MERALCO's Fountainhead

Thoughts from more than a year ago:

I have been trying to read on the current GRP-MERALCO issue in an attempt to understand all the hype that has surrounded it. I am failing miserably though. I wish I had paid more attention to my economics class.

Still, for some reason, this struggle for power reminds me of Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead and the lines of its main protagonist, Howard Roark:

I came here to say that I do not recognize anyone’s right to one minute of my life. Nor to any part of my energy. Nor to any achievement of mine. No matter who makes the claim, how large their number or how great their need.

Emphasis mine.

With how the Government is orchestrating things, the Lopez stance has become almost Howard Roark-ish. Amado Doronila is right - this Government is waging a battle of "failed ways." This orgy has to stop. Else, we may as well join the exodus out of the Philippines as our final "act of loyalty" - as Ayn Rand put it, a manifestation of our "refusal to live or work in what has taken its place."

Who will be the next Philippine president?

Reposting from #ANC:

THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT HAS BEGUN ON ANC

ROUND ONE

Escudero vs. Gordon vs. Panlilio vs. Roxas vs. Teodoro

Five presidential aspirants gathered for the first time to prove they have what it takes to hold the highest position in the land.

Here's what they said

at the "Countdown to 2010: An ANC Leadership Forum"

last May 11 at the Ateneo De Manila University.

Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero

Age: 39

Birth Date: October 10, 1969

Vision of Governance: The next leader should be an effective change agent. He or she must follow and enforce the law. Can he or she also inspire us?

On President Arroyo's positive contribution to the country. "Dahil sa ilang pag-aabuso sa batas, dahil sa ilang paglabag sa batas, dahil sa ipinagkait sa marami sa ating mga kababayan at hirap na dinaranas ng ating mga kababayan...minulat at ginising niya at marahil sa ilang parte ginalit niya ang maraming Pilipino para seryosohin ang kanilang pagpili ng susunod na pinuno natin."

On the last movie he has seen. "You watch a movie not to feel depressed, you watch a movie to be inspired and to be encouraged. Kung kaya, ang huli kong pelikulang pinanood ay 'Kasal, Kasali at Kasalo' nina Juday at Ryan."

On the 2010 national elections."Inaangkin na namin ang halalan na ito. Inaangkin na namin ang pamahalaang ito. Di na naming hahayaang maging sunod-sunuran na lang kami dahil ang aming paniniwala sa ngayon, ang kabataan hindi lamang pag-asa ng bayan, ang kabataan dapat maasahan na ng bayan."

Richard "Dick" Juico Gordon

Age: 63

Birth Date: August 5, 1945

Vision of Governance: What this country needs is not a change of men but a change in men.

On President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "Masinop mag-aral, may work ethic. Ang sabit niya ay sa governance…You have to be resolute in so far as your leadership is concerned. That I think is something na nagkulang siya."

On how he will make a difference as a president. "Baguhin ang attitude. Aim high. Mag-ambisyon tayo. Bawal ang tamad—work ethic. Lalong bawal ang tanga—mag-aral tayo. Duty muna bago ang sarili. Dignidad at determinasyon—ginawa namin sa Subic iyon."

On why he admires his father former mayor James L. Gordon. "He was a man born an American, but elected to be a Filipino… Pardon me if I'm getting emotional because sa tingin ko maraming hero sa mundo but you have to live your heroism not during your death but during your whole life. Sapagkat iyon ang nakita ko (sa kaniya)."

Eddie "Among Ed" Tongol Panlilio

Age: 55

Birth Date: December 6, 1953

Vision of Governance: Stand up against bad governance, social ills of jueteng and quarrying abuses.

On the factors that will make him run for national office. "If the people would like me to run, feel, believe that I should run for the presidency or for the vice presidency, kung tutulungan ako, then I might go for it."

On his "unpleasant" relationship with Pampanga politicians.

