Article: "DO THE MATH"

[ghosthunter]

http://****yeahbobong.tumblr.com/

[SIZE="4"]DO THE MATH[/SIZE]
Inday Espina-Varona

One doesn't need to be a member of Mensa, or a graduate of Harvard or
Georgetown universities, or even "just" of the University of the Philippines and
the Ateneo, to appreciate the math lessons brought by Typhoon Ondoy.

Thanks to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a number of her aides, we know that national government deserved a pat on the back for topping its
disaster-relief effort success benchmark (Katrina, heaven help us).
Rainfall in 24 hours -- Ondoy: 455 millimeters; Katrina: 250 millimeters.

By afternoon of September 29, the death toll was at 250, and mounting. Half a million were homeless, 1.8 million affected – their homes intact but valuables destroyed by inundation inn filthy waters.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) estimates property
losses at P2 billion. (P5 billion as of 7 pm) But NDCC chief and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro says paralysis of many enterprises, from small neighborhood stores to multi-million- peso manufacturing plants, costs the country hundreds of millions daily.

We've also learned that President Arroyo, Vice President Noli de Castro, and all Cabinet officials are donating their salaries for the next two months to help relief operations. The President and the Vice President get P50,000 (P70,000 for the President) a month; Cabinet members, P30,000.

That means the President is giving P140,000 - enough to buy one six-seater wooden banca with engine or three rubber boats (P37,000 each).

I mention boats because these were the missing links in Onday rescue and relief operations.

I still don't know how many vehicles were blocking rescuers' paths on Saturday afternoon. I do know that at around 6 pm of that day Teodoro was admitting the mighty NDCC had 25 rubber boats – half withouut engines. (Of course, the vehicles blocking rescuers were not left on the streets by joy-riding delinquents but by workers and students and other folk who were not told noon would find them in danger of drowning.)

The dearth in rubber boats and bancas meant that people were trapped
on rooftops for 12 hours and longer. By afternoon of the 28th, the NDCC said government workers had rescued 8,000 – of the half a milllion homeless and many more affected. Do the math.

Metro Manila has a 15-million population. It has 1699 barangays (as of
June 2008). For every barangay to have one banca would cost the government P169 million. Rizal province, equally devastated, has 188 barangays, another 18.8 million. That's not even 20% of the price of President Arroyo's 1-billion dream jet.

Do the math. For P1billion, the government could buy a fleet of 10,000 bancas.

But we don't even have to talk about Mrs. Arroyo's Christmas stocking. Let's just focus on her gustatory delights during a recent US trip.

A leaked report said that while Filipinos mourned the death of former President
Corazon Aquino, Mrs. Arroyo and her allies were feasting and drinking at the
hoity-toity Le Cirque in New York City, to the tune of $20,000. Another leak said the presidential party also had a $15,000 lunch in a Washington D.C. steakhouse. Still another report said a second expensive dinner had occurred in Le Cirque. If this last dinner cost only $15,000 the tab for all three feasts would
have reached P2.45 million.

Do the math: 25 bancas.

Still, those dinners represented just a fraction of expenses in that US trip. A
report by gmanews.tv quotes Susanna Vargas, Malacanang's deputy executive secretary for administration and finance, as saying that Mrs. Arroyo's party spent $66,000 in Washington D.C. and $59,000 in New York for various service tips. (<http://www.gmanews. tv/story/ 170245/arroyo- party-gave- away-p6m-in-tips-during-six-day-us- stay>http://www.gmanews. tv/story/ 170245/arroyo-party-gave-away-p6m- in-tips-during- six-day-us- stay) That's P6 million.

Do the math: 60 bancas.

But even that is just spare change to Mrs. Arroyo's overall travel expenses, which sparked outrage when a Commission on Audit report showed these had been partly funded by contingent funds – by their very nature, monies sset aside for emergencies. Because Mrs. Arroyo, the economist, couldn't balance her travel budget, some P95 million incurred by the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) were charged to the Palace's contingent funds.(See above url) Do the math: 950 bancas -- more than half of what Metro Manila-Rizal would need if each barangay is appropriated only one banca.

