Perceptions

The reason why the stock market continues to go down, or why foreign tourists have decided to skip the Philippines as a travel destination, or why international and regional conventions previously scheduled in Manila are being scrapped, or why capital is flying out of the country is not hard to explain. The main reason is public perception. Yes, people --both here and abroad -- think that the Philippines is currently a battleground, a country moving without a clear direction.

The perception, too, is that many things are going wrong in the Philippines. The battles and wars in Mindanao. The hostage-taking in Basilan and Sulu. The recent hijacking of a jumbo jet of the Philippine Airlines. The fiasco in the Philippine stock exchange. The apparently ceaseless war between the government and the local communists. The style of governance of the Estrada administration. The bank run involving Urban Bank. All these things and more are really hurting the image of the Philippines, domestically and internationally.

How can these perceptions be countered, especially by the government propagandists? The perceptions may be anchored on myth, but they are nonetheless being disseminated and propagated throughout the world by leading publications like Time and Newsweek. Threatening libel suits, or writing letters to the editors, or scrapping these periodicals from our subscription list will not make the image problem go away. There must be some things more creative that the Estrada administration can do, which will restore confidence in the Philippine economy, and bring home the message that the Estrada government has the capacity to govern, effectively.

Here is a very interesting letter from George G. Abueg, administrator of The Doctors' Hospital in Bacolod City, in reaction to the letter sent to me by a young doctor, published in my column of May 19:

That was really an oasis in the healthcare desert which the majority of us are suffering in right now. As you said, "though young in age, he is definitely mature and old in wisdom." I just wish that as time passes by and the harsh realities of our present healthcare setting confronts our young doctor, he will remain uncorrupted and uncompromising in setting out to do what his profession really prepared him to do: Heal.

I am a relatively young hospital administrator in a small hospital in Bacolod City and we do have a lot of young doctors now who hold the same views as the doctor in your column. In fact, it was one of our young doctors who recently gave our hospital the distinction of winning a thesis on Cardiology in national contest, besting doctors from the best hospitals in the nation.

Please do feature more articles delving into our fledgling healthcare industry, for we still have a long way to go to really say that we have addressed the health needs of our people. We do have innate qualities that make us in demand worldwide in the field of medical and nursing care.

A Canadian consultant once pointed out to me that although we lag several years behind in the state of our healthcare delivery system as compared even to our Asian neighbors, we possess the power to heal by the way we cater to our patients -- by caring. And what we lack in sophistication due to our impoverished state is more than compensated by our approach to our patients: the healing smile, a word of encouragement and, most of all, the sincere healing touch.

Remember, Jesus Christ could have healed those he wanted to, simply by just uttering a single word. Yet, every time he performed a healing miracle, he touched first. And you have more than touched us with your caring by way of your humble contribution to making this life a little more bearable.

I also received a note from Dr. Anonymous, to elucidate on his views on the existing healthcare system. He said: "As it turned out, the family of Zion is neither destitute nor uneducated. That is the point. One does not have to be poor, to be ill-served by the system. The growth of the art and science of healthcare is exponential, and so are the costs. The solutions are encyclopedic. But some problems can be addressed overnight, and you do not need to have a Ph. D., just common sense. Here is why you should not get sick on a Sunday, or after office hours. If you do, you may not find your needed specialist. If you are lucky, you will get the hospital staff, some of whom are very good. But the Dr. Super Expert cannot possibly be on call seven days of the week. Could there be a common on-call system for Super Experts?"

Laine Pasague of 2096 Juan Luna St., Tondo, Manila, apparently a recent returnee to our country, has some interesting observations about the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The arrival area is an eyesore. At the immigration area, there are hangers-on who are not even in official uniform. The new carousel is not being properly maintained. The ceilings and wall are dirty and filled with cobwebs. The security guards are ill-mannered. The place is dimly lit. Makeshift vendors are all over the place. The signage system leaves much to be desired. What are the airport manager and other authorities doing about all this?, asked Pasague.

Here are excerpts from letters I received recently:

JOAN LARSEN, a Filipina residing in Norway with her Norwegian husband: "Our country has been very famous these days for all the 'wrong reasons' due to the Abu Sayyaf terroristic activities and the deadly ILOVEYOU virus. At the Norwegian class course that I attend, my classmates, mostly foreigners, are discussing what is happening in the Philippines. Of course, I have to defend my country and emphasize these are unfortunate things, and that my beloved Philippines is still a beautiful country."

MILEN SISON-DE QUIROS, President, Full Circle, 12th Floor, Pacific Star Building, Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati: "I am no longer connected with the institution I have served for 17 years with sincere dedication and commitment. Yes, I retired from the Land Bank to embark on my own. I have decided to set up a Public Relations firm called Full Circle Communications. Why this name? My 17 years with Land Bank made me what I am now, more confident and more learned. With Full Circle Communications, I hope to achieve the peak of my career in the PR profession with your continued support and trust."

MANOLITO S. ROMINES, San Jose, Northern Samar: "Congratulations to the Bureau of Immigration for its decision to deport Asi Taulava, the great pretender. The decision proves that truth and justice, in the end, prevail. Taulava cannot prove his Filipino lineage because he is not a Filipino. This is public knowledge in my hometown in San Jose. However, the BI should look for answers to other questions. Who were those people who brought in this fake behemoth? How did they do it? I am sure they falsified public documents to advance their interests. Taulava is only a victim here. The culprits are his local backers who have not given up in their bid to make Taulava a Pinoy. The BI should go after these people, who are criminally liable."

ROSA HANS: "Please call the attention of Cardinal Sin and the other heads of religious orders who send priests to high-risk areas like Basilan. It is like sending a child to a forest with savage beasts, unprotected. Can they not have fences built around the church or schools and provide security guards? At least, they will have time to run or call for help when beasts attack. We need priests, not dead martyrs."

Art A. Borjal's e-mail address: