When swallows make more sense than humans

 By DAVID CASUCO

For several days in November last year thousands of swallows took refuge at the empty parking lot of the former K-Mart store along San Fernando Road near the I-5 and 2-Freeway interchange. They cast a head-turner of a scene for the early-morning traffic. People were intrigued by their sudden and unlikely presence; I was

In a sense, swallows make more sense than humans

particularly fascinated and drawn to their tempting beauty. So on the second week, on my way to Downtown L.A. for some weekend worship, I got off the bus and joined some people watch and feed them birds.

What I got was a lot more than what I was trying to bargain for. Not only was I able to touch them, but also engaged in an enlightening conversation.

Swallow One: Hi, good morning. Do you need anything?

Me: (Visibly shaken) You… you talk?

Swallow Two: Of course we do. Our communication ways are simple: We hoot, coo, squawk; we warble, we squall, we cluck; but we understand each other perfectly. You can imagine we do not have what humans call “irreconcilable differences.” Roadmaps to peace summits, we don’t need them.

Me: I know that, but… I mean, how did you learn to speak perfect California English?

Swallow One: We are from North America. We are native English speakers. Hey, sehr, I notice your exotic accent.

Me: I am sorry about that. That is the best I could do. I was born in the Philippines, that’s why.

Swallow One: Oh, that is perfectly fine. There is nothing bad about it. In fact, I like people with accent; that means they know something else. Besides, it would be very boring if all the birds and humans in the world speak California accented English. (Swallow Two and some swallows snicker).

Me: See, they are laughing at me.

Swallow One: No. Not at all. They are just amused by your typical self-deprecating Asian attitude.

Me: Thanks. But aren’t you guys supposed to be in San Juan Capistrano at this time of the year? Why are you hanging around here in this God-forsaken place. You guys are exposing yourselves to harm’s way. Haven’t you heard about drive-by shooting? This is L.A.  If these idiots can shoot humans, birds to them are no more than fun games.

Swallow Two: This group here is actually in transit; what we are doing is “people-watching.” We are here to learn more about humans — how they go about life and living… Of course, we are aware of… what do you call it again?

Me: Drive-by shooting.

Swallow Two: Drive-by shooting, yes. That is why we hang out here only in the morning. Bad guys usually spend their mornings in bed. You are a journalist, aren’t you? You know what I’m talking about. And you are a bird-whisperer, but you don’t know it.

Me: How did you know I am a journalist?

Swallow Two: When you were in Kuala Lumpur, under that big tree laboring on your SEA Games sports coverage, I already saw you.

Me: You sound like Jesus, the son of the living God. You are right, though, I was in Kuala Lumpur for the SEA Games in 1989. (Swallow Two responds an impish grin. Swallows around laughing guardedly).

Me: Now, allow me this question: Why are you swallows… you seem to have no worries at all. I mean, compared to us humans and our myriad of problems. It’s unfair. You guys don’t even have jobs, and look at you — well-fed and your feathers perfectly in place, arrayed in elegant raiment better than King Solomon.

Swallow One: We don’t need to have jobs. Someone else is taking care of us. He created us, so he promised us to take care of our needs according to His riches in glory.

Me: Now, wait a minute, you mean you leave everything to your Creator? I don’t think so. I have a problem with that. My impression is that you guys are just carefree and irresponsible.

Swallow Two: That is where Einstein and most intelligent men fail. They believe in God, but they do not trust Him.

Swallow One: In fact, Jesus was talking about this in the bible, “Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow nor reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you not much more valuable than they?”  Are you listening, Mr. Journalist? Read Matt. 6:26.

Me: You swallows seem so keen on spirituality. Your task theology is impeccable. Where and how did you get that knowledge? Do you belong to a church?

Swallow Three: Church knowledge? Nah. We don’t do church. We keep God’s words in our hearts. Those self-righteous maggots and stiff-dead religious crabs are doing it wrong, a lot of them anyway. They attend church fellowships and community religious services every weekend, but on weekdays…what? They are themselves. They run all sorts of scams at esoteric Templetown.

