Are We Ready for Change?

« Are we ready for change?

Who is the reform candidate in 2010?

04/08/09
Posted under 2010 Elections, Governance, Reform Leader
By Harvey S. Keh


WHEN the Philippine Daily Inquirer published a story about the leaders of Kaya Natin! discussing with Senator Mar Roxas the possibility of him taking part in a nomination and primary process (to be conducted by a separate group) to help select a common reform candidate for the 2010 national elections, we received various responses from the public. Some reactions were positive saying that they completely support the move to find a common alternative candidate that would champion good governance and ethical leadership in our country. Others were pessimistic saying that it might be too late in the game to actually conduct this process. While others expressed their disappointment saying that Kaya Natin might be mislead to thinking that Senator Roxas is a reform candidate when in actuality he is not.
How then can we determine whether or not a Presidential candidate is actually a real reform and alternative leader that we can entrust our support to?

I have always believed in the saying that great leaders are products of the need of their time. I believe that aside from poverty and the great amount of cynicism that Filipinos feel, the biggest problem is the lack of moral values, ethical fiber and principles of our government leaders. It seems that graft and corruption in our government has become so prevalent that many Filipinos now feel that it is an epidemic that can no longer be eradicated in our society. Sadly, many of us have accepted it as part of our way of life. I don’t think so. Imagine if the billions of pesos that is stolen by our leaders are used to create decent jobs, then I don’t think Filipinos will still be forced to leave their families behind just to earn a decent wage abroad. A reform leader should have a proven track record of moral integrity, upholding the rule of law and fighting against graft and corruption in our country.

A reform leader should also have a proven track record in public service. I agree with my friends and colleagues at the Ateneo de Manila School of Government that good intentions are not enough. A reform leader should be able to also govern effectively thus, s/he is able to deliver basic services to his constituents. It is sad that we have current Presidentiables who continue to look good when speaking in front of the camera but when you look at their track record you would realize that they have actually done nothing to help uplift the plight of the Filipino people. Leaders go beyond lip service to produce concrete outcomes and results.
Thirdly, a reform leader realizes that he is in government to serve and not to be served. Many of our government leaders use their power to gain certain privileges and perks that ordinary Filipinos like us don’t experience. Many of us have seen this while waiting in line at the airport while a so-called “VIP” is whisked away without going through the proper processes. For those of us who drive and are usually stuck in the middle of a traffic jam, we suddenly hear a loud siren coupled with a convoy of vehicles who don’t even respect traffic rules just because their passenger is a government official. We have even heard stories of government leaders using government funds and road projects to benefit their own companies. Now, these same government leaders are spending millions every month posing in TV and Radio commercials trying to get the support of people by showing us that they actually understand our plight. I hope we will be more discerning and no longer be fooled by them.

Fourthly, a reform leader is not beholden to the ruling elite and oligarchs in our country. Sadly, many of our current leaders continue to place the interests of a few rich businessmen above the interests of millions of suffering Filipinos who continue to live with less than P100 a day. This happens since in every election, a candidate would need to spend millions or even billions to have a fighting chance and this becomes an opportunity for the ruling elite to “buy” the support of the candidate in the form of huge campaign contributions. Thus, I have always said that the challenge is for all ordinary Filipinos to chip in their own share of resources no matter how small to help support a real reform and alternative candidate. We already saw it happen in Isabela and Pampanga wherein ordinary people chipped in to help elect Gov. Grace Padaca and Gov. Eddie Panlilio.

Fifth, a reform leader should have a solid track record in helping the poor and powerless in our society. A more recent test of this was the push for the extension and reform of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARPER). Land reform is very critical in solving our current state of poverty given the fact that the agricultural sector is one of the leading industries in our country today. Sadly, despite the fact that our farmers ensure food security for each one of us, they themselves continue to live in poverty due to their lack of ownership of land and adequate support from government. Many of our current Congressmen and Senators are against this since this will go against their own personal interests given that many of them come from landed families.

