First of all, I am glad that your profession properly prepared you for being the pillar of strength to your wife and her family.  It's truly the ones who are left behind who feel sad and sorry - mostly sorry for ourselves for our loss.  Those who die quietly are blessed to have such a transition to living a new life - with the blinders off.    

No matter what your faith happens to be, most hope that death is the doorway to a better existence, a more enlightened one, where perfect love finally banishes all fear and human weakness.  Where we finally know who and why we are and what love really means.    

I have stopped offering condolences to friends who have lost loved ones.  I tend to offer assurances that we have not lost them at all.  Because of where they are, they now can love more fully, living in a presence of joy and peace in all things.   

  Life doesn't end when you stop breathing and close your eyes for the last time.  Life truly begins.   May any sadness in your family be blunted by the blessed assurance that love really never dies.  

That is the question.

In the aftermath of EDSA Dos and the May 1 uprising two years ago, it was apparent that the path to the presidential elections in 2004 would be tumultuous.  There is an excessive lust for power and envy in Philippine politics that does not allow for sober competition and governance.  In addition, two presidential contenders from the PMA Class of 1971, Senators Gringo Honasan and Ping Lacson belong to the opposition that was unceremoniously swept from office.  Their ambitions and track records make for an explosive brew.

The opposition appears unsure of victory in 2004.  Its rebellious faction, with their accomplices in the press, has resorted to dirty tactics to destroy GMA's credibility and derail her bid for an official mandate.  Despite her announcement last year that she will not run in 2004, her body English and the overtures from various quarters indicate otherwise; hence, removal from office by any means possible.

This is a prime reason for the Oakwood incident, and continuing rumors of another coup are hurting the economy.  Whether its negative effects will surpass the aftermath of the 1989 coup attempt remains to be seen.  But the resignation of Secretary Reyes adds to the uncertainty and unpredictability of the Philippine environment, which the business sector cites as the principal factors why investment flows to this country are the lowest in the region.

The aborted July 27 coup attempt was prematurely launched, thus, the quick surrender.  The coup was to be launched after GMA's announcement to run for office, but the rebels failed in the crucial areas of communication, coordination, operational security and in comprehending that a coup is a complex matter.  The 356 rebels were the forward elements, or the tip of the iceberg that remains lurking below the surface.  They had no armor, artillery and air cover. And the main force failed to follow on. In short, they had no combat power.

The opposition continues to recruit and rally its armed and civilian components for another exercise. It is pouring more money into the effort. Who they are is for the government to disclose.  The economics couldn't be more attractive.  Psy-war is cheap and the benefits are tremendous if GMA blinks and turns tail.  Even if it were to spend a billion pesos for a successful coup, it would still be cheaper than funding a presidential election.

What they have not thought out are the long- term consequences of their actions on the people's psyche, morale and waning quality of life.  Or that the Al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyya, NPA, MILF and organized crime will have a field day as the AFP-PNP shift their focus to their own.  Or the probability of an economic recession, given the economy's already weakened state; the continuing exodus abroad for the survival of those left behind; and the risk of more broken families and failed marriages.

Government is walking on eggshells and cannot afford the slightest mishandling of this delicate situation.  While the majority in the Armed Forces will respect the Constitution and the chain of command, the existence of a residual force of turncoats is disturbing.  Even a pocket-sized aggressor force of 3,000, aided by a drug-crazed riotous mob, could wreak havoc and sneak in a lucky knockout punch.

Veterans sense that the AFP is headed for a bloody clash if a second strike is launched, as both sides seem anxious to finally get it over with.  The current situation is a dangerous prelude to civil war to emancipate a corrupted nation from itself.  A fragmented AFP, insurgencies in the countryside, and a militant opposition are a potent recipe for national disaster.  This may be the catharsis many have long feared would happen in our lifetime.

A number of those who mutinied are themselves tainted with corruption, yet, quite sickened by it so as to rebel against the system that holds them hostage.  In that sense, they've drawn much empathy from society-at-large.  Still and all, it is no excuse to take up arms and endanger national security.  It is truly tragic that the AFP is once again a national concern.

There are also those, deep in their deceit, betrayal and treachery, who are amassing huge fortunes in cash and in kind. Having succeeded once, they will be open to the highest bidder for the next adventure.  Except that their funders will never be sure of their loyalty unless they are paid even more, or killed while running the risk of abandonment and revenge.

The next coup attempt could take place within the next three to four months before the presidential campaign shifts to high gear, or after the elections to protest massive cheating.  Between now and then, GMA will be depicted as a president that is morally unfit and unable to govern.  Staged crimes, escapes from detention, exposes, violent demonstrations and other forms of disorder are the probable courses of action before the next attempt.  Efforts to erode her pillars of support will intensify, more so now that Secretary Reyes and BGen Corpus have resigned.

They may first try a blitzkrieg on the Palace to neutralize the president if an inside job proves too difficult.  Or they could lay siege on the country's centers of gravity - political, judicial, the military, police, economic, communications - to force a capitulation.  A mutiny might be staged simultaneously in key locations around the country and an alternative seat of government established, say, in Cebu or Davao.  The re-appearance of PMAP suggests that the urban poor are being mobilized for a reprise of the May 1 uprising.  The opposition's call for GMA's resignation is turning up the heat.  The media continues to feed on the people's thirst for drama and fear of the unknown.  Tensions are reaching breaking point.  The worst is yet to come although there is a slim chance that disaster can still be averted if sense is knocked into the heads of the rebels.