It is said that every peso that goes to the pockets of corrupt government officials is a peso taken from public services. I'm going to ignore the ZTE scandal, which was a preempted scandal, and focus on the ill-gotten wealth of General Carlos Garcia, former Armed Forces comptroller.

The good general is accused of skimming P300 million from the AFP's budget. Even if you don't care about soldiers dying because of a dearth in rescue equipment, you can do a different kind of math: 3,000 bancas.

I think P300 million is a very conservative estimate. Garcia's son, Tim, just posted a "million-dollar bail," according to an article by Peter Davis for "The Daily Beast" website.

Do the math: 490 bancas.

If Davis' description of the young Garcia's Trump Towers hothouse pad and its contents is true, add another $2 million. (Another 980 bancas). No way did his old man stop at P300 million. But you get the math.

The cited cases alone are enough (P550.45 million) to equip each Metro Manila-Rizal barangay with 2 bancas with change left for petrol. Or 14,877 rubber boats.

And we're not even talking about Mikey or his father.

[ghosthunter]

This article makes me think "what-if" we were still a colony of the USA. We would probably be like Guam is today, basically the same except no poverty, no pollution, no garbage scattered everywhere, everything clean and maintained, etc.

[oliver1013]

And thats how the cookie crumbles

[Lucius]

This article makes me think "what-if" we were still a colony of the USA. We would probably be like Guam is today, basically the same except no poverty, no pollution, no garbage scattered everywhere, everything clean and maintained, etc.

And we get better chances to see more good-looking women... Probably no extreme flood kasi walang squatters.

[jonski]

What if hindi nakikialam ang simbahan sa family planning ng goverment........ilang % kaya ang mababawas sa mga squaters?

[Lucius]

What if hindi nakikialam ang simbahan sa family planning ng goverment........ilang % kaya ang mababawas sa mga squaters?

Huge difference. Kaso wala tayo magagawa. This country is too religous that politicians take a step back. Ung use of contraceptives is a very good idea, pero masama daw kasi it encourages pre-marital ***. ULTIMATE FAIL. Kahit walang condom magse*** pa din kung pareho gusto diba.

[ghosthunter]

And we get better chances to see more good-looking women... Probably no extreme flood kasi walang squatters.

I think we will still have the flooding but no one would have been allowed to built houses and subdivisions in those flood zones.

[JackFlash]

This article makes me think "what-if" we were still a colony of the USA. We would probably be like Guam is today, basically the same except no poverty, no pollution, no garbage scattered everywhere, everything clean and maintained, etc.

"Better a country run like hell by Filipinos than one run like heaven by Americans." - Pres. Manuel L. Quezon

"Be careful what you wish for, it might come true." - Aesop's Fables

On the other hand, we wonder why other Asian countries, all former colonies were able to run their respective nations, overcome their turbulent pasts and become economic powerhouses, clean, orderly, well-maintained. To think that the Phils. prides itself in being 90% Christian. Maybe there's something wrong w/ the way we interpret Christianity.

Or maybe our progressive Asian neighbors didn't wish for "a country run like hell by _______" (fill in the blank for desired Asian nationality).

[ghosthunter]

"Better a country run like hell by Filipinos than one run like heaven by Americans." - Pres. Manuel L. Quezon

"Be careful what you wish for, it might come true." - Aesop's Fables

On the other hand, we wonder why other Asian countries, all former colonies were able to run their respective nations, overcome their turbulent pasts and become economic powerhouses, clean, orderly, well-maintained. To think that the Phils. prides itself in being 90% Christian. Maybe there's something wrong w/ the way we interpret Christianity.

Or maybe our progressive Asian neighbors didn't wish for "a country run like hell by _______" (fill in the blank for desired Asian nationality).

Think of it, we pinoys have nothing to call as a single focus as a society. We are all too busy trying to make a living to care or bother with such a thought.

[4JGtootsie]

Nagkataon lang na fresh issue yung gastos ni madame at trahedya ni Ondoy.
The whole Archipelago has probably a million bancas, rafts, bananas, speed boats etc. The place, time, transport, weather and the obstructions made it impossible to mobilize it. Its true na extravagant si madame pero hindi ito and dahilan kung bakit walang banca sa flooded areas noon bagyo. Even local officials never anticipated the need until it was too late, and these places are notorious for floods. Peace!

