James Chua answers

I want to welcome the answer of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president James L. Chua, published on page 6 of this issue.

He said I misinterpreted his letter and denied many points that I brought up. I welcome that, too. As a media man, I am open to different opinions, those that agree with me and those that do not.

If one cannot stand contrary opinions, then he cannot stay long as a media man. But, of course, while we welcome contrary opinions, we also stand up for our opinion in defending it.

And defend it to the best that we can. And the willingness to go on a long fight. But, I tell you, I never put personal feelings to the debates I wage. Of course, I am combative. But combative is different from being personal.

Whatever differences I may have in our opinions with James Chua I will still consider him as friend. If he does not consider me one, then that is not my worry.

Friendship is a two-way street.

I have not yet read the letter of James Chua in full except being told that James wrote a letter to the editor disagreeing with what I wrote.

I prefer to write my answer on Monday, point by point to what he brought up, apologizing if I have lapses, but standing on my opinion and my understanding of what he wrote.

I still have not received his letter. But, our editor Carla, told me she is publishing the letter in full. And I am happy that is published in full.

I still don't have copy of his latest letter. I was at the inauguration of Queenbank early last night and later joined the Sunshine Boys in their Christmas Party with their NOHS fellow alumni.

* * *

I just want to reiterate my welcome to the letter of James Chua. I understand he wrote that this would be his last letter. Please, don't stop, James.

I will write my answer in our Monday issue. I hope I would be answered in my answer. As I said, I am not against contrary opinions but just expect that I will answer it.

And don't think that because I have a column you cannot answer. I allow people to disagree with me.

And one must not be afraid of criticisms. When he wrote me, he was criticizing me and on what I wrote. Then he must not be averse to somebody criticizing him, too.

Let it be on record, he fired the first shot.

* * *

Bribery is a serious matter.

In the national papers yesterday, the Philippines now ranks No. 10 all over the world on the 1ist of petty bribery.

How about in big scale bribery? The NBN Broadband deal, the North Rail contract were all in hundreds of millions of dollars. No petty bribery.

In any language, that's big scale robbery.

* * *

According to Transparency International, the following ten countries topped the bribery experienced by people. Here is the survey of Transparency International and the percentage of people who said they experienced paying a bribe in the past 12 months: 1. In Cameron, 79 percent of the survey said, they paid a bribe. No. 2 is Cambodia with 72 percent. No. 3 is Atlanta with 71 percent. No. 4 is Kosovo with 67 percent. No. 5 is Macedonia with 44 percent.

The others are, 6. Pakistan , 44; No. 7 Nigeria , 40; No. 8. Senegal ; 38; No. 9 is Romania with 34 percent and No. 10 is the Philippines with 33 percent.

This means that, of all the people surveyed, one out of three answered they experienced giving a bribe this year.

Is that not shameful?

Would you like to know the countries that do not give much bribes?

Of the top ten countries, only Denmark and Netherlands were reported to have two persons out of 100 answering they paid a bribe.

The rest only had one each. And they are Australia , Canada , France , Iceland , Japan , South Korea , Sweden , and Switzerland .

I ask all my Tsinoy friends, let us discourage these corporations from China from corrupting our officials. If this is not corrected, they will develop an image that corporations from China are corruptors.

Then all business transactions with them will be under suspicion.

* * *

I want to put this straight because I did not point this out yesterday, the answer to James' question on my reason for writing that piece. I wrote my reason was that I do not agree with the bribery because it means losses in hundreds of millions from public funds.

It was a Chinoy who joked, James asked that because he might have thought your purpose in writing it was to get a share in the booty. I don't know. Only James can answer that because he was the one who asked it. I should have said, “Why, what do you think was my reason for writing it.”

Let's pursue it further in forthcoming columns. James did not answer me yesterday.

* * *

Let's do away with too serious a topic. Another Chinoy friend, I have very many of them, texted me his own strategy which Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV should have adopted.

Bert Lim said there are seven reasons why Trillanes should have gone to Victoria Court instead of the Peninsula Hotel. I am not saying Bert Lim is fond of going to Victoria Court.

1. Puede “short time.” Isang putok, suko na.

2. Dami wet towels for use against tear gas.

3. Dami supporters. Ayaw evacuate, kasi mahiya lumabas sa news.

4. Ma confuse ang AFP. Kasi maraming garahe.

5. Ma confuse ang SWAT teams. Kasi maraming ceiling mirrors.

6. What happens in Victoria Court stays in Victoria Court.

7. It is a good place to get screwed.

I am not translating it to English. Or it loses its wit and humor.*

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