CONTROVERSIES WITHIN THE COMELEC

The first major controversy the new COMELEC leadership had was between the present Chairman Sixto brillantes and the former Law department head and now Planning head Department Director Ferdinand T. Rafanan. The issue was not corruption of the subordinate as the Chairman has openly said that Director Rafanan is clean but Director Rafanan on the other hand has said that the chairman allegedly requested him to intercede in behalf of two erring COMELEC officials before the Ombudsman regarding their sentences due to their involvement in the Folder Scam. The Senate and House of Representatives who are usually quick in conducting investigations in aid of legislation did not lift a finger regarding the issue. The second major issue was the removal of the IT consultant of the Chairman by the Chairman himself who incidentally was recommended by Commissioner Gus Lagman, an IT expert himself to his former classmate in grade school Chairman Sixto Brillantes. The issue is graft and corruption involving a contractor who has a pending collectible with the COMELEC amounting to 43 million pesos. Charges and counter charges of bribery have been hurled to facilitate the payment of the said collectible between the Chairman and his former IT expert Mr. Deinla. The termination paper of Mr. Deinla includes possible administrative and criminal charges against the said IT expert.

COMELEC is one of our most controversy filled constitutional body. It holds life and death power over the political careers of politicians and for politicians who make a living out of politics, COMELEC has life and death power over the fortunes of politiicians and their families. Most probably many would agree that whatever the state our country is in right now, it is either thanks or no thanks to the COMELEC! In a related post, I mentioned that the COMELEC is the Human Resource Department of our government in the hiring of our elective officials who practically control our government from the President down to the last barangay kagawad and SK kagawad who claim to possess the sovereign will of the people.

In this score, the Senate and House of Representatives should leave no stone unturned  in investigating in aid of legislation what is happening in our COMELEC today! Former Chairman Abalos is being implicated in a case of election sabotage involving former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and am sure many will agree that had former Chairman Abalos refused to cooperate with politicians presuming election sabotage really took place,  election sabotage could have not occured. This is to emphasize the power of the COMELEC Chairman and so he must be beyond repute! There is no other government body other than the Senate and House of representatives who could conduct an objective investigation but this will not be easy for them as their political career will be at risk. They should draw their strength however from their sense of patriotism in conducting this investigation and clear the COMELEC of any doubt especially its leadership! Vote buying is the mother of graft and corruption and the present COMELEC leadership like all the previous leaderships I recalled has indicated that they can not do anything about it while paradoxically the only national director who wanted to put a stop to vote buying and has established a reputation in the COMELEC for being uncompromising against graft and corruption has been branded to have a wrong attitude and has been relegated to a less imporatant position!.SOMETHING MUST REALLY BE WRONG WITH THE COMELEC LEADERSHIP AT LEAST AS FAR AS ITS ATTITUDE is concerned!

The said investigation is a must and a most urgent one!

We the Filipinos should make our democracy work thru our COMELEC! Nobody can do it for us but we ourselves!

It is true that a well designed system for a democratic government like ours with three equal branches of government is very important for our country for it to function properly but our well designed system of government can only function that much properly depending on the people who run it. This is where the importance of the will of the sovereign people comes into play. The SC thru its Chief blasting the Executive and the Legislature and vice versa is unprecedented but as if in a family house when the gardener, the cook and the laundrywoman start to throw things like glasses and plates against each other, then the owners of the house have to intervene. But could it be that the owners of the house erred initially when choosing their servants because perhaps some of them even if not qualified were hired because they presented some gifts, cash and in kind to them when they applied or perhaps were found good singers and dancers but not as excellent cook, laundrywoman or gardener? This development even if apparently negative can be an opportunity for all of us Filipinos to do some soul searching and be patriotic enough to do what have to be done as an expression of our love for country and with out fear and favor! 


LET US WATCH OUR COMELEC especially its LEADERSHIP!

NGOs should pressure COA to be a pillar of anti corruption?

Sumbungan was launched in CARAGA led by  former Chairman of Civil Service Commission Miss Constantino David to help the country eliminate graft and corruption. What is its difference from other anti corruption watchdogs organized in the past?

