The ‘joy’ of being an election candidate

 

“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”

—Ernest Benn

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

UNLESS they are plain and simple nincompoops, candidates in the May 9, 2022 election—nuisance or serious—should be aware of their chances and be able to anticipate their fates.

A candidate for any elective position with a rationale and objective mind knows if he is winnable or if his chances are nil, especially now that the official campaign period is about to start and some of them are still eating the dust in the credible and legitimate surveys.

The irrational and closed-minded candidate believes in his own invincibility and will normally refuse to acknowledge he can lose.

In his thinking, he’s always on top and nothing and nobody can beat him in any contest or election. Thus he will never lend credence to survey results—unless favorable to him.

If he lags behind, he will bellyache and discredit the surveys. They can only be credible and realistic if he is the one leading.

These types of candidates are detached from reality. They are used to being hailed and glorified in pubic because of their past achievements that earned them applause and glowing recognition.

To some extent, they believe their lofty standing in society can be translated into a glorious public approval and sure victory in any election.

The superstar complex that gobbles up their egos gives them extra energy and confidence and bolsters their belief there’s no way the voters will not give them a resounding win.

 

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We theorize that presidential candidates Manny Pacquiao, Isko Moreno, Ping Lacson, and Leody de Guzman are actually aware if they’re riding on a one-way trip train or in the luxury ship.

They haven’t been doing well in the surveys but have been brimming with confidence like Cyrus’ son Cambyses and Darius’ son Xerxes, giving pre-campaign speeches left and right all over the archipelago, unfazed by the phenomenal popularity of the two leading presidential contestants, Vice President Leni Robredo and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

It’s too early to conclude, but all indications, analyses, circumstances and recent events have pointed to only one direction: another possible down-the-wire finish between Robredo and Marcos Jr.
It looks like the Robredo-Marcos Jr. rivalry in the 2016 vice presidential race will be replayed in the May 9, 2022 presidential election.

As for Pacquiao, win or lose, it seems he is only enjoying what he is doing while going around and hooping from south to north vice versa shaking the hands of his legions of (mostly boxing) fans and watching them shriek as he waves and hands them cash for no apparent reason other than “to share my blessings.”

It’s normal for the former boxer to wish for the stars and entertain the possibility of winning the race to Malacanang. If he won’t make it, we see him going back to the ring and “reviving” the career that gave him wealth.

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but for Pacquiao, an instant $2 million in a megabuck duel with any UFC star or the current champions in the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and other alphabet boxing bodies is easy to collect as long as he isn’t yet 60. Mark our word.

 

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Moreno knows his numbers. Win or lose, he stands to rake in millions of pesos from the “proceeds” of his unspent campaign kitties. He has been in this ballgame before when he ran and lost for senator in 2016. He may be over rated, as what his critics are saying, but he isn’t dumb.

The fact that he can afford to “sacrifice” his position as mayor in the country’s most glamorous and celebrated metropolis for a tenebrous presidential bid, something sizable must be clanking loudly somewhere for the former showbiz heartthrob in the event he decides to retire from politics.

Lacson and de Guzman, of course, know their cards can’t form a beeline to the treasure island. Their campaigns might be uphill, but they are needed in the race to add life and substance in the discourse.

Unlike Moreno and Pacquiao, who were propelled in the race owing to their backgrounds in showbiz and sports, respectively, Lacson and de Guzman come from the upper crust of the political spectrum; and they aren’t pushovers.

By being there—to be seen and heard by the Filipinos from all corners of the globe—waging marvelous crusades and inspiring the hoi polloi to rise from obscurity and being underdog in life, is already a victory, something they probably couldn’t achieve if they were only running for village chiefs.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

Missing Times Square’s New Year’s Eve anew

 

“New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.”

—Charles Lamb

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT’S always in the heart and mind of every New Yorker to be present during the spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration at Times Square every year.

But Times Square, a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment center, and neighborhood in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, can’t accommodate us all.

In the previous stagings, most of those who monitored on cable news around the world and in the United States, would want to be there either in reality or imagination.

Some of those who have lived in this magnificent and most densely populated major city city in the United States with a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over 300.46 square miles, consider themselves luckier for having physically attended the past programs.

But we’ll surely miss the celebration for the second straight year because of the pandemic, which also dashed to pieces our

excitement when 2020 bade goodbye.

The same culprit, now in the form of Omicron variant, will again pose as a major roadblock in our quest to be there when 2021 says adieu days from now.

The headlining acts are now set to ring in 2022 against the backdrop of a surging COVID-19 variant that has already limited crowd sizes and put in place new protocols.

