Enrique Sadiosa For President 2010: Same Names, Same Politics, Same Poverty

Monday, January 12, 2009

Same Names, Same Politics, Same Poverty

Posted under 2010 Elections, Governance, PDI, 12/23/08

Last Wednesday, I had the chance to meet with Yoly Ong, the President of Campaigns and Grey, one of the country’s top advertising companies. During our meeting, she showed me the latest Pulse Asia Survey which showed who were the top candidates for the 2010 Senatorial Elections and I was no longer surprised to see familiar family names dominating the survey and that most of the people who belonged to the Top 20 were either incumbents, former senators and their family members.

Although I expected this would be the case given that majority of our country still votes based on popularity, I was saddened with the thought that if we continue to elect many of these same politicians then naturally, we can expect the same kind of service that we have been getting these past 20 years.

Looking back at the past 20 years since the EDSA Revolution, millions of Filipinos continue to live with less than 100 pesos a day while many of these prominent government leaders continue to live lavish lifestyles. Yesterday, the Social Weather Station (SWS) released a survey wherein almost 25 percent of Filipinos or almost 20 million Filipinos have grown hungry these past months. Yes, I agree with the argument that not all of them are perpetuators of graft and corruption and that there are still those who continue to do a good job but I’d like to believe that it may be time for us to start looking for new faces which will bring new values, new politics and new ideas in our resolve to finally put an end to the poverty cycle in our country.

Also in the news these past weeks are pronouncements of deposed former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada that he is still interested in running for the Presidency despite being convicted already of plunder.

On the other side of the fence, we have our current President and her minions in the House of Representatives trying their best to perpetuate her reign beyond 2010. At the rate things are it would be sad if we would be left only with two choices in the 2010 national elections, a deposed former President or the anointed one of our very unpopular incumbent President.

The challenge for us is to go beyond our apathy and indifference to politics since if we continue to choose not to be active in looking for morally upright, effective and God-fearing leaders for our country, we will always be left to choose between who is the lesser evil. I think the Filipino deserves more than the kind of service that many of our current government leaders our giving. We have seen in Naga City through the leadership of multi-awarded Mayor Jesse Robredo that if you elect a good leader then the people can expect good governance which will translate into better delivery of basic services. Now, Naga City has been transformed from being a sleepy third class municipality to the premiere city of the Bicol Region.

Yet, amid all these problems in our country, there are still rays of hope such as the recently launched Movement for Good Governance (MGG) which aims to gather 10 million votes for a Presidential candidate that will represent the values of effective, principled and ethical leadership. This group led by civil society leaders such as former Finance Undersecretary Dr. Milwida Guevara and Ayala Foundation’s Bill Luz face a daunting task ahead but if every Filipino will join them then at least we can all hope that maybe 2010 will be the year where genuine change can finally reign in our country.

Merry Christmas to all! May the year 2009 be a more prosperous year to all of us!
For more information about MGG, you can send an email to mguevara@synergeia.org.ph.
Help promote Good Governance in our country by sending free Kaya Natin! Christmas and New Year E-cards at http://www.yehey.com/ecards/ .

Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government.

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Nobody is above the law... even the President of the Republic!

Here's a link to a short film by my campusmate, Ferdinand Dimadura, regarding the sickening poverty in our country. Please click on this link:

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a-la-Carte

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Nobody is above the law... even the President of the Republic!

BELIEVING IS 'SEEING'. Not the other way around!It is not enough that we believe in change. Democracy is not free. Faith without work is dead.. and dead it is if we do not move. Now, go and let us make it work and make some real changes in our country!

(Apologies if I mentioned anything or words that might offend the reader. Sometimes I get too emotional in bringing a point. Please read on).

CHANGE CAN BE ACHIEVED! IF OBAMA DID IT, WE CAN DO IT TOO! YES, WE CAN!

Have you ever dreamed of a dedicated leader, a President of a country who will do nothing in his whole term but to dedicate his time and effort in public service? What you've read in my captions above are true! What we need in the Philippines right now is a stronh leader (not really a leader with political or a strong background), but someone who is honest, transparent, and one who leads by example. These traits will give that leader a political will to make changes in the country. No fancy speeches and pa-pogi points will give jobs to our unemployed or food in their tables.

A leader who is corrupt can never command respect from the people. Then the leader's cronies follow. When the wicked rule, the people suffer! When the followers see corruptions coming from the top, the country too becomes corrupt. The country falls into disarray, unemployment, human rights violations, hunger, war and chaos. Neighboring countries and our allies loose their respect on us and treat us as dirt and SOBs (sons of b_tches). This is humiliation, embarrassment, disrespect to our race and our kababayan working or living abroad are treated as second, third-class citizens.

Our OFWs too are treated as slaves, ridiculed and many times insulted or maltreated by their employers. This is and has been a national tragedy for the last 50 years! Hindi pa rin ba tayo nadadala at nagsasawa? O tayong mga Pilipino ay talagang makakapal na ang mga mukha at wala ng pakialam at respeto sa ating mga sarili at naging members na ng TNMP (tribu ng mga patakbuhin)?

Below are some thoughts that are troubling my mind - from someone who has seen the country from the inside and outside for the last 20 years. I believe that implementing the things I wrote below will bring radical changes in our country.Please read comment on and comment on what I intend to do if given a chance to run our country.

The money stops here!

As a President controlling the money of the people (meaning no pork barrel and controlling corruption - real tough jobs for a leader to do nowadays), the following plans for the country will be achieved during my short term. Having a little faith in me as President of 88 million Filipinos will really move mountains.

13 AGENDA TO CHANGE THE COUNTRY

13 points to do during my 6-year term (this applies to all Filipinos from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao irregardless of religion, language or dialect, region, profession, etc.) that would bring revolutionary changes to our country (of course, without the use of guns, goons and ammos):

1. Double the salary of our, teachers, policemen, soldiers, nurses and civil servants. This will give them dignity as civil servants and improve their services. Them and the people will start trusting the government again. Of course, controlling the prices of basic commodities should be prioritized and make them affordable to all. The money saved from corruption is more than enough to double the pay of all our civil servants including funds for other major projects to benefit the poor and the unemployed. It is only by doubling the salary of our people to be able to cope with the real inflation in the country.

2. Control or curtail corruption - if we cannot eradicate it 100%.. We should create a special task force or a commission such as a real Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to run after corrupt officials and businesses that sabotage our economy. No one is exempted from the ICAC. The Bureau of Customs and the Department of Public Works and Highways should be given priority to be raided by this agency. Then private companies and corporations which corrupt will follow. Then individuals (from top to bottom),

3. Curtail RED TAPES and BUREAUCRATIC NONSENSE to speed up everything from a simple filing of income tax returns (magbabayad ka na nga ng tax, kasalanan mo pa!) to business registrations, court assistance and results, registrations of registrations, and the like. Red tapes already made our country the slowest in business and everything that should be moved to bolster economic development! This is so shameful and disgusting. Red tapes are a major source of corruption in the country.

4. No pork barrel. Civil servants (including the President, senators, governors, mayors, barangay captains should make their living via government salary and benefits ONLY. Political parties will receive nothing from the government but from their own initiatives only -- such as money from sponsors and donors or other sources only. With no pork barrel, no politician can afford to buy votes or to hire private armies to intimidate the voters. They will have no money to corrupt other corrupt officials and individuals. Them and their children (or cronies) will have no means to boast of their ill-gotten wealth. They will no longer be untouchables. We need highly-respected government officials to achieve changes. We don't vote for these public servants to bully us in the end. Public servants are not gods. They are only public servants hired by the people to keep the country strong and in order.

The people should not vote candidates coming from large political parties since the money these political parties are using during elections are actually coming from the tax payers or working masses that they have corrupted. Even candidates coming from supposed ‘opposition’ parties should also not to be voted upon. Why? Them too are corrupt. Just check who are in their line-up[we know who theyare]: Ano nga ba ang nagawa ng mga ito sa bansa para umasenso? 'Di ba puro PERSONAL na away lang ang inaatupag nila o tapunan ng kanilang mga baho o labanan ng mga political families.

