E,  init  ng  ulo  di  pa  naaalis?

Doon  po  sa  atin,  ulan  e  humirit!

Sus!   Bagyong  si  Basyang   sagsag e  very  quick!

                             *   *   *

Hataw  ni  Cabuyao!      Umpisa  na  naman,

Doon  nga  sa  atin  iring  tag - ulanan!

Sabagay  mainam,   dahil  ang  Angat  Dam,

Natutuyuan  na!   Tsk!   Tikang  na  tikang!

                             *   *   * 

Huh!  Yung  calamity  fund  e  nang  busisiin!

Andi  labat   tikang!   Muntik  nang  sirohin?

Kung  saan  ginamit,  atin  ko  pong  singsing!

Ecayobabagot!   Penpendeserapen!

                             *   *   *

Mula  Howard  Street,   hanggang  sa  Square  One!

Doon  sa  Parliament,  maging  sa  St.  Jamestown!

Sa  Scarborough  Town!  Lagi  nang  usapan,

Tulong  dun  sa  atin,   agad  umpisahan!

                             *   *   *

Pagpapador2dor,  sa  mga  kaanak,

Wah!  Taganang  hirap!  Me  sisinghap - singhap!

Tayo  na  narito,  anila  mapalad!

Pagkain  e  hindi,  nasala  sa  oras!

                             *   *   *

Anak  ng  Kalikoy!   Yung  bagyong  si  Ondoy!

Hwag  sanang  maulit,  aming  Panginoon.

Sana  ngayon   palang,   kung  me  itutulong,

“Ipadala na,   hoy!”  - ang  singhal  ni  Tembong.

                   *   *   *  

Kuarta  man  o  kahon,   buhay  isasalba!

“Ramdam  e  maigi  pag  nagpadala  ka!”

Palagi  nang  sabi  nina  lolo’t   lola.

At  buhay  nalawig!   Ale - aleluya!

                             *   *   *

Alahoy!  Alahoy!  Pagbabagong  P - Noy!

Manung  tuluy-tuloy,   hindi  ningas - kugon!

“Di  puro  umpisa!”   - ang  singhal  ni  Tembong.

Ewan  ko!   Ewan  nyo?   Pero  noon  iyon?

                             *   *   *

Okedok!  Kikodok!  O,  hayan  ang  WangWang!

Nagsampol  si  P - Noy!   Ne.  Nangagsunuran!

Kung  totoo  na  nga,  na   pangmatagalan,

Simula  na  ito:  Isang  Bagong  Bayan!

                             *   *   *

Holy  Kalungkaling!   Siste,  merong  mister,

WangWang  sa  sasakyan,  anya e  no problem!

Nakakairita!   Sana  maistap  rin!

Bunganga  ni  misis!   WangWang!  Alang  tigil!

            Long before the Pacific War, buying by instalments on many items was not common.  People had to save to buy any item beyond his capability.  But saving money was an elusive as a dream many could not save for one reason or another.

            Raul Tumabas, a young man of vision, felt that if he could sell many personal items to employees at reasonable instalment plan, he would be in a big business.  So, with little borrowed capital from his parents and sisters, he went into instalment business.  Raul’s target is the many fixed salaried employees in and out of the government.

            During those times, the currency was stable at two pesos to the dollar, and the minimum was thirty pesos a month, and a peso a day for manual hands.  Prices of prime commodities were low, and so for the many personal needs.  A pair of tailor-made Wigan Khaki pants cost two fifty, West Point khaki is three pesos and denims (maong), one eighty pesos only.  Electric streetcar ride was five centavos per zone and eight centavos for two zones. A zone was from Pritil to Azcaraga (now Recto) or to Gagalangin (still part of Tondo).

            So Raul Tumabas plunged into his business by making arrangement with stores and distributors.  His capital was a back-up in case he could not collect payment in order to maintain his credit standing in the stores.

            “How about a suit of linen drill from Ireland, Gene, take your pick”, offered Raul to one of the employee he knew in high school.  He shows Gene, a set of samples to choose his ware.

            “I will take this Ambassador Brand suit”, Gene would remark after scanning the samples.

            After the terms had been agreed with no down payment, in a day or two, the five yards of linen drill would be delivered.  Payments would fall on the fifteenth and end of the month.

            Aside from suiting materials which many employees would go for as suits were common wear then, Raul also offered shorting materials. Gandara shoes, blankets, watches from Switzerland (Bulova, Gruen, etc.) US made Hamilton, Elgin and many more.  After an item had been paid for, most likely, the employee would order again another item.  Many employees also would pay for the tailoring via instalment way either for the shirt or suit or pair of pants.

