Perhaps, the problem lies in the Filipino’s attitude toward life. As students, we always chose the easy way and crammed only a day before exams. You can say this about the way we run our government. After the EDSA Revolt of 1986, the Bataan nuclear power plant was not allowed to operate, and yet, we had to pay huge sums in US dollars (which we are still paying today). The cost of procuring that nuclear plant was supposed to have been paid off by now. But thanks to the Pinoy’s misplaced pride, we not only suffered severe power outages during the Aquino administration, but two decades later, we are still paying for that stupid mistake!
To solve this problem, the Ramos administration came to the rescue and solved the brownouts… but at a great cost, which we now have to pay! So when will the Filipino ever learn from the mistakes of the past? I really don’t know but certainly, we can’t afford to commit more and more stupid mistakes like the Bataan nuclear power plant.
So when the increase in power rates was announced in Cebu a week ago, we already knew that consumers would feel the increase most to the tune of 55 centavos per kilowatt-hour. There is no question that in these harsh economic times we should not be subjected to any price increases, but we also know that the alternative is even worse — constant and periodic brownouts or an economic slowdown; after all, power is essential to industry. That is the proverbial choice between the devil and the deep blue sea! What a choice!
Of course, as expected consumers’ organizations are contesting the new power rates, raising fire and brimstone that this increase would hurt everyone. I don’t blame them. But it wasn’t as if they weren’t given due warnings. Truth to tell, more than a year ago, the Cebu Private Power Corp. (CPPC) warned that if they didn’t get a new deal with the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and a corresponding increase, they would be forced to shut down their operations. Somehow VECO was able to convince CPPC to continue operating up to this time. Luckily, the increase happened only this year.
When I read the stories in the newspapers that finally, the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) has allowed the new power increases, I said to myself, "At last!" No, don’t get me wrong. I’m not elated by this news, rather I remember writing about this impending increase more than a year ago and so I went back to my files last year and yes, on March 4, 2003, I wrote the column "Why we expect high electricity rates soon." Soon apparently came a year and a half later. Hence, we should all be thankful for the reprieve. But now it’s the time to bite the bullet and do more belt-tightening!
Oops! Before I forget, didn’t you know that Cebu is also in the midst of a water crisis? No, I don’t think it’s important. But like it or not, water intrusion from the wells operated by the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) in Liloan, some 18 kilometers north of Cebu City, has already reached two kilometers inland. Yet, land developers are building subdivisions left and right like there was no tomorrow. Well, I’m certain that tomorrow will come, but I can’t guarantee that there will be sufficient water for the new subdivisions being constructed in Metro Cebu. So call this my "Buyers, beware" warning! If you want to know, no one in Cebu is moving to fix our water problem, meaning no one is searching for a new water source. So when the water runs out, don’t say I didn’t tell you!
Gone are the days when movie producers could get away with anything they wanted because unfortunately, any moves by theater groups throughout the country would get an immediate reaction from the producers, which meant that your theater wouldn’t get good films anymore. I should know, I used to be a member of the Kapisanan ng mga Sinehan sa Pilipinas (Kasipil), a brainchild of my good friend Joey Pineda which we launched in Olongapo City when the Americans were still around. I recall it was the first time I met my good friend Sen. Richard "Dick" Gordon who was then the mayor of Olongapo City and whose family business was running theaters.
So what’s the response of the film Industry to the SM Cinema challenge? No doubt, it is a mind-boggling challenge to the film Industry that has lived for decades making sexy films (they used to be called bomba movies). Mind you, if this country has stagnated economically and morally, it is largely because movie producers like our old friends, Ms. Lily Monteverde or Robbie Tan, made their fortunes producing sexy films. They never got away from that cycle of sexy films because these are easier to sell since you don’t really need great screenwriters for such movies.
Finally, let me say this once again… the film industry must shift from making Tagalog movies to English movies since there is no world market for the former. I just came from China and I didn’t see any pirated Tagalog movies there. We are a nation with a big English-speaking population. Let’s start making movies in English and the whole world becomes our market! Again, thanks to misguided Filipino pride even if our film producers and directors know too well that there’s no world demand or market out there for Tagalog movies!