Better Philippines

Acheche!!!

(I’m feeling lazy today so this will be short.)

“The official campaign period hasn’t started yet so there’s no violation.”

That in a nutshell is how those personalities with running political-advertisements-disguised-as-public-service-ads  defend their early campaigning. While, technically correct it’s just a flimsy excuse as far as I’m concerned.

The funny thing is when it comes to their failure to give the public even just a sneak peek of their platforms these same personalities — or to be more accurate their supporters — would say something like this:

“We can’t come out with our platform at this time. We don’t want to violate the rule on early campaigning.”

As the comedian Joey de Leon would say, “Acheche!!!”

Ban On Cellphone Use While Driving

I was listening to the radio this morning and I heard an interview with Congressman Irwin Tieng. The topic was about House Bill 4917 which was filed by Tieng and several others. The bill seeks to ban the use of cellphones while driving.

The bill is given a tinge of relevance at this specific time because of the recent fatal accidents that have been hogging the headlines. I did a quick research and found that another lawmaker, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, has filed a counterpart bill. I don’t know about you but it seems to like a bandwagon is about to roll out.

Senate Bill 2529 or the “Anti-Cellular Phone Use While Driving Act of 2008″ prescribes the following penalties:

• a fine amounting to not more than P10,000
• imprisonment for not less than one year to six years.

Really very stiff penalties. Serial texters and phone addicts beware.

I can concede that these proposals have some merit. Tinkering with a phone while one is behind the wheel really poses a danger not only to the driver concerned but also to other motorists and pedestrians. Cellphone use while  driving should really be avoided. It should be banned. However, I think the proposals presented so far especially the one by the honorable senator will do the public more harm than good.

During the radio interview, the hosts asked Rep. Tieng some very valid questions. Here are two that I recall (translation mine):

• Is there a way to verify if a motorist was really using his phone while driving?
• Will it also be considered a violation if a motorist uses his phone while his vehicle is at a standstill because of heavy traffic?

Rep. Tieng failed to provide a convincing answer to these questions. To the first one he said investigators can check the driver’s phone record to get the exact times he/she sent out a message or took/made a call. To the second he said that technically the person behind the wheel is still driving he just has his foot on the brakes.  Interesting and probably correct but not convincing.

There’s another question that was asked. It was a very basic question that highlighted a core problem with the congressman’s proposal. How exactly will traffic enforcers be able to spot a violator and what if the vehicle’s windows are heavily tinted? Clearly, there is going to be a problem with the implementation.

The situation Rep. Tieng, Sen. Estrada and anyone else on board the bandwagon seek to address is real but unfortunately the proposals presented so far are not the solution.They may appear to be so but they’re really not. Besides, do they actually think such a ban can be implemented everywhere in the Philippines? How will enforcers check up on passing motorists let’s say along EDSA or the South Luzon Expressway? Aber, aber.

As far as I’m concerned, laws, especially those that prescribe imprisonment as penalty, should not be imposed at all if these cannot be implemented properly in the first place. It’s just too dangerous as these just open up more opportunities for enforcers to commit abuses such as this one. Our lawmakers should know that, in a country where dysfunctional systems abound, laws and rules especially the really stupid ones have a funny way of turning into instruments of abuse.

Now, just to clarify I am not against imposing a ban on cellphone use while driving per se. I am against it being implemented while there is no real system in place to immediately verify alleged violations. Pitting an accused motorist’s word against an enforcer’s allegation is not a system.

The “Vote For My Candidate” Challenge (Updated)

I’ve been reviewing the platform matrix over at getrealphilippines.com and I am disappointed. BenignO, the owner of that site and the brains behind Platform, plez!, put up that matrix more than four weeks ago and yet it remains empty for the most part. It’s either BenignO has not been updating the matrix (which I seriously doubt) or there’s just no word as to what our presidential aspirants plan to do to help our country improve (the most likely explanation).