This is not the best of times and the nation has to be ready for any eventuality.  It is not a pleasant message to give so please don't shoot the messenger, all right?  If you know some of the rebels, serve your country by talking them out of it and embark on a crusade for self-discipline and good governance.  This is our only way out.

I received an email from a cousin talking about the latest showbiz news in the country, the Kris Aquino and Joey Marquez quarrel.  The author of the letter, Ina Santiago, gave me permission to post it here.  Thanks Ina!!!

Incredible Kris!

In what universe is Kris Aquino "api"? 

In what country can she be called hero? 

Not in this one where she has the gall to talk about her jewelry as "katas ng Hacienda Luisita"; where she has the audacity to talk about owning, and actually encourages us all to buy, 13,000-peso jeans (because they fit really well!); where she says of making commercials: "Wala lang, nagpapayaman lang" (Nothing, just getting rich); and where, unhappy with her body, she has her boobs enhanced and her waist trimmed, and brags about it.

I understand the value of a woman of her stature coming out in the open about a violent relationship.  I understand that she may be speaking for the 6 out of 10 women who are battered every day.  But let's be clear about something here:  Kris was NOT a meek woman in this relationship.  She was a powerful woman, she was hitting back. "Nagkakasakitan kami" (We were hurting each other), not "Sinasaktan ako" (I was being hurt), an admission that she herself could be violent.

Of course there is absolutely no excuse for any man to hurt a woman physically, but this assumes that the women of this world have yet to turn violent on their men, and this presupposes that women do not and cannot tell lies about domestic violence.  In the world beyond feminist and women's liberation theory, in the real world where Kris Aquino and I live, not all women who cry wolf aren't wolves themselves.  Tell me how powerless Kris Aquino is when she has the sense to burn their bed and grab Marquez's balls.  Tell me why it isn't possible that a woman of Aquino's standing could threaten to ruin another person's career and thereby prove that people will believe her more than any other.

Please.  Let us not paint Kris Aquino as the victim here.  It is she who made a victim of Alma Moreno and her kids.  She made a victim of Joshua.  She made victims of Cory Aquino and Noynoy Aquino.  Most of all she made a victim of us all, her public, who swallowed her truth-telling act, her my-life-is-an-open-book dramatics, and who did not mind that she made a lot of money out of it. She said she was beating Marquez's camp to the punch by talking about the violent relationship, the emotional battering, the STD.  She said Marquez was out to ruin her credibility.  I ask: WHAT CREDIBILITY?  She herself ruined it.  She had made us believe all this time that she was okay sa alright! - never mind the rules she was breaking.  She had made us believe that she was THE woman of the millennium, the woman of achievement that we should emulate, and hers the life of the rich and famous that we should all aspire for.  And now she hides behind the idea na "Tao lang, nagkakasala?" (Just human who sins).  She sold us lies about her life, and now she's being allowed to hide behind the stereotype of a battered woman, meek and silent, which she isn't?

Please.  Let us not make Kris Aquino a woman's hero on the basis of an incident that we haven't heard both sides of.  She could be telling the truth this time, but it shouldn't elevate her to some women's lib hall of fame.  The number of women reporting domestic abuse may rise, but it shouldn't mean that she is now the epitome of what a strong woman should be.  Let us not forget that this woman, whom everyone from Atty. Katrina Legarda to Gabriela's Lisa Masa would like to call hero, sells whitening soap to a land of morena women, encourages us all to get breast implants and liposuction, and has already abused another woman - Alma Moreno, by ruining her and her kids' chance at a family - just because Joey Marquez could be the man for her. (A party-list organization has joined the fray and encouraged Kris to file an official complaint against Marquez through their "Report-A-Mistress Campaign" - e, sinong ire- report ni Kris, sarili niya?(Who's she going to report, herself?))

Utang na loob.  Let us not be blind to what Kris Aquino already is and will continue to be after all of these.  She's a media person who rakes in millions of pesos making commercials that raise women's material needs, who batters women's confidence by telling them to get whiter, smell better, have more boobs, and who parades her jewels, expensive clothes and shoes - flaunting her wealth, literally and tastelessly - on nationwide television in this poor Third World nation.  This Kris is not and should not be seen as separate or distinct from Kris Aquino "the battered live-in partner".  Kris Aquino is one woman, and she makes this whole nation live with and suffer her adolescent contradictions every time she washes her dirty laundry in our faces.

In no universe should Kris Aquino be considered hero.  In no universe is Kris Aquino "api".  And it is only in this mababaw ang kaligayahan Kris Aquino country - where activists jump at any prospect of a tactical alliance and where advocacy groups fish for spokespersons - that she will in time rise again and wrap us all around her little finger yet again.  That is, unless we keep her from doing so.  Unless we stop all these personalities - from Fidel Ramos talking about Marquez's political career to the Fortun brothers rising from Jose Velarde's ashes - from gaining any more media mileage out of the controversy.  Unless we all - including the media - get smarter and wiser about this unsolvable, and embarrassing, problem that is Kris.

Let's start by looking at the real heroes in all of these.

Let's look at the woman that Alma Moreno is.  She who didn't badmouth Kris when news broke about the latter's affair with her husband.  She who had the good sense to keep quiet for the sake of her and Marquez's kids.  She who has endured the violence wreaked on her family by Kris Aquino, and who continues to endure it, having to explain to her kids why they are being teased in school.