5. Controlling government money (peoples’ money) and spending it accordingly: to education, health, infrastructures (roads, clinics, etc). Education means scholarships, modern schools with facilities (including additional support to government subsidized schools to modern equipment and building facilities, high quality teachers, etc. Health means health insurance for government servants including free hospitalization, modern hospitals, cheaper medicines (made locally), high pensions, etc. Infrastructures also means road and farm (or sea)-to-market roads, garbage disposal equipment, modern air and seaports, access to clean drinking water, new clean public toilets, improved postal services, more lamp posts, etc.

6. Building factories, roads, hospitals and other government projects to create more jobs and stimulate economic activities. This includes building them in provinces to enahnce employment and economic opportunities. This in a way will discourage many not to migrate to cities already over-crowded and polluted.

7. Creating income-generating projects such as loans to support small and medium entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and compete. Support business organizations to again stimulate the economy. More money circulating, more businesses, more production, more employment, higher income. Create Economic Zones to provincial areas to discourage migration of workers to cities. Economic Zones provide jobs in the provinces and further stimulate economic activities, thus developing the countrysides (provinces).

8. Self-sufficiency in food supply by supporting local farmers (both sea farming and land farming) to have access to modern equipment, raw materials for planting and good training. This is 100% possible. Farm projects including equipment and raw material support to farmers will be monitored to ensure success.

9. Self-sufficiency in raw materials not by importing but by developing our own resources (machines, equipment, tools, etc) to produce high quality products. This will improve the quality of our local products which in time will qualify for local consumption and exportation.

10. Self-sufficiency in defense, including security of our territorial waters. This means modernization of our national defense. By improving its budget, we can acquire good training and good equipment to boost the morale of our men in uniform. We will professionalize our servicemen and women by increasing their salaries and benefits, including health and housing. By giving respect to our military personnel, they become dignified and respectful to the people they protect.

Having modernized weaponry increase the effectivity of our men in uniform. By controlling corruption, we can have real funds to do this. This way, even the Spratley Islands, which are being "invaded" and claimed by China, Taiwan (only recently), Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei will have a different outcome when we fly our modern jets and hi-tech navy around these island which is geographically within the 200-mile territory of the country. Wala tayong magarang armas kaya binu-bully tayo ng mga bansang ito ngayon. 30 years ago, not one among these countries has any claim on the Spratleys because these islands were being used as target practice by our navy and the US navy. Having more than 1,700 islands it should be a prerogative of our government to have a strong navy to guard our sea. Otherwise, we will have no idea how much of our tuna and other marine products are lost to illegal fishing by foreign pouchers. This is also a perfect way to control terrorists and other illegal actitivies to ply our shores.

Lastly, we should have a strong I.D. System in the country. This will not only stop corrupt officials to profit from conniving or assisting scrupolous syndicates that bring illegal aliens, but also discourage illegal aliens to enter the country without proper documentation and taxation. This means one ID that we can use for all personal and business transacti0ns. Illegal aliens steal our jobs and transact businesses in the country without benefit to the government. A strong ID system will help facilitate our travels faster without the use of forms and other documents that create delays and discouragement to tourism.

11. Local and international promotion of the country as tourist destination where tourists are secured and satisfied with our infrastructure and services. Filipinos are good at this. Learning from the success of other countries will not really affect our egos. But this we can only be successful if we have strong image abroad that we don't have kidnappings and high crime rate in our country. We should give focus on the hygiene of our local destinations with clean public toilets (ni tissue paper wala!), availability of efficient transportation, communication, clean food, cheap hotels and other amenities expected by our local and international visitors. Again, having controlled corruption means having the funds to do this.

They should retire here! (OFWs and Filipino residents abroad including foreigners)

Filipinos who have been overseas, either working or staying permanently, should think of the Philippines as their own and should retire and enjoy their waning years here. But whose idiotic OFW or immigrant Filipino will do this if the country is riddled with corruption, hunger, violence, and disease? We should first fix and clean our homes and backyards before accepting visitors and guests. This is very basic. Failure of having simple conveniences in the country WILL NEVER bring our kababayan back to our country. They'll never even think of doing this in the first place. if our infrastructures are in shambles. This is basic.

12. Reduce importation of raw materials, finished products, but support projects that will improve our own production. Importation drains our national reserves and local businessmen become dependent of producers overseas. Importation kills our local manufacturers. We become dumping grounds of cheap foreign products. We should support our farmers, toolmakers, local manufacturers, etc.

Support them, finance them

We should support our Filipino inventors and innovators. They will give us better economic opportunities in the long run. Filipino scientists and innovators, like those developing engines that run NOT BY GASOLINE but elements like water, electricity, or alternative energy (clean and green power). They SHOULD BE given priorities. This will stop our dependency on foreign oil which has been stalking the nation for more than 50 years! Yet our leaders NEVER learned from this! This will sound bad for oil companies (local and foreign) in the Philippines. BUT our priority is for the benefit of the GREATER good.

That Filipino politician from Laguna (?) who innovated the first "e-tricycle" which runs by electricity should be given funds to develop it and make it available to the nation. He said that the "e-tricycle" only uses P20 worth of electricity for a whole day's operation! Tanga lang ang presidenteng di ito susuportahan! (unless naba-bribe siya ng mga malalaking oil companies s atin).

13. Professionally imposing the laws of the land; meaning, a powerful judiciary, controlling nepotism, cronyism, red-tape, padrino system, etc. This also applies to implementing a real LAND REFORM so that many Filipinos would have lands to till and live. The reason why real land reform is not successful in the country because this law exempts the few landowners who until now have haciendas and plantations not being investigated by the government. The government cannot do anything because many of these landowners are relatives or friends of those in the government holding high positions. Palpak talaga!

If I have the money saved from corruption, I can build more jails to discipline the corrupt, the criminals, and the pasaways! (this includes members of my family, friends, colleagues and classmates. If they too are corrupt, they land in jail. No exceptions).

Executing the laws of the land include correct accounting of taxes from all sectors of the country (personal income, business income, customs, exports, etc.). We know already that ours is country of many thousand certified accountants who do not know how to count. "Doctorism" will not be allowed anymore, unless our prisons need certified accountants too. No one will be REALLY above the law. This kind of action needs political will - and only an uncorrupt President can execute it.

Support from the U.S. and other countries

The OBAMA government hates corruption. The new American government has repeatedly snubbed the Arroyo government and our government is aware of this. When US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton made courtesy calls to America's ALLIES in Asia early this year, she snubbed the Philippines -- a supposed ally in its war on terror. She instead visited Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, etc... The Obama government knows that the Philippines, now the 'most corrupt' country in the world, cannot be relied upon, unstable, "balimbing", no political will, and an untrusted ally. Our country’s image had sunk to its deepest level during the current government.

Again, IMAGE! IMAGE! IMAGE! Pangalagaan natin!

Yes, the Americans had seen the Filipinos fighting the Japanese with them. But that was more than 60 years ago! Those were the days of gallant Filipinos, dignified Filipinos, brave, Filipinos, trusted Filipinos!

Now the Americans see corrupt Filipino leaders (most of them in the country), unrealiable, easily bribed, undependable, untrustable, coward, poor, deceitful Filipino leaders who cannot make sacrifices in times of war and crisis. Americans see a country riddled with nepotism, connivance, cronyism, bribed judges and policemen, corrupt politicians and government officials who spend their time enriching themselves out of peoples' money, custom officials and tax collectors rigging everything and conniving with local businessmen, politicians personally fighting among themselves (clan wars and political dynasty wars), a country of strong poverty and low moral, unemployed masses, a country that survives in doles and loans from other countries (which, again, are pocketed by corrupt leaders).

Corruption and in-transparency (sorry for the misuse of the word) have mained and crippled our leaders' determination and determination to stay firm and strong in times of difficulties. This is how our allies see us. It's embarassing, disgusting, frustrating and deceitful. From the eyes of our neighbors and allies, we are plain traitors.

