We need continuity, not an overhaul.
I attended a dinner party Friday night, organized to kick off the retirement of Mr. Remy Tigulo, president of SB Capital Investment Corporation. It was a good evening of re-connecting with former colleagues and friends.
I spent a considerably long period of my professional life, prior to joining the print media, in the investment banking arm of Security Bank. Although my degree was in English literature, I was employed by SB Equities (member of the Philippine Stock Exchange) as part of its research team a few months after my graduation. My job was to write economic and stock information and analysis in a way that was more understandable and less intimidating to ordinary investors. I moved to SB Capital, which owned the brokerage, as an offshoot of the 1997 financial crisis. There I was assigned to its planning and research group – which functioned directly under the Office of the President.
My colleagues, many of whom were in my age group, and I were exposed to Mr. Tigulo's rigorous – and sometimes unforgiving – work ethic. His leadership compelled you to always be on your toes. He demanded excellence in big and little things alike. He was not the easiest boss to have around; a message from his secretary that he wanted you in his office occasioned something akin to dread.
In hindsight, Mr. Tigulo gave me my first lessons in professional excellence. Of course I did not see it as such at that time. Then, I was a young mother who lived so far away from the office. I had plenty of excuses. But at some point you have to stop making excuses and start getting the job done. I resigned after two and a half years when I was pregnant with my daughter Sophie. The company was generous enough to invite me to return a few years later to take the place of my former immediate boss in research, Roque Fortu, who had gone to Australia.
I arrived at the party in time to hear our former boss making his speech, reminding me at once of staff meetings we used to have every Monday morning. Mr. Tigulo had turned 70 in December but stayed on for the first five months of the year to see through some loose ends for the company. Now he said he was retiring to pursue an “apostolic mission” -- he would take care of his grandchildren. His wife, ever pleasant and unassuming, smiled from one of the tables. She later on told me her husband was better at putting babies to sleep than she was.
Leah Aguilar, who served as assistant vice president for administration and finance and who is now with SB Cards, spoke for everybody when she said that Tigulo's influence in our attitude towards work stayed with us even as were already with other organizations.
Mylet Gonzalez said that in the 13 years she spent as Tigulo's secretary, she could hardly remember a time when he asked her to do personal errands for him. Most bosses would tend to blur the line between personal and professional chores especially when they have been accustomed to their secretaries sorting the mundane details of their lives for them. The firm delineations probably came from Tigulo's military background. He was a member of the 1962 class of the Philippine Military Academy and, prior to joining the business sector, was a general of the Armed Forces.
One marvels at how things stayed the same and how they have changed through the years. Marvin Matias, who worked with me in research at the time when he was juggling his job with his MBA studies, is now performing core business functions. That evening he sported a yellow baller with his business get-up and regaled me with stories of his involvement in the previous campaign. Monina Ojacastro and Kaye Consolacion provided excellent staff support as always – and Kaye was quick to post the pictures on Facebook, besides.
I was glad to see executive vice president Conrado Gloria as groovy and game as before. You tend to forget how serious Mr. Gloria could be with work until you see him in action. That evening, he was gushing about his Amazon Kindle, telling us how he rarely went anywhere without it. Eden Dizon, who used to be vice president for investment banking and who is now with the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp's examination group, was surprised to see my 14-year-old son Josh (who chaperoned me that evening) in a long-sleeved shirt, already taller than I was. She remembered him as a kid who ran around everywhere when I brought him at Christmas or during summer outings. Ron Batac, who is now with Citibank, suggested another gathering for former employees.
Work was hard in those days but we remember our days in the company most for our lunch outs, after-office movies, videoke nights, and Christmas parties complete with dance numbers from employees who rehearsed not for a competition but for plain fun. Two of my former colleagues, who unfortunately were not able to come that evening, became Sophie's godmothers.
The announcement of the replacement for Tigulo, who served as president since the start of the company's operations in 1995, will be made soon. I am sure the succession will be executed well and will start another good period in the investment house's history. That night, present and former employees were simply happy to be re-united. And to Mr. Tigulo, enjoy your well deserved retirement, sir.
**
I have been wanting to write about transition efforts from the outgoing to the incoming administration for the longest time, but there does not seem to be enough information – and insight -- from anybody from either side. Whether the “mystery” is deliberate is another matter altogether.
This much we know: Administrative Order 285 issued the day before the elections created the Presidential Transition Cooperation Team and the Agency Transition Cooperation Team.
The first team is responsible for the “overall implementation, coordination and supervision of the entire transition blueprint,” providing sort of a macro-view to the transition process. The second team is agency-based. A transition planning session was supposed to have transpired on May 21 and 22.
Unfortunately, outside of assurances that we will have a “seamless transition” from the Arroyo to the Aquino administration, the public gets no details whatsoever on what should be expected and what is actually going on.
Lawyer Edwin Lacierda, spokesman of Senator Benigno Aquino III, offered profuse apologies at not being able to help link me up with anybody from their transition team. “Nobody is authorized to talk about the transition team yet,” his text message read, although he did assure me that its composition had been determined. “We are still waiting for [Senator Aquino's] go.”
Frustrating, really. We had hoped for a more transparent conduct of affairs, especially since the Aquino campaign grounded itself on the principles of transparency and accountability.
The incoming administration's initial steps certainly don't give the impression of seamlessness. If we are to go by what we see, Mr. Aquino seems hell bent on dismantling anything identified with Mrs. Arroyo, good or bad. For instance, I wonder how much thought Mr. Aquino is giving to the advice to retain some performing members of the Arroyo Cabinet.
What the public doesn't want to see are recycled faces with their fair share of baggages and the same promotion-by-association philosophy. The promise of change may have catapulted Mr. Aquino to the top spot. Now we will be watching these first appointments as these will be the first indications of whether he was sincere in his promises in the first place.
We are also awaiting Aquino's plans in dealing with the systemic and overwhelming corruption at all levels of the bureaucracy. Mr. Aquino may have promised not to be corrupt – but will he be helpless before all the corruption that has always been there?
Precisely because Mr. Aquino is not the anointed one of the outgoing Mrs. Arroyo (indeed he may be its nemesis), it is a stretch of the imagination to say that the transition will be smooth. But we hope that Aquino will not be as ill-advised as to effect an overhaul. The good projects and the deserving people have to stay on course. The fact that the economy grew at a surprisingly strong 7.3 percent in the first quarter, among other indicators, means something is being done right somewhere.
Sure, the inadequate, excessive or misdirected initiatives have to be fixed. But Aquino should show the millions of Filipinos who voted for him, and more so the others who did not, that his decisions will not be determined by spite. Or else, much will be lost, all the goodwill and the great expectations will amount to nothing, and the country will remain adrift for the next six years.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Cooking up a storm
Josh tries out what he's learned from his culinary class at home.
He receives his diploma for completing the Western Flavors class.
Saturday, May 8. Parents crowded a small auditorium at the back of the Center for Culinary Arts compound on Katipunan Avenue, awaiting the graduation ceremony for the past week's Young Chefs Boot Camp.
There were two groups of students that finished the five-day course that day those from Advanced Cooking and Baking and from Western Flavors. The graduates' age ranged from seven to 16.
CCA offers these courses and a few others -- Baking and Pastry Arts, Young Upstarts and Asian Flavors every summer for children. Mary Agnes Manalaysay and Martha Elizabeth de Veyra, staff members of the Center, said they enlist more or less 100 young enthusiasts every summer. They also have a high number of re-enrollees,or those who have taken other courses before.
But this was the first time that graduation ceremonies would be held upon the kids' completion of the short course. Not a small reward at all for parents to see their kids getting called on the kitchen-stage, donning a chef's hat in place of a graduation cap, and receiving a certificate for completing the five-day course. A bonus was that the dishes prepared by the kids on that final day were laid out in front for everybody to partake of after the ceremony.
Geraldine Garcia, whose eleven-year-old son Aaron Wesley was enrolled in Western Flavors, said she was thankful that her boy shows interest in the kitchen like her father and father in law. You can't say the same thing for me, said this businesswoman who runs a car accessory and body kit shop with her husband.
Indeed Geraldine beamed with pride as Aaron, an incoming high school freshman and a veteran of the Asian Flavors class two summers ago, went to the stage and presented the dishes to the audience in behalf of his class. He summarized the ingredients and the steps in preparing the baby back ribs, the grilled prawn skewers, the roast chicken and mashed potatoes all of which tasted great, I would later on find out.
This class also builds the kids' confidence, she observed.
Emmy Fausto, on the other hand, said the course had given her ten-year-old son Gian a tool to be more affectionate to her. The incoming Ateneo fifth grader Gian was only child to the recently-widowed Emma, and mother and son are very close. Like for tomorrow, Mothers' Day, he asked me to wake him up early because he will prepare breakfast for me.
Sweet.
My 14-year old son Josh came up with the same idea for the occasion, although he cooked dinner instead of breakfast, whipping up his own version of fettuccine alfredo, which he knew I loved.
An incoming high school junior, Josh lists culinary arts as one of his interests aside from playing the bass guitar for his band. I could see he enjoyed the Western class because their output was the kind of food kids enjoyed. They are easy to make and the ingredients are quite easy to find at the grocery.
The good thing is that at the end of each session, he brought home samples of what they cooked for the family to enjoy. On the first day, themed Sandwich Bar, he brought home a Monte Cristo sandwich, cheddar hamburgers, a clubhouse sandwich, and salsa dogs. (The potato chips that should have gone with them did not quite make it home.) The second day was themed All-Day Breakfast: several kids of pancakes and French cheese omelet. The third day was Pasta Perfect day: carbonara, spaghetti with Italian meatballs, linguine with pesto, and the alfredo. Day Four was called Pizza Parlor: margherita, four cheese, supreme and calzone.
Imagine thus my surprise when my son offered suggestions for kitchen improvements. Our knives need to be retired, he said, and we needed a bigger, better chopping board. Also, you cannot flip things on our pan! Parsley, extra virgin olive oil and parmesan cheese needed to be on the grocery list all the time and not just on special occasions anymore.