(HMMMM...."REAL HERO"...DOUBT IT!.)

Let's look at Noynoy Aquino and how he has handled this situation with well-chosen words for Kris but not against Joey. How he is being the big brother that he has said he is so many times in the past, even when Kris would talk about him on nationwide television as the bane of her existence.  How he has not sensationalized the issue and has kept it on the level of a family crisis, letting women's advocates take it for what they think it is.  (WELL, WELL, WELL......????)

We want anyone to gain from this?  Let it be Noynoy.  For if there's any Aquino who deserves the limelight, who is intelligent and level-headed, who can truly say that he can do something for this country, whom we would like to see and hear more of - if there's one Aquino of whom Ninoy can be proud, it is Noynoy.

Let Kris Aquino rest from the limelight.  And give this poor nation a rest from Kris Aquino.  (Mga (about) ten years.)

(YES!  NOT ONLY 10 YEARS,  FOREVER, PLEASE!)

(This was a speech given by Dr. Biyo during the San Miguel Corporation's Best Practices Forum.  Posted here with permission from the guy who circulated it over email, Mr. Bernard Castro)

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.  For a high school teacher to speak before a large group of business executives for the first time is overwhelming.  But it is indeed a great honor and a privilege to speak to the group of people who is responsible for making San Miguel Corporation the top food and beverage company in the country, and on its way to becoming one of the top companies in the Asia-Pacific.  I am here to talk about "The Power of the Human Spirit."  Indeed, the human spirit has no limits.  If you dream big, and you have the determination and the will to pursue your dream, it will become a reality.  I dreamt of making stars; I was given a planet.

A few months ago, I was featured in the local, national and international newspapers.  I caused a stir to be the first Asian teacher to win the "Intel Excellence in Teaching Award" in an international competition held in the U.S.  Since its inception in 1997, no Asian teacher has received this award.  But I think what created waves was, I am a Filipino, and I defeated 4,000 other teachers from around the world, including the American finalists in their hometown.  Because of this, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston named a Minor Planet in my honor.  There is now a Planet Biyo rotating around the sun which is located between Mars and Jupiter.

What made me win in this international competition?  What made me stand out from among the best teachers in the world?  My road to attaining this international recognition is a very long 23 years of improving and harnessing my craft as a teacher.  I consistently study and learn new skills to improve my method of teaching.  I want my methods to be interesting, relevant, and fun for students.  For just like any product,the measure of teaching success is clientele satisfaction.


I finished a B.S. Biology degree from U.P. in the Visayas hoping to be a medical doctor.  For lack of financial resources however, I took the first job opportunity available- teaching.  Never did I regret this twist of fate.  The day I entered the classroom, I knew I would be an excellent teacher.

My first eight years of teaching were spent in a rural school.  For lack of teachers in proportion to the number of students, I taught not only biology, but also other subjects outside my field such as English, Music,and Physical .Education.  The materials, equipment, and facilities for the type of effective teaching I had in mind were absent.  These challenges however did not dampen my enthusiasm for the job.  In fact, I became more creative and innovative.

I believe that teaching and learning should not be confined within the classroom.  Even during those first few years of teaching, I see to it that the science concepts I discuss inside the class would have social dimensions.  Thus, I took an active role in school as moderator of the Rural Health and Science Education Committee.  I designed outreach programs for students and teachers.  Through these programs, students were trained to teach primary health care to the people in the barangays.  They also taught barrio folks how to make cough syrup from plant extracts and soap from coconut oil.  Students also gave lectures on environmental protection and conservation.

Those eight years of teaching in a rural school has prepared me for greater challenges ahead.  Working with the children of the poor has instilled in me the importance of service, compassion, and respect for human dignity.  I have learned to love teaching, and I see it as an instrument for transforming the person and the community.

After eight years of teaching however, I felt I had nothing more to give to my students.  I resigned from my teaching job and enrolled as a full time M.S. in Biology student at De La Salle University in Manila.  I was lucky to get a scholarship which included free tuition and a monthly stipend.

To augment my stipend, I taught as part-time lecturer in the Biology department and worked as research assistant by one of the senior researchers in the university.  This I did on top of my full-time MS load.  I was so engrossed with my studies however, that I finished my M.S. degree in one year and five months only, after which, DLSU took me in as a full time assistant professor.

Teaching college students at De La Salle University was an entirely new experience.  With modern and sophisticated equipment at my disposal, my world opened to the wonders of scientific research.  However, I still value the importance of nature as a big laboratory such that in my ecology classes, I would bring my students to the seas of Batangas, the rivers of Rizal, and the lahar-affected areas of Pampanga to conduct field studies.  Pursuing my Ph. D. while teaching also enabled me to conduct researches which were presented in the country and abroad.

Research is very exciting.  It means sleepless nights, appointments, physical and mental exhaustion.  But the joy of discovering something new in nature makes it all worthwhile.

While Manila has provided me with opportunities for professional growth, I still feel that my heart is in Iloilo.  Thus, with an additional degree and one additional son, I brought back my family to Iloilo in summer of 1995.

In June 1995, Philippine Science High School Western Visayas hired me as a Special Science Teacher.  Only on its third year of existence, the school welcomed my suggestions and expertise.  I helped develop its Science Research curriculum and introduced some innovations for teaching the course.

