The return of Atong Ang: What can we expect?

For our special presentation on Straight from the Sky, we join the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) on the joyous occasion of its 40th Anniversary. Years ago, Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eduardo Aboitiz were not only successful businessmen in their own right, they also had a passion for philanthropy, never turning their backs on the needy and the less fortunate in life. The Asilo de la Milagrosa that cares for orphans and the aged became what it is today because of the goodness of their hearts.

Knowing that they were only mortal, 40 years ago they created the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. so that their philanthropy would continue even after they've passed from this life to the next. And 40 years later, RAFI has become a byword as a non-government organization (NGO) that caters to the problems of our least fortunate brethren, not only here in Cebu, but throughout the Visayas and Mindanao as well.

RAFI's focus in providing linkages to those who want to break away from the shackles of poverty have been very successful throughout these 40 years and indeed, Cebu is truly blessed because of the vision of both Don Ramon and Don Eduardo Aboitiz… a vision now carried by their siblings like RAFI Pres. Roberto "Bobby" Aboitiz who runs RAFI much like the way the Aboitiz family runs their vast business conglomerate. Great business practices and a passion for helping others help themselves apparently are the genes that the elder Aboitiz passed on to their children and I'm sure it will be passed on to the next generation as well.

So tonight, please watch our kick off of 40th celebration of RAFI with Pres. Roberto Aboitiz, Domini Chua Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Executive Director Rowena Alensonorin and HR Manager Liz Tagimacruz who will give us the history and the spirit behind what RAFI did 40 years ago and what it is today. I have always said that the Aboitiz Logo, "Passion for Better Ways" has been embraced not only by the Aboitiz Family and their employees, it goes down also to their charitable foundations, like RAFI or the Aboitiz Group Foundation, Inc. (AGFI). They serve the poor and needy with the same passion they have for business. See them tonight on SkyCable's channel 15 at 8:00 pm.

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Over the weekend, the front pages of our national dailies covered the dramatic return of Erap crony Charlie "Atong" Ang who was extradited from the United States and brought back home by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBO) led by our good friend, Director Rey Esmeralda. With the plunder case of deposed Pres. Joseph "Erap" Estrada already winding down, I really don't know where Atong Ang would fit in when he talks. We're only assuming that he is cooperating with the Department of Justice.

On his own, Atong Ang has to answer for the payola of some P130 million from illegal numbers game or Jueteng during the years when he was Erap's closest pal, though because of time, this might be hard to prove. Ang just might shed light on the still unsolved 1995 Kuratong Baleleng rubout or even the killing of PR man Salvador "Bubby" Dacer.

If at all, Atong Ang may have had a hand in the mysterious disappearance of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Edgar Bentain who was pointed to as the source of the video security footage that was splashed on all the tv networks, showing then President Erap with Atong Ang gambling at the Casino. After this was exposed on nationwide tv, suddenly Edgar Bentain disappeared without a trace. Surely he must have been one of the conspirators that caused the disappearance of Edgar Bentain. Someone has to pay for those crimes, and we hope that Erap and Ang would be convicted of their misdoings when they were in power.

How I wished that this was the way that the Cory Administration treated the Marcos cronies who when they realized that the Filipino people have so short memories then decided to come back; some unceremoniously, either through the back door or some with all the publicity through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Alas, the Marcos cronies came back as if they were on a long vacation to regain what they had whilst this Erap crony came back to the country in handcuffs! At least on that note, things have changed for the better.

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I read in last Saturday's Inquirer a story that a number of hypertensive patients have asked the Philippine government to help lower the prices of anti-hypertension drugs. I support their call, not just for anti-hypertension drugs, but other medicines as well. I do pay a lot of money for my daily dosage of Hyzaar that cost close to P60 per pill while the same drug cost only P3 in India or Pakistan. I would like to believe the rumors that medicines in this country are so expensive because of a "Drug Cartel". Perhaps we should dig some more on this issue in the next columns.