Of course, there’s a third possibility and that is our candidates simply don’t have any plan at all and are just banking on their cheap gimmickry to get themselves elected. Well, I hate to burst your bubble mister and miss candidate but song and dance numbers and cheesy infomercials won’t cut it anymore. We want you to give us your platforms, NOW!

Ok, I do realize that I may be wasting blog space here after all I’m directly challenging political candidates who, as we all know, do not really care what the public wants. In that case, I’ll re-direct my challenge to the avid supporters of these platform-challenged candidates. So here goes:

The “Vote For My Candidate” Challenge

If you’re an avid supporter of any of the known presidential candidates here’s an opportunity for you to help us decide. Tell us why we should even consider your candidate. Send a blogpost about your candidate’s plans through betterphilippines@gmail.com and if it’s worth publishing at all I will post it here in full. If you happen to have insider information on your candidate’s platform that would be great. Tell us about it. Just bear in mind that this opportunity will not remain open forever. You have only until the end of September to submit your blogpost.

(Update: You might want to check out BenignO’s cheatsheet to help you formulate an intelligent presentation.)

So, are you up for the challenge or are you just as lame as your candidate?

The Philippines Through Foreign Eyes

It is sometimes difficult to understand a problem much less find a solution to it if you’re too close to the situation. It is suggested that when you find yourself in such a predicament it would be good to step back a bit and see the bigger picture.

Personally, I find that getting another person’s perspective also helps. With regard to examining and finding solutions to the many problems plaguing our country, it’s also good to consider how foreigners see us and our situation. One caveat though: when you do this make sure to keep an open mind because a foreigner’s views no matter how constructive may prove to be scathing. It would also help to distinguish immediately between a foreigner who simply mocks and one who criticizes constructively.

Ben Kritz or BenK of The Bad Manners Gun Club is a blogger who clearly belongs to the second category. He is critical and he is constructive. From what I’ve gathered, BenK is an American who is now based here in the Philippines. He also owns a business consulting company.

In one of his most recent posts , BenK wrote:

Just because I understand and can adapt to the Filipino way of doing business, however, does not mean that I accept it. Too often, cultural habits and values – “the way we’ve always done things” – are an excuse for tolerating incompetence and lack of ambition, and for disregarding normal business behavior sometimes to the point of rudeness, despite what the Filipinos like to say about their “famous” polite friendliness. It can be incredibly frustrating and leave one wondering how anyone manages to accomplish anything here. That the Philippine economy consistently lags and continues to fall farther behind its Asian neighbors would seem to be strong evidence that the stubborn Pinoy insistence on cultivating their “cultural quirks” in business affairs is an arrogant mistake.

Another foreigner who writes about the Philippines is Clarence Henderson. His site or blog is called Pearl of the Orient Seas. I first came across Henderson’s site a few years back and forgot all about it. I was pleasantly surprised to find it referenced in BenK’s post, which I cited above.

According to the short bio on his site, Henderson has had over 20 years of consulting experience in New York, Los Angeles, and the Philippines. Here’s an excerpt from his post “An American’s Reflection on the Persistence of Colonial Mentalities.”

The relations between classes – and I purposely risk using (or misusing?) that tired old Marxist term – are outwardly civil and deferential on the part of the masses. Indeed, from the perspective of an American (or other Westerner) acculturated to the norms of equal opportunity, do-it-yourselfism, and upward mobility, one of the more challenging adjustments can be learning to interact appropriately with working class Filipinos in whatever capacity. Whether dealing with drivers, domestic help, or service workers, you are bombarded with “yes sir” this and “yes sir” that and obsequious, self-effacing behavior.

There’s also a perverse cultural inferiority complex that drives me bananas. As a white ex-pat, I am generally ushered through security checks at malls and hotels even though the Filipino guy next to me is practically strip searched. Whenever I raise a ruckus about some lapse in service (which I do now a lot more often than when I first came), people scurry around trying to correct whatever the error might be. Underlying such interactions is a troubling presumption of a wide and seemingly unbreachable social, cultural, and entitlement gulf.

