It all started during the infamous Luneta hostage debacle. It was then expressly revealed by no less than Malacanang itself that the DILG has been in fact effectively divided into two separate agencies. The Local Government Section is headed merely by an “Acting Secretary” with acknowledged administrative skills in governance. But the PNP is placed under the direction of a permanent Undersecretary whose principal credential is friendship of long standing with the Chief Executive. Incidentally, the said Acting Secretary is known as an anti-Jueteng crusader. On the other hand, true or not, the Undersecretary is a suspect in the working and benefactions of Jueteng in the Country.
Recently, it was officially announced by Malacanang that the Cabinet was due for a shake-up at the beginning of this year. Translation: Some four or so members thereof are on their way out. And the same number of fortunate and well-chosen individuals is on their way in. Their names have been mentioned now and then, here and there. Being an Office of interest and influence by reason of its authority and scope, the loaded question asked these days is one and the same: Whom will Malacanang appoint as permanent DILG Secretary?
At first, there were but whispers here and there. Thereafter, one text after another were sent and received. Ultimately, media joined its voice in naming names heard from the grapevine: Former PNP Director Gen. VERZOSA. Never mind if he was grilled by the Senate about the so called “Euro Generals” accompanied by his wife. Never mind if right or wrong, his name has been linked with the same workings and benefactions of Jueteng in the Country - exactly like the incumbent DILG Undersecretary.
Such is one big bad news. Jueteng is a known and effective exploiter of the poor. Jueteng is also a corrupt and corrupting syndicate – with local public Officials as its primary beneficiaries. There is the DILG Undersecretary who is already a suspect Jueteng beneficiary. And would there be a DILG Secretary who is also a suspect jueteng beneficiary? In the event that this pairing would become a reality, a sad and saddening conclusion would come to order: The loud and repeated proclamations of self-righteousness and integrity by the Chief-in-Command would be but big blows of bad air.
Is this why the same Chieftain is sticking to his official declaration that eradicating Jueteng is “not a priority” of his government?
OVCRUZ,JCD
07 JANUARY 2010
Friday, January 07, 2011
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
“POLITICAL WILL”
Many things have been said for many times about something many individuals have been clamoring for, about the many benefits of the so called “political will” in governance – specially so on the part of the present corporate leadership. The common perception is that there is a big mixture of the excellent and the mediocre, the good and the bad in the over-all actuation of the incumbent administration.
Some good things: Exorcism of government agencies reeking with Officials with super-big salaries and great perks. Amnesty for the then dissenting military personnel. Release of the “Morong 43” – minus three. Attempts for socio-economic development. Intention to redeem poor and chosen families through cash transfers.
Some bad things: Comical but fatal handling of the infamous “Hostage Crisis”. Ire towards the Supreme Court for a negative judgment on EO n. 1. Criminality in many places, many times with many victims. Academic super performance ratings. Reactive not pro-active governance.
Popular conclusion: The present administration has no “Political Will”! Question: What is “Political Will” in plain and simple language? What is its origin? Where is it anchored? What is good about it? What public benefits does it bring? What is its exact opposite?
Answer: “Political Will” is resolve, determination, conviction. Its origin is personal character. It is anchored on strength of the volitional faculty. It sends clear and straight messages to one and all. It tells the general public what to expect for certain. Their opposites are the “off and on” mode, the “now you see now you don’t” optional pattern, the “urong-sulong” approach. Its opposite is clarity of thinking and resoluteness of will plus decisiveness in action pattern.
The necessary and practical premises of “Political Will” are the same-irrespective of time and place, color and creed: Knowledge plus intelligence and wisdom. Needless to say, these are not the attributes of the incompetent, the mediocre and wherefore the inefficient. From an empirical view point, “Political Will” is not inherited. But neither does in come to someone simply on account of knowledgeable, intelligent and/or wise advisers. This is a fact which not all noble, exceptional and eminent arguments to the contrary, could make it a non-fact.
OVCRUZ, JCD
05 JANUARY 2011
Some good things: Exorcism of government agencies reeking with Officials with super-big salaries and great perks. Amnesty for the then dissenting military personnel. Release of the “Morong 43” – minus three. Attempts for socio-economic development. Intention to redeem poor and chosen families through cash transfers.
Some bad things: Comical but fatal handling of the infamous “Hostage Crisis”. Ire towards the Supreme Court for a negative judgment on EO n. 1. Criminality in many places, many times with many victims. Academic super performance ratings. Reactive not pro-active governance.