"Well, I would say that, also many like me...I believe deep in my heart, it is the people who espouse bad politics who hate me. Remember, I was able to curb…at least to minimize corrupt practices in my sphere of influence."

On his stand on the issue of family planning. "I believe we should address this in a spirit of dialogue, and I don't believe we have dialogue that much…This issue is connected with poverty, with lack of education, so we might be negotiating and debating up there but the underlying causes are not addressed. So I believe these should be addressed first."

Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II

Age: 51

Birth Date: May 13, 1957

Memorable Quote: Do I want change for our country? The answer is yes. Do I think I can do a better job? The answer is yes.

On the state of the country today. "Our nation today is on a platform or a foundation of sand. Hindi tayo nakapatong sa matibay na bato ng moralidad at katarungan. Kaya kahit anong pera na gastusin natin sa budget nitong taon na ito…kahit anong pagsisikap ng ating mga kababayan, hindi pa rin tayo makabuo, wala pa rin tayong napapala, o di kaya naman, hindi tayo umuusad."

On the issue saying he's just using Korina Sanchez. "Mahal ko si Korina. Matagal kaming nagsama—limang taon. Nagkakaintindihan kami, may pangarap kami para sa isa't-isa at matibay an gaming samahan. Tulad ng sinabi mo, mga kritiko ko ang nagsasabi noon. So, inggit lang sila."

On the global financial crisis. "Ang bawat bansa ay pinoproteksiyonan ang kanilang bawat interest. Iyan din ang dahil kung bakit noong ako ay nasa DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) ay hindi ako sumang-ayon na matuloy itong Doha Globalization Round. Bumoto ako na itigil ito dahil pinagsasamantalahan tayo. At iyan naman ang aking track record. Sa bawat pagkakataon na maaaring manindigan, doon ako parati kampi sa api."

Gilberto "Gibo" Cojuangco Teodoro Jr.

Age: 44

Birth Date: June 14, 1964

Vision of Governance: The Philippines must be a stable platform of investment, with strong institutions, peace and order, and the efficient delivery of basic goods.

On the "Cojuangco" factor. "Kung may sense po at nasa batas at nasa lugar ang kanilang (Cojuangco relatives) mga suhestiyon sino ba namang tututol. Pero kung hindi po nasa lugar, kaya naman po nating tutulan iyan at napatunayan na po natin iyan."

On amending the Philippine Constitution. "Ang aking pananaw, hindi lang kailangan ng values or renewal of values or pananaw. Institutions shape behavior. It motivates behavior. And I think our institutions, time and again, people have said they need to be changed."

On being associated with an "unpopular" president. "Hindi ako takot maging John McCain. Dito ako naninindigan, dito ako naninilbihan… Hindi naman ako isang tao na maninilbihan—sumisilong sa isang bahay—na ikinahihiya ko ang bahay na tinitirahan ko. Hindi ako ganoong klase ng tao… no matter what one says for or against any other administration, history will be the judge."

AND THE SEARCH CONTINUES...

ROUND TWO

"Bridge the Gaps between Law and Justice"

Excerpts from Supreme Court Justice Carpio’s address to the U.P. Law Class of 2009 on April 27, 2009:

In 1975, some thirty-four years ago, I too was a graduate of the UP College of Law. I was also seated in an auditorium like this listening to our graduation speaker. Looking back, what would have I wanted then as a young law graduate to hear from our graduation speaker?

With the benefit of hindsight from almost 34 years in the practice of law, as private practitioner, lecturer in the UP College of Law, counsel to the President, and Justice of the Supreme Court, there are six advices I would have wanted to hear in 1975 from our graduation speaker, and which I now humbly offer to you, the Class of 2009.

1. Defend and Protect the Constitution

My first advice is you must, as law graduates and as future lawyers, defend and protect the Constitution at every opportunity. This means you must keep abreast with developments on Constitutional Law, no matter what field of law you practice. As you start your practice, be it labor, corporation law, or litigation, you will tend to ignore developments on Constitutional Law. That is a mistake. Without the civil liberties in the Constitution, you cannot freely practice any field of law. The fundamental rights in the Constitution allow you to practice other fields of law. Without these fundamental rights, the practice of law will be self-demeaning.