 

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It’s almost for sure we can’t make it there. Before Christmas Day, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced details for a scaled back bash, with additional protections in place to ensure a safe celebration.

In addition to requiring proof of full vaccination with valid photo identification and being fully outdoors, attendees would be also required to wear masks just like last year even as viewing areas would be filled with fewer people to allow for social distancing.

Made in consultation with health and medical experts, authorities said these additional safety measures would keep revelers safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year.

In partnership with Times Square Alliance, New York City government said it would continue to monitor the situation and take additional precautions and measures if needed.

“New Yorkers have stepped up tremendously over the past year—we are leading the way on vaccinations, we have reopened safely, and every day we work toward building a recovery for all of us,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “There is a lot to celebrate and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year.”

There will be modified plans for New York City’s fully vaccinated celebration at the Crossroads of the World, where a limited crowd will be allowed to celebrate while wearing face masks. NBC New York confirmed that capacity will be capped at roughly 15,000 people, nearly four times less than the non-pandemic crowd.

 

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Visitors will not be permitted entry until 3 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, which is much later than prior years. Proof of full vaccination—meaning the last dose of the regimen was at least 14 days before New Year’s Eve—with valid photo identification will remain required as the mayor had previously announced.

Attendees aged 5 and up will be required to also present proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter the event. Minors not yet eligible for vaccination can still attend the Times Square bash but must be accompanied by a vaccinated adult.

Anyone who can’t get vaccinated because of a disability must provide proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event as well.

Headlining the spectacle will be Grammy-nominated singer KT Tunstall, known for her hit song “Suddenly I See,” according to NBC New York. Joining the Scottish singer-songwriter on Dec. 31 is LL Cool J, Chlöe, Journey and Karol G.

Celebrations kickoff around 6 p.m. with the rising of the New Year’s Eve Ball and an opening cultural dance celebration presented by the Sino-American Friendship Association.

City hall warned more could change in the coming days, though. The event is outdoors and for fully vaccinated people only, but Omicron’s stunning dominance over New York City in just the last few weeks means officials are allowing room for any additional changes if needed.

“There is a lot to celebrate and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year,” de Blasio said, noting the city’s success in getting residents vaccinated while also keeping businesses open.

“New York is the best place in the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve and now it will be one of the safest against COVID as well,” Mayor-elect Eric Adams said in a written statement endorsing the new precautions. “New Yorkers and visitors alike can now enjoy Times Square and the rest of our city as we ring in 2022.”

At an earlier, unrelated event, a more exuberant de Blasio said for the third time in as many days that Omicron would be a setback but not stall the city’s progress.

“We are not shutting down. We are not falling back. We are going to fight our way through this,” the mayor said at the event in Brooklyn — and reminded people of the $100 cash his administration is offering to get boosted before the new year.

“At this moment, all eyes are on New York City and a festive, safe, vaccinated, and masked, outdoor celebration like New Year’s Eve in Times Square is exactly what we all need, now more than ever, to bid farewell and good riddance to 2021, as we look forward to celebrating a new year when we follow the science to remain open and safely welcome New Yorkers and visitors back to the Crossroads of the World.”

Last year’s New Year’s Eve celebration was a socially distanced affair, attended by small groups of essential workers. It would come back at “full strength” to ring in 2022, assured de Blasio.

That won’t be the case now. Omicron has already reportedly usurped the delta variant as the most dominant COVID strain in the United States, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all new cases last week.

In the New York area, the CDC estimates the variant’s prevalence has topped 90 percent.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.-Ed)

 

Don’t make fun of your position as mayor

 

 

“When you are in the public eye, in the name of public service, you have to understand that the more people know about you, and the more people say they want to support you, the more you have to work even harder to uphold that trust.”

—Nicole Seah

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THERE is nothing wrong with being an LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning) while at the same time serving as public servant.

The terms in this acronym are used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

We know a lot of them in the Philippines and anywhere in the world; and, because of their skills, they are some of the best and the most respected.

One of them is Geefre “Kalay” Alonsabe, mayor of Alimodian, Iloilo.

It’s public knowledge that Alonsabe is gay and people of Alimodian accept him for who and what he is.

Gay is the adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex.

In fact, the Ilonggos in general are proud of him especially when he bragged that “he is gay but not corrupt”.   

By being “accepted” doesn’t mean, however, that Alonsabe must always create a stir to emphasize what he is in order to attract public attention.   

Like what the mayor did when he dressed in a long white gown and worn a crown during the town’s recent Christmas Party.

