Can't this bureaucratic arrogance be stopped?

As appetizer for today's column let me share with you this text message from former Customs Collector Boy Odilao, my kumpadre:

"In our life we need three things to control: Tongue, temper, temptation; three things to have: Honesty, hard work, health; three things to watch: Beauty, behavior, bravery; three things to avoid: Anger, arrogance, addiction. Follow these and you have a happy life." * * *

Delivery service firms are not allowed to accept and deliver obscene material. "But why is it that my electric bills get through?" a friend wants to know. * * *

This friend of mine loves to hang out at the Batasan (House of Representatives) everytime he's in Metro Manila. He enjoys watching and listening to congressmen. He agrees with Boris Marshalov who said: "Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing. Nobody listens. Then everybody disagrees."

* * *

After the sacking of that NAIA immigration officer who subjected presidential daughter Luli Arroyo to a sampling of Pinoy bureaucratic arrogance, many other victims of such arrogance stood up wanting to be counted. They revealed their respective experiences before the Civil Service Commission.

"Bureaucratic haughtiness has always been the hallmark of many government offices," according to a fellow mediaman.

* * *

"Common kaayo kining mga kawani sa gobyerno nga ang nawong morag gibitayan og tingga," said my colleague. "You bump into them in nearly all government offices."

"This surprises me," said another media person. "I'm surprised really why there are so many arrogant person who are called public servants."

"If they aren't happy about their job, quit, rather than give their employer, the government, an ugly and despicable image," a third mediaman said.

* * *

"Yes, quit," I said, "There are many other people who can fill their seats and serve the taxpayers better. The only big problem is that these people don't have political backers unlike the square pegs in round holes."

* * *

In Singapore, they stress the need for everyone in the public service to be courteous. Every year, the government conducts a courtesy week campaign. This campaign is not a here-today-gone-tomorrow thing. For one whole week in a year, a courtesy seminar is held daily in all government offices. This has been going on for several years - maybe decades - already. Maybe this is worth copying here. What say you?