I started my law practice during martial law, and for a young lawyer then the legal environment was bizarre. There was a wide gap between law and justice, between the guarantees of the Constitution and the reality on the streets. Many things I learned in law school were irrelevant. The noble and majestic words I read in Supreme Court decisions appeared written for a different country and time, not for the Philippines at that time.

We must not return to those dark days. We must not live through those suffocating years again. That is why everyone who has studied law has a duty to defend and protect the Constitution, especially the civil liberties enshrined in our Constitution. Whenever and wherever our civil liberties are threatened, be the first to oppose those threats, because those threats not only prevent the honest and dignified practice of law, they also menace our fundamental rights as human beings.

When you practice law, you may be enticed by politicians who dream to be dictators to help them rewrite the Constitution for their own benefit. Resolutely fight and oppose such moves, even at the risk of losing your job or clients.. Always remember that the Constitution is written for the benefit of the Filipino people, not for the benefit of one man or one family. No politician, no government official, not even the President of the Philippines, is larger or more important than the Constitution.

2. Preserve the Independence and Integrity of the Judiciary

My second advice is you must preserve the independence and integrity of the Judiciary. If you want the judge to render a fair and impartial decision, regardless of who the parties or lawyers are in a case, then you must insure that the Judiciary remains independent and honest. If you want a level playing field in the practice of law, then you must work hard for an independent and honest judiciary.

This means that you must see to it that only independent, honest and competent people are appointed to the Judiciary. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines has a representative in the Judicial and Bar Council. So does the community of law professors. And so does the community of retired Justices. Working together, these representatives have enough clout to insure that only independent, competent and honest judges are nominated to the Judiciary.

In your practice, you will often be faced with a situation where your client wants to win a case through fair or foul means. Your client may even demand that you bribe the judge first before the opposing side gets him. Politely but firmly decline, and be prepared to walk away from a client who insists that you commit a crime of bribery for his sake. No client is ever worth committing a crime.

If you want an independent and honest judiciary, then never do anything that will corrupt the Judiciary. If you do, then you deserve the Judiciary you get and you have no one else to blame but yourself. There is no dictator if there is no servile citizen. And there is no corrupt judge if there is no litigant or lawyer corrupting him.

Lest you think that the burden of preserving the integrity of the Judiciary rests on practicing lawyers alone, let me cite you the statistics. In the last three years alone, from January 2006 to March 2009, the Supreme Court dismissed thirteen trial court judges and one Court of Appeals Justice, suspended 16 trial court judges and one Court of Appeals Justice, and fined 138 trial court judges. The Supreme Court even imposed a fine of P500,000 on one of its former members, the largest fine ever imposed on a member of the Judiciary. I assure you that the Supreme Court continues to cleanse the Judiciary to maintain its independence and integrity.

Recently, the lawyers of Pakistan have shown the world how to defend and preserve the independence of the Judiciary. The Pakistani lawyers took to the streets to demand the reinstatement of Chief Justice Mohammad Chaudry. The then President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, dismissed Chief Justice Chaudry for staunchly upholding the independence of the Judiciary. In the face of persistent mass action by Pakistani lawyers, the incumbent President of Pakistan, Asif Zardari, reluctantly reinstated Chief Justice Chaudry. The historic and courageous actions of the Pakistani lawyers strengthened for all time the independence of the Judiciary in Pakistan.

3. Oppose Corruption in Government

My third advice is you must oppose corrupt acts of those who hold public office. Public office is a public trust. If that trust is breached, as future lawyers you must lead the citizenry in demanding an accounting. History has shown that only a vigilant citizenry can prevent abuse of public trust. An abuse of public trust that goes unchecked will repeat itself, and will become widespread and even more vicious.

