Where’s the country
going, Mr. President?

Tomorrow, President Noynoy Aquino will be in Bacolod.

Like the many others who rooted and voted for him, I am rooting for him still because of his campaign against corruption.  I know he can only succeed with the support of the people.

But, where are we going?  Give us the direction.  Provide us the leadership and we will be behind you.

These past few days in this space I discussed quite extensively the rise and fall of nations and empires.

And they had the common causes, overstaying leaders, military control of the civilian officials, and corruption.

That is why you are on your right track, Mr. President.  The common question is how can you be consistent with the solutions?

History of the leaders of Egypt, Greece, and Rome who started well, later were devoured by greed of power and wealth.

The bottom line is when leaders fail to feed the big majority of the people and the gap between the rich and the poor widens, that country is bound to sink.

* * *

In 1960 when your father was fighting Marcos, our exchange rate ws P2 to a U.S. dollar.  We were reputed to be the second richest country in Asia after Japan.

Korea was lying prostrate from the devastation of the Korean War, Singapore and Malaysia just got off from the control of colonial powers.  Indonesia also became free from the colonial control of Netherlands.

If we look at it, how do we stand now in comparison with them, especially Singapore which at that time was just a backwater without even a water system of its own?

Today Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world.  There is no unemployment.  There is no squatter.

The government saw to it, government’s first obligation is for the people, give them food, shelter, and clothing, and work.

We did not have this since 1960.  Our leaders were more interested in power and money.  They even don’t pay much attention to food security.

The government changed the name of NFA and will import rice again.  Government could have addressed the problem by producing rice for our needs but did not, because they were more interested in importing and making fast bucks in the process.

* * *

We are happy, Mr. President.  Our Governor Freddie Marañon is putting his full attention to food security, going to farmers gathering them to encourage people to produce.

He is also dispersing livestock.  But these are not enough.  He needs the support of the national government.

And it would be a better idea if government agencies are sent to help our farmers.  They need that help.

They have the land because of CARP but they need financing, technological and marketing help.  Your NFA was not of help.  The people there had a different program which is not improving production.

* * *

I know Mr. President, you have many things to take up in your short visit to Negros Occidental.

We just ask that you help us and our Governor Marañon in our food security program.  We must remember that peasants, the people who work in the farm to produce the food we eat.

I always like to quote poet Oliver Goldsmith in his “The Deserted Village.” Wrote Goldsmith, “Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,/ Where wealth accumulates men decay,/ Princes and lords may flourish or may fade;/ A breath can make them, as a breath has made,/ But a bold peasantry, their country’s pride,/ When once destroyed, can never be supplied.”

The poor will always be with us.  They must be helped.

* * *

FEEDBACK: May we never let the things we don’t have, couldn’t have, or shouldn’t have spoil or enjoyment.  Remember the greatest gifts we have are not the material things we have received but the love we and the hope we inspire others.

**Learn to speak Japanese the easy way.  “Is this your car?” (Kotse mo ne?”) And you answer, “Akon ne.  That’s mine.” “You have not washed your face.  Mimuta mata mo.” “Have a drink. Tomokamuna.”

“I give up. Suko nako.” “You’re crazy. Sira uromo.”

* * *

I share the pain of the family of a friend, former Bacolod Vice-Mayor Inocencio Lucasan.

Pare Cencio, a long-time neighbor at the Homesite, was a very sincere friend.  He would appear as a politician with his grins and friendly ways but deep in his heart, he was always a sincere helper.

Meanwhile, I join the city mayors of the country staging a rally in front of the Supreme Court on the SC’s flip-flopping on the conversion of 16 municipalities into cities.

Never have I experienced a more controversial Supreme Court, accused of being an Arroyo Supreme Court, to its many questionable decisions, among them acquitting one of them accused of plagiarism.   

Very sad indeed when our justice system loses its credibility.*

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