Swallow Three: Sin, Mr. Dave, sin. It’s man’s sinful acts that make life and living an unpleasant journey. But if you fellowship with us, swallows, life is a neverending magic carpet ride. Urrk, I forgot; you don’t have wings!

“Hey, they like you!” butted in someone at my back.

“You bet, they do. In fact, I am having a conversation with them.”

“In your dreams. Have a nice day, sehr.”

(David Casuco obtained his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas and took expanded theological studies at the Angelus Bible College in Los Angeles. He writes sports and spirituality for examiner.com)

Thieving Manila taxicab drivers are tourists’ worst nightmares

By DAVID CASUCO

THE  cheating taxi drivers in Manila could be one of the reasons why the tourism industry in the Philippines is not as robust compared to the other countries in Southeast Asia.

Sure, the tourists and balikbayans are having more fun in the islands where the sun, the sand, and the sea come together in perfect accord that any which way one slices it, paradise is served. And yet, the Philippines remains a tourism lightweight compares to Thailand and Vietnam.

I have a compelling reason to think that the dishonest taxi drivers have a lot to do with the lackluster Philippine tourism. I was writing my story at the South Mall Starbucks store when a fifty-something Californian told me tales of woe that I, myself, had experienced firsthand.

Now, if you think that it is more fun in the Philippines, you definitely have another think coming.

I was talking to an American pastor/missionary over my cell phone and shades of my California accent caught the attention of a guy at a table nearby, who introduced himself as Kurt.

“Are you a Californian?” asked the guy.

“I sure lived in California for a good 23 years, sir,” I answered. “But my English is still bad.”

“Oh, I am glad to meet somebody from California. My name is Kurt, I am here for a two-week vacation,” he stood up and shook my hand.  “I love Boracay. Man, it is one heck of an island resort. It is paradise!” he said.

“It sure is.  Thank you sir… That does mean you will soon be going back there with your friends or family?” I surmised.

“Oh no, I am not going back there. Never,” he said, visibly agitated.

“Well, I don’t understand. I thought you like it here,” I said.

“Yeah, I like the place and the people are warm, but the taxi drivers in Manila gave me hell-time. Most of them are thieves…” he said.

Then he told me a string of ugly stories about how the Manila taxi drivers ripped him off with impunity. Then he said, “That is the reason why I am not going back to the Philippines.”

All I did was respond with “I know, I know. I understand.”

Was Kurt’s experience an isolated case? Was his decision never to revisit Manila not unsettling enough?  Is there anything the PH government can do about this?

 I had a close encounter of this abominable kind when I stayed in Manila for over a month last year. I had a lot to do and was moving around using mass public transportation. But when the buses and the FXs were not available in places where I had to go like the Global City, I had to ride taxicabs.

Needless to say, riding a taxicab in Manila is a nightmare far worse than Fred Krueger could deliver.

Though I had to admit that there are good and honest taxicab drivers, they come very few and far between; they are like black pearls, rare and precious. The stark reality is that the chance of a taxi passenger getting ripped off in Manila, especially when one does not have any clue about the nuances of the city roads and traffic, is very high.

I am supposed to be smart enough because I covered the sports beat in Manila for good number of years. I was moving around confidently until these thieving and lying taxi hooligans started ripping me off; an average of twice every day.

One time the driver wanted to do it “pakyawan” (an illegal transaction picking up passengers without flagging down the taxi meter). I refused. So then, the driver rolled off hesitantly, but after two corners he turned off his LPG and dumped me on the side of the road, saying the engine conked out.

The truth is, he just switched off his LPG-powered taxicab, or so the honest driver who saw me dumped by the wayside, told me so.

“Tumanggi ka sa pakyawan ano? (You refused to deal, didn’t you?)” asked the good driver.

“Bakit alam mo? (how did you know?).

“Kilala ko ang mga ito. Gawain nila yan. (I know these guys. That is their modus operandi).”

“He can go to hell!” I said, still seething. “That is probably the reason why a lot of tourists do not come back to the Philippines because of these morons plying the streets. These uncircumcised fools cannot understand the damage they are doing to the country’s tourism!”

