The President has only a fixed term of six years to solve the problem of the country and to lead the country towards economic growth and political stability among others.

Hence, the office of the President is neither a classroom nor a training room where the sitting president will be taught how to perform the duties and responsibilities of the office of the president. Much more, the office of the President is not a workshop seminar room where the sitting president will be taught how to prepare short and long term program of works.

The person who occupies this office MUST, before hand, have the solutions to the problems of the country. He must bring in with him, all the short and long term program of works in achieving his mission and vision for the country.

So the question arises, what is his mission and vision for the country?

Compared with our Asian neighbors, where would he put our country after his six years term?

One of the President’s Men said, “No compelling reason to amend the constitution.” This shows the shortsightedness of this administration, its lack of foresight and real care for the future of the country.

Economic growth and political stability could be achieved if we would use a system of government that fits our needs, and that is, a Parliamentary Form of Government with a Unicameral Legislative Body.

We are the only country among ASEAN members who is using the Presidential form of government patterned after the USA. All our neighbors are using Parliamentary form of government and they have left us behind the race to economic growth and political stability, by leap and bounds.

We have been using the Presidential system for more than 25 years now and it doesn’t bring us to the promised growth.

How much longer shall we use this obsolete system that pushes us down political instability and economic retardation?

Why should we suffer corruption, poverty, political instability and economic stagnation when we can start the change NOW!

It is about time to make the painful change for the rebirth of our country.

WE OWE THIS CHANGE TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN!

What will happen to them, if we are not going to act now?

Will they be like us, wishing and dreaming to be at par with their Asian neighbors?

Then DO NOT give him state honors just bury him at the Libingan, a 1.2mx1.8m plot is already allocated for him there.

We have seen how this issue divided our country to the extent that we are becoming regionalist instead of thinking as a single nation. Pinoys divided on Marcos burial

The recent 2010 national election shows that there are 13,169,634 Filipinos nationwide, who elected Marcos Jr. as senator, are not all Ilocanos who still believe in the legacy of FM.

We have heard the voice of the people through Congress [Some 204 congressmen crossed party lines in signing a resolution urging President Aquino to allow the burial of …Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani].

We have seen the sentiment of the Filipinos through the recent survey [53 percent in class ABC support and 46 percent oppose it]. Lawyer asks Manila court to rule on FM burial issue

Let us all be objective in this issue and put it to rest.

When I said let us be objective and put this issue to rest, consider that on:

• May 1947 – The Republic Memorial Cemetery at Fort McKinley was established as a fitting tribute to the gallant Filipino military men and women;
• October 27, 1954 – The Memorial Cemetery was renamed Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (LNMB) by the late President Ramon Magsaysay;
• May 28, 1967 –  FM issued PD No. 208 that reserved an area of 142 hectares from the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation intended for purposes of providing grave services to deceased military personnel who died in line of duty or were honorably discharged, Filipino veterans, former presidents, government dignitaries, statesmen and national artists; and
• Other deceased persons whose interment has been approved by the Commander-in-Chief, Congress or the Secretary of National Defense.

Presently, Paragraph 2 of AFPR G 161 374, entitled, Allocation of Cemetery Plots at the Libingan ng mga Bayani enumerates who are qualified to be interred in the cemetery. It states that,

“The remains of the following deceased persons are qualified and therefore, authorized to be interred in the Libingan ng mga Bayani:

• Medal of valor awardees;
• Presidents or commanders-in-chief AFP;
• Secretaries of national defense;
• Chiefs of staff, AFP;
• General flag officers of the AFP;
• Active and retired military personnel of the AFP;
• Veterans of Philippine Revolution 1896, WW1, WW2 and recognized guerillas;
• Government dignitaries, statesmen, national artists and other deceased persons whose interment or re-interment has been approved by the commander-in-chief, Congress or the Secretary of National Defense; and
• Former presidents, secretaries of defense, CSAFP, generals/flag officers, dignitaries, statesmen, national artists, widows of former presidents, secretaries of national defense and chief of staff are authorized to be interred at the LNMB.”