This means the current Philippine government and those who will be running it after the current one WILL HAVE NO SUPPORT from the U.S. government (or its allies), unless they are not corrupt. Now, take a look at the line-up of presidentiables in 2010 (both form the ruling party and the opposition). Most, if not all, of these candidates are coming from old political parties and groups (many tainted and riddled with corruption scandals) or are part of them or a product of a mix of all these parties. Puro balimbing kasi. Walang isang salita ang mga 'yan!

Do we really think that the U.S. government (or other generous countries) will continue to help the Philippines if anyone of these tainted presidentiables (senators, other politikos) become the next Filipino president or leaders in 2010? Even rich countries will start to have second thoughts of helping the country when they know that the aid they will send for the poor people will only end up inside the pockets of corrupt Filipino officials. Magsasawa din sila sa kapapa-utang sa atin. They know it and they are not stupid.

If I am president, I start from scratch - by improving our own and developing our own resources and by investing on our own people. Support for our businessmen, farmers, students, soldiers, health care, insurance, infrastructures, tourism, diplomacy (local and abroad), science and engineering, research, medicine and the like which will make our people really proud and our country strong. We have to make our base really strong. Again, this can only be done by eradicating corruption and transparency. This will create patriots and people who are proud of their country.

Slow down on colonial mentality and dependency

If we want to change our country, we have to discourage colonial mentality and dependency. Change should start from within us. Then this change will open new doors and perspectives, new alternatives on how we can run our business.

We have to promote our own and support our own. This way, we stop looking at other nations treating us as second-class citizens or worst, treating us like shit. When we have made our country truly strong and independent, then nations will come to us and respect us. When this thing happens, development is on the horizon. And the time to do this is NOW!

My term is just a precedent; There to do the job and nothing else!

My term will only be a precedent to the next leader, a preparation for the next President in 2016. Like John The Baptist of old, I will only prepare the way for the next President to continue the accomplishments and achievements that we as a country have made during my term. It is only a 6 years' sacrifice. After that, I'll go back to my private life but continue to promote the country as a decent, clean, and honest destination where there is security and smiling people.

Democracy is not cheap

Putting our country on the right track will need no people power, revolutions, or civil wars. It only needs a leader who is honest, transparent, and how knows how to execute laws. Someone who knows how to whip bad peoples' asses. Ours is a budding democracy, and democracy is not cheap! It needs responsible and matured people (not matured politicians who laugh from their mistakes and stupidity and easily forgiven by "religious" Filipinos). We need strong-willed Filipinos to guard our freedom. We need Filipinos who value the sacrifices of our forefathers to become an independent nation. We need Filipinos who know how to make good laws and executive them too.

This will make the country strong, better, more stable, create a more disciplined citizenry to be aligned among the rich countries like Japan, Singapore, China, UK, or the USA.

Leading by example

After my term, the people will clamour for the next President who will also lead and worked like I did. This will also be required by the people in choosing the next senators, governors, mayors or barangay captains - to lead by example! Nakita na nila ang resulta ng may malinis na leader. Hahanapin din nila ito sa mga susunod na lider ng bansa. Hahanapin nila ang lider who leads by example!

Dignity and honor to OFWs; Back to the Philippines - JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!

This is also the best way to bring back our OFWs and highly skilled Filipinos to work in the country and help restore our dignity, creativity, and respect as a nation. Having our highly skilled kababayans back into our country will bring enormous benefits to our economy, science, engineering, and the like. Though it is everyone's right to work or travel abroad, we will do our utmost to compete with the salaries and benefits abroad to discourage our professionals to give their services to foreign lands. Working overseas would still be allowed for everyone. But priorities should be given to having decent jobs in the country!

Putting the country in order and on the right track - up and running again!

When a country is in order, there is no need to invite foreign investors to invest in our country. They will come and invest because this is good and profitable for them. The country has the best natural resources in the region. Can we inagine our 1,700 islands all filled with resorts and tourists? Can we imagine the exploding economic activities and the amount of benefits they bring to our people? Employment and other opportunities always tag along with strong tourism.

My work and business in and around Asia gave me the understanding that the Philippines has the most a country can offer among all the other countries around it. The good thing about it is that I have understood how the Asian mind operate and work, what they need, or what else can give them a win-win advantage over other Asian competitors. I know how they do business, what they require to do business with, and how both can profit so that everybody will be happy. Ours is the best country for them to retire and enjoy the profits of their labor -- this holds also true to overseas Filipinos in the region.

Sadly, many of our leaders ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS because they are so tied up with infighting, pa-pogi points, corrupting the government. Our leaders do not mingle with other Asian business leaders. They have no experience of how is it to sell the country's products overseas. They have no idea on how businessmen and business leaders operate to create a win-win environment to benefit their people. OFWs are better off since we have lived with foreigners and we know their habits, characters, weaknesses, strenghts. Can we imagine if OFWs are the ones running the country now? No one will leave the country anymore to clean the asses (I mean toilet sits) of our employers! OFWs are typically dsiciplined, trustworthy, honest (we don't steal from our employers), hardworking, aware of what is happening around us and always ready to save anyone from a burning building.

Our politicians do not have the experience of what I am saying here becasue they are so regional that they never mixed or lived with foreigners whom they are inviting to do business in the country. What our local leaders know is how to corrupt the country and focus their attention on government money (the peoples' money) and don't give a shit on what is happening around the world. They focus more on their party first, then the country second, thus, the poverty and chaos in the country.

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NO PARTY, NO MONEY, NOBODY. ONLY HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY TO THE PEOPLE

I have no party, a nobody, no money and very little experience in politics. But I have studied and learned the ups and downs and politicians and economic histories of the world. With the help of Filipinos who still believe in fighting a right cause for the people, we can fix the country. Yes, we can! (borrowed from Pres. Obama).

Political parties (most of them corrupt) and the money they use for campaigns and bribes are actually the people's money (from pork barrel or other corrupt sources). Political parties in the country only breed more corruptions. Loyalty goes to the party first, the country second. Political parties are the strengths of corrupt politicians. But this is also their weakness since anyone joining their corrupt party or anyone coming from it also means a corrupt candidate.

Don't choose candidates from big and small political parties

So, don't choose these people. We need young and fresh minds to run the country into the 21st century. Ano ba naman yan, 21st century na puro trapo pa rin ang nagpapatakbo ng ating bansa! Hindi sa minamaliit ko ang ating mga politiko. I respect some of them for their integrity and service. Pero nakita naman natin na walang asenso at walang yaman sa mga trapong politiko. Bakit pa natin sila susuportahan at bobotohan kung alam naman natin na walang puturo sa mga trapo?!?!? Ang tagal-tagal ng ganito ang situwasyon sa atin pero hindi pa rin tayo nagsasawa. Kailan ba natin maiintindihan na karamihan sa mga politikong nasa puwesto ngayon ay pinapaulit-ulit lang ang panahon (more than 40 years na, kabayan!): the same faces, the same names, the same style of ineffective governance).

Huwag na natin iboto ang mga kandidatong galing sa pamilya ng politiko. Hindi sila epektibo. Tatay pa nila hindi rin epektibo. Popular lang pero walang nagawang asenso sa bayan. Aquinos, Macapagal, Roxas, Marcos, Estradas, Pimentels, Arroyos, halos lahat ng sendor at karamihan ng mga kongresista na nasa posisyon ngayon ay walang naibigay na financial at livelihood gains sa maraming Pilipino. Ang mga politikong ito ay lahat FAILURES sa kanilang termino mula pa ng panahon ng mga tatay or nanay nila. People powers? Napawalang saysay dahil hindi naipatupad na ikulong ang mga corrupt. So, people power lang sa papel! Marami pa rin ang gutom!

Gising na, bayan ko!

WE CAN DO WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE

But I have the Obama spirit (though not a real fan of this guy) and the experience overseas (more than 20 years) that will make a lot of difference from the old and tired politicians (many of them corrupt) in our country. I have been to countries with good governments and good citizens and observed them a lot. I have lived in countries where medical health, high salaries and education are the priorities of its leaders and have worked in countries with strong governments where corruption is punished severely.

I have seen the Philippines from the inside and outside and came to know of her weaknesses and how to fix them with very little damages. I have learned how to earn my money in decent way and have no ambition earning zillions. I am not a believer in material possession. My CHECK AND BALANCE contract which is open to the people will prohibit me from acquiring ill-gotten wealth. (see CHECK AND BALANCE below). I will be the first and only president that censors my efficiency and honesty to the peole. No other world leader has a personal contract to his/her people - only in the Philippines.