Another time I took a cab from The Fort to the NAIA , where I was to meet somebody. The usual fare for that distance is 170 pesos. It was a Saturday evening and the traffic was light. But the taxi driver kept asking me where and which turns will he make.  I told him, “Just take the shortest route. You are the driver; you are supposed to know that.”

Of course he knew the shortest route, but his cheating heart tells him to go round and round, until I can no longer hold my tongue, telling the driver, “Are you sure we are still in Metro Manila?”

“Opo,” answered the son of perdition.

The fare was reading: 370 pesos. Meaning the thieving taxi driver had clearly stolen 200 pesos from my pocket. I was so upset, I told the driver, “Alam mo ba ang sabi ni P-noy Aquino? Sundan natin ang matuwid na daan para marating natin ang ating mithiin (Did you hear what Pres. Aquino said? Let us follow the straight road so we can reach home faster.”

Then, I realized I am in the Philippines, a place where journalists can’t have so many words. I had to bite my tongue the rest of the trip.

(David Casuco graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He took expanded theological studies at the Angelus Bible Institute in Los Angeles. He writes tourism, sports, and spirituality. Email reax to davecasuco@yahoo.com)

P.S. During the term of Gloria M. Arroyo, the tourism industry was eyeing a total of six million arrivals. It did not happen. The tourists went to Vietnam and Thailand. Then, the administration of Noynoy Aquino saw a gold mine in the tourism sector, launched a more comprehensive tourism program and boldly predicted this much increase in tourist arrival. Again, it did not happen.

The tourism officials hardly care. And why should they? A new administration comes in and another group of officials take over; people that do not have passion to promote the Philippines; people who only intend to serve themselves rather than their country. They are just there because an influential padrino put them in. Some of these appointee are  virtual idiots. But if these officials are patriotic enough and take a closer look at the program, there are things that can be done to make the tourism industry in the Philippines a lot better— like addressing the problem of dishonest and thieving taxi drivers.

PH figure skating star: No rest for the weary

By DAVID CASUCO

MANILA – Surely, there seems to be no rest for the weary. After his stint at the Sochi, Winter Olympics where he captivated the world with his awe-inspiring performance, Filipino figure skating star Michael Christian Martinez returned home February 23 to face a dizzying maze of activity as his countrymen couldn’t seem to have enough of him.

 

Martinez's first interview with this writer on Nov. 11, 2011

Wherever the phenom skater goes, a crowd of young people get loud and rowdy; they push one another to get near him, hug him, kiss him, take his picture, and oblige him to do autographs.

“It has been like this since we arrived,” said Teresa during the meet and greet event at the South Mall in Las Pinas, a suburbia 21 kilometers south of Manila. SM South Mall is the place where Martinez got introduced to the sport when he was eight years old.

The activity center of the mall was filled to the rafters a few hours before Martinez arrived for the late afternoon event. At 4:25 p.m. ear-splitting shrieks, and screams were heard heralding Martinez’s arrival. Surrounded by a coterie of mall security officers, the young athlete, garb in his Olympic training pants and a black sports jacket with a large SM emblem, took his place onstage and started waving to the crowd who reacted with a thunderous roar each time.

A quick presentation was held, recognizing Martinez as an SM Supermalls Global Pinoy honorary member. The presentation was done by Glenn Ang, VP-Operations Manager; and Babyruth Chuaunsu, AVP for operations.

“Thank you for your love and support,” said Martinez. Getting magnanimous now, the quick-smiling lad told the crowd not to forget other PH Olympians who also bring honor to the country. “Mabuhay ang mga Pilipino! Mabuhay ang mga athletes!” he said. And responding to question how he can help his fellow Filipinos, Martinez told the adoring crowd: “I will come back here to teach you guys.”

A select group of teens and young children were allowed to come onstage to have a picture taken with Martinez. The members of the media that came did not have a chance to field their questions.

This writer got hold of Teresa, Michael’s de-facto coach, but our interview was drowned by the din of the crowd who had gone onstage and was ready to mob their sports hero.

