A time for making good things happen

If there is not much excitement or big play-up of the forthcoming National Economic Summit, it is due to the sad experience of the general public with previous summits held during previous administrations. Water summit, garbage summit, peace and order summit, local governments summit, traffic summit, transportation summit, anti-corruption summit — you name it, we had it. And there was one common denominator of all these previous summits: after all the sound and fury that emanated from these costly gatherings, nothing substantive or tangible ever came out of these summits.

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Concerned people hope that this National Economic Summit will be far different from previous ones. That after all the rhetoric and discussions from the country’s best and brightest, the implementors are going to move heaven and earth to make the resolutions and commitments come true. Here, time is of the essence. Our people cannot wait for an indefinite period of time to see an improvement in their lives, for things to get better in the area of good government.

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Let me cite a particular example. Economic specialists and business leaders feel that the greatest deterrent to our country’s economic growth is the peace and order problem. If investors cannot undertake their economic activities without seeing a close kin kidnapped or killed by syndicated crime, they will certainly harbor no second thoughts about moving their investments elsewhere.

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Right now, because of fear of what could happen to their children, several bigtime businessmen have sent their kids to study in foreign lands. If this happens, you can be sure that these businessmen have also relocated a good portion of their financial resources to other countries. One can just imagine how much wealth has been brought out of our country by rich Filipinos and taipans ever since the kidnapping for ransom incidents surfaced in the landscape and have become part and parcel of our daily lives.

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Now, you know why this coming National Economic Summit is so important to the Macapagal Arroyo administration. If the summit becomes vastly different from previous similar undertakings and produces dramatic results, then it could become the breakthrough that will convince businessmen and investors to make the Philippines their investment haven.

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Nestor Almazan of Ontario, Canada, sent an advice that we be careful about American monetary support. So many strings attached, he said. And he cited a particular case. Ten years ago, the US government offered World War II veterans American citizenship without having to complete five years of permanent residency in the US. Nothing ever happened to this American offer, he said.

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According to Almazan, our poor Filipino veterans-turned-U.S. citizens were left to fend for themselves in America. They became third class citizens.  Many died in poverty.

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Almazan recalled how former American allies like Noriega, Sadam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, among others, became America’s enemies.  And a hundred years ago, Filipino troops who helped the Americans capture Manila from the Spaniards became America’s hated insurrectos, he added.

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Here is a beautiful prayer that you and your family can use as Sunday reading:

I asked GOD to take away my pain.
GOD said, No.
It is not for me to take away,
but for you to give it up.

I asked GOD to make my handicapped
child whole.
GOD said, No.
Her spirit was whole,
her body was only temporary.

I asked GOD to grant me patience.
GOD said, No.
Patience is a by-product of  tribulations;
it isn’t granted, it is learned.

I asked GOD to give me happiness.
GOD said, No.
I give you blessings.
Happiness is up to you.

I asked GOD to spare me pain.
GOD said, No.
Suffering draws you apart
from worldly cares and
brings you closer to me.

I asked GOD to make my spirit grow.
GOD said, No.
You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked for all things that I
might enjoy life.
GOD said, No.
I will give you life so that
you may enjoy all things.

I asked GOD to help me LOVE others,
as much as HE loves me.
GOD said...Ahhhh, finally you
have the idea.

"To the world you might be one person,
But to one person, you just might be the world."

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PULSEBEAT: Lourdes Velez of Cagayan de Oro wrote to say that the THOUGHTS OF THE DAY portion of my column is the first thing she reads in the STAR every morning. She, however, disagrees with my comment that Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano is a "tough guy" who deserves the admiration of Cagayanos . . . Dr. Mimi M. Tayag of Long Beach, California, Maryland, USA, wrote to say that the THOUGHTS FOR TODAY portion of my column "perks up" her day. She passes the thoughts around to her friends….. Marco J. Dagasuhan, an AB MassCom student at Liceo de Cagayan University in Cagayan de Oro, sent to me his own THOUGHTS FOR TODAY, a personal composition of his: "When doubts and dismay enfold you and hope for relief becomes dim, remember that someone has told you, to cast all your cares upon Him."

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Thoughts For Today:

When special people touch our lives,
we see how beautiful and wonderful
our world can be.
Blessed are those who give us love,
joy and faith.

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As you begin a new day,
may you see with God’s eyes,
listen with God’s ears,
love with God’s heart,
and work with God’s arms.

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