Travesty of the times

When 79 died and more than 500 others were hurt in a stampede at the Ultra Saturday, it is not just a simple tragedy. This is the travesty of the times. A sign of the times.

For the stampede indicates, as one newspaper headlined, "a big dream for instant riches." It added, it was a "source of hope for the poor," to be liberated from the shackles of poverty.

They cannot find jobs anywhere. They also don't have the means to go abroad where work awaits them in richer countries.

The stampede was caused by extreme poverty and despair, because the people defied all the risks in the hope they would strike it rich.

Radio reports said 60 came all the way from Bohol and 20 died.

In short, this is the state of a country that cannot feed its people, cannot give them jobs, worse, cannot even give them hope to cling on.

This is the travesty of this era!

***

And all because our government is so corrupt that money for the people goes to private pockets. We cannot count the scams any more.

And our erring officials commit them with impunity, meaning without fear of being jailed, not even prosecuted or caught.

Do you think all those exposed in the scams will be prosecuted? I'm afraid not. Even the Ombudsman is reported to be dragging her feet.

They will come back and win elections next year with their money. And people, angry but hungry, will accept any amount and vote as dictated, and for sure, those elected will do just the same again.

***

Just listen to campaign speeches. You cannot hear a challenger denouncing an incumbent for corruption. This is because he will follow what the incumbent was doing and confident, his future challenger will also not rake the coals.

A friend told me, he spoke on the stage for his candidate, a challenger and demanded that the incumbent step down for all the stealing he made in his projects.

He was stopped in his denunciation. My friend was told that would be the thing they would also do if they won. How else could he help those who campaigned for him and repay those who contributed?

He lost because the impression was the incumbent was a saint with plenty of money to spare.

***

The bishops are taking up the cudgels for the people. But former President Fidel Ramos lambasted the bishops for campaigning for elections in 2007. Now, for all his posturing, FVR is for no election, it seems. The anomalies in the IPP scandal that raised our electricity bills and the Centennial expo scam that hastened the death of Doy Laurel still have no findings.

Where do we go from here? I hope the many deaths at the Ultra-stampede will touch the conscience of our leaders, if they still have it. This lament is not by our people but also by Filipinos abroad who follow up developments here through the electronic edition of our paper.

On Saturday, page 3 issue of this paper carried a letter from our friend Romy Niere from Austin, Texas who wrote he was angered by the report of fertilizer scams involving our solons.

"I was shocked!" he wrote. He added, "Is this true?" Romy, this depends on the investigation if there really is an investigation. Otherwise, this will be just another of those "investigations." Niere lamented, graft and corruption in the Philippines that is practiced at the top but is also rampant down to the level of barangays.

He wrote he was just so concerned with the country.

***

I have always been close to my former students. I taught in college from 1960 to 1982. I could be tough in the classroom but up to today, we maintain that closeness.

Last Saturday in the Dr. Lucio C. Tan affair I was assigned to a table for mayors, Victorias' Vero Palanca, Escalante's Maymay Barcelona, Manapla's Manuel Escalante, La Carlota's Jeffrey Ferrer, and Murcia's Sonny Coscolluela. And board member Man-man Ko. They are all performing mayors but especially Maymay and Sonny because they are my former students. I have always been supportive of my former students. Yesterday morning while together with Ric Yanson, Pompei Querubin, and Toti Ramos, we were joined by former student Bill Gomez who regaled us with his concept of an ideal government.

Toti promised he would recommend to Mayor Bing Leonardia to include Bill Gomez in the council slate. Bill, like his father the late Butch Gomez is idealistic and full of ideas.

But Bill votes in La Castellana where he supports my cousin, another performing Mayor, Enrico Elumba.

***

Then yesterday afternoon, Atty. Roseller "Bing" Ramos from far away California texted me and suggested I slow down and give the headaches to others.

I texted him that it is what my children are telling me but I enjoy an active life which keeps me going. Of course, I have slowed down.

He answered, it's not only he and my children who are concerned, "Lest you forget you are a father, a mentor, a friend, and role model to many of us." Then he ordered me to drop everything what I was doing and go have my coffee.

Bing, I did what you told me. If I submitted this column a bit late last night it was because I heeded your advice.

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One Jaime Alunan (Cell Phone No. 639173687201) texted me why is James Ledesma importing expensive sugar which is not protecting the planters but sabotaging them." Let James answer that.*

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