Ironically, even though the course came complete with several apron sets and a recipe book, children were able to entertain possibilities for substitution or new creations altogether. Ever tasted a pizza crust tastier than that of the leading pizza chains? Josh's team decided to put a generous amount of cheese on their dough. Can't find shrimps of the right size and freshness at the market? Use chicken strips instead.
The measurements given in the recipe book were precise, but the experience of moving about in the kitchen has emboldened Josh, who now occasionally makes lunch or dinner when he's on chef mode, to add or subtract as he deemed appropriate. The results vary. Sometimes they are better, or worse, than expected. Over the meal,we analyze what went wrong, or right, and plan how we would do the next one. Simple joys.
Finally, the course also gave kids the opportunity to interact with others who share the same interest. They become friends with their peers with whom they share light and challenging moments alike in the kitchen laboratory. They keep in contact with one another there is no dearth of means to keep in touch nowadays long after the course is over, the meals finished and the dishes washed.
A filling, satisfying summer experience indeed.
"No approved therapeutic claims"
While everybody was busy with the fanfare of Philippine elections, the Department of Health issued an administrative order requiring manufacturers and distributors of health supplements to “make it clear to buyers that the products are not to be considered medicines.”
What products? You have vitamins, weight-loss products, beauty aids, immune system and blood circulation boosters, whiteners, sexual performance enhancers and cure-alls that are supposedly effective for all sorts of problems -- from allergies, indigestion, rheumatism, heart ailments, diabetes to cancer. Among others.
The perfunctory and vague phrase “No approved therapeutic claims” on the labels of health supplements, which nobody likely notices and takes seriously, should now read: “Important notice: The product is not medicine and is not to be used for treating diseases.” Translated into Filipino: “Mahalagang paalaala: Ang (name of product) ay hindi dapat gamiting panggamot sa anumang uri ng sakit.” And, for good measure, “Wastong nutrisyon at regular na ehersisyo ang pinakamainam na pagpapanatili ng kalusugan (Proper nutrition and regular exercise are still the best ways to ensure overall health.)”
The crackdown on health supplements began when Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral cited National Health Account statistics that said Filipinos spend P150 billion on health supplements and half of that amount is spent on products with no proven curative effects. Supplements may not, per se, be dangerous to one's health. They may not necessarily be bad, but if on the other hand they don't do any good, either, why should anybody spend good money on them?
Cabral believes that Filipinos are misled by some of these supplements' aggressive advertising, especially when movie stars endorse them. Gullible consumers entertain the hope that at the very least, such supplements will prevent them from suffering from one disease or another. In the meantime, yet newer brands appear by the day, get introduced to Filipinos through ingenious marketing schemes and make billionaires out of businessmen. That's good old capitalism at work.
In a radio interview several weeks ago, Cabral said that the government looks at the safety rather than the efficacy of these supplements. So unless there's been a death or adverse side effects linked to a particular product, Cabral's office is really powerless to stop the thriving business of these supplements. The only thing the Health Department can do is to get these businessmen to present their disclaimers in bolder, more comprehensible from so that the pubic can make better decisions.
**
Mr. J., who has been distributing health products for years via multi-level marketing, thinks the big pharmaceutical companies are just exerting pressure on the government. “Big Pharma see supplements as a big threat so they use political and financial clout to get these unfair and unfounded warnings out.”
Mr. J., who has distributed malunggay, antioxidants, stem cell enhancers, inoulin fibers, and cardio supplements, wonders on what clinical study the government bases its claim. ”There is no empirical evidence that somebody died because the supplement's promise was not fulfilled...there have been no studies to prove the uselessness of these products. Maybe they have anecdotal reports. It's untrue, illogical and unfair.”
He has no problems introducing the new phraseology in Filipino on the labels of his goods. “Whether it's English, Tagalog or German, it does not make a difference. We have never told our buyers that our products were medicines. The fact is, many medical doctors in the United States prescribe food supplements to their patients.”
A local doctor, Dr. H – a family medicine consultant to one of the leading health maintenance organizations in the country – says she does not prescribe supplements to her patients. “But if they ask me, I usually say multivitamins or ascorbic acid is okay. I take multivitamins myself when I miss my vegetables on a given day.”
This is not to say that Dr. H is a closet disciple of the merits of supplements, especially since other doctors are vehemently against using any form of supplement. “I am very careful. I tell my patients that supplements are not substitutes for nutritious food or the real medicine they should be taking.” And have her patients gone back to her, telling her of marked improvement in their condition? “Well, yes,” she admits. “Though the improvement may be psychological.”
Since a lot of the action apparently goes on in the mind, Dr. H allows for a “rational use” of supplements if the patient so desires it. It's their money, anyway. But there must be no false expectations. Supplements are not replacements of medicines, and it is every doctor's duty to make sure his or her patient knows the difference.
Unfortunately, not everybody is discerning enough to appreciate that drugs and supplements are two different things. It does not help that they are enticed to consume the latter over the former because it is more affordable, more popular, more profitable (especially if they get commissions from goading other people to buy it, too). It helps if a matinee idol endorses the product. What a stark departure from clinical prescriptions!
It is also glaring to note that while Mr. J is quick to dismiss the government's anecdotal proofs of the supplements' uselessness, some distributors resort to anecdotal proofs – otherwise known as testimonials – to convince people to buy their product. True, they don't tell people that supplements are medicines. But they also don't tell them that supplements are NOT medicines. That job now falls on the DOH-prescribed disclaimers, assuming people notice them in the first place.
It's good to be health conscious, and it's good that there are many choices available so that people can be more deliberate about the things they spend their money on. Still, desperation for a cure from an ailment, for relief from symptoms and for a preventive measure should not cloud one's decision-making process. Bad judgment has only one cure – information.
What products? You have vitamins, weight-loss products, beauty aids, immune system and blood circulation boosters, whiteners, sexual performance enhancers and cure-alls that are supposedly effective for all sorts of problems -- from allergies, indigestion, rheumatism, heart ailments, diabetes to cancer. Among others.
The perfunctory and vague phrase “No approved therapeutic claims” on the labels of health supplements, which nobody likely notices and takes seriously, should now read: “Important notice: The product is not medicine and is not to be used for treating diseases.” Translated into Filipino: “Mahalagang paalaala: Ang (name of product) ay hindi dapat gamiting panggamot sa anumang uri ng sakit.” And, for good measure, “Wastong nutrisyon at regular na ehersisyo ang pinakamainam na pagpapanatili ng kalusugan (Proper nutrition and regular exercise are still the best ways to ensure overall health.)”
The crackdown on health supplements began when Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral cited National Health Account statistics that said Filipinos spend P150 billion on health supplements and half of that amount is spent on products with no proven curative effects. Supplements may not, per se, be dangerous to one's health. They may not necessarily be bad, but if on the other hand they don't do any good, either, why should anybody spend good money on them?
Cabral believes that Filipinos are misled by some of these supplements' aggressive advertising, especially when movie stars endorse them. Gullible consumers entertain the hope that at the very least, such supplements will prevent them from suffering from one disease or another. In the meantime, yet newer brands appear by the day, get introduced to Filipinos through ingenious marketing schemes and make billionaires out of businessmen. That's good old capitalism at work.
In a radio interview several weeks ago, Cabral said that the government looks at the safety rather than the efficacy of these supplements. So unless there's been a death or adverse side effects linked to a particular product, Cabral's office is really powerless to stop the thriving business of these supplements. The only thing the Health Department can do is to get these businessmen to present their disclaimers in bolder, more comprehensible from so that the pubic can make better decisions.
**
Mr. J., who has been distributing health products for years via multi-level marketing, thinks the big pharmaceutical companies are just exerting pressure on the government. “Big Pharma see supplements as a big threat so they use political and financial clout to get these unfair and unfounded warnings out.”
Mr. J., who has distributed malunggay, antioxidants, stem cell enhancers, inoulin fibers, and cardio supplements, wonders on what clinical study the government bases its claim. ”There is no empirical evidence that somebody died because the supplement's promise was not fulfilled...there have been no studies to prove the uselessness of these products. Maybe they have anecdotal reports. It's untrue, illogical and unfair.”
He has no problems introducing the new phraseology in Filipino on the labels of his goods. “Whether it's English, Tagalog or German, it does not make a difference. We have never told our buyers that our products were medicines. The fact is, many medical doctors in the United States prescribe food supplements to their patients.”
A local doctor, Dr. H – a family medicine consultant to one of the leading health maintenance organizations in the country – says she does not prescribe supplements to her patients. “But if they ask me, I usually say multivitamins or ascorbic acid is okay. I take multivitamins myself when I miss my vegetables on a given day.”
This is not to say that Dr. H is a closet disciple of the merits of supplements, especially since other doctors are vehemently against using any form of supplement. “I am very careful. I tell my patients that supplements are not substitutes for nutritious food or the real medicine they should be taking.” And have her patients gone back to her, telling her of marked improvement in their condition? “Well, yes,” she admits. “Though the improvement may be psychological.”
Since a lot of the action apparently goes on in the mind, Dr. H allows for a “rational use” of supplements if the patient so desires it. It's their money, anyway. But there must be no false expectations. Supplements are not replacements of medicines, and it is every doctor's duty to make sure his or her patient knows the difference.
Unfortunately, not everybody is discerning enough to appreciate that drugs and supplements are two different things. It does not help that they are enticed to consume the latter over the former because it is more affordable, more popular, more profitable (especially if they get commissions from goading other people to buy it, too). It helps if a matinee idol endorses the product. What a stark departure from clinical prescriptions!
It is also glaring to note that while Mr. J is quick to dismiss the government's anecdotal proofs of the supplements' uselessness, some distributors resort to anecdotal proofs – otherwise known as testimonials – to convince people to buy their product. True, they don't tell people that supplements are medicines. But they also don't tell them that supplements are NOT medicines. That job now falls on the DOH-prescribed disclaimers, assuming people notice them in the first place.