But I can’t help believing that, just below the surface, there is a deep river of long-term resentment just waiting to bubble to the surface (see The Social Volcano).

The Philippines’ complex colonial heritage (see An Oversimplified History Lesson, Cronies and Booty Capitalism, and Globalization Part 1) continues to have a major impact on the country today – on the political system, on social relations, and on the way people live their lives.

I’ll be scouring the net for other noteworthy blogs/sites by foreigners who have some constructive things to say about Filipinos and the Philippines. In the meantime do visit the two sites I mentioned above. Just make sure not to take things too personally as we Filipinos are wont to do.

Ninoy Aquino’s Speech In Los Angeles

Video courtesy of NinoyAquinoTV.

For a transcription of Ninoy’s speech go to Real Encounters.

And, here’s a YouTube video about his assassination.

At Least I Tried

When he was asked why he wants to run for president, El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde said he wanted to solve this country’s problems. When I heard that I realized that all our aspirants are basically using that same line as the reason why they want to become president.

To solve our country’s problems. Talaga lang ah.

When our politicians say this line you can bet that they want us to think that they are our hope for salvation and that not getting them elected will be our loss. I have no doubt that is the subliminal message they want us to absorb.

I’ll pretend there’s some truth to this. I’ll  suspend my disbelief and accept the possibility that these politicians really do have the answers.

Now, I’m wondering  if they really do have the answers and they really care about our country’s welfare why haven’t we heard about their ideas?

That’s one of the problems inherent in our current system. Anyone can just come out and present themselves as a presidential candidate (remember Eddie Gil) and just about anyone with enough media mileage and financial resources can get themselves elected. Sure, those of us who are smart enough to demand for more than just soundbytes and cheap gimmickry from our candidates can do so till our candidates give in. The problem with this though is that it’s all optional. It’s still all up to the candidates to give us substance.

Obviously, something has to be done about this. Our candidates should be required to give us something to work on in our search for our next leader. To me the obvious solution is to adjust the qualifications for president. Aside from the already established qualifications, prior experience in an administrative position in government should also be required of all candidates for president. This way the presidential aspirant will have some sort of public service track record, which voters can use as a gauge of his or her worthiness for the top post.

I think we should also have a law or policy requiring anyone who wants to run for any public office position to start demonstrating their ability “to solve our country’s problems” at least two years before an election year. Of course that same law or policy should also create the environment that would allow these aspiring public officials to do their thing.

Here’s an imaginary scenario to make this all clear.

It’s 2005. Mr. Pagasa wants to run for congressman in 2010. His reason: he wants to solve our country’s problems. Aware of the abovementioned policy, he drafts a number of proposals that he claims can solve Metro Manila’s traffic problem. He submits his proposals to his congressman and/or the MMDA. He submits the same to media for publication.

Also aware of the policy (which should mandate media participation in this whole set-up), media outlets come out with reports or advisories informing the public of Mr. Pagasa’s ideas.

What was achieved in this imaginary scenario? First off, Mr. Pagasa was given a chance to establish his worth as a possible candidate in a future election. He came up with a possible solution to a problem. If it’s any good, the congressman and/or the government agency to whom he gave his proposal should then take the necessary action to make it official. The congressman should have it tackled for possible legislation. The MMDA should implement it. The media mileage given to Mr. Pagasa and his proposal should ensure that credit is given where credit is due. It should also give the public the opportunity to see for themselves if Mr. Pagasa could be the next big thing in Philippine Politics.

Of course, if the proposal turns out to be worthless then nothing happens and Mr. Pagasa simply fails to establish himself as a worthy future candidate. But, at least he tried.

I must admit I’m a little concerned this suggestion of mine might be seen as ‘weird.’ Well, at least I tried to help. But, no. I have no political ambitions whatsoever.

