All politics as usual

It was not billed as a political summit for nothing. Our politicians were true to form. It was all politics as usual, as in old politics. They zeroed in on cha-cha and ignored everything else. I can understand the interest to remove term limits and all that. But I was hoping that they would also find time to discuss how they can use their political power to see the country through to 2004.

Sen. Ed Angara was the most disappointing. He should have used his rising popularity rating to demonstrate his statesmanship. Boycotting the summit only showed that he isn’t the senior statesman he pretends to be. He should have been the voice in that summit cautioning against this over eagerness to dance the cha-cha because there are serious matters that demand their attention right away.

The economy, peace and order and political stability are the big issues that the political summit should have paid some attention to. And I don’t mean in the context of cha-cha. I am afraid we may not make it to May 2004 if our political leaders continue to act as if it is business as usual. Time is clearly running out.

Lately, I have noticed an increase in my e-mail from young people asking if it is time to leave. I tell them that it all depends on what they want and if they have the patience to wait. But then again, look at our generation of the First Quarter Storm. We can’t be blamed for feeling cheated by it all.

Filled with idealism, we fought the system, suffered the dictatorship, waited for a bright future for our country that never came. Before we knew it, we were celebrating our 50th birthdays. Nowadays, we are increasingly more concerned about our cholesterol level and the last classmate who went through a cardiac bypass.

This is why when young people ask my advice if they should migrate, I can’t tell them not to. It is unfair to use the patriotism argument to urge them to stay. I don’t see things clearing up in the next five years, maybe not even in 10. And that’s because the quality of our political leadership (both in power and in the opposition), sucks.

We’ve tried elections, martial law, coups and we’re worse off, compared to our neighbors and compared to 40 years ago. It is simply not fair to urge our young to wait and stay unless there is some way we can totally purge all our current politicians in one clean election. Never gonna happen, right? But what’s your choice? You also can’t trust the so-called Freedom Force to do the right thing once they are in power.

All that cha-cha talk last weekend missed the point: it isn’t just the charter that needs changing but our mindsets. Go ahead and scream "get me outta here!" Anyone can be forgiven for giving up on a people that is also seriously talking about Fernando Poe Jr. as its next president!

I don’t know if our leaders have noticed, but whole families are packing up and leaving. But what about us? This is our home and at our age, we are stuck here. Those of you who can go, go while you can. You can always come back to pick up the pieces, eventually.

RP workers ad Life must go on!

I caught an ad the other night at CNN showing Filipino aircraft technicians working and ending with the statement that encourages investors to put their money in the land where these world class workers live. I thought that was a good one and whoever thought of it deserves commendation. That’s the great part of it, there was no visible sponsor, not a government agency or an NGO or anybody claiming credit.

In fact, I think that ad should also be shown in local television for national morale building. We have felt so down and out and for so long, we need a boost like this ad. Of course, it should continue to run on CNN to win investors over by highlighting our competitive advantage: our workers.

I like the way the ad projects our workers as well trained and productive, putting us a class above "cheap labor" for which our region is known for. Hopefully, they do a series. Beyond aircraft technicians, let us have computer programmers and our world class arts and crafts designers.

Let’s have more of this positive image type campaigns.

Good news

Speaking of positive news, I am glad to learn that ABS-CBN is going to put an all-out effort to test the proposition that good news sells. Tomorrow evening, with President Macapagal-Arroyo in attendance, Gabby Lopez and Freddie Garcia will launch a special program on its cable news channel that focuses on the good news.

On top of this effort is newly appointed Director for Business News, Ces Drilon. She will direct a group of reporters and editors who will go out of their way to look for good news, specially in the area of livelihood and business. It isn’t as if she is doing this for the first time. Ces pioneered this kind of reporting with her "Usapang Business".

"Usapang Business" had a good following but had to be cancelled after three years, precisely because advertising money was going elsewhere. But Ces got enough feedback from viewers who were inspired by stories she featured. So this time, network newscasts will feature at least one of these feel good stories.

I am glad that Ces has gone this far in promoting business news on television. When I opened up a new anchor position to cover business on the English newscast The World Tonight back in 1993, I told her that she should think of this specialization as her career path. I am glad it worked and only because Ces is not only one of the more intelligent news anchors around, she is also someone who is at home with the business crowd.

Now, let us see if these Makati business types who keep on chiding broadcast networks for not having more positive news will put their money where their mouths are. I have no doubt Ces will deliver. But it would help immensely if the business sector helps in carrying the costs of looking for and broadcasting the good news.

Thing to do

Reader Chito Santos contributed this one.

The psychiatrist was not expecting the distraught stranger who staggered into his office and slumped into a chair.

"I’m losing my memory, Doctor," he sobbed. "What should I do?"

"Pay me in advance."

(Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected])