Bright prospects for sugar

Millgate sugar prices have been reported to be still inching up. I believe they will hold until the peak of the milling season. But, this is because many traders are buying heavily for the coming shortage.

And many planters are holding on their sale expecting, and there is reason to do, prices will still improve after the milling season. This is for the year 2006. It will be different next year when many planters will plant more because of the profit. And, if everybody thinks this way, expect 2007 to be a disaster.

World production has dipped. Even Thailand can hardly cope with its commitment. That is the reason why they even don't smuggle sugar any more. They were hit by bad weather.

And Brazil even has to cut off its ethanol production to meet the growing demand.

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We sound like a broken record. Let the planters know it's not like this all the time. Everything that is up goes down and those that are down will go up. When there's the boom there is also the bust.

The tide has always two directions. It is high and low.

I just hope when the prices go down next year and inefficient planters lose they will not take it on hard hitting columnists like Rolly Espina who has seen plenty of these booms and busts.

The bottom line is still efficiency. If by planting sugar you cannot make profit, go to other crops. If you cannot be good in farming, go to business. Or migrate where in other countries, as second class citizen among the jobs available will be as gasoline boy.

But there you have no columnists to pick on you.

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This is not patting our back but many friends were happy the launching of Sunshine Cable TV Saturday was successful as seen over Cable TV as it was covered live.

I am proud of our staff headed by Amado Villacarlos. I am giving them a dinner tonight to recognize a job well done.

I'd like to thank our Vicar General Msgr. Vic Rivas who led the blessing and the many friends who joined us like Gov. Joseph Marañon and former Congressman John Orola. Mayor Bing Leonardia left that Saturday for the U.S. and Congressman Monico Puentevella called up he could not make it.

And our Sunshine Boys too led by chair Ric Yanson. The ribbon cutting was done by Sunshine Boy and our legal counsel Will Mirano and my youngest daughter Sunshine Esleyer. Her name, we call her at home Josie Faith, after her mother, Fe. But at the DAILY STAR she is Sunshine ever since she was one-year old when I would bring her there.

Nobody knows her at DAILY STAR by other name except Sunshine.

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I am happy to hear from a friend in Austin, Texas Romy Niere. He used to live at Carson City in California but moved to Austin after the death of his wife Lorna and also because his sons Farr and Jun now work in Austin.

Romy told me he just had a successful angio-plasty operation and asked to be a part of Sunshine Channel. I welcomed Romy but told him it would be limited to only P5,000 each and we accept no more because we don't want to be over capitalized. We must operate frugally to last long in business.

I am just proud with so many wanting to be a part, with some friends no limit on the amount even up to a million pesos. I said, P5,000 each only.

This shows the confidence in me of people and especially my many friends everywhere.

Romy read it at the website where everyday, like other expats everywhere they know what's happening here.

When told there is Sunshine Channel in Davao and abroad, our legal counsel Willy Mirano had a correct answer, "They are our satellite channels."

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I am happy RTC Judge Anastacio Rufon issued a temporary restraining order in the case between BACIWA and property owner Edmund Sausi on the water problem in Brgy. Alangilan.

Last Friday in the board of trustees meeting of the Bacolod City College, Sausi counsel Johnny Rubrico is a fellow board member.

And yesterday at breakfast BACIWA Chairman Pompei Querubin is a fellow Sunshine Boy. Listening to each of them, both sounded right.

I take the side of the consumers. So, I would go for them quarelling in court till kingdom come as long as the waters flows.

With so much water there in Boro-Boro I'm just reminded of Samuel Coleridge's "The Ancient Mariner" of "Water, water everywhere. But not a drop to drink."

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On this quarrel over water, I remember the story of the late Carlos Bulosan "The Laughter Of My Father." Bulosan is the first Filipino expatriate in the U.S. who was recognized for his literary talents.

Bulosan's story is about a rich man who went to court to sue a poor neighbor whose family are all healthy while his are not.

The poor family would just wait while the rich man's cook is cooking and they would be there to savor the sweet smell of the food being cooked. After the cooking and after the meal they would just go inside their small nipa hut.

The rich man was asking for monetary compensation because were it not for the food he had, his neighbors would have not had their good health.

The poor man went to court with plenty of coins placed in a can. He told the court he was willing to pay. He held the can up and shook it. Then he turned to the judge and said, "Your Honor, I have already paid."

The court ruled, "Payment is already made."

I don't know how Pompei will handle the case. This will also challenge his creativity. Problem is Carlos Bulosan is already dead. He cannot get advice from him.

For all we know my friend Johnny Rubrico might can be of help. I told him when we met, "Johnny, you are creative."

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Sunshine Cable will have a program "Sunshine Special." If you have special occasions like wedding, birthdays or other special ones, we will cover and air it.

We know with this, you will call all your friends to view at Sunshine Channel and see you there. We are getting all producing and marketing experts to be able to give you the best programming.*

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