[niky]

"Better a country run like hell by Filipinos than one run like heaven by Americans." - Pres. Manuel L. Quezon

"Be careful what you wish for, it might come true." - Aesop's Fables

On the other hand, we wonder why other Asian countries, all former colonies were able to run their respective nations, overcome their turbulent pasts and become economic powerhouses, clean, orderly, well-maintained. To think that the Phils. prides itself in being 90% Christian. Maybe there's something wrong w/ the way we interpret Christianity.

Or maybe our progressive Asian neighbors didn't wish for "a country run like hell by _______" (fill in the blank for desired Asian nationality).

Because we were the only ones colonized by the Spanish.

There's an interesting study that compared island nations colonized by various European powers. Those that were colonized by Americans and British actually fared better (note: Singapore, Hong Kong... both British)... while those colonized by the Spanish and Portugese are worse off...

It's a cultural thing, I guess.

One hopes that the American occupation had come earlier or lasted at least a few decades longer... just to counteract the negative effects of Spanish colonization.

[4wrider]

If we are to prosper like our Asean neighbours we need to throw the American model of democracy and elect somebody who will do a Lee Kuan Yew or eve a la Mahathir. Problem is that we had a strongman before in the person of Marcos. He could have been a great President had he not capitulated to the wishes of Imelda (after Ferdie was "caught in the act" with Dovie Beams).

Now as to the simple arithmetic. Check how much money was wasted on waiting sheds, barangay halls (e.g. Makati's barangay mansions), stone tablets with names of barangay officials and if you include the host of ghost projects, each barangay alone can buy several rescue boats or in case of Makati an ampibian vehicle each. That's just the barangays, now just imagine how much of the national revenue went to the municipalities and cities. And what have they got to show for it. CoA, after naka-kuha ng share nila, will just check the fake receipts (ORs and DRs) and validate the money making schemes of our politicians. Our politicians are from the 15 yr old SKs to the very top of the dung heap.

The whole system stinks!

[donbuggy]

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1 : 9 (New International Version)

[4wrider]

Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a disgrace to any people.

[JackFlash]

Because we were the only ones colonized by the Spanish.

There's an interesting study that compared island nations colonized by various European powers. Those that were colonized by Americans and British actually fared better (note: Singapore, Hong Kong... both British)... while those colonized by the Spanish and Portugese are worse off...

It's a cultural thing, I guess.

One hopes that the American occupation had come earlier or lasted at least a few decades longer... just to counteract the negative effects of Spanish colonization.

Which is why I brought up religion. The way the Spanish ingrained it, one could actually buy his way into salvation. Maybe that's why people tend to make it a 1-hr, once a week activity, instead of a way of life. Unlike our Buddhist neighbors who believe that if they do wrong in this life, they could come back as cockroaches. No confession, no extreme unction, no prayers for your soul when you pass on.

Of course, religion is just one factor. But it is one of the influences on one's moral compass. From the ordinary citizen who breaks the rules, to the high & mighty who steal from gov't coffers and strut around like they owned the place, once the moral compass is busted, it would be hard to get the country back on track.

Am I saying that some Asian countries are more moral than us? Maybe. Their public officials seem to be more conscious of the consequences of their acts. They resign when involved in scandals. Some even kill themselves. Their cops would be insulted if offered a bribe (ask any expat in HK or Singapore if they've ever tried this). Their motorists won't hog a pedestrian lane or create their own counter-flows or think that another motorist using his turn signal to change lanes means, "go ahead, block my way."

Bottomline, it's gotta start with ordinary joes like us. We may seem powerless to abate the graft & corruption going on in high places, but we can become better citizens by simply living under our Christian principles. And maybe, just maybe, the wave of proper behavior will affect the rest, making them think twice about the next wrong-doing. Or maybe I'm dreaming....