            “Gene, this is your last instalment for the linen-drill, would you like to get a sport coat? I have here samples of woollen materials from England and Australia”? Mr. Tumabas asked as he made notes in his black book.

            “I will take this checker green wool”, Gene would say, so, another order for Raul.

            So Raul on paydays would go from office to office and delivers orders, and would make the collections for their instalments.  His name and face were so popular, and he would always meet people he knew anywhere he went.  One time, Raul courted a woman he got acquainted with, and when he went to her house, Raul found out that her father was one of his customer via the instalment route.  He did not marry the girl.

            “Raul, you have expanded your business”, an employee in the National Assembly joked him.

            “Well, I grow little by little as you people help me in this business”, replied Raul as he invited the customer to a cup of coffee in the building canteen.

            Raul does not stock goods. If an order was made, he would go to the clothing stores in San Vicente or Divisoria, or the shoe stores in Gandara Street a block away from San Vicente. He will see to it that he paid his creditors on time to maintain his credibility.  During those years, his buyers were religious in their payments and the in ability to pay an instalment was due to some unavoidable circumstances.

            Soon Raul had assistants making deliveries, and much later, he had a model T-Ford that he got second hand (the word used car was not commonly used then.)  His income must have been quiet substantial for his legion of satisfied customers increased by leaps and bounds.  Reports said that he was able to buy a big residential house and lot in Tondo, and other real estates in various locations.

            “I admire you Raul”, Tirso, another customer said when the he made an order for a brilliante linen drill suit.  Your business had expanded and you’re the same Raul that I met before. 

            “Friends are worth more than money, Tirso”, Raul would remark.  “I can not take my money in the grave, but at least, if you have friends, they will bury you somewhere”, chuckle Raul as he made some notes in his scarred black book.

            Then the Pacific War came, offices, government and private closed up.  Raul’s receivables were fantastically big, as well as his debt from his many distributors.  His money in the bank that he did not disclose was likewise frozen.  To his comfort, the stores did not press on his account in view of the emergency.  All his customers lost their jobs, many of them evacuated to the provinces, while others were called to the military service.  Others just disappeared.

            During the occupation period, Raul could not resume his business due to the uncertainty of the country. He tried buy and sell but also failed.  Like the many former employees who were his customers, Raul became a plain “fence setter” waiting his time on non-productive pursuits.  He was income-less and had to sell some of his properties to tide over the economic situation.

            “Hello Raul” greeted a former customer at the corner of Carriedo and Rizal Avenue, the hang out for buy and sell merchants, both honest and dishonest.

            “It’s you Gene, how’s life?” greeted Raul as the two went inside a restaurant and ordered batangas coffee.

            “I am staying in the province, I can’t afford to live in the city and have no income at all” expressed Gene.

            I don’t have a province to go my folks are from the city. They both passed away.  I am staying with my sisters and still bachelor, narrated Raul.

            “Are you still staying in Intramuros as you used to?” inquired Gene as he sipped his coffee noisily as it was hot.

            “We left Walled city when my parents died.  We are staying in a house I bought in Tondo which I let my married sister use when I was with my folks in Walled city” replied Raul.

            “What are your plans after the war?” emitted Gene as he gulped the last drop of his coffee.

            “If I survive, I plan to go to big time merchandising, like what I used to do, but I will put up a corporation with branches all over the country”, reflected Raul as he paid for the two cups of coffee.

            “I have to go Raul; I do not have plans for the future.  All I can think of now is how to survive the period, and plan tomorrow when the war is over.  The situation is too critical right now.  As the Italian used to sing”Que Sera, Sera” which means what will be will be”, Gene ended leaving Raul still seated on the table in thought.

            Incidentally, Raul did not survive the war.  During the first week of February 1945, he went to visit a relative in Walled city and that same day, the enemy troop sealed the Walls and he became one of the many victims for the atrocities therein.

            “Raul was a very imaginative man in business, full of vain and vigour to succeed.  When that success was within his grasp, the Pacific ware prevented him from realizing his cherished dream”, articulated Gene who survived the war and when learned that the inimitable “instalment man” did not survive the war.

There was a report from the Philippine Central Bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) last week that caught my attention. BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo warned that money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has peaked and may soon plateau.

Guinigundo said remittances have breached a very large base, leading to a situation wherein the growth of inflows was stabilizing at the mid-single digit levels of between 5 percent and 6 percent.

“Probably a few years ago we were seeing base effects, but I think at this point when you have close to $15 billion to $17 billion—and its going to about $19 billion to $20 billion—I think we have reached some critical number,” Guinigundo said.

“While the economy should not depend exclusively on OFW remittances, the best policy option is “precisely to maximize whatever we can in terms of our overseas workers providing remittances from abroad,” he said.

