How to Help Our Country
HOW TO HELP OUR COUNTRY
By Ramon J. Farolan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Sunday, 31 July 2005
There’s a booklet making the rounds in Metro Manila ,that every Filipino who loves his country should get hold of and read, and hopefully put the points it raises into practice ,in order to help our nation. It doesn’t dwell on a shift to a parliamentary form of government or a federal system ,which are politicians are so fond of talking about as the answer tour problems, or as a way of providing a graceful exit for someone. It doesn’t dwell on the need for an expanded value-added tax, which are financial geniuses have been proposing as the answer to our fiscal deficits. “TWELVE (12) LITTLE THINGS EVERY FILIPINO CAN DO TO HELP OUR COUNTRY,” by Alexander Ledesma Lacson, may be a “voice in the wilderness”; but as Fr. Rueben Tanseco, S.J. what Alex proposes are “very concrete, practical and doable” actions for us ordinary Filipinos. And the best part is that these 12 things don’t need to be debated upon by our congressmen and senators, reviewed by a bicameral conference committee and finally signed by the President before they can be part of the laws of the land, which may or may not be complied with because our Supreme Court can “TRO” the whole thing; and it may take time to resolve the issue, which then would still be the subject of a possible motion for reconsideration. What is needed to get these 12 things moving are leaders in our homes, barangays, educational institution and civic organizations who will be the point men and women in the dissemination and implementation of these “twelve things.” Forget about our political leaders. They’re too busy with charter change or electoral reforms-the sort of activities that will ensure their continued stay in office or that of their children and relatives. A simple enumeration of these “twelve little things” will not do justice to the work of Alex. You’ve got to read the whole text, but I shall try to
By Ramon J. Farolan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Sunday, 31 July 2005
There’s a booklet making the rounds in Metro Manila ,that every Filipino who loves his country should get hold of and read, and hopefully put the points it raises into practice ,in order to help our nation. It doesn’t dwell on a shift to a parliamentary form of government or a federal system ,which are politicians are so fond of talking about as the answer tour problems, or as a way of providing a graceful exit for someone. It doesn’t dwell on the need for an expanded value-added tax, which are financial geniuses have been proposing as the answer to our fiscal deficits. “TWELVE (12) LITTLE THINGS EVERY FILIPINO CAN DO TO HELP OUR COUNTRY,” by Alexander Ledesma Lacson, may be a “voice in the wilderness”; but as Fr. Rueben Tanseco, S.J. what Alex proposes are “very concrete, practical and doable” actions for us ordinary Filipinos. And the best part is that these 12 things don’t need to be debated upon by our congressmen and senators, reviewed by a bicameral conference committee and finally signed by the President before they can be part of the laws of the land, which may or may not be complied with because our Supreme Court can “TRO” the whole thing; and it may take time to resolve the issue, which then would still be the subject of a possible motion for reconsideration. What is needed to get these 12 things moving are leaders in our homes, barangays, educational institution and civic organizations who will be the point men and women in the dissemination and implementation of these “twelve things.” Forget about our political leaders. They’re too busy with charter change or electoral reforms-the sort of activities that will ensure their continued stay in office or that of their children and relatives. A simple enumeration of these “twelve little things” will not do justice to the work of Alex. You’ve got to read the whole text, but I shall try to