Millions Of Pesos Spent On Indecent Exposure

Vice President Noli De Castro must really be full himself. At the hearing today of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, he justified his participation in those Pag-Ibig Fund advertisements by saying that his credibility makes the dissemination of information more effective. That’s a load of crap. Everyone knows De Castro and other government officials grace these so-called infomercials to promote themselves in preparation for the possibility of running for an elective post. Ikaw naman vice ginagawa mo pa kaming engot.

With that out of the way let’s now examine why these infomercials exist in the first place. What is their purpose anyway? The obvious answer those behind these infomercials will have us believe is that these are tools used to inform the public about projects and achievements.

Hmmm, let’s see. Government projects? I don’t really care to hear about government projects especially those that do not really provide any significant benefit to anyone. Achievements? I’d much prefer that I be the one to judge if this or that government agency really achieved anything.

I don’t know if anyone else feels the same way about government infomercials. As far as I’m concerned, they’re just a big waste of resources. At today’s hearing, the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs was able to get how much various government agencies have spent for these silly infomercials. I’m not sure about the accuracy of the figures I got from the news report I saw but here are the numbers:

• Department of Health                         – P32.4M (this year)
• Department of Education                  – P5.7M (this year)
• Pagcor                                                       – P82M (this year)
• MMDA                                                       – P5.8M (this year)
• Pag-Ibig Fund                                         – P172M (since 2007)

Now, is that any way to spend taxpayers money? There’s just no way spending that much for cheezy ads can be sufficiently justified.

There’s another side to this issue one that President Gloria Arroyo’s lawyer Attorney Romulo Macalintal so eloquently pointed out in response to a completely unrelated topic.  In defending Mrs. Arroyo against criticisms over the alleged extravagant dinners she and other officials had in the United States, the good lawyer criticized the media for raising the issue of morality while it continues to profit by accommodating political ads.

Just to be clear, I don’t agree with Macalintal’s diversionary tactic. But, just the same, I will pick up from his comment. First off, I pose this rather naive question. Isn’t media also a public service? When I was a whole lot younger, I often saw advertisements on TV followed by the line “A Public Service Announcement Of __________ And This Station.” I’m not sure if this is the case but I think public service ads back then were aired by media companies for free. What I’m driving at is that mainstream media should really consider providing free airtime or column space for truly legitimate public service ads from the government. Perhaps, they should also consider doing the same for political ads during the duly approved campaign period just to even up the playing field for poor yet deserving candidates. That would be real public service as far as I’m concerned.

Going back to today’s Senate committee hearing. Committee chair Senator Miriam Santiago has ordered the concerned government officials to refrain from airing or publishing their infomercials by the end of the month. For incentive, she threatened them with charges before that bastion of real public service, the Office of the Ombudsman.

Come to think of it. Why not charge them for indecent exposure, now?

WWCAD?

I’m amused by calls for former President Corazon Aquino’s canonnization. I just feel that it’s a bit of a stretch. Calling her a hero may already be enough (although that too gives me goosebumps). But, a saint? Missus Aquino herself may be turning in her grave.

There’s no doubt about it even though she was not perfect Missus Aquino is worth emulating. Much has been said about her preference for the simple lifestyle. Though she belonged to one of the wealthiest families in this country she never became a slave to the trappings of power. For that alone, she is truly worthy of praise.

In his elegantly titled blogpost “President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo et al won’t puke up NY dinner”, Pinoy Buzz wrote:

The next time Gloria Macapagal Arroyo eats out in some other country, it wouldn’t hurt to ask herself… What would Cory Aquino do?

Indeed, what would Cory Aquino do (or have done)? Would she have allowed herself to be treated to a dinner, the cost of which is reportedly enough to buy thousands of value meals enough to feed a small community? Would she have graciously declined the extravagance of it all and insisted on less expensive fare?

Given what we know about Missus Aquino’s character, I guess it would be safe to guess that she would have declined the invitation or opted for less extravagant fare at the very least. Of course, we will never really know how the former president would have acted.