The statement of Guinigundo immediately rang alarm bells in my mind. A few months ago, David Paraiso, chairman of the Halthcare Coalition Institute and an statistics buff, during a forum organized by the US Pinoys for Noy-Mar, issued the same warning – that the Philippines faces a big problem down the road because remittances from overseas Filipinos, particularly those from the United States, will eventually drop significantly.

He cited, for example, that because of tighter immigration policies, the number of Filipinos immigrating to the US have gone down drastically and that the Filipinos who are already in the US will soon retire and will soon have less money to send home. At the same time, he said, the new generation of Filipinos in the US will have very weak ties to their relatives in the homeland and will not be expected to send money home.

While the foreign remittances have grown by about 5 to 6 percent in the last few years, with overseas Filipinos sending home a whopping $17.1 billion in 2009, about half of them coming from US-based Filipinos, some economic experts have noted that dollar remittances from the US have significantly gone down by as much as 25 percent at one point in 2008. This was, however, offset by remittances from the Middle East. But how long can the Middle East pace keep up with the dwindling remittances from the US, they asked.

The remittances have been so huge, they comprised from 10 to 13 percent of the country’s gross national product (GNP).

We all know, of course, that it is the OFW remittances, more than anything else, that have been propping up the country’s economy since the 80s. Overseas labor has been the Philippines’ top dollar earner since the early 80s and has outpaced exports by at least 15 percentage points. The annual increase in overseas Filipinos’ dollar remittances have continued to keep the country’s GNP growth rate to the 5 to 6% level, and recently has raised the value of the Philippine peso vis-à-vis the US dollar, which elated Arroyo no end, she declared again that the Philippine economy has begun its take-off and was definitely on track to her goal of bringing the “Enchanted Kingdom” to the Philippines and making the country a first world country in 2010.

Obviously, despite the continuing rise in dollar remittances, other sectors of the economy have not kept pace, leaving the country way off first world status and making the country the “Disenchanted Kingdom.”

Economists and even the World Bank have repeatedly warned developing countries, including the Philippines, not to depend on the inflow of remittances and foreign investments to sustain the growth momentum.

In 2006, the Ibon Foundation Inc., a political and economic think tank, warned that the growing dependence of the Philippine economy on the money sent home by OFWs has become alarming. Sonny Africa, the think tank’s head researcher, said he is alarmed by the fact that the OFW remittances comprise more than 10% of the country’s GNP.

“The double-digit mark makes the Philippines the most overseas remittance-dependent economy of any significant size in the world,” he said. “This means that the economy continues to be kept afloat by the external and volatile OFW remittances, and not by a strong local economic capacity.”

Africa added that the declines in domestic investment implied a diminishing capacity to expand production and warned of a slowdown in the near future. He pointed out a “glaring lack of decent jobs” in the country as the main factor in the exodus of Filipino workers abroad.

Indeed, instead of gloating over the increased remittances, it should be a cause for concern because it only means that local jobs are not available and this clearly shows a declining economy instead of a growing one. What if the Middle East countries suddenly decided not to hire Filipinos because of security threats or for political reasons? Or Singapore and Hongkong suddenly decided the Sri Lankans would make better maids?

            Indeed, it is folly for the government to depend on overseas workers for economic growth, not to mention economic survival. The government must look at OFW deployment as a temporary solution to the country’s economic ills, and should have a clear program to generate local employment to at least stop the exodus.

Even from a social standpoint, exporting labor to the extent the Philippines has done, carries a lot of long-term risks.

            Without corresponding protection measures, re-entry programs and family support systems, the Philippines would soon face a serious social crisis that in the long run, would hurt the country and the people. The dependence of both the government and of families to money coming from overseas workers is resulting in a culture of mendicancy that will in the long run jeopardize productivity. The symptoms of this mendicancy can be gleaned already in spouses and adult children not aggressively obtaining skills and jobs, contenting themselves with waiting for the monthly allotment from abroad; and from a government that would rather send away its people than generate jobs.

            Millions of children are growing up without a father or a mother, or both. These children will grow confused and misguided, lacking the parental guidance and discipline in their growing years. Many of these children find comfort in drugs and sometimes crime. Thousands of families are broken up because of the long separation. It is not uncommon to hear stories of a married woman having an affair with a married man while working abroad, or of spouses left behind carrying an affair with other men or women. Or of father or mother abandoning their family and starting another family in their adopted country.

            This generation of abandoned children will become the adults of the future. What will happen to a nation of misguided, undisciplined and confused youths? What will happen to a nation of increasingly mendicant population and government?

            The overseas employment program was started in 1975 by then Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople during the term of President Marcos as a temporary measure to reduce unemployment and prop up the sagging economy. It was never meant to be a permanent source of revenue. But successive governments have made export of labor the centerpiece of their economic programs, even taking pride in the amount of dollar these workers bring in.