In order to put a face to alleged corruption in Agusan del Sur, it was reported that a certain Mr. Bob Aquino a defeated congressional candidate of district 1 in Agusan del sur filed corruption cases against some former and incumbent officials of the said province at the Ombudsman using the COA annual audit reports from 2005 to 2010 stating that almost one billion pesos of unliquidated funds. I earlier  posted this comment at Phillstar which attracted a comment from somebody, to wit;


The documents supporting this complaint of Mr. Bob Aquino against some former and incumbent officials of Agusan del Sur are the COA annual audit reports from 2005 to 2010. Why does it need for a citizen especially a politician like Bob Aquino to file the complaint when COA could have done it itself not just against officials of Agusan del Sur who may have committed irregularities but all public officials in all local government units all over the country who are found to have committed irregularities in the management of public funds? If COA does the filing of cases at the Ombudsman on its own, then real reforms will take place all over  the country and new potential leaders will come out in 2013 as the erring incumbent officials will not be able to run due to disqualification or at the least be exposed to the people for who they are!

  

talespin replied:

This is now the problem why COA stay silent as they could have filed the complaints before the Ombudsman. IN this situtaion COA seemed to be a mere bystander, inutile in the campaign against corruption 

It is therefore my suggestion that anti corruption watchdogs like Sumbungan train their guns  at COA to do their job better as it is their mandate to safeguard the funds of the people and especially that corresponding funds have been appropriated for their operations. If one wants to see the annual audit reports of COA on all local government units, one just needs to visit www.coa.gov.ph. Following the windowpane theory, COA should focus on prosecuting erring officials who are guilty of technical malversations especially of trust funds, non remittance of the GSIS premiums collected from employees, overpricing of goods purchased like multicabs where its price is common knowledge and ghost employees and employees paid for by the government but working as househelps in some officials' houses. By so doing all officials and employees, big time and small time  will be on their toes in not abusing and misusing public funds. The COA reports are just there waiting to be used in implementing the matuwid na daan of this adminstration and perhaps it will be much different if Sumbungan will be the one to pressure COA.

I have communicated this idea to COA a few weeks back but it seems that my suggestion fell on deaf ears!

ANNUAL COA AUDIT REPORTS AS VERY EFFECTIVE TOOL IN PROMOTING REFORMS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS

The documents supporting this complaint of Mr. Bob Aquino against some former and incumbent officials of Agusan del Sur are the COA annual audit reports from 2005 to 2010. Why does it need for a citizen especially a politician like Bob Aquino to file the complaint when COA could have done it itself not just against officials of Agusan del Sur who may have committed irregularities but all public officials in all local government units all over the country who are found to have committed irregularities in the management of public funds? If COA does the filing of cases at the Ombudsman on their own, then real reforms will take place all over  the country and new potential leaders will come out in 2013 as the erring incumbent officials will not be able to run due to disqualification or at the least be exposed to the people for who they are!

Agusan Sur execs face graft raps By Ben Serrano The Philippine Star Updated October 30, 2011 12:00 AM 2 comments to this post

BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan Del Sur, Philippines – Former and incumbent officials of this province are facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly not liquidating cash advances amounting to P852,087,991.20 from 2003 to 2010. In a 13-page complaint filed by Agusan del Sur Liberal Party district chairman Roberto “Bob” Aquino, graft charges were filed against former governor Adolph Edward Plaza, his sister former Agusan del Sur governor now Congresswoman Maria Valentina Galido, provincial accountant Joy Lagat, budget officer Francisco Cejuela, former treasurer Celsa Sanchez and several other provincial officials. Aquino cited the annual reports of the Commission on Audit, which said the cash advances of the provincial government from 2003 to 2010 have not been liquidated. He said the unliquidated cash advances are as follows: P52.6 million (2005); P87.9 million (2007); P94.1 million (2008); P159.6 million (2009); and P203.6 million as of Dec. 31, 2009. Aquino’s lawyer, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) national president Jose Grapelon told The STAR in a mobile phone interview he hoped that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales will immediately act on the complaint. “I understand Ombudsman Morales is serious to go after big fishes and has set a time frame for early resolution of all graft cases.This is good, it will help President Aquino’s anti-corruption campaign as the public are now eager to see how serious really is the President in his Matuwid Na Daan campaign” Grapelon said.