 

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In a Facebook post, the mayor captioned his latest stunt as “Even though you’re growing up, you should never stop having fun…LGU-ALIMODIAN CHRISTMAS PARTY 2021…Mirror, Mirror on the wall, Who’s the fairest of them all? The Queen could’t stand to have someone fairer than she…THANK YOU LGU-FAMILY for the fun and laughter!”

We are not against it; in fact, we are glad that despite the recent typhoon “Odette” and pandemic, the mayor was able to provide entertainment to his constituents to help them forget sorrow and tribulation.

But he may have gone haywire out of his sincere desire to make his constituents happy.

In letter A on Commitment to public interest in Section 4 on Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees of Republic Act No. 6713 or an Act Establishing a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the likes of Alonsabe are mandated to “observe the following as standards of personal conduct in the discharge and execution of official duties.”

That “Public officials and employees shall always uphold the public interest over and above personal interest.”

Making “fun” and subjecting yourself to “laughter”, as Alonsabe admitted in the caption of his Facebook post, may be a personal interest, but certainly not a public interest.

Also in letter B on Professionalism, “Public officials and employees shall perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence and skill. They shall enter public service with utmost devotion and dedication to duty. They shall endeavor to discourage wrong perceptions of their roles as dispensers or peddlers of undue patronage.”

A friendly advice: Be who you are for what you are, but please don’t make fun of your position as mayor.

 

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Politicians, especially candidates in the May 9, 2022 Philippine election, aren’t obliged to donate cash to victims of super typhoon “Odette.”

There’s no pressure for them to give.

If they feel they need to help, they can always do it in whatever means and in what day or week.

They shouldn’t feel guilty or ashamed that they weren’t immediately mentioned in the social and mainstream media as among those who distributed the largesse and goods to the typhoon victims.

In the first place, it’s not their obligation.

We still have the government and the generous private sector that can spearhead the donation of goods and cash to the victims.

But because they are seeking a public office and have been collecting oodles upon oodles of campaign funds from various sources despite the pandemic, they think it is mandatory to donate cash and kind and look good in public in return.

Even if they distribute millions of cash and other forms of assistance to the victims and ask the media to cover it “live”, it won’t guarantee their victory in the election five months from now.

So it’s not a wise choice to cash in on the plight of typhoon “Odette” victims.

The more they try hard to help (even if deep inside they don’t feel like doing it), the more their efforts won’t be appreciated by the public.

 

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WHAT SCARES THE AIR FORCE. A pair of binoculars and a cellular phone can threaten modern warplanes. In 1999, Serbian airplane spotters watched U.S. aircraft leave an airbase in Italy.

The spies alerted antiair-missile battery crews in Serbia to aim their long-wavelength radar overhead, enabling the crews to destroy a stealth F-117A nighthawk.

ANTHROPOMIMETIC MACHINES. No matter how closely a robot resembles a human on the outside, if we crack it open, the jumble of wires is unlikely to bear much resemblance to our insides. A group of European researchers aims to bridge that gap–its robot prototype is anthropomimetic, maning it mimics the human form.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

Christmas wishes in a free world

 

“Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.”

—Voltaire

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

This must be the most popular line in any Christmas song that we, in the Christian world, have learned to memorize since we were little kids.

Thus, each year we make Christmas wishes in a hope we can help improve our lives, the lives of our family and friends, and make drastic changes in society and environment.

—We wish people around the world will finally get rid of COVID-19 in 2022; we thought it would leave us alone in 2021 after terrorizing us in 2020;

—We wish there will be no more pandemic variants; Delta and Omicron should be the last. Scientists monitor all variants but may classify certain ones as  variants being monitored, variants of interest, variants of concern and variants of high consequence. Some variants spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths;

—We wish there will be no more super typhoons like “Odette” before, during, and beyond 2022 (but this is a wishful thinking);

—We wish there will be a political and economic stability in the Philippines;

—We wish there will be a peaceful and successful election on May 9, 2022 and only the best and the most qualified candidates will win;

—We wish our world leaders will address with utmost importance and priority the issues and problems on climate change, unemployment, wars on terrorism, poverty, human trafficking, illegal drugs, bigotry and violence against women and children, racism and labor exploitation.

 

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SEXUAL-HEALTH CHECKLIST. 1. Lift weight 3x a week. Not only will we gain muscle, sexual satisfaction will follow as well. 2. Open our mind. Increasingly, women are doing just that in their sex practices. Don’t let her leave us behind. 3. Presence, transcendence, and authenticity trump lust in the good-sex game. 4. Expand our social networks. 5. Emotional connection-even with casual partners-means better sex.