            But the government should take heed of the symptoms of a creeping social crisis. It must take decisive action to generate jobs for Filipinos so that they won’t have to risk abuse and violence in a faraway land, while undergoing severe stress and anxiety over the fate of their families that suddenly seem so far away.

In my previous article titled “ Immigration to Canada is relatively easy compared to USA” , I indicated how much easier it was to immigrate to Canada. I however forget to mention one caveat  - one must apply “sooner rather than later”. While the USA has a tendency to inform applicants of what is to come and what edition of applications are accepted – Canada does no such thing. Applicants must use current applications and qualify on the day of filing or they may be out of luck later.

The above is crucial to note because once again Canada Immigration has changed its laws. Less than two years ago, Canada announced 38 in-demand occupations. In other words, applicants who have at least one year of experience in one of the listed occupations were able to qualify. No job offer or relative required. On June 26, 2010, the Federal Government, without notice changed some of the occupations and reduced the number to 29 occupations. While dentists and pharmacists may be happy, accountants and professors are out. There is no retroactive provision so if an applicant applied before June 26, 2010 you are governed by the old laws. As well, it is important to note that for the first time (similar to USA quotas), Canada Immigration is capping the number of applicants. Only the first 20,000 qualified applicants will be processed in one year. So as stated before, if you qualify, it is important to apply early to reach the cap and before the list changes. Sample of occupations are:

Occupations that remain in demand

Food Service & Restaurant Managers

Doctors

Nurses

Certified Nursing Assistants

Licensed Practical Nurses

Physiotherapists

Chefs

Cooks

Electricians

Plumbers

Welders

X-ray Technologists

New Occupations that are now qualified

Dentists

Dental Hygienists

Pharmacists

Production Managers

Management / Business Consultants

Insurance Adjusters

Scientists

Architects

Psychologists

Social Workers

Occupations no longer qualified

Accountants

Auditors

Financial Managers

Computer Managers

Geologists

Professors

Instructors

Engineers

Audiologists

Attorney Henry Moyal is a certified and licensed immigration lawyer in Toronto, Ontario.

The above article is general advice only and is not intended to act as a legal document.

Send questions to Attorney Moyal by fax, phone 416 733 3193 or email canada@moyal.com

                                                                                                                                                                      AVV610

                Life at the start of civilization was very simple but the people then has longer lives than at present. Living in the past was tremendously hard as compared to living today since we now enjoy the comforts of advanced technologies. But even with the advancement in technologies on all fields that we have today, the average life span of man now is at sixty to seventy years whereas men then used to live for about a hundred years.   

                The average life span of man today was not even spent with fun and fulfillment but with tensions and pressures of deadlines and goals that were set. Stress is the number one culprit of the modern age. The pressure to be on top, to make everybody happy, to make our family look good, and to follow what other people dictate as good for us brings about too much stress.

                The current mentality of today’s generation is to become rich and famous at whatever cost. Since everything has its price, the dream to be on top and to have a good life may cost a lot as compared to having a simplified life. Like what the Scripture tells us, “those who will look for his own life will lost it, but those who give his own will have eternal life”.

                An overview of man’s health status today shows that those living in Class A and B have the worst welfare. Yes, many of them have reached the pinnacle of material success yet their physical condition suffers the most. Many of them work hard in their prime to save for health insurance and later spend it for medication and hospitalization.           

                Let us study the cause of all ailments this new generation faces. Unknowingly, these are the real reasons why we get sick and feel uncomfortable or even worst, end our dreams of success and life itself.

STRESS:

Emotional Stress – Relationship between men is the number one reason of emotional stress. Whether the relationship is love between partners, familial relationship, friendship or rivalry, these can bring too much pain and agony to a person. Man is bound to have an illusion that a relationship is all about feelings of ecstasy and perfection, joy and happiness; an illusion that everything will happen based on a planned future. When everything seems perfectly in order, even the smallest problem can cause total devastation of one’s heart. The main reason for this is because happiness does not bring stress to man but sadness and loneliness does. In reality, the more feelings of love bring so much pain and agony to one’s heart. This kind of stress is the worst killer to one’s body, mind, and soul. According to studies, emotional stress can lead to one hundred and one fatal ailments. The death wish of an emotionally devastated person can come to reality sooner than expected.

REMEDY: Before entering into a relationship, get rid of the illusion that everything will be perfect. Problems will definitely arise. One has to learn to take these problems as trials and challenges and not as a reason to surrender and forego of the emotion. Facing these trials and challenges will lead one’s relationship into perfection. Misunderstandings between love ones must not be taken seriously and personally against each other, instead it should be treated as part of the getting to know stage of the relationship.