Teresa said that his son is going back to California to start training for his next important competition. Last year, inadequate training regardless, Martinez came in fifth in the World Junior Skating Championships in Milan, Italy.

Asked by this writer to give a heads up on his chances in Sofia, Bulgaria now that training expenses is no longer an issue, Martinez said that his Russian coach, Victor Kurdryatsev, has taken a “no-go stance” because his body would not be ready by then.

“We are not sure about the Bulgaria junior worlds anymore. His coach has advised Michael not to do it because he won’t have time to prepare,” said Martinez’s mother. “With barely one week left, his (Michael’s) body won’t have time to rest and recover from the frenetic activities in Manila. Crossing time zones is another problem that could pull back his preparedness.”

After the Olympics, Martinez was flooded with pledges of support from the public and private sectors. Whether or not those pledges eventually turn into gold is yet to be seen.

Martinez, 17, is qualified to compete in both the junior and men’s divisions. In the juniors, he is ranked 5th; in the men’s he is 30th in the world. That ranking though is going to move up after his 19th place finish in the Olympics.

Earlier, in the day Martinez was cheered by his legions of fans during a motorcade around the City of Muntinlupa, his hometown, where he was honored with some cash incentives.

Tomorrow, Feb. 25, Martinez will do another meet and greet event at the EDSA Megamall where he will do a skating presentation. He leaves for California on the 27th to resume his training.  

(David Casuco writes sports and spirituality for examiner.com and Mabuhay News Service. He obtained his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas and took expanded theological studies at the Angelus Bible Institute in Los Angeles.)

America is in the heart

BY DAVID CASUCO 
“Yes, I will be a writer and make all of you live again in my words.” ― Carlos Bulosan, America is in the Heart: A Personal History

 MOMENTS before I swore to the Stars and Stripes and everything for which it stands, court workers punched a hole on my greencard; then after the ceremony they kept it in exchange of a certificate that certainly says I am no longer a Pinoy. An awkward move, but it has to be taken. That’s the price we immigrants pay if we were to live in America free from that mortifying alien tag that hangs like a Damocles sword over our names.

I saw some people cry during the oath-taking; but the obvious and dominant feeling of the naturalization applicants that morning was pride, and understandably so. To be a citizen of this great nation is, undoubtedly, an utmost privilege. I was trying to figure out why some people gets teary-eyed; maybe they had a difficult journey, maybe the passage was blissful, or maybe they were just overwhelmed by the thought that, now, America is in the heart.

Then, there I was in the middle of a huge hall stoic, solemn, sacrosanct – doing the motions of naturalization. But when the judge mentioned something like human beings are essentially the same; they value freedom, first and foremost, and that is why they come to America. That hit me real hard. I instantly felt a lump in my throat.

Sure, the Philippines is into this great experiment called democracy, but over there real freedom belongs only to the oligarchs and the moneyed few. The Philippine bureaucracy is seriously flawed; it is still by the few, of the few, and for the few. And, as a journalist, that makes me a dead-man-walking each time I write the truth that upsets the absolute entitlement of the mighty few. You bet, every Filipino who recognizes this sad truism is entitled to cry.

 The Filipinos came in second in number, next only to the Latinos, who composed the majority of the 4,437 applicants. The Vietnamese and the Chinese were third and fourth respectively; then follow the rest of the world. Looking at the mosaic of faces from different parts of the globe, I couldn’t help but wonder if the Pinoys will be able to keep second spot “when the roll will call up yonder.”

 On my way out, a lady behind me was unashamedly hollering, “Now I can petition my mother, my sister, my dog!” I was at a different dimension. I was “speaking in tongue” as extreme hunger consumed me. No, I’m sure I was singing a funeral dirge to a departed Numeral Alien. “Bayan ko patawarin mo ako…”

 The aroma of roasted onion and hotdog being peddled by enterprising street hawkers whip up my hunger even more. I was looking for a good spot around the L.A. Live and ready to take my lunch — two packets of choco pie and a bottle of chilled-turned-lukewarm water — when my son, who works in nearby downtown L.A, called to say he is buying lunch for me. That was my first meal as an American – a generous serving of chicken tortilla soup and harvest green salad.

