In limbo

If the most recent pronouncement from Rome states that purgatory does not exist, then we, the Filipino people are either in Hell or in limbo.

At least that’s how many people in small businesses feel. After so much “spending” that took place during the elections, are we now paying for “our” sins where things including “hope” seem to be at a stand still?

Quite a number of people are already losing their patience over the meddling and incompetence of Congress as a whole to canvass and declare the new President and Vice President.

For some strange reason, it seems that only the members of both Congress are unaware that we had an automated election that resulted in the fastest elections in Philippine history. From the way they have been investigating and debating the mechanical process of the election, it is clear that most of them were absent as usual or busy campaigning ahead of schedule.

I guess that’s what happens when you become so proud, so sure and so arrogant to win or be re-elected and then you get your butt kicked. Suddenly they want to see every possibility of how they were cheated.

Unfortunately, most of those who lost in the elections did not lose because of fraud. They lost because they took for granted the most important part of the elections: the voters. Sooner or later people learn and then they get even.

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In the meantime, we have to wonder why exactly do people feel like the nation is in “Limbo”? I have no doubt that we will have a new President and Vice President as scheduled, but why do we have this sense of limbo or being “suspended in mid-air” as far as life and business in the country is concerned.

Media talks about investors holding back and having a “wait and see” attitude. Others say things slowed down because people got distracted from business to politics. That is quite believable since a number of my friends actually spent more time campaigning for their candidates than actively running or building up their business.

Somehow the “kamag-anak” or “ka-tribu” genes kicked in and people instantly became drawn to politics even if victory or defeat would have no real impact in their daily lives. Politics in the Philippines, to my mind, has become almost like a seasonal basketball league. Everybody gets involved more for the entertainment and the thrills rather than the impact.

It’s interesting to note that the “Real business people” on the other hand, simply contributed, donated, or extended assistance but did not allow the “election fiesta” to distract them. They did not physically participate nor did they go on “leave” or take time out to campaign.

They stayed focused and active in their areas of concern.

Perhaps this explains why we are in “limbo”. So many of us go on “leave” physically or psychologically, allowing the campaign and the elections to distract us from the affairs of the state or corporate concerns. We are in “limbo” because we have not fully developed our priorities and realized what is of greater value personally and corporately.

We remain “instinctively” swayed or drawn to assume that politics is just as important or more important than business and productivity. And since many of you have “invested” so much time and energy and created a routine during the entire exercise, you now having difficulty making your re-entry or return to reality and responsibility.

No wonder limbo feels like hell!

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Now that we have winners at the local government level, it may be a good idea for a few of them to pay attention to their backyard.

For starters, Governor Remulla of Cavite as well as the local Philippine Coast Guard group should now respond to the many incidents of dynamite or “blast” fishing that went on unrestrained particularly in the area of Tanza, Cavite.

Blame it on the “fund raising for elections” excuse, but it seems that blast fishing went on morning, noon and night during the elections but no one ever heard of any arrests being made by the Coast Guard.

Speaking of the Coast Guard, I don’t know if they ever heard of reports that certain armed “muslim” individuals have put up “toll gates” right after the Coast Guard Training Center in an area called “Signal school or Signal sa gabi-han” which is supposedly right under the nose of the Coast Guard facility.

According to two navy personnel who visited the area, it’s a compound where only “locals” roam freely and well armed especially at night. Trucks that bring fill material for reclamation project are forced to pay tong or toll to the “muslim” authorities.

What’s the point of a total gun ban, if our cops and coast guard can’t even control who has guns and who controls the coast?

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Mayor Herbert Bautista is being asked by concerned Quezon City taxpayers to do something about the QC General Hospital….if it still exists. It seems that there was once a time when the QC government really looked after the facility.

Unfortunately, politics and administrative priorities downgraded the hospital and has caused its ruin. “Mayor”, hospitals are for people. Please rebuild it.