Read this interresting and thought-provoking letter to the editor on the June 7, 2008 issue of the Inquirer with great interest.  I am reprinting it in full. 

Much has been made of "over" population being the root of economic hardship.  The truth is, though it is the most popular argument, it is simply a theory.  There are just as many economists and social scientists who argue the opposite.  Poverty, ultimately, is an issue of attitude and belief.  I'll save that for a future blog.

What do you think?


“Population not root cause of RP’s woes”
    This is a reply to Dr. Ernesto Pernia’s commentary “RP food crisis not simply a supply problem.” (INQUIRER 5/5/08)
    Alarm bells are ringing all over regarding the so-called population explosion, which has become the whipping boy of our economic woes.
    To get a fix on this population issue some matters have to be clarified:
1. Projected population growth rate in the coming decades is estimated by official quarters at 1.9 percent.  This is only consonant with the downward trend, from the postwar 3.6 percent to the 2.3 percent today.  In brief, population growth is not exploding, it is in fact decelerating.  
2. The slowdown in population growth is due to the following:
    a.    Later marriages and smaller families
    b.    Urbanization (television, electricity, office work, etc.)
3. This level of population growth – the (immediate past) has been accompanied by higher economic growth rates – e.g., 7.3 percent last year, the highest in decades.
4. The (Roman Catholic) Church is not against population management.  In fact, it is promoting “natural” family planning methods in the parishes.  What it is against is “artificial” family planning which uses contraceptives and abortifacients which are anathema to Catholic doctrine.
5. Philippine population translated into the “explosion” in labor exports has been the highest contributor to the growth of the economy.  In fact, were it not for its contribution of approximately P500 billion yearly – an amount equal to about 50 percent of the national budget – our economy would most probably be in dire straits, given the lackadaisical performance of the manufacturing and agriculture sectors which cannot even provide enough food for the country.
6. Heavily populated countries – China, India, Brazil, Vietnam – are also the fastest growing economies in the world today.
7. Among economists, the jury is still out with regard to the impact of population on development.  While there are the Malthusians (prophets of doom in the profession), there are also those who see a big population that matches the natural resource endowments of a country as the driver of development.
8. Today there is still talk that the country, after going through a challenging period of fast population growth amid slow economic growth, is actually benefiting from what economists call the “demographic dividend” where a bigger labor force (as we see in China, India, etc. today), when matched with its abundant natural resource, can actually catapult this country to greater economic heights.
9. Philippine poverty is rooted in graft and corruption, government ineptitude and undeveloped natural resources.
10. It is also traceable to a closed economy run by monopolists and oligolopists in a regime of imperfect competition where the rich get richer and the poor poorer.

                                -- Ambassador Jose V. Romero, Ph.D.,
                                    University of Asia and the Pacific.

My family loves sisig (and consequently, cholesterol).  From my 70 year old mom to my 6 year old son, sisig is a family favorite.  We don’t eat it often because I want to live long enough to see my grandchildren but when we treat ourselves to a sizzling plate every now and then, it is a guarantee of a fun family time.

For the uninitiated, sisig is an all-original Filipino concoction of… ready now… pig cheeks, snout, ears, chicken liver, onions, and chili served hot on a sizzling plate.  Add calamansi (Philippine lemon) and Knorr seasoning when serving.  I have to admit, dissecting a sisig’s ingredients this way can make your stomach turn.  But I promise you, when put together in the hands of a Filipino cook, in the words of another legendary cook, Nacho Libre, “eez zee beeesstttt!”  

Its history is too young to be declared a traditional Filipino dish but it is no doubt the “people’s dish.”  Next to the balut, foreigners need to try sisig if they want a truly Pinoy experience.  Our Ukranian grad school student last year absolutely loved it! Different restaurants today have since added their own twists to the sisig – moist, dry, crunchy, tuna, w/egg, chicken, squid, w/crunchy pork skin, sweet, etc, etc.