Barely a year of teaching at Pisay, I realized that my role was not only to teach students but to train teachers as well.  This I do by organizing workshops for teachers in the region.

One day, I received a letter from the students.  The letter said, "Dear Ma'am Josette, we know you are being groomed for directorship of the school, and you would want to be the director someday, given the chance.  The thing is, we don't want you to be the director.  We just want you to be a teacher.  Pisay needs teachers like you.  The Philippines needs teachers like you." Their letter touched me deeply.

When I won the Metrobank Foundation Award in 1997 as one of the outstanding teachers in the country, the Pisay community gave me a poster.  The poster was a white cartolina filled with signatures of students, teachers, and the non-teaching staff.  In the center was a painting of a rose, and the message which says, "You are the song that plays so softly in our hearts; that gives us inspiration to aim for greater heights and bigger dreams.  Congratulations.  We are so proud of you."

In 1998, I won another national award as one of "The Outstanding Young Filipino" formerly known as the TOYM in the field of Secondary Education.

Last year, I won the "2002 Intel Excellence in Teaching Award" in an international competition held at Louisville, Kentucky from May 10-17.

In Kentucky, I presented to the panel of judges and to about 150 teachers from all over the world my method of teaching Science Research to my students in Iloilo.  I told them that the Philippines is a third world country blessed with abundant natural resources.  However, we face problems such as the rapidly declining environment and the lack of equipment and facilities for scientific endeavors.  Faced with this situation, I introduced innovations and strategies for teaching the course.  These innovations included: a) building a scientific library, b) conducting field studies, c) establishing linkages with research institutions in the country, d) holding science forums in school, and e) teaching students laboratory and field techniques which would help them in the conduct of their research work.

The judges and teachers from different parts of the world were amazed that even in the absence of sophisticated equipment, my students were able to produce quality research outputs beyond their expectations.

I went to Kentucky with three high school students from the Manila Science High School, and one student from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.  These students competed in the International Science and Engineering Fair which was held back to back with the teaching competition.  The students from Manila Science competed for a team project in Physics, while the student from Iligan competed for the individual category in the field of Microbiology.  These students were competing with 1,200 other students from around the world.

May 17, 2002 was a glorious moment for the Philippine delegation in the U.S.  When it was announced that the student from Iligan won second place grand award for Microbiology, our delegation was ecstatic.  When it was announced that the students from Manila Science won first place grand award for Physics, our group was delirious.   When the grand award for "Excellence Teaching" was announced, and for the first time in the history of the event an Asian teacher won, and a Filipino, there was a standing ovation from the crowd as the Philippine flag was waved in the air.

The Philippine delegation's road to success in Kentucky was far from smooth.  We almost never made it to the U.S.  Our visa interview was scheduled on May 29 when we were supposed to be competing in the U.S. by May 10.  Almost desperate, we went to the Department of Foreign Affairs for help, only to be told that the Office cannot give us an endorsement letter to the U.S. Embassy because they cannot guarantee that we are coming back.

It was a painful experience for me and the students.  Anyway, we were able to get our visa on the last minute (in) the most unconventional way, and brought glory to this country.

Let me show to you the scenario during the first day of the teaching competition.

When I entered the judging area, one table in front was occupied by the board of judges.  At the right side of the room, the table was occupied by the finalist from China and her supporters.  The table at the left side was occupied by the finalists from U.S. and their supporters.  The center table for the Filipino finalist was empty.  I sat there alone.

I went to the U.S. bringing a CD for my presentation.  I also brought some transparencies and a white board pen in case my CD won't work.  Coming from a third world country, I was prepared for the worst.  It turned out, I was the only finalist without a notebook computer.  Luckily, one American finalist lend me his computer; but before doing so, he gave me a brief lecture on the parts of the computer and its use.

I was the fourth presenter.  When it was my turn to present, a panel member asked if I needed an interpreter.  I said, "No thanks."  A personnel from Intel volunteered to run my presentation.  I said, "I can do it."  After my presentation, they said, "Wow, you're so cool. You know more than us!"

What am I telling you?  That despite our country's limited resources, Filipinos can compete globally given the proper training, support and exposure.  Our winning at the international scene may not reflect the general condition of science education in the country.  But with our concerted efforts, my dear fellowmen, we can move this country forward and show the world that we are a globally competitive race.

Last May, I was in Cleveland, Ohio to present my methods of teaching to 150 teachers from 17 countries.  I also served as the team facilitator for the Spanish-speaking teachers from Brazil, Costa Rica and Argentina.  Last August, I gave a demonstration lesson to educators from the third world countries of Laos and Cambodia.

Filipinos are indeed talented and will excel at the international level in their individual capacity.  But as a country, we lag behind. This is because we lack the spirit of community which is very strong among progressive nations.

When I went home to Iloilo after the competition in the U.S., my school gave me a very warm welcome.  During the convocation, students and teachers expressed how proud they are of me.  I told them, "I am very proud of you too.  It is you who has brought me to where I am now.  Our experiences together has brought world attention to the fact that hey, there's a world-class school out there in Iloilo; a school with world-class teachers and students.  I told the teachers and I quote Mr. De Quiros that "being world-class doesn't mean going internationally and showing our best out there.  Being world-class is passion and commitment to our profession.  Being world-class is giving our best to teaching.  Being world-class starts right inside the classroom."