 

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D IS FOR DIET. Vitamin D supplements may be the newest weight-loss pills. When University of Minnesota researchers measured blood levels of the sunshine vitamin in 38 overweight people, they found that when the subject went on a low-calorie diet, those with higher levels of vitamin D lost more weight than those with lower levels.

 

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WHEN SOMEBODY ATTACKS US AND WE CAN’T DEFEND OURSELVES, we shouldn’t scream. It tightens our throat and tires us out. Instead, we must yell when in danger. A yell comes from the diaphragm, experts say, creating a louder sound with less effort.

 

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TIP-OFF TO A THREAT. If a stranger stops us on the street, let’s watch his feet: Normal–his torso points toward us, but his feet angle the way he’d been walking. Aggressive–he faces us dead-on, with one foot behind the other–a fighter’s stance. Source: “What everybody is saying” author Joe Navarro.

 

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A BETTER BEDTIME. Let’s resolve to help our kid clock more quality snooze time. It could benefit our child’s mood in a big way: In a recent Columbia University Medical Center study, teenagers whose parents let them stay up until midnight or later were 24 percent more likely to be depressed and 20 percent more likely to have suicidal thoughts than kids who hit the sack at 10 P.M. or earlier.

 

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FOR LADIES: HOW TO TURN DOWN YOUR GUY WHEN YOU ARE TIRED. If he’s in the mood but you’re not, let him know he still makes you hot with a sexy kiss and a straightforward “I’m so exhausted, I may conk out on top of you. Let’s do it tomorrow.” Source: Dr. Yvonne Thomas.

 

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SAVING OUR PLANET 1: Let’s be a paper doll by always recycling paper. Each time paper is recycled, the individual cellulose fibers become shorter. On average, a fiber can be recycled seven times before it is too short to combine with other fibers.

SAVING OUR PLANET 2. Let’s get behind glass by not throwing away glass jars–let’s use them TO STORE FOOD in our home and to keep things airtight. Let’s recycle both the glass jars and the metal lids when we can no longer use them.

SAVING OUR PLANET 3: In the can, let’s always recycle food and drink cans. Recycling aluminum requires only 5 percent of the energy it takes to process the original from the earth’s crust. One-third of aluminum is currently reused, but it should be more.

SAVING OUR PLANET 4: Let’s look for the arrows by choosing recycled when it comes to fruit and vegetable packaging. Many supermarkets are catching on now–they’re starting to realize that the consumer wishes to reduce their stacks of garbage, and are offering recycled and recyclable packaging. Let’s look for the universally recognized recycle symbol.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

Publicity of foolishness

 

“Nice words and nice appearance doesn’t conclude that someone is nice. I believe that the nicer you look, the more deceptive you appear.”

― Michael Bassey Johnson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

LET’S vote only for politicians who did not brag about the donations they sent the victims of super typhoon “Odette” or “Rai”; candidates in the May 9, 2022 Philippine election who elected to stay behind the scene, or did not showboat in public to tell the world they were so “concerned” and “affected” that scores of families and neighbors lost their loved ones and properties to the killer storm that recently steamrolled Central Visayas and Surigao del Norte.

Being concerned and affected is not the exclusive domains or feelings of those who intend to hold a public office.

Publicity of goodness sometimes can be tantamount to publicity of foolishness.

Even ordinary characters like the hardened criminals and those who belong in the marginalized sectors would also feel the weight and terrible loss brought by the tragedy that befell the residents in the affected regions.        

We need leaders who have the inclination to work silently and anonymously but efficiently and effectively; they who don’t grandstand and don’t parade their good deeds.

 

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God knows how to reward those who share their blessings in times of turmoil and calamities; He knows also who are the hypocrites, the scoundrels, the epals, and the Real McCoys.

Most of those who highlight their public service with unnecessary media stunts and excessive public exposure are normally the types of public servants who will hanker for overblown recognition even if they don’t deserve it once they are in office.    

The “Odette” tragedy has exposed many of these hypocrites. They think their presence or their photo ops during the distribution of goods and cash showing them giving directions left and right, was a major plus factor to prop up their public image.

On the other hand, there were low profile politicians or candidates in the coming election who muted their distribution of calamity assistance and didn’t use their acts of “generosity” and “kindness” to promote their virtues in public.

Once elected, some of them (not all) might be ashamed or afraid to steal the taxpayers money. By their public display of affection and kindness we shall know them.

 

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Did our government officials act quickly to respond to the crisis brought by the recent typhoon?