It's good to be health conscious, and it's good that there are many choices available so that people can be more deliberate about the things they spend their money on. Still, desperation for a cure from an ailment, for relief from symptoms and for a preventive measure should not cloud one's decision-making process. Bad judgment has only one cure – information.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Aquino's priorities
To be a real agent of change, the incoming president does not need to look any further than the Millennium Development Goals.
Now that elections are over, at least except for the formalities, it's time to buckle down to work. The incoming national administration, if it is to make good on its lofty promises, must as early as now figure out which of the country's numerous pressing problems it must tackle first, and most intensely.
The administration of incoming president Benigno Aquino III need not set new targets just so it could claim ability to effect change. It simply has to work decisively in meeting goals that are already in place. Goals, for instance, like the Millennium Development Goals.
First, some background. The MDGs are a set of eight time-bound and specific targets aimed at significantly reducing poverty in all nations of the world by 2015. One hundred and eighty-nine countries signed an agreement in September 2000 expressing their commitment to work toward this end.
These goals are: One, eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Two, achieve universal primary education. Three, promote gender equality and empower women. Four, reduce child mortality. Five, improve maternal health. Six, combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Seven, ensure environmental sustainability. Eight, develop a global partnership for development.
According to the United Nations Development Programme, the MDGs have been “tightly integrated into the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (2004-2010) thus allowing government strategies, policies and action plans to simultaneously address national and MDG targets.”
It is unfortunate, however, that the published “current” figures in the UNDP Web site (and thus the basis of saying whether the goals are likely to be met or not) are those for 2005-2006. We need more current data for the prognosis – and the prescription -- to be accurate.
But let's make do with the numbers on hand for purposes of illustration. The year 1990 serves as the baseline; the goal is to halve whatever that base figure is. Using current levels (or the most current level available), the UNDP does some number crunching on the average rate of progress in relation to the required rate of progress, and from there determines whether the probability of attaining the targets is high or low.
For example, in 1990, 34.5 percent of children between 0 and 5 were underweight. The goal by 2015 is to bring down this number to half, or to 17.25 percent. In 2006, the prevalence rate had been brought down to 24.6 percent. The average rate of progress was calculated at 0.66 percent per year. Compared to the required rate of progress – the yearly rate required for the 2015 target to be attained – the ratio is 1.11. Hence, the probability is high.
Other probabilities, according to the UNDP:
For eradicating extreme poverty and hunger -- Lowering the proportion of the population (or families) living below poverty (or subsistence) threshold, HIGH.
For achieving universal primary education -- increasing the elementary participation, cohort survival (define), and completion rate, LOW.
For improving maternal health -- lowering the maternal mortality ratio, LOW. Increasing the prevalence of couples practicing responsible parenthood, LOW.
For reducing infants and under-5 mortality rate, HIGH.
For lowering HIV and malaria prevalence, HIGH. (I will get back to this later.)
For ensuring environmental sustainability: proportion of households with access to safe drinking water and to sanitary toilet facility: HIGH.
The numbers may be found in the UNDP Web page, www.undp.org.ph.
**
Last month, just before the elections, the United Nations Millennium Campaign released the results of its “I Vote for MDG” survey, conducted to get the public's opinion on the issues that should be given priority by the next administration. More than 7,000 Filipinos of voting age – government workers, students, skilled laborers, housewives, health professionals and others from all walks of life -- were asked to participate in the survey.
The results: poverty alleviation and access to basic education should be the next administration's top concerns.
Indeed the incoming administration will play a critical role in the attainment of the MDGs. After all, in the reckoning year of 2015, the country will be under the presidency of the same man who's going to take his oath on June 30. Mr. Aquino will be not judged by how he is able to bring change in any unconventional, headline-grabbing way but by how he is able to deliver extraordinary results on these fundamental aspects of governance.
So there's got to be a “breakthrough plan,” something to ensure that significant gains are made in ALL goals, not only in some, and that these advances are felt by ALL Filipinos, not just some citizens, says Salil Shetty, global director for the Millennium Campaign.
The new administration can take the cue from the survey, which says it must give priority to alleviating poverty and improving access to basic education. Or it could refer to the assessment of the rate of progress, which says the Philippines is not likely to meet its targets in (again) primary education as well as in maternal health and reproductive health services. The UN also emphasizes that there is great disparity among the country's various regions in terms of the goals. The gains being made in Metro Manila are not necessarily being felt in the other regions. This is a daunting task in itself.
It becomes especially problematic since Aquino has never quite made clear where he really stands on the issue of reproductive health. He was one of the authors of the House version of the bill but over the course of the campaign, he has made vague and conflicting statements on the matter. Perhaps now that he has actually won the elections, Mr. Aquino would feel less inhibited to take a firm stand, once and for all. There is no room for indecision here.
Likewise, the assessment does not take into consideration very recent developments in
the fight against HIV and AIDS. Early last month I wrote in this space about the extraordinary increase in the number of reported cases of HIV and AIDS. Using the January 2010 figures, there are now four to five cases reported per day whereas there was one case every two days reported in 2000. Again, indecisiveness is the enemy here. The high-probability assessment given to us by the UNDP in this area may just as easily become a low-probability one if nothing is done. And no, the problem won't go away by itself. We need to know how the President-in-waiting feels about condoms and informed choice. And whether he is prepared to act on these convictions.
Mr. Aquino has said that one of the first things he would do upon assuming office is to run after corrupt officials and cronies of the Arroyo administration. I laud this zeal to set things aright; it is always good to go after those who have unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of the people. Corruption brings the country down a few notches before investors. It is also counterproductive and anti-MDG. The diverted funds could have been used to build roads, schools and health facilities.
But it is better to display the zeal non-selectively. Going after the corrupt means doing so regardless of their political affiliation. Administration, opposition, “independent” -- they are all the same. Mr. Aquino will only show his sincerity in stamping out corruption if he uses an even hand in running after the corrupt regardless of their political color. Doing otherwise would betray that he is just a traditional politician even as he has succeeded in persuading the electorate he isn't so.
At the end of the day, it's not compliance with numerical goals and standing before the international community that matters. It's making a difference for Filipino people who deserve to do more than just drift to day to day. If there's going to be payback, let that payback be made not to donors, supporters and endorsers but only to the people who gave Mr. Aquino a resounding mandate.
adellechua@gmail.com
Now that elections are over, at least except for the formalities, it's time to buckle down to work. The incoming national administration, if it is to make good on its lofty promises, must as early as now figure out which of the country's numerous pressing problems it must tackle first, and most intensely.
The administration of incoming president Benigno Aquino III need not set new targets just so it could claim ability to effect change. It simply has to work decisively in meeting goals that are already in place. Goals, for instance, like the Millennium Development Goals.
First, some background. The MDGs are a set of eight time-bound and specific targets aimed at significantly reducing poverty in all nations of the world by 2015. One hundred and eighty-nine countries signed an agreement in September 2000 expressing their commitment to work toward this end.
These goals are: One, eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Two, achieve universal primary education. Three, promote gender equality and empower women. Four, reduce child mortality. Five, improve maternal health. Six, combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Seven, ensure environmental sustainability. Eight, develop a global partnership for development.
According to the United Nations Development Programme, the MDGs have been “tightly integrated into the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (2004-2010) thus allowing government strategies, policies and action plans to simultaneously address national and MDG targets.”
It is unfortunate, however, that the published “current” figures in the UNDP Web site (and thus the basis of saying whether the goals are likely to be met or not) are those for 2005-2006. We need more current data for the prognosis – and the prescription -- to be accurate.
But let's make do with the numbers on hand for purposes of illustration. The year 1990 serves as the baseline; the goal is to halve whatever that base figure is. Using current levels (or the most current level available), the UNDP does some number crunching on the average rate of progress in relation to the required rate of progress, and from there determines whether the probability of attaining the targets is high or low.
For example, in 1990, 34.5 percent of children between 0 and 5 were underweight. The goal by 2015 is to bring down this number to half, or to 17.25 percent. In 2006, the prevalence rate had been brought down to 24.6 percent. The average rate of progress was calculated at 0.66 percent per year. Compared to the required rate of progress – the yearly rate required for the 2015 target to be attained – the ratio is 1.11. Hence, the probability is high.
Other probabilities, according to the UNDP:
For eradicating extreme poverty and hunger -- Lowering the proportion of the population (or families) living below poverty (or subsistence) threshold, HIGH.
For achieving universal primary education -- increasing the elementary participation, cohort survival (define), and completion rate, LOW.
For improving maternal health -- lowering the maternal mortality ratio, LOW. Increasing the prevalence of couples practicing responsible parenthood, LOW.
For reducing infants and under-5 mortality rate, HIGH.
For lowering HIV and malaria prevalence, HIGH. (I will get back to this later.)
For ensuring environmental sustainability: proportion of households with access to safe drinking water and to sanitary toilet facility: HIGH.
The numbers may be found in the UNDP Web page, www.undp.org.ph.
**
Last month, just before the elections, the United Nations Millennium Campaign released the results of its “I Vote for MDG” survey, conducted to get the public's opinion on the issues that should be given priority by the next administration. More than 7,000 Filipinos of voting age – government workers, students, skilled laborers, housewives, health professionals and others from all walks of life -- were asked to participate in the survey.
The results: poverty alleviation and access to basic education should be the next administration's top concerns.
Indeed the incoming administration will play a critical role in the attainment of the MDGs. After all, in the reckoning year of 2015, the country will be under the presidency of the same man who's going to take his oath on June 30. Mr. Aquino will be not judged by how he is able to bring change in any unconventional, headline-grabbing way but by how he is able to deliver extraordinary results on these fundamental aspects of governance.
So there's got to be a “breakthrough plan,” something to ensure that significant gains are made in ALL goals, not only in some, and that these advances are felt by ALL Filipinos, not just some citizens, says Salil Shetty, global director for the Millennium Campaign.