What Would Cory Aquino Do? WWCAD?

It’s a fairly simple question one that we could ask ourselves when we’re in a quandary.

Should I take this taxpayers money so I could buy that beachfront property? WWCAD?

Should I remain in power? WWCAD?

Should I eat this lobster? WWCAD?

PPCRV Pushes For Voters Education In Schools

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting is pushing for the inclusion of voters’ education in the college curriculum. The PPCRV is reportedly in talks with private Catholic schools for this and is also discussing the matter with public universities and colleges.

It is estimated that in 2010 the number of youth voters (between 18 to 34 years old) in the Philippines will have reached 34 million.  The Commission on Elections says about 9 million of this number will be first-time voters. Educating these new voters on the importance of elections and how they should evaluate candidates will do this country a lot of good.

I remember when I first exercised my right to vote I merely followed how my elders voted. When they said this candidate was the better choice I simply took their word for it and voted for that candidate.

I was already working the second time I voted. I was already what should be considered a ‘mature’ voter by then. The truth is I was not. Even then I wasn’t really giving the elections as much thought as I should have. I did not familiarize myself with the candidates much less their platforms and track records. I was clearly an uninformed voter and as such I just based my choices on name recall. And, when I ran out of familiar names to pick I resorted to random selection.

I suspect many of this generation’s youth voters will be just like how I was back then — uninformed and apathetic to the whole electoral exercise. I hope I’ll be proven wrong.

This latest effort by the PPCRV is commendable. I’m just wondering though if it would be better to start the youth on voters education earlier. I would suggest offering the same to high school students as well. It wouldn’t hurt to start them young considering that voting is an important responsibility. Proper voters’ education focusing on critical analysis of candidates should help mold the younger generations into wise and responsible voters and improve this country’s chances for positive change.

Public Servants To Stand Motionless For Better Public Service

Standing still for close to nine hours straight is no mean feat. What more if you’re standing on the flatbed of a moving truck and without anything to hold on to. That’s exactly what four Honor Guards from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police did yesterday during the funeral procession for former President Corazon Aquino.

There’s no question about it. Pfc. Antonio Cadiente, Airman 2nd Class Gener Laguindam, Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez and Police Officer 1 Danilo Malab gave us an outstanding display of physical conditioning, endurance and discipline.

It comes as no surprise that the four Honor Guards are now being treated as celebrities of some sort. Media outfits have come out with reports and commentary about them. And, as can be expected, at least one politico has been unable to resist riding on the attention these four are getting at the moment.

Senator Pia Cayetano — who also happens to be a triahtlete — knows exactly how physically difficult it was to do what those four Honor Guards did. She notes that standing motionless for a long duration of time is even harder than walking or running. Unable to contain her admiration, Senator Cayetano has announced that she will file a resolution to commend the four Honor Guards for being role models of what a public servant should be.

HUUUUWWWWWAAAATTTT?!?

Is she saying public servants should be motionless for long periods of time?

Here’s a quote of the senator lifted from a GMANews.tv report:

“They did their job well and I will file a resolution commending them because it is symbolic of what people in public service should do. Whatever your job is, do it well,” Cayetano said Thursday during the weekly news forum at the Senate.

“For the soldiers who did their simple job but did it well through rain and storm, without food, without rest, I think that was an effort on their part that they did it without need of attention. They did not speak, they did not call attention pero kapansin-pansin ang ginawa nila,” Cayetano said.

That clears it. But still isn’t this a bit over the top? I won’t deny it I was impressed myself with those Honor Guards. But, a commendation from the Senate no less?!? WADAPAK! Are we so lacking in sources of true inspiration that we have to make a big deal out of every little “exceptional” thing?

On second thought, maybe it is I who is making a big deal out of nothing. What’s this pending Senate commendation anyway aside from being an effective self-promotional tool? Well, it just happens to be one of those things that tend to bring down the Filipino’s standards for greatness. Something similar to this.