Fiscal autonomy is the end and not a means?

Fiscal autonomy for the judiciary and the constitutional commissions is not an end in itself but a means that is supposed to help render the best services to the people who are the Boss. When agencies declared unused appropriations for unfilled positions at the end of the year as savings and grant the same to the officials and employees as bonuses and sometimes used it for MOOE, that is an abuse of fiscal autonomy which deprived our people the services that would have been rendered by those government workers who should have been hired but were not! With due respect, all the three branches of our government should never forget that the reference point of all their prerogatives like fiscal autonomy is the rights of the people for good governance and this is the END. Will the prerogatives in performing the respective jobs of the laundry woman, the driver, the cook or the security guard be over and above the good of the house owners? If the answer of some of them is YES, no wonder we Filipinos are poor and suffering and there is a serious and urgent clamor for good governance!

Unused appropriations declared as savings at the end of the year is subject to grave!abuse

Many government agencies including the judiciary and the constitutional commissions in the past have declared as savings at the end of the year appropriations for unfilled positions and used the so called savings to grant bonuses for their officials and employees and sometimes it was used for MOOE. Most probably these caused the lack of judges in many court salas all over the country, lack of teachers to teach our children resulting to big classes much more than the ideal 30 pupils per class, lack of policemen and so on and so forth thereby depriving many Filipinos better services we rightfully deserve.

Fiscal autonomy is needed for efficient public service but when it is abused, public service suffers!!

Since fiscal autonomy is expressly stated in the law, its abuse must be properly dealt with by filing the necessary charges against the responsible government functionaries whoever they are and no matter how many they are!

By so doing it will help put our country in order!! Discretion should always be tempered with patriotic sense of responsibility!

Foreigners are not allowed by our constitution to own lands in our country

Under the present constitution, foreigners can not own land in our country but THEY CAN BUY OUR SOIL AND LOAD THEM ON SHIPS BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES like what they are doing in Surigao and Agusan!

A woman who can not be one's legal wife but she can be bought, how do you call her?

PH leftist activists start weeklong ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protests in Manila

PH leftist activists start weeklong ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protests in Manila

With due respect to all concerned, Occupy Wallstreet Protests will not have the desired effects if political color is added to it or else it will just be the usual political tainted protests! Sana the said protest will become everybody's protest that looks for authentic societal change for reforms!

Palace: No to talks on SC budget

Palace: No to talks on SC budget

As one of the owners of the house, each one of the sovereign Filipino people has the right not to appease any of the public servants when they fight each other but we have the right to know and understand why are they fighting which might affect the service they render to us the people. Records show that they fight about the appropriations for unfilled positions which in the past were declared as savings at the end of the year resulting to many court salas that do not have judges, classes in schools rose from 60 pupils from the ideal 30 per class due to lack of teachers, who were not hired despite available appropriations, lack of PNP personnels and so on and so forth at the expense of efficient government service. As a member of the house, to prevent this infighting COA and Ombudsman should initiate charges against erring officials who misappropriated these said funds so that it will be clear to everybody that this illegal act has to stop once and for all. They invoke the rights of their office but how about the rights of the Filipino sovereign people for the best service?