When I was still in the private practice of law, I was one of those who filed the first plunder case against a sitting President. My law partners and I fielded a battery of lawyers in the first impeachment trial of a President. And these private lawyers assisted the public prosecutors in the plunder trial. The idea that we wanted to convey is that the citizenry, led by lawyers, must prevent abuses especially by the highest public official. If we do not, then no one else will and we will truly deserve the government we get.

4. Observe the Ethics of the Profession

My fourth advice is you must take seriously the observance of legal ethics. Many lawyers think that legal ethics is important only to pass the bar examinations. That is a grave mistake. For the last two years alone, 2007 and 2008, the Supreme Court disbarred 10 lawyers, suspended 52, fined 163, and reprimanded, admonished or warned 108.

No other profession is as tightly regulated and disciplined as the legal profession. And the reason is simple. Lawyers are officers of the court and owe special duties to the court. No other profession owe such special duties to an entire branch of government..

In your practice, it will serve you well if you will now and then read the latest Supreme Court decisions on legal ethics. It is so amazing how lawyers can be so brazen in transgressing the ethics of the profession. Those who disregard legal ethics often have three adversaries: the party affected, the opposing counsel, and the court – and even one of them is one adversary too many. So take seriously the ethics of your profession.

5. Specialize but Keep Abreast of other Fields of Law

My fifth advice is you can specialize in a particular field of law, but you must keep abreast of developments in other fields of law. Complex commercial transactions may require that you specialize in specific fields - in corporation law, intellectual property law, tax law or in other areas. This does not mean that you do not have to know what is happening in other fields of law.

To be good in your area of specialization, you must be able to relate, and reinforce, your arguments from legal principles in other fields of law. Sometimes, the answer to legal questions in your field of specialization may come from other fields of law. Do not develop a tunnel vision by focussing only in your field of specialization.

6. Bridge the Gaps between Law and Justice

My sixth and last advice is you must work to bridge the gaps between law and justice. What is legal is not necessarily just. The U.S. Supreme Court once held that blacks were inferior to whites, and deserved to be slaves. That was the law then, but that was terribly unjust. There are many gaps between law and justice, and it is your solemn mission as future lawyers to close these gaps.

In the United States, the right to privacy was recognized by courts when two private lawyers wrote that it was unjust that an ordinary citizen’s private affairs could be laid bare and ridiculed before the public. The right of blacks to study in the same school and classroom as whites was recognized when activist lawyers questioned the separate but equal doctrine in over half a century of legal battles.

In our country, hate speech against minorities is not actionable. Companies, local and foreign, can exploit the nation’s natural resources without sharing the profits with the Filipino people. These are gaps between law and justice that can trigger social and economic strife among our people. As future lawyers, you have the duty to lead in closing these gaps and thus bring justice to our people.

The absence of a law is not an excuse to allow any form of injustice. And as you have learned in Republic v. Sandignabayan, even the absence of a Constitution is not an excuse to deprive the people of fundamental human rights. One of your greatest challenges is to insure that justice is done even in the absence of a law or even in the absence of a Constitution. Having been taught law in the grand manner in the U.P. College of Law, you will, I am sure, rise to this challenge.

Comelec Office, closed on a weekday

Posting an email from Ralph Reuben Morales of the Ayala Foundation, Inc.:

I was so happy that the top management of our company has been very supportive of the ongoing campaign of Ayala Young Leaders Alliance advocating voters' registration. We, the employees are entitled for one-day leave just to make sure that we are registered in our local COMELEC office.

The COMELEC website has a feature of checking whether an individual is registered or not. I found out that I am still registered though I have no records for my biometrics. After office hours yesterday, I immediately proceed to the bus station for an eight-hour trip to Mulanay, Quezon Province where I am registered. Aside from seeing my parents whom I have not seen for months, I was so excited for the trip to have my biometrics captured and claim my voters ID which I have been waiting for, for the past elections.