The new administration can take the cue from the survey, which says it must give priority to alleviating poverty and improving access to basic education. Or it could refer to the assessment of the rate of progress, which says the Philippines is not likely to meet its targets in (again) primary education as well as in maternal health and reproductive health services. The UN also emphasizes that there is great disparity among the country's various regions in terms of the goals. The gains being made in Metro Manila are not necessarily being felt in the other regions. This is a daunting task in itself.
It becomes especially problematic since Aquino has never quite made clear where he really stands on the issue of reproductive health. He was one of the authors of the House version of the bill but over the course of the campaign, he has made vague and conflicting statements on the matter. Perhaps now that he has actually won the elections, Mr. Aquino would feel less inhibited to take a firm stand, once and for all. There is no room for indecision here.
Likewise, the assessment does not take into consideration very recent developments in
the fight against HIV and AIDS. Early last month I wrote in this space about the extraordinary increase in the number of reported cases of HIV and AIDS. Using the January 2010 figures, there are now four to five cases reported per day whereas there was one case every two days reported in 2000. Again, indecisiveness is the enemy here. The high-probability assessment given to us by the UNDP in this area may just as easily become a low-probability one if nothing is done. And no, the problem won't go away by itself. We need to know how the President-in-waiting feels about condoms and informed choice. And whether he is prepared to act on these convictions.
Mr. Aquino has said that one of the first things he would do upon assuming office is to run after corrupt officials and cronies of the Arroyo administration. I laud this zeal to set things aright; it is always good to go after those who have unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of the people. Corruption brings the country down a few notches before investors. It is also counterproductive and anti-MDG. The diverted funds could have been used to build roads, schools and health facilities.
But it is better to display the zeal non-selectively. Going after the corrupt means doing so regardless of their political affiliation. Administration, opposition, “independent” -- they are all the same. Mr. Aquino will only show his sincerity in stamping out corruption if he uses an even hand in running after the corrupt regardless of their political color. Doing otherwise would betray that he is just a traditional politician even as he has succeeded in persuading the electorate he isn't so.
At the end of the day, it's not compliance with numerical goals and standing before the international community that matters. It's making a difference for Filipino people who deserve to do more than just drift to day to day. If there's going to be payback, let that payback be made not to donors, supporters and endorsers but only to the people who gave Mr. Aquino a resounding mandate.
adellechua@gmail.com
Monday, May 10, 2010
Confessions of a first-time voter
published May 10, 2010, Manila Standard Today
A fictional character delivers a genuine plea.
Today is my birthday. I am 20 years old—a grown man, as my father would say. I will celebrate by going to the polling station and exercising my right —and obligation—to vote. That it’s my first time makes it all so special. But I have a problem: I still don’t know whom to vote for, at least for president.
I have spent the last few weeks weighing my options. I really think this election is make or break for this country. Whoever wins the top slot will have a lot on his shoulders. But whose shoulders are most deserving?
This uncertainty has prevented me from signing up as volunteer in any of the campaigns. I would have loved to help out; it feels good to be part of some worthy cause. I know this because I volunteered during relief efforts for Ondoy’s victims last year. My friends and I gathered donations from the families of our schoolmates, brought them over to a warehouse operated by some foundation. We sorted and packed these items and handed them out to families in evacuation centers in Pasig and Marikina.
Unfortunately, we have no idea what has happened to those families. Did they find their missing loved ones? Were they able to move on? Did they rebuild their homes or move into safer ground? More importantly, what are their chances of avoiding a similar fate should another storm come along? Helping out gave us such a high, but now I know that the feeling of doing something meaningful should only be the start of our concern. We have to make sure our good intentions are seen through, to the end.
I’ve studied the profiles of the candidates and I have noted what media say about them, taking into consideration that media outfits may themselves betray some bias. I’ve seen how the candidates conducted themselves during debates, if they showed up at all. I’ve listened to what they propose to do. Two of them, who seem to know what they are talking about, catch my attention. They look like able executives and inspiring figures.
One of them, who has proven his mettle as a local executive, just cannot seem to connect with the masses. The other has the burden of association with the unpopular incumbent president. Worse, he was ditched by numerous local politicians who had conveniently joined the ranks of those leading the surveys, The man is intelligent, firm, decisive—and he is always positive.
But I look at the surveys and neither candidate appears to be within striking distance. Shall I strike them off my list, then?
On the other hand, I cannot bring myself to believe in any one of the three leading candidates. I don’t trust people who bring others down just to boost their own stock. Worse, they act as though they have the copyright to a certain color or to the map of the Philippines. Do they have the monopoly of love of country? They get the most illustrious show business personalities to endorse them—as if these pretty faces and slapstick artists know better. These candidates present themselves as Messiahs. I think that’s being delusional, but the people seem to bite into it. What a tragedy.
***
One more year, and then I will be done with engineering school. I will graduate, take the board exams, find a job, save for a few years and then ask my girlfriend, who is studying to become a teacher, to marry me. In that order. I don’t think my parents will approve, though. They expect me to seek a high-paying job abroad. The country is going to the dogs, they warn me. While I was growing up, they took turns working in the Middle East. Father as a construction worker, Mother as a nurse. Now they are excited to go to the United States, courtesy of my older sister who has married an American. My parents have their reasons, and they deserve a better life after all they have sacrificed for us. But there is no way I am going with them. I want to stay here.
And so elections have to work. No revolutions, please. People power was good the first time but it becomes an embarrassment if you make it a habit.
Now they are telling us that the automation of the polls is in danger. Machines may malfunction, flash cards may be programmed to yield a desired result, power failures may occur. I am perplexed. My generation knows technology as a friend and enabler. I cannot imagine going about my daily functions without my cellphone, or a computer, or the Internet. Imagine a weekend without cable television or DVDs. The country spent so much money on automation, and so much is expected of it. It is supposed to do away with delay and human error and manipulation.
Most other countries take the election process for granted, focusing instead on the way people decide and hold their elected officials accountable for the promises made during the campaign. I wish we could be at that level, too.
There is something more fundamental than technology issues. Most Filipinos see public officials not as public servants to represent them, enable them to make their own lives better, and be accountable to them. Instead, politicians are seen as power wielders, patrons, and magicians who make the problems of the poor go away.
I was in a jeepney the other night on the way to my dorm. A beggar approached the driver of that jeep for some alms. The driver said he had nothing to give. The beggar tapped the cap of the driver as if to taunt him. On impulse, the driver shoved the beggar’s hand away. The beggar punched the driver on the face.
This is what happens when people expect instant gratification. If you don’t dole out, they strike you, and strike you out. How does one change the mindset of the poor, that feeling of entitlement to doles? Do you give them food on the table and wave a few bills in front of their faces? That’s not empowering the masses. That’s consigning them to a life of dependency. Unfortunately, politicians want the people dependent on them, so the people can express their gratitude by delivering the votes during elections. So whose interests, in the long run, are these self-proclaimed saviors after?
It is easy to get depressed when you think about the country’s problems. Poverty is just one of them. There is corruption. Inadequate infrastructure. Unemployment. Vulnerability to disasters.
Much as we want to say that a country’s direction lies on its entire population and not just one person, I know too that having an uninspiring, wayward or weak chief executive will be detrimental to our progress. He will be too busy putting out fires instead of getting any real work done. He will be watching his back all the time, afraid the people around him will eat him alive, instead of inspiring them and delegating the work efficiently.
On second thought, I now know what I have to do—vote according to my conscience. No poll survey, religion, peer and parental pressure will dictate the name I will shade on my ballot today. The “wasted vote” is a myth. The only way we waste our vote is if we become lazy enough to give it to somebody who does not deserve it.
Today I cast my vote for the first time, and despite the imperfections of our democracy, I remain hopeful. I’ve never felt so proud to be a Filipino.
A fictional character delivers a genuine plea.
Today is my birthday. I am 20 years old—a grown man, as my father would say. I will celebrate by going to the polling station and exercising my right —and obligation—to vote. That it’s my first time makes it all so special. But I have a problem: I still don’t know whom to vote for, at least for president.
I have spent the last few weeks weighing my options. I really think this election is make or break for this country. Whoever wins the top slot will have a lot on his shoulders. But whose shoulders are most deserving?
This uncertainty has prevented me from signing up as volunteer in any of the campaigns. I would have loved to help out; it feels good to be part of some worthy cause. I know this because I volunteered during relief efforts for Ondoy’s victims last year. My friends and I gathered donations from the families of our schoolmates, brought them over to a warehouse operated by some foundation. We sorted and packed these items and handed them out to families in evacuation centers in Pasig and Marikina.
Unfortunately, we have no idea what has happened to those families. Did they find their missing loved ones? Were they able to move on? Did they rebuild their homes or move into safer ground? More importantly, what are their chances of avoiding a similar fate should another storm come along? Helping out gave us such a high, but now I know that the feeling of doing something meaningful should only be the start of our concern. We have to make sure our good intentions are seen through, to the end.
I’ve studied the profiles of the candidates and I have noted what media say about them, taking into consideration that media outfits may themselves betray some bias. I’ve seen how the candidates conducted themselves during debates, if they showed up at all. I’ve listened to what they propose to do. Two of them, who seem to know what they are talking about, catch my attention. They look like able executives and inspiring figures.
One of them, who has proven his mettle as a local executive, just cannot seem to connect with the masses. The other has the burden of association with the unpopular incumbent president. Worse, he was ditched by numerous local politicians who had conveniently joined the ranks of those leading the surveys, The man is intelligent, firm, decisive—and he is always positive.
But I look at the surveys and neither candidate appears to be within striking distance. Shall I strike them off my list, then?
On the other hand, I cannot bring myself to believe in any one of the three leading candidates. I don’t trust people who bring others down just to boost their own stock. Worse, they act as though they have the copyright to a certain color or to the map of the Philippines. Do they have the monopoly of love of country? They get the most illustrious show business personalities to endorse them—as if these pretty faces and slapstick artists know better. These candidates present themselves as Messiahs. I think that’s being delusional, but the people seem to bite into it. What a tragedy.
