Move On?

"Move on," goes an advice - solicited or not - we hear from people. At times, it sounds sensible, but there are occasions when it is downright rubbish. Take for example the recent pronouncement of Imee Marcos during a press conference, on those who keep on criticizing her family: "The millennials have moved on, and I think people at my age should also move on as well".

It seems easy for the late dictator's eldest daughter to say such things. Imagine being ensconced in Malacanan for two decades, not worrying what to eat or what to wear or where to study. Imagine enjoying political clout in the Kabataang Barangay, all because her father has seized control of everyone and everything in the land. Imagine having a good life while the populace suffer and shoulder her family's (and cronies') excesses. 

Imee's remarks are callous, dismissive, and irresponsible.

Their ouster and exile in Hawaii in 1986 should have been a wake up call for them to make amends. Their return to the Philippines in the early 90s (followed by that of Ferdinand Marcos' remains) showed the opposite. They came back as though they did not commit anything wrong. Gradually, they have returned to power with Imelda, Imee, and Bongbong having their version of rigodon de honor in select government positions in Ilocos Norte. (Bongbong is currently contesting Leni Robredo's election as Vice-President.)Their strong grip to power and court rulings in their favor - including the burial of the former strongman at the Libingan ng mga Bayani - would not be possible without the blessings of the current dispensation. 

Unless justice is rendered to the many Filipinos who suffered in the hands of the Marcos dictatorship (some of which have never been found up to this day), unless all that the Marcoses stole from the nation's coffers are recovered, unless Marcos' Presidential Decree No. 1177 (a.k.a. Automatic Appropriation Law) is repealed, unless the Marcoses get out of their ivory tower and do concrete actions to repair the damage they have caused, the Philippines will never move on.

As St John XXIII once said "Justice comes before charity."

Scenarios

Kudos to House Speaker Sonny Belmonte! He thumbed down Manny Pacquiao’s plan to train in the Lower Chamber’s gym.

The Speaker felt that this would give other lawmakers the excuse of not attending sessions. Besides, he reminded neophyte lawmakers (like the popular boxer) that “sports should be sports” and should not be mixed with politics.

Had Belmonte approved this, you would expect the House to be converted as a rendezvous for boxing fans. Following this would be a precedent for other actors/entertainers/sports men to use these facilities for their first career (politics being the second).

Think of Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, or Tito Sotto having their shooting in the halls of the Senate. Or Lucy Torres-Gomez doing a catwalk in the vast hall of the House!

With all due respect to their intentions to serve our country, I find myself not at ease with actors running for and subsequently assuming public office. The experience of having Erap as President 12 years ago lingers on.

I’m glad that at this early in time, Belmonte made that move. As a seasoned politician, new lawmakers should learn a lot from him.

***

I know this is a rather late reaction on P-Noy’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA). The address was direct to the point and engaging. Take for the example his disgust over the previous administration’s impunity in importing rice only to rot in the NFA warehouses.

However I am very much disappointed that the President did not mention anything on debt servicing. Does that mean it will still be status quo under his administration? I could just make guesses until I finally hear what his stand on the issue is. He cried foul over the extravagance of his predecessor citing that a large portion of the current national budget has already been spent. He should have thought that a considerable percentage of the budget is allocated for debt payment. What is left is for government expenses which, sad to say, is still being pillaged by corrupt public servants!

I hope that our lawmakers would be more sensitive about this and do the right thing – put a cap on debt servicing. The House, in particular, should assert its power of holding the nation’s purse and see to it that money is appropriated where it is truly needed. Not to fatten the World Bank-International Monetary Fund, but to provide a better life to poor Mang Juan Pasang-krus!

If P-Noy vetoes this provision (like what his Mom did before), then he is not fulfilling his oath to “do justice to every man” when he assumed the presidency.

If our legislators do not override the presidential veto, then they are not living up to their role as representatives of the people. They're only lapdogs of the President!

***

Another issue that P-Noy has to contend with is that of the Hacienda Luisita famers. This vast land owned by the Cojuangco-Aquino clan was exempted from Cory’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program thanks to her relatives in the House during that time like her brother Jose “Peping” Cojuangco. Instead of owning a portion of the land they till, the clan gave them shares in the stocks. All this time, farmers have been clamouring for justice all the way to the Supreme Court.