Because of our family devotion to the mighty sisig, I drove my family several weeks ago all the way to Angeles, Pampanga (over an hour north of Manila) to pay homage to Aling Lucing – the originator of the modern sisig.  Aling Lucing’s unpretentious carinderia (food stall) located at “the crossing” in Angeles, was where this famous dish was invented over thirty years ago.  Her stall, now considered an institution, has remained unchanged over the decades.  You wouldn’t imagine it was here that the dish was invented except for newspaper clippings and photos of celebrities who have made the pilgrimage pasted on the walls. Aling Lucing herself still supervises the cooking every afternoon.  If she only patented her recipe, she would be a rich woman!

True to form, her sisig did not disappoint.  We ordered three with two to go (there were eight of us including an aunt and a cousin).  It was one of the best I’ve tried.  Trelli’s version is still my favorite but Aling Lucing’s is definitely well worth the trip to the true devotee.  Thanks to sisig, everyone enjoyed the drive back home with happy and content stomachs.

Whose sisig version is your favorite?  Share your tips.

All sisig lovers, unite!

Finally!  An article which psychoanalyzes the psyche of the Filipino driver.  Read this two days ago in the Inquirer.  Read it to check if you can see yourself in it.  I now have the perfect excuse for my poor driving, “It’s the F1 driver in me!”  Quick, someone give an altar call for Pastor Winston...



For Filipino Drivers, Traffic Lights are Mere Suggestions
By Tessa Salazar
Inquirer
Last updated 05:13am (Mla time) 11/18/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- As the story goes, when Formula 1 driver Jenson Button visited Manila a few years ago, he quipped: “I can see lots of Formula 1 driving out here.”

Button’s wry observation has been echoed by many first-time visitors to Metro Manila. How can Filipinos, known for being hospitable, generous and caring, be transformed into road bullies when behind the wheel?

Mandy Eduque, Automobile Association Philippines director, likes to quote an Australian traffic consultant of a public works project who made this stunning observation: For Filipino drivers, traffic lights are merely “a suggestion.”

Dr. Jose Regin Regidor, director of the UP National Center for Transportation Studies, blames it on impatience. Combined with the “Filipino time” attitude of doing things at the last minute, this forces drivers—of both public and private vehicles—to resort to overly aggressive driving.

Lack of education and training could be another factor, he adds. “There’s this misconception that only public transport drivers are at fault. But in reality, the public utility and truck drivers are more predictable in their behavior [compared] to many private drivers who are barumbado (reckless).”

Regidor adds that road bullies exist because other drivers allow themselves to be intimidated. “If you see a luxury car or an SUV tailgating you, you would most probably give way. And that car wouldn’t even have to flash his headlights.”

Surprisingly, these bully drivers are usually educated and accomplished individuals. “But once they get behind the wheel, their personality changes, they have an alter ego. I agree, some people imagine themselves as F1 drivers [on public streets],” Regidor says.

He adds that aggressive driving also applies to motorcyclists who express their “impatience” by weaving in and out of lanes.

Traffic rules

Generally speaking, Filipinos find it difficult to follow traffic rules.

Conforming to traffic rules is determined by the visibility of enforcers and the “mood” of other motorists at any particular time.

Dr. Edgardo Juan L. Tolentino, president of the Group for Addiction Psychiatry of the Philippines, says when there are no law enforcers at an intersection, drivers interpret a yellow traffic light as a signal to “hurry up,” hence they go faster.

“But if there’s a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer or policeman at the intersection, when drivers see a yellow light, they slow down or stop,” he says.

Tolentino adds that in more developed countries, drivers inherently follow traffic rules, whether or not traffic officers are present.

Accident contributory factor

Dr. Felicitas Soriano, Philippine Psychiatry Association president, says Filipinos have a “destructive culture” when it comes to traffic rules and regulations.

She cites the value of lamangan or isahan (putting one over the other) as part of the Filipino driver’s psyche. In this situation, traffic rules and regulations are thrown out the window.

Aurora Corpuz Mendoza, a psychologist who did a study on road safety last year, says “there is growing recognition that road user behavior is now the most important single accident contributory factor, with 85 percent of road accidents in the Philippines caused by driver error or violations.”

Mendoza is with the Psychology department of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Risk factors

Her study investigated the behavior of 334 public jeepney and private drivers in different areas of Metro Manila. Three violations were most prevalent: Illegal counterflow, failure to give way while turning, and tailgating.

