Many people particularly the international community were surprised if not shocked at the sudden decision of President Aquino to abandon his visits to Vietnam and Indonesia ostensibly because of a “conflict of schedule” – but it looks like this has more to do with what happened last week at the Quirino Grandstand. The President was either concerned about the image it creates after a crisis, or is not particularly aware of how important these trips are for the country and even for himself. This is not a good sign considering how important it is for the Philippines to establish renewed relations with our ASEAN neighbors most especially when we have a new President. Bert Romulo should be more forceful in impressing upon our young President the importance of these “must do” trips. This could be another lost opportunity.
Beyond the crisis
While many Filipinos continue to add their voices in the condemnation of the hostage taking at the Quirino Grandstand, the time for Filipino bashing must now come to a close, as pointed out by lawyer Alex Lacson, author of the very popular “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country.” After all, we should not allow the entire Filipino nation to be judged according to the disgraceful acts of one man or a few men for that matter, since there are many more Filipinos who have not only brought honor to our country but whose actions have saved the lives of countless others including foreigners. When most other European nations turned their backs on the Jews persecuted by Hitler, the Philippines during the time of President Quezon welcomed 1,200 Jewish families to Manila, a deed finally recognized 70 years later when Israel erected a monument honoring President Quezon and Filipinos at the Holocaust Memorial Park in Rishon Lezion, Israel. Lacson enumerates other accomplished Filipinos such as Harvard University professor Baldomero Olivera who was awarded as 2007 Scientist of the Year by the Harvard University Foundation for his groundbreaking work on conotoxins (which became the basis for the production of a commercial drug more effective than morphine since it did not produce addiction); Dr. Josette Biyo who was the first Asian to win the Intel Excellence Teaching Award in 2002 for her innovative teaching methods and for which the Massachusetts Institute of Technology named a minor planet after her; and 2009 CNN Hero of the Year awardee Efren Peñaflorida whose pushcart classrooms have educated kids and saved them from the clutches of street gangs and criminals.
I would like to add to Lacson’s list former White House physician Dr. Connie Mariano, a navy rear admiral who became the doctor to Bush 1 and 2 and Bill Clinton. Dr. Mariano was the first woman in US history to serve as director of the White House Medical Unit. She recently came out with a new memoir entitled “The White House Doctor,” where she reveals what it was like to take care of the most powerful man in the world, sharing interesting vignettes, such as the time Clinton refused to be sedated during an operation (after an accident walking down the steps of golfer Greg Norman’s house) because losing consciousness would compel the vice president to temporarily take over. I totally agree with Alex Lacson – it is time to pick up the pieces and stop dwelling on the negatives. Time to move on. We must have faith in ourselves. Otherwise, no one else will.
Show of force
US super carrier USS George Washington will be arriving in Manila this weekend in what could be continuing efforts by the United States to ratchet up its military presence in the Asian region following its visit to Vietnam. US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas, who will be back in Manila this weekend, will be hosting a cocktail reception on board the super carrier together with the Commanding Officer of the USS George Washington, Rear Admiral Dan Cloyd. The visit is one of many planned to emphasize how important the Visiting Forces Agreement is with the United States. Manila’s “Who’s Who” have been invited to attend the reception including no less than PNoy and most especially the Senators who are asking for a review of the VFA.
No colorum, no traffic
We’ve noticed there seem to be less traffic nowadays. We were told – and I certainly hope this is true – that the new MMDA head is finally cracking down on colorum buses. Maybe the undisciplined drivers of these colorum buses are all applying for a job at the MWSS, after finding out the water company allows their drivers to get easy term car loans and give as much as 33 different kinds of bonuses.
Slow recovery
Our close personal friend Dr. Ronnie Asuncion, board member of the Philippine Star and People Asia, suffered a stroke last July 13 while attending the regular Edsa Shang Tuesday Club. We visited Doc Ronnie at his Times St. residence last Tuesday and we’re grateful to see him recovering slowly but surely under the care of his lovely wife Purita. Dr. Asuncion has been a resident of Times street for decades and a close neighbor of the Aquino family. As matter of fact, his house is right in front of the Aquino residence. Doc Ronnie was the first doctor called by Noynoy when Mrs. Cory Aquino was not feeling well and was immediately advised by Doc. Ronnie to get an executive check up – after which she was eventually diagnosed with colon cancer. Many of us, his friends, want the good doctor to stay a little longer. We continue to pray for his full and complete recovery.
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Email: spybits08@yahoo.com