***
One more year, and then I will be done with engineering school. I will graduate, take the board exams, find a job, save for a few years and then ask my girlfriend, who is studying to become a teacher, to marry me. In that order. I don’t think my parents will approve, though. They expect me to seek a high-paying job abroad. The country is going to the dogs, they warn me. While I was growing up, they took turns working in the Middle East. Father as a construction worker, Mother as a nurse. Now they are excited to go to the United States, courtesy of my older sister who has married an American. My parents have their reasons, and they deserve a better life after all they have sacrificed for us. But there is no way I am going with them. I want to stay here.
And so elections have to work. No revolutions, please. People power was good the first time but it becomes an embarrassment if you make it a habit.
Now they are telling us that the automation of the polls is in danger. Machines may malfunction, flash cards may be programmed to yield a desired result, power failures may occur. I am perplexed. My generation knows technology as a friend and enabler. I cannot imagine going about my daily functions without my cellphone, or a computer, or the Internet. Imagine a weekend without cable television or DVDs. The country spent so much money on automation, and so much is expected of it. It is supposed to do away with delay and human error and manipulation.
Most other countries take the election process for granted, focusing instead on the way people decide and hold their elected officials accountable for the promises made during the campaign. I wish we could be at that level, too.
There is something more fundamental than technology issues. Most Filipinos see public officials not as public servants to represent them, enable them to make their own lives better, and be accountable to them. Instead, politicians are seen as power wielders, patrons, and magicians who make the problems of the poor go away.
I was in a jeepney the other night on the way to my dorm. A beggar approached the driver of that jeep for some alms. The driver said he had nothing to give. The beggar tapped the cap of the driver as if to taunt him. On impulse, the driver shoved the beggar’s hand away. The beggar punched the driver on the face.
This is what happens when people expect instant gratification. If you don’t dole out, they strike you, and strike you out. How does one change the mindset of the poor, that feeling of entitlement to doles? Do you give them food on the table and wave a few bills in front of their faces? That’s not empowering the masses. That’s consigning them to a life of dependency. Unfortunately, politicians want the people dependent on them, so the people can express their gratitude by delivering the votes during elections. So whose interests, in the long run, are these self-proclaimed saviors after?
It is easy to get depressed when you think about the country’s problems. Poverty is just one of them. There is corruption. Inadequate infrastructure. Unemployment. Vulnerability to disasters.
Much as we want to say that a country’s direction lies on its entire population and not just one person, I know too that having an uninspiring, wayward or weak chief executive will be detrimental to our progress. He will be too busy putting out fires instead of getting any real work done. He will be watching his back all the time, afraid the people around him will eat him alive, instead of inspiring them and delegating the work efficiently.
On second thought, I now know what I have to do—vote according to my conscience. No poll survey, religion, peer and parental pressure will dictate the name I will shade on my ballot today. The “wasted vote” is a myth. The only way we waste our vote is if we become lazy enough to give it to somebody who does not deserve it.
Today I cast my vote for the first time, and despite the imperfections of our democracy, I remain hopeful. I’ve never felt so proud to be a Filipino.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
That Jolly Good Fellow
profile of a canteen helper at my high school, published in The Gracean Envoy sometime in 1991 when I was a junior and associate editor. I wonder if she's still around...
You see her everywhere, sweeping the floors or selling goodies in the canteen. She's a familiar figure in the principal's office and the home ec room. Everywhere she goes, she carries that infectious and ever-present smile on her face. In this issue, the Gracean Envoy invites you to take a closer look at this woman's life and personality. And who's this VIP I'm talking about? None other than Ate Claire.
Ate Claire is Maria Clara San Diego in full, born on May 18, 1942 in Barrio Bintog, Plaridel Bulacan. She worked for St. Mary's College in Baliwag from 1961 to 1972. She then transferred to St. Mary's in Meycauayan where she worked until 1974. She came to our school in 1980.
Cooking si one of the highlights of this petite Bulakeña's life. "Anything will do," she replied when asked what particular dish she liked to cook. "But nothing compares to kare-kare."
Ate Claire considers Nora Aunor as one of the greatest idols she has ever had. And though new wave and disco music is the fad for us Graceans, Ate Clair's heart will always be in the 50s...those good old days when they played rock n' roll, and straight from the jukebox at that!
But life did not go quite well for her in her childhood days. Her father died when she was barely a toddler, and her mother followed when she was seven years old. Thanks to kindhearted souls like Ate Lina Dalisay, our "canteen mother" we may say, Ate Claire found herself surrounded with love and the comforts of home.
Love is one of the most intriguing -- and revealing -- matters we may want to know about her. Between mischievous smiles and dancing eyes, Ate Claire admitted that she was 14 years old when her suitors (plural form) came out of nowhere and tried to win her heart. She liked the idea that boys gave her a lot of attention. Despite these, she never fell in love, not even once! When asked why, she shrugged and said nonchalantly, "eh wala eh..."
Graceans, for Ate Claire, are angel-like creatures, with nice, reserved behavior and are respectful (Applause from the ears!). She expressed her fervent hope that someday we would all grow into broadminded people who won't discriminate between who's wrich and who's poor, pretty and homely, educated and simple. And if ever we attain our goals, she hopes that we will never forget the people who made everything possible for us. She said it out of experience, since she herself looks up to all the people, especially the RVM sisters, for making her what she is right now.
Finally, when asked what object represents her the best, "a pink rose" was her candid reply. Like a rose, Ate Claire wants to have the best out of life and look on the brighter side of things, to see problems and shortcomings as building blocks that will help her become a better person.
And like a rose, which gives happiness and fragrance to everybody, Ate Claire wants to give the same things to all, for us to always remember her by.
You see her everywhere, sweeping the floors or selling goodies in the canteen. She's a familiar figure in the principal's office and the home ec room. Everywhere she goes, she carries that infectious and ever-present smile on her face. In this issue, the Gracean Envoy invites you to take a closer look at this woman's life and personality. And who's this VIP I'm talking about? None other than Ate Claire.
Ate Claire is Maria Clara San Diego in full, born on May 18, 1942 in Barrio Bintog, Plaridel Bulacan. She worked for St. Mary's College in Baliwag from 1961 to 1972. She then transferred to St. Mary's in Meycauayan where she worked until 1974. She came to our school in 1980.
Cooking si one of the highlights of this petite Bulakeña's life. "Anything will do," she replied when asked what particular dish she liked to cook. "But nothing compares to kare-kare."
Ate Claire considers Nora Aunor as one of the greatest idols she has ever had. And though new wave and disco music is the fad for us Graceans, Ate Clair's heart will always be in the 50s...those good old days when they played rock n' roll, and straight from the jukebox at that!
But life did not go quite well for her in her childhood days. Her father died when she was barely a toddler, and her mother followed when she was seven years old. Thanks to kindhearted souls like Ate Lina Dalisay, our "canteen mother" we may say, Ate Claire found herself surrounded with love and the comforts of home.
Love is one of the most intriguing -- and revealing -- matters we may want to know about her. Between mischievous smiles and dancing eyes, Ate Claire admitted that she was 14 years old when her suitors (plural form) came out of nowhere and tried to win her heart. She liked the idea that boys gave her a lot of attention. Despite these, she never fell in love, not even once! When asked why, she shrugged and said nonchalantly, "eh wala eh..."
Graceans, for Ate Claire, are angel-like creatures, with nice, reserved behavior and are respectful (Applause from the ears!). She expressed her fervent hope that someday we would all grow into broadminded people who won't discriminate between who's wrich and who's poor, pretty and homely, educated and simple. And if ever we attain our goals, she hopes that we will never forget the people who made everything possible for us. She said it out of experience, since she herself looks up to all the people, especially the RVM sisters, for making her what she is right now.
Finally, when asked what object represents her the best, "a pink rose" was her candid reply. Like a rose, Ate Claire wants to have the best out of life and look on the brighter side of things, to see problems and shortcomings as building blocks that will help her become a better person.
And like a rose, which gives happiness and fragrance to everybody, Ate Claire wants to give the same things to all, for us to always remember her by.
Of Gains and Losses
An earlier editorial for The Envoy written during my 4th year high, just after Mom died in 92. Sounds less like an op-ed piece than a reflection paper for Christian Living class.
Too little attention is being given to the Lost and Found corner at the landing between the first and second floors. So unless you've lost something and are really desperate to get it back, you don't really stare longingly at the list of things written on the big green board.
I pick up from this matter to talk of something we usually take for granted. I hope that somehow we would be aware of our nakedness of treasure [what in hell is this -- me, now] here on earth.
A child loses grip on his balloon and goes to mommy crying. A modern-day Maria Clara drops her hanky on god-knows-where and looks like she couldn't live without it. A lost ballpen cap is a bother, it smudges our pockets and pencil cases with unwanted ink. Wherever we go, a loss is met with a grimace, not with a grin.
Whereas a victory in a contest, the finding of a new friend, or an increase in allowance would definitely widen our mouths an inch too much.
It is easy to voice out a prayer of thanks to the Lord upon a gain. The heart is all happy and the mind is in elevation. But when facing a loss, it is hard to come to him even in prayer.
We are so busy thinking of what was lost and what won't come again. We have already been parted from a material attachment, yet in our unconscious ways we are pressing a spiritual drift, as well.
A friend is lost, a parent, time, opportunity, an object -- this is, after all, the wonder of life.
But even more wonderful, we are aware of a Supreme Knowledge, one who knows all, provides all, who will always gather us in a fatherly embrace even when all is lost. We may be robbed of all our bearings but with Him, in Him, we are rich.
Too little attention is being given to the Lost and Found corner at the landing between the first and second floors. So unless you've lost something and are really desperate to get it back, you don't really stare longingly at the list of things written on the big green board.
I pick up from this matter to talk of something we usually take for granted. I hope that somehow we would be aware of our nakedness of treasure [what in hell is this -- me, now] here on earth.