There were three risk factors: Behavior of other drivers, the presence or absence of traffic enforcers, and perceived road/vehicle conditions.

According to Mendoza’s study, factors that influenced driver behavior included driver’s age, gender, education, driver type, risk-taking personality, perceived risks of traffic violations, acceptance of risk for traffic violations, the social environment that includes the drivers and traffic enforcers, the vehicle, and the physical environment or the road, and weather conditions.

Results showed that drivers more likely to commit traffic violations were young, male, operating public transport and with low levels of education.

Social environment

Data also showed that drivers were more likely to commit traffic violations if they don’t see any traffic enforcer.

Mendoza says the behavior of other people present in a traffic environment provides a social construct of reality that can reduce personal uncertainty on what behavior is safe and what is risky.

The study also showed that drivers without college degrees had significantly stronger intentions to commit traffic violations compared to college graduates.

Mendoza says that this finding is “noteworthy because it points to the importance of a college education, in the local setting, to driver decisions to violate rules.”

Came across this essay (thanks Mae), written by a well-known Filipino pastor, on "Why Filipinos Are Special."  It is insightful, lengthy, and full of wisdom.  Read it and laugh (or weep).  It's right along the lines of that book "You Know You Are Filipino If..."  Let me know what you think.

Why Filipinos Are Special
by Ed Lapiz

Filipinos are Brown. Their color is in the center of human racial strains.

This point is not an attempt at racism, but just for many Filipinos to realize that our color should not be a source of or reason for inferiority complex. While we pine for a fair complexion, the white people are religiously tanning themselves, whenever they could, under the sun or some artificial light, just to approximate the Filipino complexion.

Filipinos are a touching people. We have lots of love and are not afraid to show it. We almost inevitably create human chains with our perennial akbay (putting an arm around another shoulder), hawak (hold), yakap (embrace), himas (caressing stroke), kalabit (touch with the tip of the finger), kalong (sitting on someone else's lap), etc.

We are always reaching out, always seeking interconnection.

Filipinos are linguists. Put a Filipino in any city, any town around the world. Give him a few months or even weeks and he will speak the local language there. Filipinos are adept at learning and speaking languages. In fact, it is not uncommon for Filipinos to speak at least three: his dialect, Filipino, and English. Of course, a lot speak an added language, be it Chinese, Spanish or, if he works abroad, the language of his host country.

In addition, Tagalog is not 'sexist.' While many "conscious" and "enlightened" people of today are just by now striving to be "politically correct" with their language and, in the process, bend to absurd depths in coining "gender sensitive" words, Tagalog has, since time immemorial, evolved gender-neutral words like asawa (husband or wife), anak (son or daughter), magulang (father or mother), kapatid (brother or sister), biyenan ( father-in-law or mother-in-law) , manugang (son or daughter-in- law), bayani (hero or heroine), etc. Our languages and dialects are advanced and, indeed, sophisticated! It is no small wonder that Jose Rizal, the quintessential Filipino, spoke some twenty-two languages!

Filipinos are groupists. We love human interaction and company. We always surround ourselves with people and we hover over them, too.

According to Dr. Patricia Licuanan, a psychologist from Ateneo and Miriam College, an average Filipino would have and know at least 300 relatives.

At work, we live bayanihan (mutual help); at play, we want a kalaro (playmate) more than laruan (toy). At socials, our invitations are open and it is more common even for guests to invite and bring in other guests. In transit, we do not want to be separated from our group. So what do we do when there is no more space in a vehicle?

Kalung-kalong! (Sit on one another). No one would ever suggest splitting a group and waiting for another vehicle with more space!

Filipinos are weavers. One look at our baskets, mats, clothes, and other crafts will reveal the skill of the Filipino weaver and his inclination to weaving. This art is a metaphor of the Filipino trait.

We are social weavers. We weave theirs into ours that we all become parts of one another. We place a lot of premium on pakikisama (getting along) and pakikipagkapwa (relating). Two of the worst labels, walang pakikipagkapwa (inability to relate), will be avoided by the Filipino at almost any cost.