In winning this international award, I do not claim to be the best teacher of the land.  There are thousands of best teachers out there, working silently, giving their hearts to teaching, without thinking of benefits or rewards.  I salute these teachers.  In winning this award, I believe I was just commissioned by somebody up there to deliver the message that indeed, Filipino teachers can be world-class teachers.  In winning this award, I have shown to the world that Filipinos can be world-class if they choose to be.  And more importantly, I have shown to my fellow Filipinos that they can be world-class if they choose to be.  That if we do our best, we can conquer the world.

During the panel interview in the U.S., one judge asked me, "You have a Ph.D. in Biology, why do you teach in high school?"  I answered, "And who will teach these kids?"  Another judge asked if how much am I paid for all my pains.  They were shocked when I told them that I am getting a net pay of not more than $300. a month.

When your job becomes your mission, your primary concern is giving your best in everything you do.  Knowing that you have contributed significantly towards the creation of a product which can make a difference in your company and the larger community is reward in itself.

Believe in what you are doing.  Believe that you can make a difference.  Believing however doesn't mean you have to stop from where you are now.  Believing is improving your skills and maximizing your potential.  With determination and the will to win, your company can conquer the world.

As members of the San Miguel Family, you are lucky to take part in the production of high quality and accessible consumer products that can be found in every Filipino home.  Your skills do not only contribute to the development of the country's economy, but you also bring out the spirit of fun, joy, and laughter into the lives of the people; thus helping make everyday life a celebration.  Your capable hands can paint a true image of the Filipino as a people-intelligent, hard-working, passionate, fun-loving, creative, innovative, "magaling!."

You could paint one bright picture of this country and its people - by your achievements in the workplace, your teamwork, integrity, passion for success, and your discharge of civic responsibilities.  You can show the world that you are the new technocrats, capable and willing to meet the challenges of the new order of market globalization.  You can show the world that you are the new citizenry, capable of making this country a worthy member of the league of peace-loving nations.

Be proud!

Thank you very much.

I received this email letter from a friend back in U.P. by the name of Germaine Santos.  Since it is election year, and the May 10 election is about to knock on our doors, maybe this letter will help someone in their decision making.  I'm not posting this letter here because I am voting for that candidate, nor because I am also a Christian.  It's simply because she has a point and it should not be kept to herself.

"Kicking and Screaming"

They say we all take journeys in life, internal and external ones. I’ve taken quite a personal journey in these last couple of months and thinking that some of you may (voluntarily or not) be taking that journey too, I thought I would share with you where it has brought me – thus far.

I only have one disclaimer to issue. This is MY journey, and where it has taken me is not necessarily where it will take all Filipinos or Filipino Christians. One thing is sure though, it is a journey that I believe all of us need to take. Want it or not, the situation is here and my simplest desire is to help those who are still journeying on it. Sana yan nga ang mangyari sa pagsulat kong ito sa halip na maka-offend ako o mas maka-confuse pa ng iba.  (I hope that will happen because of my writing this instead of offending someone or confuse people even more)  So, here goes…

October of 2003, when I had first heard whispers that some pastors were "recruiting" Brother Eddie (Villanueva) to run for the presidency, I became fuming, hopping mad. As in nakapag-bitaw ako ng mga maa-anghang na salita kapatid. (I said harsh words, my brothers and sisters) I was more than upset, I was angry at him, at them, for putting the future of our nation at risk. Simple lang ang argument ko,  The masses will already vote for FPJ and/or Lacson. So the only hope of avoiding a return of Marcos cronies and his style of governance are the "thinking" voters, which I believe Christians are. So I was upset that the Christians’ votes were going to be split three-ways between GMA, Roco and Brother Eddie thereby lessening the chance of a good or better-than-FPJ-or-Lacson candidate winning.

In fact, the more I thought about it the more upset I became!  What about separation of church and state? What about the calling of God being irrevocable? What about the fact that most of the people in the UP Creative Writing MA program were going to lump me right in with Brother Eddie even though I felt i was not like him at all? What "right" does he (have) to run for the presidency? Bakit di man lang siya tumakbo para sa pagka-Senador muna? (Why didn't he first run for Senator?)  I saw ambition, and I admit, even a downright hunger for power in his inevitable decision to run. I thought of my suspicions, even years ago, that this guy was really planning on running for elective office later on. I remembered thinking years before that the buying of a television station was just one in a long series of well-planned steps towards some political agenda. I remembered the two first-hand stories I had heard from former disciples about their encounters with JIL. (Jesus Is Lord, the religious group that Bro. Eddie formed)  I remembered how I had decided even early in 2003 that should Roco run, I would not only vote for him, I would campaign vigorously believing that I would be only one vote and I needed to get at least 50 or even 100 other people to vote for him.

VERY LONG STORY SHORT, I have (kicking and screaming, so to speak) come to change my mind and heart about who to vote and campaign for in this presidential race.

Through a series of circumstances, quiet times, personal bible studies, interactions with people who have known Brother Eddie for more than 20+ years, a personal interview of the man, a serious studying of his platform, many MANY no-holds-barred question-and-answer sessions with people like Ate Mila Aguilar (well-respected writer, UP faculty, ex-NPA and now born-again Christian who was recently featured in 700 Club) and Ate Marie Jopson-Plopinio (sister of Edgar Jopson and our very own UPCCC alumni Doty Jopson-Santamaria, UP graduate and ex-CPP member) and prayer… I came to the conclusion that although Brother Eddie is, like all the other candidates, not perfect, he is in actuality the best choice by virtue of his platform, character, commitment to democratic discussions in all matters of governance and policy, lack of any political indebtedness, proven courage to do what needs to be done, and openness to be held accountable for the ways in which he would use the powers of the presidency.