Popular conclusion: The present administration has no “Political Will”! Question: What is “Political Will” in plain and simple language? What is its origin? Where is it anchored? What is good about it? What public benefits does it bring? What is its exact opposite?
Answer: “Political Will” is resolve, determination, conviction. Its origin is personal character. It is anchored on strength of the volitional faculty. It sends clear and straight messages to one and all. It tells the general public what to expect for certain. Their opposites are the “off and on” mode, the “now you see now you don’t” optional pattern, the “urong-sulong” approach. Its opposite is clarity of thinking and resoluteness of will plus decisiveness in action pattern.
The necessary and practical premises of “Political Will” are the same-irrespective of time and place, color and creed: Knowledge plus intelligence and wisdom. Needless to say, these are not the attributes of the incompetent, the mediocre and wherefore the inefficient. From an empirical view point, “Political Will” is not inherited. But neither does in come to someone simply on account of knowledgeable, intelligent and/or wise advisers. This is a fact which not all noble, exceptional and eminent arguments to the contrary, could make it a non-fact.
OVCRUZ, JCD
05 JANUARY 2011
Monday, January 03, 2011
"BARKADA INC."
This is interesting - if not really intriguing. There was once that well known and famous conglomeration aptly called "Kamag-Anak Incoporated". The then government was primarily anchored on the popularity of a family member - plus a dynasty of the wealthy and the powerful in the Country. Without the least intention at all of offending anybody in anyway, as expected, rightly and effectively governing a Nation could not be be premised on but popularity.
Together with integrity, competence is a prime requisite - specially on the part of the none other than the Head of Government. The said required competence has a special relevance precisely on account of the Executive Power thereto appended. An incompetent Executive is all that it takes to disorient a people, to ruin a Country. Let it be said though that the inherent weakness of a democracy is when elections are basically popularity contests - wherein competence is wherefore irrelevant.
And now, following the same lineage in Philippine government, there is said to be something akin to the "kamaganak Inc." - with some kind of a twist. This time it is dubbed the "Barkada Inc." Those who coined this phrase, do not exactly deserved to be blamed nor denounced, much less damned by those intimately concerned in such a more and more decidedly perceived reality in the present administration. Never mind if the present government is said to work like a "Student Council" according to a well known and respected political figure. Never too if another famous and much appreciated political personality said that the incumbent administration has but 2011 to shape up or ship out - or something the like.
What do the citizens concerned see in the ruling administration that made them say that it is much influenced if not altogether controlled by a "Barkada Inc."? It is not really that difficult for them to arrive at such a conclusion: There seems to be but either of two criteria to get into coveted government positions: Political gratitude or intimate friendship. It is definitely much better if the two criteria are present in one and the same individual. Then, this becomes invincible and wherefore untouchable.
No, the governance of the Country is not that bad - but neither is it that good. There is that persisting perception that Malacanang is but reactive, not pro-active, that it is here and there but not where it really matters. And needless to say, in such a socio-political situation, the "Barkada Inc." is not of any help but rather a big heavy burden.
OVCRUZ, JCD
03 JANUARY 2011
Together with integrity, competence is a prime requisite - specially on the part of the none other than the Head of Government. The said required competence has a special relevance precisely on account of the Executive Power thereto appended. An incompetent Executive is all that it takes to disorient a people, to ruin a Country. Let it be said though that the inherent weakness of a democracy is when elections are basically popularity contests - wherein competence is wherefore irrelevant.
And now, following the same lineage in Philippine government, there is said to be something akin to the "kamaganak Inc." - with some kind of a twist. This time it is dubbed the "Barkada Inc." Those who coined this phrase, do not exactly deserved to be blamed nor denounced, much less damned by those intimately concerned in such a more and more decidedly perceived reality in the present administration. Never mind if the present government is said to work like a "Student Council" according to a well known and respected political figure. Never too if another famous and much appreciated political personality said that the incumbent administration has but 2011 to shape up or ship out - or something the like.
What do the citizens concerned see in the ruling administration that made them say that it is much influenced if not altogether controlled by a "Barkada Inc."? It is not really that difficult for them to arrive at such a conclusion: There seems to be but either of two criteria to get into coveted government positions: Political gratitude or intimate friendship. It is definitely much better if the two criteria are present in one and the same individual. Then, this becomes invincible and wherefore untouchable.