Hindi naman natin madadala ang pera sa kabilang buhay, 'di ba? We already know what happened to corrupt officials who stole from their people. Huwag na nating itong pamarisan pa.

DAHIL POGI, SIKAT AT KILALA NA, BINOTOHAN --SINO ANG NAGING KAWAWA SA HULI? TAYO RIN!

We saw what happened to our country when we chose leaders who are movie stars, military personnel, radio and TV broadcasters, sons or daughters or even relatives of former politicians, religious, etc. Resulta? WALANG NANGYARI AT WALANG ASENSO ANG TAO! Huwag botohan dahil mayaman, pogi, maganda, or anak ng dating politiko, or dahil sikat! Kapag nanalo ang mga ito, nanakawin lang ang pera mo. Gising na, Pilipinas!

Sinong mga pogi at sikat na mga artista ang nagpadagdag sa kita natin sa bansa? WALA! Puro kurakot lang ang mga ito. Walang alam na strategy para maibsan ang kahirapan at gutom sa bansa. Mula sa taas hanggang sa kulelat na politiko walang long-term plans and goals para sa bansa! Tayo ang kawawa.. nasa kanila ang pera.

VOTE-BUYING? OFWs CANNOT BE BOUGHT

Ilagay sa bulsa ang perang bigay ng corrupt na mga politiko or businessman na ka-connive nila. Tamang pangalan ng makataong kandidato ang ilagay sa balota para ikaw at ang bayan ay hindi na maisahan!
This is where I am putting a lot of faith from our overseas Filipinos since they are the kinds of hard-working Filipinos who have seen the realities outside the country and appreciated (sometimes hated) how is it to be a country in order, with leaders who think about their people and are proud of their roots.

These are Filipinos who experienced the sanctity of the ballot and whose votes can never be corrupted. These are Filipinos who learned the value of transparency, accountability, honesty, strong political will, and service to the people. These are the Filipinos who have worked and settled to countries whose leaders are highly respected because they are dedicated and have high regard for the welfare, protection, and security of their people (our kababayan included). Their honesty and good service made their countries strong and stable for many years.

PAG-ASA NG BAYAN

OFWs and immigrant Filipinos who now can vote will really bring changes in the country. Ten percent of our population are working or living abroad. This means more than 8 million Filipinos, many of them can vote, can actually create a strong president!
Perhaps NOW is the time for us to link-up, to bolt-in, to do real networking to put someone in Malacanang who has no ambition to become a zillionaire (I can earn more money after my term becoming very famous after putting the country back in the right track again -- this time as a dignified and developed country).

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MY CHECK AND BALANCE FOR A GOOD PRESIDENT

How will you know that I will not become a corrupt public servant or will not end like the corrupt ones? TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, STRONG POLITICAL WILL and HONESTY is my game:

1. ONE BANK ACCOUNT - I will only have one (1) bank account and any Filipino can call my bank and ask for my bank balance 24/7. Having two (2) bank accounts will mean my immediate resignation. No impeachment is necessary. This account will be my only bank account during my 6 years in office which is subject to government audit life-style check every month. All my financial dealings are open to the public for scrutiny and audited by independent representatives from various sectors of the society. Any Filipino can call my bank and inquire my bank balance.

2. ANTI-NEPOTISM -- If anyone of my relatives, friends or colleagues was able to enter Malacanang unofficially or any government post will mean my immediate resignation. No impeachment necessary.

3. SEEN BY PEOPLE 24/7 -- I will be in front of the camera during my official working time as an employee of the people, 24/7. Any official deals done off-camera will mean my resignation. All contracts and laws signed by me are all under the camera. Failure of doing this will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.

4. BONDY CLOCK AT MALACANANG -- I will install a bondy clock in Malacanang. This means everyone working there as public servants, including myself, will time in and out - just like a regular government worker. If I miss registering my entry even for a single day will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary. This is a simple way to tell everyone that the president is not above the law.

5. NO VIP TREATMENT -- No VIP treatment, except official visits in and out of the country. No helicopters, SUVs, yachts, golf meetings, etc. Having used any of these toys will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.

6. PRO-MASSES, FRIENDLY TO BUSINESSES -- Neglecting the poor Filipinos and not supporting business will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.

7. EMPOWERING THE PESO -- If I was not able to uplift or increase the purchasing power of Filipinos (including additional employment and development of the economic status of government servants) after my first year in office, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
8. NO RELIGION -- I will have NO religion during my term. If the problem in Mindanao is not resolved or at least see any light at the end of the tunnel in two years, I will resign. No impeachment necessary. As President, I will not be a respecter of persons. This means, I will have NO religion during my term. All religions will be treated equal.
9. IMPROVE IMAGE -- If the country has not achieved anything in improving its facilities and image abroad after my first year, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
10. REGULAR LIFESTYLE CHECK --If I am richer than what I am supposed to receive during my first, second, third till sixth year, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
11. DEDICATION TO WORK ONLY -- There to do the job and nothing else. My six years will only be focused on rebuilding the country: bringing back the trust of the people to the government, increasing employment and production, peace and order, health, education, diplomacy, income, creating opportunities in business, science, politics, etc. This is only for 6 years so that no doubts and malicious issues will affect my term. This is to show how sincere I am in this business.
12. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! BUSINESS! BUSINESS! BUSINESS! -- My failure to create more jobs for the people means my resignation. No impeachment necessary. Eradicating corruption means opening of new investments and businesses. This means more jobs to our people. No corruption means very good business too. Having a fair business environment brings a lot of opportunities, wealth and secutiry to the people.
Note: These 12 Check and Balance conditions shall be signed by me in front of the camera and witnesses and copies of this document shall be posted to all schools, colleges and universities in the country to remind our young generations of Filipinos that nothing beats transparency and honesty in public service.
Any Philippine politician who can do my 12 Check and Balance conditions will have my honest VOTE!
+++***+++
Political philosophy (what I thought are sensible):
It is my belief that the President of the land is just a caretaker of the people and not a god or someone who is untouchable. The president is worthy of respect because of the office, not to be treated as someone who is high up there who's unreacheable. Suweldohan lang siya ng tao para mamahala sa kapakanan ng tao. For 6 years, dito lang dapat naka-focus ang attention ng Presidente at wala ng iba. Ang isang sundalo ng pamahalaan ay kagaya lamang ng Presidente na parehong suweldohan at wala ng iba. Hindi.
Hindi rin dapat abusuhin ng lider ang taong bayan sa maraming pamamaraan lalo na ang dayain sila. Sagrado ang boto ng tao na dapat pangalagaan ng bawat mamamayan--- kasama na ang Presidente.
Karapatan ng mamamayan na patalsikin ang isang lider na corrupt at sinungaling sa bayan. Kaya nga dapat lahat ng lider sa bansa ay transparent para maalis ang duda at kutya ng tao sa kanila. Ito lang ang paraan para respetuhin silang muli at manumbalik ang kaayusan sa bansa.
Kapag mahirap ang bansa, hindi maaalis ang corruption at pandaraya. Kapag corrupt ang lider, corrupt din and mga followers. Kawawa ang mamamayan.
Tandaan natin ito: When corrupt leaders reign, the people suffer. When leaders do not have VISIONS, the people will perish! Itaga mo yan sa bato: panahon pa ng Bibliya at ng Kuran, applicable na yan..
Leading by example is always the best barometer for an effective leader. Nothing beats honesty and sincerity to the people. The more transparent we are to our constituents, the better they respect us and follow our orders. The will love the leader and never ask him/her to leave the office.
There is no need to cheat the constitution just to stay in power. Honest and transparent leaders last longer and their legacy treasured by the people. They even teach this legacy in schools to be emulated by the next generations.

Please tell me what you think (email me at rsadiosa@yahoo.com). Thank you.

