Kalderong walang kanin

Given how a Malacañang official has decided to use a movie title to annoy Vice President Leni Robredo by saying “Tinimbang ka ngunit kulang” I’ve decided to come up with a couple of my own titles for cinematic release. “Ang Kalderong walang kanin” should be the title for future documentaries on how the Duterte administration decided to host a sporting event, built a gigantic cauldron or kaldero but forgot the main ingredients: competence and integrity.

After speaking with a number of millennials on the issue, the young athletes and some coaches shared how some of them did not get their food allowance on time so much so that they had to settle with eating at the nearest and most affordable fastfood chain during training. So in addition to “Kalderong Walang Kanin” we have the second docu title: “Jollibee and McDo – The Breakfast of Pinoy Champions.” In order for you to appreciate the problem, go to Google and learn how complicated and important diets are for athletes who are about to go into competition. It’s not a simple matter of having a balanced meal, there are specifics especially in terms of nutrients etc. An athlete went as far as saying: “Gusto nila ng maraming ginto pero kami gutom! Gamitin na lang nila yung Kaldero nila at mag-saing sila!”

I have no doubts that more and more dirt will come to the surface especially when the SEA Games are done and it will be a lot worse than the embarrassing failure of organizers to organize welcoming committees, shuttle services and meeting catering needs of our multi-cultural guests. Facebook has now become the pond where allegations of abuse and corruption have come to the surface particularly one involving an alleged multi-billion government loan to a Malaysian firm to build one of the venues. Then there is the allegation that the artistic rendering and concept for the “Kalderong Walang Kanin” is allegedly a recycled version of an earlier proposal that was never used. Wow! I never realized you could make so much money in recycling! Last night I was told by a communications specialist that the latest PR spin coming out of the venues is the label “Industrial look”. It seems that some of the facilities and accommodations lacked the finishing touches such as “claddings” or covering for posts and beams and ceilings, leaving the steel beams exposed. So some very creative individual told people that it was intentional in order to achieve the “Industrial look!” Liar Liar Pants On Fire!

Some politicians like Senator Sonny Angara and Congressman Mikee Romero have called on Filipinos to find it in their hearts to consider patriotism rather than to wash our laundry in public. I personally tried to follow that thought which is why it took me this long before saying or writing anything. But one cannot simply remain silent when even our own guests are already complaining about the treatment they have been getting, not to mention the national embarrassment we Filipinos are experiencing. We have reaped the whirlwind of criticism from ASEAN news outlets due to the complaints of athletes, coaches and journalists covering the event. Their sentiments are no different from those expressed by Filipinos when we hear that our athletes are not being treated respectfully or rudely during competitions abroad.

The BIG difference is that WE are the HOSTS! We made a commitment to meet all needs and expectations based on a set standard for the SEA Games. The flood of complaints are there not because of politics. It was politics and politicians that caused all our current problems. We Filipinos take pride in being one of the world’s greatest hosts when it comes to taking care of guests and giving them a wonderful experience in our country. That is why we have been proudly telling the world: IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!

Because of people’s frustration some have actually made some sensible comments: “Why didn’t President Duterte simply designate the Department of Education to run the SEA Games. They have more experience from running the Palarong Pambansa as well as looking after thousands of kids on a daily basis.” A tour operator asked why were the tour operators not invited to help host or given some business from the event? I for one wondered why we even had to build facilities for accommodations when we could have simply blocked out all the hotels and that would have insured that our guests would have good rooms, good food and professional service. Between the DepEd and the Department of Tourism, we could have hosted a world class event not something that stinks of a simulated “Presidential campaign”.

Are we really spending billions of pesos to host the sporting event or using the SEA Games as a backdoor in order to pour money into the development of Clark City to boost property values and make certain conglomerate investors happier? Are the developments in Clark truly for the SEA Games or as a future facility or attraction to boost investor’s interests or do some government officials actually have “vested interests” in Clark which is why they are shamelessly and fearlessly propping up their Kaldero? At the rate that the glory seeking politicians and political appointees have fumbled, blundered and bluffed their way through their mess, this national embarrassment is both untenable and unforgivable.

Those who are truly sorry for their grievous mistakes should not only mouth apologies, they should resign! President Rodrigo Duterte was recently quoted as saying that he along with Speaker Alan Cayetano and Senator Bong Go may be today’s shining stars in politics, but after two years that may not be the case. This much I can say, after we finish miserably hosting the SEA Games, the biggest political and personal challenge for the President would be his response and action on how his allies and appointees used and abused the SEA Games for their personal or political benefit.

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