Upon arriving at the local COMELEC office at around 10:00 in the morning, all my excitement faded upon seeing that the said office is padlocked. My temper escalated upon seeing the long lines of equally excited youngsters whom I assume are first time voters. Some were even wearing their PE t-shirts of some Manila schools. What I was not surprised is that most of them are like me who intend to maximize their long vacation and placing their registration among their to-do list.

The COMELEC en banc released a resolution stating that their local offices should be open during Saturdays and holidays. Today is Wednesday and apparently not a holiday yet. Since no one was around to check if the office will still open, I rushed to the office beside COMELEC to inquire. Only to know the worst - the said office is closed

since yesterday.

I believe that all our efforts in the Ayala Young Leaders Alliance and Youth Vote Philippines should by all means be given equal effort and commitment from the COMELEC. What is it for those young men and women behind the advocacy of promoting voters registration only to be given this inattention from the very institution which should be the prime mover of citizen participation in the electoral process? What is to be expected from our campaign of getting as many youth as possible to register if our target individuals will only encounter padlocked COMELEC office with no single personnel around especially during the very rare chances that they can spare time to exercise their duties as citizens?

Do not blame the youth for being so-called apathetic. Apathy is a result of outright incompetence of most of our public servants. Among the youth, most of us are doing our share. It's just that more often than not, we do not receive the expected effectiveness from those in the bureaucracy.

Given the average turnout of registration, it will not be an astounding possibility to deprive hundreds of thousands if not millions of voters. The deadline for the registration is cut short from December 15 to October 31, 2009 in order to prepare for poll automation, as reported. Such directive poses the possibility of significantly decreasing the number of potential first time voters,unreasonable closing of COMELEC offices aggravates the saddening scenario.

In the 2007 senatorial elections, around 6.4 million potential voters were not registered. This number has significantly increased for the 2010 presidential elections.

We can recall the outcome of the past elections where the winners of national elective positions have a margin of less than a million. Assuming without conceding that there were no (massive) cheating, imagine the difference that the votes of those who were unable to register could have affected the final tallies. Bottomline – the

impact of the evident disregard of this very office to their mandate definitely affect the outcome of the elections and the impression of the public of the worth of exercising their rights and duties as citizens.

We appeal for immediate actions from the Commission on Elections. No more excuses please. We are all tired to hear the seemingly endless explanations trying to sew the loopholes in the systems the same commission are implementing. We are doing giving our contributions. We, the public, deserve no less.

Cafe Scientifique presents: Understanding Darwin

"The Best Cat Food is Community"

U-View, Fully Booked (28 February 09) - The First Filipino Freethinkers Forum kicked off with Red Tani's thoughts on the difference between freethinking and un-freethinking and took it further within the context of reason and science. He also proceeded to discuss theoretical freethinking and practical freethinking, emphasizing that practical freethinking embodies integrity.

After a game of “Identify the Freethinker”, Freethought Offline starting off with John Paraiso’s presentation on Freethinking in the Grassroots. He spoke of the perception that freethinking is not for the poor. Such view is belied by the pragmatism of the poor and that “truth is something they just need.” John also shared his experiences in the proletarian arenas in Luneta and Plaza Miranda in Quiapo. He even brought along a copy of the maiden issue of Freethinker, published in July 1999.

During the open forum that ensued after, Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio shared her experience with freethinking in communities, particularly in the alternative manners of organizing. The most recent of which was in mobilizing support against the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. Sass noted that “sometimes, freethinking can be a luxury,” to which John replied that freethinking is not an alternative to hope, freethinking is an alternative to thinking. Sass then cited the El Shaddai phenomenon and the rise of Bro. Ely Soriano and argued that people go to them because they are inspired. John explained that “tangible solutions” – not hope – is the best gift to a poor man.

The discussion cited as an example the current RH debate. The issues that have deterred the passage of this proposed legislation are not actually issues of morality but church dogma. A Freethinker, in the choice between dogma and reality, could see thru dogma – for freethinking “is not about revolutions, just a challenge to think.”