Physical Stress – If you feel stressed out because of your work or anything that you do, then it is because you do not want what you are doing. This will greatly affect your productivity; you may end up hurting yourself during work or even be the reason of a major problem in the company. If such is the case, it is better to stop what you are doing or resign from work since it is no longer healthy for yourself and for the company you are in.

REMEDY: Change job. Stop what you are doing as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to move to another job or do something you really want because this will lead you to your success and a better life.

Mental Stress – This is a problem that is not really a problem. This is created by an illusion that everything is a problem even if it is not. This is the kind that focuses on problems that may arise into one’s life. This kind of ailment has no definite cure and has no available medication. Hospitals and doctors give out sedatives to calm down a highly active and stressed mind but it will not cure the hallucinating effect of this kind of stress.

REMEDY: This is not easily remedied for this is an attitude that was molded through the years. Pessimistic people are mostly prone to suffer this kind of stress. Therefore, it is better to practice your children to be optimistic and have a positive approach on everything even when things go wrong.

FEAR:

Death – The uncertainty of what is beyond life after death is what most of us fear. Though religion taught us that death is a wonderful process to be reunited with the known Creator, some people doesn’t want to accept that process of crossing over. This idea brings too much stress and eventually, ailment to those who are really afraid to die.

REMEDY: One has to accept that at the moment of our birth, death is also certain. It is because polarization is a natural process of life on Earth. Therefore, one has to live life daily to the fullest and not worry about death because it is something that will surely come sooner or later.

Lost – Losing valuable things especially your hard earned money is another source of stress. But the worst kind is the fear of losing the things that we do not have yet. We should learn to accept the fact that if one has the power of acquiring something, then it is also capable of losing one. We must learn to enjoy things while it last since nothing is permanent here on Earth.

REMEDY: Accept that change is the only thing constant here on Earth. Put in mind that we just cannot hold on to any thing permanently.

Envy – Looking at the fate of other people and comparing it to your own fate is the worst stress maker. This attitude will bring no satisfaction in all aspects of one’s life. Rather it will bring forth fear of not being accepted for who we are. Did you know that majority of Filipinos today are not satisfied with what they have? We see ourselves as ugly and inferior in comparison to the other citizens of the world. We believe that we will be beautiful if our complexion is similar to that of the Caucasians, or if our nose is as pointed as theirs. Look at how beauty enhancer clinics have mushroomed over the years to alter the Filipinos’ natural features. Although some may contest that envy is not the main reason for this, still, those who undergo such enhancements lack satisfaction and contentment in life. Envy causes a lot of stress and before one may know it, he/she is already suffering from physical ailment.

REMEDY: Learn to be contented with what you have. Keep in mind that even the good-looking and richest person you know has his/her own share of problems parallel to yours. This is because each and every one of us is blessed with unique qualities and we experience problems based on our lifestyle.

in the Philippines, was a child of martial rule  when then dictator Marcos issued Presidential Decree No.96 on January 13, 1973 declaring as “Unlawful the use or attachment of sirens, bells, whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud and startling sounds “ .Under the decree, also covered were blinkers, or vehicle lights or any flashing devices attached to vehicles.

The decree also noted that there was “such unregulated use of sirens, bells …and are inconsistent with sound traffic discipline…..and in effect constitute a major problem in the maintenance of peace and order “.

Exempted to this decree and authorized to use such gadgets are vehicles “designated for official use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Land Transportation Commission (LTC), Police departments, Fire Departments and hospital ambulances.

The decree was never followed to the letter. Instead, it became a source of graft, of abuse and oppression by some people with political connections and money.

A Malacanang presidential security official, for instance became a millionaire by selling “Wang Wang” permits and other special privileges

such as  Mission Orders (MOs), Memorandum Receipts (MRs), Curfew passes and other special permits usually given only to military personnel.

Worse, these privileges also include the right to  carry firearms in public places.

As a result, those who can afford to buy these permits and privileges

acquired “instant power “ .

To this day, the Wang Wang has become to be a symbol of arrogance

and power among government officials and the rich and powerful .

President Aquino’s banning of the device was not really aimed at

merely stopping the malpractice but assumes a greater and deeper meaning.  

In essence, it is a signal for change. It is levelling the playing field so to speak.

Simply put, he wants everybody, from the president down, to follow the rules, from traffic rules to paying the right taxes.

It also means the days of the moneyed and powerful that impose their impunity to make a mockery of the law , to flaunt their power over powerless ordinary citizens are now over.

Pantay pantay na ang lahat. Wala nang dapat sumingit sa linya o pila,

wala nang palusot o lagayan para mabilis tumakbo ang papeles.

Magandang simula !.