Based on the above mentioned criteria, is FM qualified to be granted a cemetery plot at the Libingan? If he does, then bury him there, without state honors.

It’s about time for us to move on, be objective and put this issue at rest. This issue has divided our country long enough causing economic stagnation and political instability.

It about time for us to move on; direct our efforts on matters that would improve our lives, economically and politically. More specifically, change our political system into Parliamentary Form of Government.

Plain and simple, this government doesn’t care about the future of our children and grandchildren.

This shows the present administration lacks long-term solution in addressing the problem of economic growth and political stability.

The form or system of governance of a country is a key factor in achieving economic growth and political stability.

The presidential form we are using for more than 25 years does not fit the economic and political needs of the Philippines. Clearly, up until now and after using this operating system for more than 25 years, we are still wallowing into economic stagnation and political instability.  It is comparable to DOS of yesteryear computer that is now overtaken by Linux, Android and Windows.

Why insist on using an obsolete DOS when Windows is available?

We are the only country among our Asian neighbors using the obsolete Presidential form of government that made us wallow at the bottom of the race for economic growth and political stability among our neighbors that are using Unicameral Legislative System of governance.

Admittedly, a Unicameral Legislative form of government will not bring instant economic growth and political stability. Nevertheless, it is a long-term solution to the problem of our country.

Mr. President our government must be proactive in initiating long-term solutions to our economic and political problems. Thus, if want our children to enjoy busting economy, at par with our Asian neighbors, and political maturity, the change must be done now…!

Philippines – How to attain Economic Growth and Political Stability

We often heard the words “be patient with our President, he is just on his second year of office and still learning.”

The President has only a fixed term of six years to solve the problem of the country and to lead the country towards economic growth and political stability among others.

Hence, the office of the President is neither a classroom nor a training room where the sitting president will be taught how to perform the duties and responsibilities of the office of the president. Much more, the office of the President is not a workshop seminar room where the sitting president will be taught how to prepare short and long term program of works.

The person who occupies this office MUST, before hand, have the solutions to the problems of the country. He must bring in with him, all the short and long term program of works in achieving his mission and vision for the country.

So the question arises, what is his mission and vision for the country?

Compared with our Asian neighbors, where would he put our country after his six years term?

One of the President’s Men said, “No compelling reason to amend the constitution.” This shows the shortsightedness of this administration, its lack of foresight and real care for the future of the country.

Economic growth and political stability could be achieved if we would use a system of government that fits our needs, and that is, a Parliamentary Form of Government with a Unicameral Legislative Body.

We are the only country among ASEAN members who is using the Presidential form of government patterned after the USA. All our neighbors are using Parliamentary form of government and they have left us behind the race to economic growth and political stability, by leap and bounds.

We have been using the Presidential system for more than 25 years now and it doesn’t bring us to the promised growth.

How much longer shall we use this obsolete system that pushes us down political instability and economic retardation?

Why should we suffer corruption, poverty, political instability and economic stagnation when we can start the change NOW!

It is about time to make the painful change for the rebirth of our country.

WE OWE THIS CHANGE TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN!

What will happen to them, if we are not going to act now? Will they be like us, wishing and dreaming to be at par with their Asian neighbors?

• 39 years ago – I basically did what I want to do regardless of Martial Law. I joined street protests against tuition fee increase, police brutality. Etc, yet successful graduated as Civil Engineer. Went home 1AM, drunk with tuba after midnight serenade. We cursed the government [because of our delayed salary] while drinking and still, we live to tell the story. In fact I learned to live and love the Philippine Martial Law style because there are very few/or no crimes, no holduppers, no carnapping/carjacking, no kidnapping, no drugs, no human trafficking, no Filipina sex slave.

Now – Drug related heinous crimes are common occurrence. Carnappers and carjackers are having a heyday. Kidnapping is not news anymore. Holduppers are everywhere. Human trafficking is clogging our coastlines. Filipina sex slave are all over.  All of these are ravaging every nook and corner of our country.