Ombudsman to focus on cases involving high officials

Ombudsman to focus on cases involving high officials

This is a quite discomforting strategy by the Ombudsman because big time corruption cases are not committed by the culprits only when they become big officials but they started to be corrupt when they were still lowly public servants. As they were not stopped when they were still small, they continued their corrupt ways until they rose in rank. Presuming that these big time corruptors are jailed, what is the message to our public servants as a result of these convictions? That they should not steal big amount but they can steal smaller amount? If the objective is to stop the culture of graft and corruption, big and small cases of corruption should be stopped at their tracks meaning ALL! This will take time as the number of repetitions for a person to acquire a virtue or a habit is ten times according to a study. Right now, the rule in Philippine society, no offense meant is when one commits graft the culprit almost always goes away with it but if the fight against graft and corruption is all encompassing covering all agencies involving big, not so big and small amount and all ranks, the rule shall be reversed where when one commits graft, the exception is to go away with it without being punished. As a beginning, almost all annual audit reports COA have findings that merit investigation by the COA. Can the Ombudsman take this challenge?

Supreme Court, Executive and Congress, who is correct?

It is true that a well designed system for a democratic government like ours with three equal branches of government is very important for our country for it to function properly but our well designed system of government can only function that much properly depending on the people who run it. This is where the importance of the will of the sovereign people comes into play. The SC thru its Chief blasting the Executive and the Legislature and vice versa is unprecedented but as if in a family house when the gardener, the cook and the laundrywoman start to throw things like glasses and plates against each other, then the owners of the house have to intervene. But could it be that the owners of the house erred initially when choosing their servants because perhaps some of them even if not qualified were hired because they presented some gifts, cash and in kind to them when they applied or perhaps were found good singers and dancers but not as excellent cook, laundrywoman or gardener? This development even if apparently negative can be an opportunity for all of us Filipinos to do some soul searching and be patriotic enough to do what have to be done as an expression of our love for country and with out fear and favor!

Children of the dew

Children of the dew

No to graft and corruption and the public funds saved let us invest on our children, our own or not. Parenting seminars should be made available to parents for them to support, educate and live for their children. The 14 billion pesos for RH proposed by the government in the budget of DOH as admitted by Miss Pia Cayetano for the year 2012 should be used instead for the education of Filipinos especially the youth who want to complete their education but do not have enough means.

GSIS gets P16M down payment from Caloocan

GSIS gets P16M down payment from Caloocan

GSIS contributions of members collected by any government agency if not remitted promptly shows bad faith and this constitutes the crime of estafa. All previous and incumbent officials who committed this crime should be charged at the Ombudsman and prosecuted. This must not be limited to the city of Caloocan alone but to all local government units and other national agencies and GOCCs. It is but just that the payables should be settled with the GSIS but the criminal aspect should be pursued still or else what will prevent officials to commit the same injustice against the employees now and in the future? Matuwid na daan should be applied without fear and favor.

COA assails DPWH for inaction on flood projects since 2009

COA assails DPWH for inaction on flood projects since 2009

COA can do a better job for our country!

COA should concentrate instead on the proper and judicious use of public funds and not interfering on the performance of DPWH because that is best left to the President, to the Ombudsman and to the national legislators in the exercise of their oversight functiopns. It seems that COA just wants to appear in the media with no offense meant. Di kaya kagagawan lang ito ng kanilang spokesperson whoever he is? COA should busy itself in teaching lessons to local officials and and other government officials and employees who almost regularly commit technical malversation using trust funds, overpricing in the purchase of vehicles and other items, non remittance of GSIS premiums, overdue unliquidated cash advances and unaccounted funds due to non availablity of some documents because by so doing COA will be able to help PNoy in eliminating graft and corruption not just in the media and in the national level but more importantly in all levels of government. Everybody should be taught about the evils of graft and corruption by penalizing the habitual violators and doing it nationwide so that the people will be educated that good governance is possible and will realize that PNoy is serious about his matuwid na daan notwithstanding all the criticisms hurled against him and his administration.

