with the people’s money. How many Mercedes Benzes, queridas, and fancy houses in foreign lands is enough for these politicians? Let it never be forgotten that the Four Tigers of the 1980s, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong were once sleepy ass backward countries rife with corruption. Every one of these tigers stood BEHIND the Philippines and Number 1 Japan in the 1960s in terms of economic output and industrialization. Yet look at them today, all highly industrialized with advanced economies, all maintain a highly educated and skilled workforce. Sound familiar? Hong Kong and Singapore are tiny in scope with scant natural resources, yet look at where they stand on the world economic stage. The Philippines, which was second only to Japan in the 1960s in terms of economic and industrial output has been relegated to Tiger Cub status along with Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. However, if it doesn't take advantage of what it has achieved, it will fall behind as Vietnam catches up, and the Filipino OFW will continue to build other countries while its own continues to suffer.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
25 Things
25. I had this thing for PAL (Philippine Airlines) Flight Attendants in the late 1980s. Little did I know that my wife Jovi was a PAL flight attendant at the time. Too bad the PAL flight attendants now are NOT THE SAME as the one's back then. Must be that "cut at all cost" Chinese ownership.
24. In 1989, running from serious trouble and a busted heart, Jovi picked me up on the side of the road in the Philippines and I was carrying a surfboard and a piece of luggage. Because it was a VW bug with no room, I carried the board on the outside of the car until we got to my cousin Edward's house in BF Paranaque and dropped it with his mom. Sadly I have no idea where the board is to this day, but it is a one of a kind.
23. I started surfing in 1979. Yes that is how old I am. Luckily, the guys who taught me, Bill Sallans and Mike Takayama are still surfing. I surf with Mike around once a month but haven't seen Bill in six years.
22. I tried to buy a Playboy Magazine at the 711 when I was 5 years old. Yup. We lived in Utah for the first five years of my life and my neighbor, Kenny Freeil, who was about five years older, gave me 25 cents and handed the magazine to me and told me to buy it. I put the magazine on the counter and the clerk said, "you aren't old enough to buy this." So I spent the money on a large Slurpee instead. Back then, Slurpees were 5, 10, and 15 cents. Kenny was pissed.
21. My mom's side of the family is huge and fairly complicated. I have at least two aunts who I am older than and also a 24 year old Uncle who I never met. My mom is 70. Her dad had around 15 or so children before he died in 1989. I shared a room with my lolo before he died at Makati Medical Center because I was sick with some nasty virus of some sort.
20. My grandfather's younger brother, Ramon Revilla was a movie star and was a senator in the Philippines. He is rumored to have more than 80 children. I believe it is more.
19. Back in the summer of 1985, I went around Manila with my cousin Bong, who is a movie star like his dad. We went from movie shooting location to movie shooting location all over Manila. One particular shooting was in Project 8 Quezon City. He offered to make me a movie star too, except I am monolingual and don't have the good looks that he did. I should have said yes anyway. We got in a verbal argument over the difference between right and wrong back then and haven't been close since.
18. In 1985, I saw two dead guys who got hit by a Mercedes Benz on EDSA Ave in Manila back then. One was cut completely in half. Street rats. In 1989 I happened on another guy who just got shot three times in the chest. I directed my driver to stop at the sidewalk. I watched him gasp his last breaths.
17. I met this starlet, Mags Bonnin at a BF Homes party back in 1985 as well. She looked like JuRina Mendoza and I kept staring at her, thinking it was her, until my cousin Lori introduced us. I felt a bit sheepish after that. I also had this crush on another star, Manilyn Reynes. My cousin Marlon's wife, Gigi dela Riva used to tease me about it, but back then, Gigi looked a heck of a lot like Manilyn.
16. I tried to wean my family off of bottled water, but to no avail. I even bought a SIGG bottle for myself, yet, right now, I have about 15 empty plastic bottles in the back seat of my car.
15. In college, I broke a story about a professor who was accused of plaigiarizing a paper of some sort. It was front page on the Daily 49er, however, what I turned in to my professor was different from what was printed in the paper. Needless to say, my professor gave some serious tongue lashings to the so-called editors who screwed it up. My professor submitted a story I wrote about Amerasians to the RFK Journalism awards that year, the only one submitted from my class. I didn't win but got the satisfaction that I could write a neat story.
14. The Bautista in me says YES! but the Virata in me says NO.
13. I've been writing about technology since 1993, and my writing style has become one dimensional.
12. I think the Mercedes Benz is over-rated, except for of course my 1984 300D Turbo diesel with 227,000 miles on it.
11. I have a beautiful daughter, Juliana Rai Montero Virata. The Rai comes from Aishwarya Rai, because I had this thing for beautiful brown haired women. I have no idea why brown haired women are called brunettes.
10. I've lived in Hawaii and want to move back.
9. My dad came to the United States in 1957 and joined the Navy. My mom waited in line and came in 1960. I think that those who want to come to the United States and become citizens, should wait in line like all law abiding folks do.
8. I think that the bank bailout is a SCAM. The banks screw up and want a bailout, yet charge usurious credit card rates and nothing gets done about that. We the people should be bailed out.
7. I like to eat pie
6. In 1986, I gave my class ring to a girl who lived in a slum next to a river in the Philippines. She kept it for three years. I asked for it back, and then a year later it was stolen in a burglary at my mom's house in CA.