The President has declared a ‘hands-off’ policy on this issue even during the campaign period. Yet I strongly agree with Christian Monsod (lawyer for some of the farmers) who opined that P-Noy should intervene not because he is an Aquino but because he is the President. Talking about doing justice for all men, his intervention is much sought for.

The 14th Point

I feel really proud as I looked at photos taken during President Noynoy Aquino’s inaugural last week. I could feel that fresh hope pervading in the country now that it has a new (and duly elected) leader in the person of this unassuming son of Ninoy and Cory Aquino, revered icons of our democracy.

On the same day that he was sworn into office, Catholic bishops released a 13-point that the newly-elected president needs to tackle during his administration.

I read through the list and found some very, very familiar areas of concern such as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with extension and reform (CARPer), the rejection of the Reproductive Health Bill, same-sex union, halting of mining and illegal logging, corruption, human rights, the poor’s access to quality education, etc.

I was expecting that they would include the cancellation of payments to debts incurred by the Marcos administration. It is no secret that these debts were immorally done as they did not benefit the nation, but Marcos and his minions.

Since 30 July 1977 (when the dictator signed into law Presidential Decree No. 1177), a part of our national budget has been automatically earmarked to pay the “principal and interest on public debt” (section 31 of PD 1177). Sadly, the late Cory Aquino honored these debts and so payments have been ongoing until now.

40% of our budget is allocated for debt servicing, thus depriving our country from further development, poor families from getting access to a better quality of life, public services such as hospitals, schools, and the like from being able to fully respond to clients’ needs, etc.

40% is 40%!

I agree that we Pinoys believe in the saying that “Ang utang ay dapat bayaran”, but if it was done not for our good and if paying it would prevent us from enjoying what we humans deserve, then it is immoral to pay them! It’s anti-life, if I can rejig a famous by-line from our Church leaders.

I agree that “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap”, but corruption isn’t the only enemy to alleviate poverty. To alleviate poverty, P-Noy must also make sure that funds are appropriated where they are badly needed. He must send marching orders to Congress, when he addresses them on 26 July 2010, to repeal that oppressive law and make strong representations with the IMF-World Bank putting a cap on debt servicing.

If this is done, then at least 3 (i.e. educating the poor, poverty alleviation, and food security) of the 13 points raised by our bishops would have already been sorted.

I am disappointed that our prelates have missed this item when this issue has been staring at them all this time, when they have often spoken in defense of the poor and proclaimed that we are a “Church of the Poor”.

Debt is ‘utang’ in Filipino. If the President does not do something on automatic debt payments, more and more people would be drowned in untold poverty and misery. From their mouths, ‘utang’ would metamorphose into another Filipino word, a curse actually, that P-Noy would not like to hear.

I may not be a bishop, but like them I am also P-Noy’s boss. And so, Mr President, my appeal is: please repudiate debt servicing!

***

I am very sorry to hear the sad news that Mrs Annie Andreus, a long-time friend, neighbour, and perhaps a distant relative in Kawit, Cavite, has passed away. Ti Annie, as we fondly call her (“Ti” is an honorific title Kawiteños use to address their elders such as uncles and aunts.), was an ex-classmate’s mother. When I lived in my aunt’s house (which is a few steps from Ti Annie’s home and sari-sari store), I used to pass by the church before proceeding to the nearby St Mary Magdalene School. I would always see her attending the daily Mass. Later on, I found myself getting up early everyday to participate in the Holy Eucharist – sitting next to her. I carried this practice when we moved back to Manila and whenever I would go to Kawit and attend Mass I was happy to be reunited with her.

If my paternal grandparents introduced me to the Mass, Ti Annie reinforced that practice by her good example and encouragement. Which is why I'm telling our brothers and sisters in the faith, especially the youth: don't get bored of the Mass. Welcome your elders' proddings as a call to prayer, to be in union with the Lord. And as you grow in that upbringing, you will not 'lose' it even if you move to another place.

Thank you, Ti Annie. You have been like a mom to me. May you now enjoy the happiness in the presence of our God whom you have encountered in the daily Mass.

To Edwin and his siblings (Christie, Donna, and Faye), my sincerest condolences.