***** +++*******

STRINGS OF CORRUPTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS BLOG

(On the right side of this blog are day-to-day update on corruptions, irregularities, graft, deceipts, injustices and the like that are hampering our prosperity and directly affecting the lives of millions of Filipinos everyday. Some of the stories are a result of or happened due to the mentioned evils in our society.

The latest survey says the Philippines is now the most corrupt country in the world. I call on the remaining honest Filipinos all over to do something about this. Makialam! Let's get organized before everything's too late and can not be saved anymore). All stories are from Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star and other major printed dailies.

I am reposting all these items here because I need not say anything at all -- our countrymen (politicians, religious, students, etc. who are in the country) are the ones doing us a favor of revealing the impact of the above evils in our society. Just the same, I'll post my personal comments once in a while. Kudos to all of them)

Why I'm Running For President

WYSIWYG! Transparency is the Name of the Game!

"What you see is what you get" - When I am president, what you see in me the first time I entered Malacanan will be the same things you will get after I get out of the people's building: same shirt, wrist watch, pants and shoes that I wore when I entered it. Nothing more, nothing less.

Funny or stupid? Yes! Sometimes a leader of a people should sound look funny and stupid to be able to show the people that the leader is worthy of their trust and confidence. If it's needed, then it should be done. If it's needed for me to stay and live in that palace having the least possession possible, yet noble enough to represent the country as its premier executive, then it should be done.

No flashy Rolex watches or signature get-ups or flashy presidential cars or helicopters to show to the world that the country is not suffering from poverty and economic collapse. Anyone, anybody can audit me after my term on my property, money, or any ill-gotten wealth. In fact, this thing can be done every month just to satisfy the public that I'm not stealing the wealth of the people.

Below are my penny thoughts if I am president of the Philippines (this is a continuing update on my plans to benefit our people -- please bear with me:)

Salary and Benefits

Of course, I'll get be entitled to a monthly presidential salary and benefits - just like an ordinary government employee (This subject will be dicussed later in this blog - but to give you an idea, as president, I will only get what is due me as a public servant: that is, salary and benefits. No other "perks" na hindi naman kailangan! Perks are abused and being used by many of our public officials to corrupt and be corrupted!).

I will only carry one (1) ATM card issued by a regular Filipino bank during my term to get my salary. I will have no other bank account inside or outside the Philippines. This bank account is always open to the public or media to scrutinize 24/7.

Warehouse Beside The Palace

I will build a small warehouse beside Malacanan Palace - there to store all items in form of gifts, donations, "lagay", "palangis o padulas", and the many other items given to me by individuals, companies or corporations during my term (cash or in kind). That warehouse shall be opened at the end of my term and the government shall auction all these items and the cash and sales proceeds to be given back to the coffers of the Filipino people.

24/7 At Candid Camera!

Public and private television cameras shall be installed inside the palace to monitor everything that I do - that is, 24/7, even when I am snoring in my sleep! This is for the people to see what is going with me and the people around me every second of the day. The people will see what documents or agreements I sign. The people will see and hear what we are talking about during official and non-official meetings. I will even ask these TV channels to follow me everywhere I go (well, except taking a shower and when I am ehermmm.. you know what I am talking about) even to various regions and cities around the country. Perhaps, this reminds you of the movie "TRUMAN" (I'm not endorsing the movie po).

Special committee from various sectors to monitor all meetings round-the-clock

If cameras are not enough for the people to see my day-to-day activities, I will form a council committee of 12 to 20 persons coming from various sectors of the country to serve as monitors as well as advisers on what is best for the whole country. Of course, there will still be a cabinet to function accordingly. These councilmen and women will be witnesses too on my daily activities and they are directly accountable to the people -- not to the president.

So, who will dare corrupt me and the people around me when many TV channels are aimed at us 24-hours a day? Of course, nobody will secretly creeps beside me and whisper something of a corrupt nature because we are always in candid camera! I hope that the country's senators, governors, mayors and people at various government departments will do the same in the name of transprency and accountability.

This is a challenge, but could be done. This way, only the truest and honest public officials will come out, step forward and run for public office. I am sure, many of the old politicians (TRAPOS) who have are being fed by pork barrels will not like this. They too will be subject to monthly scrutiny financially and administratively.

Candid camera is a sacrifice indeed! But, it's only for 6 years and I think I can deal with that for the the benefit of more than 88 million compadres in the country. Like what Ninoy said, "The Filipino is worth dying for" --- sacrificing --- even!

Dependency is a tragedy

We have been too dependent to foreign goods and services for many decades! This has to stop or better yet, improve our own quality of production of basic food and necessities to discourage dependency to foreign products. Practically everything from nail cutters to cars and oil are imported. This drains our dollar reserves and leaves us at the mercy of foreign producers suffering the greater brunt during oil and financial crisis.

My Australian colleague who's married to a Filipina told me that "When China sneezes, we catch the flu!" This is irony and sin by a government to its people! This should never happen and should not be tolerated. An oil crisis always leaves our country in its sorriest state because we are at the mercy of foreign dependency. Sickening? Yes!

These economic factors will neve make our country strong -- even our economy. We can never claim to have a strong republic (sorry to borrow this from President Arroyo) when our people are poor, when more than 8 million workers are overseas suffering their families back home. We are creating and have created a generation of "father-less", "mother-less", "kuya" or "ate" -less family! This kind of family unit will never create a strong republic!

The social effect of this "human export" is very alarming because we have already produced new generations of Filipinos who do not respect their parents, who are drug addicts, have low morals, psychologically unstable, low esteem, incompetet. This kind of generation is unproductive, undisciplined, and do not respect moral values. Result? You have a bunch of Filipinos who will only REPLACE their OFW parents abroad when their time is ripe. So, the cycle continues until forever. The long-term effect is actually a weak generation, weak family, weak nation! This social cost is our tragedy. We have to stop this cycle and the time is NOW!

Brain-drain

When many of the best brains in our country are giving their best skills and technical know-how to foreign countries, this too will never create a strong republic! When corruption in the country is never controlled, this too will never create a strong republic! How can we create a strong republic when we have the lowest salaried civil servants in the region? How can we have a strong republic when our neighboring countries decades ago are poorer than us -- are stealing our islands and practically dumping their inferior products to the Filipino consumers? We can never claim ourselves a strong nation when many of our infrastructures and economic factors are weak and unstable.

Philippines Back In The Limelight-Cool Country This Time

I am sure it will not take a month or two, the Philippines will get back on her feet again and be respected by many nations and peoples around the globe. Of course, CNN, CNBC, BBC and various other mainstream media will be in front of me asking questions never before asked from former Philippine presidents.

But come to think of it, a president so transparent and open to the people -- the only one of its kind in the whole world! Haha.. But his has to be done for the government to get back the trust of the people. I am sure that many countries will start to copy what I am doing as president in the name of transparency and accountability.

Me as president will never be above the law in any moment of my term. This I will do for six (6) years as leader and public servant. I know you are already imaginng the consequences of this very simple act of sacrifice to win (again) the hearts of the Filipino people who are responsible for their government. Stupid, yes! But, practical and highly effective!

Am I serious? You bet! Because this is the only way where I can bring the government closer to the people and the people to the government. I want the people to trust the government once again, and the government returning the favor to the people specially the poorest.

Something like this should be done if one is really sincere to revolutionize the whole system in the country.

Family, Friends, Relatives Off-Limits

Sorry, everyone is off-limits including my own family. No friends, relatives, lovers, family members (wife and children) are allowed to inside Malacanan or can come near me for the next six years. This is to avoid political speculators, gossips and rumour adventurers to make sensational stories. Sorry, no former classmates too are allowed to come near me or have a drinking spree with me or the people around me while I am president.

Plataporma de Gobyerno? Non: Just Clean and Maintain It (good laws already passed)!

Except for the really urgent and necessary matters, I have non! I do not make promises. I will stay as president for six years just to CLEAN and MAINTAIN the government and let the sconomic factors run naturally. We already have the best laws in the land. We only need to EXECUTE them! When we have a clean government, people are happy. When people are happy, they become creative, bold, enthusiastic, idealistic, resposnsible and very creative! When ocrruption is curtailed, there is money in the coffers. When there is money in the coffers, the teachers, soldiers, policemen, government employees down to the rank-and-file- receive double salaries inclduing 13th, 14th month pay!