Personally, it all came to a head one Sunday evening in early March as I was left with my last two arguments against voting and campaigning for him: (1) How was I going to face all the people I had rather forcefully told all my arguments against Brother Eddie’s candidacy? That was mainly an issue of pride for me. I was going to have to swallow my pride among the Christians I had spoken to. And (2) How was I going to "defend" my decision to vote and campaign for Brother Eddie to my pre-believer classmates without coming across as a fanatic and adding to the barriers that kept them from embracing the Gospel?

Well, ang bait bait talaga ng Diyos dahil (God is really, really good because) He addressed both issues very clearly to me. In the end there was no defying the logic of "Why settle for a highly-flawed but possibly winnable candidate when you have a highly-qualified and increasingly winnable one?"

Yes, I am voting and campaigning for Brother Eddie. But I do not and will never judge those who are against his candidacy, whether vehemently or mildly, because I have been there. Just as I hope I will not be judged or thought less of because I am voting and campaigning for him. It may very well be that it is part of God’s will that we as believers will come to vote for different candidates as part of the _expression of the diversity within the Church. For me, the important thing is that wherever we may end up in our individual journeys, we must, as the body of Christ in the Philippines, journey together without acrimony (trust me, I have sadly seen this first hand). Let our journey be immersed in prayer, personal conviction not merely biases (as mine admittedly was). And no matter who we each vote for, manindigan ka kapatid!  (Stand by your principles, my brothers and sisters!)

11 April 2004

Filipino Doctors - Sacrificial Lambs
by Michael Hussin B. Muin, M.D.

Received this email from a doctor friend.  Michael Hussin B. Muin, M.D. is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Pinoy.MD.  He is a professor of Clinical Anatomy and Medical Informatics in Pangasinan

By now, everybody knows of Elmer Jacinto--the February medical boards topnotcher who publicly announced his plans to work in the US as a nurse.   I was in Zamboanga City visiting my parents when that news broke out.  A topnotcher from Lamitan, Basilan hit close to home and I showed the article to my brother.

His only question was, "Why? Doesn't he have any offers?"

I could only laugh and muster a short, "No, I don't think so."

Elmer Jacinto's situation and the reactions from various sectors are both funny and sad. I can only think of my brother's question and wonder:  What can the country offer its best and brightest in the medical profession?

The short answer is none.

Unlike the legal profession, of which the medical profession is often compared to, there are no offers made to topnotchers.  We've read news of bar topnotchers invited to join prestigious law firms.  Top law graduates are employed even before the bar results are released, while some receive hefty signing bonuses from happy employers.

Medical board topnotchers are not that lucky. After a day or two in the light of fame, most fall back to the shadows of anonymity--their achievements a mere footnote in their résumé.  We hardly remember the board topnotchers of the previous years.  How many of them are practicing in the provinces, much less in the country?  Can you just imagine the public outcry if we found out that only a few have stayed?

Therein lies the problem--the public outcry.  Why is the public so pent up about doctors going abroad as doctors or nurses or caregivers or whatever?  Because my short answer is not exactly correct.  The country does have something to offer the graduates of the most noble profession: the poor and sick of the Philippines.  Physicians, especially new ones, are expected to
grab the opportunity to serve--for a pittance of a fee, or even for free.

I tried my hand in volunteerism once when I was "in between jobs"--or, in short, unemployed. Living a few blocks from the Malate Parish, I volunteered my services to their social services division for one day a week.  I scoured the streets of Manila for jobs on Mondays to Thursdays, while I devoted Fridays to the urban poor of Malate.  They gave me an old desk in the small office at the back of the church.  The social worker announced my presence to community leaders, and, in no time, I was seeing 10-15 patients a session, which isn't exactly heavy.

It was a fun experience.  A patient wanted me to give him a medical certificate stating that he should sleep on cement benches because it was good for his back.  He was supposed to show this document to police officers of Luneta where he spent his nights.  Another patient, a jolly 80/M, went to see me not for a check up but to show off that he was in perfect physical health.  He would do jumping jacks and push ups in front of me. 

It was also a time of desperation. A stroke patient, with half her body paralyzed, persistently showed up every Friday, limping her way through Manila traffic.  She continued to have a BP of 200/140.  Another patient had a resting systolic BP of 220-240.  The list goes on.  And I could do nothing but prescribe the cheapest anti-hypertensive.  But they all had the same excuse:  they didn't have the money to buy the drugs.

Not willing to lose a battle, I wrote the Parish for some support, financial or otherwise.  I was asking for some drugs, about P800 worth, and a P500 money pool, in cases of emergency.  And they replied that they can't contribute at the moment since they'e finishing the wing for the missionaries, putting in a library and air-conditioning.  I kid you not!  I wrote a short letter to the city government, but they said all health support should go to the local health center.

One Sunday after mass, the parish social worker informed me that the Rotary Club of Manila was conducting an outreach program.  I went with her and talked with the President of the club.  They agreed with the whole package, insisting only that I submit proper accounting reports every month for their newsletter.  I can't say it was smooth sailing from then on.  It definitely
helped me with some of my patients, monitoring for drug response rather than just looking on helplessly.