Starting that day, I became a citizen and a human being, and no longer a numeral alien; I buried that old self in the deep crevices of the L.A. Convention Center. Now, I can browse, without trepidation, at those supermarket tabloids with photoshop-rendered images of aliens talking to Bill Clinton or the “resurrected Elvis.” (The author has a journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes tourism-travel, sports, and sprituality).

Criminalize epal works

BY DAVID CASUCO Oscar F. Picazo, one of the brightest minds the University of Santo Tomas ever produced, defines “epal” as follows: Epal– n., an interloper, credit-grabber, and kibitzer; usually a national or local politician who employs the large-format tarpaulin to tell people s/he was responsible for having constructed or repaired public infrastructure; publicly congratulates graduates like s/he was the parent; takes every opportunity (Christmas, fiesta, his own birthday) to give uncalled for greetings to people and to himself/herself; and employs any imaginable public-promotion trick just so s/he can be visible and have good name-recall among clueless voters come election time. (A word play on ‘mapapel,’ which literally means expanding one’s role in the written script.) Synonym of ‘kapalmuks’. Amplifying the Pinoy urban dictionary definition, an “epal” delights in putting big billboards along the highways and byways, trumpeting that such and such infrastructure project belongs to him, and that all the glory, honor, and power must be accorded to him and him alone; and not even the Almighty can question his absolute self-entitlement. In some cases, even fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances bear the names and photos of these politicos. Here in California we see signs like, “Your tax money at work. Sorry for the inconvenience.” An American politician will never dare to claim credit for any ongoing government project. If s/he does that people would think s/he is out of her/his mind. I was in the Philippinesa few months ago, and in my travels to airports and roadways, I have seen a lot of these oversized tarps and billboards that boldly and shamelessly give credits to elected officials for ongoing government infra projects. For me, and I am sure for self-respecting returning balikbayans and OFWs these “epal signs” appear as ultimate insults to us knowing that the money used in refurbishing that airport or construction of that flyover come from the dollar remittances of hardworking Filipinos abroad and the taxes of those at home; and not from some thieving and lying vultures (read: elected officials). Equally appalling is the reality that most of the construction companies that won the public biddings in government projects stuffed in millions of grease money into the pockets of the politicians to secure the jobs. Ouch! But that is another story. This ugly practice by incumbent politicians of claiming government projects as their own had been going on for decades, and yet Filipinos have done nothing to stop it. One of the results of the dysfunctional patronage politics, this practice is a convenient tool by politicians to galvanize their clout on the voters, most of them unsuspecting and unenlightened citizens. The same initiative, I was told, had been introduced at one time or another in Congress before, and each time it failed to prosper for lack of support from the lawmakers. Apathy repeatedly killed it before it could take off. Right now the question is: Are we heading for yet another déjà vu with Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago pushing her Anti-Epal Bill in the Senate? Launched last month, Santiago's Senate Bill 1967 prohibits public officials from putting their names and pictures on signage for public works projects. Violators will get jail term of six months to one year. Said Santiagoon the bill’s explanatory note: “It is a prevalent practice among public officers, whether elected or appointed, to append their names on public works projects which were either funded or facilitated through their offices. .. This is unnecessary and highly unethical.” Initially, Sen. Santiago’s bill met some resistance from the “epals” themselves. Can you imagine these people who get paid with people tax money, sitting in Congress and refusing to recognize a very, positive initiative? It is very pathetic that most of our elected officials are devoid of any moral moorings. How can one not support a noble objective? Can they not, for once, give good statecraft a chance? I am confident Sen. Santiago won’t give up easily on her Anti-Epal bill. She is not the person who easily backtracks on a good fight, especially when she knows she is right and the people are going to benefit it. Let us rally behind Sen. Santiago on this particular measure. This is one effort that the media must lend all-out support, if only because this is a proposed legislation that is definitely a step in the right