                                           *******]

P.NOY AND THE MEDIA: President Aquino is exerting every effort

to  cement good relations with the media. His cabinet secretaries have undergone training on media and public relations among others.

Unfortunately, the opposite is happening in some diplomatic posts abroad

like here in Toronto.

Instead of establishing rapport with the community press some diplomatic officials, from the top post in Ottawa down ,are cold and indifferent, at times, clashing frontally with the media , sowing intrigues and ghost writing

by using favored publishers.

Very sad, it is unproductive and does not give the new government a good image.

                                                    *******    

 SUMMER HAPPENINGS: A spate of festivals defines the Filipino-Canadian community’s celebration of summer.  We have the Mabuhay

Festival at Metro Convention Center, and of course our very own Cavite association of Canada on July 24 and the Tanza, Cavite association on August 28.

But there is an exciting event in Scarborough that opens a new One-Stop Shop for Filipino-Canadians that is Quiapo Quiapo which is having a big grand opening event on September 11 complete with a one-day Tiangge

featuring an array of discounted products.

Located in the former Golden Valley restaurant, Quiapo Quiapo boasts of two

Banquet halls that can host seminars, birthdays or debuts, conferences and other events requiring big groups complete with catering facilities.

It has also a full buffet restaurant (Turo-Turo style) with Baclaran-style lechon every weekend plus a full line of Filipino and as well as Canadian

Grocery and food items. Tayo na sa Quiapo Quiapo !

                                              ******

BUSINESS LINKAGE: Community leader Chito Collantes has embarked on a public relations blitz to weld together Filipino businessmen

within the community. He has successfully conferred with owners of the Rookies Social House, a fast-rising watering hole along the Dufferin area.

He was welcomed warmly by Tony, the unassuming  but swinging top honcho of the place.

Next he met with our good friend Jun Agtarap of Prestige also along the Dufferin and Finch area. Prestige packs them in with two spacious dances

floors and superb food and ambiance.

Of course, Chito and company, Dr. Francisco “Kiko boy“ Portugal are mainstays of our good friend and buddy, Rey Sunga of Aristokrat.

Collantes hinted that these establishments needs to band together

as an association to strengthen their business competitiveness.

                She had been senator for three years and vice president for another three years before she secretly plotted with her husband and some generals to overthrow a legitimately elected president, Joseph Estrada, and by some stroke of luck, found she did not have to enforce the plot because the people themselves gathered on EDSA to oust Estrada.

                Arroyo could have just faded away as she had promised, just as the famous General Douglas MacArthur did after that famous farewell, but no, the urge to become at the top again was just too strong to resist. After all, politicians in the Philippines never fade away; they hold on to power until they die and pass on the power to wives and sons when they do.

And so, she settled for a much lower political post, that of a congresswoman representing a tiny congressional district, to achieve a much higher goal, perhaps better than being president with its term limit and constitutional restrictions, such as having to deal with a recalcitrant Senate. As prime minister, she could be head of government for as long as she could consolidate her hold on her loyal allies and she wouldn’t have to worry about stubborn senators.

                She couldn’t push charter change (cha-cha) as the highest official of the land wielding powers unprecedented since the dictatorial rule of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. And now she thinks as a congresswoman from the first district of Pampanga, she can rally her allies in the House to force that parliamentary shift.

                It was the least of surprises then that she filed a House resolution on her very first day as Congresswoman Arroyo. And she did it with flair. She filed the resolution together with her son, Rep. Dato Arroyo, and would have included her other and more high profile son, Mikey, if he had been proclaimed representative of the party-list group of security guards. After all, Mikey was her biggest lackey and prime mover of her cha-cha moves when the former actor was still holding mama’s post in Congress. Of course, to conceal her hideous intentions, Arroyo filed eight other bills.

                The Arroyo resolution calls for a constitutional convention to amend the 1987 Constitution. Although she and Mikey had always insisted that the cha-cha was necessary because certain economic provisions had to be amended to lure in more foreign investments and put back the country to economic recovery, we all know that the primary objective is to shift to a parliamentary form of government, where there will be no Senate in a unicameral legislature and where there are no term limits for the prime minister. 

                The problem with a parliamentary system in the Philippines, as I have pointed out in many previous articles, is that the country has no strong two-party system, which is the ideal set-up for a parliamentary form of government. Instead, the country has a multi-party system that depends on the ability of parties to go into coalition with other political parties to win elections and to wrest leadership in Congress.

                Such a situation would create a constantly unstable government. Any parliamentary member who has an ambition to become prime minister, and has the cunning ability to wheel-and-deal and dispense favors can plot anytime to become the prime minister and hold on to the post for as long as he or she is able to form coalitions and continue to dispense favors.