When these people have double salaries, other people respect them and woul want to join them because they receive more from working with private companies or corporations. When the private sector sees that government people receive more than what they give to their people, they have no choice but be competitive. So, they increase their wages too otherwise nobody will work for them anymore!

Discipline and security

And so, when people's purchasing power are increased, the economy starts to move again in real sense! This is very simple economic theory that needs no further explanations. And so, the people, being happy with what they are receiving from their labors start to trust the government again. They start to have dignity in their work. Many will become honest workers because they are happy with their jobs. They start to buy insurance policies and other protections for their loved ones. They improve their health protections too. They start to eat good food and afford to buy extra for their conveniences at home or at a working pace. They start to think of going their own ways such as starting their own small businesses. They start to have savings. Banks, having safe-kept a lot of money from the public, will start to lend money again and compete on the lowest interest rates to the public. People start to respect themselves and see the value of discipline and security.

Strong Business - Strong Economy (Economic Rebound)

The government should work hand-in-hand with the business sector not only protecting their interests but helping them by putting up excellent infrastructures to assist them move products and services around the nation. The government should give them incentives to be able to have a friendly business environment. It should give them police protection (against thieves, pirates, corrupt BIR, customs, and other government sectors) which discourage our businessmen to invest more and put in more money in the circulation. Of course, our businessmen hoarders and the like should be punished and put behind bars when they abuse this privileges).

Now, a president is a public employee, hired by them to execute tasks to benefit everyone. This includes businessmen. We need a cordial and competitive market to produce a vibrant economy. This in turn produces employment, higher income for the people and CONVENIENCE for everyone. There will be less bystanders, drug addicts on the streets. Higher income always invite opportunities defeating idleness for the people. A convenient locale is always the best place to rear a family.

When a cordial economic environment is produced, investors start to think bigger businesses giving larger opportunities for all sectors in community to grow financially. This means more employment opportunites, more competitions, more banks lending money to the people, more purchasing power to the people, more savings. Health and securities are improved. The people starts to have better spending habits. They become more aggressive and smarter in their financial priorities. More people indulge in business and others put their money together and form their own companies. More companies, more employment. More employment opportunities means higher salaries. Result? Less Filipinos will work overseas since what they earn locally is just the same by working abroad.

This will result in more production factories being built by local investors, more food for the people, more work, more income. Out locally-manufactured products are improved and can compete with imported brands. First we compete with small and medium-sized foreign companies. Later, we compete with multinationals! Step-by-step, slowly but surely, we can outsmart and outrun imported products by our own. This is not an impossibility -- this can be a reality!

Export! Export! Export!
Produce! Produce! Produce!

I love that the old adage by President Magsaysay: "If you want a hammer for your nail, PRODUCE one!"

We should learn the value of producing our own tools, machineries, cars, food, clothing, shelter needs! These are the basic needs that we should be having in our country -- not buy and import them from other countries. I know people would think we are kind of LATE na with our Asian neighbors. But let them think that way. It is never too late for us to start producing our own when the welfare and security of our 88 million people are at stake. Saan ba nagsisimula 'yan kindi sa maliit! And this is always true any time, anywhere! When I am president and I have the funds, we'll start this!

After WWII, the Koreas of today and even Japan were heavily destroyed. But they started to build their own small factories and started to produce tools, radios and the like (while the Philippines was importing everything from America such as chocolates, bread, tools, cars, refs, etc..). Many Asian countries were actually laughing at their products because they were so inferior and out of design against American and European brands. China, at this time, was still at war with itself ad was very poor. Look at these countries now. No further comments.

When we have our tools and machines to manufacture, then we produce more. Our surplus should be exported at competitive prices. The reason why China is an export powerhouse is its more than 20+ years of manufacturing research and development --with consistent tract record. Yes, they went into various ups and downs on quality busts, copyright infringements, ridiculed products and all that. We also understand China's human rights record and the environmental cost of over-production. They have millions of underpaid and low-skilled workers.

But we need not undego the same experiences with this economic giant-- we should learn from their experiences! We can have strong check and balances regarding these weaknesses and but try to benefit from its strong points. Filipinos are fast-learners, ambitious, and excellent workers (our overseas workers' track records and those in the country can attest to this) . We give them the right tools --- and rewards --and then they become more industrious and happy workers.

Before becoming an economic exporter perhaps in the region (Asia), we should slowly develop our infrastructures: road, factories, irrigation, airports, sources of raw materials (which our country has more than sufficient natural resources to tap), railways, telephone services, bank services, etc. These things should serve as support for all for industrialization and other business activities.

Then we start to build factories which will produce various products, first for our local needs, then for export. We should always believe in the Filipino products! They are good quality, cheaper and good value. This way, we also help our local farmers and producers earn more and increase their produce and quality.

Our prices should always be competitive -- not too greedy to earn zillions in short periods of time, but build them as institutions which will have far-reaching effect for our people and businessmen. Here, we are not only creating cheaper products locally, but also creating millions of jobs for our people not to languish in foreign lands for jobs. This will also make Filipino families stronger and happier.

What I am saying here is that this is possible if we can only get rid of corruption and putting the right investments (and government funds) to the right projects to benefit the people. When a president only thinks of the welfare and security of his people, then these things are very possible and can be done in a shorter period of time.

Now that the Galoc oil field near Palawan is starting to produce oil at an average of 20,000 barrels per day (bpd), this will save us at least US$1.8 billion of the annual US$6-8 billion we pay for imported oil. Energy Secretary Angleo Reyes said that Galoc will provide 6% of our daily oil demand.

This is exactly what I am saying here: that we should start producing our own and reduce our oil dependency abroad! I hope we have more of this kind in producing food, materials, clothing, housing, and other daily necessities so that no Filipino is hungry and cold.

Image! Image! Image!

I always am a believer in creating strong image before our country becomes an economic powerhouse. In my travels overseas, I always come across few of our government-produced advertisements inviting tourists and investments in the country. This is good -- but, we need to do more -- and target the right market, the right tourists if we are to succeed effectively.

One time in Hong Kong, I joined a Bureau of Tourism showcase of Philippine tourism which was held at a 5-star hotel in Central-Hong Kong. In my estimate, the government spent around HK$5 million for the whole event which was attended by less than 200 Chinese and foreign locals. Did it worked?

Hmmm... I was contemplating if the government really was effective on that project since it can actually do a similar project which is more effective than showcasing the country to a mere 200 audience and spending HK$5 million.

I told myself, "what if the government gave me Php5 million to print 200,000 good flyers as well as hosting a huge outdoor concert at the Central Park which could invite more than 5,000 to 8,000 locals (middle and low-income) to attend it! These is the right target market since these are the frequent visitors who flood various Asian beaches and spas and spend their extra money ro relax, not the 200 elite who attended that event at the 5-star hotel!"

Well, 200,000 flyers are for the more than 120,000 Filipino maids to give direct to their employers to visit the country. I think this is more effective in bringing tourists to our shores. Have you guessed how much millions I saved for being wiser and smarter?

Trusting each other

Then the people start to trust their banks, their civil service, the police, the military, themselves! Then we start to produce more disciplined people. More determined, more focused to success.

Having this kind of people will now invite foreign trust. Then they start talking highly of us. They start to compare us with our neighbors. They start to have trust and confidence in us as an independent people -- a strong nation. They start to rethink and reconsider their investments from our neighbors. They start to look for Filipino partners and ask zillions of questions about economic opportunities in the Philippines. Having a disciplined work force, strong security, strong, vibrant, and free economy, good infrastrucutures (transportation, housing, communicaitons, etc...) are the perfect engridients to a strong flow of foreign investments.

I promise you that this is the ONLY TIME foreigners will think of investing in our country. They knew us for decades already and they know where to put their money and trust. So, there is no need for us to spend millions in enticing and inviting them to invest in our land if they know we aren't ready for them! Of course, if their investments are not SECURED, they will never consider putting their money in the Philippines. That simple. They are not stupid! Period!

