Speaking one’s mind

Once in a while one has to speak one’s mind regardless of the setting and in spite of the possible consequences. President Noynoy Aquino found himself in that spot in Cambodia and I admire his courage to speak his mind as well as represent the interests and concerns of a sovereign nation.

Not too long ago, Cambodia, as a member nation of the ASEAN, managed to overrule the move of other member nations of the ASEAN to make a stand or issue a position statement regarding China’s belligerent claims and bullying tactics in the region. A few days ago, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, once again attempted to railroad matters by suggesting that the ASEAN had formed a consensus that any issues or disagreements with China will be taken up directly with China instead of in international bodies or organizations. As they say, “A leopard does not change spots.”

The only difference here is that President Noynoy Aquino raised his hand in the middle of it all and gave Hun Sen a diplomatic piece of what was in P-Noy’s mind. P-Noy reportedly interjected:

“There were several views expressed yesterday on ASEAN unity which we did not realize, would be translated into an ASEAN consensus. For the record, this was not our understanding. The ASEAN route is not the only route for us. As a sovereign state it is our right to defend our national interest.”  

There is a popular saying: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me” and with that in mind, I extend my congratulations to President Noynoy, whom I’ve long said is differently minded. Other ASEAN leaders who also did not agree with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s misrepresentation or misappreciation of facts obviously bit their tongue out of diplomatic courtesy. But why should one be courteous and polite with someone who disrespects your country, and insults you to your face by committing you to what you have not agreed to?

In case President Noynoy wants a fitting quote to address Cambodia’s blatant manipulation and discourtesy, he can check on his collection of John Wayne movies where he once said: “We may be neighbors, but that doesn’t mean I have to be neighborly.”

*      *      *

“A million headache” is what Asec Virgie Torres has in her hands and it’s not even her fault.

Asec Virginia Torres. who is head of the Land Transportation Office or LTO, has found herself using up valuable office time to visit radio stations, talk shows and news forums just to explain why there is a backlog of approximately one million vehicle license plates. Torres has unfairly become the target of criticism on the issue, but what many people don’t know is that it is not the LTO’s fault.

The problem apparently started when the DOTC during the time of Mar Roxas decided to centralize all biddings that were P50 million and above (not sure of the actual amount but I think that’s close) to the DOTC head office. As a result the license plate bidding was done by the DOTC and not directly by the LTO. There was nothing controversial or problematic about the bidding, and only until license plates started peeling or chipping off, did the LTO realize they had a problem. If they continued accepting the defective plates, the LTO would be blamed just like in past administrations; if they discontinued the series and required the supplier to correct the problem, it would create a backlog. Since defective plates would still have to be returned and add to the backlog, the LTO apparently chose the lesser of two evils and stopped the issuance until the supplier solved the problem.

After being a million plates short, Torres thinks they have the problem licked and are now requiring the supplier to go double time. As I have learned from Japanese managers, now that the problem has been solved, perhaps it is time to find out who caused this problem. Who handled the bidding and exactly what was their expertise, which clearly was not enough to determine that problems could happen down the line. Why should Asec Torres be left with the bag or the headache, while some DOTC execs excuse themselves quietly?

*      *      *

Investing in people and communities creates returns that reflect on life, not just on paper. The returns are both national in scope and generational in impact.

In the last six years I have been a “judge” for the Tarlac Province Belenismo competition, I have witnessed how communities both rich and poor respond with equal enthusiasm, commitment and enjoyment when given an opportunity to show their skills, creativity and pride of place. For the last 6 years my fellow judges and I have joined Mrs. Isabel Cojuangco-Suntay and daughter Dra. Isa Suntay traversing north, south, east and west of Tarlac province to view, study and grade competing cities, towns, schools, churches and private groups.

This year was especially significant when I realized that 6 years later, many young students reflected their views or perspective through their rendition of the “Belen” or the Nativity scene. In the Diorama category entry #50 stumped me and had me thinking for a few minutes. There before me was this nativity scene that I never imagined possible. Imagine Joseph, Mary and the child Jesus as Muslims!

Yes, entry #50 was made by a “Muslim” student who portrayed the “Belen” not from the traditional squalor of the manger, but from within a mosque with the main characters clothe in fine middle eastern wardrobes. It struck me that a “Muslim” youth did not have issues about political, historical or religious correctness. That he actually took ownership of the nativity scene and introduced his faith and the stature due the characters, in spite of the fact that he himself came from very simple circumstance. That he honored the Savior and his parents in that context truly made an impact on me and the other judges.

Just like entry# 50, we were also touched by what Rizzel Ann Lanoria put together for Poblacion 3 of the town of Pura. Unlike typical towns and barangays of Tarlac, Poblacion Pura finds itself constantly flooded and its people living along an irrigation canal. They are simple people but they have pride of place. Rizzel Ann showed this when she set up her Belen on a miniature “Balsa” or bamboo raft by the canal. There we saw “Joseph” pushing the balsa through the water lilies, past fish cages and fishnets. On the Balsa you see “Mary” watching over the child Jesus.

A musician by the name of Sixto Rodriguez once said to 60 Minutes: “Poverty is not stupid, poverty is not dirty, it is not mean.” Yes he was right, poverty also has pride.

If you haven’t had the chance, I sincerely want to encourage you to take the trip to Tarlac, stay overnight and arrange the drive through the Museo de Tarlac. You have to see it to understand how a simple project has become so grand.