Growth under FVR’s time

When I returned from a long trip in the United States, I found among my mail a letter from Nick A. Lagustan, former President Fidel V. Ramos’ spokesperson. The letter was a response to my column of May 9, 2006, in which I said, "For if we look at it objectively, while Cha-cha attempts did not prosper during FVR’s and Erap’s time, neither did our economy." I am printing Mr. Lagustan’s letter in the spirit of fairness.

According to Mr. Lagustan: "There are adequate available data and official records on the Philippine economy, that would enable one to come up with an objective assessment on the performance of past and present administrations. We cite the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) semestral reports published in July 1998 and January 1999.

"The statistics charts show that from near zero growth in 1991, the economy’s expansion accelerated steadily to 2.1 % in 1993, 5.3 % in 1994 and 7.2 % in 1996. Despite the region-wide financial crisis that started in mid -1997, that year, the country managed to post a respectable 5.3 percent GNP growth. The BSP stated that while growth in the first quarter of 1998 slowed down to 2.5% as the Philippine economy continued to adjust to the effects of the crisis, it has remained more favorable and positive compared with other similarly affected economies in Asia, including Indonesia at (-) 15.3%, Thailand at (-) 8%, Malaysia at ((-) 7.5% and South Korea at (-) 7.0% during the same period. This was largely due to what the Asian Development Bank cited: ‘the sound overall policy framework, infrastructure and economic and social reform laws put in place by the Ramos Administration.’ In March 1998, the Philippines exited from the IMF conditional lending program, having paid its obligations under 22 loan programs that covered 35 years, a step which could not have been done except with a robust economy.

"We are in complete agreement with the columnist’s suggestions that we take a look at the issue on the timeliness of Cha-cha from another viewpoint and that ‘perhaps it is time we took the plunge.’ FVR’s advocacy of the Cha-cha dates back to 1992 when he launched his campaign for the presidency, with the shift to the parliamentary system as one of his platforms and has consistently pursued the same to this date (we are sending herewith some of the articles he has written on the subject entitled: "What the Nation Must Do" and "Urgency of Constitutional Renewal") — Signed, Nick A. Lagustan

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Dr. Rafael Y. Castillo Jr., an alumnus of Boston College, Class of 2000, and of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, Class of 2005, wrote to say that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered the address at the 2006th commencement exercise of Boston College, not Boston University, as I had stated in my column of June 29. In his email to me, Dr. Castillo said that he used to work at Boston College and worked as a volunteer tour guide, so he said he understood my mistake as there was often confusion re the two schools.

 Dr. Castillo gave this description of the two campuses: "Boston University is a private university with an urban campus located along Commonwealth Ave. in the Brighton section of Boston. Boston College is a Jesuit Catholic university with a green palatial campus also located along Commonwealth Ave. but in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood along the border between the city of Newton and the city of Boston. Both schools are separate entities with distinct campus cultures. And in fact they are bitter rivals in intercollegiate sports, not unlike De la Salle and Ateneo de Manila. Sporting events between the two schools were often called by the local press as ‘The Battle of Commonwealth Avenue.’"

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Old war veterans never die. Their exploits as they fought side by side with the Americans during the Second World War will be incorporated in California history textbooks — once Assembly Bill 1076 is enacted into law.

Joey Quinto, publisher of the 14-year old Torrance-based California Journal for Filipino Americans, gave full support to a pending Assembly Bill 1076 during his appearance before the California Senate Committee in Sacramento, California last Wednesday. The landmark state assembly bill authored by Assembly member Jerome Horton (51st District), seeks the inclusion in the state’s history textbooks of the role of Filipino soldiers during World War II.

Quinto lamented the fact that Filipino World War II veterans have been "suffering the pains of discrimination, in spite of the sacrifices they made in defending Bataan and Corregidor during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines." He further said that "that episode in defense of freedom and democracy is now almost forgotten, and fast fading away from the minds of people of the free world."

There are 20,000 Filipino war veterans living in the US, and for 60 years, they have been denied benefits given to all soldiers who fought on the side of the US.  

The veterans belonging to the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), the Philippine Scouts and the various pro-American guerilla outfits — are dying at the rate of five everyday, Quinto said.

Assemblyman Horton recently received a certificate of recognition from the predominantly Filipino City of Carson during a town hall meeting praising AB 1076, which he authored. During the meeting, which was also attended by Los Angeles Philippine Consul General Willy Gaa, Horton called on the Filipino-Americans to tell friends and relatives to write and urge Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign the bill. Horton has vowed the passage of the bill. We hope that bill will pass.

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The Islamic Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Isesco) is granting scholarships and training Filipino Muslims as trainors for Arabic language teaching. These grants were announced by Dr. Mohamed Chtatou, representative from the Morocco-based Isesco who arrived in Iligan together with another Isesco officer Dr. Mohamed Aurarhi. Dr. Chtatou formally asked the Mindanao Women’s League and Establishment, Inc. to look for one qualified male and one female Arabic teachers to be sent to Morocco for training as certified trainers for the Arabic language.

MWLE president Aleema Sharifa Macarandas started last year the first ever training for local Arabic teachers which the Isesco supported and found successful.

A new batch of 60 trainees are now undergoing the second training seminar on the language to fill the need of Madrasahs (Islamic schools) in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Cotabato city.

The Philippine government, through the Department of Education on Muslim Affairs, has approved the integration of Arabic language in the public school curiculum in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Dr. Chtatou said, "We will help this country, particularly the Muslim areas, for as long as it needs our assistance." He added that language acquisition becomes "a tool for peace that leads to development, and development leads to peace and understanding."

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