My experience is not unique.  Volunteerism doesn't have to be so obvious.  Surgeons forego professional fees after operations, internists accept P20 for consultation fees, pediatricians charge break-even for immunizations, and general practitioners accept eggs and chickens in exchange for services.  These may be small acts, but they are by no means less heroic.

There are, of course, doctors who work with the poorest of the poor.  Volunteer doctors to the war-torn parts of Mindanao would have different stories:  their experience, more colorful, their desperation, more intense, their helplessness, more personal.  Their dedication is a strong testament to their character.  These doctors who work with the poor often become poor themselves, and I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for them.

In all these cases, doctors are found in the frontlines of poverty.  They work with almost no logistic and financial support.  They carry the burden of salvation for their countrymen, with little or no compensation, with little or no thought of self.  But the fact remains that mere presence can only do so much.  What can a doctor give if he has none. aside from compassion and care?  Is that really enough?

It's ludicrous how the public expects too much of a sacrifice from Filipino doctors, when it expects too little from its government officials.  The fight for better health is a fight against poverty.  It is not won by doctors becoming poor themselves, but by government officials becoming the leaders they need to be.  Doctors do not make laws, allocate resources, handle budgets, public officials do. Doctors do not get kickbacks, destroy public trust, and plunder taxpayer's money, government scalawags do.  So, when did doctors become sacrificial lambs for the ineptitudes of Philippine government?

The public flogs physicians, living on P10,000 a month, who pack up and go to the US as nurses, when they pay no mind to regional directors, earning P22,000 a month, who go abroad as tourists for weeks at a time.  People look suspiciously at doctors driving a brand new Toyota Corolla after 5 years of practice, when they find nothing wrong with mayors sporting shiny Ford
Expeditions after 6 months in office.  If we should mourn for doctors who leave, let us grieve more for corrupt officials who stay.  If we should complain of doctors who dream of decent living, let us condemn more those unscrupulous government employees who lead obscene lives.  Wounded souls search for healing in other countries, but there is no cure for callous hearts.

A mayor once asked me to join a free medical mission he sponsored.  I humbly asked if there was any payment involved for my services. "Ah, eh, wala.  Pero libre naman ang pagkain.  Tapos ipapahiram ko naman yung Pajero ko at isa kong Starex para libre na rin yung transpo."  "Oh, um, none.  But food is free.  Then I'll lend you my Pajero and a Starex so that even your transporation is free."

I wanted to bitch-slap him until his lips bled.

26 December 2004

This was written by a college friend, Germaine Santos, who was kind enough to give me permission to post it here.  Justice In Mind decided to post it in its original format as the author took time to make it have a look that reflected her personality.  It's Christmas time once again, but somehow, this year felt different from the others.  It's more somber, financially tight, and less  festive.  Good or bad?  Is that the real issue?  Justice In Mind would like to greet you all a very Merry Christmas. . .

Cup of Coco - Christmas 2004 "Can Hope Float?"

Germaine H. Santos ÿ P.O. Box 458, Manila 1099, Philippines ÿ Home Tel. 375-6148

New email: cocoswriting@yahoo.com ÿ Mobile: (0917) 620-6518

03 September 2005

2003 UP Graduation Speech delivered by Butch Jimenez at the commencement of UP Diliman Class 2003.

As college students, you're just about to set sail into the real world.  As you prepare for the battleground of life, you'll hear many speeches, read tons of books and get miles of advice telling you to work hard, dream big, go out and do something for yourself, and have a vision.  Not bad advice, really.  In fact, following these nuggets of truth may just bring you to the top.  But as I've lived my life over the years, I have come to realize that it is great to dream big, have a vision, make a name, and work hard.  But guess what:  There's something better than that.

So my message today simply asks the question, What's better than...?  Let's start off with something really simple.  What's better than a long speech?  No doubt, a short one.  So, you guys are in luck because I do intend to keep this short.

Now, let me take you through a very simple math exam.  I'll rattle off a couple of equations, and you tell me what you observe about them.  Be mindful of the instructions.  You are to tell me what you observe about the equations.  Here goes: 3+4=7, 9+2=11, 8+4=13, and 6+6=12.  Tell me, what do you observe?  Every time I conduct this test, more than 90 percent of the participants immediately say, 8+4 is NOT 13, it's 12!  That's true and they are correct.  But they could have also observed that the three other equations were right.  That 3+4 is 7, that 9+2 is 11, and that 6+6 is 12.

What's my point?  Many people immediately focus on the negative instead of the positive.  Most of us focus on what's wrong with other people more than what's right about them.  Examine those four equations.  Three were right and only one was wrong.  But what is the knee-jerk observation?  The wrong equation.  If 10 people you didn't know were to walk through that door, most of you would describe those people by what's negative about them.  He's fat.  He's balding.  Oh, the short one.  Oh, the skinny girl.  Ahhh, 'yung pango.  Etc.  Get the point?  It's always the negative we focus on and not the positive.

You'll definitely experience this in the corporate world.  You do a hundred good things and one mistake guess what?  Chances are, your attention will be called on that one mistake.  So what's better than focusing on the negative?  Believe me, its focusing on the positive.  And if this world could learn to focus on the positive more than the negative, it would be a much nicer place to live in.  Better than working hard.

We have always been told to work hard.  Our parents say that, our teachers say that, and our principal says that.  But there's something better than merely working hard.  It's working SMART.  It's taking time to understand the situation, and coming out with an effective and efficient solution to get more done with less time and effort.