The money starts to flow

The money starts to flow, the economy becomes robust, stable and businesses start to flourish. The peso now becomes really stable and confidently uses its strenght to brings down the exchange rate until it finds its real value. Perhaps, US$1 to P1? Who knows? The Singaporean dollar almost equals the US dollar!

I know there will be questions regarding this item, but suffice me for the moment to make our kababayan in the Philippines be happy for. I'll take care of your questions later.

A government which controls the cash and knows how to spend them FOR the benefit of the people (rich and poor) is helpful in establishing a strong economy, a strong country.

Government-ran Corporations

We have to revive the government-run corporations and businesses to compete locally and globally. Aside from creating thousands of new jobs, we can revive government businesses which can compete with muli-national corporations who now have the say on what level of profit they wanna get at the end of the day!

Create a national oil corporation to compete against Caltex, Shell, etc... so there is always a competitive oil available to the masses (even the rich) to buy. If the government controls the cash, we can always create companies which can produce cheaper food, buy lands to till, to grow cheaper rice and all manners of food necessities. If there is an abundant supply of food, the price is always cheaper.

What I am trying to drive at is that the people always look at the government as the last resort to defend them in times of difficulties because they have empowered them to build these infrastructures. The National Food Authority (NFA) has and always been the rice defender of the people against scrupolous hoarders and greedy middlemen to bring down the price of rice at stable, affordable level for the masses to afford. They should stop politicizing and corrupting the NFA to do its job accordingly. Those NFA officials who have succumbed to corruption must be put behind bars!

What if we can duplicate and triplicate the NFA to say, oil, cement, clothing, shelter or day-to-day needs of our people? The government can buy land to plant more rice and other food or grow cattle for more milk -- and for us not to be dependent on China's contaminated milk? We can better develop these industries to serve the people. We have the best minds in the world. It's a matter of putting all our acts together and become independent in a real sense! Politics won't put food in our tables --but farmers and fishermen will.

Any over-supply will be treated as exports. This means additional income of the country overseas.

Instead of politicians fighting and insulting each other and wasting time, money and efforts while in office (the money and time by the way, are from the people's taxes) why not forget their political ambitions and start focusing on improving the lives and welfare of their own people? It's because at the end of the day, politicians already have the millions of pork barrel in their pockets and are not worried who or how many Filipinos are sleeping hungry. Politicians think differently because they do not know how is it to sleep hungry. They always have the money to sit in sessions the whole day and not worry of anything at all. They can afford to talk and talk and do lip-service the whole year and not worry of anything at whatsoever while millions of their kababayan are struggling hard to survive.

When I am president and have stopped this pork barrel, what do you think would happen to them? It will be a complete reversal of the pyramid: an inverted pyramid where the masses are on top and the politicians below!

The Hypocrisy of Land Reform

Real land reform is always beneficial to the greater number of our kababayan with no land to till and produce food or businessmen to make use of idle lands for economic use. We know that the Philippines is owned by a few personalities including the church (not very specific, but i guess you know whom I am talking about). Since the Spanish time down to the Americans, Japanese and recent time, majority of land in the country is owned by a few landlords. Without genuine land reform or redistribution of land for a fair price, it will be difficult for our greater number of people to make use of their skills in becoming more productive economically.

I suggest the government buys all idle lands from these landlords to make them useful. Since these powerful owners do not follow the land reform law, it might as well buy these lands from them at a fair market price. If they do not want to sell them, it is a matter of national security for the government to impose its will to acquire these lands according to the law. In this dire economic situation, it is always lawful for a government to impose its will to buy back these lands for the benefit of the majority. I think there is no sane land owner who will not understand this. If the people are getting hungry and there is no land to till for food, it is morally right for the government to resolve the situation. I am not saying that the government should grab these idle lands, but to acquire them at a fair price.

With more lands to till, the government will have many options to make use of them. Sell, lend, or make use of these lands accordingly to improve food supply, more employment, or added investments for the future. Land never depreciates and it's always available in times of crisis.

As a president with lots of money in hand, I can do a lot to improve the use of these lands in hundreds of different ways to secure our food, clothing, shelter, and investments. Investments beget investments. Money begets money. It is better to have more and export our surplus than have little and drain our reserves. Exports bring us not only stability but confidence from other nations. They see us as a powerhouse -- unalienated by foreign dependency and mercy. Being in a mercy state is synonimous to begging. This is a sorry state and always ridiculous to other nations. They never command trust, confidence and respect not only from our own people but from other nations. A weak people is a weak nation!

This is a sensitive topic, but now timely to discuss in this blog. I'll take care of this in a little while.

Money Back To The People

How can an honest policeman accept bribes when his career is at stake or his name and reputation tarnished when he is already receiving double salary? How could a teacher care to sell food stuff or other items in the school when he or she is already receiving double salary? You see, everyone will be surprised to see that instead of having salary deductions on their pay cheques (our teachers have been suffering from this injustice for more than 40 years!), they will they see "salary additions"?

Yes, the government can actually turn these deductions into additions or added benefits to our public servants when the people's taxes are used properly (this topic is discussed below on "Where To Get The Money To Double The Pay Of Public Servants?").

Strong Military

When there is no pork barrel and other perks, and the money is being well-spent to proper disbursements, the ordinary people will have enough to survive and pehaps enjoy more of the necessities of life. A lot of good money from the people will be used properly instead of these politicians pocketing the money themselves (read the corruption articles in this blog. There are many). Like the old dadge: "The buck stops here!" When the president has the control of the cash, corruption will be controlled.

There will be less pasaway politicians and their families or friends. Palakasan will be limited. You'll never see the son of a mayor or a congressman drives his dad's car - which is after all a product of his dad's corruption -- in the streets zigzagging like crazy just because his dad's the mayor or a congressman!

The same thing applies to a country having a strong military. Our country is the least among Asian nations to have a strong police or military infrastructure. Kawawa talaga ang ating mga sundalo! They are the least paid, least cared of, least equipped in times of trouble and peace.

I am for a strong military -- meaning well-paid personnel with modern weaponry because they are those who are vulnerable to daily threats and harms. They have their families too and all of them Filipinos. Ours is the only SWAT team in the world which has antique weaponry! SWAT means "special weapons and tactics". But what do we have in our cities? SWAT with no special weapons and even tactics! No further explanations needed here!

The reason why the MILF and communist rebels are very active again is because they have the same weapons that our military has. They are not even afraid to fight our military because for them our military is not a threat at all! Although engaging in war with them is not my best solution, personally, diplomacy and economic development are still the best solutions here. But, considering that our military has advanced weaponry, I guess these rebels will lessen their activities or even sit down and ask for dialogues.

Slowly but surely, our islands are being "owned" and "invaded" by our neighboring countries who twenty or something years ago are but the poorest and least powerful countries in the region! Now, even Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and China have flags inplanted in our Spratleys! Damn, these opportunists! Twenty or something years ago, these islands were being used by the Philippines and United States navies as firing ranges and nobody -- just nobody among these stupid countries are present in any of those islands.

Reason why they have their landing strips there now and flags? Becasue we have a weak navy and air force! Nothing prohibits or stops these coutnries to plant a flag in any of those islands which the Philippines literally owns. What's next, Taiwan or Malaysia to plant their flags in those small islets in Tawi-Tawi? Not an impossibility since our navy cannot defend them!

These countries have no respect at all in our sovereignity. Period!

These days, no amount of diplomatic wrangglings can better impose your will if you have a weak police, army, navy and air force. Give me the budget to modernize our armed forces and I'll kick the hell out of these foreign invaders from our islands! Talk is cheap and diplomacy is a sign of weakness when you do not have the political will to impose what's yours.

Our caountry can be easly bullied by China or even by smaller countries like Taiwan or Vietnam because we do not have it! Because of corrutpion, the money, which we have to modernize our military, go to their pockets and elsewhere. And these politicians and their cohorts don't mind about it since they have the cash already in their pockets.

A country who can't manage its thugs and garbage is never a strong country

How can we call ourselves a strong country when we cannot even put our thugs behind bars, or better still, manage our garbage on the streets?

How can we stir local and foreign tourism when we do not have clean public toilets or tissue paper inside them?

The People Prosper In The Land And There Was No Poor Among Them; OFWs go home, at last!