Arroyo camp hits Brillantes for prejudging case

Arroyo camp hits Brillantes for prejudging case

I really have some reservations regarding Chairman Brillantes of the COMELEC. Majority of the people believe that the Arroyos are guilty of election offenses but Brillantes is not the right person to run after the Arroyos because he was the lawyer of the late FPJ. His record as an election lawyer may bring down COMELEC also because he reportedly used to be the lawyer of the Ampatuans. The COMELEC Chairman should be an impartial judge and must be feared by all election offenders and the newly confirmed Chairman is a doubtful impartial judge and incorruptible election lawyer. Presuming the Arroyos will be imprisoned for election sabotage, will vote buying be stopped which I consider as the Mother of all graft and corruption on the basis that the Boss and their right of suffrage are being bought by aspiring public servants? Abalos said that he could not do anything about vote buying while Attorney Pobe of CARAGA said to a media person that there is no vote buying in Agusan del Sur and Chairman Brillantes and the other Commissioners removed Director Rafanan who said vote buying should be stopped was removed from the Law Department. Malabo ang bukas Mr. President. Mahirap makamit ang matuwid na daan kapag ang COMELEC ay di nailagay sa ayos. Chairman Brillantes can do a great favor for the country by resigning.

COA chief gets nod of CA panel

COA chief gets nod of CA panel

Let PNoy operationalize his anti corruption drive in all levels including in the barangay, municipality, city and province thru the COA, Ombudsman, PNP, DILG, BIR, Customs, COMELEC and DepEd by penalizing promptly small offenses like technical malversation, tardiness, non remittance of GSIS premiums and simple overpricing and overdue unliquidated advances starting with the officials and for sure we will see a quantum leap in the realization of the people of the evils of graft and corruption. As of now it seems that anti graft and corruption are only true in the papers! People should see that graft and corruption do not pay in real life!

BIR’s top lawyer faces graft raps over lots, cars

BIR’s top lawyer faces graft raps over lots, cars

Congratulations Kim Henares! Dispatch BIR men to monitor gasoline stations all over the country which do not issue official receipts unless one asks for ORs. Marami sila at masama pa ang tingin nila sa iyo na hihingi ng resibo! Hope that COA and the Ombudsman will also be aggressive in its fight against graft and corruption. Ayaw lang maniwala ng COA that the most effective way of doing it is thru the Windowpane theory meaning start penalizing small violations promptly and without fear and favor and almost instantly a turnaround for good governance will happen all over the country. This will also work for the Ombudsman. But are they listening to us lowly elements of our society? Definitely they will listen to PNoy.

Anything Bad or Good starts with something small

Who dos not want progress Mr. Coalition against Corruption? Of course everybody wants it and if sense of urgency is the key to attain it why not? PNoy should not only be the model but he should make it possible because he is the only singular person here in our country who can do it because of his Presidential powers. I newly suggested to COA that they have to start implementing the law related to public financial management by penalizing small violations because anything bad or good always starts with something small and convictions if needed is easier and faster to attain. Conviction itself I think is less important than the message of actual convictions attained that is put across to possible violators all over the country in order to attain better service to the people.The answer of COA thru an email was NO because they would rather concentrate on big cases. Imagine if it was PNoy himself who suggested instead of me. Did you hear of the Window pane theory? Try to review the annual audit reports of COA on all local government units and almost all local government units have committed violations year in and year out like technical malversation of trust funds which supposedly merit sanctions for the violators but left not penalized. If all of them from different towns, cities and provinces were prosecuted and penalized, will anybody among their successors want to experience the same fate by committing the same violations? The answer of course is NO. The rules should be implemented and perceived to be implemented at all times. Then everybody will be encouraged to observe sense of urgency because they will be punished if they fail and on the other hand they mat receive rewards if they deliver as sense of urgency can now yield positive results for them. PNoy has to duplicate himself thru his Secretaries and Bureau chiefs and short circuit the system from his Office to all the local government units thru the aid of technology especially the social networks.But is our government and PNoy listening to us?

sex trade and human trafficking in the country, true or false?

I won't apologize – Thomas

By ELENA L. ABEN

September 30, 2011, 6:55pm

MANILA, Philippines — United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. said he will not make an apology over his remark about prostitution in the country, stressing he was only telling the truth when he issued the statement.

Thomas challenged those criticizing him for his remark, including senators, to show what they have done and what they are doing to stop child prostitution and human trafficking in the Philippines.