As the Japanese say, "There's always a better way."  One of the most memorable case studies I came across with as I studied Japanese management at Sophia University in Tokyo was the case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies.  The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a box of soap that was empty.  It immediately isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department.  For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty.  

Management tasked its engineers to solve the problem.  Posthaste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty.  No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast.  But a rank-and-file employee that was posed the same problem came out with another solution.  He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line.  He switched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.  Clearly, the engineers worked hard, but the rank and file employee worked smart.   So what's better than merely working hard?  It's working smart.

Having said that, it is still important to work hard. If you could combine both working hard and working smart, you would possess a major factor toward success.  Better than dreaming big I will bet my next month's salary that many have encouraged you to dream big.  Maybe even to reach for the stars and aim high.  I heard that about a million times right before I graduated from this university. 

So I did.  I did dream big.  I did aim high.  I did reach for the stars.  No doubt, it works.  In fact, the saying is true: "If you aim for nothing, that's exactly what you'll hit:  nothing."  But there's something better than dreaming big.  Believe me, I got shocked myself.  And I learned it from the biggest dreamer of all time, Walt Disney.

When it comes to dreaming big, Walt is the man.  No bigger dreams were fulfilled than his.  Every leadership book describes him as the ultimate dreamer.  In fact, the principle of dreaming and achieving is the core message of the Disney hit song, "When You Wish Upon a Star".

"When you wish upon a star,
makes no difference who you are;
anything your heart desires will come to you.
If your heart is in your dream,
no request is too extreme.
When you wish upon a star,
as dreamers do," as Jiminy Cricket sang.

But is that what he preached in the Disney company?  Dream?  Imagineering.

Well, not exactly. Kinda, but not quite.  The problem with dreaming is if that's all you do, you'll really get nowhere.  In fact, you may just fall asleep and never wake up.  The secret to Disney's success is not just dreaming, it's IMAGINEERING.  You won't find this word in a dictionary.  It's purely a Disney word.  Those who engage in imagineering are called imagineers.  The word combines the words "imagination" and "engineering."  In the book "Imagineers," Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, claims that "imagineers turn impossible dreams into real magic."  Walt Disney explained there is really no secret to their approach.  They just keep moving forward opening new doors and doing new things, because they are curious.  And it is this curiosity that leads them down new paths.  They always dream, explore and experiment.  In short, imagineering is the blending of creative imagination and technical know-how.  Eisner expounds on this thought by saying that "Not only are imagineers curious, they are  courageous, outrageous, and their creativity is contagious."  The big difference with imagineers is that they dream and then they DO!  So don't just be a dreamer, be an imagineer.

You must have all been given a lecture at one time or another about the importance of having a vision.  Even leadership expert John Maxwell says that an indispensable quality of a leader is to have a vision.  The Bible also makes it very clear that "Without vision, people perish."  So no doubt about it, having a vision is important to success.  But surprise!  There's something more potent than a vision.  It's a CAUSE.  If all you're doing is trying to reach your vision and you're pitted against someone fighting for a cause, chances are you'll lose.

The Vietnam War is a classic example.  Literally with sticks and stones, the Viet Cong beat the heavily armed US Army to surrender, primarily because the US had a vision to win the war, but the Vietnamese were fighting for a cause.

In the realm of business, many leaders have visions of making their company No. 1, or grabbing market share, or forever increasing profits.  Nothing really wrong with that vision, but take the example of Sony founder, Akio Morita.  He did not just have a vision to build the biggest electronics company in the world.  In his biography, "Made in Japan," he reveals that the real reason he set up Sony was to help rebuild his country, which had just been battered by war.  He had a cause he was fighting for.  His vision to be an electronics giant was secondary.  What's the difference between a vision and a cause?  Here's what sets them apart.  No one is willing to die for a vision.  People will die for a cause.  You posses a vision.  A cause possesses you.  A vision lies in your hands.   A cause lies in your heart.  A vision involves sacrifice.  A cause involves the ultimate sacrifice.

Just a word of caution.  You must have the right vision, and you must be fighting for the right cause.  In the end, right will always win out.  It may take time, and it may take long.  But if you have the right vision and are fighting for the right cause, you will prevail.  If not, no matter how sincere you are, if you are not fighting for what is right, you will ultimately fail.

Two final quotes.  Allow me to end with two quotes that I have lived by ever since I stepped out of UP.  The first comes from the Bible, which says, "To whom much is given, much is required."  Having been given the opportunity to study in UP, no doubt, much has been given to you in terms of an excellent education.  Don't forget that in return, much is now required of you to use that education not just for yourself, but for others.  And as you move up and start reaching the pinnacle of success, even more will be required of you to look at the welfare of others, of society and of the country.  Though I have often dreamed of addressing any graduating class of UP Diliman, I never really thought it would happen.

This brings me to the second quote I have held close to my heart as I traverse the destiny God has laid out for me.  "There is no destination beyond reach of one who walks with God."  My standing in front of you today, as the youngest commencement speaker of this esteemed university in 92 years, is proof of how true that quote is.  A final review:

What's better than focusing on the negative?  Focus on the positive.

What's better than working hard?  It's working smart.

What's better than dreaming?  Imagineering.

What's better than doing something for yourself?  Doing something for your country.

What's better than a vision?  A cause.

What's better than a long speech?  Definitely, a short one.

Thank you and congratulations, UP Diliman graduating class of 2003.