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Bacolod City, PhilippinesThursday, June 28, 2012
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with Benjamin Calderon
OPINIONS

Comparison

Benjamin Calderon

Taking the overnight boat trip from Dumaguete to Cebu was a welcome opportunity to make a comparison of the present with past experiences.  Departing on time with the tourist accommodation half full, a scan of my fellow “tourists” revealed a friend on his way to visit a mother recuperating in the hospital.  One observation made was this group of fellow passengers were more considerate as shoes and slippers were parked neatly beside respective bunks, garbage bins were used, the volume of the television was pleasant, and most called it a day horizontally before scheduled departure. Of course there were the attention-getters or “kulang sa pansin (perceived to have received inadequate attention)” who talked as if we were deaf and later realized the need to be more considerate of others especially with sleeping babies nearby. 

The Port of Cebu still has beggars in the water who at a very tender age dive into the water to catch coins thrown into the water by the passengers.  Still a very pitiful scene when fellow Filipinos resort to sending children to swim for loose change.  This highlighted the article, Economic growth for all, written by Cielito F. Habito in his column No Free Lunch.  Comparing data of national economic growth and the share of the 40 wealthiest citizens of the country, one weakness in our economy was revealed when 76 percent of the increase in our national economic growth went to 40 families leaving the gains of 24 percent to the rest of the nation as compared to other countries where the opposite happened.  Indeed we have to move more purposefully and effectively toward what development institutions call “inclusive growth”.  The current national leadership is on the right direction with good governance but the concerned wealthy citizens must do their share to secure growth that is a “rising tide that lifts all boats.”  We can help by providing “boats” to those who have none. “…the same brains that helped them grow their fortunes could guide them on how.  But more than brains, it takes a lot of heart as well--- and one hopes that they are rich in this too.”  We may not be wealthy but we can be rich in with our hearts.

As we go to print, I am scheduled to visit Kalibo for the first time.  This will serve as the basis for future comparison on another trip as I foresee having the opportunity of going back to my roots in some sort of way.  My late mother hails from Caticlan and we do have relatives in this part of the country.

Let us end with an anecdote to help us in doing comparisons with the following contributed by Florence Carrier to Reader’s Digest.  The priest was advising the kids about peer pressure.  He told them they could be pressured into becoming bullies, or might be dared into shoplifting.  Then he asked, “What other pressures might you have? One little girl said, “Blood pressure!”*

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