The Americans are not the only ones being downbeat. The natives are similarly pessimistic. Another survey, this time by a local business daily, showed that the delay in the canvassing of the recently held presidential election and rising oil prices appear to have sapped the confidence of Metro Manila consumers in May. The findings disputed expectations of a brighter outlook with the end of a hotly contested electoral exercise.
Yet, what do we see on our television screens and the front pages of our newspapers? An otherwise respectable senator filibustering his lungs out, delaying the canvassing and in the process, delaying our ability to move on and do what we must do to address the national economic crisis we face.
I almost want to propose the abolition of Congress for being the single biggest block to this nation’s progress. Our national leaders are a negative factor in the country’s economic climate, adding the element of political instability that drives us out of investors’ radar screens.
I am really disappointed in Sen. Nene Pimentel. I have always had him up there as possibly one of the very few of our contemporary leaders who has managed to transcend petty politics to deserve being thought of as a senior statesman. But he swallowed his principles by running in the same ticket with someone who was his jailer during martial law and one he also accused of cheating him in a previous senatorial election.
It also seems Senator Nene has become cantankerous in his old age. Even before his disgraceful performance this week, I felt from his actions and statements that something’s wrong with him, giving me second thoughts about voting for him. He has simply become abnormally bitter. I am at a loss wondering what has been eating him up. He seems to have this big bone to pick with Ate Glo. If I recall, he even dutifully held the microphone during the oath taking of Ate Glo at EDSA. But his view of Ate Glo and her administration changed drastically after Ate Glo bypassed him in favor of Tito Guingona for the then vacant position of Vice President.
While I am all for making sure the true will of the people is reflected in the Congressional canvass, the whole day filibuster of Senator Nene is uncalled for. It reinforces the misgivings our own citizens have about our government. It feeds into the pessimism that so darkens our national mood today. It is definitely not helpful in creating a climate conducive to investments, local or foreign. Even ordinary people are disheartened, as another survey showed.
The survey commissioned and published by BusinessWorld showed the consumer confidence index (CCI) down 14 basis points. Consumer confidence – a barometer of future spending – firmed up in April, following survey indications that Ate Glo was winning over opposition bet Fernando Poe Jr. But the May round showed an immediate loss in momentum for the CCI.
There is no doubt this loss of confidence is due to delays in the official canvassing of votes for the presidential and vice-presidential contests and the refusal of even marginal candidates like Brother Eddie to concede. Fears of civil unrest inspired by the opposition and the usual suspects in the military are feeding into this climate of despair.
This is why the survey respondents – 300 randomly selected individuals in Metro Manila who were at least 18 years old – appeared more uncertain of their circumstances when surveyed over May 21 to 28. Every one of us, except those callous politicians with their minds focused on pure greed for power, would understandably feel insecure about the future.
Bloomberg reports from Singapore "the pessimistic outlook on the Philippines is in contrast to the prospects in the region. The survey of US firms in Southeast Asia indicated that four of every five US companies operating in Asia plan to expand business and hire more workers this year, as they expect sales in the region to grow."
"American companies in the region are seeing a turnaround, with the majority predicting increased profits in 2004 and 2005 putting in plans to expand their operations," Nicholas de Boursac, executive director of the American Chamber in Singapore, said in a statement. Most of the members, except for those in the Philippines, expect a pickup in the economies of the countries they are based in, the statement said.
Corruption and worries about personal security top the concerns of American businessmen about the Philippines. I can safely say those are our concerns too as citizens of this country. And we cannot begin to address these concerns while our clowns in Congress insist on delaying a constitutional process, risking a constitutional crisis in the process.
There is a time and place for everything. We need a vigilant and outspoken opposition in our democracy. But what we don’t need is sheer political obstructionism that prevents all of us from moving forward. It is easy to dismiss that congressman from Maguindanao as one of the risks of a democratic system. But watching Sen. Nene acting like Rep. Delaying-galen can be heart wrenching. I, for one, thought it was a pity to see such an illustrious man disintegrate into one of them clowns, right before our eyes.
I didn’t vote for Ate Glo and I still think Raul Roco is worthier of the presidency. But, hey, the election’s over. Let’s move on!
A Charlotte, North Carolina lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire among other things. Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the lawyer filed claim against the insurance company.
In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost "in a series of small fires." The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason: That the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued...and won!
In delivering the ruling the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The Judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be unacceptable fire, and was obligated to pay the claim.
Rather than endure a lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the rare cigars lost in the "fires." NOW FOR THE BEST PART...
After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!!! With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.
This is supposedly a true story and was supposedly the first place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.
(Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is philstar_chanco@yahoo.com)