One forum participant stressed that freethinking in the grassroots has always been a challenge because it is in a community-based area. He also offered a commentary on the country’s education system and said that it is sadly “plagued by religious dogma”. To address this, he said that drastic changes must be made that genuinely embodies secularism. Another cited the experience of the Karl Sagan who accessed freethinking resources thru public libraries. Such underscored that perhaps one of the solutions offered by freethinking is personal ethic, to act without hope.

The next talk was on Secular Humanism by Geri Villas. He began by presenting a definition of freethinking as an umbrella term encompassing “reason and critical thinking independent of dogma and authority." He called attention to “free” – which did not mean absolute freedom. Secular humanism, on the other hand, refers to the “humanist philosophy that upholds reason, ethics, and justice and specifically rejects the supernatural and the spiritual as basis of moral reflection and decision-making.” The first term “secular” was supposedly used to distinguish this humanism from religious humanism.

The presentation noted that key to the foregoing definition would be the faculty of reason. As raised in the previous talk, freethinking is actually a “thinking habit”. Necessarily, it subscribes to Naturalism where everything can be explained. Jerry then proceeded to distinguish atheism and secular humanism. Atheism is premised on the non-belief in the existence of God, while secular humanism “goes beyond rejecting." The latter is not “anti-religious”, save perhaps when religion is used to influence public policy or governance; it “promotes and defends scientific outlook and rationality; it has remained staunchly sceptic to religious claims of divine truth; and is “committed to free inquiry in all human endeavors."

In various studies, the most recent of which was Gallup Poll which was conducted from 2007 to 2008, five percent (5%) of Filipinos believe that religion is not important. However, the supposedly secular educational system ensures that this mindset is addressed. As a case in point, out of two hundred fifty-three (253) secondary schools, an overwhelming number (143) are Christian institutions, 53 are controlled by the Roman Catholic Church and only 57 are dedicated to a science-based curriculum.

Jerry ended his talk with a comparison of the respective Preambles of our Constitution and that of the US Constitution, primarily on the any reference to God and the optional teaching of religion.

The third talk was on Science and Freethinking by Maria Isabel Garcia of the Philippine Star. She started off with a caveat that the relationship between science and freethinking “not be what [we thought] it is.” She reminded the participants that science is “limited by data and method”. In other words, “freethinking cannot be freewheeling in science” – it would have to be “discovery with an open mind”. She emphasized that science is “too important to leave to scientists alone”. She added that many of issues now have a science component. [Aside, I particularly liked that slide of an endangered panda – or was it a bear? – which had this caption: “One last look before we say goodbye.”]

Ms. Garcia also underscored the paradox of science: we understand more and yet, the more we are overwhelmed by the things we do not know. She also spoke about the so-called “science worship” for “science rationality” is not all there is to a complete mind [just as her slide noted:”There is no one way to walk the earth.”]

She ended by reminding us of some lessons that she has learned:

• Rational thinking is only a layer of thought of the complete picture. It is perfectly okay to hold contradictions in your head.
• Don’t be consumed by god/religion issues. Energy is finite...Leave the logistics of eternity to eternity. [That is a personal favorite.]
• Live. Fully.

In the discussion that ensued, she cautioned against labelling and that labels can have a life of their own. Thus, atheists and agnostics may very well be “jailed by dogma” themselves. Sass asked for a clarification on two points: (1) If science can explain the “physical” – when does the “physical end” and what happens after; and (2) What is the status of science in the Philippines? Ms. Garcia replied that by “physical” what is meant are things that are measurable and may be reviewed and for the second question, science in the Philippines is – and this is putting it kindly – bad. She says movements like Cafe Scientifique are trying to address this sad state. As a sidebar, she happily informed us that Cafe Scientifique will have an affair come April, also at Fully Booked, that will feature Steve Jones.