• 30 years ago – I can dictate how much salary I want from the foreign principals who hire me and I don’t have to pay processing fee to the agency, it was the foreign principals who paid for all our deployment expenses. Because of this recruitment system, I was able to save and send my two [2] daughters to exclusive schools, bought agricultural land and residential lots along with a car. On top of it all, I was able to get a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration from Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

Now – It takes our OFW almost two [2] years to pay [salary deduction] the processing fees they paid the agency that recruited them. And what do they get abroad? One sided contracts, sexual abuses and maltreatments from their employers.

• 30 years ago – Drug lord were executed by firing squad in our country [like in China]. The worst drug related crimes happened when the criminal is under the influence of alcohol.

Now – Chinese drug lords/manufacturers/traders are caught and presented in media, after which we do not know where they are. Heinous drug related crimes are rampant. All over our country, our youths [and some adults] are being destroyed by drugs.  Filipinos [including elected congressman] are caught transporting drugs. Filipinos are being incarcerated and executed abroad because of drug. Illegal drugs become one of the cancers of our society.  And the irony of it, drug lords laughs their ways to their banks at the expense of the Filipinos.

• 30 years ago – No such thing as the Big Four in the oil industry. In fact we [through the government] owned one of the Big Four. We also owned the major power distributor, Meralco. Price increases are unheard of because we regulated the prices.

Now – The oil cartel of the Big Four is so powerful the government cannot do anything except to bow and agree to whatever price they impose; even the so called “small players” are practicing the new power they have [to increase oil prices]. And price increases in these industries are becoming heavy burden on us.  And these companies are laughing their ways to their banks.

• 30 years ago – We were almost at par with Japan, and we were way ahead of our Asian neighbors [Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, etc], in terms of economic development and growth. Even, Dr. Mahathir the Prime Minister of Malaysia, in one way or another, adapted the FM system of governance.

Now – Where are we economically, compared with our Asian neighbors? Sad to say, we are presently at the bottom of the list.

• 30 years ago – We adopted the Parliamentary form of government, being practiced by all our Asian neighbors and moving forward to political stability. But communists and hungry politicians who want to be at the helm of the government and wield the power to rule fomented and instigated unrest. They destroyed and changed the system.

Now – Those politicians are in power and adopted a system of government that only fits rich nations. We are the only country in South East Asia practicing presidential form copied from the USA and we have been using it for 25 years. The question is. Where are we now in terms of economic growth and political stability compared with our Asian neighbors of 25 years ago?

• And 25 years ago – The wife of then Col. Kapunan [member of RAM/YOU] led the famous PICC walk out, people went to EDSA to support the brains of the failed coup attempt of RAM/YOU. Compassion and American intervention opened the gates of Malacanang. And in mob frenzy people rampaged, looted, and desecrated Malacanang.

Now – Except for the Aquinos, Enrile, Honasan, Ramos et al., are those people well off for what they did back then? Where are they now? I hope and pray that, like the politicians and personalities, they supported then; they too are now rich and economically well off.

Date: 17 Sept 2010

=================

This typically shows how our Senate works!

Another opportunity for grandstanding, making pogi points and draining our financial resources.Their CDF alone costs us PhP16.8 billion for six(6) years.

And some time ago, because of their grandstanding, one of them realized its uselessness and DARED ALL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO RESIGN including her!

What a shame to realize it just then, because it has been there, draining our financial resources for TWENTY FOUR (24) YEARS!

And come to think of it…

we always envy our Asian neighbors; Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and South Korea; and we make them as model for progress and discipline.

My friends those countries doesn’t have SENATORS!!!!!!!!

Their government is PARLIAMENTARY, a unicameral legislative body!

WE ENVY THEM AND WE ALWAYS MAKE THEM MODEL OF POLITICAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH! THEN WHY NOT MAKE OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT A PARLIAMENTARY FORM!

A form of government where a strong two-party system exist; where the people vote for the progressive platform of government of a party and NOT PERSONALITY!