Congen Aragon survives tough L.A. assignment

By DAVID CASUCO LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 29, 2012 – Filipino-Americans in this city thought they had seen everything there is to Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon. They had it all wrong. Two days before her tour of duty was to end, the hardworking, well-loved and ever politically correct Congen MJB Aragon did something “out of protocol” that left the standing room only weekend crowd at the Rizal Hall of the Philippine Consulate offices totally flabbergasted. Responding to well-wishers’ request after a Thanksgiving Mass in honor of Filipino saint Lorenzo Ruiz, Congen MJB Aragon flaunted her musical side; obliging with a couple of standard ditties while the crowd swoon and sway to her music. “Don’t you think that’s a bit out of protocol?” a woman next to me asked jestingly. “The Congen’s got talent. The heck with protocol.” says another. A couple of hours earlier, Congen MJB Aragon granted this writer an exclusive interview for a human-interest story, which will come out in a separate run. The Congen appeared sprightly and engaging, visibly satisfied with the success of the work that she did in Los Angeles. After six years as head of mission of the Philippine Consulate General in L.A. or Philcongen-LA Congen MJB Aragon leaves the post a lot smarter and wiser, an experience that put her in a high perch with an elite league of diplomats who survived the tough “L.A. assignment.” Generally regarded as the most daunting of all the Philippine foreign missions, the L.A. Assignment has jurisdiction over one million Filipinos and Filipino-Americans living in Southern California, Southern Nevada (covering counties of Clark, Nye and Lincoln), and the entire states of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. “The ‘L.A. Assignment’ certainly tested my diplomatic skills to the fullest, maybe even much more than my five-year stint at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations,” Congen MJB Aragon told this writer. “It enriched me, in a way, that it made me a stronger person.” The large area of jurisdiction and the over 1.4 million Filipino population is intimidating enough, but the greatest challenge doing the “L.A. Assignment” is dealing with the highly fragmented and very demanding Filipino-Americans, and serving the over 600 community organizations. The Philcongen-LA is seen as the waterloo to many Philippines foreign affairs career diplomats. It is here where a government envoy can be jettisoned back home unceremoniously because he messed with the Filipino media, or he earned the ire of a clannish Fil-Am group, or his wife did not patronize the Pinoy couturiers. “There are situations during our consular outreach services when the people simply get unreasonable. Some look at us as inefficient government bureaucrats. However, we are trained to deal with those kinds of situations. My father has taught us never to harm anybody because it will comeback to haunt us,” said Congen MJB Aragon. “I want to be remembered as friend to all and any enemy to none. If I get criticisms for my action or lack of action, I will deal with it. Life is too short to be consumed with enmity and antagonism.” It was not a total smooth ride with the media for the quick-smiling Congen. Actually, there were a couple of testy encounters between some Filipino media men and the Consular staff that could have turned into a full blown conflict like the Congen Victor Garcia vs. the Fil-Am media in the early 90s, but Consul MJB Aragon handled it her own effective way each time. Perhaps it is because of Congen MJB Aragon’s “friend of all, enemy to none” mantra that she endeared herself even to the less friendly Filipinos in Los Angeles. The traditionally critical Filipino journalists were her friends; she easily connected with them, a luxury that was never enjoyed by the envoys that came before her. The writers even accorded her the moniker “Darling of the Fil-Am Media” or “The Most Beautiful Congen Ever.” Of course, the second title – although in great part true – was more of an endearment because Congen MJB Aragon was the first woman L.A. consul general to hold the L.A. post. The caveat here is that makes future Filipino lady diplomats pretenders to her L.A. throne. “My secret is perhaps because I have no secret. I am glad I established rapport with the media effortlessly. Maybe because I try to be accessible to them; but maybe it is for the media people to respond why (they like me),” she said. Told that she is a success story and it seems she has a perfect life, the Congen, who is married to Las Vegas-based Dr. Romualdo Aragon Jr., said the obvious chink is her being an absentee wife and mother. She wished she had enough time for her family. “Of course there are regrets. My regret is I cannot always be there for my family. That’s the hardest part because my profession and the profession of my husband do not allow us to be in one place together,” she said. “I am married to my husband for 25 years now and the time we had been together could only translate to five years. But in a way, it has its advantage because when we see each other we are like sweethearts again.” Amazing as it is, Congen Aragon’s married life is yet another proof that distance has no power over love that is nourished by total trust. On Oct. 3 Congen MJB Aragon will rejoin her husband and 18-year old daughter in Las Vegas. The L.A. assignment done, the home full of life, love, and laughter beckons. Then it will be another season, a time to celebrate and sing a new song. (David Casuco writes for examiner.com on Filipino-American community in Southern California. He has a journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas).