One participant enthused that “there is poetry in science” but Ms. Garcia added that this enthusiasm for science is apparently lost when children enter the fourth (4th) grade, when the supposed rigors start. Finally, she reminded us that we should never engage in any debate on dogma with our families for we would be “talking of different currencies.” But when dogma gets entangled in public policy, then she urges us to “rage as much as you can.”

Dr. Estrada-Claudio followed with a presentation on Freethought and Politics. She immediately attacked the campaign of the Roman Catholic Church against the RH bill. She cites the lies that the Church allegedly used to discourage the use of condoms. Recalling a public hearing on the RH bill where she was asked about the side-effects of contraceptives, she wondered how she can make our lawmakers understand that “all medicines have side effects."
She also discussed how politics breached embryological science by attempting to declare with an air of infallibility that “life begins upon conception."

Benj Espina wrapped up the afternoon with his talk on Free Thought and New Media. He likened the Forum as part of the learning that will progress to that “light bulb” moment. The bigger question, however, is quo vadis? To this, Benj suggests that we take the next step and commit to continuous learning. These steps can range from joining a mailing list, an online forum, and perhaps even create our own weblogs.

Finally, Red told us about the daydreams of cat herders. I cannot think of a better way to put it. Our Freethinkers have successful herded the strays. And Red is right, “the best cat food is community.”

A Dirge and an Ode

Using my name in the previous website was a bad call. After a while, it felt like I stood naked for all the world to see. Since the rest of me isn’t all pretty and taking cue from Radovan Karadzic, I will hide in the open.

I will henceforth write here. Some posts in the old site will also be deleted to cover up my tracks. I shall, from time to time, write in the old blog just so the rest of the world will not suspect. The links stay, friends, so we can still find our way to our little worlds.

The inspiration for the site’s name is a song aptly titled “Sometimes Sober” by Brisbane-based band The Gin Club and the by-line is from one of the band’s inspirations, the great Bob Dylan. Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone remains a personal anthem. It is a fervent wish, though, that I shall one day cease to live life like a rolling stone but until then, I will write.

Thank you for letting me tell my stories and for allowing me to likewise laugh at, cry over and learn from yours.

'Watch Out For Trucks'

Last weekend, I finished off Robert Fulghum's "What On Earth Have I Done?" It was vintage Fulghum!

One essay in the collection is on his grandchild Brie and one particular incident that belied a child's naivete. I am reproducing the entry in its entirety (in red are my favorite lines):

Brie likes my company. I like hers. And we both like looking good and laughing hard. She's my kind of guy.

Technically speaking she is my grandchild, but I emphasize that we are friends out of mutual admiration, not just blood kin. She is old and wise beyond her years. I am young and goofy behind my years. She aspires to adulthood but hasn't quite gotten the hang of it. And I know what is required of adults, but I just can't get used to being one.

During one recent ride home from a wedding I had officiated, Brie was strangely quiet. I parked the car and we walked hand-in-hand toward my house, where she was spending the night. Still quiet. Suddenly she said:

"I wonder where he is tonight?"

"Who?"

"You know--Him--the man I'll marry someday, the father of your great-grandchildren. He must be out there somewhere. Where is he?"

"I can't imagine. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I worry about him... I hope he's OK."

"Well, if he's going to meet up with you somewhere down the road, then I'm sure he must be fine--safe in the hands of destiny."

(Silence)

I looked down at her and saw trembling lips and teary eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"What if... he got hit... by a truck?... What if... he's hurt?"

I felt tears in my own eyes.

"That would be awful," I mumbled.

"Yes," she sobbed, "he will be so sad and lonely without me."

Just then we went through the kitchen door. My wife saw our distress.

"What's wrong with you two?" she asked.

"Her husband was hit by a truck," I moaned, "and we don't even know where he is or who's taking care of him."

"What?"

Somewhere out there in the world is a young man.

Him. The One Who. Mr. Someday. I have a message for him:

You don't know it, but something lovely will happen to you someday, whatever may be happening to you now. My dear friend, Brie, is on the way to you. Someday. When she gets there, you'll never be sad and lonely again.