Finally, a reform leader should be someone that can make every Filipino believe and hope again for a better future. S/he must be someone who can unite and inspire all of us to believe that anything is possible if we all work together to promote good governance in our country. A reform leader is humble enough to admit that s/he is not the savior of the country but rather his or her role is to serve as the captain of the ship that will help move our country to a common vision of prosperity and a better quality of life for every Filipino.

Will 2010 be the year that we will finally be able to elect an inspiring, morally-upright, effective and ethical reform President?

Many people don’t think so but I continue to believe in the greatness and the goodness of the Filipino people whom I know if given the chance will always choose to vote not for the most popular but for the right leader for our country.

Nang Matulala si Harvey!

I always like the way governor Grace writes. She is very simple and applies the words that everybody could understand.




Nang Matulala si Harveyni: Gov. Grace Padaca

Abante Tonitehttp://abante-tonite.com/issue/apr0809/opinions_kaya.htm

Si Harvey Keh ay iyong batang propesor sa Ateneo na noong eleksyon ng 2007 ay sumulat tungkol sa pitong kandidato na kung mananalo aniya ay aalis na lang siya sa Pilipinas kahit maiwanan niya ang mga naumpisahan niyang proyekto katulad ng Pathways to Education at Ahon Foundation.***

Mabuti na lang, isa lang sa pito ang nanalo. Nanatili sa bansa si Harvey at siya pa ang na­ging susi sa paglapit namin nina Among Gov. Eddie Panlilio ng Pampanga at Mayor Jesse Robredo ng Naga City. Isang pagpupulong namin sa Club Filipino noong June 2008 ang nagbunga sa pagkakabuo ng grupong Kaya Natin: A Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership.***

Ang pinaka-layunin ng Kaya Natin ay ibahagi ang karanasan naming tatlo sa napakahirap pero matagumpay naming pinagdaanan bago kami nahalal, ang mga hamon sa gitna ng pamahalaang hitik sa anomalya, at ang napakaraming pagkakataon para sa tiyak na pag-unlad ng Pilipinas kung mapapasakamay lamang sa mararangal na tao ang kapangyarihan ng gobyerno.***

Lagi kong sinasabi saaking mga talumpati, maghalal kasi tayo ng mga karapat-dapat na mayor, gobernador, congressman, sangguniang ba­yan, barangay kapitan, barangay kagawad. Huwag nating iasa ang ating bansa sa iisang tao lamang, katulad ng Pangulo na kapag pumalpak ay ang hirap-hirap patalsikin. Seryosohin kasi natin kapag may halalan, kung hindi ay anim na taon, tatlong taon tayong magtitiis. Sayang ang panahon, samantalang ang daming pera ng gobyerno na puwedeng ipamahagi sa mga lubhang naghihirap na Pilipino.***

Ang tawag namin kay Harvey, siya ang Boy Abunda ng Kaya Natin. Siya ang nag-a­a­yos ng aming busy schedules, pati iyong kina Governor Teddy Baguilat ng Ifugao at Ma­yor Sonia Lorenzo ng San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, para makaluwas kami sa Manila o sa iba pang lugar, para magbahagi sa mga Pilipino na hindi lahat ng tao sa gobyerno ay salbahe, na huwag ta­yong mawawalan ng pag-asa sa bansa. Kaya natin!***

Sobrang hindi totoo ang akala ng iba na ang Kaya Natin ay front lang ng Liberal Party. Iyong iba ngang taga-Liberal naiinis kay Harvey, kasi akala nila siya ang may isip na gawin kaming kandidato ni Among Gov.***Ang totoo niyan, noong parami na nang parami ang nangungulit na kumbinsihin kami nina Among Gov, Mayor Jesse at ako na tumakbo sa national positions, doon ko unang nakitang biglang tumahimik si Harvey.***

Uy, sabi ko sa kanya, ba’t ka tulala? Oo nga, sabi niya. I am not usually dumbfounded. Kasi alam niya, iba na ito sa simpleng ginagawa lamang namin sa Kaya Natin na pagbabahagi tungkol sa good governance and ethical leadership.***Ako, hindi pa ako natutulala noon dahil hindi ko pa lubos maisip ang posibilidad. Wala pang desisyon. Pero si Harvey, alam ko na siya agad ang pupuntiryahin. Alam ko, mahirap ihiwalay ang kanyang papel sa Kaya Natin na hindi isang grupong pampulitika doon sa P3 movement (Panlilio-Padaca sa Pagbabago) na hindi naman siya miyembro.***