Where political in-fighting is confined within the parliament; where people are disciplined because government leaders  have strong political will to implement the laws.

Where one voice of “vote of no confidence” would remove all inept and incompetent officials from their offices.

We have been using the presidential system for 24 years now and still we suffer from political instability and economic retardation.

And because of this outmoded presidential system; we are now governed and led by a new graduate without management and leadership ability doing the job of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a multi-billion peso organization that needs to turn around! And this happened to us because of using an obsolete system that does not fit our needs.

And for the next six (6) years, we are going to bear the agony of being led and managed by an OJT who is at the helm of the office of the CEO!

And the never-ending-grandstanding of the senate!

How much longer shall we use this obsolete system that pushes us down political instability and economic retardation?

Why should we suffer corruption, poverty, political instability and economic stagnation when we can start the change NOW?

It is about time to make the painful change for the rebirth of our country.

Forget GMA and the ghost of FM! We have been using this system of government for the past 24 years and still, we are left behind by our Asian neighbors, wallowing in the quagmire of political instability and economic retardation.

If we want to be at par with our progressive and developed Asian neighbors, we have to start making the necessary change NOW!

WE OWE THIS CHANGE TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN!

What will happen to them, if we’re not going to act now? Will they be like us, wishing and dreaming to be at par with their Asian neighbors?

In the last two elections I DID NOT VOTE FOR ANY SENATOR, because what we need is a unilateral legislative body composed of people who work towards a single direction of achieving their party agenda and NOT their vested interest.

The recent hostage fiasco and now the on-going probe by the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) shows it all; how an on-the-job-trainee (OJT) works in the office of the Chief Executive Officer.

The IIRC is now the lead player in the aftermath of the hostage crisis. It is so adept in explaining and interpreting the accounts of the resource persons. And it is tasked to produce an “assailable report” to the President.

The President’s question should be, where is DOJ during the hostage crisis?

From the start, Mendoza was demanding for the confirmation and/or reversal of his case with the Ombudsman. And negotiation for the release of the hostages should revolve within this framework. The demand involved legal issues which is the milieu of the DOJ.

Mendoza is not a terrorist asking for ransom or the freedom of political prisoners that would justify the use of SWAT and/or SAF.

All he wanted was justice to the perceived injustices done to him!

His simple demand makes me think aloud…

The DOJ could easily resolve the demand of Mendoza. Why was his demand not granted TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE HONGKONG NATIONALS? And most probably the last option of using guns could have been averted thus there could have been no collateral damages!

What is more important, the LIVES OF THE HOSTAGES or the legal battle that would ensue after acceding to his demand?

At this point, it’s all hindsight, water under the bridge!

With what happened, how I wish to have a unilateral legislative body composed of strong two-party system, where one voice of “vote of no confidence” would make all inept and incompetent officials removed from their offices.

All our Asian neighbors have this form of government and look where they are now in terms of political stability and economic growth. We envy our Asian neighbors and look at them as model of progress. But we are so adamant in adapting their operating system (OS).

And the irony of it, was there was once a time when we were at par with Japan, and above the rest. Now, we are at the bottom of the group, into a pit where we are wallowing in the quagmire of political instability and economic retardation.

This makes me ask, are you not wondering why we stick to DOS, when there are better OS such as Microsoft Windows, Open Office, or Linus which are more user- friendly and readily available for us to be efficient and effective in doing our business?

We have been using this operating system for more than twenty (20) years now and still we are at the bottom pit compared to our Asian neighbors.

And now, because of the outmoded OS we are using; we are now governed and led by a new graduate without management and leadership ability doing the job of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a multi-billion peso organization that needs to turn around! And this happened to us because of using an obsolete operating system that does not fit our needs.

And for the next six (6) years, we are going to bear the agony of being led and managed by an OJT who is at the helm of the office of the CEO!

How much longer shall we use this obsolete operating system that pushes us down political instability and economic retardation?

It is about time to make the painful change for the rebirth of our country.

