Big flop

The plebiscite on the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao is expected to get a landslide "NO" vote in many areas where voting took place yesterday. The voters of Palawan, Zamboanga City and North Cotabato, for example, are going to soundly reject their provinces’ inclusion in the ARMM for one basic reason: They see no benefits from joining the ARMM.

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Failure of leadership is a principal factor behind the huge NO vote in the plebiscite. ARMM Governor Nur Misuari has been a dismal failure in bringing peace and progress to the four provinces, included at present in the ARMM. Year in and year out, ever since the ARMM was established and Misuari was installed as governor, billions of pesos have been pumped into the ARMM. Yet, no tangible economic, social, cultural and political benefits have accrued as a result of Misuari’s governance.

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That was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s problem as she, during the past few days, tried to rally the people to give a YES vote to the ARMM: How to erase the perception that Misuari was a big flop in governance. And Misuari himself did not even lift a finger to show that his leadership was a blessing to the ARMM.

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Nestor Mercado, without giving me an idea of what he does, and without mentioning whether he is based in some foreign land, sent a very thought-provoking letter which I would like to share with STAR readers. What he observed about the Philippines, as cited below, is so realistic that it should be read by all concerned Filipinos. What follow are the thoughts of Mercado:

Corruption in most part of the government sector continues unabated. Shenanigans happen in the public works sector, where many contractors pay off the people in government to get the plum jobs. To recoup their investment in the lagay they give to the engineers and people who issue the contracts, they usually end up using substandard materials to do the job.

This results in the roads deteriorating quickly, and before we know it, the roads need to be repaired again. In Nueva Vizcaya, for instance, travelers end up losing a lot of travel time because of the ongoing construction from Manila to Solano. It does not matter what year one visits Nueva Vizcaya – 1985, 1994, 1997, 2000 etc. – the road is always under repair. If the proper concrete mix is used, there should be no need to do that work frequently. Corruption causes these problems.

Only in the Philippines does a landlord who rent out his house or lot becomes the victim of the tenant. There is a landlord who has not collected any rent money from his tenant for the last three years. Not only has he not been paid, but efforts to evict the tenant have been for naught. The tenant had the gall to tell the landlord to pay him P30,000 for him to move out of the rented house.

All over the country, there are denuded forests, and there are reports about cyanide or dynamite fishing. These deplete the natural resources. We as a people have the tendency to get involved in the here and now, but without regard for the future. The ability to bribe our way out of any situation is hampering the rule of law that a civilized society lives by.

It is amazing to see how far other Asian countries have progressed. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia – they are more progressive than we are, and they have more developed infrastructures. Their highways, airports, tourism facilities etc. are no match to what we can offer. No wonder the cruise ships now bypass Manila as a port of call.

Our chaotic and undisciplined drivers create monumental traffic jams. There is no way that it should take three and a half hours to go 20 kilometers, but this happens in Manila. There can be holding our own in attracting tourists to our country if their safety and ability to stick to a schedule cannot be guaranteed. In Europe, a tour bus that cannot keep a schedule cannot attract customers.

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Mercado ended his letter with the following note: "It is easy to write about being positive, but as sure as the sun rises from the east, I know that in July and August, the streets of Metro Manila will be flooded, as they were 40 years ago. Could you blame me then for the cynicism and negativity that I exhibit? And it all boils down to making sure that the rule of law is followed. Now one should be above the law. If the country starts to aggressively prosecute those who try to enrich themselves at the people’s expense, then and only then will I think that the country will have hope."

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Through the Good Samaritan Foundation, I am trying to initiate a search for our country’s Outstanding Good Samaritans, people who, in their own little way, lend a helping hand to less fortunate fellowmen. Let me ask STAR readers to assist me, by giving me pointers and ideas on how to push through the "Outstanding Good Samaritan Award."

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Who should get an Outstanding Good Samaritan Award? What criteria should be used to choose the awardee or awardees? Should it done on a yearly basis? What kind of award should be given to him or her, or a group of people? I would appreciate answers to these questions from people who would like the spirit of sharing and caring to prevail in our deeply divided land. Your tips and pointers may be faxed to Telefax Nos. 716-1399 and 716-1499, or through my e-mail address listed below.

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I thought of this project when I noticed the growing indifference of our people to the plight of their suffering fellowmen. Hepefully, stories of strangers going out of their way to help ease the plight of a fellowman in need could inspire others to follow suit.

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Bro. Alwin Bobis, a seminarian at the La Salette Seminary in Biga, Silang, Cavite, sent an invitation, asking me to judge a choral contest with the theme "Diwa ng Wikang Pilipino" on August 17. He suggested that I go to Silang a day earlier and stay overnight so that I could experience their deep prayer life.

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"Ours is a place for solitude and recharging. I am sure you will like it here and you can be inspired to write because of the ambience and sanctity of the place: prayerful atmosphere, golden sunshine, luscious green trees, compelling summoning Church bell, verdant vast irresistible garden, birds singing joyfully, warm and simple people," said Bro. Alwin.

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Bro. Alwin’s invitation is difficult to resist, if one is to consider the ambience of the place. However, a previously scheduled appointed with my doctor prevents me from accepting the invitation to be a member of the board of judges for the choral contest. I hope another day and occasion will come when I can drop by the La Sallete Seminary in Biga, Silang.

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Thoughts For Today:

Be a person full of love and life,
Stay simple yet happy.
When things go wrong, don’t go blue.
Just pray and say, "I will get through!"
God is always there for you.

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If God has made you a giver,
Your hands are born open,
And so is your heart.
There may be times
When your hands are empty,
But your heart is always full.

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My e-mail addresses: <[email protected]> and <[email protected]>