A child loses grip on his balloon and goes to mommy crying. A modern-day Maria Clara drops her hanky on god-knows-where and looks like she couldn't live without it. A lost ballpen cap is a bother, it smudges our pockets and pencil cases with unwanted ink. Wherever we go, a loss is met with a grimace, not with a grin.
Whereas a victory in a contest, the finding of a new friend, or an increase in allowance would definitely widen our mouths an inch too much.
It is easy to voice out a prayer of thanks to the Lord upon a gain. The heart is all happy and the mind is in elevation. But when facing a loss, it is hard to come to him even in prayer.
We are so busy thinking of what was lost and what won't come again. We have already been parted from a material attachment, yet in our unconscious ways we are pressing a spiritual drift, as well.
A friend is lost, a parent, time, opportunity, an object -- this is, after all, the wonder of life.
But even more wonderful, we are aware of a Supreme Knowledge, one who knows all, provides all, who will always gather us in a fatherly embrace even when all is lost. We may be robbed of all our bearings but with Him, in Him, we are rich.
Youth power
One of my editorials in an early-1993 issue of The Gracean Envoy. As a senior, I was the paper's editor in chief.
I can't believe that I'm really doing the same thing for a living now. I feel blessed that I've been aware of my calling at a young age -- and happy that I pursued it.
This one, though, screams motherhood and vagueness and superfluousness. Oh well, I'm sure I have improved, 17 years hence.
Votes counted, results tallied, victors sworn -- these marked the culmination of the Sangguniang Kabataan elections last December 4.
Obviously it was a game of the young. The tender-aged, the spirited, the creative and the hyper-active came together to have their say, so to speak. Once again, the youth has taken its stand and promise as builders of tomorrow.
But if we could promise tomorrow, surely we can speak of today as well.
Youth, to some, is a period in one's life when he can delight in the absence of wrinkles, grey hair and shaky hands. To some it is the people themselves blessed with that divine age.
But however our concepts may vary, nothing can change the fact: we are the youth. And it does not lie in the hands of those who call us so to prove our worth, either. We, with all our glow, unconventional ideas and high spirits, can definitely make things happen. Now...
So that in finally growing with the years we have a fulfilling youth to look back to, and be proud with the nation of the tomorrow we have made out of yesterday.
I can't believe that I'm really doing the same thing for a living now. I feel blessed that I've been aware of my calling at a young age -- and happy that I pursued it.
This one, though, screams motherhood and vagueness and superfluousness. Oh well, I'm sure I have improved, 17 years hence.
Votes counted, results tallied, victors sworn -- these marked the culmination of the Sangguniang Kabataan elections last December 4.
Obviously it was a game of the young. The tender-aged, the spirited, the creative and the hyper-active came together to have their say, so to speak. Once again, the youth has taken its stand and promise as builders of tomorrow.
But if we could promise tomorrow, surely we can speak of today as well.
Youth, to some, is a period in one's life when he can delight in the absence of wrinkles, grey hair and shaky hands. To some it is the people themselves blessed with that divine age.
But however our concepts may vary, nothing can change the fact: we are the youth. And it does not lie in the hands of those who call us so to prove our worth, either. We, with all our glow, unconventional ideas and high spirits, can definitely make things happen. Now...
So that in finally growing with the years we have a fulfilling youth to look back to, and be proud with the nation of the tomorrow we have made out of yesterday.
Narsna and Silbag: A Tale of two Aetas
published in The Gracean Envoy, 1992, when I was in 4th year high school
When Sister Ma. Nora Joson, RVM was preparing to go back to Manila from the blessing of the RVM Relief Houses for the Mt. Pinatubo victims in Porac, Pampanga, a little hand kept tugging at her skirt.
That little hand belonged to Narsna Juaning, whose dark feet also followed SIster Nora around, too much that the nun jokingly asked her if she wanted to come to Manila with her.
Much to Sister's surprise, Narsna ran like a bolt of lightning to get her father's permission. The girl's father was only too happy to entrust Narsna's education to the sisters.
And so it was settled. Narsna would come with Sister Nora to Manila to study...but that was before Narsna's autnt insisted that her own daughter Silbag come, too.
Now the cousins are happily sporting the traditional blue-and-white, straight cut, Kinder uniform as they sit with other pupils at the K-St. Paul class of Miss Cora Lansangan here in Our Lady of Grace Academy.
"They belong to the Liplip tribe of Balugas, who originally resided on Mount Pinatubo," Sister Nora continued. "But after the eruption, they were at a loss." It was then that their barangay captain approached the RVM sisters of Sacred Heart Academy in Guagua, Pampanga. But the community there had limited resources, too. Sister Cora Agoncillo, RVM asked Sister Nora for assistance.
"We have adopted the whole of the Liplip tribe, consisting of 65 families. But so far, only 35 relief houses have been built. There is obviously a need for more, not to mention food and others. Your donations automatically go with them," Sister further explained.
The education of Narsna and Silbag is only experimental. Every RVM school has since adopted two kids. The tribe people are illiterates, so the "chosen children" are expected tp go back to their homes to teach and civilize the others.
An informal chat with the cousins proved that they were just like any other children, fair or not. What do they like best here? "Laro," they replied. "Masaya, pinapaaral kami." Both of them said they want to be teachers someday.
"Apple, atis, elephant, coloring book..." Narsna recited as though in litany the things she thinks makes their stay in Manila wonderful. With the two photo albums propped up in each girl's lap, they cheerfully pointed out the people they had posed with. They know Santa Claus, of course, and both are looking forward to taking a vacation home this Christmas.
The kids have learned to speak in Filipino since coming here last may. They help in simple chores in the house like washing their underthings and panyolitos, and cleaning the front walk. Most of all they have been introduced to Kuya Jesus, and concluded this interview with a recitation of prayer. "Jesus, tulungan kami, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..."
When Sister Ma. Nora Joson, RVM was preparing to go back to Manila from the blessing of the RVM Relief Houses for the Mt. Pinatubo victims in Porac, Pampanga, a little hand kept tugging at her skirt.
That little hand belonged to Narsna Juaning, whose dark feet also followed SIster Nora around, too much that the nun jokingly asked her if she wanted to come to Manila with her.
Much to Sister's surprise, Narsna ran like a bolt of lightning to get her father's permission. The girl's father was only too happy to entrust Narsna's education to the sisters.
And so it was settled. Narsna would come with Sister Nora to Manila to study...but that was before Narsna's autnt insisted that her own daughter Silbag come, too.
Now the cousins are happily sporting the traditional blue-and-white, straight cut, Kinder uniform as they sit with other pupils at the K-St. Paul class of Miss Cora Lansangan here in Our Lady of Grace Academy.
"They belong to the Liplip tribe of Balugas, who originally resided on Mount Pinatubo," Sister Nora continued. "But after the eruption, they were at a loss." It was then that their barangay captain approached the RVM sisters of Sacred Heart Academy in Guagua, Pampanga. But the community there had limited resources, too. Sister Cora Agoncillo, RVM asked Sister Nora for assistance.
"We have adopted the whole of the Liplip tribe, consisting of 65 families. But so far, only 35 relief houses have been built. There is obviously a need for more, not to mention food and others. Your donations automatically go with them," Sister further explained.
The education of Narsna and Silbag is only experimental. Every RVM school has since adopted two kids. The tribe people are illiterates, so the "chosen children" are expected tp go back to their homes to teach and civilize the others.
An informal chat with the cousins proved that they were just like any other children, fair or not. What do they like best here? "Laro," they replied. "Masaya, pinapaaral kami." Both of them said they want to be teachers someday.
"Apple, atis, elephant, coloring book..." Narsna recited as though in litany the things she thinks makes their stay in Manila wonderful. With the two photo albums propped up in each girl's lap, they cheerfully pointed out the people they had posed with. They know Santa Claus, of course, and both are looking forward to taking a vacation home this Christmas.
The kids have learned to speak in Filipino since coming here last may. They help in simple chores in the house like washing their underthings and panyolitos, and cleaning the front walk. Most of all they have been introduced to Kuya Jesus, and concluded this interview with a recitation of prayer. "Jesus, tulungan kami, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..."
An encounter with the Neocolours
Note: I've saved a few articles from my high school days. Here are some of them; I tried not to edit so that I get to be reminded of the kind of writer that I was back then.
This one was published in The Gracean Envoy in late 1990. I was a sophomore and was the paper's feature editor.
The inclement weather on the afternoon of October 17,1990 did not stop the Graceans from getting that unnerving feeling of excitement. For even as early as two weeks back, they had caught "the fever."
It was not the flu, nor hay fever, but one of the most exciting events ever to hit the OLGA campus.
With the famed Neocolours coming to do a concert, would you just sit down and listen?
Certainly not! Not even the rains could hamper the exuberance of the Graceans. Some got a little edgy that during the three o'clock prayer, they prayed like they had never prayed before. By five o'clock, the rain had stopped.
Nervous as any jitter reporter could be, I, along with my fellow GE staffers,marched right up to the group's dugout in the Grade School Home Economics Room to catch a glimpse of the band.
An honest-to-goodness interview with the people I only see on TV?Oh my! It seemed too good to be true! Pulling myself together, I started racking my jellied brain for questions to ask the band and rid those ridiculous thoughts out of my mind.
We got started by talking about the history of the band. Ito Rapadas, the lead vocals, informed us that way back several years ago, they were first known as the "Watercolours" with a concept like that of Menudo's, then a popular group for teeny boppers. After two years, they changed their name and "Neocolours" was born.
"Making it," their first single, was released in 1987. The following year, their debut album was launched carrying the same name. It became a blockbuster. At present they are busy presenting their second album "Tuloy Pa Rin."
Five other guys comprise the group aside from Ito. The are Nino Regalado, Marvin Querrido, Jimmy Antiporda (who didn't make it to the concert), Paku Herrera and Josel Jimenez. The first three still go to school at UP, UST and Ateneo, respectively.
"Personal decisions," said Ito, "affect the band, and it would be nicer for the group to know about them." When asked about their relationship, he added: "We're more than just friends. We're like brothers."