Aside from the National Disaster Coordinating Council and its local networks (regional, provincial, city), the following main agencies: Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Health (DoH), Department of Energy, and Department of Transportation should have moved in at least 24 hours after “Odette’s” destruction was revealed and reported in media, when typhoon victims were facing imminent decimation, when lives could have been saved.

Sadly, the cries for lack of food and water, power outage and isolation due to total darkness, impassable or blocked bridges and zero communication signals continued to batter the affected areas almost a week after the nightmarish onslaught of “Odette” occurred.

 

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CRUNCH TIME. Holiday shopping may flatten our wallet but it could also trim our belly.

As we comb the racks, let’s stand tall and squeeze our stomach muscles for five seconds (pretend we’re bracing ourselves to lift a heavy box). We’ve just done the equivalent of one sit-up, says physiologist Pete McCall, of the American Council on Exercise.

Normal sleep is eight hours, health experts say. Oversleep can cause severe headache. Doctors suggest a banana and fresh milk for those who have less sleep (especially for those who slept less than six hours).

BRAIN FOOD. We could cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by a whopping 42 percent. Columbia University researchers found when they analyzed the diets of 2,136 adults over 65 that meal plans with highest intake of lefty greens, tomatoes, and cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower plus fish, nuts, and vinaigrette-type salad dressing, with only small amounts of full-fat dairy products, cut their odds of Alzheimer’s.

The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality has defined 8 major components of “optimal sexuality.”

Based on interviews with 44 individuals who reported having great sex, plus 20 sex therapists, a team of researchers identified 8 key factors–being present, connection, deep sexual and erotic intimacy, extraordinary communication, interpersonal risk taking and exploration, authenticity, vulnerability and transcendence.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two Iloilo dailies.—Ed)

 

Did God listen?

“For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.”

–Saint Teresa of Avila

By Alex P. Vidal

 

SOME Filipinos believe that prayers can save us from catastrophes and calamities, before, during and after.

 

Is it because of the presence of good and evil that catastrophes torment humanity?

If our prayers were “answered” earlier, there were cases when super storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions detected by weather experts either avoided the Philippines, “terminated” their wraths, or didn’t make a landfall.

If they were “answered” while the tragedies were unfolding, those who “believed” were saved and spared from death and destruction.

If they were “answered” after the catastrophes, the victims easily recovered from the trauma, physical and economic losses, and rebuilt their lives sooner than expected.

 

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When super storm “Odette” recently lashed at Surigao and other areas in Visayas, many people even from regions and provinces not hit by the storm, bombarded the social media with prayers; they asked God, the Divine Providence, to spare their countrymen from death and destruction and to halt the killer typhoon right away.

Did God answer the multitudes of prayers? Maybe yes, maybe not.

Either God wanted to stop “Odette” but did not, or He wanted to stop “Odette” but could not.

This reminds us of Voltaire, who wrote a poem in which he discussed a theodicy, that is the problem of justifying the existence of evil and suffering in the world while believing at the same time in the existence of a good and omnipotent god.

Voltaire, a French philosopher, argued that the evil in the world cannot be the will of God, because in that case would not be a good and just god, but it cannot be someone else’s responsibility, because in that case it means God is not omnipotent.
From Voltaire’s perspective, to say that evil only seems to people to be bad when instead it is part of a universal good is a distortion of reality because it denies the suffering and it is also an insult to those who have been victims of natural laws. 

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Scam artists and unscrupulous individuals take advantage of calamities and disasters where there’s a need for the victims to receive immediate help and attention from the Good Samaritans and foundations, civic clubs, other non-profit organizations, to make their own unauthorized and fund-raising campaign.

Because they are up to something sinister and aberrant, these scam artists and thugs in most cases use the social media and other electronic communications to implement their malpractice where they are most effective and creative.

This has happened in the past and this will happen again. In fact, if we open the private messages in our social media accounts, it’s happening and the scammers are back with a vengeance!  

 

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Some network foundations have been making regular public announcements about their donations to victims of super typhon “Odette” like they’re operating a public alarm system.

“Nakahanda pong tumulong ang aming foundation sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo ‘Odette’ dahil gusto po naming maging masaya rin sila sa pasko (Our foundation is always ready to help those who are victims of typhoon ‘Odette’ because we want them to be happy during Christmas),” volunteers one network foundation.

It’s not wrong to help, especially during calamities like the recent super storm that devastated Surigao and some Visayas cities and municipalities.

It’s not wrong also to announce it, especially if the intention is to convince other donors to contribute something in the foundation.

The purpose of foundations is to receive donations and extend help financially and otherwise. They are useful especially during calamities, disasters, famine, pandemic and other situations where essential assistance is necessary and urgent like rice, canned goods, noodles, blankets, cloths, slippers, shoes, water.