Nagpulong kami noong Lunes -- ang Kaya Natin at ilang kasapi ng P3 para magkaliwana­ngan sa biglang direksyon ng mga pangyayari. Prangka ang mga palitan ng salita. Kung iniisip mo lang ang damdamin mo at hindi ang kapakanan ng ating bansa, magdaramdam ka, masasaktan ka. Pero sabi nga ni Among Gov, there is so much goodwill in this room, kailangan lang ay magkaunawaan tayo.***

Oo nga, kung matindi man ang mga damdamin at salita, iyon ay dahil sa maalab na pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit sa ating bansa. Noong una nga ay may iyakan pa sa harap namin nina Among Gov, Mayor Jesse, Gov. Teddy at Mayor Sonia, dahil bakit palala na lang nang palala ang mga nangyayari sa Pilipinas?***

Si Harvey, hindi naiyak pero natulala. Malaking responsibilidad ito sa bansa. Maraming panlalait ang bubuhos. Mara­ming hindi tamang akala ang lalabas. Pero kung ang lahat ng ito ay para sa inang bansa, okay lang, kakayanin natin!***

Email: kayanatin@yahoo.com Text: 0919-3533222

The Sad Realities

Dear Folks,

Some of you have responded immediately to my email concerning my niece's son's medical problems. Thank you so much and I really appreciate it.

Your personal experiences have just confirmed how in the Philippines medical care has worsened and I just wonder if there's any way this could be changed.

Not unless, like I always say...let's do something about it. By getting ourselves involved.
Election of new leaders is fast approaching and this is the right time to vote for the new breed of leaders. No trapos please! Never again.

I just picked Manong Fred's comment because there's a story of two doctors who happened to work in Manila and now migrated in the U.S. Their version is very interesting.

And we will learn the other side of the coin. We can't blame them either. It's the system itself to be blamed once and for all, I guess.

Please read below:

Thanks Manong Fred.

Susie

=================================================================

Susie's story of her grandnephew who was almost denied medical care is commonly known in the Philippines. Why did it happen? When you come down to the ultimate bottom line it happened because of the poor economy of the country.

A poor economy can inspire corruption. Stories had been told of extremely poor families selling their daughters into prostitution. Crooked cops extort from jeepney drivers. Jeepney drivers resort to bribing cops so they can get away with traffic violations. Crooked politicians steal one way or another to maintain their power. Ad nauseam...

But what about the medical establishment in the Philippines? Why would it allow Susie's grandnephew to suffer because the poor kid's relatives are poor?
Economics again!

I met a young couple at a wedding recently in Chicago. The wife is a pretty girl in her mid-twenties. She and her husband turned out to be newly arrived doctors doing internship at a Chicago hospital. We came to talking about the anomalous stories about patients not getting proper care because of money - or the lack thereof - in the Philippines.
Here is her side of things. Let's call her Dr. Linda to preserve her privacy.

Before coming to the United States Dr. Linda was already a licensed physician working in an ER unit at a Manila hospital. When a patient is ushered into the ER, she, or any other doctor in charge at the moment, would administer emergency care.
So far so good.

Then non-medical number crunchers of the hospital (social workers, accountants, hospital administrators, etc.) will take over to determine who would pay for the patient who might be a poor sampaguita vendor or a reckless jeepney driver or, well, anybody who cannot afford medical care.
Crisis!

The first few times Dr. Linda and her fellow doctors did not complain when the accountants deducted something from their salaries for "unapproved" care they rendered. Then, henceforth, they had to get permission first before they touch a patient writhing in pain. Doctors, in spite of their Hippocratic Oath, have to live on their salaries, too, and they cannot forever subsidize indigent patients for the sake of hospital profitability.

But wait. The hospital, unless amply supported by the government, cannot maintain its physical plant and equipment, cannot pay its accountants, its nurses, its social workers, its janitors, its sanitation engineers (bedpan attendants) etc. unless there is enough revenue from patients. Hospitals cannot afford to lose doctors by deducting from their salaries for "unauthorized" services they rendered.