We love to blend and harmonize with people, we like to include them in our "tribe," in our "family"-and we like to be included in other people's families, too.

Therefore we call our friend's mother nanay or mommy; we call a friend's sister ate (eldest sister), and so on. We even call strangers tia (aunt) or tio (uncle), tatang (grandfather) , etc.

So extensive is our social openness and interrelations that we have specific title for extended relations like hipag (sister-in-law' s spouse), balae (child-in-law' s parents), inaanak (godchild), ninong/ninang (godparents) kinakapatid (godparent's child), etc.

In addition, we have the profound 'ka' institution, loosely translated as "equal to the same kind" as in kasama (of the same company), kaisa (of the same cause), kapanalig (of the same belief), etc. In our social fiber, we treat other people as co-equals.

Filipinos, because of their social "weaving" traditions, make for excellent team workers.

Filipinos are adventurers. We have a tradition of separation. Our myths and legends speak of heroes and heroines who almost always get separated from their families and loved ones and are taken by circumstances to far-away lands where they find wealth or power.

Our Spanish colonial history is filled with separations caused by the reduccion (hamleting), and the forced migration to build towns, churches, fortresses or galleons. American occupation enlarged the space of Filipino wandering, including America, and there are documented evidences of Filipino presence in America as far back as 1587.

Now, Filipinos compose the world's largest population of overseas workers, populating and sometimes "threshing" major capitals, minor towns and even remote villages around the world. Filipino adventurism has made us today's citizens of the world, bringing the bagoong (salty shrimp paste), pansit (sautéed noodles), siopao (meat- filled dough), kare-kare (peanut-flavored dish), dinuguan (innards cooked in pork blood), balut (unhatched duck egg), and adobo (meat vinaigrette) , including the tabo (ladle) and tsinelas (slippers) all over the world.

Filipinos are excellent at adjustments and improvisation, managing to recreate their home, or to feel at home anywhere.

Filipinos have Pakiramdam (deep feeling/discernment ) . We know how to feel what others feel, sometimes even anticipate what they will feel.

Being manhid (dense) is one of the worst labels anyone could get and will therefore, avoid at all cost. We know when a guest is hungry though the insistence on being full is assured.

We can tell if people are lovers even if they are miles apart. We know if a person is offended though he may purposely smile. We know because we feel. In our pakikipagkapwa( relating) , we get not only to wear another man's shoe but also his heart.

We have a superbly developed and honored gift of discernment, making us excellent leaders, counselors, and go-betweens.

Filipinos are very spiritual. We are transcendent. We transcend the physical world, see the unseen and hear the unheard. We have a deep sense of kaba (premonition) and kutob (hunch). A Filipino wife will instinctively feel her husband or child is going astray, whether or not telltale signs present themselves.

Filipino spirituality makes him invoke divine presence or
intervention at nearly every bend of his journey. Rightly or wrongly, Filipinos are almost always acknowledging, invoking or driving away spirits into and from their lives. Seemingly trivial or even incoherent events can take on spiritual significance and will be given such space or consideration.

The Filipino has a sophisticated, developed pakiramdam. The Filipino, though becoming more and more modern (hence, materialistic) is still very spiritual in essence. This inherent and deep spirituality makes the Filipino, once correctly Christianized, a major exponent of the faith.

Filipinos are timeless. Despite the nearly half-a-millennium encroachment of the western clock into our lives, Filipinos-unless on very formal or official functions-still measure time not with hours and minutes but with feeling. This style is ingrained deep in our psyche. Our time is diffused, not framed. Our appointments are defined by umaga (morning), tanghali (noon ), hapon (afternoon), or gabi (evening).

Our most exact time reference is probably katanghaliang- tapat (high noon), which still allows many minutes of leeway. That is how Filipino trysts and occasions are timed: there is really no definite time.

A Filipino event has no clear-cut beginning nor ending. We have a fiesta , but there is bisperas (eve), a day after the fiesta is still considered a good time to visit. The Filipino Christmas is not confined to December 25th; it somehow begins months before December and extends up to the first days of January.