You see, when people with capital start to see that there is money revolving in the economy, they start to trust the market again. They start to put in more investments and others are benefited specially those who are un employed. So Filipinos going abroad will start to rethink of their decisions whether to go abroad or just stay locally - anyway, what the compensation their receive by working locally is just or almost the same as what they will receive overseas.

So, we retain many of our best teachers, engineers, doctors, nurses, drivers and nannies to invest their skills and talents locally. Bottom line? When we have the best brains work locally, the nation is greatly benefited. We can never imagine the impact on the economic cycle just because we have doubled the salary of our public servants!

Prequel Term

My six-year term is only a prequel, not a sequel, for the next president to continue our march to development-- I mean real progress. I will be acting like a mechanic who fixes everything that is cranking in a car. All the funny sounds coming from its engine to its wabbling tires down to its smallest imperfection should be fixed for its owner to gladly pay him his due. A smooth car is always a happy car for its owner.

Now, try to think of that car as our economy and peace and order. I will be there to fix it -- with the help of the 88 million Filipinos in the country and the more than 3 million living or working overseas. You see, this is a national cancer that should be worked together by every Filipino-- no excuses. What I will have accomplished economically and politically should be improved by the next president -- not destroy it. The next president will have no choice but to continue our development for the betterment of all people.

A country of sluggards and beggars

Ours is a country with a downward indicator. From President Osmenia to Magsaysay to Roxas, Marcos, Aquino (well, except President Ramos), to President Estrada and now President Arroyo (of the Macapagal clan who was also president). Ours is a continuing DEPENDENCY from the United States and other affluent neighboring countries. We are a borrowing country and an economic sluggard in Asia. We were the first who withdrew from Iraq against terrorism. Our image is a continuing NEGATIVITY in ALL aspects of life. Ours is the weakest security in Asia, a total laughing stock always at the MERCY of everybody. We are continuing to produce people who are destined to serve as maids, engineers, nurses, entertainers, mariners, teachers, doctors, pilots, etc. for foreign countries -- and not to our own. This has been happening for the last 40+ years! AREN'T WE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS SHAME? Can't we not give our people the chance to earn decent leaving in their own land? When will this end?

If our answers to the above questions is no, then let us get ready for the next 40+ more years of economic suffering and degradation -- to be scoffed and insulted by the whole world!

While having lunch in a Filipino eatery in Hong Kong, I met Tita Margs, her daughter Marilou, and Marilou's daughter Rhia. All of them working as domestic helpers from different amos (employers). Now, Rhia's planning to go back home to marry his boyfriend Nelson, who is waiting to Rhia before he leaves for Saudi Arabia to work as a mechanic. So, I asked Rhia if she has plans to stay permamently in Manila after their marriage. Rhia told me that perhaps she will stay, but preferred to go back to Hong Kong for the same employer. So, I asked her if she has plans for her baby when she gets pregnant. She told me that perhaps her baby may also end up working in Hong Kong as a maid.

I don't know about you, but I guess this family, having no choice to work for decent living in the Philippines, will have a very happy one.

When are we going to start believing in ourselves? When are we going to start giving a little respect to our dignity? When are we going to stop being dependent to other countries? When are we going to start producing our own food, shelter, clothing? When are we going to get rid of corruption and putting corrupt people in jail? When are we going to get tired of all these weaknesses? When are we going to stop begging?

My countrymen, the time is NOW! Let's get a LIFE! Let's get our acts together and be organized! Let's start to care for ourselves, our neighbors, our families, our nation! It is NEVER too late to FIX our nation from being rotten. Yes, the garbage is smelling bad, but somebody has to fix it. Otherwise, we all's gonna get SICK! And if the whole country is sick, who's gonna feed and take care of us? The Americans? The Chinese? The Japanese? Hell, no! Nobody will give us a s_it! Like what one foreigner said about the Filipino tragedy: "Let them blame themselves for condoning corruption and dependency. There is nothing to blame but themselves!"

Filipino mentality

Filipinos excel overseas, but not so much locally. During my travels in more than 50 countries, I have discovered that Filipinos tend to excel in many aspects of life while working or living abroad. Perhaps, it's our being challenged or the feeling of racial ego, but I have interviewed more than 500 Filipinos who have done it overseas! This I documented in my documentary book, Mga Bagong Bayani--Inspiring Filipinos Overseas, a two-part coffee-table hardbound and now selling to more than 20 countries.

Of course, Filipinos still brought their crab mentality and stupidity overseas, but many now are thinking that really the Filipino CAN! That we can be better than ourselves and others -- better yet, can outdo our foreign counterparts!

So why not bring home what we have learned overseas and apply them to benefit the many?

APPEAL TO THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART

I am appealing to the youth, to the young and young at heart Filipinos who still believe in decency and rule of law. Filipinos who believe in honesty, liverty and the pursuit of happiness. Filipinos who still care for the next generations to have decent and prosperous lives. Filipinos who still have hopes that the country will be proud again. Filipinos who believe that justice still prevails. Filipinos who are courageous, gallant, and transparent. Listen to my call and start moving and organizing ourselves to create something good. Filipinos who still value the sanctity of the ballot.

Let us organize ourselves into groups, into organizations, into battalions of honest voters. Use our expertise in modern technologies to reach out and inform many that now is the time to create change in the country. Now is the time to choose an honest leader who only thinks of the country and the few and powerful.

Text everyone, tell everyone about this blog! Copy and paste to our network of friends, relatives, families that the upcoming roll of presidentiables mostly are corrupt and will not bring any good to the country. Let us make use of the power of technology to reach out and network with our countrymen that there is one --- with no party, no money, a nobody who can turn the tide of this coming election and bring change to the country. With their support, we'll win this election and bring a lot of bad people to justice and prison. Let us make our country proud once again and bury the past deep in the ground and move on to a better Philippines.

Invite me to talk to your schools, colleges, organizations, groups, or assocations. Ask me questions or email me. Anything at all to make more awareness to those who are looking for change.

ricky_rue@yahoo.com

rsadiosa@yahoo.com

Maraming salamat po.

(I have received some invitations now from schools, universities and associations to give speeches starting April this year. I need to schedule everyone's request. I have very little fund to run this election haha..Though some good samaritans want to help. So, please this is a first-come, first-served basis. Thanks- ERS)

Enrique Sadiosa For President 2010

Monday, January 12, 2009

Same Names, Same Politics, Same Poverty

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As a Filipino, or Filipino with dual citizenship, do I still care for the country and my compatriots?

After reading this blog, do you think Enrique Sasdiosa, a nobody, no money, no party candidate has a chance to create change in the country?

Do you think Filipinos can do an Obama?

Do you still believe that Filipinos can change the economic and political situation in the country?

Nobody is above the law... even the President of the Republic!

Followers

Blog Archive

Who in the world is Enrique Sadiosa

Enrique Files Candidacy for 2010

The 1998 Centennial Yearbook

Filipinos In Hong Kong

New Photos

Enrique Sadiosa Photos

Mga Bagong Bayani book cover

Enrique's Mga Bagong Bayani coffee-table book launched in Hong Kong with 5,000+ audience

Enrique interviewed at CNN Hong Kong Headquarters

Enrique Sadiosa For President 2010

Monday, January 12, 2009

Same Names, Same Politics, Same Poverty

No comments:

Post a Comment

As a Filipino, or Filipino with dual citizenship, do I still care for the country and my compatriots?

After reading this blog, do you think Enrique Sasdiosa, a nobody, no money, no party candidate has a chance to create change in the country?

Do you think Filipinos can do an Obama?

Do you still believe that Filipinos can change the economic and political situation in the country?

Nobody is above the law... even the President of the Republic!

Subscribe To

Followers

Blog Archive

Who in the world is Enrique Sadiosa

Enrique Files Candidacy for 2010

The 1998 Centennial Yearbook

Filipinos In Hong Kong

New Photos

Enrique Sadiosa Photos

Mga Bagong Bayani book cover

Enrique's Mga Bagong Bayani coffee-table book launched in Hong Kong with 5,000+ audience

Enrique interviewed at CNN Hong Kong Headquarters