[niky]

Which is why I brought up religion. The way the Spanish ingrained it, one could actually buy his way into salvation. Maybe that's why people tend to make it a 1-hr, once a week activity, instead of a way of life. Unlike our Buddhist neighbors who believe that if they do wrong in this life, they could come back as cockroaches. No confession, no extreme unction, no prayers for your soul when you pass on.

Of course, religion is just one factor. But it is one of the influences on one's moral compass. From the ordinary citizen who breaks the rules, to the high & mighty who steal from gov't coffers and strut around like they owned the place, once the moral compass is busted, it would be hard to get the country back on track.

Am I saying that some Asian countries are more moral than us? Maybe. Their public officials seem to be more conscious of the consequences of their acts. They resign when involved in scandals. Some even kill themselves. Their cops would be insulted if offered a bribe (ask any expat in HK or Singapore if they've ever tried this). Their motorists won't hog a pedestrian lane or create their own counter-flows or think that another motorist using his turn signal to change lanes means, "go ahead, block my way."

Bottomline, it's gotta start with ordinary joes like us. We may seem powerless to abate the graft & corruption going on in high places, but we can become better citizens by simply living under our Christian principles. And maybe, just maybe, the wave of proper behavior will affect the rest, making them think twice about the next wrong-doing. Or maybe I'm dreaming....

Hmmm... don't know... the Hindus in India believe in reincarnation, and yet this makes them drive like there's no tomorrow... ...it may be more of an oriental culture thing... something about the ingrained discipline and focus on honor amongst Japanese, Korean and Singaporean peoples.

But yes... change has got to start with us.

[CVT]

This article makes me think "what-if" we were still a colony of the USA. We would probably be like Guam is today, basically the same except no poverty, no pollution, no garbage scattered everywhere, everything clean and maintained, etc.

Can we still put the country "on the block"?

Which is why I brought up religion. The way the Spanish ingrained it, one could actually buy his way into salvation. Maybe that's why people tend to make it a 1-hr, once a week activity, instead of a way of life. Unlike our Buddhist neighbors who believe that if they do wrong in this life, they could come back as cockroaches. No confession, no extreme unction, no prayers for your soul when you pass on.

Of course, religion is just one factor. But it is one of the influences on one's moral compass. From the ordinary citizen who breaks the rules, to the high & mighty who steal from gov't coffers and strut around like they owned the place, once the moral compass is busted, it would be hard to get the country back on track.

Am I saying that some Asian countries are more moral than us? Maybe. Their public officials seem to be more conscious of the consequences of their acts. They resign when involved in scandals. Some even kill themselves. Their cops would be insulted if offered a bribe (ask any expat in HK or Singapore if they've ever tried this). Their motorists won't hog a pedestrian lane or create their own counter-flows or think that another motorist using his turn signal to change lanes means, "go ahead, block my way."

Bottomline, it's gotta start with ordinary joes like us. We may seem powerless to abate the graft & corruption going on in high places, but we can become better citizens by simply living under our Christian principles. And maybe, just maybe, the wave of proper behavior will affect the rest, making them think twice about the next wrong-doing. Or maybe I'm dreaming....

I remember reading an article related to this. In this article, it says that the Sacrament of Confession is being abused by those who are abusing their fellowmen. They would just confess their sins and come out clean and start to sin again. What they ignore is the reminder not to sin again....

8701:soccer:

[Negus]

religion. We are doing good compared to the US's deep south.

Top gear visits Alabama.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2syY12OPkwI"]YouTube - Top Gear in Alabama[/ame]

that said, I think some parts of Christian religion is broken but you don't get harassed or killed when you're a non-believer in the Philippines.

[4wrider]

Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."

Kaya nga may nominal Christian at may real Christian. Many will be surprised that when they come before the final judgment God will deny them.

You may say, I was a good person but God says your self-righteousness is like a filthy rag.

Some corrupt government official can't say they gave to the poor and should therefore go to heaven. This is religious compensation or indulgence (Martin Luther fought against it) or is actually a form of bribing God. But God sees the intent of the heart.

Is the Philippines a Christian nation?

Can you honestly say to yourself that you are a Christian (a true follower of Christ)?

[niky]

We're not a Christian nation.

We're a Catholic nation.

There's a big difference.