This Catch 22 scenario is, here we go again, the result of a very poor economy where people do not earn enough to buy food, shelter AND MEDICAL CARE.
Now you can understand why Dr. Linda and her husband, also a doctor, immigrated to the United States where they can use their hard training in getting people well without some bureaucratic hospital director and his accountant deducting something from their paycheck. In a few years, they can drive Jaguars and not feel guilty because they deserve it.

Who is to blame in the sad state of health care affairs in the Philippines?
Maybe it's the crooks who bleed public coffers dry. Maybe it's the people who resort to bribery to get ahead of the line. Maybe it's the macho boot black who, when told that he should not get married until he has a steady income, says "bahala na" and then proceeds to make a dozen babies in a dozen years.

Maybe it's the population that constantly changes its leaders without changing itself.
So it boils down to the complexity of economic problems where no simple solutions can be hammered out. But to go back to Susie's grandnephew the immediate solution was to scrounge for help from wherever it can be found. Not ideal but, hey, it is not a perfect world. We just know that there are countless Susie's all over. Thank God.

Fred NatividadLivonia, Michigan

Sorry, No Money, No Honey!

Few days ago, my niece's son was rushed to the hospital due to extreme and complicated breathing problem. He was getting blueish. Before, the patient was admitted in this private hospital, my other niece (not not the child's mother) was interviewed and asked if they have the money to pay for the bill. She said that she has got sisters and aunts living abroad who could help. The child was admitted.

The child immediately needed care and medication but the pharmacy refused to provide him because "no money" available. My sister has been informed in Australia and she emailed me about this but before the money arrives, it takes time and the child had to be attended the soonest.

My niece had to cry and beg and almost had to kneel down pleading to grant them medicine so the child could be treated well. But no avail. She was helpless and panicked.
When I learned about this, I had to call my doctor friend who happened to be the attending pediatrician of the child. She told me what was the problem. And advised me to transfer the child to another hospital for further threatment. . The bill was already dramatically escalating and they don't have the unit to treat such case.

I also called a friend of mine who works at the hospital and told her to please make the necessary arrangement so my "apo" will receive treatment and I will be the guarantor to take care of the hospital bill.
The problem was settled. My friend immediately ordered the hospital to provide the medical care needed until the child was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
Right now, while I write this, baby is still in the other hospital and under observation. I am hoping and praying for his fast recovery.

My friend explained to me that in their private hospital, it is a normal procedure to interview the patient before getting admitted.

First to know, that is if you have the money to pay.

I know this already. But what revolts me is....a hospital is a place to treat people. Meaning, as far as I am concerned, whether you have money or not, you are entitled to get the needed care. Their mission is to save LIFE. Be a private hospital or not!

Doctors are expected to treat people...rich or poor! Their primary concern, their primary mission is to save LIFE!

In the Philippines, this is not the case. If you have money, you have the right to get the best treatment. Because you PAY!
If you are poor like my family, you haven't got the right to get the treatment! Because you are poor or your life is not as important as the RICH ones.

Even though you are already at the hospital. A place to normally "save" lives can let you die...if you don't have the MONEY!

They don't really care. MONEY counts first. Not your life. Who are you anyway? You are poor, so you are nothing!

Is this morally accepted?

Had I not intervened. Had I not begged for consideration. Had I not called friends for help, my "apo" could have not managed to survive...and maybe, who knows....
But I am thankful, he is still alive and hopefully recover soon.

Why I am writing this? Because I want to see the Philippine government change. That the leaders should take care of their citizens' welfare before taking care of themselves and not stealing public coffers to enrich themselves.

It's really about time that people should move their butts and shout that enough is enoug!

Toss the trapos and elect new breed of morally deserved leaders. We are tired seeing them display their ill-gotten wealth!

Let's move and walk the talk. BE INVOLVED for a change whether you are in Pinas or not.
We have this responsiblity to help for a change!

And not to bear this in any difficult circumstances, when people tell you: "SORRY, NO MONEY, NO HONEY!"