Asked if he will make an apology following the demand of some senators, Thomas categorically stated: “I’m not going to apologize, I’ll leave it alone with them. I’m not going to apologize. I will never apologize for trying to combat child sex. I will never apologize for trying to combat children being forced to labor. I will never apologize for trying to help children in Smokey Mountain,” he added.

He went on to ask what is offensive in his remark. “Is the statement offensive or is the child sex offensive? And why was it offensive?”

“If they’re saying that children having sex is offensive, yes; that children being forced to work as maids is offensive, yes; that women and men being trafficked to other countries is offensive, yes. Human trafficking, modern day form of slavery should be offensive to every human being. If that’s what they are saying, I agree to it,” said Thomas, as he made it clear he had no intention of insulting the Philippines.

The US Ambassador said he was not misquoted in his remark that about 40 percent of foreign male tourists visit the Philippines just for sex. However, he said that he was not quoted in full.

“What I’ve said – ever since I’ve been here when President Aquino and Secretary (Leila) De Lima came into office – is that any foreigner, particularly an American who is engaged in sex crime should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and we will assist,” Thomas told the Manila Bulletin.

“I also said . . . that the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) has come here… worked with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to capture people who are engaged in cyber crimes or pedophilia, that there are people who would come here, who have engaged in sex with underage children and videotape this,” he further stated, adding that while those DVDs have been burned here and in the US, the American government will help prosecute people engaged in such act if they are caught. “And that is why we are training the NBI,” said Thomas.

“I also said that last year despite claims there were no child prostitutes on Fields Avenue, Angeles City, that we were working with Visayan Forum and NBI and we were able to rescue over a hundred children who are working as child prostitutes,” he went on to say.

The US envoy said he has on the wall of his residence in Makati self portraits made by young girls who are trafficked. “And they show what they have to do, dress up as woman, how they were wounded, their limbs, how a salesman of dirty ice cream lured them,” said Thomas, as he emphasized “that this scourge should be eliminated.”

As he explained his side, Thomas went on to say: “What I wonder is why anyone who drives through Malate late at night, anyone who goes to Fields Avenue or parts of Cebu would question the fact that these places exist.”

At the same time, he also praised the people of Cebu saying, “our international justice mission works very well down there, that is a model city in terms of how the clergy, the prosecutors, the police, the government works together… to prosecute traffickers” and also help put some of the women from poor villages into universities for them to get proper education.

“Everybody wants to ostracize me, get angry over a quote. But where are they? These are their fellow citizens? So i would like to ask them, what are you doing to stop children being trafficked? If they don’t believe it exists, show me,” said Thomas.

“What are they doing to stop children working as laborers, we know that there are many communities in Manila and other cities where children work as child maids, are they closing their eyes to that? I’m an American, these are Filipinos. Why would they allow their children to be trafficked for sex or labor? They turn a blind eye to it,” he added.

On reactions that his statement was an insult to the country, Thomas said: “Why would I try to insult the Philippines, I’m just telling the truth… and those over a hundred girls that we rescued last year are living proof of that. Where were they when we rescued them? I would like to know. This is something we feel very serious about,” said Thomas.

