Inheriting a nightmare

“An inheritance that comes too soon, is quickly squandered” so says the book of proverbs.

But what about inheriting a country that has been plundered, whose people have squandered every opportunity for national redemption, and a nation on the brink of ecological disaster?

I seriously wonder if any of the “real” Presidentiables have stopped to consider what kind of an “inheritance” they will be coming into once they become President.

When Marcos came into power his rallying call was: “This nation can be great again”. Apparently, the situation was of a country that had lost its glory.

Cory inherited an oppressive, morally and financially bankrupt ship of state.

With Ramos, he inherited a nation plunged into darkness and economic stagnation, with Estrada it was zero money at the coffers, sweetheart deals, questionable contracts and a poverty stricken majority abandoned by the rich.

With Arroyo, it was a nation now in the hands of the favored rich who were expecting payback for kicking out Estrada, while the lower and the middle class expected a continuation of the Ramos style economy that fueled a materialistic middle and upper class.

So what will it be like for the next President of the Philippines?

For starters, he will inherit half a country that will resemble a drought stricken nation in the Bible. God help Noynoy Aquino if he becomes President because he will certainly have to deal with the same nightmare his mother faced with power shortages.

In spite of his intentional or selective ignorance, the fact is the country is facing an ecological disaster in terms of a drought. Anyone who still questions this need only to get on a plane and fly over Northern Luzon. A foreigner on a flight to Tuguegarao gasped in shock when he saw the brown landscape and the extremely reduced water level of the Magat Dam, something that happens only in late June.

The next President will see what a drought does to make electricity rates soar, power rationing to take place, which will collectively ruin our agriculture sector and compromise any fantasy we have entertained about food security.

The next president will face broke and hungry farmers and angry consumers. Any Presidentiable should start having real plans and real answers because, God and Mother Nature, are not moved by mere politicians.

Those who think short term and believe that relief will come with the rainy season, should spend more time reviewing science, geology and watching the National Geographic channel. Like a terrible dancing partner, the rainy season will bring disasters after any drought. Look out for landslides and floods all over again.

If Erap ever makes it by a long shot, it might be déjà vu when he discovers another set of last minute sweetheart deals for power plants and barges just like Fidel left him with as a “house warming” gift.

Last Wednesday, President Arroyo was already quoted as having initiated the construction and operation of new power plants. That’s certainly swift action on the part of the President, but it remains to be seen if the terms and contracts for those facilities are pro-Filipino or to be paid by Filipinos.

If Brother Eddie Villanueva miraculously becomes president, his oath of office might as well resemble Solomon’s first wish, because he will need all the wisdom in dealing with an Arroyo majority in Congress, a “Yellow army” in control of business, and an Armed Forces and Police full of retiring generals expecting to become part of Executive Elite”.

If Villar becomes President, he will have to resolve the dilemma of necessary spending versus income generation via taxes. According to Finance Secretary Teves, there is nothing left to sell in terms of government properties.

This means that Villar will need every marketing skill to create new products and incentives that his administration can use to generate capital. Any serious efforts to attract foreign investments will require rewriting the Constitution, but doing that may also rewrite Villar’s presidency and make him “history”. Remember, the prediction is that “Congresswoman” Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is suppose to be spearheading “Cha-cha” to make herself prime minister or president for Life!

Gordon and the Transformers might as well start forming barangay volunteer brigades just like he did in Subic because if government does not have the money to pay salaries or bring in investors, only a replay of the SBMA miracle on a national scale will save the day.   

So from the looks of it, the only candidate who might not get the shock of his life is “Gibo”? Not necessarily. Gibo may be an administration candidate, but he is for all intents and purposes “Johnny come lately”. Teodoro will be hard pressed trying to find a replacement team and it would be suicide to invite back the very people blamed for squandering the inheritance.

So before you start fantasizing about somebody’s job, first find out about all the debts, burdens and liabilities that come with the territory. Everybody wants to be just like the Millionaire next door, until they discover that Millionaires owe more money and have more responsibilities than the average Joe.

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Rumor has it that “golf history” was made by two certifiable lunatics last February 16, 2010. Starting at 5:57 a.m., the twin senior citizens embarked on a series of golf games that would complete a full eight rounds or some 144 holes in one day at the “Country Club”.

The pair, which consisted of NE and WS, spiced up the adventure with a small wager that would not have covered the Emergency Room bill had one of them collapsed on the green. When asked why? WS replied that he wanted to play as much golf before all the grass turned brown from El Niño!