                Since Marcos effectively abolished the two-party system with the declaration of martial law in 1972, Philippine elections and even the election for the Senate president and the House Speaker have been based on the parties’ ability to form coalitions. Thus, since the restoration of democracy with the People Power Revolt on EDSA in 1986, the country has had no majority president, meaning he was elected by at least 51 percent of the voters.

                Even President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who rode on the popularity of both her parents, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and the late President Croazon “Cory” Aquino, is a minority president, having garnered only about 40 percent of the votes.

                With our present Congress composed of politicians from a multitude of political parties and political persuasions, not to mention the representatives of dozens of party-list groups that have their own political platforms and agendas, I can imagine those who wish to be prime minister to be constantly wheeling-and-dealing with as many groups as they can to achieve the majority to oust the sitting prime minister.

                We all know what happens when a professional wheeler-dealer becomes the head of government. Arroyo was one cunning, scheming politician who was able to use her ability to dispense favors to form the coalition she needed to achieve her agenda and wield strong powers.

                But with the power of the pork barrel no longer at her disposal, I wonder if Arroyo would still be able to gather enough votes in Congress to push her cha-cha resolution. Knowing how astute this woman is, I don’t think she is that naïve not to know she does not have the numbers to push her cha-cha resolution. If she were that naïve, she would have pursued the speakership. But she knows she does not have the number, but that doesn’t mean she has abandoned her plans of becoming speaker and eventually the prime minister.

                With at least four Arroyos in the House and several loyalists, I expect Arroyo to start plotting again to eventually wrest control of the House and push her cha-cha agenda. If Aquino’s allies in the Senate and the House are unable to match Arroyo’s ability to form coalitions, they will soon find themselves the minority in both chambers.

                Aquino must not make the mistake of underestimating Arroyo’s political abilities. She may be just the lowly congresswoman from Pampanga, but if he and his allies do not watch out, she could be back to wreak havoc on our people again.

            Of the about 600 protesters jailed during the three day meetings in Huntsville, Metro Convention Center and Queen’s Park a handful still remain in custody. Some that were charged of vandalism and other unlawful acts were out on bail, to appear in court at a later date. About 40 establishments were damaged during demonstrations of a particular group, whom the mayor and the police called criminals and anarchists. Numerous complaints were made about wrongful arrests and police cruelty, as well as the delay in releasing some of those apprehended.

            Not much was said about the actual accomplishments in the sessions of the summit – newspapers reported that “the G20 was poised to accept a balancing act that will avoid a split on the most contentious summit issue – how quickly to turn off the spending toys used to combat global recessions” (Toronto Star, Sunday, Jun 27,2010, N2)

            In the editorial of the same issue of this newspaper, it was painted out that the G8 failed its own test when it failed to deliver the $50 billion and it promised in 2005 to hundred of thousands of women and about nearly 9 million children who die every year. Only $30 billion were delivered and only the U.K., U.S. and Canada lived up to their word.

            Another very important issue that did not get much attention during the summit was global warming. Minimal discussions were held on this topic which is the top priority in the developing world.

            Overall, there appeared to be a great disappointment on the accomplishments of the meetings of these 20 most industrialized countries in the world which account for more than 80 percent of the economic activity around the globe (Toronto Star, Sunday, June 27, 2010, pg10).

            While these most powerful men and women of the world were seated in a flashy downtown hotel, discussing the most important problems of this globe and accomplishing very little, not very far from their venue, a group of self proclaimed anarchists were attacking public establishments, throwing rocks and boxes at windows of banks, eateries and stores burning police cars and creating a rampage that was foreign to this city. Police security made up of men and women on bikes, horses and on foot seemed to be taken aback for a while so that the mayhem continued unabated. Then these men and women in black, their faces covered with black bandannas and sunglasses disappeared in the crowd, very few of them apprehended.

            It seemed like a miracle that nobody was killed or seriously wounded. Bystanders were shocked and had to flee. There was a controversy on the lack of immediate action of the police – were they taken by surprise or did they apply constraint? But one thing was clear – the G8 or G20 guests were well protected and unaware of what was happening not far from where they sat.

            No barrier was broken and no security for the summit participants was disturbed.

            Business in the area was completely paralyzed. Transportation services were all halted.

            If there was loss of police control in the downtown area, it was just for a short while. AS the group of masked men and women bringing destruction moved to other areas they were met by tear gas, the police force in full riot gear started to cordon the place. The peaceful protesters were guided away and Saturday night was over.

            The more than $1billion spent on the G8 and G20 summit did not seem to accomplish what Canada wanted to show the world. The plan for a well managed security was not reflected in the images that were communicated all over the planet by technological means. What other countries saw were the ugly vandalism and destruction wrought by a few for a short period of time. The concept of a peaceful friendly Canada shown during the recent Winter Olympics was shattered in that few hours of mayhem.