No, the governance of the Country is not that bad - but neither is it that good. There is that persisting perception that Malacanang is but reactive, not pro-active, that it is here and there but not where it really matters. And needless to say, in such a socio-political situation, the "Barkada Inc." is not of any help but rather a big heavy burden.
OVCRUZ, JCD
03 JANUARY 2011
Saturday, January 01, 2011
“Kawawa naman, walang magawa ang payaso”
Thus thinks and speaks a leading national broadsheet about the antics of someone who precisely appears to have the haughty Spanish blood and flamboyant spirit of “Damaso”
running in his veins and invading his mind. Translation of the above perception and description of the character concerned: “Pitiful clown with nothing to do.” Someone who has nothing to do is bad enough as he is pathetic. Somebody who is a clown is both the source and object of jokes, of ridicule and laughter. This is also why clowns hide their faces and persons behind ridiculous make-up, exaggerated clothing and antics.
The current Damaso caricature is a good jumping board to bring to fore certain relevant as well as significant on-the-ground realities about the Church as an institution that has been operative on the imperatives of reason and the article of faith. It all began some two thousand years ago—and that Church is all around. She, yes “She” as a loving and caring mother, started local then went regional and has become truly global, long since. Not only her enemies but also her own members have repeatedly and earnestly attempted time and again to stop her, to ruin her, to make her disappear from the face of the earth. They are all gone and the church is still around.
Human history, for what it is worth and what its import is, has long since evidenced and affirmed the following more relevant and simple sound and solid truths about the church:
One, it is downright impossible to silence the church in proclaiming the objective truths about humanity and the world—in the here and now as well as hereafter and beyond. There must be thousands if not millions across the centuries, who attempted to muffle her, who earnestly tried to make her deaf, dumb and mute. But all of them are gone—silent and quiet—and the Church remains well and around.
Two, it is quixotic to fight the Church. Many in tenure of brute power and might already and repeatedly tried to down her, to do away with her, to make her disappear. But it is they who eventually failed to fight their own sickness and age. Yet, the Church remains well and round.
Three, it is a big exercise in futility for individuals and organizations, governments included, to tell the church what to think and say, what to do and refrain from doing. However, the time infallibly comes when it is the church that’s stands as a witness to their death and burial—while she remains still in teaching the truths she holds dear, in defending the norms and principles she considers good and proper, right and just. Again, the Church remains well and round.
OV CRUZ, JCD
1 April 2011
running in his veins and invading his mind. Translation of the above perception and description of the character concerned: “Pitiful clown with nothing to do.” Someone who has nothing to do is bad enough as he is pathetic. Somebody who is a clown is both the source and object of jokes, of ridicule and laughter. This is also why clowns hide their faces and persons behind ridiculous make-up, exaggerated clothing and antics.
The current Damaso caricature is a good jumping board to bring to fore certain relevant as well as significant on-the-ground realities about the Church as an institution that has been operative on the imperatives of reason and the article of faith. It all began some two thousand years ago—and that Church is all around. She, yes “She” as a loving and caring mother, started local then went regional and has become truly global, long since. Not only her enemies but also her own members have repeatedly and earnestly attempted time and again to stop her, to ruin her, to make her disappear from the face of the earth. They are all gone and the church is still around.
Human history, for what it is worth and what its import is, has long since evidenced and affirmed the following more relevant and simple sound and solid truths about the church:
One, it is downright impossible to silence the church in proclaiming the objective truths about humanity and the world—in the here and now as well as hereafter and beyond. There must be thousands if not millions across the centuries, who attempted to muffle her, who earnestly tried to make her deaf, dumb and mute. But all of them are gone—silent and quiet—and the Church remains well and around.
Two, it is quixotic to fight the Church. Many in tenure of brute power and might already and repeatedly tried to down her, to do away with her, to make her disappear. But it is they who eventually failed to fight their own sickness and age. Yet, the Church remains well and round.
Three, it is a big exercise in futility for individuals and organizations, governments included, to tell the church what to think and say, what to do and refrain from doing. However, the time infallibly comes when it is the church that’s stands as a witness to their death and burial—while she remains still in teaching the truths she holds dear, in defending the norms and principles she considers good and proper, right and just. Again, the Church remains well and round.
OV CRUZ, JCD
1 April 2011
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