Any plans to go international? "No, not yet," Ito replied with a sheepish grin. "It's a risky business out there with too much competition," he added. He believes that one has got to have status first, like Martin Nievera, Kuh Ledesma or Gary Valenciano before he can even start thinking of expanding his horizons. "Saka why go abroad when there is an audience here in the Philippines, right?"
When asked about their expectations from the Graceans as audience,Ito quipped, "Just knowing our songs, tama na sa amin iyon." As a final message, he said "Sana tangkilikin natin ang Original Pilipino Music. Sino pa ang magtutulungan kundi tayong mga Pilipino, diba?"
The screams have died down, but the music will live on.
"Tuloy pa rin ang awit ng buhay ko
Nagbago man ang hugis ng puso mo.
Handa na kong hamunin ang aking mundo
Pagkat tuloy pa rin..."
This one was published in The Gracean Envoy in late 1990. I was a sophomore and was the paper's feature editor.
The inclement weather on the afternoon of October 17,1990 did not stop the Graceans from getting that unnerving feeling of excitement. For even as early as two weeks back, they had caught "the fever."
It was not the flu, nor hay fever, but one of the most exciting events ever to hit the OLGA campus.
With the famed Neocolours coming to do a concert, would you just sit down and listen?
Certainly not! Not even the rains could hamper the exuberance of the Graceans. Some got a little edgy that during the three o'clock prayer, they prayed like they had never prayed before. By five o'clock, the rain had stopped.
Nervous as any jitter reporter could be, I, along with my fellow GE staffers,marched right up to the group's dugout in the Grade School Home Economics Room to catch a glimpse of the band.
An honest-to-goodness interview with the people I only see on TV?Oh my! It seemed too good to be true! Pulling myself together, I started racking my jellied brain for questions to ask the band and rid those ridiculous thoughts out of my mind.
We got started by talking about the history of the band. Ito Rapadas, the lead vocals, informed us that way back several years ago, they were first known as the "Watercolours" with a concept like that of Menudo's, then a popular group for teeny boppers. After two years, they changed their name and "Neocolours" was born.
"Making it," their first single, was released in 1987. The following year, their debut album was launched carrying the same name. It became a blockbuster. At present they are busy presenting their second album "Tuloy Pa Rin."
Five other guys comprise the group aside from Ito. The are Nino Regalado, Marvin Querrido, Jimmy Antiporda (who didn't make it to the concert), Paku Herrera and Josel Jimenez. The first three still go to school at UP, UST and Ateneo, respectively.
"Personal decisions," said Ito, "affect the band, and it would be nicer for the group to know about them." When asked about their relationship, he added: "We're more than just friends. We're like brothers."
Any plans to go international? "No, not yet," Ito replied with a sheepish grin. "It's a risky business out there with too much competition," he added. He believes that one has got to have status first, like Martin Nievera, Kuh Ledesma or Gary Valenciano before he can even start thinking of expanding his horizons. "Saka why go abroad when there is an audience here in the Philippines, right?"
When asked about their expectations from the Graceans as audience,Ito quipped, "Just knowing our songs, tama na sa amin iyon." As a final message, he said "Sana tangkilikin natin ang Original Pilipino Music. Sino pa ang magtutulungan kundi tayong mga Pilipino, diba?"
The screams have died down, but the music will live on.
"Tuloy pa rin ang awit ng buhay ko
Nagbago man ang hugis ng puso mo.
Handa na kong hamunin ang aking mundo
Pagkat tuloy pa rin..."
Monday, May 3, 2010
Mini-me and me
Sophie and I got identical black ballet flats on Friday but that's not the only thing we did.
We had lunch with everybody -- meaning her sister and brothers, a pizza-pasta payday treat. There was not one morsel left in any of our plates, even though the waiter at Greenwich mixed up the flavor of our pizza. Mozzarella garlic, on a thin crust, was superb as well.
Then we proceeded to the appliance center where Josh and I bought our "project" -- a cute coffeemaker to scent up our apartment. That the kids offer to contribute to purchase things they badger me about eases up my budget a bit -- even if they source their contributions from their allowance from that same budget anyway. He went home to make coffee and took Elmo with him. Bea went off on her own, too. I had many other stops and at the other end of the metro at that.
Quickly I took care of the things I had to accomplish in good old SM Val. Only Sophie was left with me. Pay the bills at the bank, but the line was too long I postponed it for another day. Get my Pag-Ibig ID laminated, buy a red gel pen, bring two bags to Mr. Quickie for repair. Then we went to a law office further down the road for a notarization errand. Next stop - Taguig, for a literary submission.
At three o'clock on a sweltering afternoon, a new bus with good airconditioning is manna from heaven. We were supposed to take the MRT but it was so comfortable that we decided to take the long way and ride the bus up to Makati. It took us two hours to get to Edsa-Buendia, and another thirty minutes to get a cab, yet another 15 for the cab ride to Fort Bonifacio. By then it was dusk and we were hungry, and so we settled for -- McDonalds at the ground floor. "Pamatid gutom," Sophie calls it, because I had promised her that I would take her to Greenbelt in Makati.
All my errands done, we hopped on a cab to Greenbelt, where we walked around for a while before settling into Powerbooks. Then it rained. It was 6:15 in the evening and rain was pounding hard on the roof. We did not mind, though. We were cozily seated on the carpet, reading. I skimmed through four paperback titles and one NatGeo picture book. She read an entire paperback -- something about lost dolls. When we realized we were hungry, it was past 8 in the evening.
I told Sophie I would take her to Landmark. "But that's so far away!" The only Landmark she knew, you see, was the one in Trinoma. We used the elevated walkway, holding hands and sporting identical shoes, taking in that after-rain breeze and delighting our eyes with the lights and the office workers rushing home. WE were not in a hurry. It was my day off, and we could go home as late as we want.
At the food court, Reyes BBQ ran out of java rice. Not worth it, I told my ward, and off we strolled again to Food Choices in Glorietta. There we had just what we had been craving for. Chicken for her, bangus for me. Java rice.
Again we decided against taking the train. I figured the payday, post-downpour, pre-long weekend crowd would be unbearable. Another big, new, comfortable bus was waiting for us. We settled in and prepared for another few hours on the road. Initially we sat at the very back, changing seats as the other passengers alighted. Much to Sophie's delight, the tv on the bus carried GMA-7...and Bubble Gang was on. So instead of sleeping, we shared laughs, along with the other passengers on their way home that Friday night.
But it Sophie's evening to sleep in her father's house. We got into a tricycle to take us there, and Sophie hugged me tight, dreading our separation.
Indeed one whole day together is never enough.
We had lunch with everybody -- meaning her sister and brothers, a pizza-pasta payday treat. There was not one morsel left in any of our plates, even though the waiter at Greenwich mixed up the flavor of our pizza. Mozzarella garlic, on a thin crust, was superb as well.
Then we proceeded to the appliance center where Josh and I bought our "project" -- a cute coffeemaker to scent up our apartment. That the kids offer to contribute to purchase things they badger me about eases up my budget a bit -- even if they source their contributions from their allowance from that same budget anyway. He went home to make coffee and took Elmo with him. Bea went off on her own, too. I had many other stops and at the other end of the metro at that.
Quickly I took care of the things I had to accomplish in good old SM Val. Only Sophie was left with me. Pay the bills at the bank, but the line was too long I postponed it for another day. Get my Pag-Ibig ID laminated, buy a red gel pen, bring two bags to Mr. Quickie for repair. Then we went to a law office further down the road for a notarization errand. Next stop - Taguig, for a literary submission.
At three o'clock on a sweltering afternoon, a new bus with good airconditioning is manna from heaven. We were supposed to take the MRT but it was so comfortable that we decided to take the long way and ride the bus up to Makati. It took us two hours to get to Edsa-Buendia, and another thirty minutes to get a cab, yet another 15 for the cab ride to Fort Bonifacio. By then it was dusk and we were hungry, and so we settled for -- McDonalds at the ground floor. "Pamatid gutom," Sophie calls it, because I had promised her that I would take her to Greenbelt in Makati.
All my errands done, we hopped on a cab to Greenbelt, where we walked around for a while before settling into Powerbooks. Then it rained. It was 6:15 in the evening and rain was pounding hard on the roof. We did not mind, though. We were cozily seated on the carpet, reading. I skimmed through four paperback titles and one NatGeo picture book. She read an entire paperback -- something about lost dolls. When we realized we were hungry, it was past 8 in the evening.
I told Sophie I would take her to Landmark. "But that's so far away!" The only Landmark she knew, you see, was the one in Trinoma. We used the elevated walkway, holding hands and sporting identical shoes, taking in that after-rain breeze and delighting our eyes with the lights and the office workers rushing home. WE were not in a hurry. It was my day off, and we could go home as late as we want.
At the food court, Reyes BBQ ran out of java rice. Not worth it, I told my ward, and off we strolled again to Food Choices in Glorietta. There we had just what we had been craving for. Chicken for her, bangus for me. Java rice.
Again we decided against taking the train. I figured the payday, post-downpour, pre-long weekend crowd would be unbearable. Another big, new, comfortable bus was waiting for us. We settled in and prepared for another few hours on the road. Initially we sat at the very back, changing seats as the other passengers alighted. Much to Sophie's delight, the tv on the bus carried GMA-7...and Bubble Gang was on. So instead of sleeping, we shared laughs, along with the other passengers on their way home that Friday night.
But it Sophie's evening to sleep in her father's house. We got into a tricycle to take us there, and Sophie hugged me tight, dreading our separation.
Indeed one whole day together is never enough.
Senior citizens and automation
published 3 May 2009, MST
Former President Joseph Estrada topped the mock elections conducted by the Valenzuela City Office of Senior Citizens Affairs on March 29 and 30. Maybe it was the demographics—the 200 or so participating senior citizens from four barangays in the northern city may have formed part of Estrada’s “masa” constituency.
Or it could be, says OSCA head Pablo Marcelo, a reflection of older folks’ penchant for sticking with the devil they know. “They already know who Estrada is. Why risk voting for somebody new?”