            But wait a minute. Not all was lost. Let us look deeper into the situations in this event. True, there were those unfortunate incidents captured vividly by the camera and circulated around the world. But we who were witnesses to these occasions know that the destruction was fully controlled by the police after a few hours. No life was lost; no very serious injuries were reported. More police forces arrived and the vandals were not able to repeat their horrible actions the next day. The international leaders were kept safe and continued with their tasks.

            The peaceful protesters with legitimate messages continued to express their complaints and opinions about this grand undertaking. The sessions were concluded and the international guests departed leaving their photo ops for the public to see on television and newspapers.

            The police continued with their task of protecting the guests and the public to the very end of the event. In fact they continued pursuing the members of the group that caused the trouble even after the event.

            The airing of complaints and the subsequent explanations given by the police why such incidents occurred are proofs that democracy is healthy and alive in our midst.

            The fences that symbolized curtailment of freedom are now gone. They were put up for a particular purpose which was served during the event in those particular areas where they were deemed necessary. We did not need to go there at the time if we did not have a particular business to deal with. It was a sacrifice that we should be willing to give for a short period of time for a purpose that the leaders of our own country were willing to undertake.

            We are indeed a very fortunate people to live in a country where our freedom is well guarded and expressed. Now and then that freedom may be violated for the good of the majority but they are quickly restored when matters are cleared. There are times when some of our rights are hindered. After all, we have to remember that our rights end where the rights of others begin. That is why people who are very vigilant about their rights and put fences around their homes.

            The $1.4 billion spent in the G8 and G20 summits were well spent for our security and exercise of our freedom. Some individual rights may have been curtailed during those three days but the common good was kept safe and well guarded.

Our problem is the barrio where the property is located  but we can’t definitely locate the  exact or the proximate  spot of this property . Sad to say that we are paying the annual property tax for it but the staff from DENR asked us if we know where in the barrio it is located.

The DENR suggested talking to the people whose names were listed in the tax declaration (owner of the land within the parameters of the property). I tried to ask the staffs from the assessor’s office to find  it based on the previous files out of the tax declaration in their records.  However, they can’t  find any, because the file for the cadastral lots  was lost when it was borrowed by the provincial office.

Atty. Wong where can we look for the cadastral number aside from the municipal ? Sometimes I got this feeling that staffs from the offices where we went to know but then do not tell us so we will seek their help with of course monetary involvement at their price. Once again thank you and God bless. “W”.

Ans: Hi there, I assume  that the DENR office that you referred to is the Land Management Services (formerly Bureau of Lands/Land Management Bureau), this office is tasked  by law as the repository of Cadastral surveys/records  of public alienable lands in the Philippines . 

Without question ,  it is certain that  the Land Management Services of the DENR has a record of the Cadastral lot number that you are searching .  It is my view that  the constraint in your case is the identification of the property in question.  More particularly, the proximate location of  the property  and/or a reference point to start the search.

If you went to the Regional office of the  Land Management Services of the DENR, perhaps you can try making the same  representations with  their Head/Central office in Metro  Manila. To make the search job doable, you must at least know the approximate place in the barrio or barangay where the property is located. Without this basic information, a viable search cannot be undertaken.

If you have a copy of the Tax Declaration  Certificate of this missing property and if someone knows  the exact or proximate  spot or boundary of this property, then this could be your lead in the determination of the Cadastral Number of the property for  land titling registration purposes. 

If you will be able to identify the proximate location of this particular property, then you can ask a licensed land surveyor or Geodetic Engineer to conduct the actual survey and prepare the necessary lot plan. This process could lead the determination of the Cadastral lot number of the property, as the lot plan will be subject to the approval of the  Land Management Services of the DENR .

Another approach that you could try, is to take as reference point the neighboring, adjacent, contiguous or connecting properties of the land in question , and from there ,  the Cadastral number of these lot can be determined already by the land surveyor . 

Another approach is if you have a copy of the Tax Declaration Certificate of this missing property, is to try the Office of the Register of  Deeds having jurisdiction of the property where it is located and/or you could try the search with the Land Registration Authority(LRA).  As a rule LRA deals only with registered lands under the Torrens System.  But you could try.

You could also try with the Regional Trial Court(RTC) formerly referred as the Court of First Instance(CFI), in the province where the subject land may be situated, who may still have a copy of the Court order giving due course to the Cadastre proceedings allowing the disposition of alienable public lands for private ownership.

However, if you just go the offices that I mentioned above without any “lead or reference document “ with you, their ability to be assistance to you is very limited if not nil . 

Looking forward you’ll the above in order.  Thank you for writing.