Filipino s say good-bye to guests first at the head of the stairs, then down to the descamo (landing), to the entresuelo (mezzanine), to the pintuan (doorway), to the tarangkahan (gate), and if the departing persons are to take public transportation, up to the bus stop or bus station.

In a way, other people's tardiness and extended stays can really be annoying, but this peculiarity is the same charm of Filipinos who, being governed by timelessness, can show how to find more time to be nice, kind, and accommodating than his prompt and exact brothers elsewhere.

Filipinos are Spaceless. As in the concept of time, the Filipino concept of space is not numerical. We will not usually express expanse of space with miles or kilometers but with feelings in how we say malayo (far) or malapit (near).

Alongside with numberlessness, Filipino space is also boundless.

Indigenous culture did not divide land into private lots but kept it open for all to partake of its abundance.

The Filipino has avidly remained "spaceless" in many ways. The interior of the bahay-kubo (hut) can easily become receiving room, sleeping room, kitchen, dining room, chapel, wake parlor, etc.

Depending on the time of the day or the needs of the moment. The same is true with the bahay na bato (stone house). Space just flows into the next space that the divisions between the sala, caida, comedor, or vilada may only be faintly suggested by overhead arches of filigree. In much the same way, Filipino concept of space can be so diffused that one 's party may creep into and actually expropriate the street! A family business like a sari-sari store or talyer may extend to the sidewalk and street. Provincial folks dry palayan (rice grain) on the highways! Religious groups of various persuasions habitually and matter-of-factly commandeer the streets for processions and parades.

It is not uncommon to close a street to accommodate private functions, Filipinos eat. sleep, chat, socialize, quarrel, even urinate, nearly everywhere or just anywhere!

"Spacelessness, " in the face of modern, especially urban life, can be unlawful and may really be counter-productive. On the other hand, Filipino spacelessness, when viewed from his context, is just another manifestation of his spiritually and communal values. Adapted well to today's context, which may mean unstoppable urbanization, Filipino spacelessness may even be the answer and counter balance to humanity's greed, selfishness and isolation.

So what makes the Filipino special? We are brown, spiritual, timeless, spaceless, linguists, groupists, weavers, adventurers.

Seldom do all these profound qualities find personification in a people. Filipinos should allow - and should be allowed to contribute their special traits to the world-wide community of men- but first, we should know and like ourselves.

Woke up this morning to a jittery Metro Manila as the entire nation was at a standstill awaiting the verdict of the historic P4 billion ($80 million) plunder trial of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.  In anticipation of today’s events, the President cancelled her appointments for the day, Malacanang Palace was barricaded with military trucks and barbed wire, pro-Erap rallyists gathered outside the courthouse, the value of the Philippine Peso slid, and 23 schools suspended classes.  I was already dressed for work when I heard on the news that the Supreme Court just decided yesterday to allow the live coverage of the proceedings.  I decided to stay home and witness the handing down of the decision which has taken the Sandiganbayan (a special court created in 1979 to try cases of graft & corruption involving public officials) over 6 years to promulgate.

Much was at stake.  If acquitted, it would put the legitimacy of the present government's first term into question as President Arroyo was installed in office in 2001 through a military-backed popular revolt on the basis of the charges former President Estrada is facing now.  If convicted, the former President’s supporters have threatened mass action.  It is one of the most critical tests our democracy and justice system have faced.

Within a few minutes after banging the gavel to start the proceedings, skipping the entire 800 page rationale, they went straight to the decision.  The verdict: Former President Estrada was acquitted of perjury (with regards to his statement of assets and liabilities) but convicted of plunder (his son and lawyer, both co-accused, were acquitted).  The sentence: 30 to 40 years in prison (Estrada is nearly 70 yrs old) plus sequestration of close to P1 billion ($20 million) worth of cash and properties which were illegally acquired.  It was disallowed to televise the reaction of the accused but those present said the former President and family members were in tears. Even before the proceedings ended, it was granted by the Sandiganbayan for Estrada to serve out his sentence at his vacation estate just outside of Manila.  

It is the first time that a Philippine President has been tried and convicted of plunder.  A total of 7 justices, 2 ombudsmen, 2 sets of prosecution and defense lawyers were involved in the case.  It is expected that the defense panel will file a motion for reconsideration or appeal the decision.

