Given the attention and media mileage it has been getting, I want to emphasize particularly to the less discerning that the Narco-list is not a party list for the drug addicts and the drug industry. The 46 public officials – consisting of congressmen, mayors, and other officials – are not its nominees. Malacanang believes that exposing them will stamp out narco-politics from our system, including its pernicious influence in our political life. Election or no election, drugs are evil. Period.
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The Senate is the elitist club in our country. Since 1946, seven of our presidents were former senators. In the May polls, 152 have filed their candidacies for the Senate, but the Comelec trimmed the number down to 62. The circus virtually came to town during the filing of the certificates of candidacy of senatoriables, topped by characters who claimed they are King of Maharlika, Christ-incarnate, a former husband of a famous celebrity, etc. Despite the big number of aspirants seeking a Senate seat, the records show that like other social clubs its membership is almost exclusive to the powerful, the privileged and the pedigreed. Unless you carry a magic name like Laurel, Aquino, Marcos, Roxas, Estrada/Ejercito or Revilla, winning a Senate seat is as difficult as winning the Lotto jackpot. It seems that certain families have birthrights to reside in the Upper House. For instance, in postwar politics, fathers and sons who are namesakes had won Senate slots – FM and Bongbong Marcos, Serging and Serge Osmena, Ramon and Bong Revilla, Ninoy and P-noy Aquino, and Nene and Koko Pimentel. The Laurels have sent three (Jose, Sr., Doy and Sotero), just like the Cayetanos – Rene, Alan and Pia. The Estradas/Ejercitos have contributed four – Pres. Erap, Dra. Loi, Jinggoy and JV. The Senate is also a conjugal home for Manny and Cynthia Villar, Gaudencio and Magnolia Antonino and Pres. Erap and Loi. It was also the abode for mother and son Tecla and Victor Ziga and again Dra. Loi and Jinggoy and grandfather and grandson Don Claro and Ralph Recto. The Roxases have shared three generations of family members, namely Senator Manuel, Gerry and Mar. President Roxas even served as the first Senate President after the war and holds the distinction of being the only Filipino to serve as Speaker of the House, Senate President and President of the Philippines. The other father-and- son combinations include Lorenzo and Bobby Tanada and Ed and Sonny Angara. I might have missed other names and definitely there will be more if we extend the list when senators were elected by senatorial districts before the war.
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Now that the midterm election is less than two months away, it is critical to remind voters that sovereign power resides in the people. It does not belong to our elective officials, although we allow them to usurp it as in the case of a lion tamer. A lion tamer and a lion inside a cage are always a spectacle to watch. With a leash in his hand, the lion tamer can command the beast to sit, stand, growl, walk and jump. But let me ask you this: between the two, who really has the power? It’s the lion, no doubt, but the problem is he does not know he has it. That’s the same thing with our voters. The people have the power but they don’t realize they have it, and if they do, they don’t know how to wield it. In the coming elections, let us make a difference. Let’s exercise our absolute power and give our mandate to those who truly deserve our trust.
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If you are wondering why the other camp does not want to engage the Ocho Derecho to a debate, consider this: Who would want to wrestle against a MAD GARTH or dispute figures against a MATH GRAD? Those are the political acronyms of the Ocho Derecho to aid voters to remember their complete slate when they go to their polling places. Ocho Derecho also means Eight Straight or vote straight. Somebody should come up with a similar acronym for Hugpong and/or PDP slates to help voters recall their line up of candidates. I recognize though that it’s a tall order given the number of its candidates and the various alliances it has entered into. Obviously, there is strength in numbers. Was it Amang Rodriguez who once said “politics is addition?”
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A fiscal and monetary policy of “Grow, Grow, Grow” will support the “Build, Build, Build” program of the government. For instance, cutting the reserve requirements for banks shall infuse more liquidity, which can help fund the various infrastructure projects. A cut in interest rate will lower the borrowing cost, which will help us meet the funding requirements. It will be a tough challenge for anyone, but Secretary Ben Diokno has not let our people down in whatever capacity and under any administration he has served in the past. Several presidents have trusted him with sensitive positions since he has no political agenda, except to serve our people’s interests.
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We had experienced isolated rains in the past few days and these have not improved the water level in La Mesa Dam, which has breached the critical level of 69 meters. Meanwhile, millions of people with nary a drop of water in their faucets have complained not only about the lack of water but the acute shortage of water containers. If there is any heartwarming development coming out of this tragedy, it is the magnanimous offer of Maynilad Water to share about 50 million liters of water everyday to the critically affected customers of Manila Water in Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Rizal. This was immediately effected last week to the great relief of the “unwashed” population of the Eastern Zone.
This good news was followed by an announcement by San Miguel Corporation offering its unused water allocation from Angat Dam to ease the water shortages in Metro Manila areas being served by the Manila Water. Mr. Ramon Ang said that SMC can supply up to 140 million liters of drinking water to the affected areas. He added, “the situation is unfortunate and dire for many of our countrymen… Right now the best thing we can do is to pull together and help each other.” What a fitting statement and benevolent gesture from our country’s biggest conglomerate. Ever since under the Sorianos and now the Cojuangco/Ang group, SMC has always been one of the most admired companies in the country.
Recently, I have the privilege to learn more about this great company when I served as one of the judges in the last selection of the ING FINEX Chief Finance Officer for 2018, which was won by Mr. Ferdinand K. Constantino, Chief Finance Officer of SMC. “Service beyond profit” is what really makes a company unique.
Until SMC reverted to its present logo, for many years its logo represented four droplets of water. Water is life and that is what SMC will deliver to the hapless people of the waterless areas.
May we have more companies like Maynilad Water and San Miguel!
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People have asked me: “Which is more satisfying to you – serving as the Insurance Commissioner or as President & Chief Executive Officer of the SSS? My simple answer is this. The two roles are not comparable. The former is a regulator while the latter is an administrator. They are apples and oranges. Whenever I could pay an insurance claim unjustly declined by an insurance company, I am fulfilled. Every time I promptly resolved and settled a pension benefit of an elderly person who has just retired, I am satisfied. The position does not matter, it’s the service that counts.