Let's Be United

This is really overwhelming seeing all these existing groups and other groups being created with only one objective per se...yearning for change!

What apprehends methough is that, everyone wants to be a leader. Everyone likes to be in the limelight to get recognized or whatever. No one wants to be a follower. That creates more division instead of unity among us. Let's be vigilant.

I am ofren invited to join such group and that group....and somehow, I get tired of it. It's really time consuming and in short, such a waste of time!

I started distancing myself from many groups because I feel that it's all the same banana and they just talk and nothing has been accomplished. They have created a super by laws...written in such a way that not ordinary people could read. I must admit, I could hardly comprehend what was written. I did not even read half of it and I just left it on my bedside table and remained untouch since then. And I got discouraged.

There are many egroups in which I see the same people saying the same thing.

If we cling for a change, then let's learn to simplify and maybe it needs humility and meekness to really accomplish something.

For the meantime, the trapos are enjoying their privilege of being on top while seeing us the opposing groups being divided!

What a shame!

Boyet Fajardo - What a Shame!

Last March 13, 2009, Filipino Fashion Designer Angelino Boyet Fajardo created a scene, to the shock and horror of shoppers and employees of Duty Free Philippines alike, when a cashier politely asked for his ID after presenting his unsigned credit card . This is a standard operating procedure applicable to all stores to verify ownership of the credit card and prevent fraud.

Suddenly, the designer reportedly got furious and, at the top of his voice, started berating the cashiers and managers of Duty Free Philippines.. He might have thought a celebrated person like he is, with all his accolades and fame, has gone unrecognized by the cashier, a new well-trained casual worker who is carefully doing his job. The designer further shocked bystanders by cursing the people there with words such as leche and p...ina, while angrily expressing surprise why the people there did not recognize him. Store managers and officers were sought to appease the matter, explaining to him that it is all included as a standard operating procedure in credit card payment for the safety, not only for the company but also his own. Ignoring all this, he pulled out his phone and threatened to call on high positioned government officials whom he allegedly knew, like doing a power-play to make these people realize how important he is. He went on saying "Mga leche kayo! Hindi niyo ako kilala? Ako si Boyet Fajardo! At itong p...ina na babaeng ito (pointing to a lady officer) at ang baklang ito (pointing to the cashier) ay walang kwentang mga tao! I want them fired!!!"His yelling and berating went on and on. He cannot calm down and as he appeared to have bloodshot eyes, like that of a drunk person and or under an influence. He threw his passport on the cashier's face and later intentionally stepped on the cashier's foot to say "Ay sorry, di ko sinasadya!" He goes on to say, that only if the cashier kneel down before him and/or allow him to freely slap the cashier's face, may he get satisfied.The ill-fated cashier, with all the onlookers watching, stand down and just simply gave in to probably he thought would end the matter.

Crying in shame he slowly knelt down and apologize (for actually doing his job) before this self proclaimed GOD, perhaps for fear of losing his job. No slapping was made to the cashier's face but the incident landed a harsher and reverberating sound to the faces of the lesser people of this society.

Fortunately, his inhumane acts were caught on CCTV in which a portion was featured in YouTube.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojv_kbsEQHQ&feature=channel_page

With such disrespect, discrimination and humiliation towards a good worker, a less fortunate person and a fellow Filipino...1. We are calling all citizens to stop patronizing Boyet Fajardo's RTW labels such as Substance in SM department stores, Boyet Fajardo and Initials in Landmark and Robinson's department stores.2. We are calling on all malls to pull out or stop distributing his products in your outlets.4. We are calling on the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Labor and Employment and all human rights and labor activists to take appropriate legal actions on this matter.5. We are calling all foreign embassies to deny him of entry to your respective countries.6. We are calling on the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines to dishonor him of his membership and profession....To give him a lesson and to help us stop him from victimizing the underprivileged over and over and over again.

Contact Information:Boyet FajardoTel: +632 6327120 / +632 6366871Email: info@boyetfajardo.com

Website: www.boyetfajardo.com

We look forward to your support.Thank you.Concerned Filipino Citizen
Winnie C. Mercado
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/boycottboyetfajardo