When you meet her, she will be dressed up, looking good, and laughing. And if you are very, very lucky, she not only will become your wife, she will become your best friend. In the meantime, she and I think about you and worry about you. Please take care of yourself.

Watch out for trucks.

So there. Watch out for trucks, my Mr. Someday.

Calendar Girl

Lumampas ka na sa kalendaryo. ["Your age is past the number of days in a month."]

I am past that age where I can still squeeze in and look pretty in a wedding gown anyway. It really doesn't matter. As one of my bosses put it, as we age, we ought to be thankful for meaningful relationships. Friendships, for one. Family is another. Faith - and a relationship with the Higher Being - completes the triad that remains constant in our lives.

At 32, what happens next?

I like to believe that I have begun to accept that perhaps I ought to prepare myself for a lifetime without marriage or children - no matter how badly I want one. Perhaps too, I will cease to take myself too seriously. I find myself pausing to pray and praise Him for the wonders that still come my way.

At 32, I am finally home. At 32, it feels like this old girl is catching up on everything beautiful that she missed along the bumpy way. At 32, to borrow Browning, the best is yet to be!

Altering the Balance of Power

Last night, I was able to convince some friends - ABS-CBN's Leonel Velarde and Add Up! Volunteers' Froilan Grate, Cris Espera and Cesyl Alonso - to attend a Leadership Forum hosted by the Ayala Young Leaders Program at the Philippine Conference Hall, Asian Institute of Management in Makati, featuring the so-called Caravan of Good Governance - pockets of hope for Philippine politics. Thanks to Niña Terol of Team RP and Ralph Morales of the Ayala Foundation.

The Forum kicked off with Bill Luz of the Makati Business Club urging us that if we want a better country, we must imagine, envision and make it happen. Kaya Natin!'s Harvey Keh followed underscoring that the five local executives who will be speaking at the Forum are "servant leaders with a heart for change."

Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga spoke first. He spoke about the twenty-six (26) and a half years 26 and a half years that he spent in the pastoral ministry and how the 2007 elections apparently coincided with the regular diocesan movements. He was being assigned to another parish and people were petitioning the Archbishop to allow Fr. Ed to stay. The "pricked pride" of the Kapampangans got in the way and he emerged as Pampanga's alternative candidate - hopefully to put an end to Pampana's twelve (12) years under the Lapids who, according to Fr. Ed, were "perceived to be very corrupt"). Fr. Ed quipped that some voters noted that the choice between Lapid and Pineda is a choice between a quarry lord and a jueteng lord. They preferred a candidate who is "Praise the Lord."

With Fr. Ed likewise spoke of two platforms that his administration has undertaken: fight corruption and illegal gambling. With jueteng, he said that Pampanga is now using the bibingka (rice cake) approach - apoy sa baba (fire below) by engendering a culture of savings and industry and apoy sa taas (fire above) through the commencement of various criminal indictments against the proponents of jueteng. The approach harks back to how rice cakes are commonly prepared in the provinces.

Ifugao's Gov. Teddy Baguilat said he dreamt of an Ifugao ruled by Ifugaos and so he went back to his home province to serve. He related the difficulty of having cultural preservation as centerpiece of governance. Mayor Sonia Lorenzo also gave an exemplar of how local governments can make a difference.

Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela urged that we elect only the right people to lead us. She also asked us to understand that leaders "who give people hope, also needs to be encouraged" and cited the recall predicament being faced by Fr. Ed in Pampanga.

Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, the most experienced of the lot noted that he is on his sixth (6th) and final term as City mayor. After almost seventeen (17) years, he observed that we can elect good leaders but "good governance is difficult and is only possible if the people wills it." With a wry smile, he said that often, we think that all we need to do is to "elect the good guys and let them do all the work." Instead, he hopes that my generation will live a new paradigm where "we elect the good guys and make them better."

The Caravan of Good Governance will visit the country's premier State University - UP-Diliman - on September 23, 2008.