What’s awkward and superfluous is when the foundations, as the givers, will add the vainglorious phrases that connote a message that it is necessary for them to give to ensure that the receivers will be happy and satisfied during Christmas.

Whether the goods and financial assistance will make the victims of “Odette” happy isn’t the issue. It’s their survival; whether the foundations get acknowledgement isn’t important as well.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

Like a thief in the night

 

“When any calamity has been suffered the first thing to be remembered is, how much has been escaped.”

—Samuel Johnson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

DEATH and destruction brought by super storm “Odette” recently came like a thief in the night for the Ilonggos and Cebuanos in the thick of preparation to celebrate the Christmas Day 2021 and New Year 2022.

In Visayas alone, at least 100 residents have been confirmed dead as of this writing, and the death toll was expected to hike when the reported missing bodies have been recovered.

Many areas critically smashed by the monster typhoon have remained  isolated—no electricity and communication and lack of food and water.

It’s hard to imagine that these miserable situations have shattered in an instant the typhoon victims’ joy and happiness normally felt by Filipinos in December and New Year.

The sadness and sufferings in this Yuletide Season that have dawned on the families who lost their loved ones and prime properties in the calamity was totally unexpected even as the nation was trying to fend off the deadly Emicron variant.

The two-punch (Covid-19 and “Odette” aftermath) combination has further sank some the Filipinos to economic despair, and the repercussions or after effects might be carried over in the new year 2022.

 

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WE won’t be surprised if local government units (LGU) or the capitols and city halls in the affected regions, cities, and municipalities will miss or have missed their Christmas parties and exchange gifts this year.

Even before “Odette” lashed at Surigao and most parts of the Visayas, many people have admitted they couldn’t make both ends meet as their economic woes brought by the pandemic had extended; they might cancel the activities related to the Holiday Season to prioritize their basic needs at home.   

With “Odette” adding insult to their injury, Christmas parties and gift giving gatherings will have to be shelved altogether.

 

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul continued to send me an email, which she also sent to other New Yorkers:

Alex, I wanted to start this week’s newsletter with an update on where we’re at. We have seen a sharp increase in COVID cases over the last week. This was not surprising. Once omicron hit the shores of this country and we learned about how fast it spread, we knew we’d see cases rise.

But let me be clear: This is not March of 2020. We have defenses. We have people across the State of New York who are doing the right thing.

To all New Yorkers who’ve gotten vaccinated, gotten boosted, are wearing their masks, and are getting tested when necessary, thank you for making sure that this holiday season is vastly different than last year.

If you haven’t gotten the vaccine or booster yet, there’s still time to protect yourselves and the most vulnerable person at your holiday table.

I don’t want to lose one more New Yorker to this virus. We need to take these variants seriously and do everything we can to slow the spread, save lives, and get through this winter surge.

OVER 40 NEW VACCINE AND BOOSTER POP-UPS. As part of our extensive efforts to get all New Yorkers fully vaccinated and boosted, we’re partnering with local health departments and community partners to launch over 40 new pop-up vaccination sites across the state. Learn more and find a pop-up site. And remember, as of 12/17, you can get vaccinated from one of over 5,600 active providers across the state.

MASK OR VAX REQUIREMENT NOW IN EFFECT. Now through January 15, businesses must require either proof of vaccination or mask-wearing indoors for everyone on their premises. Thank you to all the New Yorkers who are getting vaccinated and wearing their masks, and all the businesses and community leaders who have come together to keep their neighbors safe. Find answers to frequently asked questions about the temporary requirement.  

ONE MILLION RAPID TESTS. With cases on the rise and the omicron variant here, we’re ensuring that everyone who wants a test can get one. One million rapid tests arrived at local health departments this week and will be going to areas most in need.

THIS WEEK’S COVID TRENDS. As of December 18, 2021, 3,880 New Yorkers are hospitalized with COVID-19. Our 7-day percentage positivity average is 6.88%, which is up from 4.61% last week. There were 83.26 cases per 100K statewide.  

According to the CDC as of December 18, 2021, 94.3% of adult New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine dose. So far, 32,372,596 total vaccine doses have been administered, and 136,402 doses have been administered over the past 24 hours.

QUESTION: How long must someone wait after a COVID diagnosis to get a vaccine? (Toni R., Oswego County) 

ANSWER: According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation; those without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria before getting vaccinated. 

