Boredom and the State of the Filipino Nation

I was going over my blog entries and realized I keep on talking about OFWs in one way or another, not to realize that I was soon to be one of them.  So here I am in Singapore, experiencing what it is be be an OFW, not subject to all of those things I complain about (taxes).  Imagine, in spite of the atrocious tax rate, the BIR still underperformed in their revenue collection target.  I’ve read press reports that millions of jobs have been created, but why doesn’t it translate to more tax revenues?  I can just go on and on.

I got this message which made me smirk, although it does promote infringement of intellectual property: "Please patronize PIRATED filipino DVDs so that the MOVIE industry will DIE & we will no longer have ACTORS, ACTRESSES or their spouses running for PUBLIC office…Crazy politics only in the philippines".

Enough said.  We’re all smart enough to know the genesis.

"Commercial credit is the creation of modern times and belongs in its highest perfection only to the most enlightened and best governed nations.  Credit is the vital air of the system of modern commerce.  It has done more, a thousand times more to enrich nations, than all the mines of the world." -Daniel Webster, as immortalized on 99 Church St. (my dream office)

99 Church St. is  the global headquarters of Moody’s Investor Services (where I will work one of these days).  I’ve been with credit for most of my working life, and I totally agree with what is written above.  However, in relation to this country, I’ll just keep my mouth shut, save to say that the Philippines is the largest debt issuer in Asia, ex-Japan….see quote above.

I tried to veer away from the ills of our nation by talking about Daniel Webster’s 1834 speech to the US Senate, only to be brought back to the usual topic of this blog.  I’m one step closer to joining the ranks of our OFWs.

Speaking of OFWs, the migration of professionals to other countries is alarming.  End result for the Philippines: boost in consumer spending…….

People criticize me for not being a registered voter, saying I have no right to complain about the state of the nation.  My counter: "By not registering, these clowns have one less vote to tamper with".

WE STILL DO NOT HAVE AUTOMATED ELECTIONS!  Its so pathetic that I actually refuse expound on this topic for fear of pissing myself off.  We all know why its taking forever to move away from the manila-paper based counting system………

RICHARD GOMEZ AND CESAR MONTANO FOR SENATE!  These are one of the the reasons why I refuse to be a registered voter.  Knowing how inept the system is, my vote just might be cast in favor of these guys.  What do these guys know about making laws?  Do they actually know that the main function of the Senate is to create laws and not build bridges?

I’m back to ranting again.  Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country says JFK.  Hey I pay the right taxes.  Tell me, what has the country done for me (other than force me to languish in traffic becuase they start digging up EDSA on a FRIDAY NIGHT….we all know why).

As I always say, I can just go on and on.  I’m sure those who come upon this blog feels the same way.  Its so ironic.  This country is being supported by OFWs, the "new heroes".  But what was the root cause of their being OFWs?

slAVe to the firm

And yet I’m enjoying every moment.

Quick observation: I’ve been cleaning again for no reason but only to clean.  A few of my friends know what this means……

At the rate this guy is influencing Philippine Politics, he can easily be the next President of the Republic of the Philippines.  The way I see it, if it were only the CBCP yapping about rallying in Luneta, I think there was a better chance JDV, GMA and the rest of those clowns would have pushed through with convening congress into a constituent assembly, something which defies logic:

They want to change the form of government into a parliamentary system.  In order to do it, they actually want to merge both houses and have them vote on a combined basis.  Isn’t that already unilaterally declaring some sort of parliamentary system?   Where is the logic in all of that?  At least Brother Mike prevailed……

The supposed bastion of democracy has finally done it.  They screwed up the war in Iraq (I believed Colin Powell until they couldn’t produce a single piece of WMD), then they start to claim that the end justifies the means (torture).  Rumsfeld and Cheney really need to get their heads checked.  Where is due process.  What ever became of: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator certain inalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", or: "Give me your tired your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuge of your teeming shore; send these the homeless, tempest tossed to me, i lift my lamp beside the golden door".  My memory may be a bit shot, but the gist of my point is there.

I was really disappointed when the US Defense Secretary (or was it the Vice President)  implicitly stated that torture was justified.  Yes, its a given that countries with no democratic principles practice the said method of interrogation, but I would have expected more from the bastion/champion of democracy.  If the US can no longer lead by example, what will stop our very own Philippine National Police from torturing a crime suspect (where did innocent until proven guilty go?), just so they can chalk up a crime "solved".

I can go on and on, but of course, I wont becuase you all know what’s right.  As an aside though, I salute the Supreme Court for doing what’s right in the People’s Initiative petition, although at 8-7, it was still a close call (the independence of the Judiciary is still in question).

What will become of the next move?  Only time will tell.  More to come when I find the time.

Finally, I’m able to find time to rant again.  Unfortunately, even during my hiatus (brought about by my shift in employer), nothing has changed in this country.  The leaders continue to be clowns, while the taxpayers like you and me fund their make-up and costumes.