Aquino’s anti-corruption, poverty reduction programs get an unlikely boost in Congress

By DAVID CASUCO

LOS ANGELES – President Benigno Simeon Aquino III finds a very unlikely ally in Congress. The guy is extremely intelligent and corruption is not in his vocabulary. He is Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello.

Bello, a brilliant academician and human rights activist who is noted for his anti-establishment attitude, decided to ally with the administration because the vision of his party complements with what Aquino wants to accomplish on corruption and poverty reduction.

“It is for these reasons that we ( at Akbayan) decided ‘this is the president that we can support’,” said Bello. “The people’s support for this administration is quite high.” He said he still hopes the president can fulfill its “walang mahirap kapag walang corrupt’ campaign mantra.

Bello, who chairs the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs in Congress, was in town to have a close encounter with the eleven Filipino workers who reportedly were victims of illegal labor trafficking. He told the Fil-Am media that he has nothing to report on his investigation at this time because he has encountered only one of them, so far.

But he had a lot to say about the government and its anti-corruption and poverty alleviation programs.

At the Pulong Bayan held at the Rizal Hall of the Philippine Consulate General, Bello admitted that the anti-corruption campaign got off to a shaky takeoff. He said that when the president established the Truth Commission to ferret out people associated with irregularities of the past administration, the Supreme Court stepped in and rendered it unconstitutional.

“But we finally took off, we have stabilized, and I think we will have a soft landing in a form of an impeachment. In a few years we will see prosecutions of corrupt officials,” Bello said. (As this story is being written, Mercy Gutierrez resigned from her post as Ombudsman). It goes without saying that with a new Ombudsman there will be no more impediments for the government to go after the corrupt personalities associated with the past administration.”

The second major agenda, which is the poverty reduction, was launched in 2008 with four pilot areas in Agusan del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Pasay City, and Caloocan City.

Recent study has it that the Philippines’ poverty rate seems to have increased between 2003 and 2006, this despite the continuous economic growth posted by economic indicators over the years, including last year when it had a 0.9 percent gain. The Philippines was among the few countries that managed to remain afloat despite the global economic meltdown.

The sustained growth notwithstanding, the Philippines failed to take a bite at the poverty incidence rate. Bello said NSO statistics released recently showed that the number of the poor in Phl stands at 26.5 in February 2011. It is surprisingly slightly higher compared to the 26.4 in 2006.

Meanwhile, the SWS survey reports that what the Philippines has, right now, is 51 percent of Filipinos rate themselves as poor, up 49 percent last November. The same survey indicated that one out of every three Filipinos wants to get out of the country; and that over 20 percent of the Philippines workforce are stationed abroad.

“The challenge is very great,” said Bello. “But you have to give this administration a chance. It is barely one year old.”

The chance that Bello counts on is the ongoing poverty reduction program called the conditional cash transfer (CCT). What is seeks to achieve is break the poverty trap by providing immediate relief (transfers) and incentives for investments in health and education.

What it does is give cash to poor households chosen through an objective poverty targeting mechanism. The poor family will be able to avail of the program on condition that it limits to no more than three children and that their children go to school and use preventive health care.

“It is not a doleout, it is not free money. It is money given conditionally,” said Bello. “The $37-a month cash stipend will be given to families only if they agree to put their children in school and not pull them out, and subject them to regular health screenings. And that is why it is a conditional cash transfer.”

Bello said an estimated 1.4 million families had been integrated into the CCT program by the middle of this year. If successful, the program will cover one million more poor households.■