I’ll leave you with a quick reminder: Get your last-minute gifts at a local shop or grab a meal from your favorite local restaurant. We know the past 21 months have been incredibly tough on our small businesses, and we must all do our part to keep them going strong. Look out for the small businesses that make our state such a great place to live, and continue to look out for each other this holiday season. Ever Upward, Governor Kathy Hochul

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Just do it

“Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish.”

—Richard Dawkins

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

POLITICIANS, or candidates in the May 9, 2022 election who distribute goods and cash during normal times, should now come out in the open and duplicate or repeat their noble performances in the regions badly hit by the recent super storm “Odette.”

It is not enough to just make a public appeal for fellow politicians to “share your blessings.” Appeal is good, action is another thing.

Like what Nike has suggested, “Just do it” or don’t wait for others to make the first move before making a move.

It is best if generous politicians will fly directly to the badly damaged cities and municipalities without any TV camera, social media publicists or “Tiktokers” that will chronicle their kindness.

A silent deed is the most noble deed. A real kind heart doesn’t need advertisement or publicity.

Now is the right time for them not to let their right hands know what their left hands are doing.

 

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IF it is true that the calamity funds in the Philippines have been depleted, government leaders shouldn’t be ashamed to ask help from other sources abroad.

There should be no more dilly dallying; each day is crucial since many regions recently hit by super storm “Odette” are still wallowing in the darkness with no electricity and enough food supplies to sustain the residents while they recover.

Others might spend Christmas and New Year with no electrical power.

The major concern is humanitarian or survival—food, clothing, shelter.

If not yet (meaning, calamity funds can still be tapped for the recent calamity)—and government leaders will just make an alibi that the funds have been consummated in the purchase of pandemic vaccines and other medical supplies—it will be inhuman to let the typhoon victims suffer and ignore their sufferings.   

Governments abroad are always prepared to assist other governments in need of calamity assistance. It happened before and countries devastated by cyclones and tornados were able to recover fast when foreign assistance poured.

Calamities and disasters brought by typhoons, earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic eruptions aren’t man-made; they’re all force majeure or “Act of God.”

 

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Nobody is exempted if the mayhem is widespread.

Rich or poor, super storms will inundate rivers and destroy houses made of light and concrete materials in the boondocks and urban villages, crops, farmlands and other agricultural and private properties.    

We have the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) that provides critical humanitarian assistance in response to natural disasters, conflicts, and other emergencies around the world.

Interventions provide people in need with food, shelter, health care, psychosocial support, and complementary activities that support relief, recovery, and resilience.

IDA funding helps ensure that people fleeing conflicts and natural disasters have access to lifesaving services in the countries of their displacement.

According to InterAction, natural disasters affect approximately 200 million people globally each year; that number is currently trending upward, as is the cost in damages (from $90 billion in 2015 to $147 billion in 2016).

 

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The internet site Askmen asked its readers whether–if it was legal–they would like to have two wives. Twenty nine percent said yes…According to Pet World, most turkeys and giraffes are bisexual…Forty three percent of all men have cried because of love-related issues. (Askmen)…According to Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Our friends should be companions who inspire us, who help us rise to our best.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

P1,000 bill not a history book

 

“Money is my military, each dollar a soldier. I never send my money into battle unprepared and undefended. I send it to conquer and take currency prisoner and bring it back to me.”

—Kevin O’Leary

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

HERE we go again.

Much ado about nothing amid the pandemic?

Instead of giving priority to helping each other enlighten family members, friends, neighbors about the need to urgently inoculate and ward off the Emicron Variant in the fastest and most practical means, some of us have become fixated on the rather mundane and complex issues that can’t even save a single life if COVID-19 will further unleash its wrath in 2022.  

Everyone now wants to join the fray in putting in the guillotine the heads of those responsible for removing the portraits of the three Filipino World War II heroes from the design of the new Philippine banknotes and replacing them with the Philippine eagle.

While we are trying to wiggle out from the deadly pandemic, why can’t we just leave the matter on which image or images should be printed on the P1,000 bill to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the National Historical Institute?

We have experts and artists tasked to tackle this issue while our health authorities prioritize the vaccination.

 

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The entire hullabaloo that started when Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate questioned the removal from the P1,000 bill of Filipino heroes Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, Brig. Gen. Vicente Lim and Girl Scouts of the Philippines founder Josefa Llanes Escoda, who were killed during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, has become a national frenzy.

There’s no logic in making a mountain out of a molehill about the banknotes images.

Peso bills aren’t history books. We don’t forget our war heroes if they are removed from any currency or social being.

We know, recognize and are proud of them even during our elementary days because we were taught to honor and pay tribute to their heroism as kids.

