World’s new war

The CNN caption on its ongoing coverage of the dastardly terrorist assault on the United States reads AMERICA’S NEW WAR. The caption could have been more appropriate if it read: WORLD’S NEW WAR. For that is what it was: not only a declaration of war against America but against the rest of the Free World. And the perpetrators of the attack were not only striking at the heart of the world’s mightiest power but against all peace-loving nations and peoples of the world.

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But then, the CNN caption –AMERICA’S NEW WAR – can be justified if it means that the United States will take the lead role in pulverizing from the face of the earth all terrorist groups, whoever they are and wherever they may be. Yes, the Free World looks upon America in this awesome war against faceless, cowardly enemies.

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America has the resources, and can have the political will, to wage a winning war against terrorism. No one can deny that terrorism is a common enemy of all nations trying to survive and progress under the rule of law. In this war, no quarters should be given – and the vast majority of people, not only in America but in the rest of the world, are convinced, after seeing the violence and insanity that was shown by the terrorists in New York and Washington, that the heaviest axe fall on the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

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Despite the economic doldrums not only here in the Philippines but elsewhere in the world, there are things we Filipinos should be thankful for, in our quest for economic advancement. I refer to the shafts of sunlight that have been lighting up the Subic Freeport during the past three years.

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During the celebration of Felicito C. Payumo’s third year as chairman and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, he cited what seems to be tangible gains in the Freeport’s and SBMA’s program of action. That these were achieved can be attributed mainly to the fact that Payumo knew were the SBMA is going, and how it would get there. "We drew a road map, and we are following the specified route," he said.

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The thrust of the SBMA, in its pursuit of progress, was to develop the Subic Freeport into a "globally competitive, self-sustaining and environment-friendly center of industry, commerce, finance, investment and tourism in the Asia-Pacific region." Which was why, Payumo said, priority was given to the development of the Subic harbor and freeport into a world-class transshipment and cargo-handling facility.

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The other items in Payumo’s program for the Subic Freeport are to extend Freeport’s influence and benefits beyond Subic, to develop tourism-related facilities, and to establish an ICT infrastructure to make the Freeport a Cybercity. Fortunately for the Philippine economy, SBMA’s goals are being attained.

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Payumo cited specific targets that have been met under his Freeport watch. A gantry crane for container loading and unloading acquired in June 2000 is now operational. The Morong gate, closed for more than 50 years, has been opened, giving future investors flatlands for industrial and commercial development in the Bataan Technopark. A Marine Theme Park is now open to the public, a boost for the Freeport’s tourism program.

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Other tourist attractions at the Freeport are a butterfly garden, rainforest adventures, jungle survival team building experience, get-in-touch with nature activities. Of course, there are tourist activities like fishing, jetskiing, parasailing, scuba diving, cycling, mountain biking, trips to Grande Island, an aerial view of Mt. Pinatubo, golf, and motor speedway.

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What is probably the most significant achievement at the Subic Freeport during Payumo’s watch is the development of an ICT infrastructure. The Freeport is now bustling with schools offering quality programs, thus making available to locators a highly skilled and computer-savvy workforce. As of now, three-way connectivitiy to the world via satellite, microwave and fiber optic is available at the Freeport, even as computer hardware, peripheral manufacturing and software development continue to grow.

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Payumo reported significant strides in exports ($4,25 billion at the end of July 2001), employment (39,421 workers) , investments ($3.1 billion), and contributions to the national treasury (P7.9 billion in duties and taxes). In addition, infrastructure improvements inside the Freeport are visible to residents and visitors. And culture and the arts, for the culturally-inclined, are beginning to bloom at the Freeport.

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Several days ago, a Job Fair was held at the Freeport, with the participation of 35 companies. Many of the 7,000 applicants were accommodated and hired on the spot. Earlier, four Labor-Management Council Agreements were signed, in addition to the 90 companies that had already forged a Covenant for Industrial Peace. Payumo also took pride in the launching of ISO 9000 and 14000 Certification projects and the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Bureau of Customs for the reengineering and automation of customs and cargo control systems.

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"Why am I stressing this? Because the future will be for the swift and agile. It is speed that will determine the winner in the market place. We said that our business is not selling real estate. It is about giving our locators the ability to move their goods, data and services to the market place ahead of their competitors," Payumo told the Subic Freeport work force that gathered on September 1 to celebrate his third year as chairman of the SBMA.

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Thanks a million, and God bless the following kindhearted individuals who lent a helping hand to the Good Samaritan Foundation:

• Alejo Tatel, P2,000 (Metrobank 1113332)

• Alfredo Moran, a regular donor from Albay, (P1,000) (FEBTC 0000530)

• An anonymous lady with the initials L.J., a regular donor from Antipolo City, P3,000 (Asiatrust 311227)

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Thank you, too, to Mrs. Rosa Pacubas of Paco, Manila, who, has through the years been helping the Good Samaritan Foundation, for going out of her way to solicit donations for the GS Foundation from the following kindhearted donors:

• Alice Marcela of Fairview, Quezon City, P1,000

• Anonymous, P5,000

• Aurora Udarbe-Gonzales of Pasig City, P2,000

• Luz Matias of Don Antonio, Quezon City, P100.

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Let me share with STAR readers some food for thought from former Ambassador Rodolfo A. Arizala, who is currently a university consultant in Santiago, Chile, in connection with the terrorist attack in New York and Washington, USA. The envoy’s letter, send through Internet from Latin America, was reaction to my column of September 12, 2001 entitled America’s Reawakening.

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If one will look closely at the seal of the United States of America, it consists of an eagle clutching with its claws a bunch of arrows with a ribbon emblazoned with the words: "E PLURIBUS UNUM" or "One among the many." As Ambassador Arizala noted, with terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 against the symbols of financial center of the world in New York City (World Trade Towers) and of political security in Washington, D.C. (Pentagon building), it could be said that the feathers of the "mighty" eagle have not only been ruffled but also plucked with impunity.

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Will it come to pass the Biblical passage in Deuteronomy? "The fire of my anger has been lit, and will burn the deposits of hell, and will devour the land and its fruits, and will shake the foundations of the mountains. I shall heap upon them evils and more evils. I shall throw against them all my arrows." (Deuteronomy, 3222 Fifth Book of the Old Testament).

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In other words, will the eagle now launch all its arrows against the enemy? Or will it reawaken to sharing its resources and blessing, dig deeper with understanding into the cause or causes of terrorism? These are interesting questions from Ambassador Arizala.

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THOUGHTS FOR TODAY:

Cherish things while you still have them,
not when they are gone.
Life can only be understood backwards,
but it must be kept alive forward.
Stay humble, be faithful,
offer hope, work diligently,
fight fairly, live simply,
love deeply, pray regularly...
That’s what we call living
with the Lord everyday!

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My e-mail address: <[email protected]> and <[email protected]>