Dreamers and doers

One of the more famous quotes of "Simple Abundance" author Sarah Ban Breathnach goes: "The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do."

I chose this short quotation because it exemplifies the mood of most of what I have written this past year in my column. By writing about issues that affect our everyday lives, I hope to have helped elicit action to correct or change things for the better.

Today, except for one letter that I am sharing, I would like to take a short breather. It is a brief pause to gather my wits and prepare to continue "doing" my share for the coming year.

Pray harder

Reader Angelo Archangel (I don’t know if this is his real name) sent me an e-mail on his dreams and how he envisions them to become a reality. Following are part of his musings:

"Governance and vision, that’s what we lack in our government, and this is the result of our short-minded electorate.

"Given that if we don’t have a better-minded electorate, the role of the government should be to envision and lead. Hopefully, someone out there could envision and formulate a long-term-plan."

Here are some suggestions from Angelo: Build or rebuild a good network of irrigation system; maintain and increase the watershed areas; stop all agricultural land conversions into industrial estates; build government grain buying, drying, storage facilities and other infrastructure; improve and facilitate the transportation sector, from road network and seaport, not just farm to market road; minimize regulations and government’s role to minimum and fair play; no favoritism; copy and adopt any good model of regulation from other country.

Angelo then ends his e-mail with: "Let’s pray for our government. If we look at the rate our government is doing things, we better pray hard."

With that, on behalf of my family, I wish everyone the season’s blessings.

May we all, in our own way, have a Merry Christmas.

‘Isyung Kalakalan at iba pa’ on TV

It’s business as usual for "Isyung Kalakalan at iba pa" on IBC-13 News this week. We tackle women’s rights under the proposed reproductive health bill in "Katawan Ko, Karapatan Ko." By the way, this is not just for women. So catch on its airing times at 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. If you wish to view the previous columns or telecasts of "Isyung Kalakalan at iba pa," you may visit my website at http://bizlinks.linkedge.biz.