There are many ways to remember and place them in the portals of history aside from the P1,000 bill.

The Americans own the world’s strongest banknotes and economy but don’t give a damn if their dollar bills don’t print war heroes—except  former presidents and some economists who contributed in the growth and expansion of federal banking and economic system.

United States currency notes now in production bear the following portraits: George Washington on the $1 bill, Thomas Jefferson on the $2 bill, Abraham Lincoln on the $5 bill, Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill, Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, Ulysses S. Grant on the $50 bill, and Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill.

 

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Although there are facts about US money that will make us jaw drop, Americans don’t quarrel or debate on national TV about the need to retain or replace the 13 symbols composed of 13 arrows, 13 olive branch leaves, 13 olive fruits, 13 stars above the eagle, 13 steps of the pyramid, and 13 bars on the shield of their one dollar bill.

Both the “annuit cœptis” and “e pluribus unum” have 13 letters.

And Americans don’t ran berserk and protest about these strange facts as long as their economy is exciting and life is good in general.

If there is a valid issue to be addressed, it’s the correction of what the congressman described as the “glaring errors” in the bill’s new design where the scientific name of the Philippine eagle was misspelled as Pithecophaga “jefforyi” instead of Pithecophaga “jefferyi.”

To dispute and debate non-stop on national TV whether the three images of the war heroes should be retained and the Philippine eagle be removed can be a waste of time at this crucial moment when the pandemic has continued to pose a serious threat to the national survival economically.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

Time for Treñas to say thank you

 

“None of us got to where we are alone. Whether the assistance we received was obvious or subtle, acknowledging someone’s help is a big part of understanding the importance of saying thank you.”

—Harvey Mackay

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE expect Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas to thank the 229 solons, including Aambis-OWA partylist Rep. Sharon Garin and House Bill 10464 author, Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda, for the approval on December 13 on third and final reading in the House of Representatives of the bill that seeks to establish the Iloilo City Hospital.

No more hard feelings and animosity.

The bill was the genesis of the boisterous tremor that erupted between the city mayor and Rep. Garin recently owing to the delay of its passage in the Lower House.

Now that Baronda had nothing but a piece of good news for Treñas and the Ilonggos in Iloilo City in general, it’s also time for the city mayor to also thank House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez, Appropriations Committee Chair Eric Yap, Health Committee Chair Angelina Tan for their support for the bill.

Baronda, who described the approval of the legislative measure as “an early Christmas gift to the people of Iloilo City” in a statement, also formally put to a closure the controversy that almost shattered the political relationship of the Garins in the first district of Iloilo and the city officials sympathetic to Trenas and Baronda.

All’s well that ends well but the hurting words, which are expected to heal by the passing of time, hopefully.

Baronda beamed: “We pray that the counterpart measure in the Senate is also passed real soon. We are doing our best to strengthen the healthcare system by putting up our own hospital so that the Ilonggos will have an easy access to affordable and efficient medical care.”

 

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Government officials in the Philippines who attach their names and photos on projects financed by the taxpayers are ridiculed as “epals” for their inappropriate action.

In fact, a Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum circular no. 2010-101 dated September 23, 2010 bans them from placing their names, initials, photos and other images in the billboards and signages of government programs, projects and properties.

And while we laud the Commission on Audit (COA) for stumbling into Passi City’s P629,564.21 worth of “irregular expenditures” in it’s audit observation for the calendar year 2020, we aren’t sure if chiding local officials of Passi City, Iloilo “for plastering their names and faces on certain government projects, programs, and properties and on procured goods” was part of its mandate.

If it is, then COA deserves another accolade even if it may have duplicated DILG’s function and power to lower to boom on all “epals” all over the Philippines.

 

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In Section 2 (1) of Article IX-D on the Commission on Audit of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, COA shall only have “the power, authority, and duty to examine, audit, and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue and receipts of, and expenditures or uses of funds and property, owned or held in trust by, or pertaining to, the Government, or any of its subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters, and on a post-audit basis…”

COA’s constitutional mandate clearly doesn’t include berating the “epals”, but the state auditors can always assert that pointing out the “epals’” transgressions will justify their findings of the “irregular expenditures.”    

COA scored Passi City officials saying the “practice of putting up of billboard and signage’s and other information materials bearing the names, initial or pictures of government personalities on all government projects, and government properties (fire truck, ambulances, vehicles etc.), is prohibited.”  

Also, COA lectured them that information on government project should be limited to the “name of the project and location, contractor, the date when it started and the projects completion date” and that government projects or properties and official vehicles must also only contain the “official seal or name of the local government unit.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)