Forget about GMA, she is a lame duck (she doesn’t have the numbers) as far as the Senate and House is concerned!

If we want to be at par with our progressive and developed Asian neighbors, we have to start making the necessary change NOW! This is our legacy to our children and grandchildren!

WHO AMONG YOU WOULD GIVE HIS/HER CHILD A DESKTOP WHEN ALL THE REST OF HIS/HER CLASSMATES ARE USING LAPTOPS AND NOTEPADS?

Stop hurling invectives to each other; let us move as ONE towards a single direction to achieve political stability and economic growth! Let us change our obsolete operating system into a more responsive one.

WE OWE THIS CHANGE TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN!

What will happen to them, if we’re not going to act now? Will they be like us, wishing and dreaming to be at par with their Asian neighbors?

From the outside, it is very clear that you have been used and you are being used by the people around you for their own vested interest.

Do you honestly believe that they forced you to run for president because they believe that you will be a good president? And now that you are the President, do you honestly believe they will not deviate from what you want if it runs against their vested interest?

The recent hostage fiasco shows it all!

Can you imagine the assessment of DILG, that the recent hostage crisis was a “local matter” thus a local crisis management committee can handle it?

Where was the advised of the DFA that the hostages are Hongkong nationals that any which way it ends, the crisis will have an international repercussion? And the crisis cannot be treated as a “local crisis.”

Where was the advised of the DOJ that to save the lives of the hostages, the DOJ can asks the Ombudsman to accede to the demands of the hostage taker.

Where was the advised of the Executive Secretary that the crisis has an international repercussion hence the necessity to convene the department secretaries that have impact in the crisis? That in convening the concerned cabinet secretaries a better solution could be formulated in saving the lives of the Hongkong nationals.

Where were they when you needed them most?

Worst of all was the assurances given to you by the PNP, action plans that were not implemented! And because of this, you are taking over the control of the PNP organization.

Mr. President, what will you do when you take over the helm of the PNP organization?

You ought to know that some of the senior members of the organization have credential at par with or more than yours.

For all you know, they salute you in front because you are the President but sarcastically smile up their ears at your back because of your shortcomings.

You cannot be the President and at the same time department head of security. Basic management hierarchy calls for the President to be on top of EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION!

Please remember that you are the CEO of the “Philippines, Inc.”, don’t expose your incompetence but use your power of appointing and delegating.

And now you are showing it again!

Mr. President, I earnestly recommend that you take a crash course in management. I believe AGSB will gladly help you learn basic management in public administration.

A form of government where we vote for the “personalities” of candidates rather than the Economic and Political platform of a solid group of people representing their common advocacy in moving towards the same direction.

A form of government where the minority rules over the majority.

When the 15 million emotional votes prevail over the 21 million votes, I ask then…

Imagine what will happen, now that we allow a person with no meaningful credential in leading and managing, holds the Chief Executive function of a multi-billion peso organization, which needs to turn around?

Can a company survive, much more achieve growth, when it appoints a Chief Executive Officer, without experience, to be at the helm of its operation?

With the recent hostage fiasco, I hate to say, I told you so!

Nevertheless, now that you admit your responsibility, Mr. President, I will not ask you to resign, you are already there.

However, vindicate yourself by showing us you really care for our country. Start leading us to where we once belong, politically and economically, at par with Japan and way above the rest of our Asian neighbors.

Forget the ghosts of GMA or FEM, FORGET VINDICTIVENESS!

ALL AROUND US we have seen what a strong two-party-system in a unilateral body can do in achieving political stability and economic growth (Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia).

A unilateral assembly with a strong two-party-system is what we need if we want to be at par with our more progressive Asian neighbors.

This is now the time for you to walk the talk!

Be the prime mover of change!

Show us the value of your personal sacrifice by amending the constitution that would make us at par with our progressive Asian neighbors. Do it now!

If you will not do it now, your wish of making us at par with our developed Asian neighbors will remain a wish.

And for the next six (6) years our country will still wallow in the quagmire of political dynasties, corruption, political instability, and economic retardation.