Small wonder, then, that the accompanying demonstration of the automated election system by the Commission on Elections’ district office was marked by sheer apprehension, unanswered questions and lingering doubts. The poll body’s officials explained the workings of the new system to the audience, most of whom were distrustful of the technology altogether. “Old people are more comfortable doing things the way they are used to doing them,” Marcelo continued. Not even the bad press received by the manual system of voting in the past— its susceptibility to delay and manipulation —can make the seniors prefer the strange-looking precinct count optical scan machines over the familiar ballots with the blanks on them and the “tara” system of counting votes.
Questions during the demonstration, Marcelo said, centered on finding of precincts and the accomplishment of the very long ballot, even if the circles beside the candidates’ names just need to be shaded. “Even if they brought a ‘codigo’, which is what is normally done by those who don’t want to forget any candidates and want to finish fast, the seniors found that just finding the names they want to vote for took a long time. And what if your eyesight is poor? You have a real problem there. ”
On the average, Marcelo added, senior citizens took nine minutes to finish voting during the mock polls.
The senior citizens also worried about how the machines, especially those that will be deployed to far-flung areas in the country, would be able to withstand rain, heat, or even power outages. “We don’t know what a single drop of water, which can be considered a foreign body, can do to them. If the machines malfunction, what are we going to do? How can we bring ourselves to trust the results?”
* * *
Over in San Juan City, citizens are worried not so much about the malfunction as they are about the manipulation of the machines in order to generate desired results.
“It’s a leap of fear, not a leap of faith,” says Arsenio Cuadrante, president of the Little Baguio, San Juan Senior Citizens Association. And if the April 9 demonstration conducted by the Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting were to be any indication of the automated system’s reliability, then the whole process will be... a joke, with comedians mangling the whole process.
Indeed the demonstration, conducted at the behest of the San Juan Civilian Volunteers Association, started off sober enough. In a comfortable venue at the Connecticut Arcade Showroom of the Greenhills Shopping Center, the Comelec gave a powerpoint presentation—in English, of course—providing the audience an overview of how the automated system of elections is supposed to work. The Comelec also showed how voters could save themselves a lot of trouble looking for their precincts by using the online precinct finder in the poll body’s Web site www.comelec.gov.ph. Voters just had to key in their name and date of birth and they would know to which precinct they are assigned.
The audience, which Cuadrante estimates at around 100, was also shown how to accomplish the ballots so that they don’t get rejected by the machine. Four or five people were asked to “vote” using movie stars’ names on the ballots instead of names of actual candidates. Voters were shown how to insert the ballots into the machines. Everybody burst into applause every time the machine accepted a ballot.
But the senior citizens did not likely applaud the presence of two comedians from TV5, who taped an episode of their show with the demonstration as background. Ariel and Maverick, sporting wacky hairdos and costumes, cracked jokes throughout the event and distracted the people who trooped to the arcade expecting to be enlightened.
Sadly, Cuadrante feels, the horsing around trivialized the seriousness of the entire exercise especially for senior citizens who were still overwhelmed by the novelty of automation.
Comelec harps on how the technology is the answer to our problems but offers little assurance and tells us little about how we can be sure our votes will be counted properly. As a result, “[the seniors] were dumbfounded, they were just sitting there, they feel they have just put their votes and their fate at the mercy of the machines and afterwards there’s nothing they can do. We just feel so helpless,” he adds.
So what do they propose to do, ditch progress and stick to the old evils we know so well?
“Oh no, it’s not the technology we doubt. Progress is always good,” Cuadrante says, and it figures because he agreed to answer my questions via email and clarify some points via chat. “What we are insecure about is the integrity of the people running the show. There are too many lawyers and too few auditors and information technology experts we can trust in Comelec. How can they perform the vote-counting function well? Also, when the machine verdict comes out, is there no way we can challenge its accuracy? Do we just make a choice between taking it and leaving it?”
* * *
A mere seven days before the elections, it does not appear that the apprehension is limited to Filipinos 60 years old and above. Sure, automation is always a step in the right direction. That’s assuming that there are enough safeguards, checks and balances in place. Are there? We don’t know. What we know is that there are people telling us that there won’t be. How can we be sure they don’t have an agenda for themselves as well?
What a relief it must be to go forward in time and find out if automation would really work—or if it would fail. Next time the Comelec’s information drive should be more aggressive, and more persuasive, enough to convince the staunchest of old-school thinkers to get out of their stinking comfort zones.
Then again, if the results of next week’s polls come through fast and credible as promised, then that’s the best argument one can hope to have for the automated process. That out of the way, we can proceed to working on voters’ decision making process in choosing leaders. And then we can stop just settling for the people we get and start actively electing those who, rhetoric and black propaganda aside, can make us embrace long-overdue economic progress and democratic maturity.
adellechua@gmail.com
Former President Joseph Estrada topped the mock elections conducted by the Valenzuela City Office of Senior Citizens Affairs on March 29 and 30. Maybe it was the demographics—the 200 or so participating senior citizens from four barangays in the northern city may have formed part of Estrada’s “masa” constituency.
Or it could be, says OSCA head Pablo Marcelo, a reflection of older folks’ penchant for sticking with the devil they know. “They already know who Estrada is. Why risk voting for somebody new?”
Small wonder, then, that the accompanying demonstration of the automated election system by the Commission on Elections’ district office was marked by sheer apprehension, unanswered questions and lingering doubts. The poll body’s officials explained the workings of the new system to the audience, most of whom were distrustful of the technology altogether. “Old people are more comfortable doing things the way they are used to doing them,” Marcelo continued. Not even the bad press received by the manual system of voting in the past— its susceptibility to delay and manipulation —can make the seniors prefer the strange-looking precinct count optical scan machines over the familiar ballots with the blanks on them and the “tara” system of counting votes.
Questions during the demonstration, Marcelo said, centered on finding of precincts and the accomplishment of the very long ballot, even if the circles beside the candidates’ names just need to be shaded. “Even if they brought a ‘codigo’, which is what is normally done by those who don’t want to forget any candidates and want to finish fast, the seniors found that just finding the names they want to vote for took a long time. And what if your eyesight is poor? You have a real problem there. ”
On the average, Marcelo added, senior citizens took nine minutes to finish voting during the mock polls.
The senior citizens also worried about how the machines, especially those that will be deployed to far-flung areas in the country, would be able to withstand rain, heat, or even power outages. “We don’t know what a single drop of water, which can be considered a foreign body, can do to them. If the machines malfunction, what are we going to do? How can we bring ourselves to trust the results?”
* * *
Over in San Juan City, citizens are worried not so much about the malfunction as they are about the manipulation of the machines in order to generate desired results.
“It’s a leap of fear, not a leap of faith,” says Arsenio Cuadrante, president of the Little Baguio, San Juan Senior Citizens Association. And if the April 9 demonstration conducted by the Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting were to be any indication of the automated system’s reliability, then the whole process will be... a joke, with comedians mangling the whole process.
Indeed the demonstration, conducted at the behest of the San Juan Civilian Volunteers Association, started off sober enough. In a comfortable venue at the Connecticut Arcade Showroom of the Greenhills Shopping Center, the Comelec gave a powerpoint presentation—in English, of course—providing the audience an overview of how the automated system of elections is supposed to work. The Comelec also showed how voters could save themselves a lot of trouble looking for their precincts by using the online precinct finder in the poll body’s Web site www.comelec.gov.ph. Voters just had to key in their name and date of birth and they would know to which precinct they are assigned.
The audience, which Cuadrante estimates at around 100, was also shown how to accomplish the ballots so that they don’t get rejected by the machine. Four or five people were asked to “vote” using movie stars’ names on the ballots instead of names of actual candidates. Voters were shown how to insert the ballots into the machines. Everybody burst into applause every time the machine accepted a ballot.
But the senior citizens did not likely applaud the presence of two comedians from TV5, who taped an episode of their show with the demonstration as background. Ariel and Maverick, sporting wacky hairdos and costumes, cracked jokes throughout the event and distracted the people who trooped to the arcade expecting to be enlightened.
Sadly, Cuadrante feels, the horsing around trivialized the seriousness of the entire exercise especially for senior citizens who were still overwhelmed by the novelty of automation.
Comelec harps on how the technology is the answer to our problems but offers little assurance and tells us little about how we can be sure our votes will be counted properly. As a result, “[the seniors] were dumbfounded, they were just sitting there, they feel they have just put their votes and their fate at the mercy of the machines and afterwards there’s nothing they can do. We just feel so helpless,” he adds.
So what do they propose to do, ditch progress and stick to the old evils we know so well?
“Oh no, it’s not the technology we doubt. Progress is always good,” Cuadrante says, and it figures because he agreed to answer my questions via email and clarify some points via chat. “What we are insecure about is the integrity of the people running the show. There are too many lawyers and too few auditors and information technology experts we can trust in Comelec. How can they perform the vote-counting function well? Also, when the machine verdict comes out, is there no way we can challenge its accuracy? Do we just make a choice between taking it and leaving it?”
* * *
A mere seven days before the elections, it does not appear that the apprehension is limited to Filipinos 60 years old and above. Sure, automation is always a step in the right direction. That’s assuming that there are enough safeguards, checks and balances in place. Are there? We don’t know. What we know is that there are people telling us that there won’t be. How can we be sure they don’t have an agenda for themselves as well?
What a relief it must be to go forward in time and find out if automation would really work—or if it would fail. Next time the Comelec’s information drive should be more aggressive, and more persuasive, enough to convince the staunchest of old-school thinkers to get out of their stinking comfort zones.
Then again, if the results of next week’s polls come through fast and credible as promised, then that’s the best argument one can hope to have for the automated process. That out of the way, we can proceed to working on voters’ decision making process in choosing leaders. And then we can stop just settling for the people we get and start actively electing those who, rhetoric and black propaganda aside, can make us embrace long-overdue economic progress and democratic maturity.
adellechua@gmail.com
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