5. I think Kimi Evans is a way better weather reporter than Jackie Johnson
4. Among many other things, I think the Bush Administration totally screwed up the Pat Tillman case.
3. In addition to surfing, I enjoy fishing with my two teenaged boys as well as dirt biking.
2. My friend David was the best man at my wedding because the guy I initially asked was too cheap to rent a tuxedo or do the bachelor party. It turned out fine though because that guy turned out to be the master of ceremonies (and did it well) and David is still a great friend of mine and a good guy.
1. I can fold my tongue in half and stick it up my nose.
24. In 1989, running from serious trouble and a busted heart, Jovi picked me up on the side of the road in the Philippines and I was carrying a surfboard and a piece of luggage. Because it was a VW bug with no room, I carried the board on the outside of the car until we got to my cousin Edward's house in BF Paranaque and dropped it with his mom. Sadly I have no idea where the board is to this day, but it is a one of a kind.
23. I started surfing in 1979. Yes that is how old I am. Luckily, the guys who taught me, Bill Sallans and Mike Takayama are still surfing. I surf with Mike around once a month but haven't seen Bill in six years.
22. I tried to buy a Playboy Magazine at the 711 when I was 5 years old. Yup. We lived in Utah for the first five years of my life and my neighbor, Kenny Freeil, who was about five years older, gave me 25 cents and handed the magazine to me and told me to buy it. I put the magazine on the counter and the clerk said, "you aren't old enough to buy this." So I spent the money on a large Slurpee instead. Back then, Slurpees were 5, 10, and 15 cents. Kenny was pissed.
21. My mom's side of the family is huge and fairly complicated. I have at least two aunts who I am older than and also a 24 year old Uncle who I never met. My mom is 70. Her dad had around 15 or so children before he died in 1989. I shared a room with my lolo before he died at Makati Medical Center because I was sick with some nasty virus of some sort.
20. My grandfather's younger brother, Ramon Revilla was a movie star and was a senator in the Philippines. He is rumored to have more than 80 children. I believe it is more.
19. Back in the summer of 1985, I went around Manila with my cousin Bong, who is a movie star like his dad. We went from movie shooting location to movie shooting location all over Manila. One particular shooting was in Project 8 Quezon City. He offered to make me a movie star too, except I am monolingual and don't have the good looks that he did. I should have said yes anyway. We got in a verbal argument over the difference between right and wrong back then and haven't been close since.
18. In 1985, I saw two dead guys who got hit by a Mercedes Benz on EDSA Ave in Manila back then. One was cut completely in half. Street rats. In 1989 I happened on another guy who just got shot three times in the chest. I directed my driver to stop at the sidewalk. I watched him gasp his last breaths.
17. I met this starlet, Mags Bonnin at a BF Homes party back in 1985 as well. She looked like JuRina Mendoza and I kept staring at her, thinking it was her, until my cousin Lori introduced us. I felt a bit sheepish after that. I also had this crush on another star, Manilyn Reynes. My cousin Marlon's wife, Gigi dela Riva used to tease me about it, but back then, Gigi looked a heck of a lot like Manilyn.
16. I tried to wean my family off of bottled water, but to no avail. I even bought a SIGG bottle for myself, yet, right now, I have about 15 empty plastic bottles in the back seat of my car.
15. In college, I broke a story about a professor who was accused of plaigiarizing a paper of some sort. It was front page on the Daily 49er, however, what I turned in to my professor was different from what was printed in the paper. Needless to say, my professor gave some serious tongue lashings to the so-called editors who screwed it up. My professor submitted a story I wrote about Amerasians to the RFK Journalism awards that year, the only one submitted from my class. I didn't win but got the satisfaction that I could write a neat story.
14. The Bautista in me says YES! but the Virata in me says NO.
13. I've been writing about technology since 1993, and my writing style has become one dimensional.
12. I think the Mercedes Benz is over-rated, except for of course my 1984 300D Turbo diesel with 227,000 miles on it.
11. I have a beautiful daughter, Juliana Rai Montero Virata. The Rai comes from Aishwarya Rai, because I had this thing for beautiful brown haired women. I have no idea why brown haired women are called brunettes.
10. I've lived in Hawaii and want to move back.
9. My dad came to the United States in 1957 and joined the Navy. My mom waited in line and came in 1960. I think that those who want to come to the United States and become citizens, should wait in line like all law abiding folks do.
8. I think that the bank bailout is a SCAM. The banks screw up and want a bailout, yet charge usurious credit card rates and nothing gets done about that. We the people should be bailed out.
7. I like to eat pie
6. In 1986, I gave my class ring to a girl who lived in a slum next to a river in the Philippines. She kept it for three years. I asked for it back, and then a year later it was stolen in a burglary at my mom's house in CA.
5. I think Kimi Evans is a way better weather reporter than Jackie Johnson
4. Among many other things, I think the Bush Administration totally screwed up the Pat Tillman case.
3. In addition to surfing, I enjoy fishing with my two teenaged boys as well as dirt biking.
2. My friend David was the best man at my wedding because the guy I initially asked was too cheap to rent a tuxedo or do the bachelor party. It turned out fine though because that guy turned out to be the master of ceremonies (and did it well) and David is still a great friend of mine and a good guy.
1. I can fold my tongue in half and stick it up my nose.
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