Battle of documents

There are people who are so fed up with our politics, some are avoiding newspapers and television to keep their sanity. But politics can be likened to a cockpit where the cocks are pitted against each other, playing to a crowd. The fight might be exciting but it is only because there is an audience to play to. Indeed without the audience cheering it on, what is the point of a cockfight? So, too with politics. It should not overwhelm us because without us, as a willing audience, there is no cockfight nor our kind of politics either. It is not the only reality of life in the Philippines and the sooner we keep that firmly in mind, the better it will be for our country.

Federalism, which is an important pillar of the constitutional reform we seek, is supported by the leagues of governors, mayors, municipal mayors and so on down the line to barangay captains. Although devolution is central to the present constitution this remains only on paper because it is merely administrative and keeps local authorities at the mercy of national authorities. By adopting a federal system, devolution becomes political, provinces raise their own moneys and govern themselves. National government is compelled to devolve most of its powers. That, I think, is why more progressive governors and local officials are solidly behind constitutional change that will bring about federalism. They are not waiting. It is already happening. Provinces are helping themselves and doing well without national dependence or dominance, thank you. Local authorities are focused on their constituencies and what they can do within their limited scope.

Newsbreak, the weekly magazine, has a special report on how the provinces are learning to cope on their own with national government unwilling to channel more funds to LGUs. This has brought out a lot of creativity among provincial folk that we do not hear about because the only news is about the citizenship of the know-nothing presidential candidate. The report narrates how Gov. Rodolfo Agbayani of Nueva Vizcaya re-worked the real property tax system to raise funds; how Gawad Kalinga Missionville in Iligan City rebuilt lives and houses after a disastrous fire with government (GMA provided P30 million) and private sector working hand in hand; how bayanihan banking among informal settlers (squatters) of the Tripa de Gallina have been saving their money for better homes in Cavite. Then there are the big-league local authorities like Gov. Hermilando Mandanas in Batangas who has worked tirelessly for more jobs for Batangueños and Gov. Josie de la Cruz in Bulacan’s tax-free programs for some business ventures. In Batangas, there is already fear that the programs of three-term governor Mandanas may be scuttled when a new governor comes in who may differ with his vision. Mandanas’s work has led to one of the highest employment rates in the country. Of its 800,000 people in the labor force, about 720,000 are working.

The ‘no-time’ Senate investigates. If I have written tirelessly on constitutional reform and sound like a TV-rerun it is because of the work of such people who may be far from Manila which to us is the center of politics. I am sorry but it is not. The center is where you make it, where gifted people lend their talents and work for a better nation. That is why I am incensed that a Senate which claims to have no time to make laws or debate proposals for constitutional reform did not hesitate to conduct still another investigation in aid of legislation. In a parliament, the issue would have been tackled by an investigative body. The Senate is not the NBI. When it turned down more debates on constitutional change, it claimed they were "more concerned with the budget". Why has it suddenly found time for ‘investigation in aid of legislation’ on FPJ’s case? This is what I mean by lack of leadership in the Senate. The conclusion is that there is no one among them, even the Senate chief himself who has the will to face up to the challenges of nation-building. I do not think they see beyond their noses and their monthly perks. Admittedly most of its members are ill-equipped intellectually and politically. So why should we waste time and money keeping a payroll for officials who do not do their work? The money is better used elsewhere by our unheralded local authorities.

Battle of documents. The question whether FPJ is a natural-born Filipino remains unsettled by the Comelec decision. I believe it will be a battle of documents. If we are to follow the Constitution, then FPJ does not fulfill the requirement for a candidate for president. Mr. Ricardo Manapat and the records from the Archives may be moot and academic since it is no longer a question of whether there was an earlier marriage or whether FPJ’s grandfather was Filipino. Even if there was no earlier marriage and FPJ’s grandfather was indeed Filipino, the documents submitted by his own lawyers may have done him in. From the documents they submitted it appears that FPJ was born one year before his father (even if Filipino) and his mother (an American) were married. Therefore at the time of birth, FPJ was American. What he or his parents did subsequently is beside the point. See what I mean by constitutional reform.

That brings us back to other reasons why FPJ cannot and should not be president of this country. Alfred Sumague <[email protected]> says he was surprised that the businessmen even invited him for an interview to find out whether he is fit to govern this country. He cannot understand how businessmen who have such strict standards when hiring employees in their own company "wasted their precious time". A hiring manager would have just thrown his application in the wastebasket if all he claims are his good intentions. Everyone has good intentions but we need a specific person for a specific job and it is for the most difficult job in the country – how to manage the conflicting interests without losing the vision to push the country forward. In the meeting were leaders of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippines Inc., and Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber and Industry.

The brilliant American historian, Henry Adams wrote: "The president of the United States resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port to seek." Unless FPJ understands that job description he has no business seeking to be President. Neither is it just about administration. It is predominantly a place of moral leadership. "All our great presidents were leaders of thought at times when certain historic ideas in the life of the nation had to be clarified."…they were possessed by their visions. "Where there is no vision … the people perish" Where there is a defective vision, people perish, too. In a democracy, it is up to the people themselves to make the fateful choice." So, too, with Filipinos.

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