The last few months have been filled with high drama as both camps have tried to undermine the process despite making pronouncements of honoring whatever the decision of the court.  Both sides have tried to manipulate public opinion through media and influence the outcome through backroom political dealings.  President Arroyo has stated she will offer a presidential pardon which former President Erap said he will refuse if found guilty.  

No matter which side of the issue you are on, it is our responsibility as Filipino citizens to respect the judicial system, honor the decision, react with calm, and pray for our nation.  

Let us stand together in prayer for:
1. God’s destiny and purpose for the Philippines to be fulfilled.
(Proverbs 19:21) “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
2. The fear of God to fall upon all present and past government leaders beginning with the President.
(1Timothy 2:1-3) “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,”
3. Peace, order, justice, and stability to reign.  That all Filipino citizens would respect the rule of law.
(2Chr. 7:14) “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
4. For God to expose and thwart the plans of political forces who will try to take advantage of the situation for political gain.
(Prov. 21:7) “The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.”

The views expressed in this blog are entirely my own and does not reflect upon or constitue an official position of Victory Christian Fellowship.

I am not a fan of "authentic" wrestling, but since we are on the subject of Philippine Independence and flags, many of you will be happy to know that one of the world's most famous wrestlers today, Batista, sports a tattoo of the Philippine flag on his massive left shoulder.

His father is Filipino, mother is Greek, and wife is Filipino.

For many wrestlers who face Batista in the ring, their first introduction to the Philippines is a vicious left shoulder smack.  Just before they lose consciousness, they see not only (3) stars, but a sun, plus red and blue stripes.

Welcome to the Philippines.

A Happy Independence Day to all Filipinos!  

June 12, 1898 is a historic day for all Filipinos as this was when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo first raised the Philippine flag in Kawit, Cavite as a declaration of our independence from Spain’s colonial rule.  It turned out later that the Philippines was dealt to the United States which did not recognize our independence until July 4, 1946.  But June 12, 1898 is considered the date when we truly became an independent and sovereign nation.

The funny thing is that this year, we are celebrating our Independence Day on June 11.  The present administration has developed this new practice of creating long weekends to boost tourism and to keep people preoccupied with planning holidays instead of plotting coups.  Because June 12 falls on a Tuesday, the government declared June 11, a Monday, as the non-working holiday to create a “long weekend.”

I like the idea of long weekends but there are certain dates we can’t tamper with.  I don’t mind that we celebrated Labor Day on April 30 (also a  Monday) instead of May 1st (it was on May 1, 1886 when a resolution was passed stating that 8 hours will constitute a legal days’ work).  I also won’t protest if they moved the All Saints Day holiday in November if it will help our tourist industry.  Those holidays are more about a particular tradition or principle than a date.

But there are historic events where the dates are as significant as the event. I don’t expect my children to memorize all the dates they will study in history class, but there are certain dates I will expect them to know.

I also expect a lot of columnists to take advantage of the occasion tomorrow to lash out at the government and the present state of the Philippines.  I must admit that I too get frustrated and cynical at times at our current state.  But everytime I succumb to that, I remind myself of 2 things:

1. We are a young nation.  As far as histories of nations go, we are a baby.  When we were still living in Russia, St. Petersburg was approaching its 300th anniversary as a city and Moscow celebrated its 850th anniversary.  Those are just cities.  When Magellan discovered the Philippines in 1521 and encountered an animistic and tribal warrior-people, Europe was experiencing a renaissance in literature, the sciences, and in philosophies of government.  The US had a Civil War right before it turned 100.

So be patient, our time will come.  Soon.

2. I believe deeply that the future of our nation is in our children’s hands.  If we truly want a prosperous, independent, and progressive Philippines, we need to disciple our children well.  We need to impart a love and vision for our nation.  I make sure my children are proud and happy to have been born Filipinos.

I was thrilled during my daughter’s VCS preschool graduation this year.  Each student was asked to share what they want to be when they grow up and I discovered that there were at least 2 future Philippine Presidents in my daughter’s class!

If we raise them right, they will lead this nation in the right direction.

Thank God I was born a Filipino.