A state of siege or besieged?

When Malacañang announced that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had decided not to commemorate or celebrate the EDSA II anniversary I personally admired her for the wisdom of not reliving past sins and past offenses. Regardless of what pundits may say, her decision would certainly reduce the waste of time and waste of breath remembering an event that ultimately did nothing to change our collective sense of responsibility as citizens.

As a follow up sign of moving on and an act of confidence, it was even announced that the President would be travelling out of the country during this time. So when a rag tag handful of self titled farmers and fishermen declared that they would be marching towards Mendiola to commemorate the massacre of farmers that happened over a dozen years ago, the ensuing cat and dog chase of government blocking forces with would be protesters seemed so ridiculous.

Unfortunately as much as I would like to believe and “honor” the President, it seems that things simply have a way of unraveling.

Driving out to Lipa City during the weekend, I had a first-hand glimpse of the government’s determination to screen and if necessary, block marchers and protesters streaming into Metro Manila for the EDSA celebrations. Never, even during Martial Law, did I see so many young uniformed policemen in groups of four or five at toll booths of the South Luzon Expressway and the Star Toll way. There were teams deployed under bridges, entry points as well as exit points. I really could not believe the numbers especially since the PNP has always lamented their serious lack of personnel and budget.

While the numbers were startling, the thought that many towns in Bulacan, Batangas, and Cavite had very few policemen to protect them because the PNP was busy protecting Malacañang or the Arroyo administration just seemed so perverted.

Then it struck me that the decision not to observe EDSA II was not about healing or moving on. Obviously the cops did not want to take chances that the pro government supporters might be “infiltrated” by rebels and radicals. I really can’t blame them since the PNP would be the very first line of defense against “de-stabilizers” who are so scary that imbeciles want to extend the tenure of the AFP Chief of Staff, which in turn would destabilize the promotions process, respect for seniority, and cause even more hurt or offense from within the Military.

It just occurred to me; why does President Arroyo continue to retain aged or physically impaired individuals who are incapable of facing Senators without risk of imprisonment for contempt or suffering a cardiac arrest. Why does the President retain people who specialize at undermining her pronouncements and her orders and eventually make her look like a liar.

I’m really disappointed. Just when PGMA sounded great and wise, her people messed it all up and showed her slip!

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Our collective hypocrisy

Last week doctors announced their planned “holiday” to protest a controversial provision in the proposed “Cheap Medicines Bill” which prohibits them from prescribing branded drugs under pain of imprisonment.

In response several talk show hosts as well as News programs went to town poking fun and serious accusations against physicians for having a conflict of interest because they promote drugs in exchange for perks. This to me was tragic. With one hand, print and broadcast media companies accept money from Pharmaceutical companies and with the other they stab doctors for working with pharmaceutical companies.

 I once asked a colleague what ever happened to the truly professional media of old that spent a lot of time and did the required work to understand particular issues, media that was very concerned with fairness, balance and the whole truth. Not just the convenient truth. I now add to this, media that exercised both integrity and professionalism.

Media today turns a blind eye to the unregulated, “no therapeutic claims” products which have flooded the market with marketing promises to help you become healthier and help you with your high blood pressure, diabetes, liver etc. Media in general refuses to do real investigative journalism in this field because these products pay for their services as voice talents, endorsers, segment sponsors, and heavy advertisers to the tune of hundreds of millions. One product alone has committed 200 million pesos in 2008 to one network.

In the same breath they have received millions of pesos from real Pharmaceutical companies who advertise products with real and tested “therapeutic” benefits and not just claims.

So what makes us any different from doctors? At the end of every consultation a doctor must prescribe a medicine and that medicine must cure the patient. If he prefers Brand A over brand B, his professional judgment is on the line. If a drug company presents the opportunity for travel or for continuing education why should that make him or her, the bad guy?

We seem to forget that getting a medical education costs millions of pesos. Getting continuing education or specialized training costs money for travel, lodging and seminar fees. Why take it against drug companies for promoting their products to doctors since the government bans advertising real medicines because the government is afraid they can’t control patients and pharmacists from self medication and uncontrolled over-the-counter sales. Yet the cheap medicines bill will give the doctors right to prescription over to pharmacists some of whom will work for local drug makers! 

We all have loyalties for one reason or another. We are the most brand loyal people in Asia. It’s a personal or a professional choice. Add to this the fact that we all love freebies. Travel agents and media get free “FAM tours” or familiarization trips to hotels & resorts, motoring journalists drive “test cars” for weeks or weekends. Members of Congress & the cabinet go to visit supplier factories for free. Some people dab sample perfumes with no intent on ever buying the stuff. Even members of the religious get a lot of free stuff..free cars, free education, free land.

I have often said that people who don’t pay taxes have no right to criticize or complain about the government. Similarly I strongly believe that we should at least be fair or respectful of those who directly or indirectly contribute to our good. To paraphrase what our Lord Jesus Christ once said; “Before we call someone a Harlot, be sure you are not a prostitute.