A matter of fairness

It is unfortunate that ours has become a society of rumors, of speculations, of people-bashing without basis, of doing things that are so uncharitable and unfair. Take all those front-page stories about Stanley Ho, the Macau tycoon who is known throughout the world as a legitimate businessman. Even before the facts are in, here in the Philippines, he is already being vilified and crucified, his name and reputation tarnished, by a lynch mob out for blood.

As a Christian people, the least we can do is to give Stanley Ho the benefit of the doubt. Let us find out if his investments here will prove beneficial to our country. If it is eventually shown that he has surreptitiously put up gambling casinos here or becomes involved in illegal activities, then let us prosecute him, dump him in jail, or throw him out of our country.

Actually, the opposition against Ho is small but noisy. But then, it has clout and has managed to whip up public opinion against the Macau tycoon. This is where the problem lies. If the same thing happens to other investors, and there is no basis for the charges against them, then many potential investors will think twice before putting their money into our country.

Let us be more specific. While it is true that Stanley Ho has been closely identified with the legendary gambling activities in Macau, it does not follow that he will duplicate his Macau gaming activities here in the Philippines. Note that he has diversified business interests in various parts of the world. According to the Far Eastern Economic Review, Ho has investments in residential and commercial property developments, in hotels, banks, a golf course, Air Macau and other airlines, an electric company, Macau TV, ferry services, and Internet ventures.

Note, too, that Ho's initial projects here are quite legitimate. His Jumbo Palace floating restaurant, for instance, is a sister restaurant of Ho's Jumbo floating restaurant in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, a top tourist attraction that specializes in Chinese cuisine. The Jumbo is a Hong Kong institution, featured in picture postcards, and a source of tourism dollars.

Ho has also invested some P500 million in various Philippine corporate stocks, and he plans to operate a luxurious Manila-Subic Bay ferry service, which ought to enhance the tourism attraction of the Subic Freeport. Even now, the groundwork for the ferry service is being laid, and it could become operational a few weeks from now. What basis then is there for the fears, speculations and rumors that Stanley Ho is going to make the Philippines a gambling center in Asia?

The spokesmen of Ho say that his investments here are all going to be legitimate, that they will be designed to make the Philippines regain its place as a leading power in this part of the world. Until this is proven to be otherwise, let us not rush to judgment and declare Ho persona non grata, or a curse to Philippine society. This is the least we can do as a Christian people.

Myla Jinky Policios, the lady president of the Dumaguete Jaycees who went out of her way to inform me about the Negros Oriental Quadruplet born on January 3, met with me several days ago, at the Lobby Lounge of Manila Pen, when she came to Manila to attend a company conference. I turned over P4,000 to Jinky, for the use of the four babies, all of whom are now confined at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital.

The four babies, all of whom are out of the incubator, were named Felixberto Jr., Ma. Lynn, Ma. Fe, and Ma. Gloria. The last baby, Ma. Gloria, was named after Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who sent a representative to look after the needs of the quadruplet. Among the babies' needs are milk, plenty of vitamins, and medicines.

According to Jinky, the quad's father, who finished only Grade 6, is a simple farmer who grows corn, and the mother, who finished Grade 4, is a plain housewife. The family has no other source of income. All they own is a small plot of farm land. By the way, the quadruplet will be baptized today.

Former Ambassador Rodolfo A. Arizala, who is the director of the UST Santiago Department of International Relations for Asia and Africa, has good news from Chile. He said that after President Estrada's state visit to Chile, there have been noticeable improvements in the political, economic and cultural relations between Chile and the Philippines.

According to Arizala, UST Santiago founding president Gerardo Rocha recently hosted a luncheon in honor of some 20 Filipino priests and nuns doing missionary work in Chile. During the luncheon held at the university, Rocha announced a scholarship, free of charge, in any course, for the Filipino missionaries. In addition, Rocha told the priests and nuns that they could sponsor poor but deserving students to study at UST Santiago, free of charge.

It will be recalled that UST Santiago gave President Estrada his first honorary doctorate degree, in public administration, during his visit to Chile. Argentina also conferred an honorary degree on President Erap. "Abroad, President Estrada is a rising bright star and the Filipinos are held in high esteem, because of their hard work and achievements," Arizala said.

PULSEBEAT: It is high time that consumers get the protection and help that they deserve. Take the case of Mrs. Ledevina Nakamura who, two years ago, tendered full payment for a parcel of land (Lot No. 22 Block 3) at the Manila Southwoods. Despite repeated follow-ups, Mrs. Nakamura has not gotten the Transfer Certificate of Title to the land. . . The 14th Annual Golf Tournament held in Baguio City, under the sponsorship of the Rotary Golfing Fellowship Foundation of the Philippines, attracted 350 golfers from all over the world. Everything went well, except for the stinking men's and ladies' toilets at the Wright and Mines View Parks.

Art A. Borjal's e-mail address: <[email protected]>