Worth Pondering

Things to ponder Two weeks ago, I wrote about how great the Filipino people were, and how this is what we should sell to the world. Today, I’d like to raise a few points that, if addressed, can ensure that advantage can be turned into wealth gain for everyone. I received the following e-mail from a friend, and I think it makes some points we should ponder. So I’m reproducing it in toto. It is not only “Pag walang corrupt, walang mahirap”. Why Is The Philippines poor? The Difference The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country: This can be shown by countries like India & Egypt , that are more than 2000 years old, but are relatively poor. On the other hand, Canada , Australia & New Zealand, that 150 years ago were inexpressive (sic), today are developed countries, and are rich and self-sufficient. The difference between poor & rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources. Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for agriculture & cattle raising, but was the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products. Another example is Switzerland , which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In [their] little territory, [the Swiss] raise animals and [till] the soil for four months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality! It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order & labor, which made it the world’s strongest, safest place. Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference. Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries. What is the difference, then? The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education, culture & flawed tradition. In analyzing the behavior of the people in rich & developed countries, we find that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives: 1. Ethics, as a basic principle; 2. Integrity; 3. Responsibility; 4. Respect of the laws & rules; 5. Respect of the rights of other citizens; 6. Love for work; 7. Effort to have savings & investment; 8. Will of super action; 9. Punctuality; 10. and of course...Discipline. In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily lives. The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in natural resources. We are poor because we lack the right attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich & developed societies! If you do not forward this message nothing will happen to you. Your pet will not die, you will not be fired, you will not have bad luck for seven years, and also, you will not get sick or go hungry. But those may happen because of your lack of discipline & laziness, your love for intrigue and politics, your indifference to saving for the future, your stubborn attitude. If you love your country, let this message circulate so that many Filipinos could reflect about this and change, and act! A friend on the trip to Japan added, and I quote: “There’s something developed countries have, the corrupt countries don’t—a level playing field which allows the best, not the most connected, to win. If it was a basketball game and most games were rigged, then nobody would bother to work hard to improve their game—they would spend their time and talent rigging the rules and befriending the referee—the other natural result is the best & brightest don’t want and refuse to play. That’s why in the Philippines, it has become a cultural trait to cut corners or take shortcuts. But when they go to other places where output quality matters, they have every incentive and do start working very hard.” After 40 years of study of the Philippines, I can’t help but agree with much of this. I would add, though: Leadership. This has been what has created the changes described above. They don’t happen of their own volition, they happen because they were (initially) forced to happen. The Philippines has been betrayed by too many of its leaders. They weren’t leaders who truly cared for the well-being of the nation and its people and had the ability to do something about it, but didn’t. I would also add “Bahala na”. The search for excellence, the demand to do it exactly right, to strive for perfection just isn’t there. Just look at how a jeepney is made, and it’s not just limited money that creates such an unprofessional product. I put much of it down to the need to protect yourself and your family from the deprivations of colonial masters. A natural “selfishness” sets in, a lack of caring for society as a whole. But it’s been 113 years now of independence, how much longer is needed before the above 10 start to hold sway? I sense there may be stirrings now, it’s possible P-Noy’s unquestioned honesty, ethical behavior and integrity (1 and 2) might just wash off on other people. We might at the end of his term be witness to a much changed, less corrupt (financially and socially) society. But he’ll need to be a much tougher acting president than he is now. Setting an example is not enough, as we witnessed with his mother. No one questioned her morality, but she couldn’t impose it upon the people. She was too nice. You have to be a bit of a tough b*stard too. So the cultural revolution didn’t happen at EDSA, Ramos was too busy getting everything working (something he most successfully did—what you’d expect from an engineer anyway). Estrada, had no idea what to do, while Arroyo got diverted into a power game that devoured her. She could be credited with devoting attention to 6, 7, 8, and 9 but for herself, not for others. Those admirable characteristics weren’t taken forward into the wider public domain. Items, 4 and 10, which go together have been violated by everybody who can since time immemorial it seems. The Integrity Pledge the business community is signing (with some notable absences) is a good first step toward achieving the top 3. But will it just remain a piece of paper lost in a desk drawer somewhere, or be the catalyst for action, for change to occur that it must be if it’s to have any impact. The Financial Executives (FINEX) invitation (on October 13) to initiate a Covenant for Judicial Reform is another step. Let’s hope the Chief Justice, all judges, and lawyers take up the challenge for reform. Yes, lawyers too, they need to stop introducing dilatory tactics (Sigfrid Fortun, please note. You should be ashamed of yourself) that delay the conclusion of cases. So, I hope the Chief Justice will support this, too, as he did the Integrity Pledge when he appeared along with the President and the Speaker at its launching. So, I echo the call of the author: will you just read this and leave it to others (what “others”?), or will you now stand up and demand change too? Our kids deserve it (I’m beginning to sound like a rebel in my old age). Will you work for a better environment for the future of the Philippines? One the Philippines deserves. Will you take up the cudgels for change, too?