Reopening the doors to foreign investors

The friendly visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to neighboring countries is a key that could reopen the doors to foreign investments in the Philippines. For instance, the President’s plea to ASEAN leaders to pursue the East ASEAN Growth Area or EAGA, if heeded, will certainly result in trade and commercial ties that could pump some life back into our economy, especially in Mindanao which is supposed to serve as the Philippines’ focal point for EAGA.

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President Macapagal-Arroyo is hitting several stones at the same time with her forays to countries like Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. Not only has she been able to establish contact and rapport with the heads of these states, and link up Filipino businessmen with their foreign counterparts, but her trips have given her the opportunity to appeal to our Overseas Filipino Workers to send their dollar remittances back home.

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To regain the international business community’s confidence in the Philippine economy is apparently a top priority of President Macapagal-Arroyo in devoting a bigger portion of her time to her foreign forays. Certainly, there are big pluses that can be gained from interacting with the political and business leaders of countries like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Indonesia.

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Hopefully, the President has breached the resistance of foreign investors to take a closer, second look at the Philippines as a place to pump their money in. Despite the acts of terrorism in isolated, faraway areas like Basilan or Sulu, there are many factors that should attract businessmen to invest in the Philippines. But then, Congress must work double time in putting in the legislative component that can attract investments into our battered land.

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Remember the Siamese twins of Pamela Dulay, a mother from an indigent family in Pangasinan, who were born at the Philippine General Hospital and about whom I wrote in an effort to raise funds for a surgical operation that would separate them from each other? The initial response was negative, and the mother was forced to bring home the Siamese twins to Pangasinan. Thereupon, I received a second appeal to lend a helping hand to the twins.

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Fortunately, STAR’s opinion editor Ben Bernales featured a photo of the twins, with their stomachs attached to each other, together with the letter of appeal sent to me in behalf of their mother. Veena Fores, daughter of the noted and highly-regarded Dr. Raul Fores, director of the Makati Medical Center, sent word to me, through STAR entertainment editor Ricky Lo, that the Makati Medical Center was willing to undertake the surgical operation on the Siamese twins. Ms. Fores suggested that I can contact Dr. Fores.

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The heaven-sent message of Ms. Fores has already been relayed to the Dulay family. Hopefully, the twins can be brought to MMC at the soonest possible time. Through Ms. Fores, God has again showed His love for His special children.

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When he was yet chairman of what was then Pilipinas Bank, William S. Tiosic always found time to lend a helping hand to the Good Samaritan Foundation with his regular generous donations. After Pilipinas Bank was acquired by another bank, Mr. Tiosic continued to show his spirit of sharing with the less fortunate in life. Whenever he would see me at the Garden Café of EDSA Shangri-La, he would quietly hand over an envelope containing a check for the Good Samaritan Foundation.

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Last Sunday, Aug. 26, after a long absence, I dropped by Garden Cafe. I was surprised to find out that Mr. Tiosic had, last July 24 or more than a month ago, left behind with the Garden Café staff an envelope containing a check in the amount of P20,000 for the Good Samaritan Foundation. I felt sorry that I was not able to acknowledge his act of generosity sooner.

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Mr. Tiosic also wrote a note saying that Mr. James B. Reuter, S.J., who wrote the foreword of my book, Walking Through the Pathways of Life, was his professor at the Ateneo Graduate School. Mr. Tiosic’s final word was truly inspiring: "I assure you as long as I live I will always support your causes." Thanks a million, and God bless!

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Have you ever heard of the Aphasia Foundation of the Philippines Inc. (AFPI)? It is an NGO founded in 1999 as a support group for people with aphasia. In laymen’s language, apashia is a medical condition, an impairment that affects a person’s speech, reading, writing and comprehension. And it is caused by head trauma, brain tumors, and infections. However, the most common cause is stroke or "brain attack." The victims of this impairment are called "aphasics."

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Among the 50 aphasics who are members of AFPI are Noel Soriano, former president of the Univresity of the Philippines and the Asian Institute of Management; Bong Marfa, a young pediatrician; Jun Celis, a practicing lawyer and former Crispa basketball player; and Paz Talam, a former social worker. Danny Velasquez, who is himself an aphasic and who is a member of the Shangri-La Plaza Sunday Mass Community, is the incumbent president of AFPI. You should listen to how Velasquez fought and battled the effects of aphasia, and you will marvel at how the will to survive and overcome, together with prayers and faith in God, can make miracles happen.

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The AFPI, which celebrated its second anniversary last Aug. 25, offers assistance to aphasics and family members, promotes socializing, and provides information and referrals for therapy for indigent aphasics. Its activities include social gatherings, lectures, and languages stimulation. The group meets every Saturday afternoon at the physical therapy room of the Philam Village clubhouse in Quezon City. For further info, please contact Danny Velasquez at tel. No. 682-4707 or the Aphasia office at tel. No. 925-8987.

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THOUGHTS FOR TODAY:

Quality life doesn’t mean having wealth,
power or superb intelligence.
It’s a matter of how much kindness and love
you give to others and the joy you get out of it.

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In our weakest times,
God’s strength is ours to lean on.
In our saddest times,
His compassion is ours to receive.
At all times,
His love is ours to share.

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