“It would do well for BBM to get advice from veteran AFP generals, since they have been there and done that”
The new generation may know more than my generation because of the advancement of information and communication technology, that with just a tap on their touchscreens they can access the Internet, which is an encyclopedia, but I would not exchange all that with my generation, Santa Banana!
As I was reminiscing the other day, as old men like to do, my gulay, I recall those days when I used to visit the homes of girls I like.
Boys and girls don’t do that anymore.
They text and meet at shopping malls.
My gulay, visiting a girl at her house was romantic.
The new generation no longer writes love letters, which removes the thrill of receiving and reading love letters, so much so that love letters were immortalized in a song called “Love Letters.”
(Editor’s Note: This is a 1945 popular song with lyrics by Edward Heyman and music by Victor Young, sung by various artists including Nat King Cole and Joni James in B minor.)
My wife, would you believe it, has preserved my love letters to her.
I wanted to read them, and reminisce about the silly things, but my wife refused.
In fact, the art of socializing is gone, young people no longer socialize.
They just text and text so much that many people in restaurants no longer talk. They are all texting.
Studies have in fact shown that in 30 to 50 years, people will no longer write in longhand because all people will be texting. What a pity.
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President Marcos Jr. had wanted to be given a good reason why he should ban the continued operation of the POGOs in the Philippines following so much criticism against the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.
Coming right down to it, the existence of the POGOs in the country—something considered, Santa Banana, illegal in China, the country where the POGOs are getting their workforce —has become the playground of Chinese syndicates involved in criminal activities.
These these syndicates have been kidnapping for ransom their fellow Chinese working at the POGOs.
Thus, Santa Banana, if BBM wants to know the pros and cons of POGO operations, the social costs of their existence far outweigh all the revenue the Philippine government derives from their operations – from taxes, business permits and all the money the Chinese pay like rentals to houses, condominiums and what they spend while they are in the country.
My gulay, there’s reason enough for President Marcos Jr. to ban the POGO operations in the country.
BBM does not have to look far for reasons for banning POGOs.
In fact, I feel the POGO existence in the Philippines is like having a poisonous snake as a pet.
Look at this.
A Senate hearing on POGOs disclosed the external auditor that the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation hired for P6 billion to audit the POGOs was found out not only undercapitalized, but without a business permit to operate and without offices.
Santa Banana, this is another scam, this time by PAGCOR, whose officials must be held accountable.
And to think that PAGCOR is paying this mysterious auditor P6 billion.
Whoever is held accountable must be jailed, and the key thrown away into the polluted waters of the Pasig River.
Santa Banana, it is bad enough that POGOs have made the Chinese criminal syndicates come into the country to prey on their fellow Chinese and made our country their playground.
But the corruption in PAGCOR in connection with the hiring of an auditor for P6 billion is just too much.
Mister President, there are enough reasons why you should totally ban POGO operations. Are these reasons enough for you?
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President Marcos Jr. may think the reported restlessness within the rank and file may have been ended with the so-called rationalizing of the seniority system within the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the appointment of Andres Centino as AFP Chief of Staff and with Carlito Galvez as defense secretary.
I believe the restlessness within the AFP is more deep-rooted.
As an observer, I am told the so-called vernacular “Bata-Bata” system – where lower-ranked military people continue to have more loyalty to high-ranked senior officers who can help them in promotions, assignments and benefits within the AFP.
In other words, the loyalty of the lower ranks belongs to the senior officers who can have them promoted and give them more benefits.
And this sentiment within the AFP is more dangerous which could trigger restlessness.
Journalists covering the AFP told me this mentality could end up in coups d’etat.
In other words, it would do well for BBM to get advice from veteran AFP generals, since they have been there and done that.
It’s a good thing that BBM is now rationalizing seniority within the AFP, if only to reveal this deep-rooted defect of the organization, which must be corrected at the soonest possible time.
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The President confessed to reporters interviewing him the high inflation rate that’s responsible for the high prices of food items, like sugar, onions and now even rice, keeps him sleepless at night.
I can believe that because everything that involves the needs of the people, especially as they affect the lives of the poor, which constitute the bulk or majority of the people, is his concern.
We now have a food crisis and with the importation of onions, sugar and soon enough even rice, the main staple of Filipinos, these are all the President’s responsibility.
That’s why, to a great extent, I empathize with the President, who must resort to importation, which is prejudicial to farmers.
Considering everything, my gulay, Marcos Jr. is between the devil and the deep blue sea, so to speak.
The problem of inflation is not caused by BBM, but it’s there.
The only thing that we can look forward to is that inflation will ease somewhat this year, and prices will start going down.
But, in the meantime, the President has no choice but to walk the tightrope and try to make things easier to bear for the people.
The President losing sleep?
Santa Banana, I wonder if he can even sleep at all with what the country is going through, especially the poor who have hardly enough to keep body and soul together.
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I like the reaction of the President to some senators saying the Maharlika Investment Fund must be under the scrutiny of the Senate.
He likes it that way.
For one thing, it’s the job of the Senate to scrutinize all bills enacted by the House to be refined, and BBM knows full well the MIF needs refinement because of alleged conflict of the enacted bill.
Indeed, the Senate needs to refine the MIF bill not only to make it workable, but for investors to accept it.
Critics of the House who enacted the bill have started attacking it in the aftermath of the proposals that the dividends of Government-Owned-and-Controlled -Corporations should fund the MIF.
I’m glad BBM is also against it because the dividends are provided for under the law to be used for social services.
The constitutionality of the MIF will surely be questioned, and it will really be a pity the MIF will not be realized in its enacted form.
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Some members and guests of the island paradise, the Balesin Island Club, I know are all excited now that the hydrofoil imported by Alphaland Chairman and CEO, Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin, will arrive in Balesin, to be called MV Balesin.
It will be available for all members and their guests to ferry them back and forth from Balisen itself to Patnanungan Island.
The hydrofoil, a jet boat, will be the first in the country.
Santa Banana, leave it to Bobby Ongpin to make members and guests of Balesin Island Club eager and excited to enjoy what the Club has to offer.
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